Another great day was the day at Tintagel as the coast line there is breathtaking!". Nicknamed the "Hot Walls," it's out of the wind and retains warmth from the unreliable English sun. Very well done. I especially loved Cornwall and St Ives but who wouldn't with all the beauty surrounding it. Brighton is south England's Coney Island. The tour group was small enough so that everything felt very personal. Learning about a 3,500 year old village on the moors of Dartmoor, while standing amongst the ruins was magically profound.". After lunch we'll stroll the South Downs Way for a view of England's famous white chalk cliffs at Beachy Head. This was my first RS Tour and it didn't disappoint. The view, history, and workmanship--ancient and present day.". For a leisurely, water-level view of Canterbury, consider a cruise on the River Stour. I'm Rick Steves. For centuries an important Roman Catholic church, the cathedral had a tumultuous path to eventually become the headquarters of the Church of England — known outside of England as the "Anglican" or "Episcopalian" Church. I felt like I was in the heart of rural England. The event itself was fun and it was a great experience to then walk over to the beach to eat them.". "Hmmmmmm. Our two-week tour of England offers a delightful mix of big-city thrills and thatch-happy village charm. You can also find a clip related to this story at Rick Steves Classroom Europe; just search for York. Canterbury was more impressive than described in the literature.". Overall the tour itinerary met my expectations however it didn't seem to be as well planned as other Rick Steve tours. Our hotels were located conveniently with some of them having interesting quirks. I could not do what he does. While it looks like an officer's living quarters, everything was designed for action. Bus driver Paul was delightful. All the hotels were great, but for one exception. Excellent presentations! I enjoyed it all.". Single Supplement $775 See Dates & Prices Starting in Canterbury and ending in Bath, our Best of South England tour brings you to the very roots of British history and culture. will forever be on my resume.". The white cliffs at Beachy Head were a favorite too.". I loved being the only tourists in Dartmoor around the stones and the picnic lunches.". About 200 years ago, the most important British ship ever, the HMS Victory, changed the course of world history. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook. The grounds are a peaceful setting and the ruins are beautiful. I tipped him accordingly. "As Doc Martin fans, visiting Port Isaac, esp. Overall a great experience! The South Downs Way (often abbreviated SDW) runs for 100 miles along the chalk hills of England's south coast, from Winchester (25 miles inland in Hampshire) to Eastbourne (on the coast of East Sussex). Students, propelling their punts by the traditional single pole, offer an easygoing commentary. Next WOW moment would be the Salisbury Cathedral! Suddenly these beaches were accessible to the working-class masses and Brighton has been "London by the Sea" ever since. Please sign in to post. This is an excellent tour. Such a marvel to see the tremendous ingenuity of mind, matter and strength. "It was nice to get access to Canterbury Cathedral construction zone and the Geevor Tin mine.". My tour was fabulous. We're starting in the Cotswolds, two hours west of London. "It's hard to say. So,so fun. "Favorite moment was the Canterbury Cathedral. we had an outstanding guide, Elizabeth Boardman and a highly skilled and and amiable driver, Ally. Underneath a sail-like tower, its formerly gritty industrial waterfront has been transformed into a vital shopping and restaurant complex. Marvel at the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, sweeping moorlands of Dartmoor, ancient stone circles, cliff-perched villages, and great sailing ships. It was amazing!! It was all good.". From start to finish the hotels were great, the restaurants we ate at as a group were also very good. If there were enemies, troops based here fended them off. Every day was like being in a classroom, a fun classroom. From these tunnels, Winston Churchill and Allied commanders defended a battle zone nicknamed "Hellfire Corner." It had about a 10-year window of invincibility. My name is Martha and I am a single, retired woman from the Denver area who is a big fan of Rick Steves tours. "Every day brought wow moments! A second "wow" was Corfe Castle, in its lovely, charming, picturesque setting, and our castle visit was followed by a wonderful, surprise cream tea! There were no grumps. Mark ALWAYS scheduled us to beat the crowds. Sad that we couldn't get to Tintagel but we enjoyed the day nevertheless. The most unexpected activity was when Liz gathered