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Travel / Tours / Company / International Friends
Tours in the UK with International Friends

International Friends is a company which organises tours throughout the year.

Weekend Tours in the UK

The following is a list of UK weekend tours operated by International Friends. Click on the "Locations visited" links for photos and information about some of the destinations visited.
All tours start and end in London, but in some cases you can also join in Cambridge, Oxford or Kent (check departure points when you book).
Minicoach trips have a maximum of 16 passengers. Coach trips and Edinburgh by train trips may have larger numbers of passengers.
All of these tours include the services of a guide or driver-guide. Prices include accommodation and breakfast.
You should bring enough extra money for your other meals (lunch and supper), for entrance into attractions and to buy souvenirs: you are recommended to bring at least £25 per day.

Tour Name (click on link to book)
Transport
Days
Price
Locations visited: photos/information
Country
Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge (summer tour)
Minicoach
2
£159
Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge
England
Cotswolds, Bath & Stonehenge (winter tour)
Minicoach
2
£119
Cotswolds & Bath & Stonehenge
England
Edinburgh, Loch Ness & Highlands by train
Train
3
£159 - £189
Edinburgh
Scotland
Horse Riding in Wild Wales
Coach
2
£149
Chepstow & Tintern & Hay-on-Wye & Brecon Beacons
Wales
Wales Coast & Mountains
Minicoach
2
£159
Chester & North Wales
Wales/England
York, Brontë Country & Peak District
Minicoach
2
£159
York & Haworth & Peak District
England


A mini-coach is used for most of the 2-day
weekend tours in England and Wales

A mini-coach can travel on the roads
which larger coaches cannot use

Meeting place for the
Edinburgh, Loch Ness & Highlands
by train tours
(inside King's Cross station)

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Weekend Tours in Europe

The following is a tours to locations outside the UK. Click on the "Locations visited" links for photos and information about the destinations visited.
Check if you need a visa to visit these countries. You should make sure that you have travel insurance.
You should bring enough extra money for your meals, for entrance into attractions and to buy souvenirs (you are recommended to bring at least €40 per day).
All tours start and end in London, but in some cases you can also join in Cambridge, Oxford or Kent (check departure points when you book).
Paris by Eurostar trips have a maximum of 16 passengers. Coach trips may have larger numbers of passengers.
All of these tours include the services of a guide. Prices include accommodation and breakfast.

Tour Name (click on link to book)
Transport
Days
Price
Locations visited: photos/information
Country
Amsterdam & Bruges
Coach
3
£185 - £189
Amsterdam & Bruges
Holland/Belgium
Brussels & Bruges
Coach
3
£149
Brussels & Bruges
Belgium
Dublin St Patrick's Festival
Coach
4
£229
Dublin
Ireland
Paris by Coach
Coach
3
£179
Paris
France
Paris by Eurostar
Train
3
£209 - £219
Paris
France
Rhineland & Cologne
Coach
3
£179
Cologne & Rhineland
Germany


Group Welcome Desk at St Pancras International:
meeting point for Paris by Eurostar trips

Enjoy a trip
to Europe

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Day Trips in England

The following premium day-trips are available on weekdays during the spring and summer (from late March until early September). Each of these trips starts from London. These minicoach trips have a maximum of 16 passengers.
These are fully-guided lecture-standard tours, with an Oxford/Cambridge-educated guide. Pickups are at International Students House (Tube: Great Portland Street), Cumberland Hotel (Tube: Marble Arch), Harrods (Tube: Knightsbridge) or Knaresborough Place (Tube: Earl's Court).

