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The Palace is perhaps best known as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots, and as the setting for many of the dramatic episodes in her turbulent reign. Mary was married at Holyroodhouse and witnessed the brutal killing of her secretary Rizzio by her jealous second husband, Lord Darnley, in her private apartments. The Palace briefly served as the headquarters of Bonnie Prince Charlie during the 1745 uprising. Today the State Apartments are used regularly by The Queen and other members of the Royal Family for State ceremonies and official entertaining. What there is to see: The State Apartments reflect the changing tastes of successive monarchs and are renowned for their fine plasterwork ceilings and magnificent furnishings, particularly the unrivalled collection of Brussels tapestries. One of the most famous rooms in the Palace is the Great Gallery, hung with Jacob de Wet's portraits of the real and legendary kings of Scotland. Included on the visit, a display focuses on the Order of the Thistle, the highest honour in Scotland. The Order honours Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a particular way to national life. Shown alongside historic insignia is an example of the mantle worn at the Thistle ceremony at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, which The Queen attends during her visit to the Palace in July. From 1 April to 31 October the gardens, which are today used for garden parties, can be included as part of a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Visitors to the gardens must keep to the paths, which are about 400 yards long. The Queen's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection. Book here. Image Credits: 1.Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2018 2.Photographer: Peter Smith. Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2018
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.
Duration is 1 hr and 30 mins. If you have any dietary requirements please contact us at [email protected] as soon as you make your booking.
TOWER BRIDGE Over 100 years ago, the Victorians built a bridge that has become one of London's most famous landmarks. High level walkways were built to allow people to cross the Thames whilst the Bridge was lifted to let tall ships sail past. Today these Walkways act as viewing galleries, giving visitors the most spectacular views across an ever changing London skyline. Visitors enter Tower Bridge Exhibition via the North Tower. They are then transported by lift to the top of the Tower (47 metres above the Thames) where they have a unique opportunity to see the Bridge’s steel skeleton from within. A short film explains the history and provenance of the Bridge and then there is the chance to admire the spectacular views – from both covered Walkways. On the east Walkway there are fantastic views of the Docklands and from the west Walkway you can see the new GLA building, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, the city, the Pool of London and Big Ben and the London Eye in the distance. Interactive computerised kiosks and graphic panels explain the significance of the views to visitors, as well as providing more information on the history and building of the Bridge. The interactive material and graphic panels are written in seven languages and an audio loop for the hard of hearing is also in place for the video show. There is another film to view in the South Tower before descending for the short walk to the historical Engine Rooms, included in your ticket price. Victorian Engine Rooms These provide a fascinating insight into late 19th century engineering. Installed for the completion of Tower Bridge in 1894, these huge, and beautifully maintained, coal-driven engines were used to power the thousands of bascule Bridge lifts performed until 1976. Although lifts are now operated by electricity, the original steam engines are still in place. The Engine Rooms give visitors a chance to experiment with models demonstrating the technology behind the Bridge. There are also some amazing photographs of the Bridge throughout its lifetime – including a revealing picture of the heavy steel structure of the Bridge as the stone cladding was installed over it.
How Does The Barcelona Pass Work? The Barcelona Pass works through a scan and barcode system and will become activated after first use at an attraction. The pass, in 2 or 3 day options, works on calendar day basis after first activation, so it’s best practice to start using your pass first thing in the morning to make full use of each day. The passes are valid at each attraction and tour included only once. Adult passes are for anyone over the age of 12 and child passes are for 4 - 12 year olds. Note; each child pass holder must be accompanied by an adult pass holder at all times. Benefits of The Barcelona Pass SAVE TIME with everything included in one pass SAVE MONEY as all your attraction entry costs are included in the pass SAVE STRESS with our simple-to-use sightseeing pass and free guidebook NO HASSLE of carrying around loose change Forget queueing to buy tickets to top Barcelona attractions, The Barcelona Pass acts as your ticket into every one of the 20+ attractions, museums and tours included – allowing you to easily budget for your sightseeing when in Barcelona. All customers collecting Passes must provide the following documentation to the house security staff: - Photo Identification (Passport or Driving License). - Credit Card used to purchase the Pass(es). Under no circumstances will any Passes be issued without the above documentation.
The tour begins with a pick-up from your hotel. After a quick stop to pick up picnic supplies for lunch (price not included; pre-order options available) from a local organic deli and market, you’ll head north across the Golden Gate Bridge. You will be immediately rewarded with sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay: Alcatraz Island, the city skyline, and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean are just a few of the picturesque vistas from this remarkable bridge. Next, we’ll wind our way through the coastal mountains of the Marin Headlands and past Mt. Tamalpais (the highest point in the North Bay region), leaving the rush of the city behind and setting the pace for a relaxing day out in the country. Once in Sonoma County, dairy farms and vineyards provide an inspiring introduction to the rolling hills and beautiful valleys that have supplied the world with fantastic wines for over 60 years. Your professional guide will give you details about the region, wine, and the day's itinerary so that you can truly appreciate your experience. The first stop will be the Benziger Family Winery & Biodynamic Vineyard, where you will enjoy a close-up look at the vineyards, fermentation facility, and crush pad on a comfortable tram tour. You’ll also have a chance to walk through their barrel caves! The tour is approximately 45 minutes long, and includes a special tasting of Benziger's biodynamic and other award-winning wines. After your tasting, enjoy your picnic lunch (included: see menu for pre-order options) in a quiet spot at one of the local wineries, surrounded by views of the beautiful countryside and vineyards. In the afternoon, you will head over to famed Napa County for more wine tasting in Oakville, Yountville, or in the town of Napa. The landscape of rolling hills laced with rows of wine grapes is impressive and will provide a romantic backdrop for memorable photographs. On the return trip, you’ll make one more photo stop above the Golden Gate Bridge - a must-do if you've never witnessed the awe-inspiring view of San Francisco from the Marin Headlands! At the end of the tour you will return to your San Francisco accommodations (around 6pm). **note: To best suit the needs of our partner wineries and our guests, it is sometimes necessary to slightly alter the itinerary of the tour. In the wintertime there is less daylight and some tasting rooms may have shorter open-hours. Your group may also make a detour to Muir Woods National Monument. If this is not an original item in your itinerary, please be aware that your entrance fee will be covered and you are welcome to enjoy the cafe and have a delicious warm breakfast or a cup of coffee in lieu of exploring the woods. Highlights: Golden Gate Bridge Marin Headlands 45 min Benziger Winery Tram Tour Napa AND Sonoma Counties Lunch INCLUDED! Excellent wine varietals for all tastes and preferences Inclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop-off Narrated guided tour Benziger Winery Tram Tour ($20 retail value) Organic, local picnic lunch (choice of turkey, ham, roast beef, or vegetarian sandwich) Wine tasting at 4-5 unique wineries (some tasting fees may apply; proper ID required for tasting) Lunch Options: Turkey with whole wheat bread, mayo, mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion comes with: pasta salad, piece of fruit, & cookie or brownie Roast Beef with whole wheat bread, mayo, mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion comes with: potato salad, piece of fruit, & cookie or brownie Ham with whole wheat bread, mayo, mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onio n comes with: potato salad, piece of fruit, & cookie or brownie Vegetarian with whole wheat bread, mayo, mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion, olives, sprouts, pepperoncini, cucumber comes with: coleslaw, piece of fruit, & cookie or brownie
