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BATH
& LONGLEAT BY ORIENT EXPRESS
Experience the luxury of travelling in magnificent style and comfort
on board the British Pullman carriages of the VSOE, on an exclusive
private roundtrip charter! Enjoy a champagne breakfast aboard before
you visit the ancient Roman Baths, Georgian Pump Rooms, Bath Abbey,
and the splendour of the Regency town houses and terraces of the
City of Bath. Then you will take an afternoon coach excursion to
Longleat, the Stately Home of the Marquess of Bath, one of the most
splendid English country houses, where selected treasures are displayed
including a superb copy of the first folio of Shakespeare's works,
letters of Elizabeth I, and Talleyrand's desk on which the Treaty
of Vienna was signed in 1815. Then you dine sumptuously aboard the
VSOE on the way back to London. The carriages are some of those used
on the old Orient Express run in the grand days of railway travel,
having been restored throughout to their former elegance, each differently
decorated but all attractively panelled in polished rosewood, ash
or mahogany, with deep armchairs and dining tables set with fine
china, crystal and silver. Plaques in each carriage show the names
of famous passengers and royalty who have travelled on board : Edward,
Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII; the Duke & Duchess
of York, later King George VI & Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother;
Herbert Hoover, before being elected President of the United States;
the Aga Khan and Ali Khan, to name but a few. Even an "Agatha
Christie Murder" can be "arranged" during your journey!
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SEE
LONDON LIKE A MILLIONAIRE ! - HARRODS & SPECIALITY SHOPPING
Be collected from your hotel in your own private chauffeur-driven
car (per couple) or limousine (four persons)! This day, whilst freshening
the memory with an orientation of the major sights and landmarks
of the West End of London, concentrates on the possibilities for
speciality shopping that London, one of the world's premier shopping
cities and a shopper's paradise, has to offer. Travelling in total
luxury you will visit number of such speciality shops and stores,
all bearing the "Royal Warrant" (the Royal Coat of Arms,
placed on the outside of the building signifying that the shop has
been appointed as purveyor of its goods to one of the members of
the Royal Family and thus has Royal Patronage) - for example, Thomas
Goode in South Audley Street (china, glassware and antiques), Penhaligon's
in Covent Garden (perfumes, soaps and cosmetics) and Paxtons &
Whitfield in Jermyn Street (finest cheeses, hams, pates and home-made
pies). These are all small private shops and a family representative
will be on hand in each to illustrate its colourful history and
tradition. A sumptuous breakfast will be offered in Fortnum &
Masons; there will be a hosted visit to Burberry's (uniquely-labelled
ladies' and gentlemen's outfitters), where traditional morning coffee
and biscuits will be served during a specially laid on Fashion Show;
in the afternoon you will visit Harrods, probably the world's most
famous department store, situated in fashionable Knightsbridge (beautiful
Edwardian Food and Meat Halls, children's, men's and women's fashion
departments, cosmetics, perfume and accessories sections), where
a full afternoon tea is offered in Harrod's beautiful Georgian Restaurant.
And do not forget, your chauffeur is at hand to ferry you wherever
you wish!
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HISTORIC
YORK BY TRAIN
In just over two hours in a first class carriage of the high speed
train you reach York, one of the most enchanting cities in England,
a medieval city still retaining most of its original Roman walls
and protecting gates, which has meant that through the ages the
centre of York has not been easily redeveloped and is still substantially
the same as it was four hundred years ago! Taking breakfast served
on board and travelling by the most modern of trains, what more
appropriate way to arrive in historic York, which is also called
the "railway city". York stood at the confluence of many
of the railways constructed during the last century and became an
important location in the UK railway network. On arrival at the
station, you are escorted on the short walk into the centre, to
visit to magnificent Minster (cathedral), then through the "Shambles"
(narrow, cobbled streets) to the Merchant Adventurers Hall, the
ancient HQ of York's most famous Medieval Guild (precursor of a
modern Trades Union), before continuing to the Jorvik Centre, an
interactive representation of York as it must have been when it
was settled by the Vikings over a thousand years ago. Finally, there
will be a special private tour of York Railway Museum, before boarding
the train for dinner served during the return to London
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THE MANX
EXPERIENCE - DAY TRIP BY AIR
A private jet charter from London City Airport in the heart of London's
Docklands flashes you to the Isle of Man! This little-known island
in the Irish Sea, a tax haven largely unspoilt by modernisation,
probably most famous as the site of the "Manx TT" (the
world-famous annual summer motor cycle event), Man presents an interesting
mixture of countryside, villages, towns, a lush northern plain,
a bold mountain range along its backbone, and all sorts of natural
beauty, even sub-tropical flora in some of the sheltered coves along
the rocky coastline. But most fascinating is that much of it is
largely unchanged since it was developed during the last century.
