Itinerary
- Day 1
Windsor
Your small group gathers at 3:00pm where you'll meet your tour director and the other travelers joining you. From there, you'll walk over to Windsor Castle, which is the oldest and largest occupied castle still in use today and has served as an official royal residence for over 40 monarchs. Later in the evening, everyone sits down together for a welcome dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Windsor Castle
Landmarks/POIs Windsor Castle - Day 2
Blenheim Palace - Stratford-upon-Avon
The day starts with a guided walking tour through Oxford's streets, taking in the architecture and history of this famous university city. After that, you'll head to Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill and home to the Dukes of Marlborough since the early 1700s. By evening you'll be settled in Stratford-upon-Avon, located in the heart of the Cotswolds region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Oxford
- Visit Blenheim Palace
Landmarks/POIs Oxford Blenheim Palace - Day 3
Stratford-upon-Avon
You'll spend the day wandering through the Cotswolds landscape, where you can see rolling hills and villages with honey-colored limestone buildings, stone walls, and thatched roofs throughout. Then head back to Stratford-upon-Avon to see William Shakespeare's Birthplace. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore this market town at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Cotswolds villages
- Visit William Shakespeare's Birthplace
Landmarks/POIs Cotswolds William Shakespeare's Birthplace - Day 4
Lake District
Travel north through the English Midlands to reach Levens Hall, which features a topiary garden that's the oldest in the world. Later you'll arrive at Rydal Mount in the Lake District, where you can learn about poet William Wordsworth and what inspired some of his most famous romantic work.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Levens Hall and topiary garden
- Visit Rydal Mount
Landmarks/POIs Levens Hall Rydal Mount - Day 5
Lake District
This is a more relaxed day in the Lake District. You'll take a train journey through the Leven Valley to Lakeside, then board a boat to cruise across Lake Windermere. After that, spend time walking through Bowness-on-Windermere village before heading back to Grasmere to try the famous Grasmere Gingerbread (75°F/24°C typical for this time).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Train journey on Haverthwaite Steam Railway
- Boat cruise on Lake Windermere
- Visit Bowness-on-Windermere
- Sample Grasmere Gingerbread
Landmarks/POIs Haverthwaite Steam Railway Lake Windermere Bowness-on-Windermere Grasmere - Day 6
Edinburgh
Head north toward Scotland, stopping first at Gretna Green where the famous blacksmith historically married runaway couples. Once in the Scottish Lowlands, you'll visit Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott, with a guided tour included. Later there's a private whisky tasting at Abbotsford before settling in for the night in Edinburgh.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Gretna Green
- Guided tour of Abbotsford House
- Abbotsford Whisky tasting
Landmarks/POIs Gretna Green Abbotsford House - Day 7
Edinburgh
Start the morning with a local guide who'll walk you through Edinburgh's 200-year-old New Town, sharing stories about famous scientists, inventors, and writers from the city's history. Next, you'll go to Edinburgh Castle in the Old Town to see Scotland's crown jewels. The rest of the afternoon is free, so you can wander around and check things out on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Edinburgh New Town and Old Town
- Visit Edinburgh Castle and Scotland's Crown Jewels
Landmarks/POIs Edinburgh Castle - Day 8
Scone Palace - Scottish Highlands
Leave Edinburgh crossing the Firth of Forth, and stop at the St Andrews Golf Practice Centre driving range to hit some balls. Then visit Scone Palace, which has been the ancestral seat of the Earls of Mansfield, for a private tour where you'll learn about the crowning of Scottish kings including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce. After that, continue into the Highlands for overnight accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- St Andrews Golf Practice Centre driving range
- Private guided tour of Scone Palace
Landmarks/POIs Firth of Forth St Andrews Scone Palace - Day 9
Glasgow
Start with coffee at Castle Menzies, which has been the historic seat of Clan Menzies chiefs for over 500 years. Then head to Glenside Farm Haggis Experience where you'll learn how to make Scotland's national dish and have lunch there. From there, travel through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park on your way to Glasgow for a final dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Haggis lunch), Dinner (Dinner in a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Coffee at Castle Menzies
- Glenside Farm Haggis Experience and haggis lunch
- Travel through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Landmarks/POIs Castle Menzies Glenside Farm Loch Lomond Trossachs National Park - Day 10
Tour End
Your tour ends this morning with breakfast. Safe travels heading home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
