Claridge’s in London is one of Europe’s most renowned luxury hotels, an Art Deco masterpiece in the exclusive Mayfair neighborhood with a 200-year history.

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For our travelers in London, Artisans of Leisure can arrange attendance at the four o’clock inspection, a lesser-known ceremony also known as the Punishment Parade. This daily ceremony takes place in the courtyard of Horse Guards, an unusually named 18th-century building that serves as the ceremonial entrance to Buckingham and St. James’s palaces.

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We love experiencing hot springs and thermal baths around the world—such as serene Japanese onsen and open-air baths at spas in cities such as Budapest and Reykjavik—in spectacular settings.

Artisans of Leisure can incorporate local thermal bath experiences and bathing traditions in all of our private international tours.

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Artisans of Leisure arranges private England tours that showcase the best of the country’s Christmas festivities and holiday traditions combined with insider touring in London and the English countryside.

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One of our favorite private excursions in England’s Lake District is Hill Top, the former home and garden of the author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. The 17th-century stone farmhouse and cottage garden were a great source of inspiration for Beatrix, appearing in many of her book illustrations.

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Royal Ascot, one of the world’s most prestigious horse races, is held every summer in England outside of London near Windsor Castle. Synonymous with English tradition and sartorial elegance, it’s an incredible cultural and sporting event. Artisans of Leisure can arrange Royal Ascot tickets and other services such as private drivers, hair styling and more.

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Artisans of Leisure arranges private London tours including Westminster Abbey, the majestic setting of coronations, weddings, funerals and other state occasions for nearly a thousand years.

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Every year from mid-November through late December, thousands of Christmas markets transform town centers throughout Europe into winter wonderlands with twinkling lights, Christmas music and alpine-style wooden chalets overflowing with local crafts and seasonal treats. They’re a highlight of winter holiday travel and a wonderful way to experience a destination’s seasonal cheer. Read more about our favorite Christmas markets in Europe.

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Artisans of Leisure arranges private, customized luxury London tours that feature the best of the Christmas and holiday season.

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Kelmscott Manor, the country home of the Victorian designer, poet and socialist William Morris, is an iconic Arts & Crafts house-museum and garden in the Cotswolds. Artisans of Leisure can customize tours to include Kelmscott Manor and other Arts & Crafts sites throughout England and Scotland.

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We just returned from a private tour of Cornwall and Devon, counties in southwest England that are known for their beautiful coastlines, windswept moors, magnificent gardens, superb cuisine and mild climate.

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Celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee taking place in the United Kingdom this year will demonstrate British pomp and pageantry at their best. Artisans of Leisure can arrange private England tours that incorporate the Platinum Jubilee events and festivities and private tours of places related to the queen and the British monarchy.

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Chartwell is the much-loved family home of Winston Churchill in the countryside south of London. For travelers interested in historic houses, English gardens and the life of one of the United Kingdom’s greatest statesmen, Chartwell makes a wonderful private excursion from London.

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Artisans of Leisure can arrange hospitality packages and VIP access at the top Formula 1 races and coordinate race dates seamlessly with private touring and luxury accommodations.

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The iconic Tower of London is an ancient castle complex steeped in nearly 1,000 years of English history. For a very special, exclusive London experience, Artisans of Leisure can arrange after-hours private tours, including attendance at the Ceremony of the Keys.

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The walled city of York is one of England’s best-preserved medieval cities. On the doorstep of two spectacular national parks, York is a must for anyone interested in history, architecture and incredible landscapes.

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England is one of our favorite tour destinations. Enjoy photos of the very best of the country with our private England tours that include top cultural, scenic and culinary highlights of London, Oxfordshire, Bath, the Cotswolds, the Lake District and more.

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Artisans of Leisure arranges private luxury England tours, including London day tours to Kew Gardens to visit the Marianne North Museum to see the artist’s botanicals and travel paintings.

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England is an incredible destination for literature lovers, full of landmark literary sites that bring to life favorite authors and characters. Read about some of our favorite literary destinations throughout the country that we can incorporate into any private Artisans of Leisure tour of England.

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Highclere Castle is one of our favorite excursions from London for architecture, interiors and gardens.

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Like many of our travelers, we love visiting gardens when we travel. Not only beautiful and relaxing, gardens are tangible reflections of local culture that offer insights into local history, aesthetics, religions, and culinary and medicinal traditions.

