Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday by joining a tour fit for royalty with Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com), visiting some of The Queen’s favourite places in the United Kingdom. These tours are guided by locals in small groups taking royal enthusiasts off-the-beaten track.
See why HM The Queen has a “deep and abiding affection” for Scotland on a one-day tour to visit Highland lochs and glens and sample some Scottish tipple. Royal buffs will leave Edinburgh and its hilltop castle behind to travel over the Queensferry Crossing to the Kingdom of Fife. Discover the gorgeous town of Dunkeld on the banks of the River Tay to explore the architecturally fascinating cathedral. Go on to the Hermitage for a fantastic woodland walk leading up to the Black Linn Falls.
After lunch in the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry, travellers will journey through the mountains of Highland Perthshire to stop at the Queen's View overlooking Loch Tummel. On a clear day the view languorously stretches out to the iconic peak of Schiehallion and beyond to the mountains of Glencoe. In the magical ancient lands of Breadalbane visit the town of Aberfeldy and Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery to learn the secret of how the national drink is made before enjoying a dram of Scottish ‘water of life’ – one of Prince Albert’s favourite tipples. Prices for this tour start at £62 based on tours departing from 2-5 June.
Join a quintessential tour of royal England to participate in the Jubilee festivities. Depart central London early in the morning in the wake of the Platinum Party at the Palace. The city’s grand buildings fade into open green spaces as you travel towards Windsor, which will be lined with Union Jack bunting as jubilant street parties take over the historic town. Pay homage to the royals by touring Windsor Castle, with its ornate furniture and gold gilded halls. Later, head to one of Britain’s greatest marvels: Stonehenge. The outstanding stones promises transportation to a long-forgotten world. The final stop of the day is the city of Bath, where tour members can relax at the Roman Baths, go for an evening stroll, eat supper by the waterway, and get a good night’s rest.
On the morrow, follow twining country roads to Castle Combe, one of the most picturesque villages within the Cotswolds. You have time here to take the perfect picture of the famous bridge and ogle at the medieval market cross monument. The city of Oxford is the penultimate stop on this adventure. Wander the precincts of the historic colleges, climb the vantage points to admire the skyline, or see the art and antiquities collections in the Ashmolean Museum. For this tour, prices start at £145 per person based on tours departing on Sunday 5 June 2022.
Discover why Queen Victoria found it “impossible to imagine a prettier spot” than the Isle of Wight on a three-day tour on the Platinum Jubilee weekend. Leave London for the ancient harbours of Portsmouth. Visit the remains of King Henry the VIII’s tragic warship Mary Rose, before joining your Rabbie’s guide for a ferry at Gunwharf Terminal to the Isle of Wight. A delightful seafood supper awaits in Shanklin. On your second day, stroll along the island’s languorous sea-shores and take in gorgeous cliffs, barren bunkers and the stunning white chalk Needles. Visit Queen Victoria’s Italian-inspired holiday home, Osborne House, with its pristine green gardens, ornate lofty rooms, and historically fascinating artefacts.
The final day promises a return to the mainland to visit Winchester and its glorious cathedral, built on the lost ruins of a Saxon palace. In the afternoon, let your hair down at Laverstoke Mill, the home of one of the world’s most popular gins, Bombay Sapphire. Laverstoke Mill also has stunning Victorian architecture and exhibits as interesting as they are beautiful. There will be a short stop at Runnymede, the home of the Magna Carta and the cornerstone of modern democracy, before arrival in London in the evening. Prices start at £239 per person based on tours departing on Saturday 4 June 2022.
