|
18 Days Britain in Depth Tour Package
Duration: 18 Days / 17 Nights
Priced From: $2,999 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: May - Sep
This 18-day vacation offers a complete panorama of England, Wales, and Scotland. After enjoying the sights of London, continue on to the Regency resort of Brighton, prehistoric Stonehenge, and Torquay on the English Riviera. In Plymouth, take a harbor cruise; in Bath, visit the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths. Through southern Wales and the wild beauty of England’s Peak District National Park, your journey also includes many Scottish highlights. A private cruise on Loch Lomond and visits to a whisky distillery, the Queen’s Balmoral Castle, Edinburgh Castle, and Holyrood Palace are all included. On your way to medieval York, stop and enjoy a guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House. Admire Belvoir Castle, the Duke and Duchess of Rutland’s stately home, then spend two nights in Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon with a delightful excursion to the surrounding Cotswold Hills before heading back to London via the university city of Oxford.
Itinerary
Day 1
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2 Arrival in London, England
Uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day 3 London
Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, and the Changing of the Guard, if held. Free time in the afternoon for independent activities or to join an optional excursion to Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with its fabulous Crown Jewels. Tonight, maybe an optional dinner followed by a cruise on the River Thames? (FB)
Day 4 London–Brighton–Southampton
Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart London at 9 a.m. A special visit to the ORNAMENTAL GARDENS of Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace includes a walk to see the Great Vine, Pond Garden, Privy Garden, and the flower borders of the Great Fountain Garden. In the Regency seaside resort of Brighton tour the exotic ROYAL PAVILION, the lavish oriental palace built for the Prince Regent in the early 1800s. Before dinner tonight at your Southampton hotel, join your Tour Director for a toast to happy touring with a congenial group. (FB,D)
Day 5 Southampton–Torquay
On your way to the glorious West Country, try to figure out the mystery of prehistoric STONEHENGE before taking a stroll in picturesque Salisbury with its vast cathedral, the ultimate in Early English Gothic. Continue through Thomas Hardy’s Dorset before arriving in Torquay on the English Riviera. (FB,D)
Day 6 Torquay. Dartmoor Excursion
Drive into the heart of wild Dartmoor National Park and visit quaint Widecombe in the Moor, ghostly setting for Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. Later, at historic Plymouth, see the Mayflower Steps from where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked in 1620 for the New World, then enjoy a HARBOR CRUISE complete with skipper’s commentary. Early afternoon arrival back at Torquay to further enjoy this palm tree-fringed resort. (FB)
Day 7 Torquay–Cardiff, Wales–Newport
(Wed.) On today’s agenda: Glastonbury and its associations with King Arthur; and the Georgian city of Bath Bath (Roman Heritage), with the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS. Cross the Severn Road Bridge into Wales where an orientation drive of the capital city features the major attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, and the stately civic buildings. (FB,D)
Day 8 Newport–Buxton, England
Head north in the “The Valleys,” whose iron ore and coal were the raw materials for the Industrial Revolution. On through Brecon Beacons National Park to Llangollen, home of an annual international contest for poets and musicians. In the walled city of Chester, your walking tour includes the Roman remains, black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered shopping arcades called the “Rows.” The next two nights are spent in the heart of the Peak District National Park. (FB,D)
Day 9 Buxton. Peak District Excursion
This morning’s highlight is a visit to magnificent CHATSWORTH HOUSE, the stately home of the Duke of Devonshire. Marvel at the opulence of the interior and wander through the gardens with cascading fountains and backdrop of the Derbyshire countryside. Back in Buxton the afternoon and evening are free for you to explore at your own pace. (FB)
Day 10 Buxton–Glasgow, Scotland
Drive into the scenic Lake District for a visit to Grasmere, home to the poet William Wordsworth. At the Scottish border, shop for gifts at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. In Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, see the 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares, built by the wealthy tobacco barons. (FB,D)
Day 11 Glasgow–Inverness
Head for the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond for a CRUISE on the loch, then enter the Highlands: wild Rannoch Moor; Glen Coe, where the MacDonalds were treacherously massacred; lovely Loch Linnhe; and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Later, watch out for the mysterious monster as you trace the shores of Loch Ness on the way to Inverness, the Highland capital. (FB,D)
Day 12 Inverness–Edinburgh
Cross the battlefield of Culloden Moor, then visit a WHISKY DISTILLERY for a guided tour. On to BALMORAL CASTLE, the Queen’s residence during the hunting season. (After July 31 when the Royal Family is in residence, visit CRATHIE CHURCH instead.) Drive through Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years. In Edinburgh tonight don’t miss our optional Scottish evening. (FB)
Day 13 At Leisure in Edinburgh
Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (except when the Queen is in residence). The afternoon is free and later a tour of the former Royal Yacht Britannia and then dinner would be a unique optional experience. For departure numbers 0727, 0803, and 0810 tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned Military Tattoo. (FB)
Day 14 Edinburgh–York
Visit Sir Walter Scott’s ABBOTSFORD HOUSE for a fascinating guided tour, then drive past the abbey ruins at Jedburgh and the house of Mary, Queen of Scots, into wild Northumberland National Park. Later, inspect a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes. In York, England’s most complete medieval city, stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (FB,D)
Day 15 York–Stratford
Head for the Duke and Duchess of Rutland’s BELVOIR CASTLE, one of England’s grandest stately homes, which houses an amazing private art collection. In Stratford-upon-Avon take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE. (FB,D)
Day 16 Stratford. Cotswolds Villages Excursion
Enjoy a delightful morning’s drive into the heart of the English countryside. Take your photos in the quaint villages of Chipping Campden and Broadway in the picturesque Cotswold Hills. Back in Stratford, plenty of leisure time to relax and explore this pretty, riverside Elizabethan town. Later, why not join your Tour Director on an optional outing to spectacular Warwick Castle followed by dinner? (FB)
Day 17 Stratford–London
At Bladon, pay your respects at the grave of Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister and wartime hero. The final highlight is a visit to Oxford, city of the dreaming spires, where a walking tour takes in the colleges where Britain’s elite receive their outstanding education. Return to London around 3:30 p.m. How about taking in a West End show tonight? (FB)
Day 18
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)
Save time, money and stress!
For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our UK vacation specialist.
Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
9/08
|
