54409LWE
Stonehenge visit
Windsor combined visit and lunch stop
· CHANGES ON OPERATION OF THIS DAY. ALWAYS CHECK VOUCHER FOR BOOKING TIME AT STONEHENGE. TIMINGS STATED HERE ACT ONLY AS A GUIDE
· Entrances are paid by voucher for all visits
· Check in advance for special events, closed areas of sites etc.
· Windsor audio guides now included, collect after security check.
· You are not allowed to guide within the castle precincts.
· For itineraries in reverse, do not leave before 08.30, as Windsor does not open until 9:45 am. (If hotel is in west London)
· There are lots of places for lunch in Windsor town. Lunch will be late. Advise group of this. They may want to get a snack at Stonehenge.
ALL OPENING TIMES/ENTRANCES/TEL NUMBERS ETC. ARE ON THE YELLOW PAGES.
08.00 Depart Bristol
09.30 Arrive Stonehenge
Stonehenge
· Booking times must be adhered to. You have a half hour window either side of your slot. If you know you are going to be vastly outside that time then you need to phone ahead. Groups who do not follow this have been turned away.
· Two hours are now being allocated to this visit.
· If the weather is inclement you can shorten the time. However remember that whatever the weather the group will have to wait for the land-train and have the journey there and back which is 10 minutes each way. 90 minutes is probably the minimum that you could operate this visit.
Approaching the site.
From the west – Route remains the same. Visitor Centre is 1 ½ miles prior to the stones on A306 at Airman’s Cross. Follow signs for coach parking.
From the east – A344 is now closed. Continue along A303 at Longbarrow Roundabout turn right follow A360 and turn right into Visitor centre. Follow signs for coach parking.
Group Admission
There are five drop off bays next to the Group reception point. Tour Manager to hand in voucher and to collect tickets and audio guides. TM responsible for audio guides. They are to be returned to the stands outside the main Visitor Centre. Tickets are to be retained by passengers as they may be requested for use on the shuttle service to the stones.
Walk group to Visitor Centre. (Toilets at visitor centre. Right-hand pod. None in the coach park and only emergency toilets up at the Stones so advise passengers to use them at the centre.)
Visitor Centre
The new centre consists of two “pods”. One houses new exhibition galleries and toilets, the other the shop and the restaurant. Between the two pods is a large covered orientation space. This will probably be good place for the group to a re-assemble at end of the visit and then walk the entire group back to the coach park.
The Visit
Once the group has the tickets and they are aware of meeting place and time. The visit can be done in any order. However Stonehenge has decided to operate a fast track system for groups on using the mini coach to get to the Stones, so best to offer use of toilets then walk in front of the left hand pod and state group size to the official. Once at the Stones the group can return to the Visitor Centre on an individual basis.
Galleries – Displays of archaeological finds from the site, tactile models to show the different phrases of construction, placing the site into the wider British and European societies of the time. Outside near to the Visitor centre there are a cluster of reproduced Neolithic huts.
Land Train – Operates from the canopy area adjacent to the North Pod. No requirement for booking as they run frequently. Larger groups may be required to split. There is no commentary on the shuttle service.
A shuttle will always be present at the departure point from the Stones either until it is full or it can replaced, so passengers will always be afforded some protection if the weather is not good.
Stonehenge – From the shuttle the pathway will be clearly marked to the Stones and the beginning of the audio guides.
Shop/Cafe – Shop is now much larger (surprise, surprise) and there will is a new 120 seater counter service café with wi-fi.
11.30 Depart Stonehenge
13.00 Arrive Windsor.
Windsor
Runnymede
Travel via Runnymede on the way into Windsor. Take M3, then M25 West. Leave M25 at Exit 13.
Point out (all on the left):
Commonwealth Air Force Memorial (white building on the hill) – commemorates 20,000 pilots (Poles, French and American Eagle Squadron) who died during WW2.
White pavilion with a green roof – given by The American Bar Association in the 1950s. This is the site of the sealing of the Magna Carta (1215).
John F Kennedy Memorial through the trees and halfway up the hill, a white memorial stone.
Windsor
On entering the town from Runnymede, don’t forget the great view of the castle up The Long Walk, right hand side. Set down group in the coach park. Ensure pax are aware of meeting point, time for departure and know they will be returning on their own. Restrooms are in the right hand corner of the shopping area. If in doubt of the layout of Windsor then refer to the town map near the staircase.
Walk group through coach park, up the spiral staircase (lift if needed), through the railway station to the High Street. The castle is straight ahead. Cross the road. The ticket office is on the right. Lead group into the ticket office. They wait in the group area while you exchange voucher for wristbands, no longer individual tickets. Bag check at entry point. Admission includes audio guide and entrance to the Queen Mary’s Dolls’ house, State apartments, St. George’s Chapel. Good idea to visit the Doll’s House first, as queues are often long. A Guard Change ceremony takes place on alternate days at 11am, weather permitting.
Toilets and gift shops within the Castle precincts, but no food. As you depart Windsor, follow the signs for the M4. Eton College will be on the right before joining the M4 East.
16.00 Depart Windsor for central London.