Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Edinburgh
You'll arrive in Edinburgh and head to your hotel to get settled. After checking in, the day is yours to rest up and adjust before you meet your Travel Director and the rest of the group.
- Day 2
Edinburgh
A Local Expert guides you through Edinburgh's main attractions. You'll drive along Princes Street past the Scott Memorial and see the neoclassical buildings of the New Town, then walk through the Old Town to visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle where you can see the Stone of Destiny and Scotland's Crown Jewels. The afternoon gives you time to relax or check out the National Gallery. On some departures, you might have the chance to attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Modern European cuisine at a quirky bistro in Leith)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Edinburgh highlights including Princes Street and Scott Memorial
- Explore the neoclassical Adam facades of the New Town
- Visit Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Explore Edinburgh Castle and view the Stone of Destiny and Crown Jewels
Optional Activities
- Visit the National Gallery
- Attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (on select departures)
Landmarks/POIs Scott Memorial Palace of Holyroodhouse Edinburgh Castle National Gallery - Day 3
Edinburgh to Lake District
After leaving Edinburgh, you'll arrive at Ardgowan, a 10,000-acre coastal estate where Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes the group and shares the family's history and conservation work. From there, you head to Gretna Green to see the location famous for runaway marriages, then continue south into the English Lake District.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ardgowan Estate with Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart - MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience
- Visit Gretna Green blacksmith's shop
Landmarks/POIs Ardgowan Estate Gretna Green - Day 4
Lake District
You'll spend the day in the Lake District exploring its mountains and lakes. First, visit Wordsworth's grave at a churchyard in Grasmere, then board a scenic lake cruise to see the mountains and wooded islands. Later, you'll take a nostalgic steam train ride along the River Leven.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Wordsworth's grave in Grasmere churchyard
- Scenic cruise on the Lake District admiring views of mountains, bays and wooded islands
- Steam train ride along the River Leven
Landmarks/POIs Grasmere Windermere - Day 5
Lake District to York
The morning starts at leisure before you travel through the Yorkshire Dales to Haworth. At the Bronte Parsonage Museum, you'll learn about the literary family and what inspired their writing. After that, you continue to York for a special dinner experience at Thirsk Hall, a historic grade II listed house from 1720 with later extensions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the historic Thirsk Hall, a grade II* listed three-storey town house built in 1720 and extended in 1770 by York architect John Carr)
Included Activities
- Visit Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth
- Dine-at-Home Experience at historic Thirsk Hall in York
Landmarks/POIs Brontë Parsonage Museum Haworth - Day 6
York
Walking with a Local Expert through York's town walls, you'll see York Minster, one of the largest medieval cathedrals in Britain, and wander the narrow cobbled streets including the Shambles. In the afternoon, you can choose to visit the National Railway Museum or spend more time exploring York Minster in greater detail.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walk within York town walls with Local Expert
- Visit York Minster - Britain's largest medieval cathedral
- Explore the Shambles and narrow cobbled streets
Optional Activities
- Visit National Railway Museum housing over 300 years of railway history
- Deeper visit to York Minster exploring its rich history and human stories
Landmarks/POIs York Minster The Shambles National Railway Museum - Day 7
York to Cardiff
You'll start at Anne Hathaway's cottage in Shottery, a 15th-century farmhouse with connections to Shakespeare's courtship. Next, go to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Shakespeare's birthplace, now a museum with original furnishings and documents. Later, you cross into Wales and reach Cardiff. An optional evening offers traditional Welsh music, storytelling, and local food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Anne Hathaway's cottage in Shottery
- Visit Shakespeare's birthplace museum in Stratford-upon-Avon
Optional Activities
- Optional evening experience featuring traditional Welsh music, storytelling and locally inspired menu in Cardiff
Landmarks/POIs Anne Hathaway's Cottage Shakespeare's Birthplace - Day 8
Cardiff
With your Local Expert, you'll walk through Cardiff Castle learning about its Roman foundations and 19th-century rebuilding. Your Travel Director then shows you around the city's landmarks including the Principality Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre, Pierhead Building and The Senedd. After that, you have free time to explore museums, walk by the bay, or sit at a local cafe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Cardiff Castle with Local Expert
- Orientation tour with Travel Director to see Principality Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre, Pierhead Building and The Senedd
Optional Activities
- Visit a museum
- Stroll along Cardiff Bay
- Visit a local cafe
Landmarks/POIs Cardiff Castle Principality Stadium Wales Millennium Centre The Senedd - Day 9
Cardiff to Bath
Crossing through the Cotswold hills with their golden stone villages, you arrive at Blenheim Palace, a major English Baroque building, where a historian talks about Churchill's time there. Then you travel to Bath, an elegant Georgian city built on hillsides. Your Travel Director introduces you to Pulteney Bridge and the city's layout.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Blenheim Palace and surrounding gardens
- Historian talk about Churchill's life at Blenheim Palace
- Orientation to Bath including Pulteney Bridge
Landmarks/POIs Blenheim Palace Pulteney Bridge Royal Crescent Bath Abbey - Day 10
Bath
You'll explore Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built above natural thermal springs. At the Roman Baths, learn about bathing culture and religious practices from nearly 2,000 years ago. The rest of your day is free, so you could relax at Thermae Spa if you'd like. In the evening, join the group for a farewell dinner at Brasserie Blanc featuring French-inspired cooking.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (French-inspired meal at Brasserie Blanc)
Included Activities
- Visit the Roman Baths with personal exploration of the Sacred Spring, Great Bath, temple remains and museum displays
Optional Activities
- Soak and relax at Thermae Spa
Landmarks/POIs Roman Baths Thermae Spa - Day 11
Bath to London
You'll cross Salisbury Plain to see Stonehenge, the mysterious prehistoric stones said to be around 5,000 years old. From there, continue to the city of Salisbury where you have time for lunch and to walk around. You can see England's tallest cathedral spire and the streets showing architecture from medieval times through Victorian era. After this, you head to your London hotel where the journey ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk around Stonehenge and view the prehistoric megaliths
Optional Activities
- Explore Salisbury city at your own pace
- Lunch in Salisbury
Landmarks/POIs Stonehenge Salisbury Cathedral
