London, Stamford and Cambridge: Volunteering, Team Work and Fun!

In London you will have the chance to experience centuries old traditions as you watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. You will visit Westminster Abbey, the scene of so many important Royal events, most recently the Coronation of King Charles III.  Here you can pay homage to the many famous historical figures buried and commemorated in the Abbey.  

 You will experience modern history, walking past the Cenotaph where every year on ‘Poppy Day’  (11th November) the British commemorate those fallen in war, and visit Churchill’s War Rooms to get a glimpse into where all the decisions were being made. And whilst the English may not have the best reputation for food, this tour will seek to convince you otherwise as you sample the ‘Best of British’ and the best of the international food scene for which London has become so well-known.


And this trip is also about motivating you, about team work and about experiencing real England, i.e England outside the capital. Stamford is a beautiful town about an hour North of London by train and it’s where many TV series and movies were filmed, such as Pride and Prejudice. And it is also home to a fabulous obstacle course, set in the grounds of the beautiful Burghley House, a place where you will also have a chance to hear from a truly remarkable speaker, someone who overcame a near-fatal car crash to run the Marathon des Sables. The trip is topped off with a visit to Cambridge to see the famous University. Who knows, this could be the first of many visits there….


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Day 1: arrival into London

Welcome to Blighty! Today spend your day getting to know London with a bike ride in Hyde Park and a chance to catch a glimpse of a few of London’s famous monuments, such as the Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace. And if your flight arrives early enough on a summer tour, you can enjoy a row on the Serpentine lake in the centre of Hyde Park.
It’s then time for an early night ready for the adventure ahead. 

Overnight: London


Day 2:  London

Today you will be participating in a community project, details to be announced.


In the mid-afternoon you will finish and it’s then time to head to St Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s most iconic places. At a height of 365 feet, to represent the days of the year, it became the symbol of the Blitz spirit, standing tall despite repeated German bombings during the Second World War.

It’s then time for a traditional British meal of fish and chips and perhaps a wander around Covent Garden to watch the street artists perform.

Overnight: London


Day 3: speeding down the thames

After a morning spent volunteering, today you will have the chance to whizz down the Thames, James Bond style. And along the way you will be entertained by a local guide selected from London’s comedy circuit. Then you will have some time for further exploration before a typically British meal: an Indian! In the UK it’s very common to ‘go for an Indian’, which means to go out for an Indian meal. It’s akin to the popularity of Mexican food in the US.

Overnight: London


Day 4: stamford

Today it’s time to leave London and head for the beautiful market town of Stamford. Stamford has appeared in many films and TV series over the years, from Pride and Prejudice to the Middlemarch and is often compared to Bath because of her beautiful Georgian architecture.

It’s also home to one of the UK’s biggest obstacle courses and today you will have an opportunity to tackle it in teams, competing against each other. It’s all about team building and learning how to bring out the best in each other and to support each other. 


It’s then time for a barbecue lunch before continuing an afternoon of team building activities and a chance to go kayaking (weather dependent)

You then have some time to enjoy Stamford town, before getting together for a fab meal.


Overnight: Stamford

Day 5: Burghley house, a motivational talk & afternoon tea

To begin day it’s off to Peterborough to visit one of England’s most impressive cathedrals, dating back to the 12th century and where Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, is laid to rest.

It’s then back to Stamford where, after lunch, you will then enjoy a talk from an adventurer and explorer, local to the area. He has achieved the improbable against odds stacked against him and will give a talk on how adversity and obstacles are the very things that will propel you forward. You will have the chance to ask him questions and learn about his life and travel across the world, and how this has shaped him.

And what better way to end the day than some afternoon tea in the Orangery at Burghley House, the lovely stately home, set in beautiful grounds.

It’s then time to leave for Cambridge, home for the next two nights where you can enjoy an evening stroll around this stunning city.

Overnight: Cambridge

Day 6: cambridge walking & bike tour, and punting

Cambridge beckons. A beautiful city, with a vibrancy all of its own, the city is also home to Cambridge University, one of the best universities in the world. After a bike tour during which you will get to visit some of the more famous landmarks, including King’s College Chapel, you will have the opportunity to visit some of the Colleges, to learn about admissions.

After lunch it’s time to see if you can learn how to punt your boat down the River Cam. Be aware, it is a lot harder than it looks!

Then it’s time for a meal in one of Cambridge’s many fabulous restaurants. 

Overnight: Cambridge


Day 7: the Tower of London, borough market and an evening performance

It’s back to the capital today and upon arrival it’s time to go to the Tower of London to hear from one of the fabulous Beefeaters giving their very entertaining talks. It’s then on to Borough Market to enjoy trying all the delicious foods on offer there. You then have some exploration time before an evening performance at one of London’s many famous theatres.

Overnight: London

Day 8: Buckingham palace & greenwich

On your final day you will head to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard, a unique event which never fails to impress no matter how many times you see it.

This is followed by a trip South of the River Thames to Greenwich, to visit the Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Prime Meridian of the world. Then visit the local market there and enjoy the beautiful park before heading back into London for some more exploration time in central London.

Then it’s time for a final, fabulous, farewell meal.

Day 9: departure

This morning you will be taken to the airport to catch your flight back home. We hope to see you back here soon!

What is included

Activities:

  • Thames High Speed Boat Ride

  • Obstacle course including Zip line and Leap of Faith

  • Kayaking*

  • Afternoon tea

  • An evening theater performance in London

  • Punting in Cambridge

  • Bike tour of Cambridge

  • Rowing on the Serpentine

    *weather / time of year dependent

Accommodation and services:

  • A 24/7 tour manager accompanying you throughout the trip

  • Private transportation throughout the trip

  • Local guides in Cambridge and London

  • Accommodation in 3 and 4* hotels

  • Two meals a day (please note we can cater to all dietary requirements)

  • Medical insurance up to $50,000, and Baggage Insurance       

Tickets and tours:

  • St Paul’s Cathedral

  • Thames River Tour

  • Bike Tour of Cambridge

Project:

  • Assisting on community/

  • Please note, we can also set up other environmental/conservation project choices.

Not included in this Trip:

  • International flights (we can arrange these for you)

  • Visas where applicable

  • Cancellation insurance (Medical insurance up to $50,000 and Baggage insurance is included)