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PRIVATE TOUR ITINERARY

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See the best of London & Southeast England in 7 days with your very own private driver-guide! Visit the area's must-see historical sites, charming towns, gardens, spectacular scenery and medieval churches — including Leeds Castle, once home of Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, the White Cliffs of Dover and Dover Castle, England’s largest and most significant fortification, and Canterbury, the site of the murder of Thomas Becket. You'll also visit Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey during your very own private guided tour of London. You’ll enjoy elegant and stylish accommodations and be driven door to door by your own driver.

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Day 1) Chartwell House & Rye

Depart from central London or London Heathrow Airport for a visit to Chartwell House, former home of Winston Churchill, which includes visits to the gardens and Churchill’s art studio. Continue to Rye, a charming medieval “cinque port” town in East Sussex, filled with crooked cottages, half-timbered houses, mediaeval walls and narrow cobbled lanes. Dinner tonight is included.

 

Day 2) Battle of Hasting, Bateman’s & Bodiam Castle

Depart Rye for the site of the Battle of Hastings, close to the present-day village of Battle. The Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066 between the Norman-French army of William, the Duke of Normandy, and the English army under Saxon King Harold II. You’ll discover how the Normans overcame the Saxons to seize the kingdom and change English history forever. Walk the battlefield trail and explore the atmospheric abbey, built by William soon after the conquest. Next, continue to Bateman’s. Bateman’s is a Jacobean house of 1634, set in the beautiful landscape of the Sussex Weald and former home of author Rudyard Kipling (Jungle Book). Discover the rooms of the house just as the Kipling family left them. This afternoon, visit Bodiam Castle, a 14th-century moated castle with soaring towers. Tonight, you are free to choose from one of several excellent restaurants in Rye.

 

Day 3) Chapel Down Winery & Dover Castle 

This morning, take a guided tour at Chapel Down Winery, located in the beautiful Kent countryside, close to the picturesque market town of Tenterden, where you’ll also enjoy some wine tastings. The southeast coast of England, synonymous with the White Cliffs of Dover, features iconic chalk soil—the same as that of Champagne—coupled with a cool climate all year long that enables Chapel Down to produce truly world-class wines. This afternoon, visit England’s largest and most significant fortification, Dover Castle. The site includes the Roman Lighthouse, the oldest building in England, the World War II war rooms and tunnels, not to mention the magnificent castle itself. On your return to Rye, walk along the beach at St. Margaret’s Bay to admire the best views of the famous White Cliffs of Dover.

 

Day 4) Canterbury & London

This morning, depart Canterbury for a private-guided walking tour of Canterbury. Explore the magnificent cathedral, an important center of pilgrimage in Medieval England and the site of the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1170. You will hear about The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer and the many secrets Canterbury has to tell. Next, arrive at your hotel in central London for a four-night stay. The hotel, located in the heart of Mayfair, is quintessentially British and exudes classic charm with a unique personality, as well as close to Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and St. James’s Park and within walking distance of great local restaurants.

 

Day 5) London, Westminster Abbey & St. Paul’s Cathedral 

Today, meet your local guide for a whole-day private guided tour of London, taking in great sights such as Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Parliament Square and Piccadilly. You will visit Westminster Abbey, one of the United Kingdom’s most notable religious buildings where Kings and Queens have been crowned and buried since 1066. You will also see the Change of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. This afternoon, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral. Destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666, the current building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710. Its iconic dome is one of the largest cathedral domes in the world.

 

Day 6) Windsor Castle & Hampton Court  

This morning, depart for a whole-day private guided tour of both Windsor Castle and Hampton Court. At Windsor Castle, explore the interiors of this famous palace, setting of some recent Royal weddings. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at The Mute Swan by the Thames before visiting Hampton Court where, through your private-guided tour, you’ll experience the public dramas and private lives of Henry VIII, his wives, and children in the world of the Tudor court. Also discover the spectacular baroque part of the palace built for William III and Mary II and explore Hampton Court Palace’s outdoor spaces and magnificent gardens. 

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Day 7) Thames Cruise, Tower of London & British Museum 

Today, depart with your private guide to Westminster Pier where you’ll journey by ferry on the Thames. You will pass the Millennium Bridge, London Eye and disembark at Tower Bridge. Your guide will bring to life the history of the Tower of London, a historic castle and fortress along the Thames River and home to the dazzling Crown Jewels. In the afternoon, your guide will show you the British Museum’s most fascinating objects from around the world. You’ll see the Rosetta Stone, some of the wonderful treasures that have been unearthed in Britain such as the fabulous solid silver Roman Mildenhall Treasure, the strange and exotic artefacts from the Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo and the mysterious medieval 12th-century chessmen found on the Isle of Lewis. 

 

Day 8) London Heathrow Airport

Depart by chauffeur driven car to London Heathrow Airport for your return flight.