british transportation

BRITISH TRANSPORTATION Boats, Trains, Aeroplanes, Trams and more Trip highlights: 
Severn Valley Steam Railway 
National Waterways Museum 
Ironbridge Gorge 
National Tramway Museum 
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 
Heritage Motor Museum DAY 1 ‐ ARRIVE LONDON Transfer to central 4* hotel based on bed and full English breakfast Vast, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is one of the world's great cities. Located in the southeast of England, on the River Thames, it is the capital of the United Kingdom and has been the heart of its political, cultural and business life for centuries DAY 2 ‐ LONDON Enjoy a morning sightseeing and visiting some of London’s most iconic locations such as Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament and St Paul's Cathedral. The morning ends with a trip on the London Eye before enjoying time at leisure for lunch This afternoon travel to RAF museum which was opened in 1972 by Her Majesty the Queen and is situated on the historic site of Hendon's London Aerodrome in Colindale. The museum houses over 100 aircraft from around the world including some very early aircraft designs through to the latest modern day jets and military aircraft DAY 3 ‐ LONDON This morning visit the London Transport museum, based in Covent Garden The museum seeks to conserve and explain the transport heritage of Britain's capital city. The majority of the museum's exhibits originated in the collection of London Transport, but, since the creation of Transport for London (TfL) in 2000, the remit of the museum has expanded to cover all aspects of transportation in the city Lunch at leisure in Covent Garden This afternoon a private visit is arranged to the London Transport museums depot in Acton. The depot holds the majority of the collections which are not on display in the main museum. It houses over 370,000 items of all types, including many original works of art used for the Museum's collections DAY 4 ‐ PORTSMOUTH This morning depart London and head south to Portsmouth for full days sightseeing at Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard “The Historic Dockyard is a great place to experience 800 years of naval history surrounded by working docks and historic buildings. Visit the world famous historic ships at the home of the Royal Navy. Go aboard HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and see the Mary Rose” Continue to a 4* Victorian hotel situated on the Esplanade where you will spend two nights on a bed and breakfast basis This evening a traditional English dinner is arranged at a local and historic pub DAY 5 ‐ PORTSMOUTH ‐ ISLE OF WIGHT Depart Portsmouth via ferry for the Isle of Wight On arrival continue to Freshwater for a visit to the Ferguson Family Museum where Peter Warr, the museum’s curator and former employee of Harry Ferguson, will give a guided tour ‘The Ferguson Family Museum was opened in 2003 by the grandson of Harry Ferguson. It depicts the life and interests in the world of agriculture, aviation and motor racing of the man who is famous for his “Little Grey Fergie” tractor’ Enjoy lunch at leisure at the Kings Manor Farm coffee shop which is just 5 minutes up the track from the museum. The farm sells local produce and makes lunches from their own meat and home grown vegetables This afternoon visit the Isle of Wight Steam Railway museum and the Carriage & Wagon workshop where restoration of stock will be taking place The Railway is truly a journey back in time ‐ a living, breathing museum. All of the carriages and most of the locomotives have spent much of their working lives on the Island. They have all been painstakingly restored to pristine condition and are the hallmark of this delightful railway. The oldest locomotive was built in 1876 and carriages date back to 1864. Board the Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet and enjoy an 11 mile round trip to both ends of the line Late this afternoon return via ferry to Portsmouth DAY 6 ‐ PORTSMOUTH ‐ STONEHENGE ‐ OXFORD This morning depart Portsmouth and travel north to Oxford stopping en‐route to visit Stonehenge, one of Britain’s best historic sites Arrive in Oxford and check in to your hotel for the night. The Malmaison hotel is Oxford’s old prison and the cells have been transformed to luxurious 5* accommodation This afternoon have time to explore Oxford and perhaps visit the Bodleian Library and Christ Church College DAY 7 ‐ OXFORD BUS MUSEUM ‐ SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY ‐ TELFORD This morning visit the Oxford bus museum where over 40 vehicles are preserved. It is possible to board many of the buses and even ride on some of them Lunch at leisure This afternoon travel to Kidderminster and enjoy a journey on board the Severn Valley Steam Railway which terminates in Bridgnorth The Severn Valley line was built between 1858 and 1862 and is now one of the most popular heritage railways in the UK On arrival in Bridgnorth enjoy some time exploring the restoration work happening in the engine sheds Depart Bridgnorth and continue to Telford where dinner and overnight accommodation are in a 4* hotel DAY 8 ‐ TELFORD ‐ IRONBRIDGE ‐ MANCHESTER This morning depart Telford for Ironbridge described as the ‘Birthplace of The Industrial Revolu‐
tion’ Enjoy time with your guide to visit the Gorge Muse‐
