Long Tours From London.
Page 22
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ICKFORDS, LTD., are in the forefront in connection with motor coach touring in this country, and they have undoubtedly done much to popularim this form of road travel, especially in regard to tours from London, of which they justly claim to be the originators. During the 1920 season the company carried more than 2,000 passengers on their English tours, and they anticipate an even greater demand for road coach tours in the coming season. They employ 55 h.p. Tilling-Stevens chassis fitted with 23-seater bodies for their long-distance journeys, the bodies being of a special design, which is briefly described in the article dealing with the company's Swiss tours pub
lished elsewhere in this issue. The seats are built on the armchair principle, are well sprung, and of roomy proportions. We consider, from the point of view of both comfort and design, that the seating plan, wthich is published herewith, provides the very best arrangement. Many coach owners, and we refer to those running long-distance tours, make the great mistake of sacrificing the individual comfort of the passenger in order to obtain the maximum seating capacity. Although Messrs. Pickford's vehicles are roomy and of fairly large proportions, they have acted wisely in restricting the seating accorm Modation to 23. By these means every
passenger is ensured the maximum of comfort, whilst increased provision is able to be made for a fair amount of luggage.
The long-distance tours which were run last year are to be repeated during the 1921 season, and it will not he without interest to give abridged details of each tour. They are as follow :—
The comprehensive nature of these eight distinct tours will be readily gathered from a perusal of the map reproduced herewith, which also shows the routes traversed.
With the exception of what is called the special tour de luxe to Scotland, for winch the actual departure from London is July 25th, the longest tour extends over 15 days' which, apart from the road mileage of 1,100, includes a journey of 170 miles by steamer and 50 miles by train. This arrangement should effectually overcome the possibility of any one form of travel becoming monotonous. The maximum weight of luggage allowed each passenger is 20 lb., ample provision being made for its accommo dation in the design of the body, as described on page 181.
Pickfords, Ltd., ran a very attractive tour for Easter, the itinerary comprising some delightful beauty spots famous for their warmth and sunshine at this period of the year. A start was made on Thursday at 10 a.m., the route being via Kingston, Esher, Guildford, Farnham, Alton (luncheon halt), Winchester, Lyndhurst (tea), Bourncinouth. Friday was spent as a day of rest in Bournemouth, whilst the journey was continued on Saturday 'via Dorchester, Crewkerne, Chard (luncheon), Honiton, Exeter (tea), Torquay. The return journey was corm mented on Sunday via Exeter, Welling ton, Taunton (luncheon), Glastonbury, Wells, Bath, where the night was spent. On Monday the journey to London was via Chippenhain, Newbury, Reading (luncheon), Maidenhead, Windsor. This tour proved to be very popular, • which is not to he wondered at, considering that the inclusive charge for the five days for the complete tour was nine guineas, the total road mileage which was covered being 440. The armchair seat type of coach was used on this tour.
Pickfords, Ltd., owe much of their success to the consideration which they give at all times to passengers' requirements.
Thc name of Cooks in ccnnection with the organization of tours needs no intro duction, and for the forthcoming season the company have arranged a series of tours which should make special appeal to the Londoner, these tours being of 3-13 days' duration, and extending from Lands End to the Western Highlands of Scotland No motor coach tours from London were arranged at Easter, but the com pany made special arrangements whereby passengers travelling by rail to a selected resort on the coast and staying for a
period covering the holiday, could make local motor coach excursions daily, inclusive return fares to London being adpvertised.
All the company's coaches are Daimlers, with a seating capacity vary ing from 14. to 30, and although the bodies are built to seat five passengers in each row, only four passengers are carried, so that in this way a 30 seater motor coach is set apart for the use of not more than 20 passengers, thus affording the maximum of comfort to the
Other tours to south-east coast resorts were run from London during Easter by J. Jackson and Sons, 8, Grand Hotel Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C., end the Thames Transport Co., Ltd., 17, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.O. 1.