Tour Name (click on link to book)
Transport
Days
Price
Locations visited: photos/information
Country
London Panoramic and Royal Windsor (Mondays)
Minicoach
1
£74
Windsor & London
England
Stonehenge and Salisbury - The Mysteries of Ancient Britain (Mondays & Wednesdays)
Minicoach
1
£74
Stonehenge & Salisbury
England
Bath, Stonehenge and The Cotswolds (Tuesdays)
Minicoach
1
£74
Bath & Stonehenge & Cotswolds
England
Oxford, the Cotswolds and Stratford-on-Avon (Thursdays)
Minicoach
1
£74
Oxford & Cotswolds & Stratford-upon-Avon
England
King Arthur's Realm - Stonehenge and Glastonbury (Fridays)
Minicoach
1
£74
Stonehenge & Glastonbury
England

The following budget day-trips are available during some weekends. Each of these trips starts from International Students House in London.
These coach trips may have larger numbers of passengers and are not fully-guided. If demand is low transport may be by train instead of by coach.

Tour Name (click on link to book)
Transport
Days
Price
Locations visited: photos/information
Country
Bath
Coach
1
£39
Bath
England
Brighton
Coach
1
£38
Brighton
England
Cambridge
Coach
1
£35
Cambridge
England
Canterbury
Coach
1
£38
Canterbury
England
Oxford
Coach
1
£35
Oxford
England
Portsmouth & Southsea
Coach
1
£38
Portsmouth & Southsea
England
Stonehenge & Salisbury
Coach
1
£38
Stonehenge & Salisbury
England
Stratford-upon-Avon
Coach
1
£39
Stratford-upon-Avon
England
Winchester
Coach
1
£38
Winchester
England
Windsor & Hampton Court
Coach
1
£36
Windsor & Hampton Court
England


International Students House:
meeting point for UK day trips

Get out into
the British countryside

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Tour List

Below is a list of tours organised by International Friends, in order of date. The premium day-trips are not listed.

