Your holiday, your way

Our range of holidays includes honeymoons, family breaks and solo travel, as well as specialist trips focused on wellness, wildlife-watching, sports, relaxing and lots more.

Book Now for Summer 2024

It's the right time to get the best deals for this year's getaways.

Tent Palmanova

  • Balearic Islands
  • • Majorca Holidays

Tent Palmanova

Includes a saving of £25

£629 pp

Hesperia Bristol Playa

  • Canary Islands
  • • Fuerteventura

Hesperia Bristol Playa

Includes a saving of £20

£599 pp

Belair Beach Resort

  • • Rhodes Holidays

Belair Beach Resort

£749 pp

Grand Ideal Premium Hotel

  • • Marmaris Holidays

Grand Ideal Premium Hotel

Includes a saving £185

£499 pp

Barcelo Lanzarote Active Resort

  • • Lanzarote

Barcelo Lanzarote Active Resort

£639 pp

Eftalia Ocean Resort & Spa

  • • Alanya Holidays

Eftalia Ocean Resort & Spa

Free child places available

£579 pp

GF Fanabe

  • • Tenerife

Sol Pelicanos Ocas Hotel

  • • Benidorm Holidays

Sol Pelicanos Ocas Hotel

HOLIDAY THE HAYS WAY

Our Latest Deals and Offers

  • See The Deals

Hays Travel Holiday & Cruise Show

Hays Travel Holiday & Cruise Show

  • Free entry - register your place now

Book with confidence

We're with you every step of the way

Interest Free Monthly Payments Available

Travel with confidence

Always ATOL Protected

UK's largest selection of worldwide holidays

4.9/5 Customer Rating

Which? recommended

Peace of Mind Guarantee

All Abroad for All-Inclusive

Go all-in at these fabulous resorts and hotels

Hotel Coral Beach by Llum

  • • Spain

Hotel Coral Beach by Llum

Includes a saving of £300 + Free child places available

Zante Plaza Hotel & Apartments

  • • Zante Holidays

Zante Plaza Hotel & Apartments

£669 pp

Sindbad Club

  • • Egypt

Sindbad Club

Unlimited waterpark access

£679 pp

Playa Olid

includes a saving of £540

BlueBay Lanzarote

BlueBay Lanzarote

Free Child Places Available

£549 pp

Riu Touareg

  • • Cape Verde

Riu Touareg

Includes a saving of £670

£799 pp

Sol Palmanova

Sol Palmanova

includes a saving of £100 + Free child places available

Hays Travel Careers

We're Hiring!

Opportunities for travel consultants with a year's experience and much more

  • See all our jobs and opportunities

Best of Touring

Discover hand-picked exclusive adventures

The Best of Touring Winter 2023, bursting with unbelievable tours to inspire - from the wilds of Africa and Alaska to the concrete jungles of Tokyo and Sydney, and the historical hubs of Asia and Europe.

  • Find your Nearest Branch
  • Open our stunning latest edition

Visit hays travel

COME AND VISIT US

With over 470 branches and  3000 travel advisors, we'd love to see you in person to help you get the best deals.

  • CALL 0800 408 4048
  • FIND YOUR NEAREST BRANCH
  • Europe Tours
  • England Tours
  • Tour Operators

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in England 2024/2025

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in England. Below you will find 24 of the best tour operators and travel agencies in England offering in total 264 tours and holidays through-out England. Combined they have received 438 customer reviews and an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The top tour activities offered in England are: Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history, Adventure and sport & Wildlife, landscapes and nature.

  • Tours in England
  • England Travel Guide

24 Tour Operators in England with 438 Reviews

Brendan Vacations

Brendan Vacations

  • Address Brendan Vacations 801 E. Katella Avenue Anaheim, California 92805, California, USA
  • Response Rate 90%
  • Response Time 1 hour

Walkers' Britain

Walkers' Britain

  • Address 1B Osiers Road, London, England
  • Response Rate 83%
  • Response Time 3 hours

british travel company

  • Best-in-Class Top 5% of companies
  • Excellent Service Top 10% of companies
  • Superior Service Top 15% of companies

Topdeck

  • Address 109 Power Road, Chiswick, London, England
  • Response Rate 81%

Trafalgar

  • Address Picquet House, St Peter Port, Guernsey, London, England
  • Response Time 2 hours

Mckenzie Mountaineering

Mckenzie Mountaineering

  • Address Hillcrest Braes , Ullapool, Scotland
  • Response Rate 100%

Expat Explore

Expat Explore

  • Address 10 Merryweather Place, London, England

Explore

  • Address Nelson House, 55-59 Victoria Rd, Farnborough, England
  • Response Rate 96%

Collette Tours

Collette Tours

  • Address 162 Middle Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA
  • Response Rate 86%

Costsaver

  • Address 33 Kern Road, Toronto, Canada
  • Response Rate 88%

Luxury Gold

Luxury Gold

  • Response Rate 60%

Contiki

  • Address 38-51 Bedford Way, London, England

The London Bicycle Tour Company

The London Bicycle Tour Company

  • Address 74 Kennington Road, London, England

Indus Travels

Indus Travels

  • Address 233, 11951 Hammersmith Way, Richmond, Canada
  • Response Rate 98%

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours

  • Address 15/56 Pitt St, Sydney, Australia
  • Response Rate 74%

England Tour Reviews

  • Mary Chatigny
  • England budget tours
  • Eco tours in England
  • England guided tours
  • England family tour packages
  • England honeymoon packages
  • England luxury tours
  • England private tours
  • England self-guided tours
  • England small group tours
  • England solo trips
  • England tailor-made vacation packages
  • England tours for senior citizens
  • England tours for young adults
  • England group tours
  • England last minute deals
  • England travel deals

Popular Destinations

  • London Tours

Upcoming Departures

  • Spring 2024/2025
  • Summer 2024/2025
  • Winter 2024/2025
  • August 2024
  • September 2024
  • October 2024
  • November 2024
  • December 2024
  • January 2025
  • February 2025
  • August 2025
  • September 2025

british travel company

Best price guaranteed - No booking fees

Sign-in to unlock instant trip discounts. Create wish lists and save up to USD 1,500.

United Kingdom Tours & Vacations

Kilchurn castle on Loch Awe, reflected in the longest fresh water loch in Scotland, UK

Get ready to experience the United Kingdom, Intrepid style.

Four unique countries, four bewitching cultures and tens of thousands of years of history between them. From the sandy beaches in Cornwall to the enchanting landscapes in the Scottish Highlands and the rugged mountains in Snowdonia National Park —the United Kingdom is packed with adventures. Walk beautiful lochs in the Cairngorms, uncover Roman history along Hadrian's Wall or explore the enchanting Giant's Causeway . Experience the best the UK has to offer with our UK tours and holidays .

Our United Kingdom trips

Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.

United Kingdom tour reviews

Filter by rating

Highlights of Scotland

Walk Hadrian's Wall Highlights

Discover the wonders of Cardiff through the eyes of Doctor Who  

The world’s first rewilding centre in Scotland is tuning into nature’s healing instincts 

Visit the site of the World Stone Skimming Championships in Scotland  

England or Wales? The UK destination that should be next on your list

England or Scotland? Which country should you visit next?

England or Ireland? Where to go on your next trip

Scotland or Ireland: which country should you travel to next?

Where to celebrate Pride in Europe 2023

United Kingdom departures by month

Uk tours by country, united kingdom at a glance, capital city.

London (population, 9 million)

67.33 million

English, Welsh, Gaelic

(GMT) Greenwich Mean Time : Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type D (Old British 3-pin) Type G (Irish/British 3-pin) Type M (see D)

Learn more about United Kingdom

Best time to visit the united kingdom.

The UK shines from June to August, though there’s never any guarantee that their summer is full of sunshine and warmth. The days are long, tourist crowds are abundant and the country wakes up from its dark slumber and celebrates – a lot.

Spring and autumn can be cool and wet but with some sunny days, and the days are still long enough to enjoy this country’s diverse and beautiful scenery.

Winter – December to February - brings short days, grey skies and sometimes snow, though this is more often in Scotland and England’s northern counties.

History and government

Early history.

The United Kingdom came into being in 1707 with the political union of England and Scotland (Wales was classed under the Kingdom of England). In 1800, the Act of Union with the Kingdom of Ireland formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The last major change was in 1922, when the Anglo-Irish Treaty saw the Irish Free State form and secede from the UK, and Northern Ireland becoming part of the UK (though it wasn’t until 1927 that the UK formerly changed its name to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). Though united, each country had their own laws, churches and education systems. 

