This 22-day small group program visits the major arts centres of Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris, and London. We travel in winter avoiding crowds and enjoy a different perspective of the places visited. At Odyssey Traveller we have sought to assemble entry and show tickets to what many will consider the best arts experiences available in those cities during each program.
Our guided small group tour of Devon and Cornwall in England, designed for mature and senior travellers who are travelling with their partner or as a solo traveller. A journey filled with medieval treasures, charming fishing villages in the north Cornish coast, stunning cliff-top coastal views of the blue Atlantic, and atmospheric destinations traditionally linked to the legends of King Arthur.
A small group tour of Wales, Scotland & England that traces the history of the journey that is the Industrial revolution. Knowledgeable local guides and your tour leader share their history with you on this escorted tour including Glasgow, London, New Lanark & Manchester, Liverpool and the Lake district.
This guided tour starts in Scotland and finishes in England. On Orkney we have a day tour to the UNESCO World heritage site, Skara Brae, before travelling to city of York. Your tour leader continues to share the history from the Neolithic to the Victorian era. The tour concludes in the capital city, London.
A small group tour of England focused on Medieval England and Wales. Spend 21 days on this escorted tour with tour director and local guides travelling from Canterbury to Cambridge, passing through Winchester, Salisbury, Bristol, Hereford and Norwich along the way. Castles, villages, Cathedrals and churches all feature.
Our 21 night program has daily itineraries with plenty of authentic experiences provided by passionate local guides in the key destinations in France, Channel Islands and England for this small group of like minded people. For Solo travellers minimal single supplement applies for this European tour.
A small group tour of London is a collection of day tours that visit and explore through the villages of the city. This escorted tour includes a journey out to Windsor castle. We explore Contemporary and learn about Roman Walled city, Medieval, Victorian London and the contemporary city today.
A small group tour of England that explores the history of Victorian Britain. This escorted tour spends time knowledgeable local guides with travellers in key destinations in England and Scotland that shaped the British isles in this period including a collection of UNESCO world heritage locations.
A small group tour of England that will explore the history of Agrarian and Industrial period. An escorted tour with a tour director and knowledgeable local guides take you on a 22 day trip to key places such as London, Bristol, Oxford & York, where the history was made.
Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford upon Avon and Anne Hathaway’s cottage all form part of this small group tour escorted by a tour director and local guides sharing their knowledge on this guided tour. Included are performances in London at the Globe & RSC in Shakespeare’s Stratford upon Avon.
This holiday with a leading tour operator allows the escorted tour for seniors to explore the life and times of the royal families responsible for making England and Spain so significant in the 16th century with local guides providing the travel experience for the detailed itineraries. We spend 10 days travelling from London to Madrid.
Part of the small group tour of the British isles series, this walking tour goes west to east across England. The tour leader takes you into the national park of the UNESCO World heritage site in the Lake district and the North Yorkshire moors. This trip concludes in York. It is designed for senior walkers seeking authentic experiences.
A walking tour into England, Scotland and Wales provides small group journeys with breathtaking scenery to destinations such as Snowdonia national park , the UNESCO world heritage site Hadrians wall and the lake district. each day tour provides authentic experiences often off the beaten path from our local guides.
Guided tour of the villages of England. The tour leader manages local guides to share their knowledge to give an authentic experience across England. This trip includes the UNESCO World heritage site of Avebury as well as villages in Cornwall, Devon, Dartmoor the border of Wales and the Cotswolds.
Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeares birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s cottage as well as the Lake district a UNESCO World site and Dicken’s London are part of guided tour for a small group tour of like minded people learning about the art and literature of England. Your tour leader and local guides share day tour itineraries to create a unique travel experience.
A 9 day tour with a tour director and local guide explore the Victorian music of Gilbert and Sullivan. We visit on this journey, Manchester, Harrogate, Oxford & London, attending the Gilbert & Sullivan festival and places of historic interest.
On this small group tour explore with a tour director and local guides the world of Roman Britain. The Romans occupied Britain for some 400 years and left behind a lasting legacy from roads Hadrian’s wall to Roman Baths many are UNSECO World heritage listed.
This guided tour invites you to explore UNESCO World heritage sites at Skara Brae in the Orkneys, Isle of Skye, and Stonehenge in a prehistoric tour. This escorted tour has trips to key sites in Scotland, and the Irish sea in Wales such as and in and England. Each is supported by local guides.
A guided tour for senior walkers that starts in the capital of Ireland, Dublin. This escorted tour with local guides also explores the Giant’s causeway, a UNESCO World heritage site. It transfers from Ireland to Scotland to head to walk in the National park of the Lake district.
A walking tour of England & the border of Wales. Explore on foot UNESCO World Heritage sites, Neolithic, Bronze age and Roman landscapes and the occasional Norman castle on your journey. Your tour director and tour guide walk you through the Brecon beacons, the Cotswolds and Welsh borders.
