11 Day Driver-Guided Tour of England

Officially Licensed Guides

Luxury Vehicles

Flexible Rescheduling

Your Tour of England, Designed Just For Your Group

For those who wish to discover the full extent and variety of England’s treasures, the unique charm of our villages and towns, its storied history, fabled legends, Royal tales & much more besides, our eleven-day tour itinerary alongside your private driver & tour guide will ensure that you will experience why England casts such a magical spell over all who visit her.

This tour itinerary, like all our private tours of England and the UK, is completely customizable at no extra cost, so if you would like our tour planners to craft a custom tour plan for your vacation simply send us an online inquiry.

Day 1: Arrival & Food Tour In London

food tasting tour of camden Market in London
Camden Market, London, England

Today you will arrive in London, one of the most fascinating metropolitan cities in the world.

After meeting your driver-guide at the airport you will be whisked away to your central, luxury London accommodation to relax & freshen up and prepare to hit the city in the evening with your private guide.

As Samuel Johnson said: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”

London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world and now home to a wonderful fusion of culinary traditions. Your culinary options for the evening include an international high-end foodie tour to try delicacies from around the world in one of London’s most exciting gastronomic destinations, or if instead, you wish to experience your first evening in London in a more relaxed way, we can arrange a fine dining experience at one of our grand traditional restaurants.

Accommodation: London

Day 2: London Sightseeing Tour With Your Private Guide

Enjoying a river cruise along the Thames with London Bridge in the background.
Thames River Cruise, London, England

Today you will experience the top highlights of London.

You will be met by your driver & London Blue Badge guide to experience some of the most interesting places in London. Some of the sites you may wish to include in your day’s itinerary include: 

Visit 3 of London’s most historical Palaces, including Buckingham Palace, St James’ Palace & the Palace of Westminster, and witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony with a private expert guide on this walking tour.

To find out more about this tour, check out our dedicated Royal Walking Tour page here.

Join our Blue Badge Accredited Guide for an incredible adventure to explore the historic Westminster Abbey before a trip up the London Eye.

Discover more details about this tour here

Explore the awe-inspiring beauty and craftsmanship of arguably Sir Christopher Wren’s greatest work, St Paul’s Cathedral with your own private Blue Badge Guide. You’ll learn all about the Cathedral’s innovative construction and its importance to the people of London.

Keep reading about this tour by traveling over to our dedicated St Paul’s Cathedral page here

Visit one of the most renowned museums of the world with a private guide and view famous artifacts such as the Rossetta’s Stone, the controversial Parthenon marbles, and much more. 

Enjoy a brief stroll around the famous area of Bloomsbury and hear how the British Museum came to be before entering this magnificent institution.

Click here for more information on our British Museum guided tours.

Enjoy a guided tour through some of London’s most favored royal parks which leads your attention to the home and office of Her Majesty the Queen: Buckingham Palace. You will hear fascinating stories about the Palace, including break-ins, parties, and romance. It will then be time for your private guide to escort you to the best watching place for the Changing of The Guard.

Depending on the day of your tour, you will view either the Changing of the Foot Guards or the Changing of the Horse Guards. 

For more information on our Buckingham Palace Tours, contact our experts below.

The Tower of London, which since the 11th century has been a fort, a palace, a prison, a place of execution, a menagerie, and more. 

Your Tower tour will be full of secrets and stories involving torture, Yeoman Warders, and a friendly raven or two. The Tower is also home to the Crown Jewels, so get ready to be bedazzled!

For more information, view our Tower Bridge Exhibition & Tower of London Tour page here.

On this tour take a journey through the harsh world of London’s 19th century East End while learning not just about the infamous murders, but about the lives of the victims. Your Blue Badge guide will take you beyond the usual ‘Jack the Ripper’ tour sites to give you a greater understanding of the lives of the people left behind and how this has formed the East End of London day.

