Portfolio and News

Connemara National Park

A combination of bogland, lakes, and mountains makes up the Connemara National Park. Fifty peaks dominate the horizon within a tightly defined 5000-acre area. For those who love to hike, there is Diamond Hill in the Connemara National Park, with its wood and cut stone path, offers a very safe way to go hill-walking. The region is dotted with ancient tombs, some over 4,000 years old - making the park fascinating walking country. 

Wildlife includes; birds of prey, such as peregrines and merlins, large mammals include Red Deer, and the coast is ideal for breeding Grey seals.

Where was Bridgerton Filmed? 
The NEW Netflix show following the fortunes of the Bridgerton family is superb. 

Who doesn't love a period drama? Maybe some, but for those who do, it is an escape to another world and time. In this case, the time is Regency London (early 1800s') when war raged across the channel. Nelson was a naval hero, and Napoleon met his match at Waterloo. Britain was becoming the first nation to be industrialised; it was a period of rapid change and growth. 

This exciting 'Jane Austen' period drama is set in London. Although London has plenty of historic streets and grand 'Regency terraces', other England locations have been used to replicate the Regency age capital. 

Here is a brief rundown;
The Bridgerton London home is the elegant Ranger's House, Greenwich. It is a stunning villa looked after by English Heritage. The interiors will take your breath away. The rooms are full of sculpture, jewellery and over 700 paintings. It is an art lovers dream and much lesser known than the National Gallery and Tate Britain. 

The filmmakers used RAF Halton for the interiors of the Bridgerton London home. The vast RAF base is home to over 2,000 personnel. The site seems an unlikely film location for an elegant interior, but there are grand Regency-like rooms. The Bridgerton House Grand Hall, Smoking Room and Hallway were filmed here. 

Filmmakers are clever to use different properties and patch them together to create the overall effect. For Example, Duke of Hastings character's London home is the lavish private home of the Earl of Pembroke, Wilton House, near Salisbury. Wilton House has been the residence of the Earls of Pembroke since the 16th century, during King Henry VIII's reign. The sumptuous interiors have attracted film crews before. The filming of Jane Austen's 'Emma', 'Tomb Raider' and another Netflix hit 'The Crown'. 

Our Tour-Designers can add in a tour of Wilton House and its incredible grounds on a day tour of Bath and Salisbury. 

The country house of the fictional Duke of Hastings, Clyvedon Castle uses Wilton House elements, such as the dining room. The ever so grand Castle Howard, was famously the film set of Brideshead Revisited based on a book by Evelyn Waugh. Now Castle Howard's dramatic exteriors and some other interiors double as Clyvedon Castle. Castle Howard also stepped in to play the role of some ballroom scenes.  

Again the producers used Castle Howard to replicate Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The once famous gardens have long gone, but, have been revived but for a short time at Yorkshire's jewel, Castle Howard. The incredible grounds at Stowe in Buckinghamshire were also used. The ornamental landscape gardens that our old friend Capability Brown learnt his trade as a garden designer.   

Bath is England's great film-location dame and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best-preserved 18th Century city in Europe has very little architecture from modern times to spoil those classic period-drama shots. Therefore, Bridgerton London scenes, such as Mayfair, Pall Mall, and Grosvenor Square, are filmed in gorgeous and well-preserved Bath. 

We will be delighted to put together a film location tour just for you. I think you will be surprised how many movies are made in Britain every year. There are very few parts of Britain that have not graced the silver screen.

Over half a million people in the UK have had their first COVID 19 vaccination jab. 

There is an expectation that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be approved very soon and rolled out before the end of the year to Britain’s National Health Service. It has been often said that the Oxford Vaccine is the real game-changer because hospital staff can store it at room temperature, plus it is cheaper. Britain has 100 million doses, which is enough to cover the entire population. 

Suppose the speed of vaccination increases in 2021 to over one million people a week. In that scenario, we could have control of our lives by Easter (4th April 2021). 
Living a normal life will be like heaven, and I’m sure travel will be on everyone’s minds. Please think ahead; we are expecting a huge surge in demand by late winter.  

We very much look forward to touring the UK with you again very soon. 

Kind Regards
Andrew Stevens
CEO

Covid 19 has given us time to re-organising and plan for the future. We have improved our website, and we are currently building a TOURING BRITAIN and GUIDE to help clients make better-informed decisions about their vacations to the UK and Ireland.

The lack of business has meant the acceleration of the sale of our diesel vehicles and the ordering of NEW electric cars. 

We are pleased to announce a rollout of NEW fully electric and hybrid plugin vehicles between 2021-2022. We hope to have our entire fleet of limousines and passenger vans exchanged by the beginning of 2024. 
We look forward to quieter and environmentally friendly touring Britain and Ireland in the future.

The United Kingdom is the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid 19 vaccine. A UK-wide inoculation will begin within weeks. 

The University of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid 19 vaccine has also proved to be effective.  The manufacturing of this drug is much cheaper, and it does not require cold storage, making distribution less problematic. We expect that regulators will approve this vaccine soon. 

The Moderna Covid 19 has also achieved excellent results, and the approval and roll-out seem likely in the new year. 

With that in mind, we are expecting to operate tours in the UK from Easter 2021. We do hope you will return to Britain very soon and the Luxury Vacations UK team are raring to go. Please check our suggested itineraries here; Private Tours UK. 

