Jules Verne - Closer to Home Brochure

Voyages Jules Verne, founded in 1978 by Philip Morrell, is a London-based escorted tour specialist with a heritage of pioneering journeys to remote and remarkable destinations. Originally conceived around an epic overland train journey from London to Beijing and Hong Kong, the company grew into one of the UK's most respected small-group tour operators, with groups typically comprising 12 to 15 travellers. Now part of the DER Touristik (DERTOUR) group and fully ABTA bonded, Jules Verne has long prided itself on Personal Travel Experts who handle bookings directly, and on a curated programme of nearly 200 tours and river cruises worldwide. The Closer to Home collection was developed in response to the pandemic-era demand for exceptional UK and Ireland travel, and many of those tours sold out rapidly.

Discovering the UK and Ireland by Rail and Road

The Closer to Home programme takes small groups into the heart of Britain and Ireland using a combination of vintage steam haulage, scenic road coaches and small expedition ships. A centrepiece of the rail tours is the Mayflower, B1 Class locomotive 61306, one of only two surviving B1s, built for the London and North Eastern Railway. Passengers travel in 1950s and 1960s Pullman-style carriages complete with wood panelling, table lamps, curtains and attentive on-board service. Itineraries built around the Mayflower include a journey to Windermere in the Lake District and the Balmoral Express to Edinburgh, both pairing the steam experience with hand-picked hotels and locally guided excursions.

Highlights Across the UK and Ireland

Beyond the steam rail tours, the Closer to Home brochure covered a wide sweep of British and Irish landscapes:

• Scotland by water: the Lord of the Glens cruise ship on the Caledonian Canal and Great Glen lochs, plus the new Highlands Lock to Loch panoramic voyage
• Yorkshire and Northumberland: guided tours of the Dales, the Northumbrian coastline with its sequence of castles, and the gardens of the north-east
• The Cotswolds, Oxford and Blenheim Palace – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 300 years of history
• Devon, Cornwall and the Jurassic Coast: a mix of well-known landmarks and quieter hidden corners
• Wales: the Brecon Beacons and Anglesey, with visits to local artisans and craft producers
• The Lake District: tracing the homes of John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth, with a poetry recital at Rydal Mount
• Ireland: a literary-themed tour following the footsteps of Ireland's celebrated writers across the island's landscapes
• A Scottish Highlands Easter voyage through the Great Glen, with the option of sailing aboard the Lord of the Glens

Personal Travel Experts and Customer Service

Jules Verne has always sold directly, with dedicated Personal Travel Experts guiding each booking from enquiry through to departure. The Closer to Home tours earned five-star customer reviews on a range of itineraries including A Jurassic Journey, The Charm of the Cotswolds, Letters from the Lakeside, Northumbrian Majesty and In God's Own Country. All tours in this collection are ABTA bonded, and Jules Verne's 100% Price Guarantee means the price agreed at the time of booking is fixed and will not increase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Voyages Jules Verne still operating?

Yes. Jules Verne continues to operate as an award-winning small-group escorted tour specialist. It is now part of the DER Touristik (DERTOUR) group and trades under the name Jules Verne. Details of current tours are available on the company's official website at vjv.com.

Are Jules Verne tours ABTA protected?

Yes. All Jules Verne tours and cruises are fully ABTA bonded, providing financial protection and access to ABTA's dispute resolution services. The company also operates a 100% Price Guarantee, fixing the tour price at the point of booking.

What is the Mayflower locomotive used on Jules Verne steam tours?

The Mayflower is B1 Class locomotive 61306, one of only two surviving B1s originally built for the London and North Eastern Railway. Restored to working order, it hauls Pullman-style carriages from the 1950s and 1960s, fitted with wood panelling, table lamps and curtains, creating an atmosphere of classic British rail travel.

What is the Lord of the Glens cruise?

Lord of the Glens is a small expedition ship that navigates the Caledonian Canal and the four lochs of the Great Glen in Scotland, including Loch Ness. Jules Verne uses it for intimate Scottish Highlands cruises that pass through Neptune's Staircase locks and call at villages and historic sites along the route.

How large are Jules Verne tour groups?

Jules Verne tours are designed for small groups, typically of around 12 to 15 like-minded travellers, with the aim of keeping the experience personal and avoiding the crowds associated with larger coach tours.

What happened to the Jules Verne Closer to Home brochure?

The Closer to Home collection was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic period in response to demand for high-quality UK and Ireland tours. Many departures sold out. Jules Verne has continued to offer UK and Ireland itineraries since then; the current programme is listed on the Jules Verne website.

This brochure is part of the Catalink archive and may no longer be available to order. The information above describes Voyages Jules Verne and their Closer to Home UK and Ireland tour collection. For current details, visit the company's official website.