There’s never been a better time to visit the UK and discover some GREAT British moments! The current exchange rate makes Britain the best value in many years and there are lots of great offers in the marketplace and excellent fares from Canada.
Once you arrive your wallet can stay in your pocket more than you might expect. Visitors enjoy free admission to galleries and museums in all the major British cities, and you can also step inside many of Britain’s fine cathedrals and ancient churches for free. Another tip is to join the free guided walks found in most cities. For instance - take a tour that includes the iconic Royal Crescent in the gorgeous Georgian city of Bath. Eating out in Britain doesn’t have to break the bank either - great value food is to be found in pubs, fish and chip shops and market stalls wherever you go.
You may also want to consider a Trafalgar guided vacation as a cost effective way to tour around Britain. Your guided vacation is pre-paid in Canadian dollars and includes so much – transport, accommodation, many meals, entrance to major attractions and more. Thanks to Trafalgar’s huge buying power you can be sure that your vacation dollars will take you as far as possible.
The stunning countryside and gardens of Britain stretch from the spectacular coastline of Cornwall to the heart stopping beauty of the Scottish Highlands. The depth of British culture gives us everything from Shakespeare to the Beatles, and its rich history and traditions span medieval cities and castles to the world’s longest reigning monarch. It all comes in a diverse patchwork where local accents and cuisine can be quite different within a few miles of each other.
Partly due to our common heritage, Canadians will find themselves in a familiar country that is safe and presents no language barriers. In the latest survey - over 6.5 million Canadians listed themselves as being of English origin, and another 4.5 million listed themselves as Scottish. Which is more than, for example, the 4 million who list themselves as being of Irish descent!
Britain is a great destination for all ages and members of the family, so if you are travelling as a multi-generational group everyone will find activities to suit. London theatre is booming with plays appropriate for all ages and the whole family will enjoy following in the footsteps of their favourite films and TV series – Poldark, Victoria, Downton Abbey, Sherlock Holmes or Harry Potter, to name just a few. Without doubt, Britain’s Museums and Galleries represent some of the greatest cultural institutions in the world. Kids will love the new Blue Whale exhibit coming to the Natural History Museum this summer (to replace the famous Diplodocus) or the new Hadrian's Cavalry exhibition that recreates the life of the elite Roman Cavalry regiments who guarded Hadrian’s Wall. Not to mention Britain’s landscape gardens, stately homes, castles and cathedrals that are all part of the rich culture and heritage that you can explore together as a family.
To help you plan your trip to Britain - check out the website at www.visitbritain.com for in depth information and some great savings at the VisitBritain Shop. Here you can buy travel passes online such as London Subway cards and Hop on Hop off bus passes as well as attraction and entrance passes e.g. National Trust and English Heritage Passes that help you make the best of your trip to Britain.
In 2017 Britain is celebrating many exciting cultural anniversaries, including the “Year of Literary Heroes” which allows you to tap into the deep vein of British literary heritage. This is the land of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf and so many more literary giants.
200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen. One of the most widely read authors in English literature, Jane Austen died on 18 July 1817 in Winchester, England. Austen fans can visit Jane Austen's former home in Chawton, near Alton in Hampshire, just around an hour by train from London.
You can also visit Bath, the setting for two of Jane Austen’s novels - Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. There are special Jane Austen walking tours as well as the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, dedicated to the novelist’s time spent living there. The Centre offers a snapshot of what it would be like to live in the Regency times and the fashion, food and society that would have inspired Austen’s timeless novels.
125th anniversary of Sherlock Holmes
Celebrate the 125th anniversary of the first Sherlock Holmes short story published in 1892 by Scottish author and physician, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the popular TV series starring Benedict Cumberbatch London is almost a character in itself in the Sherlock stories. You can visit some of his favorite haunts, including 221B Baker Street (it doesn't actually exist, the exterior of the flat as seen in the TV series, is shot in this quieter west London road, 25 minutes' walk from Baker Street, at 187 North Gower Street). Other destinations include The Sherlock Holmes Museum and The Sherlock Homes Pub in Westminster that is stuffed with memorabilia, including Dr Watson's old service revolver and his favourite food, Cumberland sausages.
20th anniversary of Harry Potter
In 2017 it is 20 years since the first Harry Potter Book was published. J.K. Rowling's first novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released on 30 June 1997. All eight movies were filmed in Britain, with locations spanning England, Scotland and Wales.
While in London, Potter fans shouldn't miss a priceless photo opportunity at Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station. Would-be sorcerers can try their hand at pushing a trolley through the brick wall between platforms nine and ten, otherwise known as the portal to the wizarding world. And a must-visit for any discerning Harry Potter fan is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – “The Making of Harry Potter”.
To celebrate the Harry Potter anniversary, The British Library in London is also launching a new exhibition about the magic of Harry Potter. Set to open on 20 October 2017 it will run until 28 February 2018. From medieval descriptions of dragons and griffins to the origins of the philosopher's stone, the exhibition will take readers on a journey to the heart of the Harry Potter stories.
70th anniversary of Edinburgh Festivals
Led by the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festivals were born in 1947 as a platform to celebrate art and culture and to bring nations together once again after global conflict. The Edinburgh Festival is a wonderful celebration of the arts and the popular Edinburgh Tattoo is a must see in August.
25th anniversary of Premier League Football.
The world-famous Premier League turns 25 in 2017. Following Premier League football can be a way to discover some of Britain's most exciting cities - reaching from the far north-east of England (Newcastle) to the south of Wales (Swansea), over to London and across to the hip cities of north-west England (Manchester and Liverpool). You can also explore behind the scenes at many stadiums run tours.
