Timescape Tours is a deluxe 5 star driver-guided tour business based in London. We have only ever received top ratings for trips.
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I love discussing England past & present with my guests while we journey to Windsor in my Mercedes. We can talk about the castle itself, or any other aspect of our long history that may interest you, from the Norman Conquest to the Battle of Britain.As well as showing the treasures on view, I like to illustrate further aspects of the history of this ancient place by sharing materials I have prepared via my tablet, talking guests through the history personally, although audio guides are also available for state rooms & St Georges Chapel. In St Georges Chapel we encounter the wonder of England's gothic masterpiece, soak up the indefinable atmosphere that a space with so much history creates, and stand on the tombs of some of the mightiest Kings of England. After catching the changing of the guard we can wander along the north terrace, gaze across the Thames to Eton before you take in the splendours of the State rooms and St Georges Hall .
Osborne ranks as a hidden gem among the Royal residences. It is at once both intimate and grand, it speaks to both Victoria's passion for Albert and her family, but also to the grief she suffered when losing him so unexpectedly in 1861 a full 40 years before she followed him.Being a hidden gem Osborne is also frequently less crowded then other major attractions and one has the time to fully relax and enjoy the experience.Also a sea crossing always adds the excitement of any journey and arriving at an Island adds to one's sense of adventure!
A great day to enjoy both the personal and the historical. Chartwell offers an imitate view of the Churchill's home life and it a wonderful place to simply spend time.Lunch at an English Country pub, beloved by those brave young men who saved the country from the Luftwaffe, and then a visit to either the Heritage Hanger, where we get up close to that wonderful aircraft the Spitfire ....Or; across the field at the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum, where we can discover the lives of those who kept this famous fighter station ticking over despite constant Nazi attacks through the summer of 1940.Opening times for the Heritage Hanger vary and numbers may be limited so we will have to liaze on dates.
Apart from it's fascinating history, Hever is just a beautiful and intriguing place to spend time. As well as being at the heart of an event that changed English history for ever it was home to our first ever female MP and is in one of our most picturesque counties. Hever is not only a castle but a home, to both the Tudors and the American millionaire William Waldolf Astor, a man who know a thing or two about how to live well.
Explore this remarkable and unique double palace, where the ages overlap and the course of history changed forever, where Wolsey, the 'Second King' of England reined, only to watch all power slip away. Climb the steps to wonder at the greatest medieval hall in England. Stand in Henry’s 'Great Watching Chamber' where nobles vied for the Kings attention and his wife was declared an adulterer. Walk the halls through which, some say, her ghost still runs, crying out for the forgiveness & mercy that was never to come.Step through a time portal at the end of the Haunted Gallery into the Baroque Palace, William lll's and the Glorious Revolution’s answer to Versailles and the guillotine.Explore the gardens and the maze, the most famous in the land. See the first tennis court in England, much beloved sport of Henry 8th before a leisurely drive back to your hotel.
Dover Castle and Canterbury CathedralDover Castle is, some claim, the largest and most impressive fortress in the whole of Great Britain. It guards the vital port below and contains within it’s ancient walls some of the most vital strata in English history, literally tunnelled into the white cliffs below.Although fortifications have stood on this site since the iron age, it was the Romans who left us the first recognisable building, in the shape of Incredible Pharos or lighthouse. This still stands today within the walls of Henry 2nd's imposing fortress, in which he had to build a chapel to st. Thomas a Becket, head of the English church and childhood friend whom he had martyred.The castle later went on to be reinforced against both Napoleon and Adolf Hitler, when it played a vital part in suppressing any chances of a successful invasion of Britain. We can explore the extensive underground networks built during these times from Napoleon era barracks to WW2 operating theatres, The Grand Shaft, a triple helix staircase built by Brigadier-General William Twiss in 1809 to enable thousands of troops to deploy from the castle to the town below in a matter of minutes.All these eras remain to be experienced during a day exploring Dover Castle, including a wonderful walk along the famous White Cliffs, emblematic of England’s willingness to protect its independence across the ages, and a glorious natural wonder to be experienced for oneself.CanterburyOnly 30 minutes away by car is Canterbury, home to perhaps the most important cathedral in the land, diocese of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the church of England since it was founded by St Augustine in AD 597.Building on the catherdral began here in the rein of William the Conqueror in 1070, along with Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. It was here that King Henry 2nd, builder of the Dover Castle, walked barefoot in sackcloth and ashes as penance for the murder of Thomas a Becket, 'This turbulent priest’, who was put to death by four of Henry’s Knights at the altar on the 29th of December exactly 100 years later.Explore the ancient mediaeval town with it’s little alleyways, tea shops or even take a rowing boat trip on the secret twists of the River Stour as it winds through the town.
