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London

Right now London is probably the most exciting city in the world. In the last couple of years this dynamic global city has completely reinvented itself as the frontrunner of lifestyle trends, contemporary art and cutting-edge architecture and now even rivals New York as the food capital of the world. London plays host to world-class luxury hotels, restaurants covering over 90 different cuisines, outstanding art exhibitions, first-class museums, royal parks, theatre and opera and shopping opportunities that rival any other city on earth. In addition to having a colourful history that spans from Roman Times to the Tudors, the Regency period, Victorian London and two World Wars, over the last couple of years London has played host to 21 st century global events such as the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and, of course, the 2012 Olympics. Even if you have visited the UK & Ireland before, at Ampersand we always recommend starting and/or ending an itinerary in London. This dynamic and multicultural city always has something new to see, visit and discover.

County Laois

A county in the very heart of Ireland, County Laois is home to the Slieve Bloom Mountains, which are a great place to walk, hike and cycle. Just over an hour from Dublin, County Laois is the perfect place to spend a couple of days enjoying the countryside after a stay in the capital. However, due to its central location, County Laois is not on the traditional tourist trail, making it perfect for those looking to experience the ‘real’ Ireland.

Lake District

An outdoor lover’s paradise, the Lake District, located in Cumbria, is England's largest national park. Rich in natural beauty and birth place of William Wordsworth, the Lake District has been an inspiration to artists, poets and authors such as Beatrix Potter, Samuel Coleridge and John Ruskin. Climb England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and swim or sail on its deepest lakes as you meander the Lake District’s 3,500km of walking and cycling paths. For those seeking a little more adventure there are vast opportunities to rock climb, abseil, horse ride and kayak, fish and take a boat ride on the park’s 16 lakes, including Lake Windermere. A scenic round of golf is highly recommended, weather permitting! Alongside its spectacular natural scenery, Cumbria’s many towns and villages play host to idyllic country hotels, pubs and shops.

New Forest

Bath

Edinburgh and The Lothians

Hampshire

Loch Ness

Known for its infamous monster, Loch Ness is Scotland’s largest loch by volume and a site of outstanding natural beauty. Incredibly deep, the loch reaches nearly 230m below sea level in parts and is said to contain more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. Boat cruises on the loch are common but the loch is equally striking seen from its many green banks. Also popular to visit is the eery but beautiful Urquhart Castle on the banks of the loch which dates from the 13th century.

Oxford

Considered one of the England’s most beautiful cities, Oxford is a town worth visiting on any trip to the United Kingdom. As the setting of the third oldest university in the West (after Bologna and La Sorbonne), Oxford has a beguiling mix of sites on offer from the university’s colleges and quads to Christ Church Cathedral and Modern Art Oxford, one of the region’s leading galleries of modern art. Other highlights include Magdalen College, the Bodleain Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and the Venetian style Bridge of Sighs. Unsurprisingly due to its impressive backdrop of historic buildings, Oxford has been the setting for a long list of novels and films from Alice in Wonderland to Brideshead Revisited and, more recently, the Harry Potter films. Just outside Oxford lies Blenheim Palace, the birthplace and ancestral home of Winston Churchill, considered to be one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the country. The Palace is also the site of the famous Woodstock Literary Festival which takes place in September every year.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Celebrated as the town of Shakespeare’s birth, Stratford-upon-Avon is not to be missed for die-hard Shakespeare fans. Essentially a small market town, Stratford can be easily explored by foot; spend the day wandering down charming streets lined on each side with black and white timbered Tudor buildings and numerous cafes, pubs and restaurants. Stratford-upon-Avon highlights include Shakespeare’s house, Mary Arden’s farm, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother, and Anne Hathaway’s cottage; a quaint thatched farmhouse just outside the town provided the setting for Shakespeare’s courting of his wife-to-be. Also worth a visit is the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, which re-opened in 2010 after a three-year refurbishment. Based on Waterside, by the scenic banks of the River Avon, this Grade II listed art-deco style building is a creative combination of old and new.

The Scottish Highlands

The Cotswolds

Fort William

Perthshire

The British Isles, tailor-made.

We love luxury and style at Ampersand Travel, but we also love to engage with our destination. Our motto is ‘luxury is in the experience’: superb food, art, architecture or the great outdoors – these are the things we adore. All over the British Isles – from London to the Scottish Highlands, from the New Forest to County Laois – we know the best country house hotels, the smartest city hangouts, the most ravishing mountains to scale and the loveliest lakes to relax by. What we love most of all though, is revealing these treasures to our clients by designing their perfect tailor-made British Isles experience.

James Jayasundera
Founder & Managing Director of Ampersand Travel

Browse our luxury UK & Ireland itineraries to get inspiration for your own tailor-made journey.
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The latest

Hot off the press from our favourite destinations

Itinerary of the week

Not just for fanatics, our 11 day Downton Abbey itinerary takes you on a tour of the UK giving the perfect taste of the grand history of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early 20th century. It conveniently provides the perfect backdrop for an exploration of the most beautiful, iconic and interesting properties across the UK.

Top 10

FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOTELS

The British Isles are perfect for family holidays, be it a short weekend break or a school holiday. From natural landscapes like the Lake District, New Forest and the Scottish Highlands to the Harry Potter Studios, London’s many child-friendly museums and world-famous toy shop Hamley’s, there is just so much on offer.

Hotel of the week

GIDLEIGH PARK, DEVON

An impressive Tudor style manor house in the heart of the ethereal Dartmoor National Park, this property provides the perfect escape deep into the country side. Picturesque walks, historical houses and quaint villages are a stone’s throw away, just waiting to be explored. This historical hotel has gone from strength to strength, building a name for itself around the two-Michelin star restaurant under the Head Chef Michael Wignall.

