Popular Tours from London by Car
Here are the most popular destinations for tours from London. I have listed them according to area so that you can combine them to suit yourself.
This is a long page, so here are some clues – Stonehenge & Salisbury are South West; Windsor Castle & Bath are West; Oxford and Stratford upon Avon are in the North & West section; Cambridge is North; Canterbury & Leeds Castle are South East.
See the menu at the top of the page for more information.
South West of London
Stonehenge Tours
Stonehenge is England’s best-known prehistoric monument, and for many visitors, it’s a monument not to be missed. Some ideas:
- Just Stonehenge
- Stonehenge & Windsor Castle
- Stonehenge & Salisbury or Winchester
- Stonehenge & Stourhead Landscape Garden
- Prehistoric Landscape around Stonehenge & Avebury
- Stonehenge & Bath
- Stonehenge & Wilton House
Salisbury Tour
At the heart of this attractive medieval city is its beautiful 13th century cathedral, with its soaring spire. One of only 4 surviving copies of the Magna Carta can be seen in the Chapter House. Some ideas:
- Salisbury, Stonehenge & Old Sarum or Wiltshire villages
- Salisbury & Wilton House, home & gardens of the Earl of Pembroke
- Salisbury & Stourhead Landscape Garden
- Salisbury & Mottisfont, with its wonderful rose garden
- Salisbury & Winchester
Winchester Tour
Once the capital of England, Winchester has a fine cathedral which is the burial place of the writer Jane Austen. The legendary King Arthur’s Round Table can be seen in the Great Hall. Some ideas:
- Winchester, Hampshire villages & Stonehenge
- Winchester as part of a Jane Austen tour, including visiting the village where she grew up and also her home in Chawton
- Winchester and the Hillier Winter Garden
- Winchester and Mottisfont, with its wonderful rose garden
- Winchester & the Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery
Stourhead Landscape Garden Tour
An 18th century garden with a picturesque lake, classical temples (you might recognise one from the Keira Knightley film ‘Pride and Prejudice’), grottos and exotic trees – in fact the finest example of the English Landscape style of garden. Some ideas:
- Stourhead & Wilton House
- Stourhead & Stonehenge
- Stourhead & the Heale Garden
- Stourhead & Salisbury
Hampton Court Palace Tour
Hampton Court Palace is intimately connected with the life of King Henry VIII, his marriages and his children. It is surrounded by beautiful formal gardens. Some ideas:
- Just Hampton Court Palace
- Hampton Court Palace & Windsor Castle
- Hampton Court Palace & London
- Hampton Court Palace & Kew Gardens
- Hampton Court Palace & RHS Wisley garden
West of London
Windsor Tour
An official residence of the Her Majesty the Queen, Windsor Castle is steeped in history and filled with beautiful works of art. As well as the magnificent State Apartments, you will see Queen Mary’s Dolls House. Some ideas:
- Just Windsor Castle
- Windsor Castle & Stonehenge
- Windsor Castle & Oxford
- Windsor Castle & the Savill Garden
- Windsor Castle & Cliveden garden
- Windsor Castle & Oxford
Bath Tour
Bath is one of the most beautiful & historic cities in England. It is best known for its Roman Baths, its fine 18th century architecture, and its association with the novelist Jane Austen. Some ideas:
- Just Bath
- Bath and Avebury Stone Circle
- Bath & Abbey House garden or Bowood House garden
- Bath & Stonehenge
- Bath & the Cotswolds
Highclere Castle – “Downton Abbey” Tour
Highclere Castle, the home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, has become known to the world as Downton Abbey. The Egyptian Exhibition tells the story of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who worked with archaeologist Howard Carter to discover the tomb of Tutankhamun. Some ideas:
- Highclere Castle & Cotswolds, including Downton Abbey film locations
- Highclere Castle & Oxford
- Highclere Castle & Stonehenge
- Highclere Castle & Bombay Sapphire Gin distillery
Avebury Tour
Pretty Avebury village is partly surrounded by a very large prehistoric stone circle, an interesting alternative to visiting the more familiar Stonehenge. Some ideas:
- A Prehistoric Day tour, visiting Stonehenge, Avebury, Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow & a Wiltshire White Horse
- Avebury & Bath
- Avebury & Bowood House and garden
North & West London
Oxford Tour
Oxford is the home of England’s oldest university. We will walk in the footsteps of famous students, hearing about Harry Potter, JRR Tolkien, Lewis Carroll and Mr Bean, as well as Einstein and Tim Berners-Lee, the ‘inventor’ of the world wide web. Some ideas:
- Oxford & Windsor Castle
- Oxford & Blenheim Palace
- Oxford & Cotswolds
- Oxford & Stratford or Warwick via Cotswolds
- Oxford & Waddesdon Manor
Stratford upon Avon Tour
Stratford upon Avon, a pretty country town, was the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Some ideas:
- Stratford & Warwick Castle
- Stratford & Oxford via Cotswolds
- Stratford – Shakespeare family homes and time for a matinee performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company theatre
- Stratford & Coughton Court house and garden
- Stratford & Blenheim Palace
Warwick Tour
At the heart of Warwick, an attractive historic town, is Warwick Castle, with ramparts to climb, arms & armour, dungeons & torture instruments, a ghost, state rooms and beautiful gardens. Some ideas:
- Warwick Castle & Stratford upon Avon
- Warwick Castle & Oxford via the Cotswolds
- Antique shopping in Warwick & the Cotswolds
- Warwick, its church, gardens & castle
The Cotswolds Tour
A leisurely day in the English countryside, pottering around the Cotswolds, enjoying the beautiful village scenery. Shop for antiques, visit famous gardens like Hidcote Manor, or great houses like Blenheim Palace. Some ideas:
- Hidcote Manor and Kiftsgate gardens
- The Cotswolds & Blenheim Palace
- The Arts & Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds
- Cotswold Villages
- Historic Houses in the Cotswolds
Blenheim Palace Tour
One of the most stunning private houses in England, Blenheim Palace was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and is the home of the Duke of Marlborough. Some ideas:
- Blenheim Palace & Oxford
- Blenheim Palace & Cotswold Villages
- Blenheim Palace & Hidcote Manor gardens
- Blenheim Palace & Stratford upon Avon
- Blenheim Palace & Waddesdon Manor
Hidcote Manor Garden Tour
Hidcote Manor is among the most famous 20th century gardens in England. It’s designer, Lawrence Johnston, created ‘garden rooms’, each with its own character and peak season. My favourite! Some ideas:
- Hidcote Manor & another Cotswold garden, eg Kiftsgate Court
- Hidcote Manor & Blenheim Palace
- Hidcote Manor & Stratford upon Avon
- Hidcote Manor & Cotswold villages
North of London
Cambridge Tour
Walk through the ancient university city of Cambridge, following in the footsteps of Isaac Newton, Lord Byron, William Wordsworth, Charles Darwin, A A Milne and many other famous students. Some ideas:
- Just Cambridge
- Cambridge & Ely Cathedral
- Cambridge & Anglesey Abbey garden
- The winter Gardens at Cambridge Botanic Garden & Anglesey Abbey
Ely Tour
Beautiful Ely cathedral rises dramatically above the flat Fens landscape, and is home to a unique Stained Glass Museum.
- Ely Cathedral & Cambridge
Winter Gardens at Anglesey Abbey & Cambridge Botanic Garden Tour
Two of the finest Winter Gardens in the country, designed to be particularly colourful & striking during the winter months.
Alternatively, visit just one garden and also spend some time in Cambridge.
- Winter Gardens
South & East of London
Canterbury Tour
For centuries pilgrims came to Canterbury to see the tomb of the murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket. Chaucer describes just such a journey in “The Canterbury Tales”. Some ideas:
- Canterbury & Leeds Castle
- Canterbury & Dover Castle
- Canterbury & Goodnestone Park garden
- Canterbury & the Secret Garden in Sandwich
Leeds Castle Tour
Once home to medieval queens, Leeds Castle has been described as ‘the loveliest castle in the world’. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Some ideas:
- Leeds Castle & Canterbury
- Leeds Castle & Hever Castle
- Leeds Castle & Chartwell
- Just Leeds Castle
Dover Castle Tour
The White Cliffs of Dover are a fine vantage point for looking across to France (on a clear day!). Fortifications have been built on top of the cliffs since Roman times, and a visit to Dover Castle will take you through 2000 years of history. A highlight is the tour of the Secret Wartime Tunnels, the planning centre for the Dunkirk Evacuation in 1940. Some ideas:
- Just Dover – Castle & museums & White Cliffs
- Dover Castle & Canterbury Cathedral
Hever Castle Tour
Hever Castle was a childhood home of Henry VIII’s 2nd wife Anne Boleyn. It is set in beautiful gardens which were the creation of early 20th century owner William Waldorf Astor. Some ideas:
- Hever Castle & Chartwell
- Hever Castle & Leeds Castle
- Hever Castle & Penshurst Place gardens
- Just Hever Castle
Chartwell Tour
Chartwell was the country home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924, and remains much as it was when he lived there. Some ideas:
- Chartwell & Hever Castle
- Sir Winston Churchill at Chartwell & Blenheim Palace
- Chartwell & Down House
- Chartwell & Penshurst Place
- Just Chartwell
Sissinghurst Castle Garden Tour
One of the most famous gardens in the world, Sissinghurst was created by writer Vita Sackville-West & her husband Sir Harold Nicolson. June is the ideal time to see the White Garden. Some ideas:
- Sissinghurst & Great Dixter
- Sissinghurst & Knole, Vita Sackville-West’s childhood home
- Sissinghurst & Hever Castle
- Sissinghurst & Penshurst Place
- Just Sissinghurst
Great Dixter Garden Tour
Great Dixter was the home of gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. The garden is no surprise if you know even just the titles of some of his books, such as Colour for Adventurous Gardeners or Exotic Planting. This is one of my favourites – full of colour, exuberance and adventure! Some ideas:
- Great Dixter & Sissinghurst
- Great Dixter & Rye
The Gardens of Kent & Sussex Tour
This corner of England has some of the world’s most famous gardens. Sissinghurst and Great Dixter are perhaps the best known, but high on any garden lover’s list should be the Salutation Garden, Nymans, Penshurst Place, and the Collector Earl’s garden at Arundel Castle. Some ideas:
- Arundel Castle & Chichester
- Salutation Garden & Canterbury
- Nymans garden & Brighton
- Nymans garden & the gardens and afternoon tea at Gravetye Manor
- Penshurst Place & Hever Castle gardens