Explore the East End Street Art scene with your own private local artist & expert guide, seeing works from famous artists such as Banksy, Stik, & Invader.

Every single Harry Potter movie had at least some scenes that were filmed in London, so naturally, there are too many sites to fit into one day tour. Some of our client’s favorites are:

  • Kings Cross Station – home of the legendary Platform 9¾
  • Piccadilly Circus – One of the most recognizable areas of London, Harry, Hermione, and Ron narrowly avoided being hit by a bus here in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  • Harry Potter Studio Tour – Visit the studio to see where the movie magic was made
  • Leadenhall Market – Diagon Alley from the first film and entrance to the Leaky Cauldron pub for wizards

For Harry Potter-themed tours of not just London, but also sites in the rest of England & Scotland – explore our Harry Potter Tours page here.

Exclusive Experiences In London We Can Arrange:

As experienced officially licensed guides, we have the capabilities to arrange phenomenal exclusive experiences that others simply cannot provide. These include:

Available either as a morning experience prior to the Tower of London opening to the public or as an after-hours experience complete with an aperitif before you view one of the world’s greatest collections of jewels escorted by your own Yeoman warder.

On this exclusive tour, you and your party will get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life (and death) at the Tower with exclusive access to areas that are normally out-of-bounds, you’ll get under the skin of this ancient fortress and discover the secrets that lurk beneath the surface as well as seeing the Crown Jewels in complete privacy.

Get in touch with our experts to request a quote for your own exclusive experience.

A must-do experience for history lovers, you will gain exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ access to Churchill’s War Rooms by going behind the glass partitions that restrict the general public from getting close to the scenes of the action. Guided by the Museum Director,  you will visit the Cabinet Room where you will see the scratch marks left by Churchill himself as he made crucial decisions; the Map Room (Britain’s global hub of information during the Second World War), Churchill’s bedroom & see his personal items up close such as his famous cigars. 

Request an Exclusive Churchill War Rooms Experience by contacting our experts here.

Cruise the Thames by private, Italian-designed luxury yacht. Enjoy fine dining onboard prepared by Michelin-starred chefs for a truly unique London experience.

Contact our team for prices and availability here.

The Ceremony of the Keys, in which the Tower of London’s main gates are secured for the evening, has been performed every night without fail for more than 700 years since the time of Edward III. Enjoy the exclusive opening of the Tower & be guided by your own personal Yeoman warder before enjoying the ancient Ceremony of the Keys.

Get in touch with our team to start planning your Exclusive Experience with Luxe here.

Accommodation for Day Two: London

Private England Tours My husband and I took tours with Doug, one to the Cliffs of Dover and Leeds Castle and another to Stonehenge and Bath. Doug was great driver and tour guide, very knowledgeable about our destinations, he had anything you needed in his car including internet service. I would use this company again for future European tours.

Day 3: Windsor Castle & Hampton Court Day Trip

Tour guide showing group around Windsor castle on a private tour.
Windsor Castle, England

We start the day by traveling outside London and visiting Hampton Court, the Royal Palace made famous by King Henry VIII

If you would like to supplement your tour of the Palace with some of our private exclusive offerings then we can provide:

Walk in the footsteps of the Tudors and uncover the centuries of the historic significance of each room as you gaze at the exquisite paintings and tapestries and explore the beauty of the vast gardens. As part of this exclusive tour, you feast like a King by enjoying breakfast in a private apartment at the Palace.

Part of King Henry VIII’s legacy is that he was the first to start breeding Shire Horses.

Still classed as the largest horses in the world and even rarer than the Giant Panda, we welcome you to come and meet the descendants of Henry’s great horses at Hampton Court Palace. 

  • Enjoy a private introduction to the footmen and beautiful shire horses
  • A private tour of the Great Fountain Garden and Home Park whilst your carriage is drawn by Shire Horses.
  • Breakfast in a private Palace apartment

Enjoy a private daytime tour plus a light lunch or traditional English afternoon tea in a private apartment.

