Stonehenge,
Windsor & Bath Tour
This is the most popular, (by numbers travelling) of the scheduled
coach tours from London.
A custom
tour to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath much enhances the experience
of the big coach tours. As well as direct access to an informative
driver/guide and pickups and returns direct to your hotel, you will
stay longer and see much more including on the bus some of the best
of the English countryside - you won't see this on the big coach tours
that stick to the main highways.
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Changing
of the Guard Windsor |
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Vehicles,
Driver/Guides + Scope Of Private Tours
FCMBS
have a range of touring vehicles with capacities ranging from 8 to
16 seats. We charge a flat fee per vehicle, (not person) for the day,
this includes the bus and services of the driver guide.
Admissions to attractions are not included. |
The
day is yours, the only rules are imposed by UK law - no smoking on
buses and driving hours and breaks governed by UK law.
Otherwise you're free to go where you want to go, when you want to
go.
Time is always the enemy, even though a typical tour will be 10-11
hours in duration. |
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Windsor, Stonehenge & Bath Tour - Template For Customisation
This is a long, long day. You will need to be leaving your hotel around
08:00 or very shortly after to fit everything in, especially in the
winter months
Windsor
First stop is Windsor, just 20 miles west of Central London. Subject
to traffic conditions we will be on the approaches to Windsor about
08:45. Windsor Castle opens at 09:45, and its a good idea to be one
of the first in, especially during the peak months.
Unlike the scheduled coach tours, you will have an hour in Windsor
before the castle opens, there are several options.
We travel through Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215
by King John. For those very interested there is time to walk over
to the monument erected by the American bar association. |
The
most popular option is a quick visit to Eton, England's famous school
where boys are still dressed in traditional black tail coats. At 09:00
the Queen's Farm Shop opens, on the other side of the castle grounds
from the town, few visitors come here. Those that do seem well pleased
they did. Perhaps stock up on organic produce from the Queen's farms
for snacking later.
Those with small children can feed the Swans by the River Thames.
At 09:45 Windsor Castle opens, home of the Royal Family for 900 years.
Visit the magnificent State Apartments, still used for State occasions
and Royal receptions.
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Windsor
Castle |
Take some time to explore the castle grounds and the fourteenth-century
St. George's Chapel, one of the most beautiful examples of medieval
church architecture in England and a burial place of kings and queens,
including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour.
Most days a Changing of the Guard
happens at 11:00.
You receive an audio device with admission to Windsor Castle. Most
people take around 90-120 minutes to complete their tour.
We allow a generous time in Windsor, (2.5 hours) much more than the
coach tours. After visiting the Castle there is an interesting Old
Town to browse, the Guildhall where Prince Charles was married and
a wide selection of places to grab a bite to eat. |
Stonehenge
We leave Windsor at 12:15, for the 75 minute journey to Stonehenge.
Along the way the driver/guide will provide a full insight into the
Neolithics who built Stonehenge and the many other Neolithic monuments
around Stonehenge. |
Once
at Stonehenge the driver/guide will offer to accompany you into the
monument at no extra charge. An audio guide comes with admission,
but many of our customers appreciate a human showing them around.
The driver/guide will be glad to take group photos as well as act
as a guide.
For those of you into the mystic side, the guide will involve you
hands-on in tracing earth energies using dowsing forks.
Most people take an hour at Stonehenge. |
Stonehenge
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Stonehenge
To Bath Via Countryside
We leave Stonehenge by 14:30, for the 75 minute journey to Bath. On
arriving at Bath we provide a 15 minute orientation tour on the bus,
covering the many great attractions to visit in detail later. |
Bath
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 |
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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 18:00, after having spent 2 hours in Bath you should
be back at your London hotel about 20:30.
Summary of Tour
08:00 - Leave hotel
08:45 - 12:15 Windsor area
13:30 - 14:30 Stonehenge
15:45 - 18:00 Bath
20:30 - Arrive at hotel.
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