Historic Portsmouth Dockyards, The Diamond Isle of Wight and Laverstoke Mill

Excursions

FULL DAY: We cross over to the Isle of Wight and take a leisurely tour around the coast, stopping at Alum Bay with its unusual multi-coloured sand, past Blackgang Chine, through the resorts of Shanklin and Sandown before ending up in the sailing capital, Cowes.

FULL DAY: Into Portsmouth today to visit the Historic Dockyards, a collection of 10 related museums charting the history of the navy and including some its most iconic vessels. Your time is free to choose your own itinerary, perhaps step aboard Lord Nelson’s famous HMS Victory or HMS Warrior - the pride of Queen Victoria’s fleet - or maybe discover the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s flagship that was raised from the Solent in 1982, or enjoy a leisurely cruise around the dockyards for a view from the water.

FULL DAY: This morning we make our way to Winchester, the Royal capital of Saxon Wessex, and England, for many centuries. There is plenty of time to explore with a visit to the medieval Great Hall highly recommended. This afternoon we continue into the Hampshire countryside and to Laverstoke Mill, home of the Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery. Here we include a guided tour with the chance to make your own G&T before of course a complimentary tipple.

Escorted Travel

Every one of our coach holidays includes the services of a coach driver and is always fully escorted by a knowledgeable Tour Manager, they are on hand every day and night and stay in the same hotel to ensure your holiday is stress-free.

Pick-Up Information

For 2024 we have introduced improvements to our network of local pick up points across the eastern, central and southern England, aimed at shortening your journey times and getting you away on holiday more easily and conveniently, meaning an altogether more relaxing start. We now have two pick up regions so your travel days will be more convenient, providing more efficient journeys, meeting your tour manager and fellow travellers earlier and in most cases arriving in resort earlier.

The Tour Ref on the holiday tab indicates whether the tour departs from Area A or Area B by having either an A or B at the end. For example, GUK5A would be a tour departing from Area A.

Meon Valley Hotel

This lovely hotel sits in 225 acres of grounds, surrounded by a golf course, nestled in the Hampshire countryside.

Hotel Facilities 
> Restaurant, bar > En-suite bedrooms > Free Wi-Fi available > Golf course, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, gym & spa (local charge)> Lift