📷Oxford & StratfordPerhaps one of the more important UK tours for those of an academic or literary persuasion but also those who love beautiful (and very old) places.OxfordHere among the ‘Dreaming Spires’ we find the forty-four colleges of perhaps the world’s most famous university, founded as far back as 1096.England’s and indeed the world’s history was made by so many that passed this way; scientists who changed the way we lived like Albert Einstein and Tim Berners-Lee, great writers who changed the way we thought about our lives, from Shelley through Tolkien to Dorothy L Sayers and Phillip Pullman, for whom Oxford itself serves as a muse. Oxford has also provided Great Britain with 30 of its Prime Ministers and educated leaders from countries across the globe.Backdrop and setting for many a famous film (including Harry Potter of course) and home to many of the brightest and best young minds the world over, Oxford is a beautiful and fascinating place to spend time.Pause to admire the fantastic Radcliffe Camera or visit the Bodleian, probably the most famous and imposing library in the world. Have a browse around the cosy covered market or visit a particular collage that is of interest. Many are open or grant admission for a small fee.Let us know in advance of anywhere you’d particularly like to visit, the old haunts of a loved one or famous writer, the location of a favourite film scene perhaps.📷StratfordHome to the Bard himself and Shakespeare's Birthplace Museum, Stratford on Avon sits comfortably on the river for which it is named.Obviously the principle reason for travelling here is to see Shakespeare’s birthplace and you can indeed visit his fathers house to stand in the very room in which he was born. The town itself is very pleasant and other related attractions include Anne Hathaway’s cottage where one gets an intimate view of how life was lived at the time.
Built for the Duke of Marlborough as a reward for defeating the armies of Louis 14th during the War of the Spanish Succession, Blenheim is a study of baroque splendour like no other. Britain’s greatest ever military commander rose from comparatively humble origins to found a dynasty of nobles which eventually provided Britain with Winston Churchill, who was actually born here in 1874.Queen Anne gifted the Duke the land in 1705 and parliament voted the fantastic sum of £240,000 to built and house that was simultaneously and national monument and, eventually, a mausoleum.Architect John Vanburgh was a controversial choice, not least for the Duchess who wanted Sir Christopher Wren and was eventually to ban Vanburgh from even seeing his baroque masterpiece.Sarah herself was a controversial figure and having dominated Queen Anne for so long eventually fell from favour and was forced to flee abroad until the Queens death in 1714.The magnificent parkland surrounding the palace was redesigned by Capability Brown in 1764 including the proper damming of the River Glyme to create the famous lake which almost surrounds the palace. This also caused the flooding of the lower half of Vanbrug’s controversial bridge including most of the 30 odd rooms that it contained.Among the objects of interest for Winston fans are the room and bed in which he was born and the greek temple folly where he eventually plucked up the courage to propose to Clementine before their marriage in 1908.Its a lovely day out, great for art lovers, history fans and those who appreciate the beauty of nature and the splendour of art.
