Discover, Plan & Go!

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S for London

Depart U.S. on your overnight flight to London. Relax with meal and entertainment services.

Day 2: London at Leisure

Welcome to London! After immigration and baggage claim, take an independent coach transfer to your hotel, conveniently located near Hyde Park and Oxford Street. Coaches operate frequently throughout the day. After checking in to your hotel, you are free for the balance of the day. You may like to rest, use the health facilities in your hotel or explore London a little on your own. The British Museum, shops of Oxford and New Bond Streets, Hyde Park and Piccadilly are all within walking distance. In the evening meet your guide and fellow travelers over a welcome drink to discuss your vacation.

Day 3: Tower of London & City Sights

This morning take a tour around central London to see some of the many famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Nelson’s Column and lions of Trafalgar Square, Big Ben towering over the Houses of Parliament and Hyde Park. Visit the Tower of London to see the magnificent Crown Jewels, guarded by the Beefeaters in distinctive Tudor uniforms. Also see the White Tower, completed in 1097, together with many other fortresses and the famous ravens. Spend the afternoon and evening on your own to do some further sightseeing or shopping London offers so many possibilities. In the evening choose a restaurant for dinner or get tickets for a West End show. (CB)

Day 4: Cambridge & York

Drive north into the countryside to visit the university town of Cambridge. Stop to see some of the famous colleges, including King’s College, and the Mathematical Bridge over the River Cam. Head north by motorway to the lovely old town of York. Join a local guide on a walking tour, which is the best way to see the narrow old streets and medieval houses, especially along the Shambles where the houses on either side of the street almost touch one another. Tour York Minster, a huge medieval cathedral with towers, superb stained glass and memorials to people from all walks of life. Rejoin your coach to travel through the Yorkshire countryside to your delightful country manor house hotel in Guisborough. Enjoy the ambience and facilities before dinner. (CB, D)

Day 5: Alnwick Castle & Abbotsford House

Head north through Newcastle-on-Tyne to Alnwick to visit Alnwick Castle, the second largest inhabited castle in England. Dating from 1309, it has been a home for over 700 years to the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland. Tour the interior to see priceless collections of china, furnishings and paintings and view the Abbot’s Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable’s Tower. Walk through Alnwick Gardens, to see the Grand Cascade, the Poison Garden and many other themed plantings. Drive through the lovely Borders scenery to visit Abbotsford House, Sir Walter Scott’s home, where he wrote most of his novels. Drive to Edinburgh for an introduction to Scottish culture and food at a traditional cabaret. (B, D)

Day 6: Edinburgh Highlights

Discover Scotland’s capital on a tour around the city center. See Princes Street, the main shopping thoroughfare; the elegant Georgian "New Town" with its wide streets and squares; and the compact medieval city of tall houses clustered along the Royal Mile. Pass the Palace of Holyrood house, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland and also the new Scottish Parliament buildings. Tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. From its location at the top of a volcanic hill, you can enjoy splendid views of Edinburgh stretching in all directions. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing or shopping. On departures from August 4 to 18, experience the colorful Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

Day 7: Lake District & Chester

Journey through the peaceful pastoral lands of the Southern Uplands, renowned for their wool production, and stop at Moffat Woollen Mills where you will find a wide selection of locally-made Scottish products. Continue your drive south across the Scottish border and into the gentle hills, valleys and lakes of the Lake District. Stop to explore the delightful town of Grasmere, where the poet, William Wordsworth, is buried. Continue to Chester where a walking tour will include "The Rows," medieval arcaded shops, as well as discovering the original medieval walls, Roman ruins and Chester Cathedral. Drive to your deluxe resort hotel, which is set on 750 acres and offers spa facilities and a swimming pool to relax before dinner. (B, D)

Day 8: Depart from Manchester

This morning take a group transfer to Manchester Airport where your tour concludes at 8:00 am. Allow plenty of time for check-in formalities. (B)