Explore Southern England: 8 Nights/9 Days – From London to London
Itinerary
Day 1 | London
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Welcome to London, the political and artistic capital of the United Kingdom. Discover the wonders of this great city, with its royal palaces, parliament, art, shopping and theaters. Chose to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London (a World Heritage Site), Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Westminster (home of Parliament and Big Ben), the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, the Wallace Collection, the National Gallery and Tate art galleries are but a few of the city’s many places of interest and all easily accessible by foot, bus, and underground.
Accommodation:
Tourist Class Best Western Phoenix Hotel or similar (2 nights)
Day 2 | London
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Today there are so many interesting things to do and see, luckily you can add extra nights to your stay here if you wish. Shop at the world famous Harrods Store. London has a wide choice of wine bars and traditional pubs in all areas, many offering entertainment. Complete your perfect day with a visit to one of London’s famous theaters or concert halls.
Day 3 | London – Canterbury – Dover – Hastings – Brighton
270.37 km
Pick up your rental car. Drive through the county of Kent, known as the Garden of England, to the great historical city of Canterbury. Enjoy the medieval atmosphere of this fascinating city which is situated on Roman Watling Street, and offers so much for the lovers of history – the Pilgrim’s Way and Canterbury Weavers, a group of picturesque Tudor houses overlooking the River Stour which takes its name from the refugee French Huguenot weavers who settled in the area, are but two examples. It is of course dominated by its renowned Cathedral, a World Heritage Site. Before leaving Canterbury for the coastal town of Dover eat some amazing Whitstable oysters, probably the finest you will have. Arrive in Dover with its famous white cliffs which have been a gateway to England since Roman times. Here you can lunch on delectable Dover sole. At Dover Castle within its walls stands the lighthouse built by the Romans and the spectacular Constable’s Tower dates from the early 13th century. The warren of tunnels and secret chambers beneath the Castle, added to during the Napoleonic period, was used during the Second World War in the planning of the evacuation from Dunkirk. Visitors can tour these dimly lit Secret Wartime Tunnels and see the underground hospital and communications center. Continue your journey to Hastings, passing through the old charming town of Rye. Here you should explore by foot the cobbled Mermaid Street and the 15th century Mermaid Inn. At Hastings you can see the ruins of William the Conqueror’s first English castle (originally a wooden structure), which stands, above the Old Town with the seaside resort below. Nearby Battle is the remains of the great commemorative abbey built by William the Conqueror after the momentous victory in 1066 of the Normans over King Harold’s English army. Continue your journey to Brighton, where the English seaside tradition was invented, and where we have arranged your overnight accommodation.
Accommodation:
Tourist Class: Jurys Inn or similar
Day 4 | Brighton – Chichester – Portsmouth – Salisbury
152.89 km
Stimulating Brighton, with its piers and wide promenades, boasts elegant Georgian, Regency and Victorian architecture. Its labyrinthine lanes of the old fishing village contrasts with its lavishly planted open spaces and parks. A wide range of pubs and restaurants together with an array of quirky specialist shops in The Lanes makes for a very interesting visit. Try one of the locally produced white wines. Visit King George IV’s Royal Pavilion, a fantastic and flamboyant oriental pleasure palace. Leave Brighton for the flatlands between the South Downs and the sea, and enjoy the ancient city of Chichester. Visit its great Cathedral, completed in 1184. Continue your journey to Portsmouth and visit Lord Nelson’s splendid 3-masted flagship, HMS Victory, on which he sailed at the Battle of Trafalgar, which sits in dry dock and is now used as a museum ship. Whilst in Portsmouth visit the Mary Rose, the only 16th century warship on display anywhere in the world, and a firm favorite of King Henry VIII. Leave for Salisbury where we have arranged your overnight accommodation.
Accommodation:
Tourist Class: Mercure White Hart Hotel or similar
Day 5 | Salisbury – Stonehenge – Stourhead – Exeter – Dartmoor – Plymouth
239.79 km
This morning stroll through the picturesque city of Salisbury, where its Market Square and medieval streets (indicating the trades which once flourished there – Fish Row, Butcher Row, Silver Street) are lined by gabled half-timbered houses dating from 14th to 17th century. View magnificent Salisbury Cathedral, which boasts the tallest spire in Britain. Leave Salisbury and as you drive across Salisbury Plain you see the great stone circle of Stonehenge, a World Heritage Site. Believed to have been erected 5,000 years ago it is the most celebrated prehistoric monument in Britain. From here your drive takes you to Stourhead House, whose idyllic Gardens are one of the supreme examples of English landscape. On to the charm of Exeter, with its crescents and terraces of red brick Georgian houses, and diamond-shaped Cathedral Close with the ancient Exeter Cathedral standing at its center. Continue your drive through small villages to the open moorland of Dartmoor, where ponies, sheep and cattle graze. In Devon enjoy a wonderful Devonshire Cream Tea before making your way to the historic naval port of Plymouth where we have arranged your overnight accommodation. Plymouth was the port of departure for Drake, Raleigh and Cook and the Pilgrim Fathers when they set sail for America.
