Tour Ref: CC4/1
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We have devised a weekend break that mixes rural charm with adventures in our country’s capital. Based in leafy Buckinghamshire at a truly lovely hotel we can hit all of our targets easily. Enjoy the London Eye, Post Office Tunnels and some surprising little hidden gems, with railway connections, in London. Out in the country there’s some really rustic railways and even an incursion/excursion into HS2 land.
We meet at Gerrards Cross Station around lunchtime and transfer to the hotel for sandwiches and drinks. Once sated our coach takes us to Slough where we travel the “Marlow Donkey” branch line, criss-crossing The Thames to Marlow. Time to get on the water for an afternoon cruise on a beautiful part of the river with Salters Steamers. The hotel is only 30 minutes away so we are back in plenty of time for dinner.
Our London day starts by train into Marylebone passing Wembley Stadium on the way. This morning, we show you some interesting, lesser known, and curious things of interest during a walking/tube tour. Then, we cross to the Post Office Tunnels Railway and museum to discover the life of moving the mail beneath the streets – fascinating. We’ll whoosh along the Thames on an Uber boat to Waterloo and then take a spin for far-reaching views on The London Eye. Our train back to Gerrards Cross completes a coach free day.
Off to the country. By direct train from Gerrards Cross to Aylesbury and thence by coach to The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton Road. This place offers a complete history of Metroland including oddities such as the Brill Tramway and includes a short steam train ride. All around here HS2 in carving a swathe through the countryside and you will see several new bridges and engineering feats being achieved. Later we climb over the hills for an afternoon at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. This charming line epitomises the country railway passing farmer’s fields, with Chiltern views, and even a village cricket pitch – lovely! At Princes Risborough we can jump on another direct train back to Gerrards Cross.
We are signing off with a couple of very local attractions/visits. The first of these is Beckonscot Model Village. This is an outdoors recreation of Buckinghamshire with a degree of artistic licence in that trains run throughout the multitude of model settings - there is even a larger train we can ride on. Then we are going to feed you before we part company at an historic public house. The Royal Standard of England at Forty Green claims to the be the oldest in the country and it is full of character. Sandwiches and drinks are included before we set down back at Gerrards Cross for homeward bound journeys to commence.
Developed over the centuries from a coaching house on the London Road this lovely 4 star exudes quality. It has pleasant grounds, well-appointed rooms, two bars and a restaurant that serves an evening buffet dinner. It is but a 15-minute walk across the green and along to the railway station and is surrounded by greenery – a truly classy Buckinghamshire base.