Regards

Andrew Stevens
Director

What to expect from a Luxury Vacations UK guide

Meeting you in the lobby
We think it is important to have our tour guides meet you in the lobby of your hotel and sit down briefly and talk about the day. It is important to us that you do not feel rushed but understand timings and logistics. Our guides will be flexible on the day and change the plan for whatever reason. 

Attire
Our guides will be immaculately dressed. Gentlemen will wear a jacket and tie and ladies general business attire, most likely lighter colours. Both men and Women will wear comfortable but smart shoes. 

Knowledge
All of our guides have received professional training, and there are various industry recognised ‘badges’ that offer certain authorisation to guide inside places of historical interest. Some of the specialist guides will have a lifetime of experiences in a particular field, such as a professional archaeologist, art historian or architect. 
In general, when touring the entire UK, your driver-guide will tell anecdotes and give an in-depth overview of each location. In most cases guided tours inside churches, stately home or castles. When this is not possible, we can provide local private guides on-site. 

Service
Your driver-guide will be available when touring overnight for up to 8 hours per day and will provide fresh water, charging points for phones, Wi-Fi and sanitising wipes. We can also offer evening transport if required.  
Your driver-guide will vacuum, clean and sanitise the vehicle every day as expected. Along with being your host, your guide and a knowledgeable friend, your driver-guide will liaise with the team in London to provide a general concierge service.

Dear Professional Travel Advisors
We are increasingly getting a clearer picture of when people can visit Britain and Ireland safely and without quarantine. 

British and Irish citizens will have access to three vaccines this winter with on-going treatment into early spring. The hope is that the most vulnerable will receive the jab first and be protected. 

We hope that this timetable is viable and the UK and Irish Government will admit foreign visitors without quarantine from easter 2021. We will update this page with newsweekly. 

We are looking forward to seeing you and your clients again, and we will be making sure our vehicles are immaculately clean and sanitised. We will have private medical practitioners test our drivers and tour guides regularly.  

From all of us here at Luxury Vacations UK  - Have a lovely Thanksgiving.

The Defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo
Arguably one of the most brilliant military strategists England had ever known he was renowned for his defensive style of warfare against numerically superior forces. He fought some 60 battles throughout his military career and was much loved by his troops who were very loyal to him. Hid crowning glory was the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 which brought peace to Europe.  

Born in 1769 into an aristocratic Irish family where, after attending a couple of schools he was sent to Eton College, an experience he hated and failed to achieve any success. Without showing much enthusiasm for anything, his mother grew increasingly concerned for her sons future saying ‘I don’t know what I shall do with my awkward son’. He enrolled into the French Royal Academy of Equitation where he became an excellent horseman and learned French. On returning home, his mother was astonished at his improvement.

A Military Career
He decided upon a military career and joined the army. As was the practice at the time he purchased a commission first as a major and then a lieutenant colonel. His first experience of action was in Flanders that did not go well for the British. Wellington realised that the failure was mainly due to the faults of the leaders and poor organisation. He remarked that he had ‘at least learned what not to do’. 

His next military campaigns were in India where he had ongoing successes fighting in several battles. Promoted to the rank of Major General, his accomplishments were in no small measure due to his strategic planning. He instilled strong discipline in his men, securing good supply lines and using scouts and spies for intelligence. Successes in the wars against Denmark and the Peninsular war followed.  

Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo in 1815 was to become his defining victory. His planning and strategic skills resulted in the defeat of Napoleon. The battle was to become the most famous in all of British history and destroyed the dream of a Napoleonic empire forever. Except for the Crimean war and a quick Franco-Prussian war Wellingtons, actions had ensured peace in Europe for almost a century. Without the need to devote resources to war, Britain was able to concentrate on developing our trading activities. 

Return to England
So grateful was the nation that on his return to England, the public regarded him as a hero, formally honoured, and given £400,000 (worth some £5.8M in today’s money). He was also given an estate in Stratfield Saye near Basingstoke in Hampshire. Wellington made plans to demolish the existing building and build a property to rival Blenheim Palace. It was to be called Waterloo Palace but proved too expensive, and the designs dropped. Today the stables house the Wellington Exhibition and among the exhibits are the cast bronze funeral carriage made from melted down French cannons which had been captured at the battle. A commemorative column stands at the entrance. Wellington’s horse, Copenhagen, is also buried here. 

Parliamentary Career
On his return to England, he entered parliament as a member of the Tory party. He was elected leader becoming Prime Minister in 1828. (He was to become PM twice). He was not a natural orator, and his debating skills led to his parliamentary career being less successful than his military exploits. After his first cabinet meeting, he was heard to exclaim, ‘An extraordinary affair, I gave them my orders, and they wanted to stay and discuss them’. 

His strong conservative views dented his popularity. He introduced Catholic emancipation, which granted civil rights to Catholics. Another bill, the Reform Act, was also to prove unpopular and mobs stormed his London home, Apsley House, forcing him to install iron shutters. For this, he became known as the Iron Duke. Today, opposite his house on Hyde Park Corner is a statue of the Duke mounted on his horse, Copenhagen. Nearby is Wellington Arch which was originally the entrance to Buckingham Palace. It is crowned by the most massive bronze sculpture in Europe and is well worth a visit.

