The Highlights of Britain tour visits England, Wales and Scotland. Starting in Windsor you will visit castles of current and past royalty, Roman bathhouses, the wild Brecon Beacons in Wales. Come back south through York and Stratford-upon-Avon the birthplace of Shakespeare. Finish in London where you will see Piccadilly Circus, Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The infamous Tower of London and the dazzling Crown Jewels. Book 2020 tours at 2019 pricing with our early bird discount! Now until September 30th.
14 Nights/ 15 Days
Visit: Windsor, Salisbury, Tavistock, Bodmin Moor, Marazion, Bath, St. Ives, Cardiff, Hay-On-Wye, Brecon Beacons, Shrewsbury, Llangollen, 
Conwy, Chester, Lake District, Grasmere, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, York, Whitby, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cotswolds, London. See the Lake District and head north to Edinburgh in Scotland.
Day 1 London Arrival & Windsor Castle
Tour begins at 2 PM in your hotel. Visit Windsor Castle, residence of the Queen and the largest inhabited castle in the world. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner. Then take a brief walk around this compact and historic town with a local guide. (D)
Day 2 Stonehenge & Salisbury
Marvel at the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths of Stonehenge and learn about the primitive builders who managed to create such an enduring monument. Stop in Salisbury, a charming old city where the cathedral boasts the tallest spire in England. Arrive in Tavistock, a market town on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park. (B, D)
Day 3 Bodmin Moor & Lanhydrock House
Travel through Bodmin Moor, an area of unspoiled natural beauty, stopping for photos at Jamaica Inn, made famous by Daphne du Maurier’s tale of smugglers. Explore Lanhydrock House, a late-Victorian country house with grand rooms and servants’ quarters. In Plymouth, see the Mayflower Steps and take a cruise from the Barbican, before enjoying a free evening. (B)
Day 4 St Michael’s Mount & St Ives
Visit the coastal village of Marazion to see the majestic outline of St Michael’s Mount, an important pilgrimage destination. In St. Ives, enjoy a walking tour of the main sights and admire the array of beautiful sandy beaches surrounding the town. Enjoy some free time before returning to your hotel in Tavistock. (B, D)
Day 5 Roman Baths & Cardiff Castle
Explore Bath, popular with the Romans for its natural hot springs 2,000 years ago. Tour the wonderfully-preserved Roman Baths. Head to Cardiff for a sightseeing tour around the city center. Tour Cardiff Castle before sitting down for a Welsh banquet with dinner and lively entertainment. (B, D)
Day 6 Hay-On-Wye & Shrewsbury
Travel through the Brecon Beacons National Park to Hay-on-Wye, a town famous for books. Continue to Shrewsbury, a picturesque town near the English/Welsh border. Take a walking tour with the town crier to see black-and-white buildings that line the narrow streets. Travel through Cheshire to your hotel in Chester. (B, D)
Day 7 North Wales & Chester
Drive through the town of Llangollen and across the Horseshoe Pass for wonderful vistas. Visit a farm to see trained dogs herding sheep and travel to Conwy, a medieval town dominated by a huge castle. Enjoy a walking tour around the picturesque streets and see the smallest house in Britain. In Chester, another walking tour will reveal medieval buildings and Roman walls. (B, D)
Day 8 Lake District & Scottish Evening
Travel through the glorious Lake District, which inspired many of Beatrix Potter’s children’s books. Visit the village of Grasmere, where Wordsworth lived and is buried. Stop at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna Green, a popular shopping venue for quality Scottish goods. At your hotel, enjoy a drink with your fellow travellers before a lively Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment. (B, D)
Day 9 Edinburgh Castle & City Tour
Explore central Edinburgh, starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with planned streets and elegant Georgian houses where many famous writers and inventors lived. See the Royal Mile with its narrow medieval houses, then tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is free. Select August departures experience the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)
Day 10 Excursion To Glamis Castle & St Andrews Walk
Tour Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and childhood home of the Queen Mother. Cross the modern Tay Bridge to the medieval town of St Andrews, the “Home of Golf”. Enjoy a panoramic tour and spend some free time browsing on your own. Back in Edinburgh, head to a nearby pub for dinner with your group. (B, D)
Day 11 Abbotsford House & York Minster
Visit Abbotsford House, former home of Sir Walter Scott. Upon arrival in York, visit York Minster, which is famous for its stained glass windows. In the evening enjoy a pub dinner with your group.
Day 12 Historic Train Ride & Castle Howard
Head to Goathland Station, which served as Hogsmeade Station in the “Harry Potter” series, and travel on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway by vintage locomotive. In Whitby, take a guided stroll around the picturesque harbor, winding streets and quaint buildings. Tour the elaborate chambers of Castle Howard, an imposing 18th century mansion where “Brideshead Revisited” was filmed. (B, D)
Day 13 Shakespeare’s Birthplace & London
Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Discover the world that shaped the man as you look through an exhibition about his life and work and take in a short performance to see his words come to life. Drive through the scenic Cotswolds region, renowned for picturesque villages built of honey-colored stone with charming gardens. Arrive in London where the evening is at leisure. (B)
Day 14 Tower Of London & City Sightseeing
Take a panoramic London tour to see some of the famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Visit the mighty Tower of London to see the many fortresses, Beefeaters in their elaborate uniforms, and the dazzling Crown Jewels. The afternoon and evening are free for independent activities. (B)
Day 15 Tour Ends In London
After breakfast, end of services. (B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
Highlights of Britain Tour Includes:
- Yorkshire’s amazing scenery as you travel by vintage locomotive.
- 14 breakfasts and 10 dinners (welcome dinner in Windsor, a Cardiff Castle Welsh banquet, a festive Scottish evening in Edinburgh, and dinner in a historic York pub)
- Music, ceremony, theatre and dance with reserved seats for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo select August departures.
- Castle Howard
- Lanhydrock House
- North Yorkshire Steam Vintage Train
- Roman Baths & Pump Room
- Shakespeare’s Birthplace
- Stonehenge
- St Andrews
- Tower of London
- Windsor Castle
Hotels:
- MGallery Castle Hotel – Windsor (1 night)
- The Bedford Hotel – Tavistock (3 nights)
- Holland House Hotel & Spa- Cardiff (2020)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa – Chester (2 nights)
- Norton House Hotel & Spa – near Edinburgh (3 nights)
- York Marriott – York (2 nights)
- Doubletree by Hilton Hotel London – Victoria – London (2 nights)
2019 Price Per Person In US$:
- Oct 20 4,289 Guaranteed Tour
2020 Price Per Person In US$:
Book This Tour with Blue Danube Holidays.