In the afternoon we will swap the home of a 16th Century Monarch to the private residence of the current Queen and where she spends most of her weekends: Windsor Castle.

Perhaps the most famous castle in England, it has served as home to 39 Monarchs beginning with William the Conqueror who chose the location for the castle all the way back in 1070!

You will tour the magnificent castle with your private guide where you will explore:

The Grand State Apartments are where the Queen hosts Heads of States on official visits, ceremonies take place, and honors are awarded. Your tour guide will take you through the magnificent rooms designed in Georgian, Classical, Gothic, and Rococo styles, alongside discussing the numerous masterpieces on display including works by luminaries such as Rembrandt and Rubens.

The 15th Century wonder where no less than 17 royal marriage ceremonies have taken place – including that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

The foot soldiers with their iconic bright red uniforms and tall bearskin fur hats are one of the most instantly recognizable sights in the world and we will time your visit to ensure that you can enjoy watching the ritual changing of the guard.

We can also arrange for you to enjoy an exclusive private tour of Windsor Castle allowing you to explore the incredible architecture and artworks on display while a private guide discusses the significance, history, and importance of each of the rooms and artworks with you in splendid isolation without a crowd to detract from the magnificence on display. To inquire about a private experience complete our contact form below.

Accommodation: London

Day 4: London to Kent

Canterbury Cathedral, England

In the morning we will leave London and drive down towards Kent: the garden of England and one of its most beautiful counties

Outside its vibrant and colorful natural beauty, Kent is perhaps best known internationally as being the home of the great wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, and our tour will include the Chartwell building where he lived for forty years, his family home, the original studio where he executed many of his finest paintings and his private library where he entertained many illustrious people of his time including Charlie Chaplin and the Queen Mother.  

In the afternoon you have the option of visiting either the fairytale-style beauty of Leeds Castle or England’s largest fortress Dover Castle before heading to the medieval town of Canterbury – home of the Canterbury Cathedral – one of the oldest, most significant, and important Christian churches in the world, where you will spend the evening. 

Amazing Travel Agency! Marta helped us plan our whole trip and it was absolutely amazing! We did private walking tours, private winery tours, and everything was great! Marta made the itinerary with our interests in mind and was extremely helpful! The tour guides (Viola and Jessica to name two of the many) were outstanding! Marta also helped plan the perfect engagement! We highly recommend this company and will be using them again!

Day 5: Brighton (Royal Pavilion & The Lanes)

Guests on tour enjoying the beach at Brighton Pier.
Brighton Pier, England

Time to visit one of England’s most famous seaside towns, Brighton

Brighton came to prominence in the late Georgian era as a trendy coastal resort town for wealthy patrons including King George IV who was particularly fond of the town. Today it is widely regarded as one of the must-see hotspots in England due to its gorgeous beaches and scenic walks, stunning piers reaching out into the sea, an enviable gastronomy scene, its reputation as a cultural and artistic hub, and its status as the “unofficial gay capital of the UK” thanks to a large LGBT population.

Your private guide will take you to get a taste of India and China on the British Seaside as you visit the grand Royal Pavilion. Built as a pleasure palace for King George IV it combines classic Georgian grandeur with influences from Eastern architecture and visual flourishes.

The Royal Pavilion in Brighton, heavily inspired by Indian temples.
Royal Pavilion, Brighton, England

Brighton Highlights On Your Day Trip:

  • The Prince Regent’s Royal collection of artworks and curiosities
  • The exotic and extravagant banqueting room where the King entertained his guests
  • The Grand Music Room
  • The Sparkling Saloon which contains the chimneypiece that houses the famous Kylin Clock
  • The Indian Military Hospital Gallery: During WW1 the Pavilion was used as a hospital and the soldiers from the Indian Corps wounded in WW1 and recovered there are honored with this gallery.