Recent history

The 18th and 19th centuries were notable for the UK’s countless wars with France, colonization in the Caribbean, the loss of colonies in North America, the gain of Canada, the discovery of Australia, the second wave of the British Empire in India, Asia and Africa, the beginnings of the industrial revolution, the abolishment of slavery and the long and successful reign of Queen Victoria. Needless to say, this is but a snapshot. The first half of the 20th century was marred by two devastating world wars, which not only devastated the population but the wealth of the country. It also saw the crumbling of the British Empire, with independence being sought and won in Ireland in 1922 and India in 1947, and by the 1980s Britain had withdrawn from all of its colonies. In 1997 devolution was established in Scotland and Wales.

Top 6 places to visit in the UK

1. edinburgh.

Wander the atmospheric streets of Edinburgh , through the medieval Old Town, along the famous Royal Mile and up to the iconic Edinburgh Castle which looms over the city. With its narrow streets, cobbled roads, and cosy pubs, Scotland's capital city is not to be missed.

2. Loch Ness

Go searching for ‘Nessie’ in Loch Ness and decide if the myth is true. Loch Ness is located near Inverness. It's shrouded in mystery and surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Lochs are formerly known as lakes, and there are plenty to see in the Scottish Highlands .

3. Isle of Iona

Set in the Inner Hebrides off the West Coast of Scotland, lies the gorgeous Isle of Iona. Discover beautiful coastlines, an abundance of scenery, heaps of wildlife and fascinating historical sites, including the grave of Macbeth.

Lose yourself in the cosmopolitan energy of Belfast, rich with culture and history. Belfast has a vibrant nightlife and arts culture, especially in Cathedral Quarter where you'll find theatres, galleries, bars and live music.

5. Giant’s Causeway

Explore the wild coastline, basalt columns and legendary tales of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Island. With its dramatic cliffs and unbelievable scenery, this natural wonder is not to be missed.

6. Hadrian’s Wall

Dive headfirst into Roman history on a Hadrian's Wall walking tour . This historic spectacle spanning coast to coast across northern England was built by Roman emperor, Hadrian during his reign in the once Roman province of Britannia.

Top 5 British subcultures

Stylish in tailored suits and classy shoes, mods’ hey-day was the early to mid sixties. They rode around on vespas, listened to modern jazz, were attracted to late night cafés and got into rumbles with rockers.

2. Skinheads

Originally nothing to do with hooligans, racists and fascism, skinheads were born in the 1960s in working class areas of the UK. Skinheads fashioned themselves on Jamaican rude boy style, listened to ska and wore tight jeans, white t-shirts, braces, checked shirts and cherry red docs.

3. Glam rockers

Glam rockers wore high shoes, outrageous clothes, dramatic makeup, lavish hairstyles and plenty of things that glittered. This subculture rose to prominence in the early 1970s and faded out about 5 years later, but went on to influence punk, goths and new romantics. Think David Bowie’s androgynous phase and Garry Glitter.

Though not originating in the UK, when punk hit the UK’s shores in the mid 70s, it was hard to miss. UK punks were on the whole more theatrical than those in the US. Armed with anti-establishment views, mohawks, ripped clothes held together by safety pins (anti-fashion), piercings and thrashing around to punk rock, punk caused a big stir, which died down not long after it exploded.

An offshoot of the post-punk scene, goth became popular in the early 1980s. Although there are many styles of goth, they are characterized by wearing dark clothes, heavy make-up and dark hair.

Further reading

United kingdom travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need a visa to travel to United Kingdom

UNITED KINGDOM Australia: No - Not required Belgium: No - Not required Canada: No - Not required Germany: No - Not required Ireland: No - Not required Netherlands: No - Not required New Zealand: No - Not required South Africa: Yes - in advance Switzerland: No - Not required UK: No - Not required USA: No - Not required

Is tipping customary in the United Kingdom?

Tipping isn’t expected but a tip for good service is always appreciated. Rounding up a taxi fare is commonplace.

What is the internet access like in the United Kingdom?

Internet access is good in the UK, with internet cafes and Wi-Fi hotspots easily found in most cities and major towns.

Can I use my cell phone while in the United Kingdom?

Cell phone coverage is generally very good in most parts of the UK, except perhaps in remote areas. Ensure global roaming is activated before you arrive.

What are the toilets like in the United Kingdom?

Modern, flushable toilets are the standard in the UK.

What will it cost for a...?

Pint of beer = £4 Simple cafe lunch = £10  Nice meal in a restaurant = £30

Can I drink the water in the United Kingdom?

Tap water is considered safe to drink unless otherwise marked.

Are credit cards accepted widely in the United Kingdom?

Major credit cards are widely accepted by stores and hotels in the UK. Smaller cafes and shops may not accept credit cards, so ensure you carry enough cash to cover small purchases.

What is ATM access like in the United Kingdom?

ATMs are very common in the UK, so finding one won't be a problem in most towns and cities.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

What public holidays are celebrated in the United Kingdom?

  • 1 Jan - New Year's Day
  • 17 Mar - St Patrick's Day (Northern Ireland only)
  • Good Friday 
  • Easter Monday (except Scotland)
  • Early May Bank Holiday 
  • Spring Bank Holiday 
  • 12 Jul - Battle of the Boyne (Scotland only)
  • Summer Bank Holiday (except Scotland)
  • 30 Nov - St. Andrew's Day (Scotland only)
  • 25 Dec - Christmas Day
  • 26 Dec - Boxing Day

Please note some of the above public holidays don’t have dates as they change every year. For a current list of public holidays in the United Kingdom go to World Travel Guides . 

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

  • London Walks
  • Museums and Galleries
  • Day Tours From London
  • Overnight Tours

Stonehenge Tours

  • Military Tours
  • Rambling Tours
  • Virtual Tours of Britain
  • Paris Day Tours
  • Day Tours from Paris
  • Overnight Tours of France
  • Normandy Tours
  • Airport Transfers
  • Rome Day Tours
  • Day Tours from Rome
  • Overnight Tours of Italy
  • Special Interest Tours

Stonehenge at Dusk or Dawn

"We arrived at at dawn and were allowed to go into the circle. It was a very moving and unforgettable experience".

Private London Tours

See London by car with your own expert driver-guide. "We saw more of London in a day than most people see in a week!".

Stately Homes, Castles & Gardens

Visit some of Britain's most beautiful Stately Homes, Castles & Gardens on a day tour or overnight tour from London

Downton Abbey

See the real sights from the award winning historical TV drama

Private views of the Crown Jewels, The British Museum, Kensington Palace etc ...

Ghost Tours

Spectral Sightings and London's Haunted History

The City of London Walk

The original site of London 2000 years ago, the City is one of the most interesting and unique areas of London.

Ancestry Research

Let our experts research your Family Tree in Britain

The Thames Path Walks

The Thames is a Medieval river, a Victorian river, a Royal river, an Industrial and Commercial river and a river for leisure, pleasure and residential living. Discover the river with your expert guide.

A Walk through the City of London

Victorian market places, medieval churches and Roman remains.

The British Museum

Over 8 million treasures from around the world. See some of the highlights on a private two hour tour or on a flexible full day London tour.

Spitfire Flights

From The Blog: Take to the skies in the legendary Spitfire from a Battle of Britain airfield

Overnight Castles

Visit Hever Castle, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace and spend the night at luxurious Amberley Castle.

Normandy D-Day Tours

Omaha Beach, St Mere Eglise, Arromanches and many more. By car, train or private plane from London or Paris.

WELCOME TO BRITISH TOURS LTD.

Britain's longest- established private tour operator since 1958.

If you are looking for private London tours, and flexible tours of England, Scotland & Wales with excellent tour guides - you have come to the right place.

TripAdvisor

Best Sellers

Private london tour.

Flexible tours of London by private car, minibus or public transport with expert guides. British Tours since 1958.

Stonehenge Inner Circle Tour

Inner circle Stonehenge Tour at Dawn or Dusk. Your guide will collect you by private car from your London hotel.

Westminster Abbey

Visit the royal church with over 1000 years of history, setting of coronations and resting place of the Kings and Queens of England with your expert tour guide.

Tower of London

Unlock the fascinating history of the Tower of London, a place of drama and intrigue for nearly 1000 years, with your expert tour guide!

London Tours & Surroundings

London tours.

