Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour
No trip from Hampshire is complete without a visit to the famous Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour near Watford. This behind-the-scenes peek into the wizarding world takes at least 3 hours to fully experience, making it an ideal charter bus destination. You’ll marvel over iconic sets like the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and Hagrid’s hut, plus see props and costumes up close in exhibits dedicated to creatures, Quidditch, animatronics, and special effects used in the films. Limit putting baggage below on your charter bus so there’s room for purchases made at the huge Studio Tour gift shop!
Windsor Castle
As the longest-occupied palace in Europe, majestic Windsor Castle has been a royal residence and fortress for over 900 years. Take a guided tour to appreciate fine Georgian and Victorian interiors and artworks by the likes of Rembrandt and Rubens. Don’t miss St. George’s Chapel, where modern royal weddings and funerals have taken place. On weekends, it may take an hour just to enter by coach with the crowds, so an early charter bus departure is key. Build in free time to wander the quaint town of Windsor too, before the drive back to Hampshire.
Salisbury and Stonehenge
Pair two iconic Wiltshire attractions by chartering a bus to Salisbury and Stonehenge. Enjoy priority entry to Stonehenge first, to walk amongst the 5000-year old mystery of these towering prehistoric stones. Then on to Salisbury to marvel at the tallest cathedral spire in England and the best original copy of the Magna Carta. The combination makes for an idyllic day seeing history come to life. Don’t forget to budget time for afternoon tea or a pint at one of Salisbury’s historic inns before the drive home!
Blenheim Palace and The Cotswolds
Transport your group back a few centuries by booking a spacious charter bus and heading north to regal Blenheim Palace and the darling villages of The Cotswolds for a full day out. The vast baroque palace where Winston Churchill was born offers sumptuous state rooms and expansive landscaped gardens ideal for strolling. Then onwards to picture-perfect Cotswolds hamlets like Castle Combe or Bibury. Wander cobbled lanes past honey-colored stone cottages, quaint churches, babbling brooks, and more. On the way home, stop at a countryside pub for locally-brewed ale and traditional fish and chips or steak and ale pie.
Brighton Seaside
No list of charter bus day trips is complete without the iconic Brighton seaside resort and pier. Enjoy a scenic coastal drive before strolling the Brighton Beach boardwalk and lively pier with its amusement arcade games. Snap photos in a colorful beach hut or the Royal Pavilion’s exotic Indian-inspired domes. Wander the historic winding lanes or “Lanes” packed with quirky boutiques, cafes, restaurants and pubs. End with spectacular fish and chips or a Mr Whippy ice cream on the pebbly beach before heading back after a perfect seaside day out from Hampshire.