Death and Funeral
His death in 1852 resulted in one of the most significant public events of the 19th century. Ten thousand marchers formed the funeral procession and over one and a half million people lined the streets of London, to watch his funeral procession. Wellington was buried alongside our great naval hero Lord Nelson. The windows of St Pauls were draped with heavy black cloth, and 6,000 new gas lights lit the dome and the whispering gallery.  Queen Victoria attended and wrote ‘the GREATEST man this country has ever produced’.

Overview by Graham Saunders
Driver guide

Britain was a world leader and originator of the first-ever steam locomotive to carry passengers. George Stephenson's Locomotion No. 1 first transported passengers from Stockton to Darlington in 1825. Shortly afterwards in 1830, Stephenson operated the first public inter-city railway, connecting Liverpool and Manchester. Please see George Stephenson's 'advanced' Rocket on display in the Science Museum in London. Britain continued to develop a vast network of railways in the UK, around the Empire and invested in the American railway network. 

Now you can enjoy a scenic journey on the Jacobite Express. The 84-mile return trip starts at the base of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, before heading over the 21 arched Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by scenes in the Harry Potter movie series. The Jacobite Express charges pass rivers, valleys and arriving beside the deepest seawater loch in Europe, the mysterious Loch Nevis. At the end of the line, stop in Mallaig for fish and chips before heading back to Fort William. 

You can depart the train and have our driver-guide meet you and continue your trip to the Isle of Skye. Our travel designers will book tickets for the car ferry from Mallaig to be timed so that you can reach your final stop on Skye for afternoon tea time. Please take a look at our suggested private tours of Scotland.

Touring Scotland is a real adventure, and people are always amazed by the astonishing landscapes. Visitors still expect to see the lovely countryside, but most are blown away by the beauty. 

Touring the Highlands with a driver-guide, allows the visitor to enjoy the landscapes, stop whenever they wish and enjoy a glass of wine for lunch.  Having guide take you around an ancient castle, climbing all the turrets and strolling through vast estates, can be a wee bit tiring, in a good way. As you gently fall asleep in the back of the luxury SUV or Limo, your focused driver-guide is getting you back to your hotel safely and comfortably. 

Flexibility is key to the success of this style of touring; you don’t want to be told when you are leaving or how long you should stay somewhere. A professional driver-guide will advise, make suggestions and be flexible on the day. 

Driving routes in Scotland are fantastic, and you will want to jump out and take pictures or go for a stroll or hike and feel the fresh air and take it all in. We like to suggest taking part in an activity, such as off-road driving, or fishing, or maybe a photography lesson. 

Gleneagles is at the top end of the hotel options, a magical resort, a magnificent playground for all members of your family, young and old. Let your time and budget allow staying for three nights. We can arrange half-day and full-day trips from the hotel with an experienced driver-guide with a luxury vehicle. 

Our suggested itineraries can be customised to match your dates, interests and pace of travel. Please take a look at our Private Tours of Scotland.

Skellig Michael is a dramatically located rock in the Atlantic ocean off the south-west coast of Ireland. The craggy island covers 44 acres and soars over 700 ft from above the crashing waves. 

Perched on a ledge is an ancient Christian monastery. The monks craved solitude, a place for contemplation. Access to settlement requires a climbing a fantastic 1,000-year-old set of steps up the cliff face. You will discover six beehive-like shelters or homes that date from the 6th-century. 

The Monks traded seal meat, eggs and feathers for cereal crops. Astonishingly the community survived until the 12th century. 

The only inhabitants today are large colonies of sea birds. 

Again it is film and tv that has provoked interest in Skellig Michael Island, which is often referred to as Star Wars Island.

BOOK YOU TRIP TO IRELAND NOW, SEE OUR SUGGESTED PRIVATE TOURS OF IRELAND HERE. 

The Iron Lady
Margaret Thatcher is remembered for being the first female British Prime Minister.  She was also the longest-serving PM of the 20th century. Thatcher was also successful in winning three general elections achieving sound majorities. She had a vision to “sound economic policies”. Her steely determination to put the country’s finances on a sound footing led to stringent policies and a firm leadership style. Several of her early accomplishments gave a hint to her character. She had read chemistry at Oxford, in itself an unusual achievement for a woman at the time. One of only nineteen female Members of Parliament when she entered parliament and, as education minister, she ended free milk for schools becoming known as ‘Thatcher, the milk snatcher’ as a result. Ultimately, she became the first female leader of the Conservative party.

The Winter of Discontent
The winter of 1979 was a low watermark for Britain. The unions had destroyed the Labour governments incomes and industrial policies, and with strikes leaving the dead unburied, rubbish uncollected for three months and endless industrial action by transport workers Britain became known as the Sick Man of Europe. A no-confidence vote in parliament heralded a general election in May 1979 which the Conservatives won with a comfortable majority of forty-three seats. Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of a country in the grip of the worst recession since the 1930s. With her flowing skirts, blonde coiffeur, handbag and court shoe, her unthreatening appearance was that of a respectable, middle-class housewife. As the country, and particularly the unions, were to discover, her appearance belied a driven, revolutionary character, with ideals far removed from the left-wing policies that had driven the country into the sand. 

The restrictive practices of the unions had permeated every level of British industry. Perversely, countries such as Japan and Germany whose economies had been devastated by the second world war had rebuilt their industries unimpeded by obstructive unions and were forging ahead. Much of British industry was state-owned with insufficient levels of productivity, high labour costs and consequently barely profitable with many needing state aid to stay afloat.  