London for first timers and seasoned visitors. Special interests include Residential London, Legal London, Architecture, Kids London, Maritime Greenwich, VIP London and more

Museums & Galleries

We have expert guides for all London's Museums & Galleries including The British Museum, The National Gallery, Sir John Soane's Museum, The National Portrait Gallery and the V & A. For any others just ask!

Private London Walks

Notting Hill, The City of London, Borough and the South Bank, Political London, Rock and Roll London ... we have an expert guide for all special interests and for all languages

Visit Stonehenge with the Avebury Stone Circle, King Arthur sites, Bath, Windsor, Oxford, Salisbury or Winchester. Or visit Stonehenge on an Inner Circle Tour at Sunrise or Sunset

England Tours & Britain

Tour some of England's most historic Castles - Leeds, Hever & Windsor Castle. Also visit Hampton Court Palace, Churchill's home at Chartwell and stay the night at Luxury Amberley Castle

Gems of the South

For centuries the wealthy and aristocratic have built their great manor houses and castles South of London in Kent & Sussex, beautiful regions of orchards, copses & hop fields, splendid gardens, delightful villages and towns

Overnight Stratford Tour

The highlight of this tour is Stratford-Upon-Avon, a small Tudor market town situated along the tree fringed river Avon immortalised by William Shakespeare

Wales Tours

Visit this enchanted country of remote mountains, sparkling lakes, windswept cliffs - beautiful Snowdonia, the majestic castles of Beaumaris, Harlech & Caernarfon, lovely Bodnant Gardens and more

Paris Tours & Surroundings

London to paris day tours.

Take the high speed Eurostar from London to the Heart of Paris where you will be met by your expert, private guide for your flexible tour of Paris

Private France Tours

Overnight normandy.

Visit Mont-St-Michel, Bayeux and the Normandy D-Day sights on this two day tour

Who is your Guide?

Our guides are personable educated men and women, chosen for their knowledge, special interests, backgrounds and personality. They will collect you by car from any central London location and guide you inside places of historic importance

british travel company

Follow us on our journey

Select language

What are you looking for, see things differently, welcome to britain.

Discover inventive new experiences and captivating stories in 2024, brought together with a dose of British flair. From exploring film settings and pioneering cultural spaces to countryside trails and relaxing wellness retreats, it’s all happening on our shores and you’re invited!

Join immersive exhibitions as the National Gallery celebrates a landmark anniversary or get a taste for chocolate as Birmingham’s Cadbury World also marks its 200th birthday. Venture off the beaten track for new coastal adventures, exploring new trails and walking routes, or take in sporting action as the world’s best compete in everything from athletics to the Premier League.

Whether it’s getting a feel for our vibrant cultural cities, embarking on a coastal adventure, or discovering locations made famous by film and TV, it’s time to experience Britain differently.

VisitBritain/Helena Bradbury

A woman stands looking out to a view in the rooftop pool at sunrise

Explore different

VisitBritain/Kieran Duncan

Glen Coe, Scotland

People standing on high point looking down at mountain view

Spilling the tea on GB

We’re spilling the tea on the hottest experiences – and it’s not just a good old brew that we’re mad about.

Cardiff, Wales

Two bikers racing on Cardiff Speedway

Key sporting moments in 2024

Grab your tickets, or a spot by a screen, and join the atmosphere of brilliant British sport.

VisitBritain/Simon Anderson/Royal Pavilion//Nutkhut and Dr Blighty

Royal Pavilion at dusk, lit up in a range of vivid colours

Day trips from London

Britain packs a punch when it comes to the eclectic range of destinations within close proximity to London.

VisitBritain/Daniel Struthers

Parc national de Sowdonia (Eryri), Pays de Galles

A man jumping across a stream whilst hiking

How to see Britain differently

From gastronomic adventures to eco-friendly stays, there’s always more to explore on Britain’s shores.

VisitBritain - The official tourism website of Great Britain

Providing you with inspirational activities and experiences, from those in the know.

Your guidance and information about travelling to Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Helping the travel industry showcase the best of Britain.

Cultural hotspots

An unmissable destination for travellers, London is a melting pot of history, culture and green spaces.

VisitBritain/Hazel Parreno

Picadilly Circus underground station

From palaces to cobbled alleys, and a dormant volcano, this city is a real show-stopper.

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

A young couple taking a selfie of view over historic town

World-class football and a music scene that brought Oasis to centre stage – there’s lots to love about Manchester.

VisitBritain/Manchester Craft Beer Festival

DJ playing to groups of people at Manchester Craft Beer Festival, in Depot Mayfield, Manchester

A quirky seaside city filled with diverse cuisine, vintage shopping and adrenaline fuelled adventure.

VisitBritain/i360

Group of friends in climbing gear at the top of i360 pod overlooking the coastline in Brighton

From The Beatles to Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Liverpool is a UNESCO City of Music with seriously cool credentials.

Oh Me Oh My

Rooftop of Oh me oh my restaurant in Liverpool

Cool creative Bristol is a must-see for art, culture and action-packed adventure.

VisitBritain/Rod Edwards

Lit up hot air balloons and fireworks in the night sky

Step into a land of castles, world-renowned rugby and a whole host of myths and legends.

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

A gay couple enjoying the shopping facilities at Castle Arcade in Cardiff, Wales

Pushing the boundaries of art and culture and a heart that beats through its people.

VisitBritain/Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

Two men looking at installation of suspended head sculptures

An industrial hub with a vibrant, creative heart and a whole host of quirky adventures.

West Midlands Growth Company

Historical building, with a clock tower, beside a fountain

Newcastle upon Tyne

Linked by no fewer than seven bridges, it's one vibrant place to visit.

Rich Kenworthy

Newcastle, England

Mensen die fietsen en skateboarden op een pad langs rivier de Tyne bij Newcastle

A hotbed for shopping and the arts, you’ll find lots to explore in Leeds.

VisitBritain/Thomas Heaton

The Victorian formal gardens with statues and low hedges in front of Harewood House

Packed with lively pubs, an eclectic food scene and a myriad of immersive experiences.

Tourism Northern Ireland

The Titanic, Belfast

Discover annual events

James Bridle

A couple walking at the Isle of Wight Festival

Celebrate in Britain

Find out what’s happening across the nations with our round-up of annual events.

Planning a trip? We're here to help

Your trip to england is just around the corner.

Discover the land of Big Ben, Banksy and bangers and mash. From its bustling cities to its blooming beautiful gardens, it doesn’t disappoint.

Discover Great Britain’s northern reaches

Imagine a country where ancient castles guard mysterious lochs and emerald glens, and where the local spirit is as warm as the welcome.

Discover a land of adventure and mythical creatures

Delve into a world of dragons, renowned choirs, championship rugby, and some of the most spellbinding scenery Britain has to offer.

Your trip to Northern Ireland has never looked more magical

Get swept up in a world of ancient myths and modern-day legends, from the Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones to the vibrant buzz of Belfast.

Follow us on Instagram

USA flag

Change location

  • Call us tomorrow from 9am 01993 838 925 01993 838 450 or
  • REQUEST A QUOTE

Katoomba Falls, Blue Mountains, Australia

Tailor-made holidays and safaris, crafted by experts

Caccia cape in Sardinia

Where to go in 2024

Here are ten destinations that are calling out to us, from the wild spaces and intimate camps of Botswana, to the art cities and Roman ruins of Italy.

Spring 2024 Audley Traveller Cover

Our spring edition of Audley Traveller is here

Within its pages, our specialists share their latest travel tips and ideas, including three ways to explore Japan and a coastal road trip through South Africa.

Book a video appointment

Arrange a video appointment

Our specialists can help bring your trip to life, sharing maps, images and first-hand experience.

Audley 'Which? Recommended Provider' and Harpers Bazaar Readers Recommended 2023 awards

Our accreditations

We’re honoured to have been awarded Harper’s Bazaar's Reader Accreditation as well as being recognised by Which? as a Recommended Provider.

Inspire your travels

Browse our latest inspiration pages to start planning your next adventure. We arrange trips to more than 80 destinations throughout the world and across each continent.

A leopard in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Rediscover South Africa

Mountain gorilla, Volcanoes National Park

Celebrating Earth Day

Cradle Mountain, Australia

Escape to Tasmania

USA San Francisco

South Africa

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand

Suggested tours

The tours featured throughout our website are intended to give you ideas for what's possible when you travel with us. Treat them simply as inspiration, because your trip will be created individually by one of our specialists to match your tastes and budget.

