Enchanted Villages Tour of Southern England
Immerse yourself with me in the magical world of the English countryside with this comprehensive experience that will take you to discover East Meon, Upper Farrnigdon and Chawton, three picture-postcard villages in the South Downs National Park that have kept their authenticity intact and allow you to immerse yourself for a day in the fascinating world of Miss Marple and Inspector Barnaby.
This one-of-a-kind private day tour in the UK is much more than just a visit to three enchanted villages full of fairytale cottages, beautiful flower gardens and romantic stone churches hundreds of years old: it is a real ‘full immersion’ into the fascinating lifestyle of the English countryside and its traditions guided by those who live there.
The tour is based on my experience of living in the village of Chawton and will allow you to discover with me the charm of the English countryside in one of the most exclusive areas of England.
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Enchanted Villages Tour of Southern England
What's included in Enchanted Villages Tour of Southern England
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
East Meon
Located a quarter of an hour from Petersfield and nestled in a valley surrounded by green hills, East Meon is the first stop on our tour and one of the most picturesque villages in the South Downs National Park. It is crossed by the River Meon and is full of charming thatched cottages, medieval houses and buildings that belonged to the various lords who over the centuries have claimed dominion over this area of Hampshire. Its ancient stone church is built on a hill and offers a wonderful view over the whole village. Definitely a great way to start our tour before heading towards Upper Farringdon along the scenic road that passes through the beautiful countryside of the South Downs National Park and passes through many other enchanted villages.
Less known than the other two villages but no less charming, Upper Farringdon is a hidden gem and is one of my favourite villages because it has some of the most beautiful cottages in the whole area. Again, I will take you to discover this enchanting reality, providing you with many anecdotes about local life and guiding you to discover its most picturesque views, which are perfect for a killer photo to post on your social channels! At the end of the visit, we will stop for lunch at The Rose & Crown, the village pub. The Rose & Crown the typical English country pub with oak beams in the ceiling, wood panelling on the walls and a romantic red brick fireplace.
Chawton
Chawton is the village where I live and, thanks to its links with Jane Austen, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the south of England. It is a typical postcard English village with fairytale cottages, a beautiful public park and a stone church nestled in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. But Chawton is above all the place where Jane Austen lived happily the last eight years of her life and wrote most of her novels. Jane Austen’s House and Chawton House are ideal places to immerse yourself in the world of this extraordinary writer. In this stage I will take you to discover Chawton, tell you about its history, its beautiful cottages and its links with its most famous resident. At the end of the guided tour of the village you will have a free hour to take pictures, visit Jane Austen's House or Chawton House. The tour will end with a traditional Cream Tea at Cassandra's Cup, the romantic village tea room.
Inclusions
- Traditional Crem Tea from Cassandra's Cup, Chawton's romantic tea room overlooking Jane Austen's house
- Guided tour of the villages of East Meon, Upper Farringdon and Chawton
- Short visit to my cottage from 1600
- Transfer by private premium category car between stops of the tour to Alton station, from where direct trains leave for London Waterloo every 30 minutes.
- Booster seat
- Lunch is packed in the beautiful Chawton village park and is not included in the package. In Chawton there are two tea rooms and a pub where participants can have lunch alternatively.
- The cost of transport from London (or other location) to Alton and back is not included in the package
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour is not available for children under 12 years or less than 135 cm tall due to lack of car seat
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- The meeting place is in the pedestrian area which is on the left exiting the main entrance of Alton station, Hampshire. The train to arrive on time for the start of the tour at 09:45 leaves London Waterloo station at 08:30 and arrives in Petersfield at 09:37.
