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GTI Travel Group
Bath, Stonehenge and The Cotswolds - 1 day
This is a Weekly Trip
On this tour we will explore the best landscapes the west of England has to offer. The rolling limestone hills of the Cotswolds, the ancient Neolithic sites of Wessex and the Georgian splendour of the city of Bath.
This tour departs every Tuesday
After leaving London behind we take the old coach road to Bath, through Hungerford, Marlborough, along the Kennet valley and through the Savernake Forest. Evidence of this once important route lies all around us, historic coaching inns, chalk hill figures cut into the downland, obscure monuments to long forgotten characters and a subtle change in the landscape as we head into the golden stone villages of the Cotswold and Mendip hills. Our first stop will be in Lacock, a perfectly preserved village, now owned by the National Trust and often used as a backdrop to such films as the Cranford Chronicles, Pride and Prejudice and Harry Potter. After a guided walking tour there will be free time to explore and take morning coffee before we continue towards the Avon valley and the city of Bath.
Visitors have been coming to Bath for centuries, owing to the hot springs that bubble up to the surface at several locations in the city. A constant temperature of 46.5C, the only warm springs in the country, meant that it became the important Roman resort of Aqua Sulis during the time of their occupation nearly 2,000 years ago. The city was beautifully re-invented in the 18th century when it became the fashionable place to see and be seen. Elegant crescents, squares and terraces were built as the rich and famous travelled from London for 'the season' and relieve themselves of gout, rheumatic pain and stiffness of the joints. The fully guided tour of the city includes admission to the Roman Baths museum and a tour of the highlights of Georgian Bath, including the Royal Crescent, Royal Circus and the Assembly Rooms.
After lunch and free time we meet up again and travel through mysterious Wessex, taking the back roads, through villages of flintstone and thatch and onwards to Salisbury Plain and the enigmatic circle of Stonehenge. Facts and theories abound at this ancient site, where and why, who were the builders, what was it used for? During our guided tour we learn about the different periods of building stretching back 5,000 years, we learn of the people that worship there and of the various ideas of its alignments and purpose. It is here, amongst the stone age landscape of Wiltshire, that we end our tour before returning to London.
Price Includes
- Fully guided lecture standard tour
- Entrance to Roman Baths Museum
- Fully guided tour of the city of Bath, including he Royal Crescent, Royal Circus and the Assembly Rooms
- Guided walking tour of Lacock
- Entrance to Stonehenge
- All travel in comfortable purpose-built minibus from Central London
Why choose this tour?
On this tour you will be travelling with no more than 15 other people - guaranteed! Our purpose-built minibuses have large windows, good air circulation and clear PA systems so that your professional guide can escort you comfortably through our wonderful country. Our itineraries are carefullly planned (with many years of experience) so that you discover as much as possible, without spending too much time on the road.
As we travel in smaller vehicles, we normally use the most scenic routes, where large coach are prohibited from travelling. Additionally, as our group sizes are smaller we are able to more time out of the vehicle. We also employ a the very best driver/guides.
Friendly and Professional Guides - Small Groups - More Scenic Routes - More Time Sightseeing- No Time Wasted Travelling around London- Great Value for Money
Departure Information
Tours - before 01 March 2009
08.00AM From ISH, 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN (MAP)
08.10AM Outside Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch (MAP)
08.20AM Outside Harrods, Knightsbridge (MAP)
08.25AM Outside Premier Inn, Knaresborough Place, Earls Court (MAP)
Tours after 01 March 2009 - Sundays
07.30AM International Students House Car Park, 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN (MAP)
07.40AM Outside Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch (MAP)
07.50AM Outside Harrods, (Knightsbridge tube station exit) (MAP)
08.00AM Outside Travel Inn, Knaresborough Place, Earls Court (MAP)
This tour normally ends by 7pm
If you intend to travel to our central London meeting points by public tranMake the most of your time with us
We prefer to spend your valuable time touring the places you have chosen to visit and we therefore offer a choice of 4 meeting points, which are easiliy accessable by public transport from all parts of London and form our natural route to the west. Many tours spend over an hour driving around the busy congested roads of London.
Quick link to our other fully guided tours
1 Day tours with guaranteed small groups of no more than 16 people
Mondays - A Harvest of History - Royal Windsor, Roman Bath and Stonehenge
Tuesdays - Cotswolds (including Lacock), Roman Bath and Stonehenge
Wednesdays - The Mysteries of Ancient Britain - Salisbury, Stonehenge, and Avebury
Thursdays - Oxford, Cotswolds (with small village stops) and Stratford-upon-Avon
Fridays - King Arthur's Realm - Stonehenge, Glastonbury & Avebury
Fridays - The Mysteries of Ancient Britain - Salisbury, Stonehenge, and Avebury
Saturdays - A Harvest of History - Royal Windsor, Roman Bath and Stonehenge
Sundays - King Arthur's Realm - Stonehenge, Glastonbury & Avebury
2 Day overnight tours with guaranteed groups of no more than 16 people
Saturdays (every week) - Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock and Stonehenge
Saturdays (monthly) - North Wales Coast & Mountains
Saturdays (monthly during summer) - Statford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle, Broadway & Churchill's Blenheim Palace
3 Day guied city breaks with city centre accommodation options
All city breaks depart on Fridays and on average every 2 weeks throughout the year. Group sizes of city breaks tend to be larger (typically 15-40 people per trip). Our city break tours are all designed to offer the good quality guided sighteeing at an affordable price.
Fridays - Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Scottish Highlands (travel to Scotland is by high speed train)
Fridays - Paris and Versailles (travel between London and Paris is by executive coach)
Fridays - Amsterdam and Bruges (travel between London and Paris is by executive coach
2 Day activity and sightseeing tours
Combine a day's horse riding in the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales with a guided tour of the beautiful Wye Valley.
Selected Saturdays - Horse riding in Wild Wales
Christmas and New Year tours
Friday 12 December - Brussels & Aachen Christmas Markets 3 Days
Saturday 21 December - Bruges Christmas Markets 1 Day
Wednesday 24 December - Christmas in Paris 4 Days
Tuesday 30 December - Edinburgh and Scottish Highlands New Year Hogmanay 4 Days