The Great Barrier Reef

Ultimate luxury tour of Australia

20 days from £29,275pp

Alpine Landing with Over The Top Helicopters

Luxury New Zealand self-drive tour

17 days from £27,120pp

Ocean Endeavour

Into Canada's Northwest Passage

20 days from £21,535pp

Romon Gate, Fushimi Inari, Kyoto

Deluxe grand tour of Japan

23 days from £20,850pp

Humpback whale breaching near Seward

Ultimate Alaska wildlife safari

13 days from £19,455pp

South Georgia

Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falklands

24 days from £16,170pp

Mombo Camp, Chief's Island

Luxury Botswana safari

12 days from £16,070pp

Adelie penguins

Antarctic Peninsula fly & cruise

14 days from £15,995pp

Views to the Kaikoura Ranges

Eco-friendly South Island itinerary

20 days from £15,955pp

Holiday ideas to match your interests

Whether you want to stay in simple or luxurious accommodation, have a particular passion for wildlife, art or experiencing the great outdoors, or you're planning a trip for a special occasion, we can create an itinerary to match your interests and tastes.

Lion, Kruger,  South Africa

Safari holidays

Father and son on a cycling trip in the Alps

Family holidays

Sunset upon return to Indochina Sails Junk, Halong Bay, Vietnam

Beach holidays

Pool Water Villa, Baros Maldives, Maldive Island

Honeymoon ideas

Beach pool villa, Milaidhoo Island Maldives, Maldive Island

Luxury holidays

Driving the Dampier Peninsula, near Cape Lévêque

Self-drive holidays

'Shinkansen' bullet train passing by Mount Fuji

Rail holidays

San bushman, Makgadikgadi Pans

Cultural holidays

Easter Island, Chile

Off-the-beaten-track holidays

Grizzly bear, British Columbia

Wildlife holidays

Hiking in Colorado

Outdoor activity holidays

What our clients say about us.

TrustScore 4.8 | 3651 of reviews

Audley prepared an itinerary for a… family

Audley prepared an itinerary for a two-week trip to Scotland and Ireland for my family. It was a...

Lucy Celon - Portugal & Spain - 04/06/2024 - 04/16/2024

The fact that Lucy Celon was our trip planner for Portugal and Spain was nothing short of...

Absolutely faultless

Absolutely faultless - I would recommend to anyone. - Very clear communication throughout -...

I can't fault Audley…

This is the 2nd time we have used Audley Travel as we were so impressed with how they planned our...

Southafrica !

Southafrica ! We booked a 3 week trip to Cape Town, garden route, winelands and safari, all tailor...

Our trip to Thailand "the land of smiles" was fabulous

Our Thailand trip was fabulous. With expert guidance from Saskia at Audley we visited golden...

Australia Adventure

Just excellent service from beginning to end :-planning the trip, securing all the flights and...

The service we received was amazing

The service we received was amazing from the beginning… including responsiveness, quality of the...

Outstanding customer service!

Our Audley experience was extraordinary! From start to finish, our Audley specialist was attentive...

New Zealand Trip of a Lifetime…

The New Zealand trip had been on our agenda pre Covid and we used Audley to help plan our self...

We have had such a wonderful experience…

We have had such a wonderful experience planning our honeymoon thus far and are so impressed with...

Fantastic tour of New Zealand

Just back from a fantastic tour of New Zealand, which was organised by Audley Travel. The trip ran...

Three perfect trips with Audley

This latest trip to Vietnam was the third time that we have used Audley Travel. In all three...

Amazing experience - Galapagos 2024

Amazing experience for me and my son in the Galapagos organised by Audley to perfection. Life long...

Outstanding service and flexibility

Charlotte pulled together an excellent itinerary with some led by Audley and some by ourselves. The...

Best United Kingdom Tour Companies

Search 150 United Kingdom tour operators and travel companies, with 1,525 reviews.

Costsaver

Featured United Kingdom Trips

Poseidon Expeditions

Poseidon Expeditions

Brendan Vacations

Brendan Vacations

G Adventures

G Adventures

Exodus Travels

Exodus Travels

Health Safety +

Insight Vacations

Insight Vacations

Trafalgar

Sign in  to see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel

Contiki

The Relaxed Explorer

Travel for All

Travel for All

ROW Sea Kayak Adventures

ROW Sea Kayak Adventures

Health Safety

Planet Rail

Planet Rail

ROW Adventures

ROW Adventures

Speyside Wildlife

Speyside Wildlife

Celtic Tours

Celtic Tours

Sage Traveling

Sage Traveling

150 match your criteria (1 - 20 shown)

british travel company

View United Kingdom trips

Plan your United Kingdom trip

United Kingdom Reviews & Ratings

As good as it gets.

This trip surpassed my previous Exodus bike trips by a country mile. The scenery was truly outstanding, the cycling manageable while challenging and it was organi...

A Memorable and Hugely Enjoyable Experience

If you enjoy your scenery,and a good variation in your cycling ( mix of road and off-road ) then this trip is for you. It is quite challenging in parts,but is well...

Cycling the Lakes of Chile and Argentina

Amazing scenery, excellent organisation and logistics. Superb guidance and information. A really interesting part of the world to visit and made me hungry for more...

A simply beautiful trip. We were lucky with incredible weather throughout, giving us deep blue skies reflected in the lakes. The cycling was superb, giving a goo...

Awesome Landscapes

This was our fourth Exodus Cycling Trip over the last few years and my favourite so far. The landscapes that we cycled through were simply stunning with snow cappe...

See all United Kingdom reviews

Related Trips and Tours

Trip planning.

APRIL SALE:   Discover and book at   up to 60% off!

UK and Great Britain Small Group Tours

Uncover new and exciting adventures in UK and Great Britain by taking part in our small group tours. Go sightseeing at your own pace surrounded by travellers like you. Provided by top tour operators & travel companies, our small group tours in UK and Great Britain will offer you the perfect balance between spending time on your own and group activities. View all small group tours .

Filters applied

176 uk and great britain small group tours with 2,012 reviews.

10-Day Ultimate Ireland Small Group Tour Tour

10-Day Ultimate Ireland Small Group Tour

We selected this tour as it had, for us, the right combination of highlights and varied activities, included both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and was a small group tour. This tour absolutely exceeded our already high expectations! The itinerary proved to be excellent, but a lot of the credit for the success of this tour, has to go to Finn, our exceptional guide. Like any good teacher, he is truly passionate about his subject — his country and sharing all it has to offer! He shared his knowledge and love of Irish history, literature, culture, sports, and music throughout the tour which added so much depth and color to our adventure. Finn is competent, personable, patient, funny and flexible — to name a few of his many virtues. Finn proved to be an excellent driver as we traversed many winding, narrow and challenging roads! He kept us on schedule, made modifications when needed, and provided us with a smooth running tour and a once in a lifetime experience for our group! We highly recommend Finn and the 10-Day Ultimate Ireland Small Group Tour! We made new friends and enjoyed a lot of fun and laughter along the way!

7-Day Emerald Explorer Small Group Tour Tour

  • In-depth Cultural
  • Sightseeing

7-Day Emerald Explorer Small Group Tour

Mike was amazing! We had such a great group of people, Mike was so full of knowledge about the history and culture of Ireland, and it was so laid back. We got to explore each destination at a leisurely pace and enjoyed most evenings checking out the local bars. Highly recommend!

10 Day Wild Irish Experience  - Small Group Tour Tour

10 Day Wild Irish Experience - Small Group Tour

Our 10 day Irish Experience Tour was fantastic. We really appreciated the service and extra care our guide/driver Lee gave us throughout the tour. We had a group of 16 people and 2 were on the 7 day itinerary the rest were 10 days. We loved the group dinners that Lee organized for us to get to know the other guests. Lee always made the agenda clear and got us to the places we needed to be on time. His driving was very safe and he was able to tell us about the Irish people and scenery while getting us to the beautiful views and attractions. The accommodations were clean and the breakfast were delicious. Lee always gave us recommendations on restaurants and pubs in each town we stayed. Each town was unique and I was glad we were able to stay in several of them for 2 nights. Lee adjusted the times to maximize the good weather and for the group to get the best experience. I highly recommend the 10 day Irish Experience tour with Lee!
  • €99 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

The Celtic Voyage - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland Tour

  • Coach / Bus

The Celtic Voyage - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland

A great tour led by great people! 10/10 would do this again and recommend it for anyone looking to see Ireland and its beauty!

