Escorted Day Trips in the UK

Month
 

Stately Homes,
Castles and Museums

Gardens

Towns, Cities
& Seaside

Miscellaneous
Shopping, Shows,
River Cruise

Date

Destination
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Terms and conditions

Pick up points

Snowdrops at Rode Hall Gardens

The first signs of winter receding and spring is round the corner is heralded by the white carpets of snowdrops. This year we head to Rode Hall Gardens, not far from Stoke on Trent, to see natures way of heralding the new season.

Price includes: Coach Fare and entrance to gardens

Kings Norton 09:15
Bournville      09:20
Selly Oak      09:25
Harborne      09:35
City Centre   09:50

Call

0121 459 7524

Bury Market

Bury Market attracts coaches from all over England. It is like stepping back in time when markets were the place to buy everything. With 370 stalls there is plenty of choice, no wonder over 250,000 shoppers visit every week. In contrast the Mill Gate Shopping Centre next door to the market is a modern city centre shopping complex with a number of well known High Street shops.

For those that like preserved Railways the East Lancs Railway has a station a short walk from the Market. A Steam Train departs at 12:45 which will take you on a return journey to Rawtenstall a journey of approx 1 hour 35 minutes (Fare not included £8.30 Snr £10.20 Adult.

Price is for Coach Fare only

Call

0121 459 7524

Ferry Cross the Mersey

Our coach will drop us at the Woodside Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead where you will board the Mersey Ferry. Your ticket price includes a River Explorer ticket which allows you to travel once around a circular route stopping at Liverpool Pier and Seacombe. At each port you can leave the ferry and resume your journey on a later ferry to complete the journey. Ferries run every hour and take a total of 50 minutes to complete the whole journey (a timetable will be provided on the day). We hope to be at the ferry terminal at approx 11a.m (ferries depart at 40 minutes past the hour) and depart at 6p.m giving you over 6 hours to hop on and off the ferry (Last ferry from Liverpool to connect with the coach is 5p.m.,)

At Woodside there is an exhibition telling the story of the 'U' Boats in the Atlantic, Seacombe has a Spaceport Exhibition. and Liverpool has a whole city to explore. The Liverpool Pier ferry terminal is not far from the Liver Building and Albert Dock (with the Tate Gallery , Beatles experience and Maritime Museum), buses depart from the terminal to the City Centre or you can board one of the Open Top Buses.

Price includes: Coach Fare and River Explorer ticket for the Mersey Ferry

Call

0121 459 7524

Renishaw Hall and Gardens

The garden is divided into rooms filled with plants and bordered with Yew hedges, flanked with classical statues. Set in acres of parkland it contains lakeside and nature walks together with herbaceous borders and ornamental ponds.

Renishaw Hall is still a family home which adds to its unique atmosphere. Our visit includes a tour of the hall allowing you to see the spectacular collections of art and furniture that have been acquired by generations of the Sitwell family. Quite literally a unique treasure trove.

In the stable block is the Sitwell Museum which house the incredible collection from the 'Sitwell Trio', Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell. Included in the museum is the history of the Gardens stretching over 400 years and new for 2012 (being the Jubilee Year) is an exhibition of "Royalty and Renishaw".

Price includes Coach travel, entrance to the Gardens and Museum plus a guided tour of the Hall.

HHA members £17.50

Call

0121 459 7524

Sudeley Castle (HHA)

Few historic houses can match Sudeley Castle's long, curious and fascinating history. Spanning a thousand years the castle has changed hands over a dozen times, has more than once been a Royal residence and has played host to at least six Kings and Queens of England. The castle is perhaps best known as the former palace of Queen Katherine Parr, who is buried in St Mary's Church within the grounds. This year the castle celebrates the 500th anniversary of Katherine Parr's birth.

Sudeley's award winning gardens are a delight throughout the seasons - from the Queens Garden billowing with old fashioned roses, to the Elizabethan style Knot garden.

