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 Great Britain - England United Kingdom ENGLAND CHRISTMAS TRAVEL SPECIALS 2008 featuring Victorian Dickens Christmas Parade in the village of Rochester, England December 3-8, 2008.jpg) A pre-Christmas shopping trip to London, followed by a visit to
the Kent countryside. The traditional Christmas we all know from English
Christmas card scenes can still be enjoyed in England. Here, a series of
ancient villages present picture perfect scenes, even in December.
Surprisingly, there are more castles, and historical houses open to the public
concentrated in the heart of Kent than in any other area of the UK. Scores of
narrow country lanes twist and turn among the gentle slopes leading us to the
half timbered village of Chiddingstone. The highlight of our trip is the
Victorian Dickens Christmas Parade in the village of Rochester.BOOK NOW! THESE TOURS SELL OUT EARLY! Wednesday: Arrive in London. We suggest the Gatwick Express or Heathrow Express for your transfer (not included in the price). A hop on hop off sightseeing pass gives you the freedom to explore on your own, for 24 hours. .jpg) Thursday: London exudes a Christmas atmosphere at
this time of year. Museums, galleries, and superb shopping abound. The Victoria
and Albert Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, and the National Gallery are
all free! Covent Garden, once London's fruit, vegetable and flower
market is now a delightful shopping area with boutiques, unusual shops,
intimate bistros and restaurants. Take some time to sit in a quaint teashop and
watch the world go by. (CB) Friday: Visit Leeds Castle. Join fellow travelers in the
hotel lobby this morning as we travel to Kent. Leeds has been called "the
prettiest castle in the world", surrounded by a moat and green
countryside. It really is a jewel, now decorated in the style of the heiress
who occupied it with her two daughters in the 1900's. Some details: Leeds
Castle, set on two islands on the River Len in the heart of Kent, has been home
to royalty, lords and ladies for over 1000 years. Visitors are transported
through 900 years of the castle’s history; an eclectic mix of period
architecture, sumptuous interiors and family treasures waiting to be
discovered. At Christmastime, lights twinkle in the trees, the castle is
decorated in classic country house style, and the castle shops are filled with
wonderful Christmas gift ideas. (CB)Saturday: Dickens Christmas Fair and Parade in Rochester, England . .jpg) .jpg) The highlight of our trip is Rochester. Rochester is a gem of a city, with its cathedral and Norman castle, and it overflows with Dickens's sites. The high street, with its turn of the century shop fronts and narrow passages, is the picture of a Victorian Christmas. The aroma of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts adds to the holiday atmosphere. The streets are lit by lamplight, with strands of Christmas lights gaily strung across the road. Step back in time as you pass the shop windows, the women in their petticoats, and even Miss Haversham, covered in lace. The shops are all open for business. As darkness falls, the parade begins, up the high street, led by costumed characters from the Dickens’ period. The parade leaders are followed by a children’s choir and marching pipe band, complete with tartans and black bearskin hats. The festive parade turns into Boley Hill to join the carol concert on the open-air stage in front of the magnificent Rochester Cathedral and Castle. The cathedral is warmly lit from inside and the stained glass windows creat a charming scene. (B)
Sunday - Hever Castle & Gardens  Visit Chiddingstone. Chiddingstone
is unique in that, apart from the church and the Castle, the entire village is
owned by the National Trust. It is described as being " the most perfect
surviving example of a Tudor village in the county". The black and
white buildings around the town square and the castle nearby offer a bucolic
view, particularly so on a quiet Sunday morning. The village was used as a
setting in the 1985 Merchant Ivory film "A Room with a View". Enjoy Sunday lunch at a pub. The extensive menu, which includes everything from simple soup and sandwiches to elaborate full blown meals, is wonderful. .jpg) The petite castle at
Hever, Anne Boelyn's childhood home is next. Bring Hollywood and history to
life in Kent, the real-life location for new movie 'The Other Boleyn Girl', a
romantic portrayal of the two Boleyn sisters and their love for Henry VIII. It
is easy to imagine how the picturesque stone castle, moat and magnificent
gardens would have formed a perfect backdrop for the courtship between Anne and
Henry. There is a permanent exhibition in the Tudor Long Gallery on the life of
Anne while other features include the bedroom where Henry is believed to have
slept.  On our visit, the Christmas Faire will be on,
which features many shopkeepers from France. Large wheels of Gruyere, pates,
preserved meats and other gourmet treats compete for our attention. Along side
are vendors with colorful scarves, household crafts, wines and more. The house itself, a lovely small castle, surrounded by a moat, fanciful topiary and more. The castle is decorated for Christmas in the tasteful medieval style. (B,L)
Monday - Home All too soon, we are on our way to Gatwick Airport, where our tour ends. Don't forget to bring along an extra suitcase for gifts! (B) T O U R I N C L U D E S • Independent transfer on arrival and group transfer on departure to Gatwick • Hop on hop off London sightseeing tour • Sightseeing by luxury coach from Friday-Sunday • Services of a professional driver/guide • Superior & first class hotels with private bath/shower for 5 nights • 3 full breakfasts (B) and 2 continental breakfasts in London (CB) • Sunday pub lunch • Visits and admissions to Hever Castle, Leeds Castle and more • All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person Your Hotels Stay at the following (or similar): London Hilton Kensington 2 nights Maidstone Hilton 3 nights
This program appears only on our website. A printed brochure does not exist for this tour. Christmas in England. Christmas in a Scottish Castle. New Years in Edinburgh.
Small Escorted Tours of Britain Harry Potter 6 day tour visiting film locations.Welsh Discovery - 4 day PRIVATE escorted tour North Wales Welsh Dragon - 4 day PRIVATE escorted tour South Wales Scottish Clan - Scotland Family Vacation - 7 day escorted tours just for families. Highlands 2 day tours 4 day Best of the Highlands, too. Scottish Insider - 9 day private guided tour for the discerning traveler by private car and driver. Ireland Scotland Escorted Tour Family Travel England/Scotland 10 day Tour CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW TOUR May 17-24, 2008. HAMPTON COURT GARDEN TOUR July 8-14, 2008 Victorian Dickens Christmas December 3-8, 2008 Presbyterian Tour of Scotland Larger Tours Larger Tours Scotland Tours6 day Taste of Scotland - our shortest budget tour 9 day Scottish Dream - first timer's tour with departures twice a week. 12 day Scottish Isles & Glens includes Orkneys Larger Tours Ireland & Great Britain Tours 11 day Taste of Scotland and Ireland - our shortest two country tour-budget price 10 Day British and Irish Focus - Ireland, Wales, England Best of the Neighboring Isles 15 day tour visiting Ireland, Scotland, England Scotland and Ireland Dream - 13 day tour of Ireland and Scotland British & Irish Jaunt 13 days British & Irish Grandeur15 days Ireland and British Isles Cruise Larger Tours England, Wales and Scotland 4 day Gems of Britain/British Discovery - tour of England and Scotland 4,5,8 day escorted tours of Wales 7 Day British Heritage One Week Tour of England and Scotland 9 day English & Scottish Discovery Train Tour Steam trains and preserved lines Literary Tours in England exploring Dickens, Bronte, Wordsworth, Beatrix PotterAntique Hunting in England Day tours from London Day Tours from Edinburgh and Glasgow Special Tours for groups: Click here for a credit card form. Small Escorted Tours of Britain
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