After a reception at Castle Rushen, medieval base of the Lords of
Man, where champagne and minstrels welcome you, you will drive into
Douglas (main town of the island) and follow the coastal route to
the charming village of Laxey to see Laxey Wheel (a huge Victorian
wheel built to power a water pump in the mines below), before taking
privately-chartered, original 1890's rail-trams to the top of Snaefel
Mountain, the highest on the isle. Returning from the peak, you
will debark at an intermediate station, right on the TT course,
where coaches will take you along the spectacular mountainous road
to the tavern at Creg-ny-Baa for buffet lunch served on a balcony
overlooking the course. Returning to Douglas via Tynwald, ancient
hillside seat of Manx government, you will continue to the old steam
railway station to board a privately-chartered, original 19th century
locomotive and its quaint directors' carriages to go back to the
airport for the return flight
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THE
SPORT OF KINGS - A DAY AT THE RACES
Horse racing is known as the "Sport of Kings" - a day
out at one of England's premier courses can be a very exciting experience,
both in terms of the visual aspect for the spectator watching pedigree
thoroughbreds charging round the luscious grass track at speeds
in excess of thirty mph and also in terms of waiting to see if the
horse on which one has had a "flutter" wins or not! There
are many courses within easy access of London, for example, Ascot
(the Royal Meeting Week is in June), Epsom (the scene of the famous
Derby each May), Kempton Park, Sandown Park, and Windsor. Race meetings
are held throughout the year, covering both "Flat" racing
(sprint and distance races) and "National Hunt" racing
over the "Jumps" and "Sticks" as they are colloquially
known (hurdle and steeplechase races of which the most well-known
meetings are the Grand National held at Aintree, Liverpool and the
Cheltenham Gold Cup). Over seven thousand horses in training annually
in the UK participate in competitive races according to their ability,
each with the chance of winning what can be substantial prize-money.
Your day will include transfers by private deluxe motor coach, during
which your escort will explain the intricacies of "studying
the form" and how to place a bet, walks around the paddock
to view the horses close up, lunch in a private box in the Members
Enclosure (which allows perfect unrestricted viewing and protection
against inclement weather), and afternoon cream tea. The day may
be enhanced by upgrading transportation to a fleet of elegant limousines
or "executive" coaches, aboard which champagne and canapés
or other refreshments can be served
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LORD
MONTAGUE'S MOTOR MUSEUM AT BEAULIEU
Lord Montague's stately home, Beaulieu, lies in the rolling countryside
of the New Forest. The House is relatively small, converted from
part of an old monastery, but is easy to visit and contains fascinating
memorabilia of the Montague family - furniture and fittings that
remind visitors of times gone by! Now it is the estate for which
Beaulieu is justly famous - Lord Montague continued a tradition
started by his father, building up one of the largest collections
of motorised transport in the world and turning it into the National
Motor Museum. You drive out, briefly visiting en route Stonehenge,
that mysterious, prehistoric circle of stones dating back at least
five thousand years .... even today scholars still argue about why
Stone Age mankind built this structure and wonder how they did so
without the aid of modern machinery! Then Salisbury, a beautiful
Medieval city with a magnificent Cathedral. On arrival at Beaulieu
there awaits a reception and lunch, served in a marquee close to
the Museum in an exclusive area of the grounds, after which you
will tour the Museum itself and participate in a special Motor Rally,
personally hosted by Lord Montague, involving many vehicles from
the collection, both old and new - You will be invited to ride in
these vehicles and to participate in special driving tests and circuits.
The Rally's highlight will be a presentation of the most modern
motoring technology, which will be compared to examples of the oldest!
During the afternoon, you are able to enjoy the other attractions
at Beaulieu, including high-level monorail rides, a splendid exhibition
of model railway and superb gardens. A traditional afternoon tea
served in the marquee precedes the return to London
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THAMES
VALLEY HERITAGE TRIP
This is a very special day and a fabulous opportunity to meet and
be entertained by owners of historic homes in the country! You are
taken by coach to Broughton Castle, near Banbury, owned by the Lord
Saye & Seele, for a private tour, hosted by the owner. This
is a most imposing, historic, moated, Medieval castle with Jacobean
additions, with particular connections with the English Civil War
("Roundheads" versus "Cavaliers"). A traditional
Sunday Roast lunch will be provided in the typically quaint, old,
"off-the-beaten-track" village pub, the "Blinking
Owl", in nearby North Newington. You have the opportunity to
"walk off" your lunch during a brief visit to the "Dreaming
Spires", the university city of Oxford. Then from here you
will taken to the village of Milton, near Abingdon, for a private
hosted tour of Milton Manor and tea in the Strawberry Gothick library.