Price includes coach fare and admission

£15.25
(HHA member)

Call

0121 459 7524

Waddesden Manor (NT)

A Renaissance style Chateau built in the 19th century for the Rothschild family to entertain their guests and display an outstanding collection of art treasures. It houses one of the finest collections of French 18th century decrotive arts in the world. There is also a fine collection of portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds and works by Dutch and Flemish Masters of the 17th century.

The Victorian garden is considered one of the finest in Britain with its Parterre seasonal displays, fountains and statuary. At the heart of the garden is an aviary, stocked with species once part of Baron Ferdinand's collection.

The wine cellars contain bottles of wine originating from the Rothschild's own vineyards. For a small extra charge you can visit the cellars and see for yourself.

Price includes coach fare and admission

( £16.50
NT members)

Call

0121 459 7524

Tissington Well Dressing and Bakewell

A morning visit to Tissington in the Peak District where the 7 wells in the village will be dressed with picture boards depicting religious themes. All the boards are decorated using flower petals, small stones and twigs, using local resources. All the boards are created by the villagers themselves and near neighbours. Well dressing is unique to the Peak District and there is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world.

In the afternoon we take a short tour through the Peak District stopping at the small market town of Bakewell where the famous Bakewell Puddings originated. Don't forget to visit the Old Original Pudding Company .

Price includes coach fare only (there is no entrance charge for Tissington, although there are donation boxes around the village, the proceeds of which go to local charities)

£16.00

Sorry no Harborne pick up for this trip.

Call

0121 459 7524

Moreton in Marsh Market and Bourton on the Water

Tuesday is Market Day in Morton in Marsh, carrying on a tradition that has been handed down over many centuries. Soak up the atmosphere of this small Cotswold Town and its market, perhaps snap up a bargain or simply buy a souvenir.

Our second port of call is one of the prettiest towns in the Cotswolds, Bourton on the Water. With the little River running through the heart of the town it is an idyllic place to relax visit one of the Riverside Cafes and have a cup of tea. Alternatively you can head to one end of the village where there is a model village an exact replica of Bourton on the Water when it was built.

Price includes Coach Fare only

Call

0121 459 7524

Claydon House (NT)

An 18th century house in Buckinghamshire designed to impress. The interior has a mixture of styles including Chinoiserie, Rococo, Palladian and Neo- Classical designs. The house has 500 years of history associated with the Verney family including an eccentric 19th Century Collector and connections with Florence Nightingale. The house is set amongst 52 acres of Parkland with Lakes and many tranquil walks with some lovely countryside views.

The gardens are part of the Claydon Estate and are not part of the National Trust property. They are well worth a visit but there is an additional charge payable on the day (£2.80 for NT members and £3.80 for non members) for entry. There are three gardens to visit, the Kitchen Garden, the Rose Garden and the Pool Garden.

Price includes: Coach Fare, entry to Claydon House and estate excluding the Gardens.

£22.50

(£16.50 for NT members)

Call

0121 459 7524

Thursday 14th June

Worcester and The Elgar Birthplace Museum

Morning visit to Worcester where you can wander at your leisure through the streets, visit Greyfriars (NT) a 15th century Merchants house (entrance price not included) or the magnificent Cathedral.

After lunch we will visit the Elgar Birthplace Museum, just outside of Worcester. On arrival we will be served tea or coffee whilst watching an introductory video of the Life of Elgar. The Birthplace Cottage contains many artefacts belonging to Elgar and his family, some of the rooms are laid out in a typical Victorian fashion that could have been found in any one of the many houses that he lived in around the Worcester, Malvern area. The small cottage garden in front of the house is also laid out as a typical Victorian style. To one side of the Cottage is the Visitor Centre where you can learn more about the works of Elgar and the man himself. You can see some of his original music scores, early records made and programmes from concerts where he performed plus a lot more information

Price includes: Coach Fare and entrance into the Elgar Birthplace Museum

£20.00 Snr
£20.50 adult
 

Harborne (Balden Road)            10:00

Harborne (Swimming Baths)                      10:05

Selly Oak      10:15
Bournville      10:20
Kings Norton 10:30

Call

0121 459 7524

Leek and Biddulph Grange Gardens(NT)

Leek is a bustling Market Town in the Staffordshire Moorlands with a history going back to before the Norman invasion. Architecturally it is mainly a Victorian town. Examples of the Arts and Craft Movement made popular by William Morris and Edwarde Burne-Jones can be found in some of Leek's Churches. On a Saturday there is an outdoor antique and craft market in the square, an indoor market at the "Butter MArket" and a Trestle Market.

