Best of British Tour

Your tour departs from London at 9am. Travelling west we reach Salisbury Plain where we visit the remarkable megaliths of Stonehenge. After time at leisure in nearby Salisbury, we continue to Bath where we stay for the next three nights.

A leisurely start this morning before we drive into Somerset to visit Britain’s earliest Christian sanctuary – the famous ruins of Glastonbury. Legendary burial place of King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere, Glastonbury was once the grandest and richest abbey in England. Later we visit Bath’s famous Roman Baths and Pump room. The remainder of your afternoon and evening is at leisure to explore Bath’s picturesque  Abbey, the Georgian crescents, sights and shops.

This morning we take a scenic drive beside the winding, picturesque River Wye through the delightful Welsh borderlands. The highlight of your day will be a visit to the ancient ruins of Tintern’s Cistercian Abbey,  romantically set in a peaceful forest and providing inspiration to poets through the centuries. We will also visit Monmouth and enjoy a photo stop at Chepstow Castle. Set high above the River Wye, this Norman Castle dates back nearly 1,000 years. On the outskirts of Bristol we will also stop to take in the majestic Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, which  gracefully spans the River Avon. Later we return to Bath. Dinner tonight is included in a local restaurant.

Heading north, we arrive into Chester late morning. Rich in Roman ruins, Chester also has a wonderfully preserved medieval centre, full of half-timbered houses and the famous ‘Rows’ – double level, balconied  shopping arcades that date back to the Middle Ages, 700 years ago. Whilst exploring this incredibly historic town make sure you take a walk along the perfectly preserved, red stone, Roman city walls. Mid afternoon  we continue to the picturesque Lake District where we stay two nights.

*6 July departure stays 2 nights at Macdonald Old England Hotel and Spa.

We will spend a delightful day touring the famous Lake District. This morning we visit Ambleside and Grasmere where we have included entrance to the Wordsworth Museum and a guided visit through Dove  Cottage, once home to the poet William Wordsworth. Later this afternoon we have included a private cruise on Lake Windermere.

Crossing into Scotland we enjoy a morning tea stop in Gretna Green before we reach the New Lanark World Heritage Site, a sensitively restored 18th century cotton mill village in South Lanarkshire. The giant mill  wheels still sit over the torrential river and the 200 year old terraced houses have been restored offering an intriguing look at the workers family life two centuries ago. Later we continue to Edinburgh, where we stay  for the next three nights. Before arriving at your hotel we have included a tour and tasting to sample a ‘wee tipple’ at the Scotch Whisky Experience.

Subject to availability of tickets, the 3 August & 17 August departures may include attending a performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo one evening during our Edinburgh stay.

After a hearty Scottish breakfast, we are joined by a local guide to discover this city’s rich history. The highlights today include visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia and crossing the drawbridge to visit Edinburgh  Castle, which dominates the city’s skyline. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure in this grand city.

Today you have a choice – enjoy a free day in Edinburgh or join us as we visit Stirling and the Trossachs. This morning we travel to the Trossachs and the town of Callander, in the heart of Rob Roy country. Set  dramatically beneath high, wooded crags, this delightful town with its tearooms, craft and woollen shops makes the ideal morning tea stop. Continuing on we visit Stirling, the ancient capital of Scotland, that lies at the heart of the nation’s history. The streets of the old town wind upwards towards the castle, 250 feet up on a craggy rock. Our local guide takes us through this grand fortification, with its splendid views across the countryside to the Wallace Monument – built in commemoration of this legendary Scottish hero, William ‘Braveheart’ Wallace. Tonight we have arranged an unmissable evening. Enjoy dinner, including a taste of haggis, neeps and tatties & traditional Scottish entertainment including bagpipes, fiddles and dance.

Crossing the border into England and Northumbria, we reach striking Alnwick Castle where we have included a privately guided visit. Dating back 1000 years, the grand staterooms and lavish furnishings will not  disappoint. Home to the current Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, Alnwick Castle is also famous for having featured in numerous TV series and movies, such as special editions of Downton Abbey, and of course as mysterious ‘Hogwarts’ in the Harry Potter series. In the afternoon we enjoy a stop in the beautiful city of Durham with its majestic cathedral. Later, we continue to the historic walled town of York where we stay the next three nights. Tonight promises to be memorable as we dine at the Guy Fawkes Inn. Standing in the shadow of York Minster, this is the birthplace of the notorious plotter Guido Fawkes.

This morning will be spent exploring York. Following an orientation walk around the city with your Tour Manager, the rest of the morning will be at leisure. The Minster, the largest gothic church in England is a must see, whilst the narrow streets around the historic ‘Shambles’ (the preserved medieval street) offer great shopping or, perhaps take a leisurely walk along the Roman built city walls. This afternoon we indulge in a decadent afternoon tea of dainty sandwiches, handmade cakes, scones and specialty teas at ‘Betty’s Café Tea Rooms’, with its art deco interior, curved windows and ornate mirrors.

Driving north, we stop at Pickering where we board a heritage train of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for the ride to the coastal town of Whitby, once home to the famous explorer Captain Cook. Sit back and  relax as we pass by charming villages, such as Goathland - known to many as Aidensfield in the television series Heartbeat, and the bewitching Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film. Arriving in Whitby, we visit both Whitby’s Benedictine abbey and the Captain Cook Memorial Museum and enjoy a fish & chip lunch. Your evening is at leisure in York.

A leisurely start as we drive south into Derbyshire to reach Chatsworth mid morning. Here we enjoy a guided visit of stately Chatsworth House with its glorious interior, treasure rooms and gardens complete with an  ornate maze and the 300 year old water ‘Cascade’, falling 200 metres down the hill in a series of 24 steps. Arriving in Stratford-upon-Avon we visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage before settling into our central hotel,  where we stay for the next three nights.

This morning we visit nearby Warwick and its medieval castle. An expert local guide will join us to breathe life into a thousand years of secrets which hide in the shadows of the castle – tales of murder, mystery,  intrigue and scandal. After also visiting Shakespeare’s Birthplace the rest of the day and evening will be free to relax and wander the streets of Elizabethan Stratford-upon-Avon.

Today we visit Oxford, home to one of Europe’s oldest and most famous universities. A local guide takes us on a walking tour around the city and its colleges. Later this afternoon we will wander leisurely through  one of the most beautiful and unique regions in England – the Cotswolds. Our country drive will take us through famous villages such as Bourton-on-the- Water and we enjoy an afternoon stop in Broadway. Tonight enjoy a traditional roast dinner with all the trimmings in a local restaurant.

Travelling south we skirt London and enjoy a morning stop in Windsor. Later we continue into the heart of Kent and arrive at Leeds Castle where we stay our last, and most memorable night! Set romantically on an  island surrounded by a broad moat, the Castle, Gatehouse and Maiden’s tower comprise one of the world’s greatest sights. Tonight the entire castle becomes ours to enjoy! We have included a private tour through the  grand staterooms, halls, library, chapel and the 13th century section of the castle. Later, in the Library, we will enjoy a pre-dinner drink before our farewell dinner in Lady Baillie’s Dining Room.

Mid morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we will transfer to St Pancras and Paddington stations, in central London, where your tour ends.