Northern & Southern Ireland Tour

Northern & Southern Ireland

there is a difference between, a tour guide and a tour leader, this i did not know. a leader is the organizer of all events, transportation and accommodations. Zoe far exceeded my expectations in this role, and i would highly recommend her. She was not a tour guide. I was expecting more information about the people, locations and cultures of Ireland.

Scotland\'s Shetland Islands Tour

Scotland's Shetland Islands

This was a really enjoyable and comprehensive tour of Shetland, we had an amazing tour guide and had lots of good walking. A great mix of history, sightseeing, and culture.

8 Day Castles & Coast Experience  - Small Group Tour Tour

8 Day Castles & Coast Experience - Small Group Tour

My husband and I had an incredible experience with Irish Experience Tours. This was our first time traveling with a small group and we were shocked at how laid back the itinerary was while still seeing all the major sites. We thoroughly enjoyed the optional excursions (some paid, others free) that allowed us to hike on our own during free time. Anthony was a great tour guide and always did his best to point out and describe things as we drove through the country. He was very knowledgeable and we would do a tour with him again in a heartbeat! We highly recommend booking with company as we didn’t encounter a single issue during our trip - they took care of everything.

Wild South - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland Tour

Wild South - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland

I enjoyed this small group tour so much that I signed up for their trip to Scotland too! Well informed guide, great choices of what we saw and did.

6-Day Outer Hebrides & Skye Adventure Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh Tour

6-Day Outer Hebrides & Skye Adventure Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

This is a great trip! Sean was wonderful! All the accommodations were fantastic and we had a wonderful time.

5-Day Devon & Cornwall Small Group from London Tour

  • Christmas & New Year

5-Day Devon & Cornwall Small Group from London

This was the first multi-day tour I have taken. I have always been concerned about being locked in to an itinerary with a large group of strangers and the loss of liberty etc. I was happy with the way this tour turned out - smallish group, being left to tour stops on your own, and mostly interesting stops (I would replace Tavistock with something else in Devon - say Torquay perhaps - but I realize there are logistical constraints as well). I think Samuel did an excellent job - he was able to set a playful mood, articulate relevant historical information and keep things running smoothly. One suggestion: the bus should have wifi.

England Scotland Ireland – Highlights of UK Tour

England Scotland Ireland – Highlights of UK

5-Day Northern Ireland & Atlantic Coast Small-Group Tour from Dublin Tour

5-Day Northern Ireland & Atlantic Coast Small-Group Tour from Dublin

We were able to see way more of the interesting corners of Northern Ireland than we ever could have driving on our own.

2-day Outlander Tour (Small Group) Tour

2-day Outlander Tour (Small Group)

Loved it. Jamie our guide was great
  • 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Classic Scotland Self Drive Tour

Classic Scotland Self Drive

Overall it was a very nice trip, I think it was well laid out for traveling

The Best Of Ireland Tour

The Best Of Ireland

The communication/paperwork could use a little fine tuning, but overall the value was definitely there. This tour brings you through absolutely spectacular areas of Ireland, with enough downtime to not feel too rushed. The hotels/food was nicer than we expected for the price.

Reviews of Small Group tours to UK And Great Britain

Mike was an excellent guide, informative, very knowledgeable and flexible with the itinerary when necessary
Excellent guide - very informative and expert bus driver!
  • One week in England and Scotland (for Seniors) 2024/2025

Der Spezialist für Großbritannien-Reisen

  • Sie sind hier:
  • Schottisches Hochlandrind
  • Chapman's Pool / Dorset
  • Jurassic Coast

british travel company

Reiseempfehlungen des Monats April

Schottlands Natur erleben - Schottland Rundreise

Neuigkeiten

Saisoneröffnung mit emma….

Gefühlt war es ja gerade noch Weihnachten… Jetzt sprießen die Osterglocken und die Magnolien und unsere Kunden sind bereits im Königreich unterwegs. Die ersten in diesem Jahr...

Mit Kindern nach Großbritannien

Vielleicht haben Sie es ja schon mitbekommen – der gute alte Kinderreisepass wurde im letzten Jahr abgeschafft. Während dieser Pass bis dato besonders wegen seiner geringen Kosten und der...

BTCo Kundenmeinungen

Classic scotland - schottland rundreise.

Lesen Sie mehr

Südengland auf vier Pfoten - Urlaub mit Hund

Übersicht aller Kundenmeinungen

Wissenswertes

Urlaub in großbritannien.

Hier stellen wir Ihnen unsere Highlights & Insidertipps für die Regionen England , Cornwall Schottland & Wales vor.

Reisen verlängern oder individuell anpassen

Wir bieten Ihnen die Möglichkeit, Ihre Reise vollständig nach Ihren Wünschen zusammenzustellen.

Bequem nach Großbritannien reisen

Erfahren Sie alles, was Sie rund um die Anreise nach Großbritannien wissen sollten.

Unser Reiseprogramm

Eine Großbritannien Reise steht auf Ihre Wunschliste? Mit unserem Reiseprogramm möchten wir Sie einladen, den wahren, ursprünglichen Charakter von Großbritannien zu erleben. Unser Angebot umfasst eine Vielzahl attraktiver Urlaubsideen für die Regionen England, Schottland und Wales.

Im Rahmen unserer beliebten Autorundreisen können Sie ganz individuell und in Ihrem eigenen Tempo das abwechslungsreise England, das wunderschöne Wales oder das sagenumwobene Schottland erkunden. Wenn Sie sich lieber chauffieren lassen wollen, finden Sie vielleicht mit unseren Busrundreisen durch Schottland, Südengland oder Wales das Richtige für sich.

Sie wissen noch nicht wirklich, wo es Sie im nächsten Jahr hinzieht? England , Schottland oder Wales ? Werfen Sie doch vorab einen Blick in unsere Rubrik Urlaub in Großbritannien und lernen Sie die Highlights der Regionen und unserer Reisethematiken virtuell mit uns kennen.

Individuelle PKW-Rundreisen sind unsere Stärke: Sie erleben wunderbarste Blütenpracht auf einer Gartenreise im Süden von England, wandeln auf romantischen Spuren bei der Rosamunde Pilcher-Reise durch Cornwall oder bestaunen atemberaubende Natur bei einer der zahlreichen Autorundreisen durch Schottland – lassen Sie sich inspirieren von unserer Auswahl an faszinierenden Routen.

Für alle, die es sportlich mögen, empfehlen wir unsere Wanderurlaube . Hier haben wir für jeden Geschmack das Richtige im Angebot. Ob geführte Wanderreisen durch die verschiedenen Regionen Großbritanniens oder Individualtouren . Großbritannien gilt seit langem als eines der schönsten Wanderparadiese Europas. Nicht zuletzt dadurch, dass es für "Wanderneulinge" sowie für geübte Wanderfreunde ein vielfältiges Angebot bietet.

Wer sorglos und ohne Eigenorganisation Großbritannien kennen lernen möchte, ist auf unseren Busrundreisen und Minibustouren genau richtig. 

Wer ist die British Travel Company?

Wir, das Team der British Travel Company, sind seit nunmehr 18 Jahren Reiseveranstalter und Spezialist für Großbritannienreisen - und das mit Herz. Angefangen als "One-Man-Show" im heimischen Wohnzimmer hat sich unser Unternehmen in den letzten Jahren zu einem der führenden Spezialreiseveranstalter für Großbritannienreisen entwickelt.

Was seit der ersten Stunde geblieben ist, ist die Liebe und Leidenschaft für Großbritannien und der Ehrgeiz, Ihre Wunschtour in die Tat umzusetzen - von einer umfangreichen Beratung über die Konzipierung Ihrer Traumroute bis hin zu der Erstellung von umfangreichen Reiseunterlagen.

Mehrmals im Jahr fahren wir selbst nach Großbritannien, um die Insel immer wieder neu entdecken und kennen lernen zu können. Denn nur so haben wir die Möglichkeit, Ihnen wertvolle Insidertipps mit auf die Reise zu geben, die Ihnen das Land der Kelten so authentisch wie möglich näher bringt.

Darüber hinaus nutzen wir die Zeit vor Ort auch immer, um neue Bed & Breakfasts, Cottages und Country Houses mit dem „mehr“ an Flair für Sie zu entdecken und unsere langjährigen Stammhäuser zu besuchen - der persönliche Kontakt wird bei uns ganz groß geschrieben. In unserer Rubrik " Herzlich Willkommen " können Sie sich ausführlich über unsere Philosophie, die Zusammenarbeit mit unseren Gastgebern sowie über unsere jährlich neu dazukommenden Gastgeber für Rundreisen durch England , Schottland und Wales informieren.