Accommodation:
Tourist Class: Jurys Inn or similar (2 nights)
Day 6 | Visit St. Michael’s Mount; Penzance; Lands End; St. Ives.
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Drive along the rugged Cornish coastline, the part of England where the locals’ accents all sound like pirates. From as far back as the 14th century there are legends of pirate gangs who attacked ships as they sailed by this area. Pass smugglers’ coves and quaint fishing villages to St. Michael’s Mount. This amazing rocky island, with its medieval castle and 1,000-year-old legends and myths, is separated from the mainland by a 500-yard granite causeway. Stop ate Land’s End – the most westerly point of the British mainland – and then Penzance, with its wealth of good shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. Try an appetizing meat and vegetable Cornish pasty. Beyond is PenzanceHarbour whose inner dock shelters fishing boats and commercial vessels and where visiting yachts and the occasional tall-masted sailing ships lie against the granite quays. From here drive to the picturesque fishing harbor of St. Ives, a famous artists’ colony with its winding alleys, hillside terraces and color-washed fishermen’s cottages crowded shoulder to shoulder. The Tate St. Ives exhibits modern art from the London Tate collections and sculptress Barbara Hepworth’s home is now a museum. Drive across Bodmin Moor as you return to Plymouth for your overnight accommodation.
Day 7 | Plymouth – Glastonbury – Wells – Bath
207.6 km
Today’s journey skirts Dartmoor National Park where ponies, cattle and sheep graze freely on the moor with nearby wooded valleys, cascading streams and small villages. Make a stop to try the real Cheddar cheese, named after the caves where it is ripened. Drive on to Glastonbury, which historical legend links with King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and see the Abbey ruins, a famous center of learning in the middle ages. Your drive now takes you passed the cathedral city of Wells, which has been used as the setting for several films. Then to the historic and elegant city of Bath, a World Heritage Site, which in the 18th century became a fashionable spa town and where we have arranged your overnight accommodation. Admire the graceful Georgian terraces and villas, the Pump Room with its spa water fountain, where lunch and afternoon tea are served, and the elegant Assembly Rooms built for people to meet, dance, play cards, and drink tea. Visit the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths. These Roman ruins stretch out beneath the city in all directions and consists of four main features – the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman bath house and finds from Roman Bath.
Accommodation:
Tourist Class: Abbey Hotel or similar
Day 8 | Bath – Lacock – Cotswolds – Windsor – London
193.12 km
Leave the elegant city of Bath and enjoy your scenic drive through the Cotswolds, which offers the essence of rural England, as you see sheep on the hillside and pass through delightful small towns and sleepy villages boasting thatched cottages and ancient churches. The local honey-colored limestone used in many buildings ensure the area’s magical uniformity. Visit the picturesque village of Lacock, comprising four streets laid out in a square. Numerous period dramas, such as Pride and Prejudice, have been filmed here. Amidst the interesting old houses is the George Inn and Lacock Abbey. On the drive to Windsor, stop off in Taplow Bucks for a delicious meal at the “Oak & Saw” village inn. Then on to the cobbled streets of Windsor and visit England’s largest castle, Windsor Castle which still remains today a favorite royal residence. Here you can tour the State Apartments, the magnificent St. George’s Chapel, and walk through Windsor Great Park. Across Windsor Bridge is Britain’s most famous school, Eton College, founded in 1440 by the young Henry VI. Try the traditional Windsor Brown Soup. Your drive continues back to London for your overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Tourist Class: Best Western Phoenix Hotel or similar
Day 9 | London
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Return to the airport for your return flight home.
