DOWNTON ABBEY TOUR: from London by luxury private car

DOWNTON ABBEY TOUR
Discover the locations of the hit television period drama.

● 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.

Highclere openings 2012:
All dates up to and including June 30, 2012 now SOLD OUT.
Sundays to Thursdays Jul 01 to Sep 13 now available EXCEPT July 1, 8, 15, 23 (SOLD OUT).

ITINERARY:
You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide. After an initial fast-track out from London, we explore two main locations, Highclere Castle in Hampshire, and the village of Bampton in the Oxfordshire.

Downton Abbey, the world-wide smash period drama, was made for the screen by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes and is filmed at Highclere Castle. The story is set in the early 20th century and revolves around the lives of an aristocratic English family and their servants. Highclere, owned by the Earl of Carnarvon, is open during the summer months for Downton aficionados to view. See the library in which the head steward was blackmailed by his former music hall partner. See the drawing room where Dowager Violet shaded her eyes from the electric chandelier lighting and where scullery maid Daisy was often seen cleaning the marble fireplace. Or see the red bedroom, scene of the scandalous 'Turkish Gentleman' episode. The original servants' quarters were not used in the series (a studio set was built for this), as much below stairs has been given over to an impressive Egyptology exhibition; it was 5th Earl who worked with the archaeologist Howard Carter in the famous 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings

Highclere's history stretches back to Anglo-Saxon times when the land was purchased for the Diocese of Winchester. In the medieval period a palace was built for the Bishop of Winchester, William Wykeham. After Henry VIII's dissolution in the mid-16th century it fell into private hands and was rebuilt as an Elizabethan manor house. In 1679 'Sawyer the Lawyer' bequeathed it to his daughter who married an ancestor to the Earls of Carnarvon. In the 1770s it was rebuilt in the classical Georgian style with 1,000 acres of parkland landscaped by the famous Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. It was remodelled once more in the Victorian era by Charles Barry (who designed the Houses of Parliament) and essentially it is his work that we see today. During World War One it was an officer's hospital, as depicted in season two of Downton, and during World War Two a home for evacuee children. Opened to the public since 1986, its majestic appearence in Downton Abbey has seen visitor numbers soar.

There are a number of options for a good lunch on this tour, including the Carnarvon Arms pub, near Highclere, or the Trout Inn near Bampton, a recent pub-of-the-year winner. After lunch we visit the picturesque market-town of Bampton, in the heart of the Cotswolds, which was chosen as the location for the local village in Downton. Avid watchers may remember it as the scene for a local fair, or the place where the Crawley family arrive at ancient and historic St Mary’s Church, which can also be visited. All-in-all a really fascinating, yet relaxing tour of the hit television series' locations.

ALL ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE. FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE.

PRICE OPTIONS:

DOWNTON ABBEY LOCATIONS: PERSONALLY-GUIDED FULL DAY 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.