PJTravels, this was our first time in England and as you can tell we absolutely loved it. We did a lot of walking although not a walking tour per se. Touring with a group has it's advantages and disadvantages. One, you have to like the people, which we did. You don't get to spend enough time at the places you stop, which can be disappointing. Advantage, someone has planned out your transportation. I could probably drive in England, especially in the sparser areas, but I don't think I would want to. Our strategy with a tour, and we've only taken two in 40 years of traveling is to add nights on the front or back. For England we arrived two weeks before the tour. In Croatia last year, we got there a week ahead and then stayed another 11 days on our own. It gives you that independence you think you will miss on a tour.

Thanks for your thoughts, Tdiddy, on tours. We did a two week snorkeling tour in Thailand twice, but we spent most of the day in the water, and the rest of the time eating! We'll just have to try a larger tour to find out. Your plan to add days front and or back, makes a lot of sense. We've driven in England, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, but we both feel our days of opposite side driving are over!

Great report! We have enjoyed visiting some of England but your report makes me want to push a return trip to the top of the ever-expanding list. Your pictures are wonderful and I loved your comments.

Tdiddy, I really enjoyed your TR. What an itinerary!
Among my fave shots were: that opening image of the York evening walk, the church font and 'Ginger' man.
Btw, yesterday was our neighborhood's annual Art-in-the-Park Show and one of the many vendors was a pro photographer from Paris whose framed collection included the same Regent Studios facade as your shot!

I'm something of a classic rock historian. You name-checked London's Denmark street. That was apparently the location of a tiny basement where Led Zeppelin once held its first-ever rehearsal.
And as for Ringo's old flat, it seems that he turfed Hendrix out after the recently-arrived American splattered the walls with his own abstract art after taking acid.

Where to next?
I am done. the end

Thanks so much for taking us with you on your fascinating wander - I'm enjoying it all, bookmarking now or I'll be here all day!

You write so well, thanks for sharing your trip. I did a small group tour last year that was based in York, plus I added on a few days there on my own. York was not very big, but large enough, with lots to see. I love London but York felt much more relaxed, without the crowds and hectic pace. I'd like to find more places like that, with plenty to do and not too far by train. I'm sure there are oodles of options.

PJTravels, one other thing I will mention about tours. You are up early, which is OK with me, not so much for the wife, who likes her cup of coffee in the morning and mentally preparing for the day. So you can see we had quite an itinerary, saw a lot, experienced a little less than I would like, but then we had some unique experiences also. The sheep farm visit was fun, picnic in the Glastonbury Abbey was great. So it's a different way of traveling. As for the driving, it's so-o-o nice not to drive, but then you loose the chance to just pull off somewhere.

Thanks KTTravel, I've followed you on a number of trips so I appreciate your comments. The thing about Trip Reports which I try to do after each day, they take a little time, but I just went back to re-read our New Zealand trip and you get to re-live it again. Happy Travels!

zebec, I would live to talk rock and roll history with you! Especially British rock. Denmark was a biggie for me because of the Kinks song, Denmark Street. As a kid in the Midwest, Ray Davies provided me with so many English images. I finally saw a Mews, I stood on Waterloo Bridge and saw so many images of Victoria. In our Beatles tour, I got to stand in the Phone Booth where Bowie stands on the back cover of Ziggy Stardust. England is such a collection of amazing things. Here's where the Romans lived 1700 years ago, and I'm like yeah, but there is where Hendrix lived, 60 years ago!

KayF - I don't know if it was evident but I loved York. We actually like to "slow" travel and I would like to go back to York for two weeks or more and just explore it in depth.

I forgot to mention, York was a highlight for us as well.