Damit Sie, was Großbritannien angeht, immer auf dem neuesten Stand sind und bereits bei der Einreise als "Insider" durchgehen, finden Sie übrigens auf unserer Facebookseite viel Wissenswertes, Interessantes aber auch Lustiges über die Briten.

Diese Seite teilen bei:

British travel firm Thomas Cook collapses, hundreds of thousands stranded

LONDON — Hundreds of thousands of vacationers were in limbo around the globe Monday after British travel firm Thomas Cook collapsed, prompting the largest peacetime repatriation effort in the United Kingdom's history.

The company went out of business after it failed to secure a rescue package from its lenders, Chief Executive Peter Fankhauser said early Monday.

The U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that Thomas Cook — the world's oldest travel company — had closed its doors, and that the regulator and the government were mobilizing a fleet of aircraft from around the world to bring home more than 150,000 British customers currently abroad.

According to Reuters, Thomas Cook currently has 600,000 clients abroad, including the British citizens.

The CAA confirmed to NBC News that Thomas Cook customers were stranded in 18 countries around the world.

Image: Thomas Cook passengers line up at Son Sant Joan airport in Palma de Mallorca

British Transport Minister Grant Shapps tweeted that the company's collapse has led to the “biggest peacetime repatriation in the U.K. history.”

“We will bring everyone home,” Schapps said . “An enormous task, there will be some delays, but we're working round the clock to do everything we can."

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson questioned whether the directors of companies such as Thomas Cook were properly encouraged to avoid bankruptcy.

Johnson said Thomas Cook had made a request to the government for around 150 million pounds ($186 million), but that bailing it out would have set up "a moral hazard in the case of future such commercial difficulties that companies face."

The CAA said that the first repatriation flight has left John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and was headed for the English city of Manchester with more than 300 passengers on board.

Due to the significant scale of the situation, "some disruption is inevitable," it said.

Thomas Cook ran hotels, resorts and airlines for 19 million people a year in 16 countries. It also employed 21,000 people.

On Monday, the company's website was down. Instead, it ran a message saying the U.K. business had "ceased trading with immediate effect and all future flights and holidays are canceled."

Customers who were still in the U.K. and had yet to travel were told by the CAA not to travel to the airport as their flight would not be running. Those who were already overseas were also told not to go to the airport in their destinations until their flight back home has been confirmed.

Hundreds of stranded passengers took to social media to share their anger and disappointment.

"We’re currently in Turkey with our 7-year-old son due to fly home on Wednesday," Liverpool-based Natasha Cook tweeted Monday . "Haven’t received any emails, unsure of what to do next, highly doubt our Thomas Cook rep will be at the hotel today and I couldn’t blame her. All those jobs gone! Awful, someone should be accountable!"

My honeymoon has gone down the drain as we had booked with #thomascook but I don’t care, I’ll get refunded. I care about the employees who have lost their jobs with no warning and this close to Christmas, ❤️ — Steph Wight (@steph_wight) September 22, 2019
Should be flying to Tunisia this morning all packed and nowhere to go...How can a company like #ThomasCook go bust....😥 — gill fisher (@gillian42fisher) September 23, 2019
Not sure how I will break this to my little man. Not going to Lapland to see Santa 🎅🏻 Obviously I am gutted about staff and holiday makers stranded. Also want to wallow in my own misery too. #upallnightwithworry #ThomasCook — JewelsHogg (@juliehogg4) September 23, 2019

Greece's tourism ministry said some 50,000 tourists were stranded in Greece, mainly on its islands. It is estimated that around 22,000 tourists will be repatriated within the next three days, Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis said in a statement Monday.

Meanwhile, the head of Turkey’s Hoteliers Federation said Thomas Cook's collapse meant Turkey could see 600,000 to 700,000 fewer tourists annually.

In an interview, Osman Ayik told Reuters there were some 45,000 tourists in Turkey who came from the U.K. and the rest of Europe via Thomas Cook.

Meanwhile, Tunisian tourism authorities alleged that Thomas Cook owed the country's hotels 60 million euros ($66 million) for stays in July and August, Tourism Minister Rene Trabelsi told Reuters. Around 4,500 Thomas Cook customers are still in the country.

The British aviation regulator has been contacting hotels hosting Thomas Cook customers to tell them that they will be paid by a financial protection scheme. Some customers at a hotel in Tunisia said they were prevented from leaving the property unless they paid extra fees, the BBC reported.

While vacationers figured out how to get home, some of the company's employees posted pictures of themselves walking from their last flights.

"I actually feel so sick and empty inside. My dream job gone in a blink of an eye," Kia Dawn Hayward, a member of the company's cabin crew, said on Twitter . "Us staff at Thomas Cook could fill a sea with all our tears right now."

Love my job so much, don’t want it to end😓💛 Thank you for making my dream job come true #ThomasCook , you will always be my first ever airline and the last in my Sunny Heart💛 pic.twitter.com/1T4jL8cBsF — Kia Dawn Hayward (@kiaandmusic) September 22, 2019

The liquidation marks the end of one of Britain's oldest companies that started life in 1841 running local rail excursions before it survived two world wars to pioneer holiday packages and mass tourism.

Crippled by its 1.7 billion pounds ($2.1 billion) of debt, Thomas Cook has been hit by online competition and a changing travel market.

british travel company

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

  • UK Politics
  • News Videos
  • Paris 2024 Olympics
  • Rugby Union
  • Sport Videos
  • John Rentoul
  • Mary Dejevsky
  • Andrew Grice
  • Sean O’Grady
  • Photography
  • Theatre & Dance
  • Culture Videos
  • Food & Drink
  • Health & Families
  • Royal Family
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Car Insurance deals
  • Lifestyle Videos
  • UK Hotel Reviews
  • News & Advice
  • Simon Calder
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • South America
  • C. America & Caribbean
  • Middle East
  • Politics Explained
  • News Analysis
  • Today’s Edition
  • Home & Garden
  • Broadband deals
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Travel & Outdoors
  • Sports & Fitness
  • Sustainable Living
  • Climate Videos
  • Solar Panels
  • Behind The Headlines
  • On The Ground
  • Decomplicated
  • You Ask The Questions
  • Binge Watch
  • Travel Smart
  • Watch on your TV
  • Crosswords & Puzzles
  • Most Commented
  • Newsletters
  • Ask Me Anything
  • Virtual Events
  • Betting Sites
  • Online Casinos
  • Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Heathrow Airport bank holiday flights under threat as refuellers announce strike, warns union

A similar 72-hour walk-out was called by the unite union involving the same group of workers in july 2022, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Touch down: Virgin Atlantic is one the airlines said to be at risk

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts

Get simon calder’s travel email, thanks for signing up to the simon calder’s travel email.

Fifty aircraft refuellers working at Heathrow airport will strike for 72 hours from 4 May , meaning potential chaos on one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The action, part of a dispute over terms and conditions for new staff, has been timed to hit travellers over the early May bank holiday .

Those taking part are members of the Unite union working for AFS Aviation. The union says they refuel aircraft for 35 airlines at Heathrow, including Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and Air France, and warns the strikes “are likely to lead to severe disruption to airline services for passengers”.

AFS Aviation also services the three biggest US airlines – American, Delta and United – as well as Air Canada and Singapore Airlines.

The dispute is over reduced pension and sickness benefits for new staff recruited since the start of the year, leading to what the union calls a “two-tier workforce.”

The Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “AFS is behaving appallingly by attacking the T&Cs of new members of staff – those it views as the easiest to intimidate.

“But Unite will not stand for such bully-boy tactics and we will be backing our members in their fight for improved pensions and sick pay for all staff.”

Unite regional officer Kevin Hall added: “Our members recognise that if they allow this attack on their conditions to take place, before long this will become the norm. Unite won’t allow that to happen and is standing firm with our members on the picket line.

“AFS will have to answer directly to the airlines and passengers for the disruption caused by their unmerited actions.”

Sources at Heathrow say contingency planning is taking place. British Airways, which operates more than half the flights from Heathrow, has its own fuelling service and is unaffected.

The Independent has asked Virgin Atlantic and Emirates for comment.

A similar 72-hour strike was called by the Unite union involving the same group of workers in July 2022, over a peak summer weekend. But the dispute was settled before the action started after an improved pay offer was made.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

  • My Independent Premium
  • Account details
  • Help centre

Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

Rail lines are set for disruption in the week following the first May bank holiday as train drivers at 16 rail companies strike on different days.