In the afternoon we visit Biddulph Grange Gardens. An unusual Victorian Garden laid out in a series of inter-connecting compartments. Features include a "Stumpery", "Rockwork", a formal Italian Garden, Egyptian Court and a tranquil Chinese Garden. The gardens were designed by James Bateman as a reflection f his beliefs and scientific interests.

Accessibility Please note: Narrow and loose gravel paths, steep slopes, many steps in the grounds, tunnels and stepping stones throughout the gardens. Some visitors may require assistance from their companions.

Price includes: Coach Fare and entrance to the gardens.

(£15.50 NT members)

Call

0121 459 7524

Ayrshire Bute and Cowall

Includes visits to The Burns Heritage Centre, Isle of Bute, Guided tour of Glasgow and Leighton Hall.

For further information please visit the Short Break Holiday Page

Weston Super Mare

A popular destination for Birmingham people wanting a breath of fresh sea air. Over the last couple of years a lot of work has been undertaken to clean up the promenade making this a very clean and desirable location. Add this to the new pier and there is something for everyone, whether you want a peaceful stroll along the front or the thrill of amusements on the pier. If you haven't visited Weston Super Mare for a few years you will be pleasantly surprised by the transformation.

Price includes Coach Fare only

Call

0121 459 7524

Chatsworth House

Home to the Cavendish family since 1550 the house has evolved over the years to be considered as a Palace in its own right. Inside there are works of art that span the centuries from Roman and Egyptian Sculptures to masterpieces by Rembrandt, Reynold and Veronese that sit comfortably with the Sumptuous furnishings in the various rooms.

Learn about the Earl of Shrewsbury and Mary Queen of Scots, the latter being held prisoner at Chatsworth.

Outside there are formal gardens which includes a Cascade of Water tumbling down the hillside behind the house. The Emperor Fountain sitting in a man made canal to one side of the house spouts a jet of water in the air powered by gravity alone. Add to this the magnificent Derbyshire scenery that forms the backdrop to this the house known as the Palace of the Peaks.

Price includes Coach Fare and admission to the House

£23.00 Snr

Call

0121 459 7524

Chester

Chester is arguably the richest city in Britain archaeological and architectural treasures preserved to this day from the time of the Roman occupation. One of the legacies of the Roman invasion was the building of the City Walls, built of Sandstone. Modified and extended over the years mainly up to the Norman Conquest and on to the Civil War, but more recently to bridge road access into the city. It is possible to walk the complete circuit of the Wall approximately 2 miles in length.

The most distinctive medieval feature of the city is the shops known as the Rows. These are double level walkways with a continuous line of balconies allowing shops at street level and on the first floor. The Rows are unique in Britain and were certainly in existence in the 14th century.

You will be spoilt for things to do from exploring the Roman City, visiting the Cathedral, taking a ride on the open top bus or going for a cruise on the River Dee.

Price includes Coach Fare only

Call

0121 459 7524

Kennet and Avon Canal Cruise (with Cream Tea)

Our very popular Cream Tea cruise this year will be on the Kennet and Avon Canal. This canal closed in 1952 and only through the work of the Kennet & Avon Trust has it been fully restored and re-opened to Navigation in 1991. Our trip will commence at Hungerford aboard the "Rose of Hungerford" one of the Trust's own boats. The cruise will last approximately 2¹/₂ hours.

Before reaching Hungerford we will make a stop in Marlborough, a small Market Town in Wiltshire. This will provide an opportunity to be able to find some lunch and have a wander around the town that has a scattering of antique shops, cafes and restaurants.

Please note that there is a short walk from the road where we leave the coach, along a track to where the boat is moored. This trip is limited to 44 passengers due to the size of the boat.

