England Travel Agents

We had booked KimKim for guides in York, England and the Yorkshire area. Tatiana, our English contact, provided us with knowledgeable local people who were wonderfully responsive to our interests. It was a great time for us. Thank you, KimKim.

Our 12-day trip to England and Wales was absolutely spectacular. All 6 of us had a delightful time, and I credit Aleksandra with helping us work out the details on logistics, and also for choosing 4 charming bed and breakfast locations. Each location was excellent yet each was different. The owners and staff were helpful from beginning to end, and the locations were convenient but infinitely more enjoyable than a boring, cookie-cutter hotel. Aleksandra worked with us patiently as we asked questions and made suggestions. In the end, she recommended the best itinerary for our needs. It was truly the trip of a lifetime, and we are so grateful for Aleksandra and KimKim helping to make it all happen.

Hotel Reviews

The Mitre by Innkeeper's Collection

London

Our party of six was airport-weary when we arrived, and we are grateful that The Mitre let us check in early. The staff was friendly and helpful, especially Elwyn. We had 3 rooms and they were all excellent. The beds were comfy and housekeeping was attentive. (Thanks, Anju!) Breakfasts accommmodated all sorts of tastes, from fresh fruit over waffles to the full English breakfast. The location in Greenwich is extremely walkable with a convenient tube station and a neighborhood with its own personality, with less crows and hustle/bustle of central London. We would return here in a heartbeat. Thanks!

Authenticity & Character

Rooms were charming and well-appointed. Spiral staircase had character.

Location

Walkable, nearby tube station, a grocery and pharmacy nearby, plus lots of food options.

Staff

Elwyn and Anju.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy beds, and attentive housekeeping each day.

The Northey Arms

Box

Our party of 6 adored the atmosphere at The Northey Arms. From the stately stone exterior to the charming upscale pub vibe to the inventive menu and the inviting outdoor seating, we loved this location. The rooms were inviting from the moment we walked in. Of course, a property can only be as good as its staff, and the staff of The Northey Arms functions like a well-oiled machine. The manager, Maddy, clearly has a top-notch training program in place, since all of the employees were a cut above. Katie, Chloe, Lottie, Marie, and Richard were all professional, friendly and helpful. The little touches like fresh flowers on the tables did not go unnoticed, and the food was memorably delicious. The mini-chocolate chip cookies served with tea were ever so yummy, and when we had to leave early on our last morning prior to the serving hours for breakfast, Maddy was kind enough to pack chocolate croissants for us to take along. We would return here in a heartbeat!

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully decorated with books and upscale pub appointments. Mourning doves cooing throughout the day were an added bonus.

Location

Convenient to Castle Comble and lots more of the Cotswolds.

Staff

Some of the best we encountered in the U.K.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large shower, comfy beds, plenty of outdoor seating.

Tir y Coed Country House

Conwy

Sandra and Chris have created a delightful retreat in north Wales. Tastefully decorated common areas and bedrooms, a yummy snack and convenient tea tray/amenities in each bedroom, very cozy beds with down comforters. Breakfasts tables are laid beautifully and delicious breakfast served in attractive style. Sandra was very helpful with logistics and planning for local activities, transportation options, and recommendations.

Authenticity & Character

Charming decor, gorgeous landscaping, outdoor teak furniture on lovely lawn, bird feeders that attract numerous species

Location

Convenient to Conwy, and a nearby bus stop

Staff

Sandra was wonderful, and the cook was excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the down comforters in the bedrooms and the peaceful feel of the common areas.

Hill Farm

Oxford

Graham and Laura have created a delightful retreat in Oxford. Our party of 6 travelers had 3 rooms and all of us enjoyed our stay immensely. The property has an inviting drive up to a quaint country home and stables. The rooms have been beautifully updated with modern amenities, but with an attractive nod to their historic past. Two of the rooms had private backyards, and the peacocks wandering through the courtyard on occasion were an added bonus. The drawing room had a piano and sheet music as well as board games and a large table. The bedrooms contained an extremely helpful notebook with recommendations for activities and restaurants, as well as easy-to-follow instructions on transportation. Breakfast was delicious and plentiful, and while eating breakfast we had the added bonus of watching riders astride their show jumping horses. When the airline moved our flight 2 hours earlier, the staff kindly packed 6 take-away breakfasts with yogurt, fruit, croissant and juice for the ride to Heathrow.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely historic exterior but well-appointed and convenient interior.

