England

Tour England

England may be small (it is about the same size of the state of New York) but its history is deep. From Hadrian’s wall to Buckingham palace it has no equal in Great Britain. A good escorted tour will be bursting with experiences to share about the history and culture on your trip around the British isles. History is always present in England as its architecture such as St Paul’s Cathedral or Westminster abbey show in London or a UNESCO World heritage site monument such as Stonehenge, or the Lake district national park reveal as inspirational destinations to explore. This history is intrinsically linked to histories around the world and the sense of England’s past power still lingers.

A multitude of museums and galleries, such as the London Museum, the British museum, and The Tate, house an impressive array of world artefacts but you can also wander through Roman baths in Bath, medieval churches and Tudor castles to immerse yourself in the story of England and all its twists and turns. While the country’s history is undeniably engrossing, England’s landscapes and natural beauty also deserve recognition such as the Cotswolds. It is the only European country to have a public coast path the whole way round its border and you can easily travel from Cornwall’s white sand shores to the spellbinding Lake District or the tranquil North York Moors. From regal palaces and Georgian mansions to quaint villages and craggy coastlines, medieval churches such as York minster and Tudor castles to immerse yourself in, it is easy to see how England became a country of storytellers, spawning epic tales and world-famous characters over the centuries from Charles Dickens to Beatrix Potter. the story of England.

Small group tours of England for seniors

Odyssey’s England tours for seniors focus both on the must-see sights and the hidden gems, across both rural and urban landscapes. If you’re interested in a trip discovering more about England’s history, culture, architecture, cuisine, or landscapes, the best way is to see it all for yourself with like-minded people on a guided tour. Our small group tours of England are ideal for solo travellers or couples seeking an intimate guided tour led by an expert tour manager and local guide. Odyssey tour England and select day tour destinations with an eye to getting off the beaten path while also providing the opportunity to explore the major cities including the inimitable London, golden-hued Oxford and effervescent Manchester.

Currently Odyssey Traveller offers 20 tours to England as well as tours that visit Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Our tours of England delve into Queen Victoria’s Britain; examine the world of Shakespeare with a visit to Shakespeare’s birthplace at Stratford upon Avon; attempt to understand cricket if you need too; and explore the sights of medieval England, visiting some of the country’s most magnificent cathedrals and grandest castles. On our tour of Agrarian and Industrial Britain we investigate critical elements of Agrarian and Industrial Revolutions and the impact that they had on the Great Britain we know today, visiting Lincoln, Manchester and York. On a tour of England’s villages we explore the haunting standing stones at Avebury, with its very own Neolithic World Heritage Site, and view the Tudor mansion and glorious gardens of Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. If you are considering joining a tour of an England, some of things to think about include what places you would like to visit , when you would like to go and the best way to travel around the country.

Whatever sightseeing tour you choose for your England vacation, from a tour of the entire country to immersing yourself in a particular region, Odyssey Traveller makes sure you have time to learn about and appreciate England’s rich culture, history and people when on vacation as solo travellers or with your companion.

Best walking tour, England for older travellers

Britain is renowned for its walking trails, and many world travellers choose to enjoy a walking tour of its green, rolling lands. How better to get a sense of its dramatic landscapes then from the granite clifftops and verdant countryside, and through the tunnels and bridges that tell of our human history. On a walking tour of Britain, you can smell the fresh air that drifts across the National park of the Yorkshire dales or the Lake district, taste the salt spray at its rugged coastline and feel the breeze and sun on your skin along Hadrian’s wall path along the border with Scotland. Walking activates our endorphins, and there is no better way to experience a sense of connection to the land. Enjoy a unique travel experience with a walking tour of the beautiful English countryside and country lanes with our small group tour of England. Odyssey Traveller offers a walking tour with a tour director and local guides especially for senior and mature travellers. Suitable for couples and singles, they are tailored toward varying levels of fitness and are flexible. So, if you would prefer to spend an afternoon sipping tea and watching the world go by, you can rejoin the rest of the small group later. Each Walking tour are fully mapped out, designed to maximise experience, and are led by tour director and local guides in the know. Discover the world at a slower pace and get your feet dirty walking across the British isles.

