CANTERBURY TALES TOUR | couples • families • private groups

CANTERBURY TALES TOUR
Medieval high-jinks, castles and cathedrals, and a prize in the offing.

● Day-tour from London in private vehicle with accredited driver-guide.
● Tailor-made for couples, families or small private groups (up to 7 persons).
● Pick-up/drop-off at any London hotel or residence. Typical timings: 09:00-18:00.
● Subject to openings & availability. Any admission fees payable on entry.
● Price (per car): 1-2 persons=£400.00; 3-4=£440.00; 5-7=£480.00. Admissions extra.

ITINERARY:
You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.
We follow the exact route out from London taken by Chaucer and his story-telling chums over 600 years ago in their pilgrimage to Thomas Beckett's shrine at Canterbury Cathedral. And just like the story, our genial host will offer a prize to best joke, story or song on the way. (Dover open daily Mar-Oct; Thu-Mon Nov-Feb: Canterbury usually daily).

A Pilgrimage to Canterbury
Almost 850 years ago, the Christian world was rocked by a shocking assassination. Thomas Beckett, one of the most powerful holy men in Europe, was murdered near the altar of his own Canterbury Cathedral on the King's authority. Sometime in the late 14th century, a few years after the great plague had ravaged the country, a London poet began writing one of the most famous books in English literature. The Canterbury Tales is the story of a group of pilgrims who set out from London to visit the holy shrine of the now sainted Thomas Beckett. The unelected leader of this posse, the landlord of the inn they set out from, issues a challenge to the group of travellers: the one who tells the best story to while away the journey will win a free meal on their return to London. What follows is a rip-roaring and frankly rude collection of tales, as apparently recorded by one of their number, Geoffrey Chaucer.

This tour follows exactly the route taken in those bygone times. Unfortunately, the inn the original travellers set out from is no longer around, but we can set forth from the medieval pub that backed onto it. A synopsis of each ‘Tale’ is covered on the way. And just to make things even more interesting, Your London Tours, like our erstwhile innkeeper, also issues a challenge: the member of the tour group who relates the best story, or tells the funniest joke, or sings the best song during the journey down will also win a prize: a slap-up fish & chip lunch in Canterbury itself! The guide will be the judge. Of course, we will visit Canterbury Cathedral, an awe-inspiring medieval masterpiece, and see the site of Beckett's murder and his shrine.

Dover Castle
Dover is England’s right foot and has been the country’s front line since time immemorial. Julius Caesar was thwarted here and it became the main fortification in the Saxon shore defences. The Normans built the original castle with a warren of tunnels underneath. King Henry II had it built as a 'hospitality suite' for foreign dignitaries visiting Thomas Beckett's shrine. In England's first ever state visit, the French king Louis VII stayed here. It was then used as a defence against him, and in later centuries, Napoleon and Hitler. Simply packed with history. Nearby are the famed White Cliffs made legendary in song.

ALL ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE. FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE.

PRICE OPTIONS:

CANTERBURY TALES: PERSONALLY-GUIDED FULL DAY SET TOUR	PRICE (Full day 9 hours).
BY PRIVATE CAR (1-2 passengers)	£400.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (3-4 passengers)	£440.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (5-7 passengers)	£480.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.

HOW THE TOUR WORKS:

● Important note: 'Private tour' means a privately chartered guided tour. It does not entail exclusive private access. We do not offer tours to individuals wishing to join a larger group (for this you require a scheduled coach tour operator).

● The guide: Your tour will be conducted by a friendly qualified guide (or driver-guide for car tours) providing a knowledgeable commentary, and assisting with practical issues. Where venues offer in-house guides or audio devices, your guide will still escort you.

● Pick-up/drop-off: You can be picked-up for your tour anywhere in the London area, whether at your hotel, place of residence, or venue of your request. The same applies as a dropping-off point after the tour.

● Timings: The guide will meet you at the recommended start time or at a start time of your request. The duration of this tour is timed from pick-up to drop-off and includes built-in stops for photo opportunities, facilities, and a 1-hour lunch break.

● Lunch: An appropriate restaurant, traditional pub, or sandwich stop can be arranged for lunch (note: tour price does not include food or refreshments). Alternatively, you may want to bring a pre-packed lunch. The guide usually takes a rest during this period.

● Clothing: Clients should dress appropriately making allowances for the changeable British weather, outdoor activities or visiting churches, etc. Our main tip is to dress comfortably. For more tips to help make your tour even more enjoyable click here.

● Format: The tour has been specially researched and designed by our staff (copyright applies) and is exclusive to Your London Tours & associates. Selected elements of different tours can be combined to create even more options. See our Pick & Mix page.

● General: Rest assured with Your London Tours: All our tours are tailored to YOUR requirements. The guide will be exclusively dedicated to your family or group during the tour itself, so you will be able to relax and enjoy your day.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TOUR IN 3 EASY STEPS:

STEP 1: Send e-mail to tours@yourlondontours.com with the following information:
● Name or brief description of tour required.
● Date service required.
● Number of adults/children, age of children.
● Full address of hotel, place of residence or venue to be picked up from or met.
● Special interests or information to help us make your tour more enjoyable.
● Lead contact name and full billing address.
● Home phone number or cell phone number.

STEP 2: On receiving this information we will e-mail a reply confirming availability, price and payment procedure. If the tour is unavailable, eg, attractions are closed or we are fully booked, we will inform you or provide details of another operator.

STEP 3: If you are happy with your tour booking please make payment as directed.
Payments can take up to 48 hrs to process. On receiving payment, we will e-mail a tour confirmation and receipt. Please check details carefully and e-mail us with any queries.

BOOKING POLICY AND NOTES:
• Bookings are dealt with on a one-to-one basis via e-mail only.
• We do not accept bookings with less than 72 hours notice.
• To secure your preferred date we recommend booking well in advance.
• All tours subject to availability. Booking will not go ahead until availability is confirmed.
• Tour is not guaranteed to go ahead until 100% of payment is received.
• Administration fees may be added for extensive itineraries or supplementary guide hire.
• We do not arrange flights, accommodation, travel tickets or tickets for events.
• We do not usually pre-book tickets for attractions. We recommended these are paid
for at the gate on the day. In circumstances where pre-booking is the only option for
attractions, tickets must be paid for in advance and are non-refundable.

FOR ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE. FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE.

Vehicle spec:
Silver Mercedes-Benz Viano V6, seven-passenger luxury people carrier, high-spec interior trim with leather seats, armrests, headrests, air-conditioning, climate control, sound system, front and rear electric sunroof, sliding passenger doors, luggage space.

Driver-guide info:
Our driver-guides are smartly presented, knowledgeable and friendly. They are professionally qualified and drive fully insured private hire vehicles. They carry the 'Blue Badge' accreditation allowing them to conduct tours, walks and interior visits of the major London venues and many other attractions in the UK.