On your journey through England, Scotland and Wales, you'll experience a theatre performance in London, an evening of dinner and local entertainment in Edinburgh, and an overnight stay at Ruthin Castle. You'll see the must-see sites in London including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Stop in Cambridge, home of the famous university; and in York, don't miss the magnificent 13th-century Minster, thought to be one of the finest cathedrals in all of Europe. A two-night stay in Edinburgh, Scotland, allows you to tour its famous highlights including Edinburgh Castle, home of the Scottish crown jewels. You'll delight in the rolling countryside and charming villages of the area known as the Cotswolds. All along the way, there will be beautiful vistas at every turn, from the pastoral scenes of England's Lake District, to the ancient structures of Bath, to the quaint charm of Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Overnight Flight - Feel the vibrant energy of England, hear the unique sounds of Scotland and see the rolling countryside of Wales on a trip that combines the exploration of dramatic history and natural wonders.
Day #2 London, England - Tour Begins - Your tour begins in London, the magnificent capital of Britain. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.
Day #3 London - This morning, see the quintessential sights of London, hosted by a local guide. View Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and the changing of the guard (when held). London has one of the best live theatre scenes in the world. Later today, enjoy one of London’s spectacular theatre* performances.
Day #4 London - Cambridge - York - Today you visit Cambridge, home of the famous university which is nearly 800 years old. Later, stroll through the medieval city of York and the famous “Shambles,” a quaint, narrow street that appears today almost as it did during the Middle Ages. Here you’ll find great shopping and a street that is so narrow in parts that you can almost reach both sides with your outstretched arms. A visit is included to the magnificent 13th-century York Minster, one of the finest medieval cathedrals in all of Europe.
Day #5 York - Cheviot Hills - Edinburgh, Scotland - Today, head north through rolling fields covered with thousands of sheep. Stretching over the open moorland you will find Hadrian’s Wall, which once marked the northern border of the Roman Empire. Stop to see this ancient fortification that was built in AD 121 in response to repeated barbarian invasions against the Romans. Next, drive through Northumberland National Park and the Cheviot Hills before arriving in Edinburgh, the "Athens of the North." Enjoy discovering Scotland's exciting capital city which is rich in scenic beauty and culture.
Day #6 Edinburgh - Enjoy a locally-guided tour of Edinburgh that includes Edinburgh Castle, home of the Scottish crown jewels. You will get a glimpse at what life is like for the royals during your visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse**, the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh, and once the home of Mary, Queen of Scots. Your evening is at leisure to sample one of Edinburgh’s fine restaurants and perhaps take an evening stroll through the Princes Street Gardens to view the illuminated castle.
Day #7 Edinburgh - Lake District, England - Wales - Your final stop in Scotland is at the border town of Gretna Green where generations of runaway couples came to be married. Here you will discover what it means to be married “over an anvil.” Later today you’ll return to England and travel through the picturesque English Lake District. In the heart of the Lake District, visit the charming village of Grasmere, home of the poet William Wordsworth. End your day with an overnight stay in a beautiful castle situated in the north of Wales. Tonight, enjoy a medieval dinner complete with Welsh entertainment.
Day #8 Wales - Stratford-Upon-Avon - This morning, a brief tour of the castle introduces such niceties as the ladies walk and gardens (and the not-so-nice whipping pit and dungeon). Next, journey to Stratford-Upon-Avon, your home for the next two nights and birthplace of William Shakespeare, England’s most famous playwright. Walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps, visiting his birthplace as well as his wife’s thatch-roofed home, Anne Hathaway’s cottage.
Day #9 Stratford-Upon-Avon - Bath - Stonehenge - Stratford-Upon-Avon - Journey through some of England’s most beautiful countryside. Stop in the ancient Roman town of Bath - renowned for more than 2,000 years for its spas and natural hot springs. Visit the Roman Baths Museum to see the elaborate spas, valued since Roman times for their curative properties. Finally, no visit to Britain would be complete without a visit to Stonehenge of Celtic and Druid lore. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.
Day #10 Stratford-Upon-Avon - Tour Ends - Your journey through Britain ends today.