Destination: England

Bath

With a treasure trove of architectural wonders to explore, the whole city of Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mature travellers will appreciate the guided tour to see the exquisite Georgian architecture, well-preserved Roman baths and period tearooms. For Jane Austen fans, you can visit the Jane Austen Centre and discover more about her life and works.

York

Travelling to York is like stepping back in history to a more magical and colourful version of the Middle Ages. Explore the fascinating walled city that is tucked within 13th-century walls and visit York Minster, one of the most stunning Gothic cathedrals in the world. For mature travellers, the city is well placed for a number of day tours as your tour England .

Oxford

Undoubtedly one of England’s most beautiful cities with its dreaming spires and medieval atmosphere, Oxford is a great walking tour destination for mature travellers. The historic core is small enough to walk around easily and there are plenty of old-fashioned British pubs to visit and enjoy a hearty meal. For lovers of literature, there is a lot to explore, with many authors’ works being inspired by Oxford and its formidable university.

Cambridge

Cambridge, like Oxford, offers captivating architecture and centuries of history but with a slightly more tranquil atmosphere than ‘the Other Place’ (as Oxford is referred to by Cambridge locals). Senior travellers can enjoy the idyllic riverside gardens, surrounding verdant green meadows and beautifully manicured lawns of colleges as a day tour expands their knowledge of this historic city.

Stonehenge

A UNESCO world heritage site, Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in Europe. To visit Stonehenge remains an inspiration to many who take the trip. Stonehenge has drawn millions of visitors over the years, mystified by the mysteries collection of stones. A new visitor centre provides more information on the history of Stonehenge, thought to have been around for over five millennia, and explores with a local guides some of the startling ideas of archaeologists and anthropologists who have worked on the site.

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall was built by the Romans in 122 AD and, at 117 km long, it was intended to separate the Romans from the barbarians of Scotland. As local guides explain on a trip to Hadrian’s wall, this wall was built in under six years by a force of 15,000 men, it’s as impressive today for its sheer vision as it is for its remarkable engineering.

Tower of London

The Tower of London was once a royal palace and infamous prison but today is it a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Home to the dazzling Crown Jewels, a visit to the Tower of London offers a gripping insight into England’s history.

Windsor Castle

Still a ‘working’ castle, Windsor Castle is the weekend holiday house of the Royal Family and one of our day tours from London. Windsor Castle has been a Royal residence and fortress for almost 1000 years since the site was picked out by William the Conqueror. At Windsor Castle on this trip you can explore the grand State Apartments with the tour leader , view the impressive family portraits and pour over Queen Mary’s Doll House.

The Royal Pavilion

Another one of our day tours as part of a small group tour of England is to the The Royal Palace,in Brighton, was built by King George IV as a seaside pleasure palace. George IV was a notorious womaniser and gambler and the splendid summer house is obscene experience in extravagance, mixing Regency grandeur with the visual style of Indian and Chinese palaces.

In England, the country’s efficient transportation system and extensive rail network make travelling relatively painless..

The best time to visit the United Kingdom is in spring (late March to early June) and autumn (September to November), when it’s usually warm and dry. You’ll see beautiful spring flowers or the leaves changing hue in autumn, and avoid the much busier summer period.

Odyssey specialises in educational small group tours, for seniors, typically groups between 6 to 12 people, and no more than 18 travellers. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs, since 1983.

We offer a wide range of educational, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

Whether travelling solo, in a couple, or with friends, Odyssey Traveller caters primarily for travellers over 50, over 60, over 70 or 80 years of age. Therefore, your travelling companions are sure to share your interests. They will want similar experiences in an environment of mutual understanding. We design all programs with the mature traveller in mind. Travelling solo does not mean travelling alone, so when there’s free time to explore you’re sure to have another solo traveler or couple ready to join you if you wish. Single travelers make about a third of our groups and many a repeat travelers!