Soccer is an inextricable part of British culture and attending a match is an unforgettable experience. It should be high up on the must-do list of any visitor to Britain. This year one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, and one of the most prestigious club competitions in European football, the UEFA Champions League Final, will be played in Cardiff.
As well as the “Year of Literary Heroes” in Britain, Scotland is celebrating the “Year of History, Heritage & Archaeology”. Combine ancient monuments and famous battlefields with a celebration of legendary myths, folklore and unearthed gems. Explore ancient sites that date from the Neolithic era, uncover the history of the Scottish clans and taste whisky and local delicacies that have been hand crafted in Scotland for hundreds of years. Meanwhile Wales, land of dragons and wizards, is celebrating the Year of Legends, giving visitors the opportunity to explore Wales' distinctive history, culture, heritage and mythology.
Trafalgar has been creating exceptional guided vacations for almost 70 years, so consider one of their trips that explores Britain. Not only do Trafalgar offer great value but they also make travelling effortless, authentic and fun. Providing travel experiences rather than tours, Trafalgar’s perfectly planned itineraries ensure that you see all the key sights. There is no need for you to be embroiled in all the logistics and planning - Trafalgar arrange everything including transport, accommodation, luggage handling and VIP access to major attractions. In Canada Trafalgar has been voted the best motor coach tour operator for 15 years running by travel agents and globally Trafalgar have won 50 trade and consumer awards.
Together with the Trafalgar behind-the-scenes team, your Travel Director will attend to every detail of your trip so all your time can be spent enjoying your holiday. The importance of the Travel Director cannot be overstated - it is like having a friend in Britain ready to welcome you, make sure you meet the locals and introduce you to the country’s hidden treasures. Itineraries often have free time built in and the Tour Director will always be there to help you with advice if there is something that you especially want to see or do.
Most importantly the Tour Director is there to make sure that you enjoy your vacation! It starts with the fact that everything is taken care of so you are stress free and therefore able to relax and enjoy yourself. You also have free time to unwind and explore at your own pace. It continues with your like-minded travel companions from around the world - lifelong friendships have been forged on a Trafalgar vacation! Altogether it is a very social experience - sharing amazing insights and fabulous meals with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.
The hallmarks of a Trafalgar guided vacation are authentic activities and cultural insights. “Be my Guest” dining is designed to help you discover the “real” Britain while meeting local people in their own homes. Check out the different itineraries to find the experience that most appeals to you. Examples are having lunch with the Dyer family on their 15th century dairy farm in Somerset, complete with home-made ice-cream, on the “Best of Britain” tour. Or, on the “Best of Scotland” tour, join the Wood family at their 15th century historical farm on the shores of Loch Ard for a home-cooked Scottish dinner, tales of Rob Roy and a few foot-tapping Ceilidh tunes.
Thanks to Trafalgar’s local knowledge, all your accommodation is hand-picked for quality, character and location. But some tours stop at authentic hotels that really capture local culture in a unique light. How special to stay at the Tudor-style Mercure Shakespeare, located in the heart of Shakespeare country, on the “Wonders of Britain and Ireland” tour. And how exciting to stay in a castle such as the13th century Ruthin Castle in North Wales, with its original moat and acres of parkland, on the “Castle and Kilts” tour.
There are many itineraries with Trafalgar that feature Britain either by itself or included with other neighbouring countries in Europe. The itinerary you choose will always be a balance of the time that you have available and your budget. Trafalgar have different types of tour, and different lengths of tour, so you have lots of options.
At LeisureTours
Enjoy later starts and longer stays at a more leisurely pace e.g. “London Explorer”. You have lots of time to explore - 4 of the 8 days of this tour have “at leisure time” so you can look up Harry Potter or Sherlock Holmes or the new Blue Whale exhibit at the National History Museum….
Country Tours
These are tours that take in as much as possible of the whole country e.g. “Best of Britain” or which explore only one part of Britain e.g. “Best of Devon and Cornwall” and “Best of Scotland”.
Regional Explorer
These are tours of Britain that also include other countries e.g. “Britain and Ireland Grandeur”.
Family Vacations
For families travelling together these tours are designed so everyone can learn and have fun e.g “Castles and Kilts”.
Special Focus Tours
Tours may cater to a special interest – for example fans of the TV drama series will love the “Highland Tour Inspired by Outlander”.
If there are special events that you would like to attend then you may be able to time your Trafalgar guided vacation to include this as well. For example - with the “England’s Castles, Manors and Gardens” tour, if you go in May, the tour includes a visit to the famous Chelsea Flower Show. And with the “Best of Scotland” tour if you go in August then tickets are included for the Edinburgh Tattoo.
CostSaver
These tours are the perfect way to discover a destination for the first time e.g. the “England and Scotland Heritage” tour. You’ll enjoy incredible inclusions and unbeatable value on every trip. They represent great savings versus the cost of doing it yourself.
A popular idea is to add on some extra days at the beginning or end of your Trafalgar trip to allow time for independent exploration. It is also quite common for travellers to decide to take two Trafalgar tours back to back – for instance combining the “London Explorer” with a second tour that takes in the whole of Britain.
Faced with so much choice it makes sense to turn to your travel agent for advice. An experienced Travel Agent will likely have travelled personally with Trafalgar and will be familiar with all the different itineraries. The Trafalgar website at www.trafalgar.com is also an excellent source of information, including reviews posted by Trafalgar guest, through a 3rd party review engine called FEEFO. In 2016 alone there were close to 15,000 reviews with individual ratings on particular guided vacations. It’s a great way to find additional information and inspiration and to help you decide on the perfect itinerary for you.
Want to know more about the destination? Check out Chris' Travel Notes!
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