Stonehenge and Avebury are outstanding prehistoric monuments, which are thought to date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The ancient megaliths of these sites provide an insight into the mysterious rituals, beliefs, customs and…
Durham is a city steeped in history and packed full of hidden gems. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage city on Roaming Rural England . This small group has a guided visit of Durham Cathedral and walks the city.
Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, has an impressive history, with a medieval street plan that is largely unspoiled and over 660 listed buildings.
Stratford Upon Avon is a town in England's west midlands, located within Warwickshire county. Stratford's most prominent claim to fame comes from its history as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, arguably the most famous playwright…
The Globe Theatre that stands on London’s south bank today is not the same theatre that stood in Shakespeare’s time. The original Globe Theatre was destroyed in 1613 by a misfiring canon during a performance…
The counterpart to Mont St Michel. On the Devon and Cornwall escorted small group tour for senior and maturer travellers the group learn about the abbey of St Michael's mount built in the middle ages complete with gargoyles and grotesques.
The Scilly isles form part of a day trip on the escorted small group tour of Devon and Cornwall for seniors and mature travellers. Whilst on this tour the group also visit St Michaels Mount, Penzance, Glastonbury and Tintagel.
Believed to be the home of King Arthur, Tintagel Castle on the North Cornish Coast is one of the most visited destinations in England.
Lynton and Lynmouth are the gateway to 'England's Little Switzerland', Lynmouth is a seaside town, with a harbour full of fishing boats, while hilltop Lynton is elegant and Victorian.
Derwent Valley Mills offers a unique opportunity to experience an industrial landscape that would become the model for textile factories throughout the world in subsequent centuries.
There’s also lots of history in Newquay. It was first settled in the Iron Age, evidenced by a hill fort which has ditches and six ramparts making it an impressive fortress, and experts claim there…
Penzance, The area is rich in legend and history, and Mousehole in particular has been central to this. In 1595, the village was burned by a fleet of Spanish ships.
Escorted small group tours for mature and senior travellers to England. Designed for couples and solo travellers who like to explore and enjoy learning as they travel to Devon and Cornwall, Manchester or Newcastle, or learn about English villages and the romanticism of the Lake district and beyond.
This walking path along the English east coast links up the Wainwright Walking trail that has crossed from West to East, through the Lake district, the Yorkshire dales and the North York Moors. For the active walker be they men or women this is a great historical walk through the British landscape. You may wish to join an Odyssey small group walking tour to enjoy this experience with like minded people.
Dartmoor, England The craggy landscapes and surreal rock formations of Dartmoor are located west of Devon in southern England. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, a message sent to…
South Downs Way, England The South Downs Way is a long distance trail running for 160 kilometres (100 miles) in the south of England. It starts in Winchester, England’s first capital, travels through the English…
A trip to London can encompass everything from exploring Gothic architecture and majestic palaces to eating street food and people-watching by the River Thames or visiting suburban pubs.
The Lake District is the glittering crown jewel of England’s countryside and sure to capture any traveller’s heart with its magic. Picture expanses of lush meadows swathed in flowers and shimmering blue lakes against craggy…
In the 19th century, markets were at the heart of London life. But markets were more than just places to shop. To visitors and residents of the city, they seemed to encapsulate Victorian London: vast,…
Chester was originally founded as Roman fort and has over 2000 years of history, but it is best known as a medieval city due its well-preserved Tudor architecture and observable legacies of its medieval past.…
Throughout the nation, from Yorkshire to Orkney, miles of moss-covered dry stone walls snake their way through the open land. You would be forgiven for not looking twice. However, dry stone walls offer an alternative…
Rome's roads constitute the most remarkable culmination of its technological, logistical and bureaucratic achievements. Even a brief understanding of their history and significance can enrich your experience walking tour of Britain.
With 800 or so years of history, the university has not only shaped the city Oxford but has become a significant part of the fabric of English history, enduring through times of social upheaval and…
In this article, we will know more about the famous long-distance walk, including what to expect during the walk and the fascinating sights we may encounter. We will also share advice on how to prepare…
Discover the story of Capability Brown, the style of his landscapes and the mark they have left on modern England. Read about Brown's most famous clients and where you can admire his work today.
In this article, we're sharing ten little-known facts about London. Whether you've visited London over twenty times, or have never been, we hope that you'll uncover something that you never knew before.
Discover England’s Lake District. The Lake District, nestled in the north west corner of England, is home to some of the most spectacular and dramatic scenery in the United Kingdom. Designated as a national park…
Learn about the recent part of Yorkshire's long history, covering the 17th to 19th centuries and the effects of the Industrial Revolution.
This article aims to immerse the reader in the landscapes – town, city, and countryside – of medieval England, with a focus on the 14th century (1300-1400).
