Touring the UK
Bus Tours

Even if you are an independent traveler there are times group tours can make sense; for example, a day excursion from a major city or if you think driving on the left side of the road is going to be too stressful.

On this page I have put an abbreviated version of group tour options for the UK , go to the Spain bus tours page if you want to read about other possible options one has in group tours.

• Pros and Cons of Bus/Group Tours
• 1/2 day and 1 day bus excursions
• Multi day bus tours of the UK

The Pros and Cons:
I like to have control of my schedule. I do not like being rushed through major attraction or having to wait for others. Traveling with a group requires a little compromise.

The advantages of bus tours are numerous; Someone else does the navigation and driving, it can be a way to connect socially with others, and if you will be traveling by yourself, the group provides a feeling of security.

1/2 day and 1 day excursions
These large group, local tours, only last for a few hours, providing ground transportation and a guide. Local bus excursions can be arranged through your hotel on arrival. It is best to make reservations for these tours at least one day in advance (internet booking requires 48 hours notice) but in person, same day reservation, is sometimes possible.

Some examples of 1/2 and 1 day tours in the UK are:Relationship Disclosure

• Highland Lochs, Glens and Whisky Tour by Mini coach, out of Edinburgh
• Leeds Castle, Dover, Canterbury, Greenwich and Thames River Cruise, out of London
• Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath with Private viewing of The Roman Baths, out of London
• 
  A good number of the UK day tour options can be found at, Viator.

Multi-day tours :
Large group tours are often the least expensive option. By booking hotel rooms in bulk and packing as many tourists as possible into the tour, Tour Operators are able to lower their cost. As an independent traveler, I am not attracted to this type of travel unless it is just for a day trip excursion. Many people enjoy this type of travel immensely. They like the comfort of being part of the large group and they like having a variety of people to meet. Hotels can be luxurious (even a castle), but the hotels used by Large Tour Operators must be massive enough to accommodate the fleets of tourist busses that arrive daily. If you are limited in time, these multi-day tours can also be a way to pack in a number of UK sights quickly.

Some examples of multi-day tours in the UK are:Relationship Disclosure

• Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Highlands, 3 day, 2 night tour out of London.
• Iona, Mull and the Isle of Skye - 4 Island Magic Tour by Minicoach (5 Days / 4 Nights), out of Edinburgh
• Complete list of Viator UK tour options can be found at, Viator