14 day tour in mostly 4-star hotels, including 27 meals (13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 9 suppers)
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Bath, Oxford, London
Day 1: Arrive Edinburgh
Welcome to Edinburgh, Scotland's jewel of a capital city. A transfer from Edinburgh Airport to the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa is included. You'll meet your fellow travelers who will share your Scotland and England travel adventures at a welcome reception and dinner tonight.
Day 2: Edinburgh's castles and palaces
A sightseeing tour of historic Edinburgh with a local guide is the perfect place to begin any Scotland and England travel. Start at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official home in the city (subject to closure when Her Majesty is in residence). Then explore 12th-century Edinburgh Castle, on the opposite end of the city's famous Royal Mile, on a guided tour. There is much more of Edinburgh to explore on your own this afternoon. Journeys departing August 5 through August 26 will attend an outdoor evening performance of the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Day 3: Of castles, queens and legendary lochs
An excursion from Edinburgh brings you on a visit to impressive Stirling Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned. Then you're off for a private cruise on bonnie Loch Lomond and a tour of Glasgow on the Clyde before returning to Edinburgh for an evening at leisure and dinner à la carte at the hotel.
Day 4: From Roman walls to England's lovely Lake District
Travel from Scotland through some of Britain's most beautiful landscapes to England's Lake District today. En route, stop to check out the remains of Hadrian's Wall – constructed across Roman Britain in the 2nd century AD and named for the emperor who built it, now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and enjoy lunch. Arrive at your hotel and spa, set on a 35-acre estate in the heart of the English Lakes, for a two-night stay; dig into a barbecue dinner this evening.
Day 5: Cumbrian gardens and Wordsworth's Dove Cottage
An excursion today takes you first to an Elizabethan estate in South Cumbria dating back to 1350; a highlight of your visit to stately Levens Hall and Gardens is its topiary gardens – among the oldest and most celebrated in the world – which have been continuously maintained since 1694. Later, as you visit Dove Cottage – where poet William Wordsworth penned many a worthy word as a resident between 1799 and 1808 – you'll see for yourself why so many authors and poets have been inspired by this romantic region. Return to your hotel in the heart of one of England's largest national parks.
Day 6: Ancient Chester and on to Wales
Set out across what's considered among the loveliest parts of England to Chester. Much of this 2,000-year-old city still follows its orginal pattern dating back to when it was the Roman town of Deva; its old defensive walls make a pleasant walk around the ancient city center, sporting Roman ruins, a Gothic cathedral, and a mix of medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern architecture. Cross into Wales, arriving in the idyllic coastal village of Portmeirion for a two-night stay. Television fans may remember the village's celebrated pastel-colored Italianate villas from the 1960s British series The Prisoner, which featured exterior scenes filmed at your Victorian seaside hotel, the Hotel Portmeirion, overlooking Cardigan Bay.
Day 7: Caernarfon and through the Snowdonia Mountains by rail
The day begins with a visit to the historic town of Caernarfon and the 13th-century riverside castle where the investiture of the Prince of Wales takes place. Then climb through Wales' breathtaking Snowdonia Mountains on a classic rail trip – enjoying afternoon tea en route. Return to Portmeirion for an evening at
leisure and dinner à la carte at your hotel.
Day 8: The Bard's backyard and on to Bath
Your England travel adventures continue today with a drive from rural
Welsh landscapes to atmospheric Stratford-upon-Avon, city of William
Shakespeare. Explore the Bard's pastoral
riverfront hometown – site of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and many
historic Elizabethan and Jacobean buildings – as you please with Tauck's admission to Shakespeare-associated sites, before continuing on to the ancient city of Bath. Spend the next two nights at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel.
Day 9: Roman, Georgian & Victorian treasures in Bath
Known as one of the architecturally finest and most fascinating cities
in all of Britain, the historic spa town of Bath invites your exploration with its splendid Georgian townscape crafted from native limestone.
Enjoy a guided tour including the Roman
Baths, the Circus and the impressive Royal Crescent, among other sites
that reflect its rich Roman, Georgian and Victorian history. Spend the
rest of the day as you wish.
Day 10: Ancient mysteries and the hallowed halls of Oxford
Depart Bath on this memorable day of England travel, and head across the Salisbury Plain, passing through rolling countryside
where grazing sheep appear to be everywhere. Let your imagination take
you back in time 4,000 years or more as you view Stonehenge, the
mysterious circle of stones and monoliths erected by still-unknown ancient peoples. Continue on to Oxford for a guided walking tour of esteemed Oxford University, now just a few decades short of its 1,000th anniversary.
Day 11: A look at young Winston and the charming Cotswolds
nEnjoy a glimpse into the life of famed 20th-century British statesman Sir Winston Churchill on visits to Blenheim Palace, the Baroque estate where he was born, and his burial place in Bladen. Journey through the hills and plateaus of the peaceful Cotswolds – from the Old English
for "God's high open land" – stopping for lunch on your own in one of these quaint villages dotting the countryside, before returning to Oxford for a special dinner.
Day 12: Windsor Castle and on to London
Call on one of the world's most famous addresses today – Windsor Castle, which British royalty has called home for about 900 years. Schedule permitting, your tour of this extraordinary complex includes St. George's Chapel, Queen Mary's Dolls' House, and the State Apartments. Your final destination today is legendary London, capital of the United Kingdom. Your landmark Victorian hotel, Europe's original "grand hotel," is
ideally located close to many of the city's major sites and within
walking distance of some of the world's most famous shops.
Day 13: Merrie olde London and a grand finale in the Tower
Your day in London begins with a
visit to majestic Westminster Abbey, dating back nearly a thousand
years, followed by a guided sightseeing tour including famous sights such as Piccadilly Circus,
Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, #10 Downing Street, and Green Park. After some time to explore on your own, join us this evening for a remarkable end to an extraordinary journey – a private dinner at the Tower of London, capped by the 700-year-old tradition known as the Ceremony of the Keys... where you'll witness the Chief Yeoman Warder and his men secure the Tower for the night!
Day 14: Journey Home
Tour ends: London, England. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Langham, London to London's Heathrow Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
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