A motor tour of the Cotswolds bookended by a visit to Shakespeare's birthplace at one end and the lovely regency city of Bath at the other. An overnight stay here means the chance to relax, enjoy a trip to the famous Roman Baths, dinner and perhaps even see what’s on at the beautiful Georgian Theatre Royal in the city. Returning to London we stop off at the neolithic marvel that is Stonehenge.If you are travelling from Heathrow (preferably early evening) we can schedule this trip so as to drop you at the airport on our return the following day, (providing we can either accommodate your luggage in the car or have it forwarded from the hotel in London). Southampton, for those travelling by ship is also an additional possibility. Otherwise we simply return to your place of stay in LondonStratfordHome to the Bard himself and Shakespeare's Birthplace Museum, Stratford on Avon sits comfortably on the river for which it is named. Obviously the principle reason for travelling here is to see Shakespeare’s birthplace and you can indeed visit his fathers house to stand in the very room in which he was born. The town itself is very pleasant and other related attractions include Anne Hathaway’s cottage where one gets an intimate view of how life was lived at the time.BathBath is a beautifully preserved regency treasure, nestling in a valley on the river Avon. Here the Roman baths of Aquae Sulis were rediscovered in the 18th century and the town became the home of high society, under the guidance of Beau Nash, the regency dandy who set the fashion and manners of the time. Think Mr Darcy goes to Bridgeton and you’ve got the gist of it, indeed Jane Austin herself did live at Bath for some of her life. The Theatre Royal is a beautiful example of Georgian Theatre and runs a fascinatingly varied programme throughout the year.StonehengeStonehenge needs no introduction, being perhaps the most famous Neolithic site in the world. The excellent visitor centre gives a glimpse into the distant lives of the ancients, who through the most incredible toil, built a monument to span the millennia. While modern science reveals more of their world every day, we can only stand and wonder at the perseverance and motives that drove a people without the wheel, draft animals or metals, to erect such an incredible celestial calendar, mausoleum and cathedral to their mysterious beliefs. English Heritage provide a constant bus service to take us through the Neolithic landscape, past Bronze Age long barrows, to our encounter with the massive, ancient and mysterious stones themselves. Here the landscape offers us a fascinating clue to the inspiration that gave our ancient ancestors the power to achieve what they did.
A beautiful drive out of London to the west and the chance to experience three entirely different eras of Britain's long history, from the dandies of smart 18th century Bath, back through the civilizing culture of the romans to the distant and mysterious Neolithic peoples with their amazing sky temple of heavy stone.We also get to tour through some of England's most beautiful countryside in a comfortable Mercedes.
Often described as the most beautiful castle in England it has been it has stood on it’s two islands since the 9th century AD. Perhaps most famous for being inhabited by several English Queens it has been the site of violent sieges, an adultery that begat the Tudors and at various times was home of the queens of Edward 1st (Eleanor of Castile) Edward II (Isabella of France) and Henry VIII (Catherine of Aaragon).In the 1920s it was bought by American heiress Lady Olive Ballie who, much in the style of the Astors at Hever, restored the house and used it as her society playground, hosting everyone from Cary Grant and Charlie Chaplain to Winston Churchill.Set in stunning sculpture gardens an hours drive from London, Leeds is a sensory delight and being less crowded than more famous sites is very relaxing to visit.
A day driving around this great metropolis taking in the sights and sounds in a luxury car. We can hop in and out for a longer look where we want, St Pauls Cathedral or Buckingham Palace for instance. This tour can be customised to enable a trip round Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London too. Just get in touch to chat about what you’d like to do with your day. Tell us about your interests and we’ll build a day round you. Possible inclusions include:Buckingham & St James PalaceTrafalgar SquarePiccadilly CircusTheatre land (Shaftesbury Avenue)The StrandRoyal Courts of JusticeSt Paul’s CathedralTower of LondonBorough Market (great for lunch)Parliament Square/Big benWestminster AbbeyHarrodsAlbert MemorialNotting HillThis tour is ideal for those who’d like to see a lot in one day and for those who may not want to do too much walking although we can also include a walking tour of Buckingham Palace area, St James Park and Parliament Square.
A fascinating insight into generations of the Royal family followed by a riverboat picnic. It’s a holiday highlight.Close to London and a pleasant drive, Hampton Court was the jewel in Henry Vlll’s crown. The chance to see it in situ with the baroque palace of William and Mary, built some 150 years later offers a unique insight into a span of English History like no other.As well as the magnificent architecture, the grounds and gardens of Hampton Court are world famous, from the maze to the huge grape vine, the long avenue of topiaried Yews leading down the river and the beautiful boat house, it sometimes seems as if Hampton Court has more to offer than all of England’s other palaces put together.And after all this excess of grandeur what could be more pleasant than a picnic on the river aboard the delightful Princess Freda, a piece of British History herself having been part of the armada of ‘little ships’ that saved the British Army from Hitler at Dunkirk in the summer of 1940.
Britain has been a great naval power for centuries and Portsmouth is one of the most historic maritime destinations in the world. Home to both Vice- Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship, the Victory and to the amazing Mary Rose museum it is a must for those who love history and the sea.
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