We have recently decided to do a 2 night precruise stay in London prior to our crusie departure from Dover on August 31st. We are interested in visiting the Cotswolds/Stratford upon Avon area for one of the days. Anyone know of a driver, guide or tour company which would be good to try? The only tour company I am familiar with is Grayline. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Hi Jayne - Sorry I can't give you a personal recommendation. My husband lived in the UK for a few years so we're comfortable getting a car & driving ourselves. If you have chosen where you plan to stay in London, the concierge in the London hotel should have a list of guides and tours for you to consider. If you want the information before you go, a FAX or phone call should help you learn what tours are available, their length and their cost.

As another avenue of information, I located some information on the British tourist authority website. The link below includes a list of where find private guides who will meet your needs. There are also links at the bottom of the page to bus & coach tours.

http://na.visitlondon.com/city_guide/attractions/f_tours_private.html

If you like, consider taking the train (especially to Stratford on Avon) and arranging for a guide to meet you there. Do a google search & look for a Blue Badge guide (they have been qualified by the guide professional organization) in Stratford on Avon. The Cotswolds is more spread out & does require a car.

Hope this helps you and that you enjoy your trip. Both areas you are considering are lovely and worth seeing. Both of them are really a full-day tour. Cheers, Anne

Jane: I don't have any personal recommendations as I have just started researching subject for a cruise next June. Cheers! Ray

http://www.britishtours.com/

http://www.centralchauffeur.com/airport-transfers-london-to-heathrow.htm

http://www.metacrawler.com/info.metac/search/web/dover%252C%2Bengland

Jayne, don't know how adventurous you are, but Stratford is a very walkable little city, I haven't travelled there by train, but I would imagine that Anne's is a very viable idea.

I also found this on tours within Stratford:
http://www.mushroompublishing.com/maps/stratford/soatour.html

And this:
http://london-tour.conciergedesk.co.uk/tours_start.htm
which looks like it might be helpful in finding day tours from London.

Thanks everyone for all the information, it really is a big help!

Jayne - where are you staying on London? RSSC hotel, or your own? Will we maybe meet up with you on the transfer over to Dover? We are also doing a 2 night pre in London, and we have a private tour out to Stonehenge on Tuesday.

Looking forward to meeting up with you and Dennis onboard, and how lucky are we to be sailing for the full 17 days???

Can yo believe the amount of information on this board - its incredible isn't it??? Put up a subject and you will get more info than you ever even thought! :lct:

See you at the pool bar on Wed at 6:00pm! <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" />

JoAnn, we are staying at the RSSC Edwardian booked through Radisson, although after reading the thread about booking through Radisson and price of hotels I am a little skeptical. Oh, well, live and learn, perhaps.

Still don't have the trip lined up for Stratford or Cotswolds, will keep working on it, but time is running out. What tour company are you using for Stonehenge? The only thing lined up in London so far is we have theatre tickets for Tuesday evening for Mama Mia.

Twelve more days.................

Jayne
I have used a tour company that is somehow associated with British Air, but can't remember the name. Thought their prices very reasonable & i know they offered a tour to Cotswolds. I just didn't do that one.

Just a thought - could you email the concierge of the hotel - perhaps he could arrange a trip for you.

I loved Stratford but feel you need more than a day to do the Cotswolds. There are such beautiful little towns with lovely names - my mind's a blank at the moment though. Someone might be able to help me - "Something on the Water"??

We have hired this company in London for"private car" transfers
before and would certainly use again. Their website shows only stretch-limo but they have small sedans or minivans too..so whatever type of car you want them to use is available. ( depends on how many people )They do tours etc. You just need to email them with what you are interested in doing.
http://www.alphalimos.com./

Also, there is a gal who posts alot on CC ( Cheryl) whose husband owns a limo/transfer company who I had been in touch with last year ( although we did not use them) you might also see what his rates are.( to compare)
http://www.woodfordchauffeurcars.co.uk/