West Sussex

Culture & History

Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace is a masterpiece of English Baroque architecture and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The stunning State Rooms are brimming with priceless works of art and magnificent tapestries. The Palace is still inhabited today by the Duke of Marlborough. The Gardens are set in over 754 hectares of land with an exquisite water garden. The Cotswolds In the Cotswolds you'll visit one the areas most beautiful villages, Bourton-on-the-Water. This is a must-see village, referred to as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' due to the number of attractive bridges that cross the gently-flowing river at its center. Downton Abbey Village Visit the village of Bampton; the film setting for many of the famous landmarks featured in the popular Downton Abbey TV series. See the buildings that played the part of the home of Isobel Crawley, the Downton Cottage Hospital, the church and also the location for two fictional local pubs, The Grantham Arms and The Dog & Duck.

Journey by comfortable air-conditioned coach towards the village of Bampton in Oxfordshire. Listen to an informative commentary about Downton Abbey and the locations you will visit along the way. Upon arrival in Bampton, take a guided walking tour of the village to see locations from the TV series, such as the post office and the house where Matthew Crawley lived before he moved to the abbey. Continue to Highclere Castle to enjoy approximately 3 hours to explore the house and grounds of the setting for Downton Abbey with the aid of a self-guided leaflet. Use the time to enjoy lunch at the castle (own expense) or purchase some souvenirs at the gift shop.

Meet your friendly and local driver-guide at the Brighton pick-up point. This ancient landscape is characterized by the rolling chalk hills, created over thousands of years by farmers grazing their animals.  Stop at the eerily named Devil's Dyke with views of up to 30 miles across the lowland Weald. Learn how this landscape was created and see the unique Devil's Dyke, the largest dry valley in the UK. Head to Middle Farm, a traditional Sussex farm that has been in the same family for over 200 years, offering the largest selection of Sussex produce in its farm shop. Stop for 30 minutes to have a good look around and grab a snack. Continue to the Seven Sisters Country Park and the white cliffs, passing through old country lanes to see the mysterious and ancient Longman of Wilmington, a huge Neolithic carving on the side of the Downs. Walk to the top of England's highest chalk cliff, measuring 530 feet. Stop at Seaford Head for the iconic view of The Seven Sisters.  Before returning to Brighton, stop in the village of Rottingdean. Stroll through the gardens of Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book, before transferring back to the city center, arriving back in Brighton at 5:00 PM.

Get a local perspective on both the top attractions and lesser-known parts of Brighton on this full-day tour from London with an exciting and flexible itinerary. After being picked up from your central London hotel in the morning, you’ll head to the picturesque seaside city of Brighton, including a stopover at the cherished Brighton pier and iconic Royal Pavilion. Stop to enjoy a classic fish and chips lunch by the seaside along an action-packed day of sightseeing. With the extended 8-hour option, you'll also visit Hove and Seven Sisters and get the chance to explore England's newest addition to its natural attractions, South Downs National Park.