A New Britain
Mrs Thatcher set in motion a massive privatisation program starting with British Aerospace and British Airways. The utilities followed with water and gas privatisations. Her thrust was for ordinary people, who thought that share ownership was the preserve of big business, to take a stake in the privatised industries and develop a spirit of independence. The reliance on state aid was over; uncompetitive business sectors would have to stand on their own two feet. Telecoms, steel, cars and coal were in her sights. She was determined not to continue to pour good money into badly performing state industries. A market-driven economy introduced, making Britain vastly more efficient while sacrificing old mining communities across Britain. 

Many of the old, unprofitable industries had been employing many people for many years. Whole towns and communities had grown up reliant on these businesses for work and survival. One of the inevitable consequences of this dramatic shift in policy was that unemployment rose to levels which exceeded those of the great depression of the ’30s. Manufacturing no longer formed over half of Britain’s economy. The negative impact on affected communities was severe, and Mrs Thatcher became a figure of hate for many. That hate remains as raw as ever for many even to this day. The roots for many of the social ills we have today are traced to the impact of her policies. But, unpleasant though the medicine was, the country desperately needed the radical change of direction her policies introduced.

Ronald Regan, Thatcher and Cold War
Mrs Thatcher’s Conservative government scored some notable foreign policy successes. An early success was a resolution to the long-running Rhodesian problem that saw Robert Mugabe brought to power (ultimately, he would be the problem rather than the solution). Victory in the battle for the Falkland’s did much to improve her popularity both at home and abroad. She also worked with the American President, Ronald Regan, to bring about an end to the Cold war and continued to that  ‘special relationship’ with the Americans.

To bring about the fundamental changes the country needed, required the introduction of many controversial and unpopular policies. Chief among them was the introduction of what became known as the poll tax. It was poorly presented to the public, caused widespread resentment, and lost support within the government. On top of that, cracks appeared within the cabinet over our monetary policy with the European Union. Mrs Thatcher lost support and was replaced as leader by John Major.

Loved and Hated in Equal Measure
Despite becoming the first female Prime Minister, and one of the most effective, few statues or memorials exist. She remains such a divisive figure for many that any statue or monument would become a target for unrest. After she died in 2013, her cremated remains were buried alongside those of her husband, Dennis in the Royal Hospital Chelsea following a private ceremony. 

Overview by Graham Saunders
Driver guide

Diana - The Princess of Wales
The death of the Lady Diana the Princess of Wales in a car crash in a French tunnel in 1997 plunged the world into deep shock and mourning.  From what had appeared at the outset to be a fairy tale romance and marriage to the future king of England ended in a weird nightmare. 

Diana was born in 1961 into a quasi-nobility family. Lady Diana’s parents divorced when she was just seven years old. The outcome of which meant that Diana lived with her father and stepmother. She disliked her stepmother intensely and described as a bully. Later in life, Diana described her childhood as 'very unhappy'. Academically she didn't shine but proved good at dancing and swimming.

On leaving school, she moved to London, shared a flat in Earls Court with a couple of friends, and worked at various jobs including dance instructor, nursery assistant and cleaner. 

Introduction to Prince Charles
Aged 16, she met Prince Charles who was dating her sister, at a polo weekend. Their relationship started to look serious when he invited her aboard Britannia for a sailing weekend at Cowes. She was introduced to the queen a couple of months later, and some six months later Charles proposed to her. She had just turned 20.

Marriage and Children
In July 1981 the marriage took place in St Pauls Cathedral watched by a television audience of some 750 million people around the world.  The streets leading to St Paul's were packed with another 600,000 people all hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple. Throughout the world, people had become caught up in what appeared to be the perfect story of love and romance. The fact that Diana was extremely photogenic added gloss to the magic.

June 1982 saw the arrival of son number one, Prince William, with Prince Harry following two years later. She adored both children and arranged her life around their activities.

Problems
Five years into their marriage problems began and came to light in the press. Both parties admitted to infidelities and got divorced in 1996.

The public love affair with Diana continued, and she continued her involvement with several selected charities, including people living with AIDS. Her willingness to make physical contact with people living with AIDS won her much public support, as did her high profile involvement with an organisation dedicated to clearing landmines. As a result, she found herself criticised for 'meddling in politics', a comment that reflected severely on Lord Howe who made it. She became involved with a cancer hospital in London and travelled to Pakistan to visit a newly opened cancer treatment there. She also attended a leprosy unit in Indonesia.

Death
Her death on the 31st August 1997 shook the world. The paparazzi pursued the car in which she was travelling, and the driver and her companion sustained injuries that led their deaths. Her funeral took place in the magnificent Royal church of Westminster Abbey. The location of Diana's grave is on an island in the grounds of Althorp Park which had been her family's home for many years.

Areas of Kensington Palace, her home for many years is open to the public who can visit the Kings and Queens State Apartments, Gardens, shop and stop for a coffee in the café. Please contat us and we can help you create a personalised tour of London.

Overview by Graham Saunders
Driver guide.

Nestled in the Foothills of Snowdonia

Overlooking the Conwy Valley and nestling in the Snowdonian foothills of North Wales, Bodnant Garden is the result of the vision of Henry Pochin, a scientist, businessman and politician. By the year 1874, the garden had been invested in by five generations of Henry's descendants and today covers some 80 acres.  