Price includes: Coach Fare, Cruise on the Kennet & Avon Canal, Cream tea on board the "Rose of Hungerford"

Call

0121 459 7524

Bowood House & Gardens (HHA)

Family house of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne. The original house was much larger than the one that stands today which is the Diocletion wing designed by Robert Adam. It includes a magnificent orangery, library , chapel and sculpture gallery (containing some original Lansdowne Marble Sculptures. There are also some fine collections of costumes, watercolours and Napoleonic and Indian treasures within the house. It was here in 1774 that Joseph Priestly discovered Oxygen and his laboratory is there to be seen.

The Capability Brown Park is considered one of his best. With a lake, Doric temple and cascade. There are also Parterres, a Pinetum, an Arboretum and in the right season a spectacular Rhodendrum walk.

Price includes: Coach Fare and entrance into the House and Gardens.
(please note the House is affiliated to the Historic Houses Association but also offers reduced (not free) admission charges to English Heritage Members.)

EH members
£23 adult
£21.50 Snr

HHA members
£17.50 adult
£16.50 Snr

Call

0121 459 7524

Conway

Conway in North Wales is an ideal destination to go exploring, it has been designated a World Heritage site. The town still has its medieval Town Wall that encircled part of the town leading down to the historic harbour. Within the town is Aberconwy House a Tudor merchants house, Plas Mawr an Elizabethan town house and on the edge of the town is the Suspension bridge forming one of the main entrances into the present day town.

Towering above the town is the ruins of Conway Castle built for Edward I to defend the Menai Straits. The climb to the castle will reward you with some great views over the town, it's walls, harbour and out to sea. In the opposite direction is a view over to the Snowdon Mountain range.

If you have a National Trust or English Heritage card then it may be useful to take it with you.

Price includes: Coach Fare only

Call

0121 459 7524

Wrest Park (EH)

One of the UK's finest and least known gardens was opened to the public in August 2011. Restored to glory after decades hidden away from the publics gaze.

The 90 acres of Wrest Park in Bedfordshire are magnificent, probably Britain's largest 'secret garden', with surprises around every wooded corner. Although it is a nationally important garden its existence has remained virtually unknown.

Within the grounds there are examples of work by some of the most famous names in English gardening and architectural history, including Thomas Archer who designed the baroque pavilion in the park in 1709. Other surprises in the garden include a tucked away bath house, built in 1770 to resemble a semi ruined classical building. Inside family and friends would have walked across a pebble and deer vertebrae floor, to step , probably quite slowly, into the cold water plunge pool.

Price includes Coach Fare and entrance to the Gardens

£23.25 adult
£22.25 Snr


EH member
£16.50

Call

0121 459 7524

A View of Sussex

Visiting Petworth House, Wakehurst Place, Lewes Castle, Brighton, Arundel Castle, Polesden Lacey, Steam train ride on the Bluebell Line.

Full details visit our Short Break Section

£479 Single

Bridgnorth and the Severn Valley Railway

Our first stop will be in Bridgnorth a town of two halves, upper and lower, connected by a Funicular Railway. The small market town is an ideal place to have some lunch before heading to the Severn Valley Railway.

Tour coach will drop you at Bridgnorth Station where you will board the 2p.m. train that will follow the course of the River Severn  past Bewdley and on to Kidderminster. there will be time for coffee and a look at the small museum before boarding the coach for the homeward journey.

Price includes Coach Fare and a one way ticket on the Severn Valley Railway

Call

0121 459 7524

Victorian Festival of Christmas

includes visits to Salisbury, Bucklers Hard and New Forest tour, Portsmouth Historic Docks for the Victorian Festival and Chichester.

For full details visit our Short Break Section

£337 Single

Chatsworth at Christmas

Generally considered as the best dressed stately home in England at this time of year. The lower floors will again be decorated in 2012 this time the theme will be "Pantomime 'Villains and Dames'".

In the Stable Yard the restaurants will be serving up traditional Christmas fayre and there will be a Christmas Shop as well as the normal gift shop.

Invite your friends to join you on this interesting themed day out that will set you up for the festive season ahead.

Price includes Coach fare and entrance to CChatsworth House on a timed ticket.

Call

0121 459 7524