Fri 13 Jun - Sun 15 Jun Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour £185 Holland/Belgium Coach/ferry
Sat 14 Jun - Sun 15 Jun Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sat 14 Jun Oxford £39 England Coach
Sun 15 Jun Cambridge £39 England Coach
Fri 20 Jun - Sun 22 Jun Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Fri 20 Jun - Sun 22 Jun Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Fri 20 Jun - Sun 22 Jun Paris by high-speed Eurostar £209 France Train
Sat 21 Jun Canterbury £39 England Coach
Sat 21 Jun - Sun 22 Jun Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sun 22 Jun Stonehenge & Salisbury £39 England Coach
Sat 28 Jun - Sun 29 Jun Wales Coast & Mountains £159 England/Wales Minicoach
Sat 28 Jun - Sun 29 Jun Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sat 28 Jun - Sun 29 Jun Horse Riding in Wild Wales £149 Wales Coach
Fri 4 Jul - Sun 6 Jul Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Sat 5 Jul - Sun 6 Jul Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 11 Jul - Sun 13 Jul Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour £185 Holland/Belgium Coach/ferry
Fri 11 Jul - Sun 13 Jul Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Fri 11 Jul - Sun 13 Jul Paris by high-speed Eurostar £209 France Train
Sat 12 Jul - Sun 13 Jul York, Brontë Country & Peak District £159 England Minicoach
Sat 12 Jul - Sun 13 Jul Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sat 12 Jul Brighton £39 England Coach
Fri 18 Jul - Sun 20 Jul Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Fri 18 Jul - Sun 20 Jul Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Sat 19 Jul - Sun 20 Jul Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sun 20 Jul Windsor and Hampton Court £39 England Coach
Fri 25 Jul - Sun 27 Jul Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour £185 Holland/Belgium Coach/ferry
Fri 25 Jul - Sun 27 Jul Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Fri 25 Jul - Sun 27 Jul Paris by high-speed Eurostar £209 France Train
Sat 26 Jul - Sun 27 Jul Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 1 Aug - Sun 3 Aug Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £189 Scotland Train
Sat 2 Aug - Sun 3 Aug York, Brontë Country & Peak District £159 England Minicoach
Sat 2 Aug - Sun 3 Aug Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sat 2 Aug Oxford £39 England Coach
Fri 8 Aug - Sun 10 Aug Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Fri 8 Aug - Sun 10 Aug Paris by high-speed Eurostar £209 France Train
Fri 8 Aug - Sun 10 Aug Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £189 Scotland Train
Sat 9 Aug - Sun 10 Aug Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 15 Aug - Sun 17 Aug Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £189 Scotland Train
Sat 16 Aug Stonehenge & Salisbury £39 England Coach
Sat 16 Aug - Sun 17 Aug Wales Coast & Mountains £159 England/Wales Minicoach
Sat 16 Aug - Sun 17 Aug Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sat 23 Aug - Mon 25 Aug Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour £189 Holland/Belgium Coach/ferry
Sat 23 Aug - Mon 25 Aug Paris by Coach £185 France Coach/ferry
Sat 23 Aug - Mon 25 Aug Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £189 Scotland Train
Sat 23 Aug - Sun 24 Aug Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sat 30 Aug - Sun 31 Aug Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sat 30 Aug Stratford Upon Avon £39 England Coach
Sat 6 Sep - Sun 7 Sep York, Brontë Country & Peak District £159 England Minicoach
Sat 6 Sep - Sun 7 Sep Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 12 Sep - Sun 14 Sep Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour £185 Holland/Belgium Coach/ferry
Fri 12 Sep - Sun 14 Sep Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Sat 13 Sep - Sun 14 Sep Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 19 Sep - Sun 21 Sep Paris by high-speed Eurostar £209 France Train
Fri 19 Sep - Sun 21 Sep Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Sat 20 Sep - Sun 21 Sep Wales Coast & Mountains £159 England/Wales Minicoach
Sat 20 Sep - Sun 21 Sep Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 26 Sep - Sun 28 Sep Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Sat 27 Sep Cambridge £39 England Coach
Sat 27 Sep - Sun 28 Sep Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Thu 2 Oct Oxford £39 England Coach
Sat 4 Oct - Sun 5 Oct York, Brontë Country & Peak District £159 England Minicoach
Sat 4 Oct - Sun 5 Oct Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 10 Oct - Sun 12 Oct Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Sat 11 Oct - Sun 12 Oct Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 17 Oct - Sun 19 Oct Paris by high-speed Eurostar £209 France Train
Fri 17 Oct - Sun 19 Oct Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Sat 18 Oct - Sun 19 Oct Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 24 Oct - Sun 26 Oct Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour £185 Holland/Belgium Coach/ferry
Fri 24 Oct - Sun 26 Oct Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Sat 25 Oct - Sun 26 Oct Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 31 Oct - Sun 2 Nov Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Sat 1 Nov - Sun 2 Nov Wales Coast & Mountains £159 England/Wales Minicoach
Sat 1 Nov - Sun 2 Nov Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 7 Nov - Sun 9 Nov Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Sat 8 Nov - Sun 9 Nov York, Brontë Country & Peak District £159 England Minicoach
Sat 8 Nov - Sun 9 Nov Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sun 9 Nov Windsor and Hampton Court £39 England Coach
Fri 14 Nov - Sun 16 Nov Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour £185 Holland/Belgium Coach/ferry
Fri 14 Nov - Sun 16 Nov Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Sat 15 Nov - Sun 16 Nov Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 21 Nov - Sun 23 Nov Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Sat 22 Nov - Sun 23 Nov Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Sun 23 Nov Stonehenge & Salisbury £39 England Coach
Fri 28 Nov - Sun 30 Nov Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Sat 29 Nov - Sun 30 Nov Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 5 Dec - Sun 7 Dec Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour £185 Holland/Belgium Coach/ferry
Fri 5 Dec - Sun 7 Dec Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train £159 Scotland Train
Sat 6 Dec - Sun 7 Dec York, Brontë Country & Peak District £159 England Minicoach
Sat 6 Dec - Sun 7 Dec Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Fri 12 Dec - Sun 14 Dec Paris by Coach £179 France Coach/ferry
Sat 13 Dec - Sun 14 Dec Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge £159 England Minicoach
Wed 24 Dec - Fri 26 Dec Paris by Coach £239 France Coach/ferry

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Accommodation

All tour prices include accommodation (except for day trips).

