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 With spring making an appearance, Mothering Sunday offers the perfect opportunity to get out and explore the sights of the city and beyond. On this special day, why not go that extra mile and do something with or for your mum that's just that little bit more extravagant or unusual? A trip out of London on a vintage steam train, a river cruise followed by dinner, a trip out to England's glorious Cotswold countryside or maybe just a visit to Kew Gardens with the daffodils in bloom, it's often those extra small touches that make all the difference.
 We've selected a few extra special trips that are guaranteed to make your mum smile this Mother's Day.  London Eye and LunchCelebrate Mother’s Day in the city in style this year with a luxurious package including a flight on the iconic London Eye, preceded by lunch in one of Covent Garden’s most celebrated restaurants. Porters English Restaurant is located in the heart of Theatreland. Enjoy a complimentary glass of Kir Royale in the restaurant before settling down to a three-course lunch from the excellent table d'hote menu. Porters’ best sellers include steak, Guinness and mushroom pie, pork, leek and sage sausages and salmon and prawn fishcakes, not to mention some wonderfully calorific puddings – perfect for treating mums this Mother’s Day. After a luxurious lunch, stroll through Covent Garden to the River Thames for a flight on the Eye. Voted the world’s most popular tourist attraction in spring 2005, the British Airways London Eye towers head and shoulders above most other city experiences. This spectacularly streamlined riverside wheel boasts an impressive 150 metre arc and allows inhabitants of its sleek, modern totally see-through glass-pods an unrivalled 360˚ view of London and beyond – the Houses of Parliament, Canary Wharf, Big Ben, the glorious old winding Father Thames and Windsor Castle are just a few of the 55 attractions that can be admired from the top of the arc. On a clear day the view extends to 25 miles in each direction. Relaxing, fascinating and inspiring, the Eye has become a definitive part of the London experience. What are you waiting for? Hop on and take in the capital’s greatest landmarks and sweeping panoramas safely ensconced in one of 32 fully enclosed, perfectly designed, high-tech pods. As a special spring treat every booking made for tours up to and including the 31st March will receive a FREE copy of the London Eye souvenir guide 'Essential Eye' (worth £5.00). Happy Mother's Day! Information and Bookings Venue: Porters Restaurant | British Airways London Eye Address: 17 Henrietta Street, WC2E | Jubilee Gardens, SE1 Phone: 020 7437 4370 Time: Lunch 12:30 | Flight 15:00 Price: £36 per person Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near the London Eye   Kew GardensWith its cooling glades, romantic rose gardens, steamy glasshouses, woodland copses and elegant pagodas, Kew Gardens is a glorious place to take mum this Mother’s Day. Experience the subtle and dramatic, but always magical, changing of the seasons, as you explore Kew’s 300 magnificent, flourishing acres. Kew has over 40,000 plants constantly embarking on a fascinating journey through their annual cycles – flowering and fruiting, growing and resting. This spring over 5 million bulbs will be flowering throughout the six weeks of the Spring Festival, offering wave upon wave of dazzling yellows, vibrant lilacs and effervescent purples. After admiring the new bulbs escape the spring breeze and seek refuge in the pulsating humidity of one of the numerous glasshouses. This spring some of the most resilient plants on the planet will be on show in the new Davies Alpine House; the first glasshouse to open in Kew for over 20 years. When you're ready to enjoy the fresh air again, compare the delicate beauty of the Rose Garden with the soothing tranquillity of the Waterlily House. Then journey through the Japanese Gateway leading up to the elegant Oriental pagoda and its accompanying dry-stone landscape gardens representing peace, activity and harmony. This Mother's Day visitors will be able to climb one of Kew's famous landmarks - The Pagoda - for the first time in recent memory. This World Heritage Site and former royal residence also boasts stunning vistas nestled within the lush landscape beside the River Thames. Hidden deep in the woods Queen Charlotte’s Cottage is definitely a must-see, while the stunning Syon Vista, offering an unrivalled aspect across the Thames to the Syon Estate, makes this possibly one of the most visited areas at Kew. Mums will love this idyllic outing. Information