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Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour time. Please bring your receipt or confirmation number.
Participants arriving after the tour departure time risk forfeiture of their tour seats.
Bike and Roll reserves the right to cancel any tour for weather or other reasons.
If the weather is questionable, please call one hour prior to the start time to confirm the tour status.
Inclusions: Glass of Champagne Driver/Guide Transport by limo to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets Bottled Water Snacks Exclusions Gratuities (Recommended)
Packed with ever-changing experiences of the Pacific Coast and Vancouver Island, this tour is a must-do for
those who have not yet visited Victoria.
Highlights & Inclusions:
BC Ferries Fees: Scenic 1.5-hour cruise through the Gulf Islands and Active Pass
Victoria City Tour: Government Street, Chinatown, Inner Harbour
Butchart Gardens Admission: Magnificent series of themed gardens
Ample Leisure Time: Enjoy Victoria’s rich architecture, enchanting ocean views, and artisan cafes
The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace is a permanent space dedicated to changing exhibitions* of items from the Royal Collection, the wide-ranging collection of art and treasures held in trust by The Queen for the Nation. Ticket Includes: Entry tickets to The Queen’s Gallery, London Complimentary multimedia tour Entry to current special exhibition* (see below for details) *Special Exhibition Dates: 9 Nov 2018 - 28 April 2019: Russia, Royalty & the Romanovs and 'Roger Fenton’s Photographs of the Crimean War, 1855' 24 May - 13 Oct 2019: Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing. To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death da Vinci, this exhibition will include 200 of his drawings. 15 Nov 2019 - 4 May 2020: George IV: Art & Spectacle Please Note: The Queen's Gallery will be closed between these special exhibitions
The Queen's Gallery was built in the shell of the former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon’s School at the entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The buildings were constructed in the 1840s with funds from the Duchess of Gordon, but fell into disuse in the late 19th century. Benjamin Tindall Architects were appointed project architects for the new Queen’s Gallery in October 1999. Their central visual theme was a celebration of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, expressed through a series of arches and screens that lead visitors from the Gallery entrance to the exhibition spaces beyond. Their design complements the original 19th-century architecture, elements of which were incorporated into the new spaces. Unsympathetic later internal alterations were removed, and a new exposed steel and concrete floor inserted to reflect the original ‘gallery’ of the Church. A new stone arched entrance was created at the centre of the Horse Wynd frontage, opposite the new Scottish Parliament building. The use of a stone archway, with a courtyard beyond, is a traditional entrance device in Scottish architecture. The main walling is of Catcastle stone, the dressed work and lettering is of Stainton stone and the base is of Kenmay granite. ‘THE QUEEN’S GALLERY’ lettering above the entrance is the work of John Neilson, a calligrapher and carver. The letters were cut from single pieces of stone. Above sits Scotland’s heraldic lion, designed by Jill Watson. The lion sedant is based on a small red lion that sits at the feet of Mary, Queen of Scots on her tomb in Westminster Abbey. (The Palace of Holyroodhouse was once home to Mary, Queen of Scots.) The monumental entrance doors of oak have gilded bronze hinges by Jill Watson. Continuing the heraldic theme, the main hinges are decorated with the Scottish lion and unicorn. The beasts are set against the adjacent urban scene of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the rural scene of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags. The upper hinges are made as golden boughs of flowering native trees – chestnut and laburnum, oak, rowan and hawthorn. The stone archway is decorated with a carved and gilded garland of Scottish flowers, including daisies and thistles, created by Graciela Ainsworth, an Edinburgh-based sculptor, carver and conservator. Over the old entrance to the former church is a stained-glass window by Christian Shaw. The design shows a perspective drawing of the interior of a gallery. At night, the shape of the archway is reflected by the glass lights by Keiko Mukaide set into the paving. The artist has given the tiles a water flow pattern, mirroring the stream of visitors walking in and out of the Gallery. Inside, the reception desk by Hamid van Koten is made from curved pieces of Scottish elm with kilned glass and patinated copper. The pendant lights were designed and made in Edinburgh by Ingrid Phillips. Dividing the reception from the main Gallery area is a patterned glass screen by Jacqueline Poncelet. The screen’s bronze handles by Jill Watson incorporate figures looking at art in a gallery. The dramatic central stair of native timber leads to the Gallery spaces above. The complex shape was designed by the architects with Charles Taylor Woodwork, who were responsible for the construction. Lights set into the first floor illuminate the curved balustrading. The Queen’s Gallery was opened by Her Majesty The Queen on 29 November 2002, as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. It hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection.
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.
