Day Tour of Southern England from London
Our Southern England day tour from London visits Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and the Battle of Britain Memorial. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views over the English Channel from the White Cliffs of Dover and enjoy a river cruise from Greenwich to Central London. Travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with an expert guide. This is the perfect tour if you are looking to combine history and culture with stunning views of the English countryside. It is available every day.
highlights:
- Depart London at 08:30, passing the Greenwich Meridian and the Royal Observatory
- Head to Leeds Castle, one of England’s most picturesque and perfect castles, surrounded by a lake and 500 acres of gardens and fields
- Discover the castle on an exclusive private tour which takes place before the castle is opened to the public
- Visit Canterbury Cathedral, one of the most important places of worship in England, with stunning architectural features and 12th century stained glass windows
- Explore the town of Canterbury with its winding narrow streets and stop off for lunch in one of the cafes. (Lunch is not included)
- Drive through the glorious English countryside of Kent, which is home to gorgeous picture postcard villages and beautiful scenery
- See the White Cliffs of Dover, an iconic British landmark and a symbol of hope and freedom
- Visit the Battle of Britain Memorial to learn about the brave pilots who defended England against the German airforce during World War II
- Head to Greenwich, a place renowned for its science and innovation. See the Cutty Sark, the fastest sailing ship of its time
- From here, take a relaxing 45 minute cruise along the River Thames. End your day tour of Southern England at your final destination at Embankment Pier in London
1. leeds castle
The magical Leeds Castle
First stop of the day is Leeds Castle, where you will enjoy a private tour before the castle opens to the public. With a history dating back almost 900 years, this is one of the most beautiful castles in the world. Many kings and queens of England used Leeds Castle including Henry VIII who used it as a residence for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. The castle is surrounded by a lake and is famous for its maze garden as well as over 500 acres of beautiful gardens and parklands.
The castle’s interior is equally impressive with lavishly furnished rooms, a chapel, galleries, courtyards and a banqueting hall. You’ll guide will explain how royalty lived during this private visit.
2. canterbury cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
From here visit we Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is the oldest cathedral in Britain. Canterbury has been an important centre of Christian life for over 1700 years. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the leader of the Church of England and the cathedral is an important place of pilgrimage ever since the murder of Thomas Beckett in 1170. Visitors can admire the Gothic architecture, 12th century stained glass windows and the crypt. You’ll have time to explore the cathedral and have a stroll around the historic town where you can find shops and cafes.
3. the white cliffs of dover
The White Cliffs of Dover
The next stop on our day tour of Southern England from London is Dover. Dover is a picturesque location that enjoys some of the most amazing views over the English Channel towards France.
Visit the Battle of Britain Memorial, dedicated to brave airmen who defended the skies of Britain from the German airforce during 1940. View the Memorial and explore the visitor centre. The centre includes the scramble experience, a hands-on attraction with visual effects that give visitors a sense of what airmen experienced when they took to the skies during the Battle of Britain. It ends at the cockpit area, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the English Channel towards France. There is also a cafe and souvenir shop on the site.
Having taken in all the breathtaking views, we head back onboard our luxury coach and drive through the glorious English countryside towards Greenwich.
4. greenwich
Cutty Sark
Our next destination is Greenwich which is located on the banks of the River Thames. Greenwich is steeped in maritime history, and visitors can admire the architecture of the Old Royal Naval College and the Cutty Sark sailing ship that, in its day, was the fastest in the world.
Greenwich is the location of the prime meridian, which divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres. As a result, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is named after this location, serving as the reference point for measuring time and establishing global time standards.
5. River Cruise to Central London
Our tour ends with a relaxing boat ride along the River Thames. For over 2,000 years, the river was a major trading route and strategic waterway. You’ll enjoy a 45 minute cruise passing landmarks including The Tower of London, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, before arriving at Embankment Pier, where our tour ends at around 6.30 pm.
more info:
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
- Our tour departs at 8:30 am from Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London SW1W 9SH
- It returns at approx. 6:30 pm to Embankment Pier. This is next to Big Ben and Embankment Underground Station.
- The tour includes entrance fees with a private viewing of Leeds Castle before it opens to the public
- Includes entrance fees to Canterbury Cathedral, a river cruise, as well as an experienced guide and transportation
- Food and drink are not included
- This tour operates in English, Mandarin, Japanese and Spanish
