This is a great day, especially for families.
Travelling on London's transport like a Londoner but without getting lost.
See all the key sites, Westminster Abbey*, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Changing of the Guard, Trafalgar Square, St Paul's Cathedral*, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London*,
* I conduct interior guided tours in these places.
Royal LondonThere are numerous places and palaces to see and visit, choose a full or half day of visiting royal sites which can include those places listed on my Half Day Tours Page.
London’s iconic structures feature in the Harry Potter movies. Our tour will reveal as much as muggles ( non magical folk ) can see of the London locations . Platform 9 ¾,Gringotts Bank, The Leaky Cauldron, Ministry of Magic, the Houses of Parliament, the Night Bus bridge, Canary Wharf and Tower Bridge, and other locations.
Only have a day in London?
Visit the 3 main areas - Westminster, The City of London and London Docklands
No one can do more in a day than I can with you!
You may only visit London once, so make the most of your time here.
Please see details "Half day tours".
The pace of change is fast , but here, on the banks of the River Thames, the view has not changed for over 250 years. Steeped with maritime history, visit the Maritime Museum, see part of the old naval hospital founded in 1694 – a grand seniors home for old sailors ! Board the most majestic sailing clipper, the "Cutty Sark" and explore her decks.
Explore the Royal Observatory where time measurement begins at 0 degrees longitude! Discover , how one man dedicated his life to making a clock to facilitate accurate maritime navigation, saving numerous sailors lives.
Both abound in central London, so if Art and Architecture are your passion – I can tailor your tour to incorporate some of these delights .
The old and new exist side by side, the dynamic juxtaposition creates energy , and surprise, which is part of discovering the real London.
Art Galleries - please see Museum & Gallery page
"I just wanted to take a minute to let you know how much we all enjoyed our time with you last week.
You were so wonderful with the children and so informative for Donna and I.
You are truly a professional and you obviously enjoy what you do.
Thank you, thank you, thank you....."
D & M , USA
Our tour guide, Deborah, was fabulous! She was exactly what we were hoping for.
(Aufhammer Family, USA)
My heartiest thanks to your guide Deborah....she was superb! Everyone
absolutely loved her and got so much out of her presentation. She answered
every question we could think of and made sure everything went smoothly
with the tour.
(USA group)
All tours are day return from London. Chauffeured cars can be arranged.
After saying hello to Paddington Bear, board the train for our journey to Oxford.
Walking tour of Oxford to see and understand the buildings that form this unique university and city, including one of the oldest classrooms in the UK and the stunning Christchurch College Hall which also provided the inspiration for Hogwarts Hall in Harry Potter. Perhaps lunch in a 14th century pub tucked away down a little hidden alley.
See his surroundings – the powerful leader at work and the family man.
In the morning visit the Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill Museum. Then drive out into the countryside south of London, to visit Chartwell the former private and much loved family home of Sir Winston Churchill, his wife Clemmie and their children. Lunch at a local pub can be arranged.
The Normans built this castle 900 years ago. The epitome of a perfect English scene. Set on an island, this castle has been adorned by no less than 5 queens of England. The condition today is also due to the love and investment of the last private owner Lady Baillie. It's a cosy home with inspirational interior design, filled with antiques.
Canterbury a much loved thriving English medieval town, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Head of the Worldwide Anglican Community. A magnificent cathedral, whose foundation dates back 1400 years, frequented by flocks of pilgrims in the Middle Ages, eager to pay their respects and draw on the powers of St Thomas Becket who was brutally murdered by his King's knights. Today it forms part of a World Heritage Site.
Stonehenge - Visit the new exhibition centre opened in 2014, understand the setting and unravel the theories of Britain's most important prehistoric monument dating from 3000 B.C. Then stroll around the stones and ponder!
Salisbury - Just 9 miles south of Stonehenge, lies Salisbury, the ancient quintessential English town with the finest pure Gothic 13th century cathedral in England , set in the "Close". If you have read “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follet, you will have a deeper appreciation of this outstanding church. It is an inspiration and a place of ongoing worship. Additionally we will see one of the only 4 surviving original copies of the Magna Carta .
Romans and Georgians - layers of civilisations and a stunning city !
After a smooth journey across England with wonderful views, we begin our walking tour of Bath .
Bath, was founded as a health spa by the Romans. Visit the Roman Baths and wonder at their civilisation. In the18th century, the city enjoyed a renaissance and was redeveloped into an elegant Georgian social centre and health resort. The Georgian buildings are elegant, and created an architecturally civilised setting for the wealthy families and celebrities who frequented Bath for socialising and match making, Bath buzzed with gossip!
Tour Combinations of:
Oxford ( with a touch of Harry Potter if required!), Cotswolds/ Blenheim Palace / Stratford upon Avon.
Windsor and Oxford
Winchester and Salisbury
Rochester and Canterbury
A day at the English seaside
Deborah Charles is Registered with:
The Institute of Tourist Guiding - British Guild of Tourist Guides - The Association of Professional Tourist Guides.
Public Liability Insurance held.
All images and photographs are © of D. Charles and are not to be reproduced without permission.