Location

A short drive from Oxford, yet removed from the hustle and bustle.

Staff

Graham and Laura were extremely helpful and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cozy bedrooms, extremely clean and tidy.

Activity Reviews

Retired Royal Guard Central London Walk

London

We did not have a retired royal guard because we requested someone more knowledgeable of history and culture--we weren't interested in the "royal gossip." We were absolutely thrilled with our tour from Blue Badge Guide Olga B. Her love and appreciation for London are contagious! She gave an excellent balance of history and modernity, and was more than willing to answer every question and tailor the tour to our particular interests. She spoke to some local merchants and we were allowed to pop in and see notable features of their shops (such as Winston Churchill's tobacco merchant). She also made wonderful recommendations of what to do with our remaining time in London. We highly recommend Olga's tour for those who want to make the most out of their 3-hour overview of London.

Quality of Experience

Absolutely worth every penny, as we learned so much and enjoyed it immensely.

Private Oxford University Punting Tour

England

Our punter, Angus, gave us a delightful trip and added helpful commentary along the way.

Quality of Experience

A peaceful trip down the river while learning about Oxford University.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The punting company has been in the same family for over 100 years--we loved chatting with the owner.

Jane did a wonderful job helping our group of five plan a three week trip to England that captured everyone's must see list and then some. Jane was very responsive, available and did everything we needed. The trip was fantastic and will be memories for a lifetime. Highly recommended!

Good news: Every guide, without exception was great- knowledgeable, friendly giving plenty of info, but not overdoing it. Kudos to all!

The Athenaeum was superb. In retrospect, it would have worked out fine to stay there for the whole trip. The staff, especially the two concierges were great, and went out of their way to help us. I can't say the same for the Hoxton. Reception, which included the dining area, was very noisy. The room was small (not a "Roomy Room" as described an pictured in the photograph), no washcloths, no luggage stand. An electrical switch, which we brought to their attention, went unrepaired for the entire visit. On the last full day, the room was unattended, and we had to order towels. The reception staff was friendly and helpful, as were the wait staff in the restaurant.

One glitch - our name wasn't on the two Rabbie trios., but Nic's was. Took a bit to get that sorted out on the first trip, so we were prepared on the second one.

Time was a a scheduling problem on two occasions - we just couldn't fit in the Music Museum. We wish we had more time and energy when we went to Greenwich. Having Cutty Sark tour between the Maritime Museum and the Observatory didn't work, because of the walking back and forth. Perhaps the Maritime Museum and Observatory should have been back to bac, since they are close to each other.

Restaurants - we had incredible (but expensive) meals at Scotts, J. Sheekey, and the Seabird on the 14th floor at the Hoxton. Masons Arms was good. To ur regret, we were unable to go to the Swan, Lore of the Land, and Duck & Waffle - perhaps next trip.

All in all, Routescape/ KimKim was a great company to work with, and Alex and Nic did fantastic work. We would recommend you to any one. Great trip, and well planned!

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Aleksandra helped us craft a picture perfect trip to the UK countryside. From the earliest planning phases, she listened to understand the experience we wanted and created a customized itinerary that ticked every box.

We started and ended our trip in London, and while we enjoyed the city's bustle, our focus was the countryside.

We began in Castle Combe at The Manor House. Aleksandra planned a memorable afternoon tea - one of the trip's absolute highlights. The grounds were beautiful and staff incredibly kind.

Aleksandra arranged a day trip led by Matthias at Galahad Tours. We visited picturesque villages and appreciated the historical context from Matthias. We'll recommend his company to every friend visiting the Cotswolds. Other highlights included Hidcote Gardens and Warwick Castle. We explored public footpaths and encountered local sheep - magical.

We visited Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall in West Yorkshire, chatting with locals in pubs. In York, we absorbed the city's rich history. Aleksandra arranged another tour through the Yorkshire Dales with driver Rob, who proudly showcased his beloved region. Highlights included Bolton Castle (a must!) and the town where they film All Creatures Great and Small - during filming day!

Aleksandra's thoughtful planning made us feel cared for throughout the journey. I highly recommend working with her and booking her private transfers between locations, which made the trip more relaxing and enjoyable.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We will most definitely be back. Thanks, Aleksandra!