A myth repeated about the medieval world is that ordinary people never travelled more than five or six miles from their home. In reality, this was far from true – travel was an important part…
Learning about Manchester’s Early History Well-known parts of Manchester’s history include their textile boom during the Industrial Revolution and the first steam engine railway to Liverpool. But what about its precursor? Manchester saw different leaders…
Exploring York Like a page out of a history book, the North-Eastern city of York in the United Kingdom is a Gothic wonder. This is a great day tour from London, with its rich history…
Victorian Women’s Fashion The Young Queen Victoria by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1842). Photographic reproduction from Wikimedia Commons. Victoria ascended the throne at the age of 18. In British history, the Victorian era refers to the…
Victorian England Rural Life In this post we will look at what rural life was like on a country estate in Victorian England. Janet Sacks’ Victorian Country Life is a good reference for those who want…
New Discoveries about Britain’s Stone Circles We’ve written about Britain’s prehistoric stone circles before, but recent studies from 2017 to 2019 show there are likely more secrets to uncover about these Neolithic monuments. In this…
Victoria’s Britain (Part 1 of 2) This two-part article on Queen Victoria’s Britain was prepared by one of our Odyssey Program Leaders, Mal Bock. She will be leading this small group tour especially designed for…
Explore Britain's literary heritage on small group package holidays and tours for mature and senior travellers each year from Odyssey Traveller. Small group tours for couples and solo travellers with a passion for exploring and learning.
England’s Liverpool: Port City, Architecture Marvel The Beatles and the Merseybeat era, football, and the waterfront. Liverpool’s vibrant culture and rich history has more to offer than what you may already know. In 1207, King…
Life in the Medieval British Village In a previous article, we looked at the icons of the British village–the pub and the cottage–and looked at their history and evolution from Roman and Norman times. In…
Exploring Newcastle Newcastle (or Newcastle upon Tyne) in northeast England is rich in architectural wonders and steeped in history. It was an important settlement on the River Tyne during Roman times, a thriving commercial hub in…
Icons of the British Villages: Pubs and Cottages The British pub and cottage figure prominently in the image of a (often romanticised) quintessential “British village”. In this article, we will give special attention to these…
Exploring Britain’s Prehistoric Past Scattered across the islands of Great Britain are countless stone circles and monoliths. As successive waves of different peoples settled and lived in Britain, many would erect stone monuments and carve…
UNESCO World Heritage sites are well represented in Britain, beyond Stonehenge. This collection of Small group tours across England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland incorporates visits to these current and future sites in its programs for mature and senior travellers of up to 12 people, a mix of couples and solo travellers. Often on Walking tours and History in depth programs.
The British landscape has been worked and re-worked. It is secrets of this palimpsest landscape is revealed through drainage patterns and prehistoric features all the way through to the modern day. These small group tours for mature and senior travellers examine the landscape from the Neolithic, to Roman, through the seven ages of Britain in walking tours and history tours of Britain.
Roman Roads in Britain Roads were crucial in the Roman Empire: they facilitated the speedy deployment of troops and the free movement of supplies. Later, when Roman towns began growing into urban centres, the roads…
Victorian Architecture of London London’s architecture during the Victorian Era was defined by the transformation of British society, due to the rapid changes of the Industrial Revolution. Industrialisation transformed British life, leading to innovative new…
British Churches Through the Years “How old is this church?” asks Mary-Ann Ochota in a chapter of her book, Hidden Histories: A Spotter’s Guide to the British Landscape (Francis Lincoln, 2016, p. 250). In this article, we…
Studying Gargoyles and Grotesques Gargoyles and grotesques were a hallmark of the Gothic period of architecture, which grew popular in Western Europe from the 12th to the late 15th centuries, and which was carried over…
The London Underground Beneath London is another London, a shadowy counterpart still not mapped in its entirety, but in many ways similar to the London above the ground. According to Peter Ackroyd in London Under (Vintage, 2012), “It…
Famous Personalities from Queen Victoria’s Britain (Part 2 of 2) This article related to Queen Victoria’s Britain was prepared by one of our Odyssey Program Leaders, Mal Bock. She will be leading this small group tour especially…
Queen Victoria’s Britain (Part 2 of 2) This two-part article on Queen Victoria’s Britain was prepared by one of our Odyssey Program Leaders, Mal Bock. She will be leading this small group tour especially designed for…
Britain: The First Industrial Nation In the mid-18th century, the Industrial Revolution was largely confined to Britain. Historians and economists continue to debate what it was that sparked the urbanisation and industrialisation that would change…
Exploring Jane Austen’s England Jane Austen The reach and magnitude of Jane Austen’s influence on modern readers may make one forget that she only had six novels to her name (three of which were published…
Bees in Manchester: a surprising symbol of the Industrial Revolution The bee is an intriguing symbol for the city of Manchester. The city’s damp climate provided the ideal conditions for milling cotton. But this is…
The Lake District poets: Romanticism and inspiration for Travellers “I wandered lonely as a cloud” Did a simple daffodil usher in the Romantic era? Poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy came upon a “host”…
An English Village history. Prepared for mature and senior travellers, couples or solo traveller considering joining a small group tour of England's villages.
10 Books to Read If You Are Planning to Visit Britain For Odyssey Travellers, Britain has and remains a key destination in the organisation’s collection of escorted small group educational tours offered each year. For…