AMPERSAND
The Bespoke Luxury Travel Experts

At Ampersand we believe that ‘luxury is in the experience’: whilst we love travelling in style, we’re not afraid to step off the usual circuit in order to experience something exceptional. We specialise in exclusive, luxury tailor-made holidays that are perfect for honeymoons, cultural tours, family trips, wildlife adventures, sabbaticals and multi-generational holidays.

Since 2003 we have established ourselves as a leader in creating luxury tailor-made tours to the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Far East. And in keeping with our desire to share the places we know and love best, we are thrilled to add Africa and the British Isles to our portfolio of destinations.

Our clients are mostly private individuals who recognise that time is their most precious asset and want to entrust it to experts with a well proven track record. This smoothes out the planning process and ensures that they have the most rewarding and memorable experience possible. We also look after some of the world’s most acclaimed museums and organisations who rely on us to arrange once in a lifetime small group tours for their most important patrons.

Why book with us?

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Client Testimonials

I had a very lovely time and was looked after splendidly. My first visit to India could not have been better, save for being longer! But I shall return at some point and I shall look to you to make the arrangements.
- Matthew Nicklin, North India

I would recommend Ampersand without any hesitation!!! The best travel agent that I’ve ever had. Everything – from the individual care and attention in planning the trip, through to the efficiency of the agents on the ground in India – was handled brilliantly. An absolutely first-class service all round!
- Matthew Annable, Rajasthan, India

Difficult to articulate just how good the service from you and your team really was. We know you will continue to do well and hope we have the chance to seek your assistance again before long.
- Mr & Mrs Manson, North India

We really enjoyed the trip and were happy that we squeezed so much into a few short days. The Burmese people were lovely and the sites were fantastic. We really enjoyed the balloon ride and would highly suggest it to others in the future. The trip went super smoothly and a good time plus learning happened for all. Yangon was nice as the Strand was quite amazing and we of course loved the giant gold temple. Many thanks for all of your help and look forward to future travel with you.
- Wallace Family, Burma

Ampersand’s preparation, attention to detail and interaction before and during our trip show exactly why good travel agents have a role in today’s internet booking age. They were a delight to deal with!
- Mr David Wallace, North India

Without question, you put together the best trip I have ever taken. We were shown around like visiting dignitaries, the hotels were fantastic and the itinerary was just right. Everybody I know will hear about how amazing Ampersand is!
- Leslie Siben, India

Ballyfin was great - we loved it! Best things were the amount of space, it felt like you had the whole place to yourself, the history of the house, and the staff. We'd definitely recommend it. Thanks very much for all the help getting it booked!
- Mr Wyburd, Ireland

We have just returned back from a wonderful trip. Thank you very much for organising everything. The transfer was excellent – for once they had perfect car seats. The villa was lovely, just what we needed and the hotel had helpfully put us as far away as possible from everyone else. The breakfast buffet was the best I have ever seen – and I am slightly obsessive over breakfast!! There was an incredible choice, something for everyone and so beautifully presented. A real highlight of the trip. Thank you again for sorting everything - and at such short notice!
- Redmayne family, Phuket

I barely know where to begin... though a sincere 'thank you' would be the best. You have organised this trip perfectly. May was an inspiring and delightful companion in Myanmar – thoroughly professional and friendly at the same time. My accommodation throughout has been superb, especially The Governor's Residence and The Mandarin Oriental. The view from the cottage at Inle Lake was beautiful and I loved every moment of being there. And here I am now on the last leg of this extended holiday at my favourite place. I could stay here for ever, the peace, silence and surroundings all amazing, plus the people and the whole aura of Vana. Thank you for much, and I look forward to speaking to you on my return.
- Ms Margulies, Burma, India & Thailand

We had a wonderful holiday - everything was perfect. Thank you for helping us to make a thoughtful plan to enjoy and make most out of our trip. The places we visited, the guides, the transportation and driver, the hotels selected... Everything was great!
- Jaime Benitez, South India

Getting to Amanpulo from Manila was very simple and the beach was the most beautiful I’d ever been on; pristine white sand, not a single piece of rubbish in sight. You get your own solar powered golf buggy to drive around resort (and a butler at request). The views from the Hillside Casita were spectacular!
- Mr Wyburd, Philippines

So many highlights to choose from! The hotels were amazing but Maya Villa was a highlight… I loved just hanging out in the hammock reading my book and watching the peacocks chase the cows!
- Krista Weir, Sri Lanka

Ampersand provided a bespoke and flexible holiday, tailored to my every whim. Their highly professional staff had only one goal which was to arrange an exceptional holiday and some unforgettable experiences in India. I have no hesitation in fully recommending them and they will be the first company I approach in the future - 10/10
- Anonymous, India

Everything you did for us whilst we were away was hugely appreciated, and Ampersand has been exemplary in every way. I'll always recommend you!
- Mr Richard Stoughton, Sri Lanka

I thought the Ampersand team was outstanding. We couldn’t have hoped for anything more.
- Mr Geoffrey Johnson, India

Difficult to choose the highlight of the trip, can’t choose between… 1) Taj Mahal & Oberoi Amarvilas. 2) Ranthambore. 3) Lake Palace. We have to say a particular thank you for selecting Parmod as our driver. He is a delightful and kind man who took our holiday and our enjoyment as his responsibility. Thank you for putting together such an amazing trip for us. The balance of city and rural destinations was perfect for us and the variety of rooms and hotel types brilliant. Our driver and guides also added so much to the trip with their knowledge of India’s history and culture and their willingness to discuss it both from a professional and personal angle.
- Carruthers family, North India