In the afternoon your guide will explore the famous Lanes of Brighton with you. Formerly the central hub of the town in its days as an old fishing village, the lanes are now a thriving and effervescent district full of craft and artisan stores and of course, plenty of quality restaurants serving fresh local produce plucked directly from the sea!

In the early evening, we will make our way down to the Isle of Wight, however, not before stopping in the town of Chichester where the remains and remnants of its history as a key location during the Roman Invasion of AD43 will be poured over with your guide as you visit the well preserved Roman baths at the Novium Museum, the city’s magnificent 11th-century cathedral & wander around the Roman designed streets.

We will then catch the ferry across to the Isle of Wight where you’ll be delivered to your accommodation for the evening by your private guide. 

Day 6: Isle of Wight Tour

Driver guide and clients on tour visiting the coast of the Isle of Wight.
Isle of Wight, England

It’s time to explore this beautiful island! 

This is England’s largest island and has been home to several notable figures from British history such as the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson and of course Queen Victoria.

You may wish to visit Queen Victoria’s residenceOsborne House, explore the Isle’s natural beauty on a short hike, take a scenic drive or visit a local craft brewery before boarding the ferry heading to Southampton, eventually finishing the day at your accommodation in Salisbury.

We just returned from a trip that was organized through Travel by Luxe. It was one of the best trips we ever took and it was organized brilliantly. A special thank you to Francesca, she not only helped plan the itinerary, but was available throughout the trip to assist and make any tweaks and adjustments. Overall, a great experience and highly recommend.

Day 7: Salisbury – Stonehenge – Winchester

Stonehenge, England

In the morning we will visit the famous Salisbury Cathedral, home of the Magna Carta and with a history dating back to 1092. 

Alongside viewing the world’s best-preserved copy of the original Magna Carta or ‘Great Charter of Freedom’, Salisbury has many other delights and treasures to discover with your guide. It features the tallest spire in Britain – reaching a mightily impressive 404 feet, and houses Europe’s oldest working clock!

Our next stop will be at perhaps the most famous prehistoric site on Earth – the mystical Stonehenge.

Built between 3000-2000 BC with stones weighing up to 25 tonnes, the site is today a UNESCO World Heritage site managed by English Heritage. Stonehenge is one of the world’s oldest and most famous prehistoric monuments, and has been mesmerizing visitors for over 4,500 years, and is still today one of Britain’s most famous cultural icons.

You will explore the site and its fascinating history on a private tour with your guide.

Experience perhaps the most famous stones in the world like few ever could imagine: on a completely private tour of the ‘inner circle’ of the monument, not open to the general public with a private guide. 

Very limited availability for this Luxe exclusive experience so early booking is recommended. For prices just let us know you’re interested when filling in the inquiry form below

In the afternoon, along with your guide, we will visit the beautiful Winchester Cathedral (where the famous author Jane Austen is buried). 

Commonly cited as one of the best examples of Gothic Cathedrals in all of Europe, your guide will relay to you the significance Cathedral held as the seat of power in Norman times and the role it played throughout centuries of history as you admire the stunning architecture, gorgeous stained glass windows and still in-tact medieval woodwork.

Moreover, you will have the opportunity to view the many treasures and artworks hosted in the Winchester Cathedral museum including the stunning 12th century Winchester Bible and the remains of Saxon royalty!

After Winchester, we will head to one of England’s most famous and picturesque towns, Bath.

Day 8: Bath & The Cotswolds

Roman Baths, Bath, England

Your guide will be waiting for you as you get set to tour the historic town of Bath. Famous for its incredibly preserved Roman baths, still preserved and filled with hot steaming water each day despite being constructed back in 70 AD, and which reveal a fascinating insight into what Roman life was like in Britain. Alongside the monument itself, the site hosts an interactive museum that will give you a further understanding of Roman Britain.

You will also explore some of the famous streets made recently famous by the TV series, Bridgerton, including the picturesque Royal Crescent.

