If you’re a regular Inside Track reader (and there are many of you out there) you’ll be aware of my longstanding commitment to helping you to identify and profitably develop some of the untapped niche markets close to where you live. It’s why my website is divided into separate sections for GARDEN, FAITH, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, GIRLS GETAWAYS etc.

Many of your anglophile clients will be interested in themes with a LITERARY/ON LOCATION slant and with 15 conversation starting itinerary outlines on the Literary Tours page look at some of the potential sources ON YOUR DOORSTEP.  The list includes:

Fans of Masterpiece Theatre: Murder Mystery Book clubs/stores; Reading Circles: Bookstores and antiquarian book dealers: Teachers and lecturers in English literature at schools, colleges, universities and continuing education colleges: Literary Festivals and Dickens Faires looking for a fund raiser: The American Library Association which is home to United For Libraries.

Give this careful thought because the people you can think of might already be clients.  If not, between us we can make them your customers!

Harry, Alice, Paddington Bear and Mathilda

This tour will start a conversation with a family visiting London.  On this fun-packed 6 nighter, Platform 9 ¾ and Paddington Bear join forces with Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland while costumed interpreters bring to life Elizabethan England at the Shakespeare Houses.  Roald Dahl, the Warner Brothers Making of Harry Potter and a performance of Mathilda complete the sequence.
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The Bard And the Bulldog

The Bard (Shakespeare and Stratford upon Avon) and The Bulldog (Churchill and Blenheim Palace) are the foundations for a tour that includes some of the Cotswolds’ most famous villages and market towns.  The final choice of stately homes and gardens will be determined by your date of travel so that you’ll see the best when at their peak for colour and fragrance. 
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A Really Good Read

This 8-night travel less, see more tour centres on the cities of Salisbury and Bath with 3 nights in the Cotswolds as a base for Stratford upon Avon.  The featured writers include Jane Austen, Laurie Lee (Cider with Rosie) and William Shakespeare living history experiences.  Heading into London, Inspector Morse, Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland are added to the cast list.  Read More

How Did We Do?

We organised this tour for Ensemble members, Susan Hammond and Linda Lovin of Endless Travel in Evergreen, Colorado and this was their take on it.  “We selected Paull’s team for our first literary tour in the English countryside.  The 13 ladies who took part agreed that it was a seamless and thoroughly enjoyable experience. We highly recommend him for customised small group travel and FITs.”

Capturing the Spirit of Christmas

In last week’s Britain Insider column I highlighted an outstanding three-night Cotswolds-based stately homes, decorated for Christmas tour.  Using London as another base, 13th century moated Hever Castle, the elegant Regency villa of Polesden Lacey, and the magnificent glasshouses and beautiful landscapes at Kew Gardens offer 3 very good reasons for some dusk-time side trips into the English countryside.

Castles, Cathedrals, Chester and Chatsworth at Christmas

Last week’s Window on Britain article in Travel Research Online highlighted a number of Christmas markets and dazzlingly decorated for the festive season.  Because of the non-stop flights into the northern gateway of Manchester, their internationally renowned Christmas Market partners well with the more intimate version in the walled city of Chester and the stunning transformation at treasure-filled Chatsworth House.