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Afternoon Tea is a wonderful way to experience local culinary culture in England. Artisans of Leisure arranges Afternoon Tea throughout England, including at legendary hotels, country estates, heritage homes and insider spots.

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Artisans of Leisure arranges private visits to Chedworth Roman Villa, a remarkable archaeological site in the idyllic Cotswolds.

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The sumptuous interiors, beautiful gardens and extensive grounds at Cliveden make this one of our favorite properties in the London area, conveniently located near Heathrow Airport and Windsor Castle, and a fitting choice for Meghan Markle, who will spend the night before the Royal Wedding at the historic property with her mother.

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Artisans of Leisure arrange tickets to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the ultimate experience for flower aficionados, as well as exclusive private tours of London’s top gardens.

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Artisans of Leisure arranges exclusive Harry Potter touring for fans of the iconic book and film series in England and Scotland.

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Rolling hills, charming stone villages, Roman ruins, and beautiful gardens are the best-known highlights of the Cotswolds in England. The pastoral region—which is at the heart of England’s farm-to-table movement—has also become a popular foodie destination where restaurants incorporate fresh, local ingredients into refined versions of traditional British cuisine and more modern takes on international […]

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Private members clubs have been a tradition in London for centuries. One of the most prestigious is The Arts Club, which was established in 1863. Long a haven for writers, artists, musicians and other creatives, the club is in the heart of stylish Mayfair, one of our favorite London neighborhoods. Recently, The Arts Club created […]

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The Serpentine Gallery is one of the best places in London to experience contemporary art. We especially love exploring the temporary pavilion the gallery commissions in Kensington Gardens each summer. This year’s pavilion was designed by the Spanish architecture firm selgascano, led by Jose Selgas and Lucia Cano.  The tunnel-like structure hides a cafe at […]

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On a recent trip through England’s beautiful Cotswolds region, we fell in love with local foodie publication Crumbs. The well-designed magazine focuses on regional chefs, ingredients and culinary traditions through in-depth articles and mouth-watering photographs. Artisans of Leisure culinary travel specialist Luke Pyenson caught up with Crumbs editor Laura Rowe, who also edits the magazine’s sister […]

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We recently returned to the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, a luxury resort in the beautiful English countryside just 35 minutes from Heathrow Airport.

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Artisans of Leisure travel specialist, Stephanie, tells us how she has been lucky to be able to combine her twin passions–birding and travel–since she was a child. Q: When and how did you become interested in birding? A: My mom has been birding forever, and she would take me along with her when I was […]

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We love the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London–it’s a hotel that gets it right on every level. It has a perfect location in Knightsbridge, just steps from some of the city’s best shopping spots (including Harvey Nichols, Harrod’s, Walton Street, The Kings Road, Sloane Street and Sloane Avenue), beautiful Hyde Park and the Chelsea […]

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Artisans of Leisure arranges incredible family vacations customized to families of all sizes and age ranges.

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The Chelsea Physic Garden is one of our favorite places in London. Hidden behind high brick walls and largely unknown to many travelers, this three-and-a-half-acre garden is not just a beautiful and relaxing sanctuary. It’s also a fascinating window into the botanical world, international trade and London’s history. The garden was founded in 1673 by […]

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John is one of the travel experts based in our New York City office. He’s passionate about art and architecture, and helps design our tours around the world. Q: What are your favorite travel destinations? A: Each destination is fascinating in its own way, and I love exploring new places and discovering what’s distinctive about them—local […]

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We feel that food is a window into culture, history and traditions, and we always encourage our travelers to visit local food markets as part of the private tours we arrange. It’s a great opportunity for people-watching and to sample the tastes and flavors of each destination. Here are a few of our favorite food […]

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One of the highlights of having a privately guided tour of the Cotswolds is the opportunity to learn about the incredible gardens in the region–the history, unique characters and characteristics of the manor homes and their gardens, and how international trade and exploration influenced English gardens, planting and style in the Cotswolds. Our tours of England and the […]

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Something I like to do when I travel is try the local version of a traditional British afternoon tea. Usually this is found in countries that have a history of British occupation, but not always. One of my favorite versions is at The Peninsula in Hong Kong. Held in the hotel’s elegant lobby, the menu […]

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