| Price per person | EURO | EURO | EURO | EURO | EURO | EURO | EURO | EURO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Of Pax | 2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax | 5 Pax | 6 Pax | 7 Pax | 8 Pax | 9 Pax |
| Adult in Twin/Double | 1240 | 1093 | 1017 | 974 | 1014 | 982 | 1003 | 981 |
| Adult in Triple | 1188 | 1040 | 964 | 921 | 961 | 929 | 950 | 928 |
| Child with bed in Triple | - | 985 | 910 | 866 | 906 | 875 | 896 | 874 |
| Child No Bed | - | 510 | 435 | 391 | 431 | 400 | 421 | 398 |
Devon, Cornwall, Cotswolds, Kent, Greater London, Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Hampshire, Exeter, Plymouth, Penzance, St. Ives, Canterbury, Dover, London, Salisbury, Bath, Glastonbury, Wells, Stow-on-the-Wold, Windsor, Brighton, Chichester, Hastings, Rye, Portsmouth, Bodmin Moor, Canterbury Cathedral, Cotswolds, Dartmoor National Park, Lacock, Lands End, St. Michael”s Mount, Stonehenge, Windsor Castle. 08 Nights Hotel Accommodation as detailed in the Day by Day Itinerary as described below. Breakfast Daily. All Hotel Taxes and Service Charges. 06 Days Hertz CDMR Compact Manual Ford Focus or similar, Including Unlimited Mileage (UM, Collision Damage Waiver CDW), Theft Protection (TP), and Taxes, Maps, Information, and Detailed Directions to your Hotels. Emergency telephone numbers accessible 24/7 in the unlikely event you have a problem with a hotel or the Hertz rental car. Fuel and Parking Charges. Admissions to Parks and Attractions unless otherwise stated. Contract Payment Tour Deposit Travel Insurance Cancellations/Refunds/Change
Once the booking is confirmed, changes incur the following amendment fees: 60 + days — €50 per person, 59 days to day of departure — changes are treated as a cancellation and rebooking and cancellation charges as above apply. It is not possible to make refunds after departure date for any services not used including but not limited to hotels, and car rental. It is your responsibility to thoroughly check your documents upon receipt and to inform European Voyages immediately if there is an error so that it can be corrected prior to departure. If European Voyages is not advised accordingly no liability on its part will be accepted. Also, it is your responsibility to ensure that you take all of the travel documents sent to you, including but not limited to Hotel, and Car Vouchers, explorer kit, etc. If you do not have your documents you will be expected to pay for service and will not be reimbursed by European Voyages. Changes by the Company Driving Licenses Travel Documents/Proof of Citizenship Descriptions Responsibility and Limitations of Liability By making final payment for any of the vacations, customer acknowledges and agrees to all of the terms and conditions, in particular, to the limitations of liability set forth above. Misadventure Hotel Accommodation
The Terms and Conditions will form the contract between European Voyages and the person making/paying for the booking. No contract exists until European Voyages has received payment and issued its confirmation invoice. Rates are subject to currency fluctuation and Government taxes and may be changed without notice. Rates are guaranteed upon acceptance of full payment.
Payment with a credit card is required to make a reservation. If a booking is made 60 or more days before departure, a non-refundable deposit is payable by Visa or MasterCard. The remaining balance will be collected approximately eight weeks prior to departure. For reservations made less than 60 days before departure, full payment will be due when hotels are confirmed.
Duration Price Per Person
5 to 7 Days EURO 125.00
8 to 10 Days EURO 150.00
11 to 13 Days EURO 175.00
14 to 16 Days EURO 200.00
17 to 20 Days EURO 250
21 Days & Over EURO 300.00
We highly recommend the purchase of a Travel Insurance protection plan.
Notice of cancellation must be made by e-mail directly to the Company
Duration Charge Per Person
60+ Days Deposit Only
59-45 Days 25%
44-30 Days 50%
29-22 Days 75%
21 to Day of Departure 100%
On occasion it may be necessary to amend certain arrangements of your holiday, which we reserve the right to do at any time. If a major change occurs we will inform you as soon as possible. Major change is one that involves a change in location or offering a lower category hotel. In these instances we will offer an alternative subject to your acceptance and if the hotel originally booked is of a superior category and is substituted with a standard category, we will issue a refund to you Upon acceptance of the change no further claims for compensation or additional expenses will be accepted. In no case we will pay compensation or accept liability if change is due to force majeure; risk/threat of war; industrial disputes; riot; civil strife; terrorist activity; natural/nuclear disasters; fire or adverse weather conditions; technical problems to transport; closure or congestion of airports or ports; cancellations or changes of scheduled airlines and similar events beyond our control.
Renters must present a valid driving license, an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended. This is required for translation purposes to confirm the validity of the driver’s license for the safety of our renters and for Hertz. Note: A current valid foreign driving license must always be presented at the rental counter.
It is your responsibility to be in possession of a valid machine readable passport and/or visa if required.
European Voyages strives to ensure accuracy of descriptions and information, however we are not able to control all holiday components and advertised facilities may bed withdrawn or changed. We cannot accept liability for loss of an advertised facility or withdrawal of free or discounted offers. Such offers are add value and are non-refundable if not provided or used. Prices specified herein do not reflect Value Added offers unless noted otherwise.
European Voyages as the operator, is solely responsible for selecting the suppliers that provide the component parts (e.g. hotel accommodations, transfers, and car rental firms) for the vacations described on this website. These suppliers are independent contractors. European Voyages does not own, control, operate, nor is it an agent for any suppliers furnishing tour component parts, and therefore in the absence of its negligence, European Voyages cannot be held liable for loss or damage to property or injury to person, caused by reason of any act or omission, intentional negligence or otherwise by such third party supplier. European Voyages makes no implied or expressed warranties in the offering of any tour described on this website. European Voyages reserves the right to cancel or alter any itinerary at its sole discretion. The information and rates are accurate at the time of posting and are subject to change without notice.
Should you or any member of your party suffer illness, personal injury or death through any misadventure arising out of an activity which does not form part of your holiday arrangements, we shall offer assistance such as we are able. Such assistance shall take the form of guidance and advice only without accepting any liability whatsoever.
European Voyages reserves the right to substitute alternative hotels to those featured, provided they are of comparable category or better. All properties are contracted on a ‘Run of House’ basis, which means you have a standard room from any part of the property unless otherwise advertised. Special accommodation requests, such as adjoining rooms, or twin beds are subject to the hotel availability and cannot be guaranteed. We cannot accept any booking that is conditional upon special requests being met.
