PRIVATE CRUISE-STOP-OVER TOURS FROM SOUTHAMPTON

SOUTHAMPTON CRUISE STOP-OVER TOURS
Choice of exclusive day tours from Southampton cruise terminal

● Day-tour options from Southampton 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 Southampton hotel or terminal. Typical timings: 09:00-17:00.
● Subject to seasonal openings & availability. Any admission fees payable on entry.
● Prices (per car) £400.00-£480.00 (6 hrs); £500.00-£580.00 (8 hrs). See table below.

6-hour tours from Southampton:

Beaulieu Palace
Beaulieu Palace has a setting on the edge of the New Forest, shielded from the major southern port of Southampton. The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2012 with over 250 classic cars on display. Aficianados of 'Top Gear', the world's most popular TV motoring show, will find a special section dedicated to the cars used in the programme's incredible stunts. Meanwhile, spymasters will delight in the James Bond boats and secret service sections.
● Usually open daily. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyards
Located on Portsea Island on the south coast, Portsmouth is home to the world's oldest dry dock where many of the Royal Navy’s most famous fighting ships can be visited. Here we can see Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose, which sank in neighbouring waters during a battle in 1545 and was not seen again until it was famously raised from the seabed in 1982. Moving onto a couple of centuries, we can visit Admiral Nelson's remarkably preserved flagship HMS Victory, the ship on which he was shot during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. We can also hop on board the awesome HMS Warrior, which, when completed in 1861, was the largest, fastest, most heavily-armoured warship the world had ever seen. Your ticket into the dockyard also entitles you entry to all museums and displays within the precincts, as a well as a boat trip round the historic harbour, which feature the very latest high-tech additions to the British Navy.
● Open daily. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Salisbury
Once a Roman garrison, Salisbury is now a thriving market town. In its centre is the stunning Salisbury Cathedral, the tallest medieval building in the world. It contains an original copy of the Magna Carta, the world's earliest surviving written constitution. The cathedral’s environs were described by the writer Bill Bryson as the most beautiful place in England. Certainly both Turner and Constable found it an inspiration for their paintings. The town was the setting for Thomas Hardy’s Melchester and Anthony Trollope’s Barchester. Another option is the former site of Salisbury: the deserted iron-age hill-fort of Old Sarum. Well worth a visit with spectacular views of the 'new' town.
● Usually open daily. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Stonehenge
A drive deep into the county of Wiltshire takes us back in time. Here we discover the mysterious World Heritage site of Stonehenge, an ancient stone structure older than the pyramids of Egypt, and a rare surviving monument of the pre-historic world. Some hold a deep fascination with this place, and wonder about its meaning. Those not so swayed by the stones’ magical charms are left pondering the biggest mystery of all - how did they get there? The latest theories and research are also discussed.
● Usually open daily. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Winchester
An historic city that has appeared as a movie location many times, including the recent film version of Austen's Pride and Prejudice. An old Roman town, it became the capital of England during the Dark Ages. There are strong connections with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and King Alfred the Great. The great Domesday Book was compiled here in 1086. It is the burial place of both King Canute and King Rufus, and Henry III was born here. Winchester College, founded in 1382, is the oldest public school in England. Winchester Cathedral, built in 1097, is one of England’s oldest. Both Henry IV and Bloody Mary were married here. It is also the burial place of Jane Austen.
● Usually open daily. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

8-hour tours from Southampton:

Jane Austen Tour
In the village of Chawton in Hampshire stands the 17th century house where Jane Austen spent a productive part of her writing career. This is where she wrote Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion. It is now a small private museum and has been welcoming visiting Austen fans since as far back as 1947. The museum contains a fascinating collection of objects and books actually owned by the novelist, and other odd artifacts, such as a gun found under the floorboards! We will also view the manor house once owned by her brother. A traditional pub lunch can be arranged at the Greyfriar Inn, handily placed right opposite the house! The tour also visits her childhood village of Steventon and her burial place at Winchester Cathedral.
● Open Mar-Dec: daily; Jan-Feb: Sat-Sun. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Downton Abbey
Highclere Castle was the filming location for the recent international hit television drama Downton Abbey. It is a country house with 1,000 acres of parkland designed by Capability Brown. Since 1679, the castle has been home to the Earls of Carnarvon. In the mid-19th century Houses of Parliament architect Charles Barry remodelled the house in a mixture of Neo-Elizabethan and Italianate styles. The 5th Earl of Carnarvon was an amateur archaeologist who, along with professional Howard Carter, famously discovered the Egyptian tomb Tutankhamun in 1922. There is an exhibition on the discovery inside the house.
Spring openings 2012: Apr 01-15; May 06-08; Jun 03-07. Summer openings 2012: Sun-Thu Jul-Sep. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Hampton Court
Hampton Court is a national treasure. It’s actually two palaces in one, covering both the Tudor and Stuart royal dynasties (Henry VIII actually stole it!). Highlights include the authentic Tudor kitchens, Great Hall, and Chapel Royal. There’s also an important art collection, an ancient working tennis court, and the magnificent gardens featuring the world’s oldest maze for you to get lost in! 500 years of royal history comes alive here.
● Usually open daily. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Isle of Wight
This tour coming soon.
● Usually open daily. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Wisley RHS Gardens
10 miles from Central London lies Wisley, Britain's best loved garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society. It’s a working garden with a diverse and unique collection. It is said ‘If it can grow at Wisley it can grow anywhere.’ Features include the Alpine Meadow, Arboretum, Bamboo Walk, Fruit Field, Model Gardens, Pinetum, Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Vegetable Garden, Vineyard and Tropical Glasshouse. If you love flowers and plants you cannot miss it.
● Usually open daily. You will be escorted personally on your tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

ALL ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE. FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE.

PRICE OPTIONS:

CRUISE STOP-OVER TOURS FROM SOUTHAMPTON 6-HOUR TOURS	PRICE (6 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.
CRUISE STOP-OVER TOURS FROM SOUTHAMPTON 8-HOUR TOURS	PRICE (8 hours).
BY PRIVATE CAR (1-2 passengers)	£500.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (3-4 passengers)	£540.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (5-7 passengers)	£580.00 (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 Southampton area, whether at your hotel, place of residence, or cruise terminal. 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 name of cruise terminal 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.

lisbury cathedralInside Canterbury Cathedral