Milton is a charming Restoration country home, owned by Mr &
Mrs Anthony Mockler-Barrett, with its beautiful chapel, unique teapot
collection, where miniature pigs run free like pet dogs, and about
which the late Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, waxed lyrical.
Finally, you drive down the Thames Valley, past Stonor Park, a major
seat of Catholicism in England, through Henley-on-Thames, venue
for the famous Henley Rowing Regatta and Arts Festival (July), to
Boulter's Lock in Maidenhead to board a riverboat for an evening
cruise along the balmy upper reaches of the River Thames, with cocktails
aboard, then dinner served to the accompaniment of an Eton Boating
Jazz Trio.
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SHAKESPEARE
COUNTRY - BUT WITH A DIFFERENCE !
No visit to England is complete without seeing Stratford-upon-Avon!
After a brief visit to Oxford with a visit to one of the University
Colleges in the "City of the Dreaming Spires", such as
Brazenose or Christ Church College, lunch will be taken at the half-timbered
Shakespeare Hotel in the centre of Stratford, where the Bard's favourite
character, "Sir John Falstaff", will, after offering the
assembled company a glass of his favourite tipple, Dry Sac, jump
from the pages of theatrical scroll to regale his audience with
snippets penned by Shakespeare's quill. After lunch, you visit two
of the famous Shakespearian properties, Anne Hathaway's Cottage
and William Shakespeare's Birthplace, with time to shop in this
delightful town on the banks of the Avon. In the early evening you
continue to Ragley Hall, in the nearby village of Alcester, to be
welcomed for a privately-hosted Champagne Tour of his Palladian
stately home, by the incumbent Earl of Yarmouth, heir to the Marquess
of Hertford. A vast mansion in its own parkland acreage, Ragley
Hall was built for the Seymour family in 1680 and houses magnificent
Baroque plaster ceilings, a collection of fine paintings, china,
furniture, and works of art including the mural "The Temptation".
After one's taste-buds have been whet with the charismatic style
of the role that Ragley Hall plays in rural life of the Heart of
England, you journey on through the Cotswolds, to break the boredom
of a motorway drive in rush-hour traffic conditions, for a sumptuous
Pub Supper at one of the typically characterful wayside inn which
abound in the area, en route back to London
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THE
WEST COUNTRY BY HELICOPTER
This incorporates the most spectacular of elements! You will go
by coach to Denham Aerodrome, to the west of London. Here you will
board a fleet of small "Squirrel" helicopters to fly to
Bath. The flight path takes you over Winchester Cathedral, Salisbury
Cathedral, and you will "buzz" Stonehenge, giving you
the opportunity to photograph the most stunning aerial views of
the prehistoric stone circle. Similarly, you will get the most perfect
vista of the architectural symmetry of the layout of the Georgian
spa city of Bath as you land at the Bath Spa Hotel, where refreshments
will be served on arrival. From here you will enjoy a walking tour
of the City, visiting the ancient Roman Baths, Pump Rooms, and Assembly
Rooms. Your "executive" coach (air-conditioned, fitted
with WC, hot & cold drinks machine, icebox, bar facilities,
and tables) will take you out to Laycock, a unique & perfectly
preserved Medieval village. Here a "Ploughman's Platter"
lunch will be provided at the lovely "Sign of the Angel".
You will then route through the picturesque & quaintly-named
villages of the Southern Cotswolds, with stops to browse in their
antiques & local crafts shops. A traditional pub supper will
be provided at the charismatic Jerome K.Jerome's "Beetle &
Wedge" in Moulsford-on-Thames en route back to London (The
coach's bar can be stocked to provide refreshments during the journey)
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DAY
TRIP TO THE "CITY OF LIGHT" - PARIS VIA THE CHANNEL TUNNEL
An unforgettable day begins with the short drive to Waterloo to
the ultra-modern, central London terminal of the high-speed Euro star,
where, within minutes, you are on your way from London to Paris
aboard one of the wonders of the contemporary world. The train travels
at speeds of up to 186 mph through countryside on both sides of
the English Channel and the journey takes approximately three hours
(including twenty minutes in the exciting, new, 31-mile long Channel
Tunnel). Full English Breakfast is served en route and your train
arrives in the late morning in the heart of Paris at the Gare du
Nord. From the station you will enjoy a fully-guided sightseeing
tour of the city, covering such world-famous landmarks as the Champs
Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, Les
Invalides, L'Opera, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, Montmartre,
the River Seine with its many bridges, and many other famous sights.