Dynamic multi layered garden

Comprising several gardens in one, it includes Italianate terraces, informal shrub borders stocked with plants from around the world. The Dell, a gorge garden, several notable trees, also blessed with a waterfall, a great way to stop, relax and let the sound wash your daily worries away: close your eyes and let the natural sounds permeate your mind.

For all seasons

Expansive lawns, intimate corners, grand ponds and impressive terraces, a steep wooded valley and stream, impressive plant collections and continually changing displays of colour there are always inspiring sights throughout the year.

The National Trust

Since 1949 the garden has been owned by the National Trust, and while popular, there seldom seems to be a crowd, its numerous curves and contours enable a secluded tour.  It is open year-round and each season offers its marvellous perspective, a contrast to the surrounding Snowdonia National Park. Dazzling Daffodils or a Riot of Rhododendrons, another memorable addition to any tour.

Overview by John Docherty - Driver-guide

The origins

Within the delightful Peak District National Park lies one of the great stately homes of England. Chatsworth House was begun in 1687 as an Elizabethan courtyard house for Sir William Cavendish, with much encouragement from his wife, the formidable Bess of Hardwick. Cavendish was to be the second of her four husbands and Chatsworth the first of three great houses she built.

Baroque Palace

Chatsworth House has the distinction of being the first Baroque Palace built for a subject rather than a monarch. It is a perfect example of a grand English country house. Not only is the architecture and sheer scale of the building is breathtakingly, the interior is equally impressive with fantastic decoration, luxurious furniture, numerous masterpieces and an impressive library. 

The Story

The story goes that Sir William Cavendish played an influential role in persuading William of Orange to come to England in 1688.  With the view to oust his father-in-law, King James II. As a reward he was created 1st Duke of Devonshire and the corresponding increase in salary enabled him to employ some of the best tradesmen of the day to build this magnificent house. Since then the house has been altered and enlarged by his descendants. The extensive and idyllic kept gardens were revised and enhanced in the 19th century by Sir Joseph Paxton, (designer of  The Crystal Palace – The Great Exhibition) who planted rare coniferous trees, the rock garden and added the Emperor fountain. With over 100 acres of garden, spend time in the splendour of nearly 500 years of careful cultivation.

The tour

Visitors can tour 30 rooms including the Painted Hall, State Rooms and Sculpture Gallery; the artwork spans some 4000 years from Roman and Egyptian sculpture, works by Rembrandt, Reynolds and modern artists such as Lucian Freud. Treat yourself to locally sourced foods from both the Chatsworth farm estate as well as smaller producers.  Food available from the farm shop ranges from locally sourced beef, pork, poultry, and game to a range of different cooked meats and pies from the delicatessen.

The Devonshire's, still own Chatsworth, the present occupants being the 16th generation. Whether your enthusiasm is for exquisite gardens, inviting open space, historical art or spectacular 17th Century life, Chatsworth will add to a memorable tour.

Overview written by John Docherty - Driver-Guide

Rural uplands

At the heart of the United Kingdom, the Peak District covers some 555 sq. Miles of rural upland country at the southern end of the Pennine mountain range. For a thousand years, farming was the primary source of employment with limestone quarrying for only a few hundred years! Mining, once a primary industry, has now declined.

The historic towns

Bakewell, famous for its food, is the only major town in the park and features a 13th century five arched bridge over the River Wye. It is often featured in television dramas and also in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. In 949 it is recorded under the name 'Badecanwelle', Olde English for a well or stream of a man.

With its geothermal spring the waters, the Romans created a settlement in Buxton (AD78) which rose to prominence as a spa town of which maintain a constant 28C. Due mainly to the waters, Buxton experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 18thC when the 5th duke of Devonshire started developments in the style of the spa in Bath. Another attraction is the Pavilion Gardens which date from 1871 and the Buxton Opera House from 1903.

Natural wonders

But it is the natural world that makes this area a must-visit. People explore the exposed and isolated tracts of Moorland. They wish to hike its expansive rolling plateau which is covered by Cotton-grass bogs and heather moorlands, the Peaks themselves, 'Padley Gorge', 'Winnats Pass', 'Mar Tor' (or Shivering Mountain) invite you to travel further.  Marvel at the glittering underground caves, formed over 2 million years ago Poole's Cavern offers the opportunity of walking through several chambers which extend to around 310 metres, all of which are traversable on foot.

Inspiration for writers

The Peak District has inspired many writers and artists among them, Jane Austen, who set her novel Pride and Prejudice in the Peak District. His many visits to the area inspired several of William Wordsworth's poems. Others include Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who set one of his Sherlock Holmes stories, The Terror of The Blue John Gap, in the Peak District. 

Whether you are an explorer seeking hiking trails and caves or want a relaxing time absorbing the lakes, streams or old railway lines, the Peak District offers a spectacular and memorable tour. 

Overview written by John Docherty - Driver-guide

A Welsh gem

The stunning Snowdonia National Park covers some 823 sq. Miles of widely varying and striking landscapes on the west coast of Britain. Designated a National Park, it is home to over 26,000 people and visited by thousands of tourists each year who are enchanted by its breathtaking landscapes.

Within the park is Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales which rises to 3560ft. The park is a centre for climbing enthusiasts; people who wish to avoid amateur climbers head over to the adjacent peaks, the Glyder and Carnedd ranges, which are around 3000ft. The typography of the landscape resembles the Hymulaiyas and therefor remains a training ground for the worlds top climbers. 

