Oxford tours
Bus tours
City Sightseeing Oxford operates one-hour, open-top bus tours of the city with hop-on hop-off stops at various attractions, including Christ Church College and Westgate Shopping Centre. The full tour takes around an hour and buses depart every 10 to 15 minutes over the summer (every 20 to 30 minutes in winter).
Tel: +44 1865 790 522.Website: http://www.citysightseeingoxford.com
Themed tours
The standard historic tour of Oxford comes in various shapes and sizes, with a great number of themed walks available. The tourist board runs an official Inspector Morse Tour, in which participants can follow in the footsteps of the TV detective. Other options include ghost walks (Bill Spectre's Ghost Trail is worth looking up), Harry Potter walks, Alice in Wonderland walks and architecture walks.
Website: http://www.visitoxford.orgOxford excursions
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a charming little town in south Warwickshire, some 49km (30 miles) north of Oxford. It was here that William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright in the English language, was born. Admirers of the Great Bard can visit Shakespeare's birthplace as well as Hall's Croft (the one-time home of his daughter, Susannah) and New Place, which stands on the site of an earlier house the playwright owned. Holy Trinity Church is also worth a visit, as Shakespeare was both baptised and buried here. The town is also home to the Royal Shakespeare Company, which performs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the adjacent Swan Theatre.
Website: http://www.visitstratforduponavon.co.ukBlenheim Palace
One word: wow. The gift of a grateful nation to the Duke of Marlborough following his quashing of the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, Blenheim Palace stands today as one of the most magnificent attractions in the UK. The palace (also famed for being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill) is surrounded by dramatic lakes and parkland landscaped by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, while its interior is full of the kind of lavish detail that English country piles do so well.
Tel: +44 1993 810 530.Website: http://www.blenheimpalace.com
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Images of Winterton-on-Sea beaches, Norfolk
Images of Whitstable beaches, Kent