One of the day's highlights will be lunch in a Parisian bistro,
followed by time to shop and explore independently (or with your
guide/escort) before returning to the Gare du Nord for the ride
back to London, with dinner served en route. Re-emerge in the heart
of London, having enjoyed a truly unforgettable away-day to Paris!
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SPORTS
& RECREATION DAY IN THE THAMES VALLEY
Using a deluxe country house hotel in the Thames Valley as the day's
base, only a short drive out of London, many diverse activities
can be arranged. There is a brand new 18-hole Golf Course, long
& with lovely views, where, most unusually for England, golf
buggies are available and where a tournament, individual tuition,
or a clinic with golf professionals can be set up. What about a
tripartite competition (with prizes) involving Longbow Archery (Continue
the tradition of the English Longbow by trying your skill with a
modern bow, lighter but equally accurate - Would you have been a
match for Robin Hood?!), Clay Pigeon (Skeet) Shooting with either
cartridges or laser gun (If you have good reflexes and a good eye,
this should be your forte! - There is nothing like the satisfaction
of successsfully hitting a clay!), and Falconry (A private "birds
of prey" flying display with an introductory talk by the falconer
and the opportunity for you to "fly" the hawks, falcons,
& owls)? Added to this, a nearby airfield offers the opportunity
to fly - Enjoy an aerial view of the stunning countryside of Buckinghamshire
& Oxfordshire with either a 20-minute flight for two or a "hands
on" 30-minute individual flying lesson. For those who prefer
the land, try a "vintage experience" - the memorable pleasure
of a private vintage car with chauffeur for your personal use, exploring
the beautiful local countryside & villages, resting for refreshments
at one of England's oldest and most historic public houses! A buffet
lunch would be arranged for all and, at the end of the day, a private
tour, wine tasting, and dinner in the unique surroundings of a modern
winery, which has held many creative exhibitions and been the location
of much filming and photography work. The rambling and traditional
stable buildings of "Old Luxters", near the quaintly-named
hamlets of Fingest and Skirmett, houses one of the most modern wineries
in Europe producing a range to satisfy different palates and suit
all occasions as well as a truly independent brewery which has revived
the tradition of farm-brewed "real ales"
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SPECIAL
PARTY AT THORPE PARK
Outside London and, if wanted, easily combined with a visit to Windsor
or Hampton Court, this exciting theme park can be taken over exclusively.
Welcomed at the entrance and invited into the main auditorium for
coffee and biscuits you will be briefed about the visit. All of
the "rides" in the Park will be available - roller coaster,
runaway train, log flume, teacup ride, etc, etc) as well as the
static areas of the Park. The day will be formatted as a competitive
treasure hunt, to search for a number of hidden objects, all having
identification with your client's products. These will be concealed
in various places, several of them being seen only from the rides
and some of them being carried by entertainers, strolling around
the Park giving occasional performances - There will be magicians,
one-man band, strolling jazz quartet, clowns, stilt walker, and
others. At lunchtime, a full picnic, barbecue, and bar will be provided
in the grounds (in the auditorium in the event of bad weather).
After lunch, added to the hunt and attractions of the Park itself,
several sporting competitions will be offered, including archery,
go-cart racing, quad bikes and clay-pigeon shooting. Throughout
the afternoon, the existing food stalls of the Park will offer ice
creams, popcorn and other snack items, and a pub bar. The trip concludes
with a prize-giving ceremony, either incorporating a highly specified
technical audio-visual event, promoting your client's products,
or a simple affair, with champagne and canapés
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HAMPSTEAD
AND "LESSER KNOWN" LONDON
This morning covers a suburb of London not often frequented by the
average visitor and a complete contrast with the bustling metropolis
:Hampstead Garden Suburbs is one of the wealthiest areas of housing
in London; the Village is almost an anachronism in London, quaint
and full of very individual small "arty" shops; the Heath
is a broad tract of "green belt", commanding lovely views,
and the venue for summer open-air concerts. You visit Kenwood House,
a delightful Robert Adam stately home, seat of Lord Mansfield, which
houses the famous Iveagh Bequest, an art collection bequeathed to
the nation, containing rare paintings by Old Dutch and British Masters
- Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, Gainsborough, Turner, and Reynolds.
