Vikings, Wallabies, the Flying Scotsman, an 18^th century landscape and HMS Victory.  Welcome to the strange world I live in and a selection of memorable travel experiences that will add bubble, fizz and pleasant surprises to any customised UK tour.

In February, the city of York will once again reverberate to the sound of shield smashing and sword slashing as they stage the 37^th annual Viking Festival which resonate with clients looking for authentic living history experiences.

A couple of recent Britain Insider columns will bring you up to date with Waddesdon Manor, the great treasure house created by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild and the Wallabies will link you to the reopening of one of England’s great woodland gardens.  The Musical Treasures and Garden Pleasures story offers great potential for pre and post cruise extensions.

A recent conversation with an Inside Track reader encouraged me to remind you about the Heritage Railway tours I offer and for those interested in nautical experiences, it’s hard to beat what’s on offer at the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth.

York's Viking Festival

Recognised as the largest event of its kind in Europe, the annual JORVIK Viking Festival celebrates York’s rich Norse heritage with an exciting programme of events, including living history encampments, a march of Viking warriors through the historic city centre, workshops, talks, tours and dramatic combat performances. Easily accessible with non-stop flights to Manchester or less than 2 hours by train from London.

Perfection Personified

From your responses, quite a few of you have a very good relationship with your local tea room.  Because of seating capacities in some of the UK venues, these tours work best for groups of 8-12.   That said, if I include more stately homes with terraces, cathedrals with refectories and gardens involved with the National Garden Scheme, numbers can increase.  Read More

Say G'Day to the Wallabies

The wallabies (like small kangaroos) have lived wild at Leonardslee for more than 100 years and you can enjoy them once again now that Leonardslee Gardens has reopened.  The “wallies” are great environmentally friendly mowing machines, working without pay or petrol every day of the year—and unlike their mechanical counterparts, they are self-reproducing.  Read more here about one of England’s finest woodland gardens.

Musical Treasures And Garden Pleasures

For anglophile clients cruising in or out of Southampton offer them a 2 night extension that includes visits to one of Europe’s largest cathedrals, an Artists Village, a traditional English Afternoon Tea, Jane Austen's former home and a stroll through an 18th century landscape painting, all delivered at a gentle pace from the city of Guildford, on London Heathrow’s doorstep.  Read More

Let's Make Tracks

Three years ago, the restoration of the Flying Scotsman achieve massive coverage in the specialist press and in response, I created a short stack of imaginative tours which can be customised to suit specific requests.  Give this niche some thought because some of your clients will be steam train enthusiasts and one of these itineraries could interest the Steam Preservation Society they belong to.  Read More

HMS Victory

Still the flagship of the British Royal Navy the biggest draw at the heart of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard you can follow in Admiral Nelson’s footsteps during the build up to the famous Battle of Trafalgar and recreate the actions on the fateful day when he led the fleet to victory. Follow the story deck by deck, hour by hour and relive the exhilarating events.