Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Hello!! Its Chloé here again!

Well the season has kick started again and the office has gone mental and extremely busy!

Heres a few thank you's that I have received recently from People who have travelled on our tours:

"On January 3 we took your tour to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath. We had a WONDERFUL time!

The small touring group experience was completely ideal. As we arrived in Bath I saw a HUGE double decker touring bus and realized how much we appreciated our choosing Astral instead.
Our guide was fantastic and inserted interesting and informative commentary.

Thank you for making our trip a memorable one. We look forward to our next Astral tour. Until Next Time..

Kristin DeWitt :)"

"Good Morning Astral!

On December 29th we took the STONEHENGE SPECIAL ACCESS MORNING TOUR with Astral Travels. We have taken many day tours with Astral over the past 8 years or so and always highly recommend Astral to any of our friends that visit London.

We were delighted to see that Dave was our driver for Stonehenge. We hadn't seen him since we took your Stones and Bones tour maybe 5 years ago. He is so much fun to travel with and a wealth of information. He was also patient and friendly with our 3 year old son who was extremely excited to be visiting Stonehenge!

Unfortunately the rain was awful that morning and threatened to dampen everyone's spirits, but Dave carried on with his tour answering all our questions as if the sun was shining! We just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed your tour and having Dave as our guide.

We hope to see you next time we are in London!

Emma, Anthony & Sage Borgo
Toronto Canada. "

posted by Londons Premier Tour Operator @ 8:04 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. A Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, the Castle remains a working palace today. Visitors can walk around the State Apartments, extensive suites of rooms at the heart of the working palace. For part of the year visitors can also see the Semi State rooms, which are some of the most amazing rooms in the castle. They are furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection including paintings by Holbein, Rubens, Van Dyck and Lawrence, fine tapestries and porcelain, sculpture and armour.

There are lots of other attractions, including the Drawings Gallery, Queen Mary's dolls' house, and the fourteenth-century St. George's Chapel, the burial place of ten sovereigns and setting for many Royal weddings.

CHANGING THE GUARD
The regular hand-over of guards in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace draws thousands of visitors to watch the soldiers and listen to the music.

Known as Changing the Guard or Guard Mounting, the process involves a new guard exchanging duty with the old guard. The soldiers are drawn from one of the five regiments of Foot Guards in the British Army: the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards, the Welsh Guards, the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards.

The handover is accompanied by a Guards band. The music played ranges from traditional military marches to songs from the shows and even familiar pop songs.

When The Queen is in residence, there are four sentries at the front of the building. When she is away there are two. The Queen's Guard usually consists of Foot Guards in their full-dress uniform of red tunics and bearskins. If they have operational commitments, other infantry units take part instead.

Units from Commonwealth realms occasionally take turn in Guard Mounting. In May 1998, Canadian soldiers from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry mounted guard at Buckingham Palace for the first time since the Coronation in 1953.

Household Troops have guarded the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces since 1660. Until 1689, the Sovereign lived mainly at the Palace of Whitehall and was guarded there by Household Cavalry.

In 1689, the court moved to St James's Palace, which was guarded by the Foot Guards. When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, the Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace, with a detachment guarding Buckingham Palace, as it still does today.

There is no Guard Mounting in very wet weather. Buckingham Palace Changing the Guard takes place at 11.30 am.January - even datesFebruary - odd datesMarch - odd datesWindsor CastleChanging the Guard takes place at 11.00am.January - odd datesFebruary - even datesMarch - even datesHorse Guards ArchDaily at 11am.Tower of LondonDaily at 11.30am.
At Buckingham Palace, Guard Mounting takes place at 11.30 am. It is held daily from April to July, and on alternate dates throughout the rest of the year.

Buckingham Palace is not the only place to see Guard Mounting. At Windsor Castle, the ceremony takes place at 11.00 am. For most of the year Guard Mounting takes place on alternate dates, but it is held daily (except Sundays) from April to July.
At Horse Guards Arch, Changing of the Guard takes place daily at 11.00 am (10.00 am on Sundays) and lasts about half an hour; it is normally held on Horse Guards Parade by the arch of Horse Guards Building.
And at the Tower of London, a Royal Guard mounts on Tower Green every day at 11.30 am. It consists of one officer, five non-commissioned officers and 15 men.

What there is to see
The magnificent State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Gainsborough and the famous triple portrait of Charles I by Sir Anthony van Dyck.