Monday 22 April 2024 13:58, UK

british travel company

Train drivers will stage a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans in May, causing disruption to the rail network.

The strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from 7 to 9 May.

Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when.

Rail strike dates

Tuesday 7 May

Strikes will affect c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Wednesday 8 May

Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thursday 9 May

Strikes will affect LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Overtime ban dates

From Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May union members will not work overtime.

Overtime bans, an action short of a strike, means some services may not be running or may be reduced as drivers refuse to work their rest days.

People are advised to check before they travel, as some areas may have no service.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

How do strikes and overtime bans affect services?

Strikes tend to mean services on lines where members are participating are extremely affected or cancelled entirely, whereas overtime bans often lead to reduced services.

How can I stay in the loop?

You can use the National Rail's journey planner to see when trains are running.

Be sure to check it close to when you plan to travel, as it will be updated regularly.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

british travel company

Why are the strikes still happening?

Aslef rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying it is way below inflation, and is linked to changes in terms and conditions.

Aslef said train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.

The union said after its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue taking industrial action, it asked the train operating companies to hold talks.

General secretary Mick Whelan said the year-old pay offer of 4% and another 4% was "dead in the water".

Related Topics

  • London Underground
  • Rail strikes

Go Russia Travel Company

british travel company

  • See all photos

british travel company

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

rclholl

Go Russia Travel Company - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Read the Latest on Page Six

  • Weird But True
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Viral Trends
  • Human Interest
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink

trending now in Lifestyle

I have a foot-long penis — it's so monstrous, I was barred from yoga

I have a foot-long penis — it's so monstrous, I was barred from...

Popular snacks could be banned in certain states over cancer fears

Popular snacks could be banned in certain states over cancer fears

I'm a hospice nurse — here are 6 wild deathbed behaviors I've seen

I'm a hospice nurse — here are 6 wild deathbed behaviors I've...

My rare medical condition makes me permanently aroused — and it's ruined my life

My rare medical condition makes me permanently aroused — and...

Dear Abby: My stepdaughter recently had her first baby -- but relatives refuse to call me a grandmother

Dear Abby: My stepdaughter recently had her first baby -- but...

Anti-aging guru shares unique ingredient he uses daily that helps him on his quest to live forever

Anti-aging guru shares unique ingredient he uses daily that helps...

We asked 9 women about their Botox habits and why it no longer is taboo

We asked 9 women about their Botox habits and why it no longer is...

The best places to stay in the world for 2024, according to Tripadvisor

The best places to stay in the world for 2024, according to...

American airlines changes passenger rules for earning miles — and travel agencies are pissed.

  • View Author Archive
  • Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

American Airlines has multiple travel advisors up in arms after it announced plans to restrict AAdvantage Miles earnings for certain booking agencies.

The airline behemoth  announced  in February that flyers hoping to earn AAdvantage miles for their flights will have to do so directly through American, their airline partners, or preferred travel agencies recognized by the company.

The change will take effect on May 1, but American has yet to reveal which agencies will be included in its “preferred agencies.”

American Airlines announced in February that flyers hoping to earn AAdvantage miles for their flights will have to do so directly through American, their airline partners, or preferred travel agencies recognized by the company.

The change comes as part of the airline’s effort to minimize costs for agencies using older technology booking systems.

The airline has tried to convince agencies using the older booking systems to upgrade to newer platforms like the one American uses on its website.

While American  announced  a list would be shared in “late April,” agencies unsure if they’ll make the cut are expressing their distaste for the major change.

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Advisors (ACTA), Foro Latinoamericano de Turismo (FOLATUR), and World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAA) emphasized that any plans to restrict their clients’ earning miles could be detrimental to their agencies.

“It’s clear from the consensus among WTAAA, ACTA and FOLATUR, representing travel professionals around the world, the detriment that American’s decision will have on the travel industry globally,” President and CEO of ASTA, Zane Kerby, told  Travel and Tour World .

American has yet to reveal which agencies will be included in its “preferred agencies.”

Kerby called out American for “operating in bad faith” and was “looking to pad its bottom line at the expense of our valued clients and the millions of consumers who rely on their trusted travel advisor.”

Henry Harteveldt, president of the travel industry market research firm Atmosphere Research Group, told  Fodor’s Travel  the move is a “very inward-looking” perspective on American Airlines.

“It’s not a very consumer-friendly approach, and American is being a bit of a bully here,” Harteveldt explained — adding the move will put loyalty airline members in the crossfire of the company’s dispute with agencies.

The change comes as part of the airline's effort to minimize costs for agencies using older technology booking systems.

Harteveldt believes the move is also being monitored by the company’s competitors, who may adopt the change if it’s a success or whose sales teams may swoop in to poach any American flyers unpleased with the new method.

“As risky as American’s actions are, a lot of airlines are watching to see if it works out well for them, because if it does, I would not be surprised to see United and Delta copy it in certain ways,” he told the outlet.

While the airline is deadset on the change, Brett Snyder — author of the popular travel industry blog Crankyflier and CEO of the travel assistance service Cranky Concierge — said the move could cause “confusion” for the company’s flyers who already are trying to navigate their “frequent changes.”

American Airlines said they change is set to take effect May 1.

“The biggest impact will likely be on business travelers who may not have a choice of where to book depending upon company policy,” Snyder told the outlet.

“The fact that American still hasn’t told everyone who is or is not preferred adds more to the confusion.”

As the airline industry waits to hear who American will list as their “preferred agencies,” occasional travelers may also feel the weight of the change, Snyder explained.

He worries that some agencies may not disclose that to their customers during the booking process.

World Travel Agents Associations Alliance calls itself the global voice of the travel agency distribution channel.

Also, the move could affect cruise lines that book airfares as part of their packages, who may opt against using certain agencies not listed as one of American’s preferred agencies.

The changes will only affect travelers who collect AAdvantage Miles for their flights on American.

Flyers using corporate accounts with American will continue to earn miles for their flights no matter which booking channel they use unless they book a Basic Economy fare.

Travelers collecting miles from other Oneworld partners—the global airline alliance American is a member of with 13 other Airlines, such as British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Malaysia Airlines—will continue to earn miles for American Airlines flights regardless of booking channel.

Share this article:

American Airlines announced in February that flyers hoping to earn AAdvantage miles for their flights will have to do so directly through American, their airline partners, or preferred travel agencies recognized by the company.

Advertisement

  • International edition
  • Australia edition
  • Europe edition

A passenger walks past a closed platform at Liverpool Street station during a strike by the Aslef train drivers in September 2023

Aslef drivers to hold more train strikes in early May

Rolling 24-hour walkouts to halt many services on c2c, Thameslink, Southeastern, LNER and more

Train drivers will strike again in early May in a series of rolling 24-hour walkouts that will bring many services around Great Britain to a halt.

The Aslef union has called a set of strikes from 7 May to 9 May across all the national rail operators contracted to the Department for Transport (DfT), falling within a six-day overtime ban that is also likely to cause severe disruption on some networks.

The industrial action is part of the long-running pay dispute , with some train drivers now going five years without a pay increase.

Most operators will not run any trains on strike days. Although the strikes are at the English operators under the DfT, cross-border services to Wales and Scotland will also be hit on relevant days.

Aslef members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue industrial action.

The union’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, said: “It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies – and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected.”

Drivers were offered a two-year deal worth 4% annually, but with changes to working conditions attached. The rise was less than that offered to other parts of the industry in percentage terms.

Whelan said the government’s argument that the offer should have been put to members was disingenuous, given the repeated strike votes.

Drivers will first strike at c2c, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express and South Western Railway on Tuesday 7 May.

after newsletter promotion

It will be followed by a 24-hour walkout at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains on Wednesday 8 May; and at LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express on Thursday 9 May.

The wave of action is the fourth week of rolling strikes staged by Aslef since December, after it altered its tactics in a dispute that has lasted almost two years.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, representing train operators, said: “This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the Aslef leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week just to keep services running.”

  • Rail strikes
  • Rail transport
  • Rail industry
  • Industrial action
  • Trade unions

More on this story

british travel company

Only 40 LNER intercity rail services to run on Saturday as train drivers strike

british travel company

Aslef’s final strike day disrupts rail services in south and east England

british travel company

Aslef says more train strikes likely as drivers’ pay row continues

british travel company

Rail passengers face rolling strikes but London Underground action called off

british travel company

Train drivers at Northern and LNER to strike in March, Aslef union announces

british travel company

Weekend rail strikes: travel disrupted across Great Britain

british travel company

Train drivers will keep striking to ‘raise profile’ of pay dispute, says Aslef boss

british travel company

Weekend rail strikes and overtime ban disrupt UK travel

british travel company

Rail strikes: trains in south-east England halted as rolling stoppages begin

Most viewed.

