Private Tour to Stonehenge & Windsor Castle with Qualified 'Blue Badge' Guide

Summary

A private tour to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle with a qualified guide is a great way to learn about these important historical sites. The guide will provide interesting information about the sites and the history behind them, and will be able to answer any questions you may have. This is a great way to learn about these important historical sites without having to deal with the crowds.

Description

Private Tour to Stonehenge & Windsor Castle with Qualified 'Blue Badge' Guide

depart London at 8.00am arrive Stonehenge about 10.00am. Spend about 2 hours there and then lunch in a nice country pub. Budget for 1 hour for lunch it is about 1 hour 15 minutes to Windsor Castle. About 2.5 hours in Windsor and 1 hour back to London finishing about 6.00pm. This is a popular tour offered by many operators. To avoid worst of lines, we visit Stonehenge first and then Windsor. Private tour - You and your group will be the only ones on the tour. I drive a very comfortable Mercedes V-class, large enough for 7 passengers. For larger groups a minibus can be arranged (different rate). As a 'Blue Badge' qualified guide, I am permitted to guide within Windsor Castle grounds and St Georges Chapel. Not permitted to guide within the state apartments but audio guide available for that part. Am permitted to guide around Stonehenge. purchasing tickets in advance will save much time.

What's included

Below are items that the provider has stated are included with Private Tour to Stonehenge & Windsor Castle with Qualified 'Blue Badge' Guide at no additional cost

What's NOT included

Below are items that the tour provider of Private Tour to Stonehenge & Windsor Castle with Qualified 'Blue Badge' Guide has stated that may cost an additional fee if desired.

Points Of Interest

• 180 minutes: Windsor Castle is one of three official residences of the Monarch of the United Kingdom. It is the largest occupied castle and longest continuously occupied castle in the world. Two main things to see inside the castle - The State Apartments and St Georges Chapel. The State Apartments are the rooms traditionally used by the kings and queens. On display are priceless examples of furnishings and works of art by artists such as Rubens, Canaletto and Rembrandt. Some of the rooms are still used for official entertaining, in particular, St Georges Hall, a large banqueting hall which caters for 160 people during a State Banquet. Note that Blue Badge Guides are not allowed to guide within the State Apartments. There is, however, a free audio guide for this part of the tour. The rest of the castle is ok for the guide to show you including St Georges Chapel. Dating from the late 15th/early 16th century, a fine example of Gothic architecture, it is, first and foremost, a working chapel. It is also is the burial place of many kings and queens including King Henry VIII and also a venue for royal weddings. Note that the chapel is closed to visitors on a Sunday and, in my opinion, it is definitely worth seeing so avoid visiting Windsor Castle on Sunday if you can.
• 120 minutes: Stonehenge is Britain’s most famous prehistoric sight, the oldest part of the monument is 5000 years old. Archaeologists' opinions vary but it would appear that the stones were erected by about 2500BC. Good archaeological evidence indicates the site was used as a cemetery and a form of calendar. Speculation from other archaeological evidence has suggested, that over a period of about 1400 years, the site was as a temple, pre-historic place of healing and maybe a place of 'gladiatorial' combat. Although in a ruined condition, it is still worth seeing. The visitor centre is about 1 mile from the stones and you can choose to walk through pre-historic landscape getting close to a few burial mounds from the bronze age. It's about a 20 minute from the mounds to the stones. Or can take the bus shuttle (included in admission fee) straight to the stones (a few minutes' drive). About 30 - 40 minutes walking around the stones explaining the site. Back on the bus to the visitor centre which has displays of artefacts reinforcing the commentary. Time for the gift shop and other facilities so need to allow about 1.5 - 2 hours for the whole visit.

Additional Information

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Service animals allowed
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• THIS TOUR IS BY LARGE MINIVAN. Car is not wheelchair accessible but large enough to take a wheelchair if guest can get in and out of car and is not wholly reliant on wheelchair. London is mostly accessible but some sights (eg, Tower of London) are not completely accessible. Admission charge to such places is adjusted accordingly Similarly, car is large enough to take stroller. Windsor Castle is full accessible. Stonehenge is accessible although part of site is on grass. If muddy, maybe difficult to see whole site.
• Face masks required for travellers in public areas
• Face masks required for guides in public areas
• Face masks provided for travellers
• Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
• Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
• Face coverings to be worn inside the vehicle. Face Coverings to be worn by guests inside State Apartments, St Georges Chapel and gift shop at Windsor. Face coverings to be worn within visitor centre and gift shop at stonehenge. Guests must comply with any other directions at Stonehenge & Windsor