Then on to Sigmund Freud's House in Maresfield Gardens, now a dedicated
museum, with the original "consulting couch" amongst other
memorabilia that he brought to London from Vienna in 1938 when he
fled in the wake of Nazi uprising. Lunch would be provided in either
the "Hampstead Brassiere", a typical and very chic eatery
, or at the "Spaniards Inn", one-time haunt of highwaymen
who robbed lonely travellers crossing the Heath. This afternoon
you return to the City to view many of London's fascinating, hidden
areas, so evocative of the rich social heritage that has combined
over the centuries to create the cultural infrastructure that is
London today - Lincoln's Inn Fields, the site of many duels to the
death between fashionable Londoners, Charles Dickens' "Old
Curiosity Shop", immortalised in his writings. On through Legal
London and the Royal Courts of Justice, where you will hear of the
origins of legal traditions from the times of the Crusades. You
pass through Hatton Gardens, London's diamond district, see Oram
Fields, London's first Foundling Hospital and hear about grim executions
at Smithfield Market, including that of William Wallace ("Braveheart").
Also included are John Wesley's House and Chapel, London's ancient
Guildhall, Lloyds of London, the famous insurance centre. A stop
is made to see the recently opened recreation of Shakespeare's Globe
Theatre, before finally exploring some of Jack the Ripper's haunts
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THE
GOODWOOD EXPERIENCE
This stunning venue, set in the Sussex Downs outside Chichester,
offers a matchless combination of possibilities - an historic house
with its own aerodrome and flying school, its "Glorious Goodwood"
racecourse (eighteen days in July, once described by King Edward
VII as a "garden party with racing tacked on"!), a golf
course, its "Festival of Speed" motor circuit, and hotel
and country club. First mentioned in Domesday Book as "God-in-Wood",
the estate was bought in 1697 by the 1st Duke of Richmond, King
Charles II's bastard son by the French spy, Louise de Keroulle.
The original Jacobean house at Goodwood was extended in the time
of the 3rd Duke, by William Chambers in 1760 and then by James Wyatt
in 1780. The 1st Duke was a wastrel, mainly interested in fox hunting;
the 2nd Duke's main interest was the menagerie he kept in a nearby
wood; but all ten Dukes have contributed to the astonishing variety
of treasures in the collections. On display in the State Apartments
are lively tapestries, some splendid French and English furniture,
French commodes(!), porcelain from Sevres, and Napoleonic booty.
The art collection includes Canaletto's first London paintings,
works by Van Dyck, Kneller, Lely, Reynolds, Stubbs, Romney and Lawrence.
But Goodwood House is in no sense a museum - Although it is still
primarily very much the family home, in a much changed modern world
its historic rooms with all their treasures are able to provide
a setting for lavish hospitality and entertainment, the purpose
for which they were originally built
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ROYAL
WINDSOR & POLO, THE SPORTS OF PRINCES
To see and be seen at Smith's Lawn in Windsor Great Park need not
be just a pipe-dream! This is your ultimate destination but first
you drive out to Great Fosters, an authentic Elizabethan Hunting
Lodge, in Egham for morning coffee in a magnificent oakbeamed tithe
barn. Then you continue along the banks of the River Thames to nearby
Runnymede, where in 1215 King John was forced to concede to the
Barons and sign the Magna Carta, the basis of British democracy
ever since and an integral part of the United States constitution.
Past the JFK Memorial, donated by the American Bar Association,
the Royal Air Force Memorial, and through Old Windsor you arrive
in Windsor itself with its imposing Castle, the favourite Royal
Residence of Queen Elizabeth II. The original building was started
in 1080 by William the Conqueror but nothing now remains of this
wooden structure, which was soon replaced by a stone-built tower
which still stands at the heart of the Castle. This was added to
by kings and queens through subsequent centuries, to create the
magnificent complex that is Windsor Castle today. You will visit
the Castle Precincts, State Apartments, and St. George's Chapel,
and there will be time to wander the lanes of the quaint old part
of the town itself or through the adjacent hamlet of Eton, across
the Thames footbridge, where Eton College, England's most pre-eminent
boys' public school lies. Then you drive into the Great Park to
Smith's Lawn, the site of one of the most prestigious and renowned
polo clubs, the Guard's Club, for whom Prince Charles used to play.
Enjoy a superb lunch in a private luxury pavilion, followed by an
afternoon spent watching from grandstand seats one of the exciting
tournaments that are regularly scheduled during the summer months,
and in between chukkas, while the ponies are changed, join in "treading"
the pitch, tamping down the grass divets! Polo is one of the oldest
team games and was first recorded as being played in North Persia
in the seventh century BC. The word "polo" is derived
from the Indian "pulu", meaning ball, but it was not until
the nineteenth century that the soldiers and merchants in the colonial
heyday of the British Empire in India shaped the game into what
it is today. What better game to follow than one which enjoys the
royal seal of approval!
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