and Bookings Venue: Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Address: Kew, Surrey, TW9 Phone: 020 7437 4370 Time: Daily 9:30 - 17:00 Price: £10 (Adults), £7 (Concs), Free (Under 17s) Nearest Station: Kew Gardens Tube / Rail Travel and Hotel Information Near Kew Gardens  Cotswolds Coach TourWhisk your mum away from the hustle and bustle of the city this Mother’s Day. This glorious coach tour to the Cotswolds is the perfect way to unwind while taking in some of the most beautiful countryside in England. The first stop of the tour is in the quaint town of Burford with its crooked houses, leaning walls and gabled cottages. Your coach will then move on through the Windrush and Dickler Valley to “Venice of the Cotswolds” – the Gloucestershire village of the Bourton-on-the-Water. You will then climb to the highest town in the Cotswolds; the charming Stow-on-the-Wold is perched high up at 800ft offering great views over the surrounding countryside. After admiring this series of tiny villages and cosy cottages the tour enters the grand, expansive grounds of Blenheim Palace. One of England’s most magnificent stately homes, Blenheim is the ancestral seat of the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The palace contains a wonderful collection of furniture and paintings, while the grounds (landscaped by Capability Brown) include lakes spanned by stone bridges, rolling hills, woodlands, follies and the world’s largest hedge maze. Treat yourself and your mum to a traditional English cream tea to round off this special day. Information and Bookings Depart: Pick-up point to be arranged. Phone: 020 7437 4370 Time: Wed, Fri and Sun 9:00 - 18:30 Price: £42 - £47 per person  River Cruise and RestaurantTake to the water this Mother’s Day with a gentle, ambling river cruise to picturesque World Heritage Site, Greenwich, followed by dinner at the Covent Garden Grill. Travel in snug comfort down the river towards Greenwich, while admiring the diverse range of architecture that adorns the banks of the Thames. From the historic, turreted edifices of the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London to the sleek contemporary lines of the British Airways London Eye, Canary Wharf and the London Gherkin, the buildings dotted along the riverbank tell the story of the city’s rich history and development. The afternoon is dedicated to exploring Greenwich; its markets, cobbled streets, the Cutty Sark, the Royal Naval College, the Observatory and Queen’s House are just some of the many attractions populating this historic village. After an afternoon’s sightseeing, climb back on your boat and journey back to the city just as the sun is setting. A delicious two-course meal awaits you after you disembark, with a cool glass of Kir Royale on the table ready to greet you at the restaurant. The perfect way to spend Mothering Sunday. Information and Bookings Depart: Waterloo Pier Phone: 020 7437 4370 Time: 12:10 depart Waterloo Pier | 17:00 depart Greenwich | 19:30 dinner Price: £30 per person  Steam Train Trip to SalisburyAccompany your mum on a trip down memory lane this Mothering Sunday with a vintage steam train trip to Salisbury. Sit back and relax as you take in the beauty of the rolling English countryside with the calming, nostalgic sound of the steam train chugging along the tracks echoing in the background. When you arrive in Salisbury – home to a host of beautiful half-timbered buildings - you have plenty of time to explore the sights; from the simple elegant beauty of Salisbury Cathedral to the grandeur of Wilton House, home to the Earl of Pembroke and one of the finest stately houses in Britain. If you really want to push the boat (or train) out this Mother’s Day you can further personalise your train trip. Arrange to have a picnic hamper delivered on the train or go all out and pepper your train journey with a champagne brunch followed by a three-course dinner. Whatever you choose, this trip is guaranteed to put a smile on mum’s face this Mother’s Day. Information and Bookings Depart: London Victoria Station Phone: 020 7437 4370 Time: 8:45 depart London Victoria | 18:00 arrive back at London Victoria Price: From £50 to £139 per person  Did You Know? - Chinese family names often begin with a sign that means "mother" thus honouring past mothers. - In the Middle Ages most ordinary churchgoers would worship at their nearest parish or "Daughter" church. Once a year, during Lent, they would return to attend a service at their original or "Mother" church. Some believe this is where the tradition of Mothering Sunday stems from. |
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