My wife and I hired Keith Bates for a transfer from South Hampton Port to London and a full day tour of London on April 27th.
Everything about the experience was exceptional!
Keith met us at the cruise terminal at the appointed time. I even believe he arrived early just in case we were able to disembark the ship sooner than expected. He collected us and managed the bags into his beautiful Mercedes van. The van was the perfect touring vehicle with large windows, lots of space, and very comfortable seats for an 8-hour adventure.
The drive from South Hampton to London was quick and entertaining with the interesting commentary. Keith is an outstanding driver paying very close attention to his surrounding and our safety while keeping us engaged. On the drive Keith took the time to get to know us, asking questions about our interests, passions, and our previous visits to London. He presented itinerary options for the day to us for feedback and concurrence. Throughout the day he would use what he had learned to add color and depth to the sites and historical backstories. By the end of the day it felt like touring the city with a close friend. Keith noticed that I wasn't feeling well so (with my permission) he worked his connections during the day to arrange a doctor's visit at the end of the day, a prescription pickup, and then a drop off at the hotel - talk about going above and beyond.
We did a driving tour of London to start then parked the van in a couple of location and walked to the changing of the guard and the Tower of London. Keith depth of knowledge was truly impressive. He is well educated and articulate. He provided us a list of restaurant recommendation that accommodated our dietary restrictions. We dined at Simpson's on Strand and Rules on Maiden Lane which were outstanding.
We were so impressed with Keith that we contacted him to book an additional half day walking museum tour where we visited Westminster Abby and the National Gallery. Keith's passion for his city is contagious. The seemingly secret allies and gardens he showed us gave a local flavor that made the day unique, not just a check list approach to guiding.
In thirty years of traveling the globe, Keith is by far the best tour guide we have ever had! read more