us on the beach and explained the basic rules of cricket to a group of Americans :) What resulted was, possibly, the worst game of cricket in the history of the game, but what marvelous fun we all had in the process! I was extremely impressed with the quality of the hotels, the expertise and knowledge of guide Roy Nichols, and the balance of free and planned exploring time. Video: Watch England's Cornwall, an episode of the Rick Steves' Europe TV show. Our group was fantastic, smiles all around. Glittering and loaded with amusements, Brighton Pier is the place to go for a fix of junk food, including some "candy floss" (that's cotton candy), and to survive dizzying rides. There was a good mix of city and country. The sheep we grazing in the meadow across the stream. No local culture was added to tour. Loved the whole experience!". )which wasn't on the tour listing. Inside, on the gun decks, you can imagine the noise, smoke, and confusion of battle — as cannons fired in unison, recoiled, and were reloaded. Until next time…keep on travelin'. As an obvious military target, Portsmouth was nearly flattened by WWII bombs, but it's been rebuilt since 1945. This tour exceeded my expectations. It is a remarkable experience to see and wonder how they did it and why. Today, the crossing between the port of Dover and France is a shipping thoroughfare. Rick's expert advice on what's worth your time and money Short itineraries covering the best of London, Bath, the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon,... Lire la suite. In the 12th century, the Norman king, Henry II, had this fortress built making Dover's castle the most secure of his realm. Perfect time to visit. ", "Construction tour of Canterbury cathedral. No bus. A few weeks before our flight, we were told that we wouldn't visit Tintagel Castle. While the battlefield and adjoining ruined abbey (built soon after the battle by William to atone for all the spilled blood) are a must-see for British-history buffs, anyone can appreciate the dramatic story behind the grassy field. "For me, we chose this tour because it included Stonehenge. We could touch them and sort of feel the mystery surrounding them. Had a a small, very congenial group. Loved the itinerary mostly. Even song service in canterbury cathedral", We had the best guide, Liz Boardman, You can tell Liz loves what she does - she is enthusiastic in sharing her love of her country, it's history and ensuring everyone has the best experience. Charming/ hilarious driver. "It is hard for Americans to think about being in places that are 800+ years old, but we were in those places all the time. Everything was well-organized, and well-timed. It is very nice to have things all set up for you. The trip was very well planned and went very smoothly. Your Rick Steves guide will introduce you to locals who have talents to share and stories to tell. Shortly after his death, his niece, Victoria, took the throne. Loved the locations we visited. Hit England's can't-miss art, sights, and bites in two weeks or less with Rick Steves Best of England! We'll send the notification email when a tour opens within a season (spring, summer, fall, winter) or region. For centuries, Britain, a maritime superpower, relied on the fleets based here to maintain and expand its vast empire. We were one of the first coaches at Stonehenge. The Dockyard is a sprawling complex with about 10 different attractions (several are a shuttle-boat ride away). The shorter Best of England guidebook focuses on England's top destinations and sights, and is in full color. Our bus driver Dan, was always there and got us to every destination without any trouble. Absolutely the best.". I enjoyed the variety of castles, "The Canterbury Cathedral was lovely and was my wow moment". "Loved the pasty making! 4) 99% of our destination spots were totally worthwhile The "Wow" moment was a surprise visit to Port Isaac & witnessing filming of Get ready for the open house tour of a lifetime as Rick Steves guides us through this French region's most evocative castles and palaces. William is in the thick of it, and loses another horse. I enjoyed every single stop on the tour, the hotels and inns were charming and full of personality, and the group meals were outstanding. Wish we could have spent a night in Wells. Many thanks to Heather, the conservation head (don't remember her correct title) for showing us something that most people won't have the chance to see.". The simple beauty was breathtaking. You nailed it!. Patches of modern architecture are a reminder that much of Canterbury was bombed in World War II. While you can walk along almost the entire southern coast, the best part for a day hike is the three-mile stretch out to Beachy Head from Birling Gap or from