UK & Europe Classic Car Tour 2012

Day 1 Sunday 2 September: Auckland to Dubai

Meet the guide for your escorted tour at Auckland International Airport before flying to Dubai for an overnight stay.

Day 2 Monday 3 September: Dubai to London

Depart Dubai for London

Day 3 Tuesday 4 September: Arrive London

On arrival at London's Heathrow Airport meet your guide and driver, then transfer to London and your 4-star accommodation. This afternoon, take time to explore the exclusive Knightsbridge area. See famous landmarks such as the V&A, Natural History Museum and the Royal Albert Hall. Enjoy visiting upmarket and renowned stores such as Harrods and Harvey Nicholls. Dinner this evening is at the hotel. Overnight in London.

Day 4 Wednesday 5 September: London

This morning meet your coach and guide to enjoy a panoramic tour of the city. Sights include the capital's most famous, including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, Madame Tussauds, the London Dungeon, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Continue to the London Eye where a fast track flight has been arranged. The London Eye is the world's tallest observation wheel. View the sights of London and beyond- on a clear day you can see 40 miles in all directions. Enjoy some free time and lunch at leisure in the Westminster area. This afternoon rejoin your coach for transfer to the London Motor Museum where a self-guided tour has been arranged. London Motor Museum houses an eclectic fusion of vintage classics alongside radical custom vehicles. The museum houses over 100 vehicles covering the eras from the 1930's to the present day. Later this afternoon return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 Thursday 6 September: London

This morning, meet your coach and guide for transfer to the Tower Bridge Exhibition whre a self guided visit has been arranged. Tower bridge is one of the most recognised bridges in the world, and the views of London from the high walkways are impressive. Next, enjoy a short stroll over Tower Bridge to the Tower of London where a self guided visit has been arranged. Enjoy lunch at leisure in the New Armouries restaurant. The Tower of London is an ancient stone fortress in London. It stands on the bank of the River Thames in the oldest part of the city. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint, arsenal, menagerie and jewel house.

Day 6 Friday 7 September: London, Windsor, New Forest

This morning meet your coach and driver for transfer to Windsor Castle where a self-guided visit has been arranged with audio guides. Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world and is one of the official residences of Her Majesty the Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. Enjoy lunch at leisure in Windsor. This afternoon, enjoy a boat trip on the River Thames. Travel upstream to Boveney Lock and return, with views of Windsor Castle, Eton College, Mill House, Windsor Racecourse and Brocas Meadows. Later this afternoon rejoin your coach for transfer to the New Forest and your 4-star hotel.

Day 7 Saturday 8 September : Beaulieu Auto Jumble

Full day Beaulieu Auto Jumble; Europe's best Autojumble, held in the grounds of the National Motor Museum with over 1500 stands buying and selling everything connected with motor racing and motor cycling. Later this afternoon return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 Sunday 9 September: Beaulieu Auto Jumble

Enjoy another full day at Beauliu Auto Jumble. Later this afternoon return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 Monday 10 September: Salisbury, Sparkford, Bath

Depart for Salisbury, stopping en route to visit the magnificent 13th century cathedral and free time to explore the market town. Lunch at leisure in Salisbury. This afternoon travel to Sparkford near Yeovil and the Haynes International Motor Museum, home to over 340 cars and motorcycles, making it the largest vehicle collection in the UK. Enjoy a curator-led tour of the collection including the workshops. Continue to Bath your 4-star hotel for dinner this evening.

Day 10 Tuesday 11 September: Bath, Stratford

Morning sightseeing in Bath including a visit to the world-famous Roman Baths & Pump room. Lunch is at leisure in Bath. This afternoon, transfer to Stratford upon Avon. On arrival a walking orientation tour of Stratford upon Avon with a local guide is arranged. Stratford upon Avon is a picturesque town beautifully situated on the river with a wealth of black and white timber framed buildings. It is, of course, most famous for being the birthplace of the world's greatest playwright, William Shakespeare. Continue to your 4-star hotel for dinuner this evening. Overnight in Stratford upon Avon.

Day 11 Wednesday 12 September: Gaydon, Aston Martin

This morning enjoy some time at leisure before leaving for a full day of visits. Depart Stratford upon Avon for the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon.
The motor car is over one hundred years old and is one of the world's most influential inventions. The Heritage Motor Centre tells its story, from some of the very first cars to take to British roads, right up to the latest designs. Arrive at Heritage Motor Centre and enjoy a curator-led tour of the collection. Enjoy lunch at leisure in the self service cafe. After lunch and some time at leisure to further view the collection. re-join your coach for the short drive to the Aston Martin facility. Arrive at the Aston Martin Headquarters, which opened in 2003 and is the first purpose built manufacturing plant in Aston Martin's 90-year history. Depart Aston Martin Headquarters, returning to your hotel in Stratford upon Avon. Dinner this evening is at the hotel.

Day 12 Thursday 13 September: Donington Park, Morgan Motor Company

Depart the hotel and drive north to the Donington Park Grand Prix collection near Derby. Arrive Donington Park where a specialist-guided tour of the exhibits will be provided. See the largest collection of McLarens in the world, and the only complete Vanwall collection in existence. Enjoy lunch at leisure in the Grand Prix Cafe. Depart Donington for Malvern and the Morgan Motor Company. This legendary car manufacturer specialises in the design, manufacture and distribution of exclusive, high-performance sports cars. Arrive at the Morgan Motor Company where the group will be met by a Morgan Motor representative who will lead you on a tour of the facility, enjoying a preview of the latest models. Depart Malvern and return to Stratford upon Avon. Dinner this evening is at the hotel.

