Kensington Palace + Windsor Castle

Tour Details Sailing Season: Every day, mid-March to end October Travel time from Doolin port to Inis Oirr: 30 mins Pick up Point Doolin Pier, Co. Clare       Inis Oirr Inis Oírr (translates from Oirthir meaning “Eastern Island”) – the smallest of the three Aran Islands Size: 3km by 2km Population: 300 approx The island enjoys a good tourist trade, mainly from Doolin, as it is only a 30 minute ferry across from here. There are many attractions here for both day-trippers and people who want to visit for longer. Transport Options Inis Oirr also has a good selection of transport options: Mini-bus guided tour Pony and trap guided tour Hire a bicycle Eat & Stay Inis Oirr has a number of places for it’s visitors to enjoy good local food, from locally caught and sourced seafood, to the freshly baked brown bread made each and every day. There is also a good number of Bed & Breakfasts on the island, as well as a hotel, guesthouse, campsite and hostel. If you would like more information on accomodation on Inis Oirr, please contact us and we will be happy to help. Historical Sites Stone Fort – Dun Formna, built near the highest point on the island, contains O’Brien’s Castle within it’s wall Churches – Cill Gobnait, Cill na n-Seacht Inion and St. Caomhan (St.Kevin’s) Church, the latter is a spectacular ruin, located in the graveyard on Inis Oirr. Over the years, sand has been blown in and around the church to make it appear as if it has sunk into the ground. Recent History – The Plassey Shipwreck is a famous landmark on Inis Oirr, she wrecked here in March 1960. Read more about in in our Blog. Arts Centre – Aras Eanna is the only Arts Centre in the Gaeltacht. Throughout the year therare exhibitions and workshops hosted here. See their comprehensive website for more information.               

The rocks of Montserrat were formed by natural cement of sand during the centuries. The wind and rain shaped the mountain with strange and varied forms. The popular imagination has seen human or animal shape in some of these peaks, giving those names and inventing legends to explain their fantastic origins. This trip to Montserrat will give you the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful and breath-taking views of the Montserrat Mountain, one of nature’s special creations. You will visit the Royal Basilica of Montserrat, which holds the famous 12th century Romanesque carving of Verge Moreneta (the Black Madonna). You will be able to see this famous statue of the Black Madonna from a distance. The Benedict sanctuary of Montserrat has been founded in 1025 and provides a mystical backdrop for the Virgin of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia who is enshrined in the monastery's Royal Basilica. The little monastery soon began to receive pilgrims and visitors who contributed to the spread of stories of miracles and wonders performed by the Virgin. Today, Montserrat has been modernized to continue attending to the needs to pilgrims, one thousand years after it was originally founded. You will be given some free time to visit the audio visual exhibition about the history and creation of Montserrat. And taste typical liquors of Montserrat. The Escolania of Montserrat is one of the oldest boys choirs in Europe (XIV Century). On some days the children's choir sings in the monastery and so you may be fortunate enough to catch one of their delightful performances. Their timeframe is subjected to the school calendar and special events of the choir and monastery.

Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, modern and contemporary art. Painting, sculpture, silver and goldsmithing, photography, drawings, prints, posters, coins, exhibitions and audiovisuals. Enjoy six Barcelona museums with a single ticket: the Articket. The Museu Picasso brings you permanent and temporary exhibitions featuring works by Picasso, focusing on his formative years and relationship with Barcelona. The Fundació Joan Miró houses the finest and most comprehensive collection of Miró's works and also stages exhibitions of paintings and sculpture. The Fundació Antoni Tàpies is housed in a modernista building and hosts a wide range of exhibitions, lectures and cultural events. The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya takes you on a journey through 1,000 years of Catalan art (modernisme, Romanesque...). And the Museu de Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), designed by Richard Meier, brings together an important collection of art from the last 50 years.

St Paul’s Cathedral, whose dome dominates London’s skyline, is England’s architectural masterpiece and place of national celebration. The cathedral was designed by the famed architect Sir Christopher Wren, after the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed its predecessor. The cathedral took 35 years to build from 1675 – 1710, spanning the lives of five monarchs and was the first cathedral to have been built and completed in its architect’s lifetime. St Paul’s Cathedral is where people and events of overwhelming national significance have been celebrated, mourned or commemorated. From state funerals for British heroes such as Sir Winston Churchill, to the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer, and National Services of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilee’s of Her Majesty the Queen. Touch-screen multimedia guides in nine languages are included for sightseers, offering up to 90 minutes of audio commentary, videos and imagery for a self guided tour. Tours led by cathedral guides are also offered, usually starting at 10.00, 11.00, 13.00 & 14.00 and last for 90 minutes; visitors should register to join a tour once inside the cathedral. Explore the cathedral floor then visit the Whispering Gallery to test the unique acoustics. Climb further to the Stone and Golden Galleries, which afford breathtaking panoramic views across the city. Descend to the crypt which houses tombs and memorials to famous Britons such as Admiral Lord Nelson, The Duke of Wellington and Wren himself.   

Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and contains, as well as a royal palace, a magnificent chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people. What there is to see: The magnificent State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Gainsborough and the famous triple portrait of Charles I by Sir Anthony van Dyck.  In 1992 fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. By good fortune the rooms worst affected were empty at the time, and as a result, few of the Castle's artistic treasures were destroyed.  The highly acclaimed restoration work, completed in 1997, is a testament to the extraordinary skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe. From October to March visitors can also enjoy George IV's private apartments (the Semi-State Rooms), among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle. St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I. Among the highlights of a visit to Windsor is Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the most famous dolls' house in the world. The Drawings Gallery shows changing exhibitions of material from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. The special display below is shown alongside a selection of treasures from the Royal Library. Current/Forthcoming exhibitions: The Queen: Portraits of a Monarch Friday, 23 November 2012 to Sunday, 09 June 2013 Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most depicted women in the world. She has sat to numerous artists, from Cecil Beaton and Pietro Annigoni to Lucian Freud. Her portrait likeness, so widely circulated, has also inspired artists such as Andy Warhol, whose screenprint portraits of Her Majesty have been recently acquired for the Royal Collection and are displayed for the first time at Windsor Castle. Portraits of The Queen are made for a number of official purposes, ranging from photographs distributed at the time of a State Visit, to those that mark a particular anniversary. Portraits bearing a clear and recognisable image of the sovereign are required for use on coins, banknotes and stamps. Many of the works on display were created with one of these purposes in mind. This exhibition presents a selection of official, commissioned and formal portraits of The Queen, gathered here from the different Royal residences.    

Discover the city as you pedal along on one of our comfortable bikes with our friendly guide who will tell you about the historic details, the fascinating experiences of everyday life in the city and its iconic landmarks and sights on this easy-going route. Go on a relaxing cycle tour of Barcelona and visit unique cultural sights such as the Museu d’Art Contemporani, in the Raval neighbourhood, which has its own Rambla with its own unique inhabitant, Botero’s ‘Cat’. The guide will tell you some curious anecdotes about the neighbourhood and will then take you to the plaça Reial, the plaça Sant Jaume, the charming plaça de San Felipe Neri, the majestic Cathedral, the Roman walls and the plaça del Rei, among many other landmark sights. Next, you’ll head down to the seafront and beaches where you’ll be able to stop, time permitting. You’ll visit the old harbour, the Port Vell, the Barceloneta district, the Olympic Marina and, on the way back, you’ll cycle through the Parc de la Ciutadella and stop at the Sagrada Família. And during the hot summer nights you’ll also be able to go on one of our night-time tours! Exploring the city by bike is a wonderful way to experience Barcelona day or night.