Dorset

Steam Train and Sea Cruise Adventure Including the Jurassic Coast from Poole

An amazing experience and one of the best day trips in Dorset. Start your day with a cruise from Poole to Swanage through the largest natural harbour in Europe and along the magnificent start of the Jurassic Coast. The boat brings you to the Victorian Pier of Swanage where you have a short walk along the beach before continuing on one of the Swanage Railway heritage steam trains.Whether you decide to visit Corfe Castle or just enjoy the unique and picturesque train ride through the Purbeck countryside, this is an activity all age groups will enjoy! The train brings you back to Swanage where you still have some time to explore this popular resort before your cruise back to Poole. A whole day trip which includes an amazing cruise along the Jurassic Coast to Swanage and a trip on the award winning steam train through the picturesque Purbecks to the village of Corfe Castle. Begin your adventure on a boat from Poole Quay, through Poole Harbour with its Brownsea Island, Blue Lagoon, Sandbanks and out to the open sea where you can admire the magnificent rock formations of the Jurassic Coast. The boat brings you to the Victorian Pier in Swanage where you have a short walk to the Swanage Railway station and hop on one of the heritage steam trains.You can hop-off and hop-on on any of the railways 5 stops, or stay on and enjoy the beautiful surroundings to the end station Norden and then return to Swanage. You have plenty of time to spend in this old Victorian Resort before your boat returns from Swanage Pier at 4.45pm, bringing you back to Poole Quay at 5.45pm. Commentary is provided on the boat and the crew is there to assist you.

Private Tour Visiting The Life and Times of Thomas Hardy from Weymouth Dorset

Leaving from Dorset you visit Portland (Isle of Slingers).The Isle of Portland, joined to the mainland by the narrow strand of Chesil Beach, is the setting for The Well-Beloved written by Hardy and published in 1897.Pass through Weymouth or Budmouth Regis as Hardy called it. Hardy worked as an architect here between 1869-1870, and the town features in Under the Greenwood Tree.Move on to Dorchester or Casterbridge as Hardy refered to it. You visit the Thomas Hardy Statue, his house Max Gate, designed by Hardy in 1885 and a walk around the market town of Dorchester.On to the evocative cob and thatch cottage - birthplace of Thomas Hardy. Here you will spend time using the visitor centre near Hardy's Cottage in the heart of Hardy Country.Take a look at where Hardy - or a part of him - was laid to rest. The true Hardy fans will understand that last reference.

Bournemouth to Warwick Castle and Stratford-Upon-Avon Day Trip

You will be picked up from a centrally located meeting point in Bournemouth and taken for this day tour to explore Warwick Castle and Stratford Upon Avon, one of England's most beautiful market towns, situated on the River Avon. This small quaint place is full of history, picturesque Tudor buildings, theaters, shops, many attractions and things to see and do.Included on the tour you are places where Shakespeare lived in Stratford, including his birthplace on Henley Street. It is open to the public with an exhibition center to learn more about this great man and see where he was born and lived in his early years. You will also be shown the King Edward VI School where Shakespeare went to study, the site of his retirement home and place of his death, New Place. You can also visit his final resting place in the Holy Trinity Church.The tour will return to the original meeting point in Bournemouth.

Windsor and Winchester from Bournemouth Full-Day Tour

On this tour we will visit Royal Windsor to see the favourite home of the Queen where she lives most weekends in the magnificient Windsor Castle (extra charge for entrance). Eton College is over the other side of the River Thames and is one of the best schools in the UK. We will take you on a 1 hour walking tour to see the sights of both places then free time for lunch or visiting the Castle. About 1pm we will depart to Winchester arriving about 2.15pm for a walking tour of 1 hour showing you Britains oldest public school (Winchester College), one of the largest and best Cathedrals Europe (free entry on Sunday or small charge on Saturday) and the former home of author Jane Austen (no entry allowed). We will finish the tour at the Great Hall (part of the Winchester Castle and free entry) which once ruled England and was the Capital and centre of political and royal power about a thousand years ago before it changed to London. You will have free time from 3.15pm until about 5.30pm departure time arriving home by early evening (approx 6.30 - 7pm).

Poole Harbour and Island Cruise from Poole

Poole Harbour with its many islands, famous landmarks and interesting stories offers a great day out for everyone. It is the place where Jonathan Swift found his inspiration for Gulliver’s Travels and sits under the Purbecks which inspired Thomas Hardy in his brilliant writing.The cruise takes you from Poole Quay all around the harbour and sails close to Brownsea Island and its castle, the expensive properties on Sandbanks and close to the islands which all have something unique. You can relax on the top deck on a warm summer day or sit in a heated saloon with a nice cup of tea while listening to the commentary in which the captain points out all the landmarks and speaks of the interesting history of the area.The Blue Lagoon, Lilliput, Corfe Castle and the Sandbanks Chain Ferry are just a few of the views to mention. The cruise takes approximately 75 minutes and returns to Poole Quay. All boats have toilets and a bar with a variety of drinks and snacks, including ice creams.

Bournemouth City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

City Sightseeing Bournemouth will allow you to discover everything this beautiful coastal city has to offer, from it's sandy beaches and traditional villages to it's vibrant nightlife and bustling shopping districts.From Stop 1, East Cliff, the tour continues to the famous Bournemouth Pier which is one of the biggest tourist hotspots in the city! From our open-top bus, passengers will have the most amazing panoramic views of the coast, or, you can hop-off and explore the theatre, arcade and many restaurants and cafes that are found here! Hop back on as the tour carries on down to Bournemouth Square, another of the city's most important locations, which boasts many high-end retailers, shops, eateries and bars.If you'd like to discover the history of Bournemouth during your visit, hop-off at the Old Poole Town. Although many buildings have been re-modelled over the centuries, visitors will still get a real feel for Bournemouth's' medieval roots here from its older-style architecture, evident throughout the Old Town. There are also many museums in Old Town, including the Poole Museum, which boasts a range of galleries observing boats and trade over centuries. One of Bournemouth's most unique locations is The Triangle, for being the city's central point for the local LGBT community. Hop-off at Stop 23, to explore this quirky area that boasts arguably the city's most vibrant nightlife. The stops along the route are as follows:1. East Cliff 2. Bournemouth Pier - Behind Hot Rocks 3. Bournemouth Square - Gervis Place Stand X 4. West Cliff Savoy Hotel 5. Westbourne - Camden 6. Branksome Chine 7. Canford Cliffs - Loch Fyne 8. Sandbanks Beach - Shore Road 9. Sandbanks Beach - Pavilion 10. Sandbanks Peninsular - Ferry Approach 11. Sandbanks Beach - Opposite Pavilion 12. Sandbanks Beach - Opposite Shore Road 13. Lilliput Village - Lilliput Square 14. Whitecliff - Whitecliff Recreation Ground 15. Poole Park - Park Gates East 16. Poole Quay & Old Town - Portsmouth Hoy Pub 17. 13A. Poole Quay & Old Town - Old Orchard18. Poole Railway Station - ASDA Side 19. Poole College / Civic Centre - The College 20. Ashley Cross - Parkstone Railway Station 21. Penn Hill - Penn Hill Corner 22. Westbourne - County Gates 23. The Triangle 24. Bournemouth Square - Exeter Road Stand LL 25. Bournemouth Pier - Behind Hot RocksDuring our tour through Bournemouth, passengers can take full advantage of our free headphones and on-board audio commentary to discover many fun and historic facts about the city. Please note that the audio commentary is only available in English. City Sightseeing Bournemouth is seasonal and only operates between 30th March 2018 - 30th September 2018.