In 1992 fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. By good fortune the rooms worst affected were empty at the time, and as a result, few of the Castle's artistic treasures were destroyed. The highly acclaimed restoration work, completed in 1997, is a testament to the extraordinary skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe.
From October to March visitors can also enjoy George IV's private apartments (the Semi-State Rooms), among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle.

St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I.Among the highlights of a visit to Windsor is Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the most famous dolls' house in the world.

Open daily
March to October09:45-17:15 (last admission 16:00)
November to February09:45-16:15 (last admission 15:00)
The Castle is closed6 April8 April (Castle opens 13:00)20 April 22 April (Castle closes 12:00)18 June25-26 DecemberIn addition to these closures, the State Apartments are closed19 April21 April16, 17 and 19 JuneReduced admission charges apply when the State Apartments are closed. Visitors can still enjoy the extensive Castle Precincts, St George's Chapel (except on Sundays and certain other dates - please see below), Queen Mary's Dolls' House and the exhibition in the Drawings Gallery.

The Semi-State RoomsThe Semi-State Rooms are open during the winter months. They will close on 1 April 2007 and re-open to the public on 29 September 2007.St George's ChapelSt. George's Chapel is open daily but closed to visitors on Sundays as services are held throughout the day. Worshippers are welcome to attend the services. For more information please telephone 01753 865538.St George's Chapel is closed7 April (Chapel opens at 11:00)19-20 April 28 April (Chapel closes at 13:00)5 May (Chapel closes at 13:00)1 June (Chapel closes at 13:00)15-18 June 24 December.

If your planning on visiting Windsor Castle why not hop on our Romans, Royals & Ruins day tour.

posted by Londons Premier Tour Operator @ 7:14 AM 0 comments

Monday, February 19, 2007

The Running Of The Bulls In Pampelona

The excitement you feel your first time in Pamplona during the San Fermin Festival is something almost indescribable. Every sense is assaulted in the most magical way and you realize you've arrived at one of the most thrilling and unusual religious celebrations in the world.

Pamplona, situated in the Northern Spanish province of Navarra, attracts thousands of visitors annually from the 6th to the 14th. of July. They come to enjoy the celebrations for San Fermin, the patron saint of the city, but mostly they come to see the Running of the Bulls or "Encierro" made world famous by avid visitor and adopted Pamplonica, the writer Ernest Hemingway.

The history of how this particular run, for there are many throughout Spain, evolved is actually quite simple. It began during the festival when the bulls being used in the bullfight that evening were "run" by the drovers from their enclosure through the streets and into the pens within the bullring "Plaza de Toros". The exciting event became popular with locals who decided to also run along with the bulls. From this the more daring challenge of running in front of the bulls took off. Since 1852 the route from Santo Domingo Street, through the Plaza Consistorial and along Estafeta Street via the dangerously twisting Mercaderes Street has remained unchanged.

For those crazy folk who choose to take part in the challenging run then there are a number of basic guidelines to be followed.

It is forbidden to run if are under 18.
Never, ever run if you are drunk or excessively tired.
Do not carry items such as cameras, videos, backpacks, etc.. They´ll get damaged or impede your exit. Unsuitable clothing or footwear is forbidden.
You must enter the route at an official gate either at the Plaza Consistorial or at the Plaza del Mercado. Gates close at 7.30am.
Never stand still during the run.
While running you must be sure to look all around you. Up ahead for other runners who might trip you and behind for the bulls. This is not a race and you won't be able to run the entire route so have in mind beforehand a spot where you plan to exit. The bulls run very fast and will be ahead of you before you know it.
Do not try to touch the bulls or catch their attention as a distracted bull may decide to break from the herd. A lone bull is extremely dangerous and much more likely to attack. Also the drovers, who carry very large poles, do not tolerate messing and freely whack offenders.
If you should fall there is one and only one thing to do. Stay down and cover your head. When all the bulls have passed someone will tap you on the shoulder to let you know you're safe. It was by attempting to stand up that Peter Mathews Tasio was fatally gored. You may receive some bumps and bruises but that should be all.

Dining in Pamplona during San Fermin tends to be done very much on the go unless you make a restaurant reservation. All bars serve the popular and very tasty miniature treats known as "pinchos" (like tapas but more varied). A typical early morning breakfast might include "caldo" which is a delicious clear soup or "chocolate con churros", a large mug of thick hot chocolate served with fried dough and coated in sugar. The tasty spanish omelette known as "tortilla" is available everywhere. And a local drink which you´re certain to encounter is "kalimotxo" a 50/50 mix of coke and wine. Not as bad as it sounds.

