There’s been a lot of interest in the idea of starting a customised UK tour with Sunday Morning Worship in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex were married, and it kicks off my new Tea Rooms and Treasure Houses tour.

Combining the Cotswolds with Cornwall is also growing in popularity and my second story brings them both together.

To give you a check list of British Garden Festivals, file away two of my Britain Insider columns as they highlight no fewer than 14 of them which can become the focus of a customised UK tour.  I’ve also given you a specific example of a garden tour which features no fewer than 10 former winners of the prestigious Historic Houses Association/Christies Garden of the Year Award.  It’s sure to impress the President of your local Garden Club.

As a reminder, I’ve flagged up a Methodist Heritage tour for anyone keen to develop this niche market and have finished with the York Viking Festival as a great idea for a UK tour in February.

Tea Rooms and Treasure Houses

I’m very grateful to an enthusiastic Inside Track reader whose request for a tea room tour helped me to create this brand-new, Cotswolds-based itinerary.  For years, I’ve enthused about TRAVEL LESS, SEE MORE programmes and this one does exactly that with cups of tea in interesting locations on the way.  Talk to a tea shop owner about this idea..

Cotswolds and Cornwall

My little grey cells were recently set buzzing with FIT requests for a Cotswolds and Cornwall combination which with the use of some driver guiding and some train rides has converted into a very attractive 10-night programme.  If time is tight, I can shorten it to 3 nights Cotswolds, 3 nights Cornwall and 2 nights in London.  Take a look.

Inspirational UK Spring and Summer Garden Festivals

If you’re planning to use a UK garden show as the main attraction in a customised UK tour, these two Britain Insider columns will illustrate some of the possibilities between February and September 2019.  There are several early Spring Garden Festivals in the early part of the year and some real classics from May to September in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

A Celebration of English Gardens and RHS Chelsea

For 35 years, the Historic Houses Association and Christies, the fine art auctioneers, have sponsored an annual competition to find their Garden of the Year. The list reads like a who’s who of great British gardens and with 10 of them in the south of England, and a bit of inspired creativity, they complement a day at the Chelsea Flower Show (21^st-25^th May).

A Brand Plucked from the Burning

In the 18^th century, John Wesley travelled thousands of miles preaching and bringing new hope to many of the poor of the emerging industrial nation.  I’ve created an itinerary which visits his childhood home in Epworth and towns, villages, chapels and countryside familiar to the great evangelist.  I’ve also included places associated with Bishop Francis Asbury and George Whitefield.

York's Viking Festival

The 35th Jorvik Viking Festival returns next February for another week-long celebration of York’s rich Norse heritage. Events will include the atmospheric 10th century Viking Traders market, one of the oldest of its kind, the Strongest Viking Competition, the March to Coppergate, a Best Beard Competition, the Viking Feast and an evening Battle Spectacular.  Fly non-stop to Manchester and return home from London.