Tues 2nd October - THE ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA & NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM
Arriving in Chelsea late morning we have time to visit the National Army Museum, the British Army’s central museum which relates to the overall history of the British Army. The museum has a café which is ideal for lunch. This afternoon we move next door to The Royal Hospital Chelsea, established in 1692 by Charles II as a home for retired soldiers, a purpose it still fulfils today. Built by Sir Christopher Wren the Hospital is home to the iconic Chelsea Pensioners, one of whom will take us on a tour for an insider’s look at this marvellous building. There will be time to purchase refreshments before heading home.
Price: £23.00 includes return travel by luxury coach with time at the National Army Museum and a guided tour of part of The Royal Hospital Chelsea with a Chelsea Pensioner.

Thurs 8th November - FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD with morning coffee and lunch
Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, the spirit of Christmas past and food glorious food with a coach tour of the London Oliver Twist knew. Meeting our guide on Fleet Street we enjoy morning refreshments in a lawyer’s pub opposite the Royal Courts in a London district that Dickens knew well. Dickens created a vast and colourful cast of characters but he also invented an idea of London and Christmas too. With rosy cheeked, plump rich families tucking into hearty Christmas feasts besides roaring fires and poor urchins outside in the cold, stomachs rumbling and noses pressed to the frosted windows. During the morning our guide will take us on a coach tour of Dickens Christmas London, showing us the old meat, fish and game markets and telling us about the diet of the masses from jellied eels and pie and mash to oysters and whitebait suppers straight from the River Thames. Back to the pub for an included carvery lunch, anyone with room left can choose and buy a dessert on the day (bar drinks and tea/coffee not included). In the afternoon we go upmarket to find out how the other half lived and celebrated a Dickensian Christmas, with visits to Mayfair and the ‘dilly. Our guide will takes us to the marvellous Burlington Arcade built to allow toffs to shop unmolested by the riff raff and where you can talk to the beadles clad in top hat and tails and employed to chase off any “Artful Dodgers”. We will also be taken to the sumptuous food hall at Fortnum & Mason where impeccable young men in red tailcoats stack the shelves with tempting Christmas treats. There will be time to buy refreshments before heading for home.
Price: £38.50 includes return travel by luxury coach; morning refreshments, guided coach tour, carvery lunch and visits to the Burlington Arcade and Fortnum & Mason.