England "My Way" insights

It’s a brand new tour for next year. So, no one has taken it yet.

I think it looks like a great tour. I like the my way option and am taking the my way alps tour later this year.

Hi Patty, my husband & I saw most of those sites plus some others during an independent trip. This looks like a wonderful itinerary!

One question I would ask your accompanying guide are what options could they recommend for your two days at the Cotswolds. I see they have you staying at Moreton-on-Marsh. There’s a little transportation from there, but you probably don’t want to be waiting for a bus. I would be looking at options such as scheduling “Cotswolds in a Day Tour from Moreton-in-Marsh / Stratford-on-Avon” day tours to get you to multiple villages & maximize your time. (I haven’t done that day tour; we had a rental car.). We saw 7-8 of the villages during our three days there and stayed in two different villages - all lovely! Maybe the RS office can give you recommendations.

Hi Patty,
Like Jean, I've been to these locations either independently or on non-RS tours. I think the itinerary provides a great overview, especially if this is your first trip to England. You also have a mix of bus and rail. Sure, there are parts of the country you'll miss, but if you'd like a sampler, I say go for it. Bath, York, and London have plenty to offer. As noted, you may have to think a bit more about a game plan for the Cotswolds and Keswick unless you're perfectly content hanging out in town for the day. Which is a-okay, or you can look into hikes or day trips. Happy travel planning!

I was looking at this tour and implementing my own golf tour at the same time. I went to Ireland a couple years ago and went on a golf vacation where I drove all around Ireland to play a number of different golf courses. It was a great trip but the driving was intense and renting rooms were hit and miss.

I was thinking of taking this and fitting a golf trip at the same time. With a free day in each town I'm thinking I could play at a local course in the morning after breakfast and do other tour things in the afternoon.

Having taken two RSTours I love the rooms and transportation that is arranged by them.

I am wondering if I could take my clubs with me. I'm just trying to figure out when to go. Spring or Fall?

I have taken the My Way Alpine tour and the Tour Manager will help you with your transportation options while in the Cotswolds and other out of the way places. That includes making the bus available for you. I would check with the RS office for more definitive information. I’m considering the My Way Ireland tour for next September, the My Way England looks very cool as well.

To add, on my latest tour in April, the Best of Tuscany, we had a free day and the guide and bus took us to a seaside town where the guide went as a child. Charming and relaxing day. Most of us went and a few opted to stay back at our cattle ranch and relax.

Another thought- RS will not take you somewhere and not give you the tools to see the sights there. Even if it’s a My Way tour.

The new England My Way tour is almost a carbon copy of the RS Best of England tour. We took the Best of England tour last summer and it was amazing. Of the 9 Rick Steves tours we have been on, this one is in the top 3. The only area not covered in My Way vs. Best of England is one less day in Bath and 2 days in Conwy in Wales. You could easily arrive 1-2 days early and hit the side trips from Bath (Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Wells, etc.) before you start the My Way tour.

If you choose the My Way version, it would be simple to pick up the planned activities on the Best of England tour as a key part of your free time planning. The last thing I will mention is that 2 days in London is certainly not enough unless you have already toured London. Again, easy to add post tour days there since it is the last stop.

I have done two My Way tours with RS. This is a great way to have transportation, hotels and breakfast done for you . Then you can decide what you want to do in each place and at your own pace . Believe it or not there is still great cohesiveness in the group and you can tour around with others doing what you are doing .. make plans for lunch or dinner or NOT all up to you !