Eastbourne. In 1840, the train connected London with Brighton. England at its finest.". My gosh please keep terrific guide. You provided the tickets and off we go. Our guide, Tom Hooper was great. For those not yet ready to return home, Bath is a delightful city with many sightseeing options. a fun group of people It has a variety of history, culture, natural resources and architecture. Hello there! Early birds get the sandy spots among the pebbles, and the tide pools are a hit with the kids. But enough war history. Join writer and host Rick Steves as he experiences the local culture, cuisine, and fun in some of Europe's most interesting places. Visiting Port Isaac.". Traveling across the south of England, we'll ponder the military underpinnings of a maritime society that hasn't been invaded in a thousand years. I have not much experience or talent for baking, but this was great fun. The itinerary was varied and interesting, a great mix of ancient and more recent history, geography, culture and pop culture. "Standing in the ruins of my favorite childhood legend (Tintagel), baking with THE Cornish Pasty expert, and the Cornish singers all brought happy tears. I paused by a narrow brook splashing down toward the green meadows inhabited by sheep and small stone houses. "Being in the Stonehenge, feeling the atmosphere of the place, the "ancientness" of the stones.". We went places we could never have gone if we were on our own. These comments we unfiltered by the news media and allowed me to increase my understanding of the complex issues based on everyday people's viewpoints.". She taught our group English history, local geology, architecture, current politics and even how to play cricket. Basically, the English king died without a clear heir. Salisbury strolls and market are lively. Watch Rick Steves' Europe - Season 1, Episode 3 - South England: Dover to Land's End: From the white cliffs of Dover to Land's End, we ponder Roman, Norman, and Nazi invasions. I learned so much. Loved that. "So many options, but seeing Stonehenge essentially alone in the early morning has to top the list! Traveling across the south of England, we'll ponder the military underpinnings of a maritime society that hasn't been invaded in a thousand years. Loved the beautiful countryside on this trip! Activity level good, lodging and meals adequate. He loved to vacation by the sea and host glamorous parties. Possibly the afternoon/evening we spent in the village of Chagford. I would have preferred on less day in Canterbury , one additional day in Alfriston, more time at the White Cliffs, less time at Portsmouth more time at Tintagel Castle, one less night at St. Ives and more time in Bath. With the advent of artillery, the English dug defensive tunnels deep into the chalk. Great group, great hotels and food, and really great guide. Cheers! As usual the instructions for getting to the beginning hotel were excellent. Stunning!". Built in 1899 and jutting far into the water, it gave everyone a chance to enjoy the sea. Mark and Deborah were fantastic and provided a well-structured tour. Here in the banqueting room, the table's set for dessert. England. It was a terrific tour seeing all the villages, cathedrals, castles and seaside port villages. With the outbreak of World War II, more bombproof tunnels were dug. The tour is just the right mix of sights, group time and individual time. The group was got along right from the first and everyone to the no grumps rule seriously. Marvel at the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, sweeping moorlands of Dartmoor, ancient stone circles, cliff-perched villages, and great sailing ships. I learned things that I would never find out on my own. "Too many wow moments. June 22, 2017, Jerry, Brooke and I left via Orange County, CA, to experience Rick Steve's thirteen-day Villages of South England Tour. We got to go inside the roof for a close-up look at the structure supporting the roof sheeting. Today we'll explore the natural wonders of Dartmoor National Park, home to wooded forests, desolate moors, and the prehistoric Merrivale stone rows. The food was fabulous and the group was fun loving. Just incredible! Hi, I'm Rick Steves, back with more of the best of Europe. There it is, within sight on a sunny day. The whole trip was an incredible ride through history and scenery with an incredible guide. Tour with spectacular vistas, super good bus leadership by our tour guide I completed. Prepared for our arrival, breakfasts were always and excellent weather we grazing in morning... On thus far more authentic experience the tour plan was well worth the hike up hill Thomas Becket be... No aha moments but plenty of time to explore on our tour guide I been! 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