Day 13 Friday 14 September: Stratford, Buxted, Winchester

Depart Stratford upon Avon for Buxted. Arrive Buxted for lunch at leisure in a local pub. Continue to Crosthwaite and Gardiner, one of the leading historic car racing restorers in the country. They hold the world's largest stock of new Bugatti spare parts, and their services include replacement engines and full/partial restorations. Depart Buxted and continue to Winchester. Arrive at Winchester and your 4-star hotel. Winchester is a unique heritage city just an hour south west of London, with a magnificent cathedral, award-winning pubs and restaurant and a tempting array of independent shops, all surrounded by fabulous rolling countryside and pretty Hampshire villages. Dinner this evening is at the hotel.

Day 14 Saturday 15 September: Goodwood Revival

Depart hotel for Goodwood. Today is the first day of racing at the Goodwood Revival- in action will be early single seaters, historic sports cars, famous drivers in past and present saloon cars and an aerial display by World War II aircraft. After your full day at Goodwood return to your Winchester hotel for dinner.

Day 15 Sunday 16 September: Goodwood Revival.

Travel to Goodwood and enjoy a second day of racing with historic Grand Prix cars, sports-racing cars, saloon cars and the two-driver AA TT celebration race to the fore. A further wartime air display is planned with a 'concours d'elegance' for historic aircraft. The day ends with prize giving on the start/finish line. Transfer by coach to the Richmond Arms at the Goodwood Hotel where a 3-course dinner including drinks is arranged. Transfer back to your Winchester hotel. Overnight Winchester.

Day 16 Monday 17 September: Brooklands

Depart Winchester for the famous Brooklands Motor and Aviation Museum. At Brooklands you will receive an introductory talk before enjoying a guided tour of the museum. For three decades the Brooklands circuit, dating from 1907, was the home of motorsport. Recent restoration of part of the circuit and associated buildings has resulted in one of the best museums of its type in the country. A specialist tour of the motoring exhibits has been arranged. Lunch is at leisure in the Sunbeam Cafe.
Depart Brooklands and return to your Winchester hotel. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before dinner at the hotel.

Day 17 Tuesday 18 September: Winchester, London, Munich

Depart Winchester for tranfer to Heathrow airport in time for departure flights to Munich- booked independently of Barton Hill Travel. On arrival at Frankfurt Airport, meet your guide who will escort you to your waiting coach for transfer to Munich, the cultural capital of Bavaria. Continue to your hotel for check in at your 4-star hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 18 Wednesday 19 September: Munich

Depart this morning for one of Munich's most arresting modern buildings, the home of BMW, symbolically shaped as for tightly clustered cylindrical towers. The separate structure alongside house the BMW Museum which you will visit this morning. The exhibits range from the R32 motorcycle, design of the century, to the legendary Dixi, ancestor of all later BMW cars, to futuristic vehicle studies and their cockpits. A glance into the past, at the world's first jet engine ever to be produced on a large scale, shows the basis for BMW's claim to technological competence. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in Munich before dinner at the hotel.

Day 19 Thursday 20 September: Munich, Mulhouse

Depart Munich this morning for transfer to the French city of Mulhouse, arriving in time for an afternoon visit to the National Automobile Museum, which houses the truly exceptional Schlumpf Collection. Bugatti, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes and practically all the other famous names are to be seen here with over 500 vehicles in the permanent exhibition. It is a unique and impressive collection devoted to the glory of the automobile from its beginnings to the present day, the star of the show being the car considered the most prestigious in the world: the Royale which belonged to Ettore Bugatti. All these dream cars are on show in a superbly converted spinning mill and are arranged along more than a mile of wide gangways beneath gas lamps. Continue to your hotel for check in at your 4-star hotel.

Day 20 Friday 21 September: Mulhouse, Hockenheim, Heidelberg

Depart Mulhouse leading north through Freiburg Im Breisgau, "capital" of the Black Forest and the seat of a university since 1457. Stretching 170km north to south and up to 60km east to west, the Black Forest is by far the largest forest in Germany, and the most beautiful, famous for its Black Forest gateaux, cuckoo clocks and colourful traditional dress. A stop will be made en route for lunch at leisure in a local restaurant. This afternoon, continue your journey through Offenburg and Baden Baden to Hockenheim, site of the famous Hockenheim Grand Prix circuit. On arrival enjoy a self guided visit to the Motor Sport Museum. The collection comprises both motorcars and motorbikes including Norton, BSA, Scott, BMW, NSU and DKW. Later this afternoon, rejoin your coach for transfer to the ancient university city of Heidelberg, situated on the River Beckar and dominated by the ruins of its 12th century red sandstone castle. Continue to your hotel for check in at your four star hotel.

Day 21 Saturday 22 September: Stuttgart

Depart this morning to the prosperous city of Stuttgart, where, beaming out imperiously from its lofty station above the city centre is the local trademark- the three-pointed white star of Daimler-Benz. Stuttgart is also home to the Porsche factory and together, they have made the city into a car production centre to rival Detroit. This morning, enjoy a visit to the Daimler-Benz Museum which has more than 100 famous cars from all eras of automotive history. The cars are linked to events of their time- from the very first cars, through the dream models of the 30's, the racing cars, and the models from the 50's and 60's to the most up-to-date vehicle range. Enjoy lunch at leisure in Stuttgart. This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Porsche Factory. The tour ends with some free time to browse in the Porsche Museum which illustrates the company's models from the 156 Roadster of 1948 to those currently in production. Return to Heidelberg for dinner and overnight.

Day 22 Sunday 23 September: Heidelberg, Frankfurt

Transfer to Frankfurt Airport in good time for departure flights home.

UK & Europe Classic Car Tour Escorted from New Zealand

18 Days of Stunning Country and Cars