The normal accommodation is in a travel hotel, sharing with one other person (rooms have twin beds or sometimes a double bed and sofa bed, with a TV and an ensuite shower room / toilet). Exceptions are:
- Edinburgh: accommodation is normally in multi-bedded rooms in a hotel or guesthouse, but a twin room can be booked for an extra payment
- Horse riding in Wales: accommodation is normally in a multi-bedded room in a hostel (there are separate dormitories for men and women)
- Amsterdam: accommodation is normally in a hostel (some trips include a stay on a barge)

If you have special requirements (for example, if you require a single room, or if you want to share a twin or double room with a particular person) please make this clear when you book.
Usually there is a supplement of about £30 per night if you wish to stay in a single room instead of a twin room.

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Departure locations & times

The usual departure times and places are as follows (please confirm these when you book your tour):

Tours of Britain
[Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge; York, Brontë Country & Peak District; Wales Coast & Mountains; Cotswolds, Bath & Stonehenge; Horse Riding in Wales; Lake District & Yorkshire Dales; Cornwall]
* Cambridge: 07:00 from outside Cambridge Police Station, Parkside, Cambridge (map)
* London: 08:30 from outside International Students House, 229 Great Portland Street W1W 5PN (Tube: Great Portland Street) (map)
Edinburgh by Train
* London: 05.45 check-in (06:15 departure) outside Burger King/WH Smith's in King's Cross train station (map)
* Cambridge: 05:30 from outside Cambridge Police Station, Parkside, Cambridge (map)
* Peterborough: 06:45 from Peterborough train station
Budget day trips (weekends)
* London: 08:30 from outside International Students House, 229 Great Portland Street W1W 5PN (Tube: Great Portland Street) (map)
Premium day trips (weekdays)
* London:
08:00 from outside International Students House, 229 Great Portland Street W1W 5PN (Tube: Great Portland Street) (map)
08.10 Outside Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch
08.20 Outside Harrods, Knightsbridge
08.25 Outside Travel Inn, Knaresborough Place, Earls Court
Paris by Eurostar
* Oxford: 04.00 [selected tours only]
* Cambridge: 04:00 from outside Cambridge Police Station, Parkside, Cambridge (map) [selected tours only]
* London: 06.15 check-in (06:55 departure) in St Pancras International train station (Tube: Kings Cross St Pancras) (map)
* Ashford: 06.35 check-in (07:25 departure) in Ashford International train station (map)
Paris/Amsterdam/Brussels/Bruges/Rhineland/Cologne coach tours
* Oxford: 04.00 [selected tours only]
* Cambridge: 04:00 from outside Cambridge Police Station, Parkside, Cambridge (map) [selected tours only]
* West London: 05.45 outside St Christopher's Inn, 28 Hammersmith Broadway W6 7AB (Tube: Hammersmith) (map)
* London: 06:05 from outside the front entrance of International Students House, 229 Great Portland Street W1W 5PN (Tube: Great Portland Street) (map)
* London: 06:20 from Victoria Embankment, near south (river-side) exit of Embankment Tube station (Tube: Embankment)
* South-east London: 06:55 from outside the Police Station at 43 Lewisham High Street SE13 5JZ (Train/DLR/bus station: Lewisham) (map)
* Ramsgate: 07:05 from outside Ramsgate train station (map)
* Canterbury: 07:45 from outside Canterbury East train station (map)
* Dover: 08:30 from outside Dover Eastern Docks Bookings Hall (map)
Dublin St Patricks Festival
* South-east London: 05:00 from outside the Police Station at 43 Lewisham High Street SE13 5JZ (Bus station: Lewisham) (map)
* London: 05:45 from outside International Students House, 229 Great Portland Street W1W 5PN (Tube: Great Portland Street) (map)

If you are joining the tour in London, you can work out how to get to the departure point using this Journey Planner: http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk
Aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the departure time: there may be problems on the roads or railways.
To check for planned engineering work on the Tube (common at weekends and on public holidays): http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/travelinfo

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