After a morning investigating Roman Britain, we are willing to bet that you will be more than ready for some traditional fare in one of Bath’s classic historical pubs: the Saracen’s Head where Charles Dickens used to enjoy a pint, cheers!

Cotswolds Highlights

The Cotswolds, England

In the afternoon, you will head to the picture-perfect Cotswolds

When you see images of the beautiful rolling green hills of the English countryside, it’s usually the Cotswolds. Honey-colored cottages with thatched roofs, rolling hills, brooks, streams, and stone villages. Notable quaint villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury & Burford will be a selection of the towns that you will be able to visit.

You may also wish to experience an exclusive afternoon tea in Prince Charles’s private residence Highgrove House & explore the gardens where Princes William & Harry played. 

If you would like to extend your experience in the Cotswolds to relax and refresh, we can add additional days to your itinerary, just let us know in our quick tour request form below.

Day 9: Blenheim Palace & Oxford

Blenheim Palace, England
Blenheim Palace, England

We will enjoy a final drive through the green countryside of the Cotswolds before arriving at the birthplace of Winston Churchill: the UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, Blenheim Palace. It is the finest non-royal palace in England dating to the early 18th century & one of the few examples of the English Baroque style.

You will wander the majestic corridors breathing in the history and experiencing where Churchill proposed to his wife, Clementine Hosier, and see a sample of some of his paintings

Then it’s onto Oxford; most famous for one of the finest universities in the world, Oxford University. Founded in the 11th century, 28 out of a total of 76 English prime ministers graduated from this prestigious university.

Oxford Tour Highlights

tour group on Oxford university campus.
Oxford University, England

It is important to note that Oxford University is not just a single campus, instead, it consists of 38 facilities across the city, some of the highlights to consider for your tour are:

This iconic building is one of the oldest and most beautiful libraries in Europe. Fans of the Harry Potter movies will recognize it as the setting for the Hogwarts Infirmary.

The oldest botanical garden in the UK, and one of the most diverse in the world containing over five thousand different species of plants.

The glorious cathedral and picturesque grounds of Christ church is probably the most well-known campus in the University and again featured heavily in the Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Dining Hall and several other scenes.

With your private guide, you’ll explore the history and stories of this famous university town. Known as the city of ‘dreaming spires’ due to the many spires that adorn the rooftops of the colleges & churches. 

Founded as a monastic institution where monks instructed theology, over time it became home to the university and some of the most famous literary names in the English language such as Tolkein, CS Lewis, Lewis Carroll, Graham Greene, and Oscar Wilde also read at Oxford.

Oxford has one of the many claims to the title of having one of the oldest pubs in England: The Bear Inn since 1242. 

Recommend them highly! These folks are very professional, and flexible in creating a custom tours, and handling last-minute changes. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Recommend them highly!

Day 10: Morning Tour of Cambridge

Private tour of cambridge University Building
Cambridge University, England

Time to visit Oxford’s rival Cambridge. 

Originally a Roman and Viking trading village, the city is located on the River Cam so if you enjoy rowing, you can punt down the river (the long, narrow, and flat-bottomed boats that line the river Cam are called ‘Punts’). Or you may choose to take a walking tour around the city or even visit the modern art masterpieces at Kettle’s Yard – the most homely art gallery you’ll ever come across because it was actually formerly the home Jim Ede the former curator of the Tate Gallery, who filled it with artworks from a variety of famous names such as Barbara Hepworth and Joan Mirò. 

Meanwhile, the internationally revered Cambridge University was founded here in 1209 – making it the second oldest University in the English-speaking language. 

Many famous luminaries have passed through Cambridge’s gates since then, including Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Rosalind Franklin, Lord Byron, and many others too innumerable to mention.