ums and enjoy lunch at leisure There are ten award‐winning Museums spread along the valley beside the wild River Severn ‐ still spanned by the world's first Iron Bridge. See the products that set industry on its path and the machines that made them. Watch and talk to the Museums' craftsmen and costumed demonstrators as they work iron, fashion china and glass, and bring alive the people who lived and worked here Late afternoon depart Ironbridge and continue to Chester and stay in a central 4* hotel on a bed and breakfast basis DAY 9 ‐ CHESTER ‐ NATIONAL WATERWAYS MUSEUM ‐ MANCHESTER This morning enjoy some time at leisure exploring Chester The Roman city of Chester also has a number of medieval buildings, but some of the black‐and‐
white buildings within the city centre are actually Victorian restorations. It is also one of the best preserved walled cities in the British Isles During the Industrial Revolution railways, canals, and new roads were brought to the city, which saw substantial expansion and development – Chester Town Hall and the Grosvenor Museum are examples of Victorian architecture from this period This afternoon visit the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port The National Waterways Museum brings together a unique fleet of historic boats with rich collec‐
tions and archives to tell the story of Britain's canals and waterways. Late this afternoon travel to a 4* city centre hotel in Manchester DAY 10 ‐ MANCHESTER TRANSPORT MUSEUM ‐ MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY This morning enjoy a visit to the Manchester Transport Museum. The museum is based in one of Manchester’s earliest bus garages and has one of the largest collections of its kind in the UK You will discover around ninety vintage vehicles, many of which have been fully restored and now look resplendent in their original liveries. Pride of place in the museum must go to the Victorian horse drawn bus, circa 1890. It is a wonderful example of an early public transport vehicle and you can see exactly how passengers would have travelled about town at the turn of the nineteenth century Lunch at leisure This afternoon a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry is arranged. You will enjoy a private curator led tour of the galleries. The museum includes exhibits from a Victorian sewer, Manchester made aircraft, cars and bikes and the Liverpool and Manchester railway DAY 11 ‐ MANCHESTER ‐ WHITBY This morning depart Manchester and travel across the breadth of the UK to Whitby Upon arrival enjoy some time to explore the narrow streets and passages of Whitby before visiting the Captain Cook Museum in a 17th century house on the harbour and Whitby Abbey This afternoon ride around the streets of Whitby in the world's last remaining operating 6 wheel Sentinel Steam Bus, built in 1931 This evening stay in a 4* country house hotel just outside Whitby DAY 12 ‐ WHITBY ‐ YORK This morning depart Whitby and continue across the North York Moors to York Upon arrival in York visit the National Railway Museum which exhibits over 300 years of history and houses over a million displays and objects Spend the evening in York at a 4* city centre hotel DAY 13 ‐ YORK ‐ CRICH ‐ STRATFORD UPON AVON This morning enjoy some free time at leisure in York before departing for Crich and the National Tramway Museum. The museum has an excellent selection of vintage trams. You can enjoy a ride over the old cobbles of a restored period street which has the original facades of historic build‐
ings before heading up to the valley for some spectacular views This afternoon continue to Stratford Upon Avon and spend two nights in a central 4* hotel DAY 14 ‐ STRATFORD UPON AVON This morning have time to explore the birthplace of Shakespeare This afternoon enjoy a private cruise with cream tea on the River Avon passing many places of interest including the newly‐developed Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Holy Trinity Church‐ where William Shakespeare is buried – and the 15th Century Clopton Bridge DAY 15 ‐ HERITAGE MOTOR MUSEUM ‐ LONDON This morning depart Stratford Upon Avon and visit the Heritage Motor Museum in Gaydon The motor car is over one hundred years old and is one of the world's most influential inventions. The Heritage Motor Centre tells its story, from some of the very first cars to take to British roads, right up to the latest designs This afternoon continue to London and stay for two nights in a 4* city centre hotel DAY 16 ‐ LONDON ‐ NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM Spend a morning in Greenwich at the National Maritime Museum Discover 500 years of Britain’s encounter with the world at sea. Explore the vast collections and see items such as the uniform Nelson was wearing when he was fatally shot at the Battle of Trafalgar Have some time at leisure in the afternoon before returning to the hotel Enjoy a farewell reception and dinner within a private room of the hotel DAY 17 ‐ DEPART LONDON Transfer to London airports in good time for departure flights Does this tour interest you? If so then please get in touch to see how we can help. All our itineraries are tailor made to your requirements. We can also schedule itineraries around large events such as Goodwood Revival, The Duxford Airshow or The Great Dorset Steam Fair For further information about Barton Hill or to see how we can help you and your company click here Telephone +44 (0) 1444 Email: [email protected] Did you know you can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and our Blog—Newspage All visits and itinerary scheduling are subject to availability