We are going to Highclere in end of August. Small Group tours on Viator or Get your Guide. Anybody know which seems "better" ? Anyone have info from friends on that? Also Viator departs from Hard Rock Hotel and Get your departs on Great Russell Street in front of Museum. Which is easier to get to by public transportation? Looking to take the small group ( 18 or less) option of people to have a better small group experience. Thoughts?
Posted by
alameda, ca, usa
2602 posts
I did a small group tour through Viator in Sept 2018 and it was wonderful--we met at the Great Portland St tube station around 7 am and returned around 6 pm with drop offs at various points in the city. Excellent and funny guide who gave non-stop info on everything we encountered along the way. This tour started with a visit to Cogges Manor Farm, a working farm with lovely grounds and house to tour (Yew Tree Farm on Downton Abbey--I'm guessing you're a fan) for a couple of hours, then on to the village of Bampton to tour the church and explore a bit of the town, then finally arrived at Highclere around 12, which gave us a bit over 4 hours to explore the grounds, have lunch and tour the house on our own. It wasn't cheap, approximately $160 US, but as all 3 locations were about an hour apart it isn't something I would have ever accomplished easily on my own, plus enjoyable to see various other parts of England, and that day remains a cherished travel memory so it was well worth it.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13925 posts
Christa, do you remember what company provided your tour? Viator is a consolidator so they don't actually run the tours. Maybe Kressmess can book directly with the tour company and cut out the 3rd party if she likes the sound of your day.
Posted by
alameda, ca, usa
2602 posts
I don't recall the name, unfortunately, but they get a lot of positive reviews and my experience was in line with that--my guide was named Andrew and he seemed to get the most rave reviews so I was delighted he was on my tour.