London Sightseeing Mini Coach Company

Exciting New Tours for the New Season

Did You Know.
'Blighty' is another nickname for Britain. In the first World War, soldiers would pray for a 'blighty'. This was a wound that would get them back to 'Blighty' for treatment. Some people say it's a corruption 0f 'beauty' but more probably it's derived from a Hindu word meaning 'stranger' and picked up by the British while ruling India.

Just wanted to say I had a great time on December 17th when I did the Stones & Bones Tour. David, our Tour Guide, was very informative and wonderfully kind. I found out so much information (which I love). I would go on another Tour with Astral Travel anytime. I have some friends going to London in February and have recommended that they contact you to do a Tour.
Love & hugs,Wendy
January 26th 2006

Hello from everyone on the Astral team,

It has been quite a while since the last blog but don't think think that the office has been taking it easy (even though it would have been well deserved afterthe bust Christmas and New Year period). With most of the office still recovering from post-Christmas blues mainly caused by receiving our January credit card bills we have cheered ourselves up by developing some new itineraries for our guests this summer.

From March we will be introducing the new Romans, Royals and Ruins tour - a brand new itinenary for Astral visiting Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath with a scenic drive through the Cotswolds.

Highlights: » Entrance to Windsor Castle » Walking tour of Windsor Castle » See where Prince William went to school » See John F Kennedy memorial » The Roman City of Bath » Stonehenge » The Cotswolds

This tour visits Bath, Stonehenge, the Cotswolds and Windsor Castle. All entrance fees are included.

Discover the secrets of Stonehenge and hear about the many myths, legends and mysteries associated with this awe inspiring ancient monument.

A short drive then takes us to Bath, famous for its elegant Georgian architecture, beautiful crescents, terraces and squares. Our panoramic tour will give you a comprehensive introduction to the highlights of this World Heritage city and its long history dating back to Celtic times. Visit the Roman Baths and Museum - feel the heat of millions of gallons of naturally hot water that bubble up here every day, see the temple of Minerva goddess of the thermal spring and visit the bath house where people bathed nearly 2000 years ago. There is also time for your own exploration, shopping, lunch and gargoyle spotting !

As we head back towards London we finish the day with a visit to Windsor castle. Home to the Royal Family for over 900 years from William the Conqueror to Queen Elizabeth II, the castle provides a fascinating insight into the history and life of the royals. See the lavishly decorated State Apartments still used today for State occasions and royal receptions, St Georges Chapel, the burial place of monarchs through the ages and Queen Mary’s Dolls House.
We also drive through Runnymede where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215 and see the John F Kennedy Memorial.

N.B Due to the limited 'day light' hours in the winter months this tour operates March - October. Our similar Roman, Royals and Gargoyles tour operates all year

This full day tour departs every Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun from Central London. 8.15am - 6.30pm.

Free pick up from most Central London Hotels.

Adult Price: £65
Child Price: £59 (3 - 16 yrs)

Including all relevant entrance fees:
Stonehenge - 5.50 pounds per person
Roman Bath Museum - 9.50 pounds per personWindsor Castle - 13.50 pounds per person

Also from March we will be including the White Cliffs of Dover on the Pilgrims Progess tour and Blenheim Gardens on the Cotswolds Connection tour.

Roman Pump Room Re-Opens In Bath

One of the most popular destinations for our visitors is the Medieval City of Bath and today heralds the re-opening of the historic pump room after a month-long £100,000 refurbishment. The reason for the refurbishment was explained by Iain Johnston, of Bath and North East Somerset Council, who said: "When we got up close to the ceiling we discovered very severe nicotine staining". The walls have been repainted in shades of pale green, blue-grey, cream and white. Mr Johnston added, "Fortunately the ban on smoking in public buildings means that this will not be a problem in future."

The refurbishment was financed from visitor income at the council-run Roman Baths and Pump Room site. So, if you have visited the museum you can feel proud that you have aided the continued beauty of this attraction.

Our tours spend well over three hours in Bath and we offer plenty of time for personal sightseeing. If you are literary minded then you should definately pay a visit to the Jane Austen Centre, a new permanent exhibition which tells the story of Jane's Bath experience - the effect that living here had on her and her writing.

Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of Bath's many famous residents and visitors. She paid two long visits here towards the end of the eighteenth century, and from 1801 to 1806 Bath was her home. Her intimate knowledge of the city is reflected in two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, which are largely set in Bath. The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, preserving in its streets, public buildings and townscapes the elegant well-ordered world that she portrays so brilliantly in her novels. Now the pleasure of exploring Jane Austen's Bath can be enhanced by visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Gay Street. Here, in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, the visitor can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen's time and the importance of Bath in her life and work.

We have an attractive shop which offers an unrivalled selection of Jane Austen related books, videos, CD's, cassettes, cards, stationery, lace and needlepoint.

Astral are pleased to offer a discount to anyone who wishes to visit the centre during any of these tours - History and Mystery tour, Culture Vulture tour, Romans, Royals and Gargoyles tour and Romans, Royals and Ruins tour.

For more information on the Jane Austen centre please visit http://www.janeausten.co.uk/

Bye for now,
Sarah

posted by Londons Premier Tour Operator @ 12:43 PM