Itinerary

Day 1:
(Wed.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in London, England. (Thu.) Uniformed Globus Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 3:
London. (Fri.) After a hearty English breakfast, 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 ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. Free time in the afternoon for independent activities or to join an optional excursion to the Tower of London with its fabulous Crown Jewels. Tonight, maybe an optinal dinner followed by a cruise on the River Thames? (FB)

Day 4:
London–Cambridge–York. (Sat.) Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart London at 8 a.m. for a memorable day of sightseeing. In the venerable city of Cambridge, join a local expert for a visit to 500-year-old KING’S COLLEGE, including the CHAPEL with its marvelous fanvaulted ceiling and stained-glass windows (visits are restricted during examinations). This afternoon enjoy a visit to BELVOIR CASTLE, the stately home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, which houses one of England’s finest private art collections. Spend the next two nights in York, England’s most complete medieval city. Before dinner join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a toast to happy touring with a congenial group. (FB,D)

Day 5:
At Leisure in York. (Sun.) On a walking tour in the company of your Tour Director, visit the CASTLE MUSEUM which recreates the atmosphere of everyday life in Britain during the past 300 years. Then follow a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles, before exploring the treasures of aweinspiring York Minster. The rest of the day is free to enjoy this historic city at your own pace. Ask your Tour Director for this evening’s dining suggestions. (FB)

Day 6:
York–Edinburgh, Scotland. (Mon.) Fascinating landmarks as your northbound journey unfolds: at Hadrian’s Wall visit SEGEDUNUM where Roman life is vividly explained; glimpse sturdy castles built to repel Scottish invasions; enjoy a lunchtime visit to the lavish, newly created ALNWICK GARDEN, where the fountains and waterfalls are a breathtaking feature. Take your photos of the castle, ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, setting for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the recent Harry Potter films. Take in vistas of St. Aidan’s 7th-century Holy Island of Lindisfarne, cradle of English Christianity, as you cross the border into Scotland. Late afternoon arrival in Edinburgh, the “Athens of the North.” (FB,D)

Day 7:
At Leisure in Edinburgh. (Tue.) A full day to enjoy this “Prince of Cities.” 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 at leisure. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, which for the Queen was once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Tour five decks and see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For departure numbers 0802, 0809, and 0816 tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO, a vast spectacle of massed Scottish pipe bands which takes place in an arena on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. (FB)

Day 8:
Edinburgh. At Leisure. Excursion to St. Andrews. (Wed.) This morning, enjoy a drive across the elegant Forth Road Bridge and through Fife to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754, has given us the rules of golfing. A fun inclusion is the opportunity to hit a few balls at the ST. ANDREWS GOLF PRACTICE CENTRE. Spend the rest of the day back in Edinburgh. With so much to see and do, take your Tour Director’s best advice. Tonight don’t miss our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. (FB)

Day 9:
Edinburgh–Lake District, England–Chester. (Thu.) On the way through the history-steeped Lowland Hills, stop at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Leave the land of the Scots and journey through the tranquil Lake District, considered the finest of England’s national parks. At Bowness-on-Windermere, enjoy one of the highlights of the day—a CRUISE along the lake on an historic iron steamship. Spend the next two nights at Chester. (FB,D)

Day 10:
Chester. North Wales Excursion. (Fri.) On your walking tour in the walled city of Chester see the Roman remains, the characteristic black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered arcades called the “Rows,” with time afterwards to browse and shop. Your North Wales excursion takes the scenic route over dramatic Horseshoe Pass for a visit to picturesque Llangollen, home of an annual international contest for poets and musicians. A special treat: a guided tour of PLAS NEWYDD, the timbered black and white home of the eccentric “Ladies of Llangollen.” Tonight, take your Tour Director’s optional recommendation. (FB)

Day 11:
Chester–Stratford–Bristol. (Sat.) In Stratfordupon- Avon take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE. Time to explore this fine example of an Elizabethan town on your own before driving through the beautiful Cotswold Hills to quaint medieval Stow-on-the-Wold. Your destination for the next two nights is Bristol from where John Cabot sailed in 1497 to discover America. (FB,D)

Day 12:
Bristol. Bath Excursion. (Sun.) Your Bristol orientation tour focuses on Brunel’s daring Clifton Suspension Bridge, SS Great Britain and the historic harbor. In Bath see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS then plenty of time to explore this beautiful flower-festooned city at your own pace. This evening consider an optional excursion to the picture-book 13th-century village of Castle Combe. (FB)

Day 13:
Bristol–Winchester–London. (Mon.) Try to unravel the mystery of prehistoric STONEHENGE on the way across Salisbury Plain. Take a lundechtime break in Winchester, the ancient capital of Wessex, and visit the immense CATHEDRAL where the murdered King William Rufus and novelist Jane Austen of Pride and Prejudice fame are buried. Return to London around 3:30 p.m. How about celebrating the success of your leisurely tour of Britain with a night out on the town? (FB)

Day 14:
(Tue.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)

Dates & Prices

LONDON
Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and see the Changing of the Guard, if held

CAMBRIDGE
Guided tour of King’s College and the Chapel

BELVOIR
Visit the Duke and Duchess of Rutland’s castle

YORK
Walking tour, visit the Castle Museum

HADRIAN''S WALL
Visit Roman Segedunum

ALNWICK
Visit the Duchess of Northumberland''s spectacular garden

EDINBURGH
Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace

ST. ANDREWS
Practise at the Golf Centre

BOWNESS
Lake Windermere cruise

CHESTER
Walking tour

LLANGOLLEN
Guided tour of Plas Newydd

STRATFORD
Picture stop at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’s birthplace

BRISTOL
Orientation drive

BATH
Visit the Roman relics

STONEHENGE
Visit the prehistoric monument

WINCHESTER
Guided tour of the cathedral
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
(Thu.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in London, England. (Fri.) Uniformed Globus Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 3:
London. (Sat.) 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. (Sun.) 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. (Mon.) 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. (Tue.) 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, 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. (Thu.) 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. (Fri.) 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. (Sat.) 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. (Sun.) 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. (Mon.) 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. (Tue.) 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. (Wed.) 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. (Thu.) 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. (Fri.) 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. (Sat.) 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:
(Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)

Dates & Prices

LONDON
Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and see the Changing of the Guard, if held

HAMPTON COURT
A special walking tour through the palace’s ornamental gardens

BRIGHTON
Royal Pavilion tour

STONEHENGE
Visit the prehistoric monument

PLYMOUTH
Harbor cruise

BATH
Visit the Roman relics

CHESTER
Walking tour

CHATSWORTH
Visit the Duke of Devonshire’s stately home and gardens

LOCH LOMOND
Cruise the loch in a private boat

HIGHLANDS
Guided tour of a whisky distillery

BALMORAL
Visit the castle or Crathie Church

EDINBURGH
Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace

ABBOTSFORD
Guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s house

YORK
Walking tour

BELVOIR CASTLE
Visit the Duke and Duchess of Rutland’s stately home

STRATFORD
Picture stop at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’s birthplace

BLADON
Pay your respects at Winston Churchill’s grave

OXFORD
Walking tour