INCLUDES
- 9 NIGHTS 4-star hotel accommodation
- Full breakfast daily
- 3 dinners including a Scottish evening at Dalhousie Castle in Edinburgh, and a festive Welsh banquet in Cardiff Castle on most departures
- City tours of Windsor, Edinburgh and London
- Walking tours at York and Cariff
- London Hop-on Hop-off Tour
- Tours of York Minster, Edinburgh Castle and Cardiff Castle
- Entrances to Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, Bamburgh Castle, British Music Experience, Cavern Club, Tintern Abbey, the Roman Baths, Stonehenge, Tower of London
- One-way ferry travel from Cairnryan to Belfast
- Welcome get-together drink with your group
- Touring with professional driver/guide
- Transportation by luxury coach including FREE WiFi access
- Backpack including document wallet, luggage tags, baggage strap, universal power adaptor and rain poncho
HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1: Windsor Castle
Tour begins 2:30 at your Windsor hotel. Visit Windsor Castle, residence of the Queen and the largest inhabited castle in the world. In the evening, join your group for a welcome drink. Take a walk around this compact and historic town with a local guide. Overnight: Macdonald Windsor Hotel, Windsor
Day 2: Blenheim Palace & Cotswolds Drive
Travel to Blenheim Palace, a monumental country house and home to the Dukes of Marlborough. Enjoy a scenic drive through the picturesque Cotswolds, passing through quaint towns and villages nestled in distinctive rolling hills and valleys. Travel on to York, a city founded by the Romans in the first century and a major wool trading centre in the middle Ages. Overnight: Hotel Du Vin, York (B, D)
Day 3: York Minster & Bamburgh Castle
Take a walking tour of York’s medieval streets, including the Shambles, one of the city’s narrowest alleyways. Tour Gothic York Minster, renowned for its magnificent medieval stained glass windows. Visit Bamburgh Castle, an imposing medieval fortress that is one of the largest inhabited castles in Britain. This magical castle is set high on a rocky plateau affording wonderful views along the coast. Continue to your hotel near Edinburgh, Dalhousie Castle, and hear a piper play before a lively Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment. Overnight: Dalhousie Castle Hotel, Near Edinburgh (B, D)
Day 4: Edinburgh City Tour & Edinburgh Castle
Explore central Edinburgh starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with its planned streets and elegant Georgian houses. View Princes Street, the city’s premier shopping street, and see the Royal Mile, where medieval houses are clustered closely together. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. August 9 - 23 departures view the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. Overnight: Dalhousie Castle Hotel, Near Edinburgh (B)
Day 5: Lake District & British Music Experience
Travel through the Lake District, a region that inspired Beatrix Potter's many children's books. Stop in one of the many traditional villages before continuing to Liverpool. Visit the British Music Experience, an interactive attraction exploring British popular music through the decades. Admire the priceless collection of music memorabilia and enjoy a musical twist. The evening is free to dine on your own – then experience live music at the world-famous Cavern Club. Overnight: Hilton Hotel, Liverpool (B)
Day 6: Tintern Abbey & Welsh Evening in Cardiff
Travel through scenic Shropshire, one of the most unspoiled parts of rural England. Stop in Ludlow, a quintessentially English town to see the castle and quaint old black-and-white houses. Continue through the lovely Welsh countryside to visit the picturesque ruins of Tintern Abbey close to the River Wye. Head to Cardiff and tour Cardiff Castle before enjoying a Welsh banquet with lively music and entertainment. Overnight: Clayton Hotel, Cardiff (B, D)
Day 7: Roman Baths & Stonehenge
Take a panoramic drive around Cardiff with a brief walk to see the principal areas and buildings. Head to Bath for a visit to the Roman Baths, hot mineral-rich springs that have been popular since ancient Roman times. Stop for lunch on your own in this historic spa town. Then marvel at the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths of Stonehenge at Salisbury Plain and learn about the primitive building methods used to create such an enduring monument. In London, the evening is free to explore and dine in one of the city’s many restaurants. Overnight: Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel, London (B)
Day 8: London Tour & Tower of London
Set out on a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus with its statue of Eros, Nelson’s Column flanked by huge lions in Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Visit the mighty Tower of London to see the many fortresses, ravens, Beefeaters in their distinctive uniforms, and the priceless Crown Jewels. The rest of the day is free for further exploring. Overnight: Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel, London (B)
Day 9: London Sightseeing
Enjoy a day of independent sightseeing in London by Hop-On, Hop-Off bus and tour around the many famous landmarks as you please. You can choose from a number of different routes, including a walking tour and a cruise on the River Thames. Overnight: Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel, London (B)
Day 10: Tour Ends in London
Your program ends after breakfast. (B)