IMAGES

  1. Home Page

    british travel company

  2. British Tours Ltd

    british travel company

  3. British Travel Awards

    british travel company

  4. Thomas Cook Group Plc is a British Global Travel Company Selling

    british travel company

  5. What’s new at the British Tourism & Travel Show 2021?

    british travel company

  6. Home Page

    british travel company

COMMENTS

  1. UK and Great Britain Tour Companies

    Compare and book tours with the best tour operators in UK and Great Britain. Find out the adventure styles, prices, ratings and reviews of 10 tour companies and operators.

  2. Secure Holidays 2024

    As the UK's largest independent travel agent, Hays Travel offers unparallelled holiday choice and award-winning service across nearly 500 high street branches, personal travel consultants and online. ... Whether you're look for a short UK Break, a sunny Package Holiday, All Inclusive Getaway or something else entirely, our team will help you ...

  3. 10 Best Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in England

    Topdeck. of 3376 reviews. Address 109 Power Road, Chiswick, London, England. Response Rate 81%. Response Time 3 hours. Certificate of Superior Service. Topdeck About Us Topdeck specializes in offering memorable adventures, epic journeys and a whole lot of fun to anyone between the ages of 18 to 30.

  4. TUI.co.uk

    Our Sensatori by TUI BLUE resorts are all about luxury, while our TUI BLUE hotels combine best-in-class service, authentic local cuisine and activities to suit you. Plus, our destinations range from Spain and Italy to far-flung St Lucia and Mexico - not to mention city breaks. We go above and beyond your average travel agency.

  5. UK and Great Britain Tours & Vacations

    Four unique countries, four bewitching cultures with tens of thousands of years of history between them, the United Kingdom is diverse and packed with adventures. From the sandy beaches in Cornwall to the enchanting landscapes in the Scottish Highlands to the rugged mountains in Snowdonia National Park [/united-kingdom/wales], there is really something for everyone. Walk beautiful lochs in the ...

  6. London & Private Tours of England & Britain

    Britain's longest- established private tour operator since 1958. If you are looking for private London tours, and flexible tours of England, Scotland & Wales with excellent tour guides - you have come to the right place. about us. your selected tours. Choose A Tour To Start.

  7. The Official Website For UK Tourism

    VisitBritain - The official tourism website of Great Britain. Providing you with inspirational activities and experiences, from those in the know. Your guidance and information about travelling to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Helping the travel industry showcase the best of Britain.

  8. Trailfinders

    We are open 7 days a week in travel centres across the UK and Ireland. First & Business Class Travel 020 7084 6503. Cruise Trailfinders 020 7084 6502. Tailormade Travel Worldwide 020 7084 6500. headset_mic.

  9. UK and Great Britain Tours & Trips

    UK and Great Britain Tours & Trips. Our 980 Great Britain and UK tours will take you to amazing places with unforgettable views, remarkable history, and unique experiences. Travel along the astounding coast of Cornwall or see for yourself what makes the Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Highlands so special.

  10. Tailor-Made Tours, Luxury Holidays & Safaris

    Tracey Stanley, 7 days ago. Rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 3642 reviews on. Speak to a specialist to start planning your tailor-made holiday... Call one of our experts or arrange a video appointment for ideas and advice. 01993 838 450.

  11. 10 Best Great Britain Tour Companies & Reviews

    5 Avg. Rating for Great Britain Trips|47 Reviews for Great Britain Trips. All Omega Tours company reviews. Why we love them. They discover the best local partners, providing trips that are both efficient and authentic. Featured Great Britain Trips. # 5. of 87 matches. preferred. Exoticca.

  12. 10 Best United Kingdom Tour Companies & Reviews

    Reviews. 4.6 Avg. Rating for United Kingdom Trips| 14,480 Reviews for United Kingdom Trips. All Insight Vacations company reviews. Why we love them. They really care about everyone's individual needs on each tour and they have an incredible attention to detail. Featured United Kingdom Trips. # 7. of 150 matches.

  13. Thomas Cook Holidays

    Thomas Cook is an online travel agent offering package holidays, hotel only, city breaks and more, to destinations all over the world. So whether you're after an All Inclusive getaway that's perfect for the family in Majorca, want a romantic weekend in Rome, or looking for the ultimate experience in Vegas, we've got you covered.. You can secure your dream holiday from as little as £39pp ...

  14. UK and Great Britain Small Group Tours

    UK and Great Britain Small Group Tours. Uncover new and exciting adventures in UK and Great Britain by taking part in our small group tours. Go sightseeing at your own pace surrounded by travellers like you. Provided by top tour operators & travel companies, our small group tours in UK and Great Britain will offer you the perfect balance ...

  15. FirstChoice.co.uk

    We're First Choice - the holiday company that helps you pick the trip you really want. Using our years of experience, we bring together all the options you could want in a holiday. Sun, sea and sand, or adventure, culture and nature. Wildlife or nightlife, plane or train, laidback breaks or active escapes - we've got you covered.

  16. About A&K: About Us

    About Abercrombie & Kent. Abercrombie & Kent began 60 years ago on the plains of Africa, where Geoffrey Kent and his parents, Valerie and Colonel John Kent, pioneered a new style of luxury adventure travel. From our first journeys in 1962, A&K grew into a globe-spanning network of companies, opening destinations previously inaccessible to ...

  17. Abercrombie & Kent

    Abercrombie Kent is an award winning luxury travel company, offering luxury vacations, private tours and small group adventures worldwide. 800 554 7016 JavaScript is currently disabled.

  18. Tours, sightseeing tours, activities & things to do

    Tours, things to do, sightseeing tours, day trips and more from Viator. Find and book city tours, helicopter tours, day trips, show tickets, sightseeing day tours, popular activities and things to do in hundreds of destinations worldwide, plus unbiased tour reviews and photos of tours and attractions from thousands of travelers

  19. British Travel Company -Spezialist für Großbritannien

    Die British Travel Company bietet individuelle und bequeme Urlaubsideen für England, Schottland und Wales an. Ob Autorundreisen, Busrundreisen, Wanderurlaube oder Reisen mit Hund, hier finden Sie Ihre Traumreise im Königreich.

  20. Baltic Holidays

    Baltic Travel is a travel agency specialising in holidays, guided tours, short breaks and city-breaks to The Baltics. We offer a wide range of holiday types to The Baltics +44 (0)208 233 2875

  21. British travel firm Thomas Cook collapses, strands hundreds of thousands

    Crippled by its 1.7 billion pounds ($2.1 billion) of debt, Thomas Cook has been hit by online competition and a changing travel market. Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in ...

  22. Heathrow bank holiday travel: Flights could be grounded as refuellers

    Heathrow Airport bank holiday flights under threat as refuellers announce strike, warns union. A similar 72-hour walk-out was called by the Unite union involving the same group of workers in July 2022

  23. Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

    Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains. Thursday 9 May. Strikes will affect LNER, Northern ...

  24. Go Russia Travel Company

    Go Russia is a leading tour operator for inbound travel in Russia. We offer a variety of day tours in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major Russian cities ranging from cultural sightseeing to special interest activities (history, military, space exploration). All day tours are run by professional licensed guides in English, German, French ...

  25. American Airlines changes passenger rules for earning miles

    The airline behemoth announced in February that flyers hoping to earn AAdvantage miles for their flights will have to do so directly through American, their airline partners, or preferred travel ...

  26. Aslef drivers to hold more train strikes in early May

    Train drivers will strike again in early May in a series of rolling 24-hour walkouts that will bring many services around Great Britain to a halt. The Aslef union has called a set of strikes from ...

  27. Bank holiday travel chaos looms as new train drivers' strikes announced

    Train drivers at 16 rail companies are to stage a new series of strikes in a long-running pay dispute, disrupting travel during the May bank holiday. Members of the Aslef union will walk out on ...

  28. [4K] Walking Streets Moscow. Moscow-City

    Walking tour around Moscow-City.Thanks for watching!MY GEAR THAT I USEMinimalist Handheld SetupiPhone 11 128GB https://amzn.to/3zfqbboMic for Street https://...