With the Wave Season just around the corner and a steady increase in the number of Inside Track readers requesting customised pre and post cruse extensions, this week’s edition focuses on 5 imaginatively themed 2-3 night ideas.

My top tour enables you to deliver an On Location experience for Downton Abbey fans cruising in or out of Southampton while my second suggestion brings together Bath (Austen), Stratford upon Avon (the Bard) and C for the Cotswolds.  Then, the myths and legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the Royal Garden at Highgrove and stunning Blenheim Palace combine to offer still more possibilities.  My travel less, see more Cotswolds tour will catch many an eye as will the combination of Sherlock Holmes, the D Day Museum, HMS Victory and Brighton’s exotic Royal Pavilion.

Finally, take a moment to run off and file copies of my Britain Insider column for a unique listing of April to September Royal Horticultural Society Flower Shows that add bubble, fizz and pleasant surprises to any UK tour.

Upstairs Downstairs On Location With Downton Abbey

Several Inside Track readers have confirmed that they’ve watched the new Downton Abbey movie and I’m talking to them about a longer 7-8 night On Location tour or a short 3-4 night pre or post cruise extension.  As Highclere Castle is on Southampton’s doorstep, if your clients are fans, do you really want them to miss this chance for a fiction into reality visit? Read More

It's as Easy as ABC

A is for Austen; B is for the Bard and C is for the Cotswolds.  Served up with some flair and imagination (and at the right price) you have a commission-generating ABC tour of England.  Also included is a journey through time at Stonehenge and Old Sarum, some ancient coaching inns and some entertaining living history experiences at the Shakespeare Houses. Read More

Ah! The Cotswolds

For frequent UK travellers, invite them to discover privately owned castles and stately homes and gardens in the Cotswolds, one of the loveliest corners of England. With a pause in Oxford, access from LHR is dead easy and the journey to Southampton includes the new attraction at Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. The pubs in the itinerary will be my personal recommendations! Read More

Myths and Legends

Prehistoric England, Roman Britain, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and a Jane Austen perspective on Georgian Bath are the foundations for this tour. The beautiful Abbey House Garden, inspirational royal garden at Highgrove, magnificent Capability Brown landscape at Blenheim Palace and my personal choice of Cotswold pubs for lunch elevate this tour to the top drawer. Read More

Living History Experience

In just 3 nights/4 days this tour includes 2 stunning gardens, Brighton’s exotic Royal Pavilion, historic Arundel Castle, some well-chosen pubs and the cathedrals in Chichester and Winchester.  Sherlock Holmes and Jane Austen make ‘guest appearances’ as do Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard and the D-Day Museum.  Anglophile clients might just like this as an alternative to 3 night/4 days in London. Read More

Floral Extravaganzas from Britain's Royal Horticultural Society

As many of you save the information I put out, you might like to file these two articles on RHS Flower Shows. They take place over a 6-month period and the April/May collection will interest springtime travellers while the June - September events will appeal to those travelling in the summer.  A day at any of them will be truly memorable.