Snowdon Mountain Railway

A great way to see the area at its best is to ride the Snowdon Mountain Railway. A majestic mountain, place of legend – Snowdon is said to be the burial place of the giant ogre Rhita, vanquished by King Arthur. Some believe that Arthur's Knights still sleep beneath the hills.
The breathtaking view from the peak beats the likes of Stonehenge, Loch Ness, the Palace of Westminster and Giant's Causeway to be named the nation's favourite.
In contrast to the mountains, the park area sweeps down to the sea, taking in the Llyn Peninsula, an (AONB) area of outstanding natural beauty, and around 40 miles of coastline, much of it attractive sandy beaches.  

Sheep and green hills

Throughout this area of natural beauty, our tour takes us along winding smooth roads, through woodland, and across farmland. Wales is known for its high population of sheep.  While you will see cattle, beef and dairy, a third of the Welsh population of over 9 million sheep reside within the Snowdonia Park. With over 1,100 farms, the scenery is a delightful mix of the natural world.

For the adventurous, the park is a haven for walkers and climbers with favourite treks that easily roll off the tongue; Y Garn to Elidir Fawr and Cadair Idris neat Dolgellau! Three days in Snowdonia is recommended although returnees very much enjoy exploring further.

Overview written by John Docherty - Driver-guide.

Medieval military settlement

As we leave the lush Welsh valleys by road and join the Conwy Valley, we glimpse the Castle towers across the Conwy River. Situated on the scenic North Wales coast, Conwy Castle guards the crossing over the river as it flows into Conwy Bay. The castle and town walls were constructed in the 13th century for Edward I as part of his conquest of Wales. 

Turbulent history

The Castle and town survived the turbulent Middle Ages and the Civil War. It became a temporary haven for Richard II in 1399 and provided a safe haven for the forces of the Welsh Leader, Owain Glyndwr, (the last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales) in his long battle to end the English rule in Wales. 

With a rich history of defence from conflict across the centuries, Conwy has been of great significance since its construction as part of the 'Ring of Iron' – King Edward's chain of fortifications. Later, at the time of the English Civil war, the Castle was held by forces loyal to Charles I but surrendered to the parliamentarians in 1646 and further destroyed in 1665, putting it beyond repair.

Construction and restoration

With extensive restoration works carried out in the second half of the 19th century, it gained World Heritage status.  The Castle is one of the most excellent examples of 13th and early 14th-century military architecture in Europe. Vast amounts of stone came from local and overseas quarries, it is possible to walk along the Castle's 15ft thick walls which were built in the shape of a Welsh harp and are half a mile in length, with high drum towers and 21 semi-circular towers at regular intervals. A great way to step back in time and also view the quaint town and the beautiful estuary and surrounding countryside.

The three bridges

A suspension bridge spans the river.  Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1849 to replace the ferry. Telford designed the supporting towers to match the turrets of the Castle. The bridge is open to pedestrians and, together with the toll keepers house is maintained by the National trust.  In addition to Telford's Bridge, there is also a Tubular Bridge built-in 1848 for the Chester and Holyhead Railway by Robert Stephenson, famed for his work as a railway engineer. 

Tour with Bodnant Gardens

A visit to Conwy should be combined with both a tour of the fabulous Bodnant Gardens close by and a little shopping in the small walled town with its antique and art. Finish a day by visiting the most modest and smallest house in Great Britain, down be the quay, not far from a quaint little pub. 

Overview by John Docherty - Driver-guide

The beginning

An old walled city founded by the Romans in 71AD surrounds the majestic York Minster. Once named Eboracum by the Romans and later Jorvik by settling Vikings, York has for two millennia been a significant city, a wool trading point and religious centre. This attractive city with a rich legacy of historic buildings, picturesque alleyways and an almost intact circuit of medieval walls and gates invites you to wander, and one can stumble upon the Minster and marvel at its scale and grandeur.

Iconic features

Taking 250 years to build, York Minster is the second largest Gothic Cathedral in England and one of the most visited places of historic interest in Northern England. The windows are a significant feature and among the best and most breathtaking to be seen in England. They contain some two million individual pieces of glass. The Great East Window is 76ft high, and together with the Great East Window, dates from 1408 and is the largest area of medieval stained glass in anywhere in the world. The Five Sisters window each 53ft tall and 5ft wide glazed with grey glass, and the Rose window are sights that simply are 'Must-See'. 

Pillars of the earth

York Minster is the Cathedral of York and stands on a site associated with Christian worship since the seventh century. Initially built in a hurry in 627 for the baptism of Edwin, King of Northumbria, the hastily erected wooden structure was replaced with a stone building completed in 637.  Damaged by fire and hostile invaders, the building has been remodelled several times. The Cathedral today dates from 1230 when, under archbishop Walter de Gray, construction began on a Gothic style Cathedral to rival Canterbury Cathedral. Some years later (1472) the building finished and consecrated.  

Fire and restoration

Around the 1800s the Cathedral underwent a major restoration.  In 1840 the Cathedral was devastated by a fire which destroyed much of the roof - repairs were then completed in 1866. York Minster is the second largest Cathedral in Northern Europe (second only to Cologne Cathedral) and is some 524 ft. Long, with a central tower of 235 ft. High. 