All Odyssey Traveller participants want more than just a blur of museums and monuments. We work to create a lively learning experience and cover some of the world’s most fascinating destinations and authentic cultural experiences. We are also, of course, aware of your need for free-time, so many of our itineraries allowing space for you to explore, or simply relax on your own.

Odyssey welcome enquiries for private groups, at a minimum of 6 participants.

Tours typically span between two to three weeks in duration. An Odyssey small group tour seeks to stay typically 2 to 3 nights in each location in good 3 or 4 star hotels. These are an escorted tour that have evolved to be a good blend of touring and seeing. As well as opportunities to spend time in key places to take a half or full day break from the group enabling you should you with to be a solo traveller for a few hours or explore with a travelling companion a particular place or take time out for a break, before we travel on to our next destination. For the solo traveller , Odyssey has a expansive range of holidays for solo travellers over 50 to choose from, though we do not offer a regular river cruise or a dedicated solos holiday or solo travel tours.

For the solo traveller there is a single supplement charged on all of Odyssey Travellers small group tour programs. The single supplement reflects the cost of single occupancy of a hotel room with a double bed in your own room (generally, no single bedded rooms are offered across Europe) or a single cabin on a cruise . There are no additional charges made any client booking holidays for solo travellers over 50 years of age, just the single supplement , we like to keep a level of transparency in the prices charged.

Odyssey Traveller offers tours all over the world. We have a range of tours across Europe , The British Isles , Asia , Africa , The Middle East , and The Americas . We can take you to see the Northern Lights in the outermost regions of Norway. You can travel with us to the jungles of Madagascar to experience its magnificent landscape and wildlife or see the ruins of Machu Picchu in South America . Or take a journey through history with a tour with the theme of Britain’s canals and railways . If you enjoy a spot of cruising, join our Journey through Mongolia and Russia which includes a 10 night river cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg, or our Egypt tour with an amazing Nile river cruise . If you prefer to stay closer to home, we have a great selection of tours in Australia to Western Australia, South Australia, Northern territory, Kata tjuta Outback Queensland, but not the great barrier reef or Ayers rock, Kangaroo Island but Tasmania as well as New Zealand, visiting both North island and the South Island including the east coast, Rotorua, Milford Sound, and Queenstown.

Odyssey specialises in educational small group tours, for seniors, typically groups between 6 to 12 people, and averages at 12 participants per tour, a mix of singles and couples

Odyssey offers a collection of genuine small group tour(s) Odyssey tours are priced to reflect that these are small group tours. Typically this means you are part of a small group of 6 to 12 people, not part of a group of 18 or more. Small group means you and fellow traveller enjoying an evening meal around one dinner table. So, we do not achieve the economies of scale of 18 plus on a coach that a larger tour operator would offer, because this is not the type of trip or touring experience our clients seek from us.

Odyssey tours are genuinely based around;

• A Small group tour of less than 18 people for the mature traveller as holidays for a couple and holidays for solo travellers over 50.
• Knowledgeable local expert guides and a great tour leader who has an interest in the theme of the tour.
• Inclusive pricing, including all entrances, tipping and the majority of meals included. That means, no hidden extras with respect to cost. Transparent pricing of the single supplement for the single traveller.
• A learning based escorted tour with a like minded fellow traveller.
• Accommodation in 3 & 4 star hotels and self catering apartments.
• A blend of group learning, touring activities and free time to explore a place further, whether on a discovery or walking holiday program.
• No name badges or flags to follow when out and about.
• Travel to places that extend your learning and curiosity, often where others will not follow.
• Spending typically between 60 to 85% of the operating cost of the tour in the country visited, benefiting the local communities directly.

England has a single time zone (excluding its overseas territories), Greenwich mean time . The nation observes daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you make sure you tip an appropriate amount for services, as is the case throughout much of Europe. It’s customary to tip 10-15% of the bill at restaurants, or 1 to 3 GBP at a more casual establishment. It’s polite to round a bill up to the nearest whole figure or leave the change when buying drinks.

Internet access is easily accessible, and most hotels and many cafes will be able to offer it.

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in England. Many providers will offer a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.