The Walking Tour of Rural Britain is designed to have two days to explore per every night based at a hotel. These are rambles requiring a good level of fitness, which is repaid with postcard-worthy scenery. We will walk through Kent, Cornwall, and on the Welsh/English borders, as well as the Lake District and a day on Arran Island in Scotland.

If you want to learn more about British history, consider joining the Walking Tour of Ancient Britain, a fully escorted, small-group, 20-day program with a experienced tour director and local guides they will take you through Britain‘s ancient towns and walkways, steeped in over 5,000 years of human history. We will walk through the region surrounding Salisbury, Bath, and Stroud in the southwest of England and along the border with Wales. The tour includes some of the greatest walkways in England.

If you want to learn more about British history, consider joining the Walking Tour of Ancient Britain, a fully escorted, small-group, 20-day program that will take you through Britain’s ancient towns and walkways, steeped in over 5,000 years of human history. We will walk through the region surrounding Salisbury, Bath, and Stroud in the southwest of England and along the border with Wales. The tour includes some of the greatest walkways in England.

The Walking the Wainwright Tour travels along Wainwright’s Walking Trail, also known as England’s Coast to Coast trail. The 192-mile (309-km) scenic footpath takes the walker from St Bees in Cumbria overlooking the Irish Sea, to Robin Hood’s Bay by the North Sea coast, crossing the Pennines and passing through three national parks: the UNESCO world heritage site Lake District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and the North York Moors National Park.

What to look for in a guided tour of England

When booking an Odyssey small group tour, some things to consider before you book include:

• Gratuities included: Tipping per person, per day, for all different services can quickly add up and leave you out of pocket. As well as this, it can be stressful working out how much and how often you should be tipping. When tipping is included in the price, it saves you both time and money, while giving you peace of mind that you’re not committing any type of cultural faux pas.
• Number of fellow travellers: When booking a England small group tour, you want to ensure that you are not going to get lost in a big crowd of people. This is particularly pertinent when visiting a popular holiday destination such as England, especially when travelling to major cities like London. Odyssey tours have an average of eight participants per tour with a maximum of group size of 18.
• Knowledgeable guides: England has a long, rich and compelling history, demonstrated by its multiple museums, ancient churches and infamous kings and queens. Ideally, you want to be able to gain a sense of England’s past, present and future and for this reason, an informed tour director and knowledgeable local guides are essential to a fulfilling travel experience. All Odyssey Traveller England tours include a tour director (program leader) who accompanies the group for the duration of the trip. In addition, we engage local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of the different destinations as you tour England, whether you be in a large city like London or a small rural village.
• Unique locations: England has something for everyone and when looking for a England guided tour, it is useful to consider where you might want to visit and the kind of holiday you would like. Odyssey Traveller offers tours that allow you to tour England and others that allow you to immerse yourself in one city. The British Gardens tour, for example, will guide you on an unforgettable trip through some of the best gardens across the UK and by the tour’s end, you will have a greater understanding of three centuries of garden design in Britain and an even greater appreciation for this enduring form of expression.
• Culture and History: When visiting somewhere like England, you want to return with a better understanding of English periods of history, art and architecture. Odyssey offers a wide range of educational, cultural and heritage journeys that will let you see a side of England you don’t always get from the history books. Walk through well-preserved Roman ruins, discover the beguiling operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, visit Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world and marvel at the Royal Palaces such as Buckingham palace, some of which are still in use.

Articles about England published by Odyssey Traveller.

• The London Underground
• Victorian Women’s Fashion
• Queen Victoria’s Britain, Part 1 and Part 2
• Understanding British Churches
• Studying Gargoyles and grotesques
• Georgian Architecture
• London’s Victorian Architecture

For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.

External articles to assist you on your visit to England.

• National Parks UK
• William the Conqueror (History.com)
• Queen Victoria
• The Royal Parks of London
• The Royal Mausoleum

Responsible travel tips for England

• If sightseeing in rural areas, remember to be respectful of residents and locals. As well as being tourist attractions, these are peoples’ homes!
• Carry a card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
• Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
• When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Museums & galleries are often closed on Mondays. Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
• Consider contacting your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
• Before departing, make sure you have a number of pounds in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.