South of England tour packages: London, Bath and Jurassic Coast

South of England tour packages: London, Bath and Jurassic Coast
From GBP £2,999.00
  • Duration: 7 Days (approx.)
  • Location: London
  • Product code: T044

Highlights


  • Explore 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Roman and Georgian city of Bath, Avebury Ring, and the Jurassic Coast.

  • Peek behind-the-scenes of some of Southern England’s most beautiful and historic places. Glimpse behind the usually locked doors of an 800-year-old abbey, and a Gothic cathedral.

  • See the geological marvels of Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Chesil Beach, and follow in the footsteps of pioneering Victorian palaeontologist Mary Anning as you hunt for fossils in Lyme Regis.

  • Enjoy a luxurious 5-star stay in the heart of London’s Covent Garden and 4-star hotels near Corfe Castle in Dorset and central Bath.

  • Your expert, local guides will introduce you to the history, culture, people and flavours of Southern England, and tailor their suggestions to your interests.


Overview


Get to know the heritage, natural beauty and landmarks of Southern England on this 5-day, 5-night tour from London. This is a part of the world where the past feels like it walks alongside you. You can practically reach out and touch it.


You’ll travel through the counties of Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset, jumping from deep time and pre-history to the Neolithic period to medieval, Georgian and Victorian times. Your friendly guides will help you experience it all through the eyes of important and fascinating figures, such as the pioneering 19th-century fossil hunter Mary Anning and novelists Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen.

Peel back the Roman and Georgian layers of the city of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Skip crowded Stonehenge in favour of its older, bigger UNESCO-listed sibling, Avebury stone circle. See castles, cathedrals and abbeys with links to conquering kings and enchanted poets. And soak up the natural beauty of the Jurassic Coast.

In addition, you will have a chance to go fossil hunting at a location selected by our expert, where you can be the first to release fossils from millions of years of burial! This tour also includes a visit to the Etches Collection museum, to see its newly-displayed giant pliosaur skull, which featured on a David Attenborough documentary.

Your guides, Jonathan Evans and Seren Welch, are full of thoughtful recommendations tailored to your interests. They can’t wait to meet you and show you the architectural, geological and cultural marvels of Southern England.


Start/finish

Your tour starts and finishes in London.


Activity Level

Leisurely/moderate, with some optional walks of up to 1.5 miles (view our activity level definitions).


Transport

Air-conditioned people carrier on small coach, depending on the final group size and return travel to London by train.

Weather
Late spring in this southern nook of England typically brings daytime highs of 14-21°C (57-70°F) and night-time lows of 10-13°C (50-55°F). Early October weather is similar. Rain is always possible, so please be prepared. Bring warm and waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear.


Accommodation
One night at Covent Garden Hotel, London; two nights at The Queensberry Hotel, one of Bath's most stylish four-star boutique establishments; and two nights in Mortons Manor, an atmospheric 16th-century coaching inn in Corfe Village, Dorset.