Lacock
Lacock is an old wool town where all the buildings in the village
are more than 200 years old, much of it much older. It is not a museum
piece, but a living working village with school, post office, church,
tithe barn, bakery and several pubs.
The village is owned by the National Trust, all the occupants including
the pubs rent from the National Trust. The National Trust controls
strictly the village environment, apart from vehicles it could be
back a few hundred years ago, no streetlights, no aerials, only approved
'authentic' colour schemes. |
With
this olde worlde feel, Jane Austen and some Harry Potter films are
just examples of films shot here.
This is also the local village of Camilla Parker Bowles, the wife
of Prince Charles. Her daughter was recently married at the church
in the village.
Adjacent to the village is Lacock Abbey, one of the few abbeys to
survive the Reformation in Tudor times and used for amongst others
for the school scenes in Harry Potter.
Our driver/guide will invite you on a walking tour of the village.
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George
Inn Lacock |
We heartily recommend you take lunch in the George Inn, a 13th century
pub, the oldest licenced pub in England. Its refreshingly free of
the tourist trail, many of the customers will be locals. Apart from
the excellent home cooked food chalked up on the boards at reasonable
prices, the pub itself has much of interest.
In the yard are stocks, (so don't drink too much) and the original
medieval fireplace inside has a dog wheel, where a specially trained
small dog once fanned the flames.
There is also an information board illustrating some of the films
shot here like Harry Potter and a small museum of box cameras. The
first ever photography that took place happened right here where you
eat and drink.
The walking tour of the village takes around 30 minutes. If you want
lunch at the George Inn the stay will be around 90 minutes. There
is also a bakery and tea room at Lacock. |
Bath
Its only a 30 minute journey from Lacock to Bath, where there is plenty
to see and do. |
Bath
itself is very compact, nearly everything you want to see is within
10 minutes walk of each other. We will drop you off by the Roman Baths,
right in the centre at the official coach drop off point.
Bath's attractions are crudely split between the Roman Baths from
2,000 years ago and the Georgian period in the 18th century where
much of what you see now was built.
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Roman
Baths Bath |
| The
Roman Baths normally take around an hour for visitors. An audio guide
is part of the admission fee. The Pump Room, part of the Roman Baths
complex is 'the' place to take afternoon tea. |
In the
18th century Bath had a 'season' where if you were anybody this is
where you came to network. This is the time of Jane Austin, several
of her novels were set in Bath and there is a museum and tea room.
The Georgian architecture built to facilitate this 'polite' society
is still very much the attraction now. This is the world of Jane Austen
who lived here for a time. There is a Jane Austen museum you can visit
and many of the streets in her books you can still follow today.
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Pulteney
Bridge
Bath |
The
shopping area is worthwhile. In the very centre are medieval style
alleyways and an old indoor market.
Leaving Bath by 15:30, after having spent 2 hours in Bath you should
be back at your London hotel about 18:00 to 18:30.
Typical Tour Schedule
08:30 - Leave Southampton
09:30 - 10:30 Stonehenge
11:30 - 13:00 Lacock
13:30 - 15:30 Bath
18:00 - Arrive at hotel. |
Quotations,
Prices, Vehicles, Drivers & Booking Conditions
For custom tour transfers, every tour is different.
The prices in the table below will give you a very good idea of what
to expect in terms of price.
With cruise transfer tours, luggage is a major consideration that
may need an upgrade in vehicle independent of the number of people
travelling. |
Car
Tours by Harry Norman's London Tours
For small parties where a car
based vehicle is required. Harry is much in demand, so book early
to avoid disappointment.Driver/guides
are experienced mature individuals who care for their clients needs
and offer the best and friendliest service.
There is a $US 100 Deposit and a full refund up to 60 days before
day. |
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Minibus
Tours by FCMBS
For larger parties or those with significant
luggage, FCMBS offer touring class small buses with large luggage
holds. Driver/guides are again experienced and friendly and of a calibre
similar to the public tours run out of London.
FCMBS operate a no deposit booking requirement. Payment is on the
day with a credit card securing the reservation. |
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