BCT: where value counts

"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." John Ruskin

Escorted Small Group Tours

Welcome to British Country Tours and another great season of tours that we are offering for your traveling pleasure. Great Britain, home to democracy, Parliament, afternoon tea, pub lunches, Wedgwood china, Winston Churchill, castles, kings, literature, music and poetry. Britain's cultural, historical and scenic richness create a magnetic draw for countless American visitors each and every year. Whether your love is for magnificent formal gardens,  majestic cathedrals, Roman ruins, maritime history, romantic novelists, Victorian engines,  the narrow lanes of Brighton, or the stone cottages of Cotswold villages, Britain has something for everyone. British Country Tours has an itinerary to match your interest.

Why select British Country Tours?  Value counts. "There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." John Ruskin

If you are looking for a bespoke (specially designed, high quality) tour that combines a leisurely informal vacation, with an emphasis on history and heritage, with a small and friendly group of like minded people, minimum four, maximum fourteen, then please read on……

Do you like:

• Traveling in a small group?

• Knowledgeable, friendly, and well educated tour guide?

• An itinerary that involves very little packing/unpacking?

• Exploring with a knowledgeable local guide and having time to see the things that interest you.

• Getting down the real back roads, not the tourist traps.

• No commissioned store / factory / shop visits.

If you answered yes to these questions then we think that you will definitely enjoy tours by British Country Tours (BCT). 

Vacation Choices: Each BCT itinerary is based on the concept that we want our tour participants to feel a sense of involvement with the location and the surrounding ambience.  We will get you to the heart of the England you want to see. Each BCT itinerary includes a careful mix of world-famous sites, treasures of English heritage, and a good introduction to the varied landscapes that comprise the British Isles. Come with us to explore places that you have only read about, and others that you didn’t even know existed. We at BCT delight in showing you our England from both a historical and personal perspective.  

Our Guides / Tour Directors: At BCT our guides are experienced educated professionals. Some still practice their chosen fields, while other are retired.

Tour Guides, Helena & Elaine sharing a joke at Hampton Court Palace.

Our Clients:  Our goal at BCT is for you to be a traveler, and not a tourist!  This philosophy of travel is at the heart of each itinerary that we offer. The tourist simply comes to see things (the "been there done it" crowd) like Buckingham Palace, the tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the myriad of historical sites for which Great Britain is known. The discerning traveler also wants to see these sites, but wants much more. The traveler desires a real sense of the English way of life, to smell the roses, and to "get a feel for the place", rather than just say they've been there! 

Can't find a tour that contains your specific interests? We receive many requests for specialty tours, from individual travelers, looking to join a small group tour, designed specifically for their interests. For example lets say that you are an Artist who is very interested in English Pottery,  However, you do not know others, with a similar interest, to share the experience of a tour with. BCT has a free registry service  to accumulate the names of individuals and couples, along with their specific tour interests. If we receive, say four or more others, who register desiring a tour for similar interests with kindred spirits, then we will contact you to see if you would like to pursue the idea of a tour any further. (Click Here to Register)

Accommodations:  Our goal is to minimize the amount of packing and unpacking. Our hotels are selected with great care to reflect local character and ambience - they are all considered 'first class'. Unless otherwise stated, all accommodations will have ‘en suite’ facilities (private bathroom). We also strive to use hotels located within small friendly towns and villages so that our clients can set their own after dinner pace. Some clients may choose to turn in early, whilst others may wish a leisurely stroll around the town; others head of to the local pub to meet and talk with the local townsfolk. At some of our locations, there may be theatre or concerts available for after dinner pleasure.

Air Travel:  Our tours are all priced as “Land Only” packages. This provides you with maximum flexibility in your choice of carrier,  class of service, use frequent flyer miles, etc.. We will be more than pleased to assist you in making any reservations. Our tour commences at your UK arrival airport and concludes when we deliver you back to your UK departure airport. Of course if you would like to stay on, after your tour, we can make any necessary reservations for you.