Not to be missed is the 15th century stone screen, known as the Kings Screen, which separates the choir and sanctuary from the rest of the church. The screen features 15 figures of English kings from William the Conqueror through to Henry VI. It was the idea of Henry V and, due to his early death was finished by his son Henry VI.

Tour York

A memorable visit is guaranteed, the beautiful city offers many other sites, quaint shops along ancient lanes and alleyways, oh, and great beer in the numerous small pubs.

Overview by John Docherty - Driver-guide

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

Arguably the finest of Britain's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Lake District is situated in northwest England to the north of the old Lancashire mill towns. Now a regular tourist destination, it remained exclusively sheep farming country until medieval miners made use of the abundance of metals in the local rock.

With the Atlantic current bringing high volumes of rainfall, the scenery is lush, and green with rocky peaks and Tarns (from the Old Norse for 'pool' – it usually refers to a small mountain lake or pool). To see Little Langdale Tarn, Stickle Tarn or the stunning Tarn Hows in any season is to behold Britain's most exceptional untouched landscape, fishing for brown or rainbow trout, a pleasurable pastime for the few.

Enjoy the Lakes

On a grander scale, the lakes are numerous, sixteen in all and 53 smaller pools, and overlooked by our highest peaks, Scafell Pike at 3,210 feet and 20 others over 2,000 feet such as Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag, all ancient names. The stunning lakes themselves can be enjoyed by boat, on surrounding footpaths or seen in all glory, from the comfort of our tour car, we usually let the weather decide which. 

Beatrix Potter and others

Famous children's author, Beatrix Potter so loved the Lakes that she was inspired to draw and write about the wildlife which surrounded her. When she died in 1943, she left fourteen farms and over 4000 acres of land to The National Trust along with her flocks of Herdwick sheep. The Lake District has inspired many other writers and poets among them, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey, Ruskin.

Wildlife

Today's wildlife is plentiful and varied, enjoy watching a scurry of Squirrels, a romp of Otter, a parcel of Red Deer or marvel at a cast of Peregrine Falcon, the fighter jet of the natural world! Red deer are the largest found in England and can reach a height of 1.2 metres at the shoulder. The males have strikingly large, branching antlers that increase in size as they get older. The famous golden eagle is the second largest bird of prey in the UK, and there is one in the Lake District, he's a tricky one to spot mind, but the wait is worth it. No longer resident, the area was once home to wolves, beavers, lynx, aurochs - large cows with long horns - and European Brown Bears, a relative of the American Grizzly Bear.

Shopping

The area has a long association with beautiful garments, cloth made at Shap Abbey was exported as far away as Italy! In 1315, an Italian wool buyers listed names Ciappi in Vestrebellanda - Shap in Westmorland - as one of his suppliers in the British Isles.

With excellent hotels, breathtaking views, outdoor activities and stunning wildlife, our Lake District deserves its reputation and your visit. 

Overview by John Docherty, Driver-guide

In the beginning

With its origins lying in ancient migration, probably introduced here around 4500BC from Syria, farming on the British Isles is its primary industry. Climate enabled these islands to have fertile land and after centuries of small-scale farming, the Roman invasion, AD43, brought structure and scale, roads and cities, which shaped the next 400 years. Britannia was essential to Rome as emperors had for centuries promised its people Bread! 

Originally Wheat and barley were grown in small plots near the family home. Sheep, goats and cattle came in from mainland Europe, and pigs were domesticated from wild boar already living in forests. 

The Black death and monastic farms

Agriculture boomed in the mid-1600s after the Dissolution of the Monasteries with land ownership transferring from the churches and newfound efficiency bringing the wealth that funded Henry VII naval ambitions, continued through Queen Elizabeth to the British Empire. The Black Death (1350ad) decimated a third of the population. Between 1750 & 1850 the population tripled, it becomes a priority to improve farming efficiency, to the point that Britain had the lowest percentage of its population working on farms.

Efficiency and quality

Despite a real variety in soil structure, 70% of land in England is farmed. The high quality of products is world-renowned, not just meats and produce but animal skins and furs. The British trademark remains strong. Four crop rotation was introduced in the mid-1700s with the simple Turnip, less fallow land time as Turnip roots, for example, can recover nutrients from deep under the soil.

The increase in food availability contributed to the massive increase of population in Wales and England, to over 9 million by 1801 from 5.5 million in 1700. However, domestic production gave way increasingly to food imports in the nineteenth century as the population more than tripled to over 35 million.

Sparkling wine to rival Champagne

Wine is the NEW boom segment of UK farming. The Romans introduced winemaking to England, and even tried to grow grapes as far north as Lincolnshire; now the south-eastern counties vineyards are making delightful wines. We regularly operate private wine tasting and vineyard tours from London and from hotels in Kent and Sussex, the heart of England's wine region.

Today

Currently, there are 17,000 dairy farms, average herd 86, and 41,000 sheep farms, Wales having a high percentage of sheep comparatively. Britain has the second largest sheep herds on earth.

Today. 475,000 people work in the farming industry, producing some of the finest food in the world. Check our our gastro tour of London markets. 

Overview by John Docherty, Driver-guide

Dear travel agents, friends, and potential clients,

COVID 19 has made 2020 a strange year, to say the least, unprecedented, I would say. 

We are looking forward; we believe this crisis will be over pretty soon, the will is there from every nation on earth. 