Link:
Pamplona Festival THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS 2007!!!

posted by Londons Premier Tour Operator @ 8:25 AM 0 comments

Monday, February 12, 2007

Valentine's Day in Paris?

Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. Walks by the Seine, intimate dinners in small bistros, the city even displays messages of love on billboards and signs! Planning to spend Valentines Day in Paris with your loved one? Here is a quick overview about the romantic city:

Paris as a whole is divided into 20 municipal sections called arrondissements, each with its own character and attractions. But the thread that connects it all is the Seine, the river that divides the city into the Rive Droite (Right Bank) to the north (with such draws as the Champs-Elysées, the Louvre, Montmartre, and the Marais) and the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) to the south (home to the Latin Quarter and St-Germain, among others). Both sides are connected by some 30 picturesque pedestrian and vehicular bridges, while between the shores are two small isles that double as Paris' heart and historical birthplace – the Ile de la Cité, also the site of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Ile St-Louis, with its romantic, medieval mazelike streets and antiquated mansions.

The best way to discover Paris is à pied (on foot), with a good map in hand – definitely consider investing in a good pocket plan of the city by arrondissement to navigate the city with ease. For longer jaunts, or if you're in a hurry, the Métro is a remarkably efficient and modern subway system; there is additionally a vast network of bus routes, should you prefer to stay aboveground, as well as taxis for hire at designated stands.

Klick here: Eurostar Trips to Paris from London

posted by Londons Premier Tour Operator @ 8:13 AM 0 comments

Friday, February 02, 2007

2007 is looking good!

Hi everyone Dan's Back,

It already looks like it's going to be a busy year for Astral Travels. I can't believe how time flies, it only seems like 5 minutes ago everyone was celebrating New Years, now it's February, soon it will be December and we will all be wondering were the year has gone.

We have lots of exciting plans for 2007, one of them is the Magical Tour combined with Special Access.

http://www.astraltravels.co.uk/uk-london-tours/glastonbury-stonehenge-2007.htm

Another satisfied customer:
Hello Alison! We just received a very quick confirmation from Dan on our Culture Vulture tour for May 29 . We are very impressed with the dedicated professional customer service from the Astral Travels staff. You make booking a tour as pleasant as going on the tour. Thank you also for placing our request to have David as our guide that day on the notice. We appreciate the extra effort. Don and I are very excited and can't wait for May.

Take care everyone

Dan

posted by Londons Premier Tour Operator @ 9:39 AM 0 comments

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Lacock Village

Lacock is a charming English village in Whiltshire, which has hardly changed in the past 200 years. Its main-street is adorned with Cotswold-stone cottages from Tudor times. The entire village is owned by the National Trust, and whilst individual properties are still owner-occupied, there are strict regulations regarding the exteriors of the houses. Thus, you will see no TV aerials, double-glazing, or even yellow parking lines on the streets of this beautifully preserved village.

Lacock has five pubs, as well as several cafes and restaurants, all occupying rustic buildings. There are two churches, St Anne’s, which overlooks the village from the lofty heights of Bowden Hill, and St Cyriac’s, which is the parish seat.

A wander around Lacock transports you back to a more peaceful, pastoral era. There is an 18th-century pack-horse bridge, impressive houses built by wealthy woollen merchants, archways that cross the babbling brooks that flow through the village, and postcard-pretty gardens to the fronts of the local cottages, all immaculately maintained.

The Fox Talbot Museum, dedicated to the founder of photography, is a must-see if visiting Lacock, as indeed is the magnificent Abbey that sits in its well-manicured grounds and gardens.

Lacock Abbey was founded in 1229 by Ela Countess of Salisbury. It was an abbey for Augustinian nuns and it and the village grew up together, each supporting the other. This lasted until 1539, when with the Dissolution it was sold off to William Sharington, who rebuilt the Abbey as a family home. It remained that way, in the same family for 405 years, passing through brothers, nephews, nieces and cousins until in 1944 it was given to the National Trust. Even then members of the same family continued to live there as the trust's tenants. As the early Lacock villagers had been tenants of the abbey so they became tenants of Sharington and his descendants and eventually of the National Trust.

Lacock village was used as a location in the TV and film productions of Pride and Prejudice, Moll Flanders and Emma, the Abbey itself featured in the recent Harry Potter films!!







Creating snow for the wedding scene in Pride and Prejudice




Day Tours that visit Lacock Village:
History & Mistery Day Tour or Culture Vulture Day Tour

posted by Londons Premier Tour Operator @ 3:45 PM 0 comments