Transportation: BCT utilizes small comfortable minivans or minicoaches in most cases, depending on the size of the group. Our standard groups range from four to fourteen persons (we can accommodate larger private custom groups as desired). We encourage each client to take different seats each day so each person/couple has an equal share of each seat. Smoking is not permitted on any of our vehicles, however, there is very seldom more than one hour between stops. Our "London and surrounding cities tour" uses the rail network exclusively.

How much time do I spend on the road?  Most BCT itineraries are planned to have you stay at the same hotel for several days, sometimes even for your entire tour, going short distances each day. Very seldom will you be on the road for more than an hour without stopping. Occasionally, there might be a day with two hours of travel, when you move from one hotel base to another. However, such days are planned to include interesting stops along the way.

How much free time will I have? We believe that, when people sign up for a BCT tour, they want a good mix of planned visits and free time to independently explore.  BCT itineraries are full of in-depth daily activities, excursions & visits to interesting sites. In addition, you will have free time to pursue your personal interests, spend time in the Pub, and/or explore many of the towns and villages that we visit.

Joining a tour: Generally your tour begins when you are met at your arrival airport.  (If you are commissioning a private group tour, then oftentimes we will meet with you in the USA prior to the group departure.) If you are arriving from another destination, or are already in the UK we will be more than pleased to make arrangements for you to join one or more of our tours.

What should you pack? Our tours are informal so there is no necessity to bring too much luggage.  English weather is known for its dampness, so rain apparel and an umbrella are always a good idea. Casual country clothing from slacks and shirts, to jeans and t-shirts are just fine. Laundry facilities are readily available. Hot weather, above 80 degrees is very infrequent in England, and as a result, most old country hotels, B&B's, Pubs, and Inns do not have air conditioning. AC for the most part is only available in the newer chain motels and big city hotels.

Medical Insurance: We strongly suggest that you take out the necessary insurance for travel to Europe. Your US medical coverage policy may not extend coverage while you are away on vacation. 

The best of both worlds: At BCT we believe that exploratory travel in Britain is a perfect combination of romantic adventure, whilst being a culturally enriching experience. BCT tours are designed for the recreational traveler, with an above usual level of interest and curiosity, coupled with a love of traveling in, and learning about - Great Britain.  While our tour parties vary in size (from 4-14 persons), smaller travel parties increase camaraderie, flexibility and comfort. Let our tour director smooth out time-consuming travel details, thus freeing your valuable time for exploring, shopping, and lunch in that adorable tea room or pub just around the corner. Travelers who dislike the idea of mass tours, and travelers who are accustomed to touring with a group, both find that BCT makes for the perfect travel experience. 

"We asked our tour driver / guide, Chris, to take us on some real country back roads. He responded with some of the most breath taking scenery I have ever witnessed. A farm lane barely wide enough for our minivan, rolling hills covered in shimmering wheat, fields of yellow rape plants, meandering rivers in the cutest valleys you've ever seen. And the village pubs we stopped at for refreshments were right out of an episode of Midsomer Murders."  Dr. AS - Dallas, Tx 2004.

Clubs, societies, schools, and groups: Special interest groups are always welcome at BCT. If you have an art & photography group, garden club, historical society, sports group, school party – BCT can make special arrangements and itineraries just for you. Please call us to discuss your specific requirements. 

You're in good hands: The most important ingredient on any tour is the person leading it. Your hosts, Helena & Chris, lead many of the tours personally, and when they are not, we use experienced local guides that we have known for decades. We refer to ourselves as tour directors because we are more than just a tour escort, guide, or bus driver. BCT clients routinely praise us for our care, attentiveness, enthusiasm, and our ability to share British culture and history. From meeting your inbound flight at Gatwick or Heathrow, to waving good-bye at the end of your tour, we will manage logistics, handle hotel check-in, conduct unscheduled walking tours, and deal with all of the details that make the BCT experience pleasurable and out of the ordinary. 

Want to see more of Europe? Ask us about adding additional destinations to your itinerary. Maybe you have always wanted to take a cruise to the Greek Islands. As an official cruise line appointed travel agency we can offer you fabulous destinations out of England, Italy, Spain and France on the worlds leading cruise lines. Click on one of the handy links below and search cruise itineraries.

Copyright © 1995-2007 Vestra Travel. All rights reserved. Last Revised: 09/27/07.

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