Similarly to Oxford, Cambridge is not just one distinct campus, and you can take your pick of sights you want to visit from across:

  • Magdalene College
  • St John’s College
  • Trinity College
  • Trinity Hall
  • Clare College
  • King’s College
  • Queen’s College

Afternoon Tour of Lincoln

Lincoln Castle, England

In the afternoon you can visit the two most iconic locations in the Medieval town of Lincoln.

Lincoln Castle was commissioned in 1608 by William the Conqueror and overlooks the town imperiously to this day. Walking the circumference of the Castle allows you to enjoy some exquisite panoramic views of Lincoln while your guide discusses the fascinating history of the Castle with you, and the role it played throughout the city’s history.

Inside the castle, your guide will take you to visit another of the original copies of the Magna Carta – which played such a massive role in shaping society in England today.

The Georgian & Victorian Prison exhibition provides an informative and at times quite brutal look at the Law and Justice system of the period, while you stand in the section of the castle that actually housed the prisoners whose stories you are hearing.

An ancient Anglo Scandinavian church was discovered 3 meters below ground within the castle walls in 2013 and along with other recent discoveries have formed the basis of an archaeology exhibition at the castle discussing Lincoln and its inhabitants in the Roman, Medieval, Georgian and Victorian era.

The Heritage Skills Centre, hidden within the Castle grounds, offers taster sessions on crafts such as stained glass works, silversmithing, and stone carving.

Then it’s onto Lincoln’s impressive cathedral (also commissioned by William the Conqueror); widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture to be found anywhere in the world, on your private tour you will find out exactly why the Victorian writer John Ruskin as “out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have”.

Amongst the highlights of Lincoln Cathedral, your guide will talk you through:

Hidden near the rafters, your guide will help to locate the infamous Lincoln Imp! Legend has it that he was turned to stone by an angel for his impudence!

The poet most famous for his works, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” “Ulysses” & “Break, Break, Break” is honored with a statue engraved with the poem, ”Flower in the Crannied Wall”.

The medieval library was built in 1422 and its timber-framed walls still house some of the centuries-old reading desks, manuscripts, books, and other printed works from the era. By investigating further you will come across the Wren library – where you will find an original manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, selected works of poetry by John Donne, alongside other centuries-old treasures.

The Airmen’s Chapel houses three Books of Remembrance containing the names of 25,611 men who flew from Lincoln RAF bases in the Second World War and who sadly never returned.

Your accommodation for the evening will be in Lincoln.

Day 11: York Day Trip

York, England

Time to head to one of the prettiest cities in England, York. In fact, here you will spend a full day exploring the highlights of this fascinating town. 

You can visit the York Minster Cathedral, one of the largest examples of Gothic architecture north of the Alps with over 800 years of history. It is also home to the largest collection of stained glass in the UK, some pieces dating back to the 12th century.

Immerse yourself in the grandeur of the Mansion House, one of York’s great historic treasures, and step back in time through 650 years of history at Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, the most well-preserved guildhall in Europe.

Meanwhile, overlooking the city, Clifford’s tower is the last intact part of York Castle, making your way up to the top is definitely worth it as the structure affords incredible scenic views looking out across the gorgeous city.

Experience Viking York! The history here in York doesn’t begin in the medieval era, in fact, there was a full Viking settlement discovered under the streets here. That location has now become the Jorvik interactive exhibition which gives you the opportunity to understand what life was like in Jorvik (the Viking name for York) in the 9th century.

And alas, we come to the end of our tour! From York, we provide you with a transfer to London (or anywhere else in the country) or perhaps continue your journey north into bonnie Scotland!

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Fill out the form below with the destinations, wish-list, an idea of budget, & preferences for your perfect trip.

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Your private guide and/or driver will meet you at the pre-arranged starting point of your tour and everything necessary for a seamless tour experience.

Request Your Custom Tour Itinerary Here

Our experts understand that no two clients are the same, so whether you want to personalize one of our private tours, or have us design an itinerary from scratch for you, fill out our inquiry form below to get started:

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Let us know your questions!

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