We certainly do not want you to commit to visiting Britain or Ireland and book tours with us if we have more problems later this summer. I can imagine the fear of quarantine in a foreign country is a 'put off' to put in mildly. With this in mind, we want to approach the situation sensibly and help plan your trip to the UK worry-free, until we are sure that quarantine or another COVID 19 flare-up will not alter your tour with us. We are willing to plan and offer quotations for tours that take place in September, and into the future. There is a high chance the pandemic will be under control or managed to the point that we can travel safely without fear. 

Accurate information regarding the UK Lockdown; The UK is gradually opening up.

We have one COVID hurdle remaining, and that is quarantine. Once the US has control over COVID, visiting the UK will be as normal as it can get with the added benefit of less crowding at places of interest.

I would suggest you recommend to your US clients to make bookings with us for September onwards. Within the next month, we should have a clearer picture of the situation in the USA and any lifting of quarantine.

As you can see from the list below, visiting the UK from 4th July is a possibility if you have European clients.

From 4th July, many businesses and venues will be permitted to reopen and will be expected to follow COVID-19 Secure guidelines. These include:

• hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast accommodation, holiday apartments or homes, cottages or bungalows, campsites, caravan parks or boarding houses
• places of worship
• libraries
• community centres
• restaurants, cafes, workplace canteens, bars, pubs that are self-contained and can be accessed from the outside
• hair salons and barbers, including mobile businesses
• cinemas
• theatres and concert halls
• funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities
• outdoor gyms and playgrounds
• museums and galleries
• outdoor skating rinks
• amusement arcades and other entertainment centres
• model villages
• social clubs
• indoor attractions at aquariums, zoos, safari parks, farms, wildlife centres and any place where animals are exhibited to the public as an attraction
• indoor and outdoor areas of visitor attractions including, gardens, heritage sites, film studios and landmarks

We look forward to touring with us very soon. 

Kind Regards
Andrew Stevens
Director

The Cotswolds

A triangular region of natural beauty in the west of England edged by the historic cities of Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bath. The Fosse Way, a Roman road runs through the middle and remains in use today.

With limestone being the dominant stone, buildings from the middle ages have reflected that local resource. Therefore the colour is unique to this area, albeit each quarry has its shade, each village has a different colour tone. The golden limestone is also the choice of roofing material, sliced into rectangle sheets and nailed to thick oak beams. There are a few locations where straw-thatching is a preferred roofing material, which is satisfying to see. Visitors marvel at the 4,000 miles of stone walls enclosing farmland within the rolling hills. When touring with visitors, I like to suggest a stop at an ancient woollen mill, along with cake and tea by a 500-year-old limestone fireplace, so stress relieving. The region has over 800 square miles of small fields, beautiful churches and micro villages; this is old England.

The wool

Six counties share the right to call the Cotswolds their own, and the rivers Thames, Severn and Avon each provide trading routes through the region. The high-end trade-in wool is the origins of local wealth; the source is the Cotswold Lion (Sheep) producing a ball of refined, silky yarn, ideal for clothing. The raw product was particularly popular with Italian traders due to its attributes of warmth, softness, and look.

The wealth

The proceeds of the wool trade helped fund the many village churches that still exist, the 13th and  14th centuries being a boom time for the area. On approach to each unique village, we catch a glimpse of the modest Norman tower or the beautiful Gothic Lancet window with the sun reacting to the old stained glass. Many village churches are open to visitors, and even a short tour we have time to unlock secrets of its past, discover a knights tomb and marvel at the church craftsmanship.

The Romans

At the southern tip of the region, near Cirencester sits the Roman Villa of Chedworth.  This 2nd-century exhibit to the life of a Roman nobleman is rich in evidence of a luxury lifestyle with its large mosaic floors, hypocaust systems and bathhouse rooms. Combine this stop with a day trip to nearby Bath, for a journey back nearly 2,000 years and see the best-preserved Roman Baths in the world, in the City of Bath. 

Lacock Village - a real film set

The name Lacock dates from Saxon times when the earliest permanent settlers lived by the Bide Brook, which runs through the middle of the town. They called it lacuc or 'little stream'. Fans of television and film may decide to visit the historic Lacock Abbey as part of their tour. Its appearances on screen include Harry Potter, Wolf Hall and Pride and Prejudice, the Abbey featured in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Lacock Abbey started as a nunnery, then became a Tudor family home; this was common after the Dissolution-of-the-Monastries (1534-40). The vast confiscated the monastic estates and sold them off at low prices.  Religious buildings transformed from places of worship into lavish homes for their new owners. The last owners were the Talbots, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877) pioneered a process of creating light-fast permanent photographs, a museum at the house details the history. 

Pubs
We tend to take pub lunches very seriously at Luxury Vacations UK, its great fun to have a couple of lunches while on tour at a proper gastropub, it is a real treat – world-class food without all the fuss. Visiting the Cotswolds for any length of time and not having a pub lunch is just not done. 

England's most beautiful and best-preserved villages are within the Cotswolds, notably Castle Combe and Bibury. The preserved modest living of English country folk is in these quaint hidden places. The region remains unspoilt by large towns, and any new building must adopt the original style and scale of yesteryear making the Cotswolds an intriguing place to see. Hotels, pubs, restaurants are of classic style; the Cotswolds leaves modernity behind in most cases. We know all the best places to stay while touring.

Kim Fanshawe
Driver-Guide