England, Scotland & Wales

Welcome to London, the vibrant capital of the United Kingdom. After checking into your hotel, you have the rest of the day to relax or start exploring this lively city. Our uniformed hosts are at your service to help you make the most of your stay.

Spend the day at your leisure or join our optional sightseeing tour to explore London's famous landmarks. Visit the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. The highlight of the day is a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, a masterpiece by Sir Christopher Wren. In the evening, consider our optional Taste of London excursion, which includes dinner and a guided illumination cruise on the Thames River.

Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers as we depart for a day of sightseeing. Our first stop is Oxford, where a walking tour will introduce you to the prestigious Oxford University. We then travel through the picturesque Cotswold Hills to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Here, you'll have the chance to take photos of Anne Hathaway's Cottage and explore the town at your own pace. Our final destination for the day is the vibrant city of Leeds.

Our journey continues to York, where you'll marvel at the grandeur of York Minster and explore the city's quaint streets. We then travel through the wild Northumberland National Park, stopping to see a section of Hadrian's Wall. Our next stop is Jedburgh, where you can explore the historic abbey ruins. We arrive in Edinburgh in the late afternoon. Consider enjoying a traditional Scottish night out with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis.

Spend a full day exploring the Scottish capital. A morning sightseeing tour with a Local Guide takes you to the 200-year-old 'New Town' and the 'Old Town', where you'll visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland's Crown Jewels. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. Consider joining an optional tour with dinner. If you're departing on August 5 or August 19, you'll have tickets to the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Today's journey takes us across the elegant Forth Road Bridge to St. Andrews, the home of golf. We then cross the Firth of Tay and head into the Highlands, stopping in the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. We cross the battlefield of Culloden Moor, a site of significant historical importance, and then head via Inverness to our Highland destination.

Keep an eye out for the elusive Loch Ness monster as we travel via Fort William and beneath Ben Nevis. We then visit Glen Coe, the site of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald Clan, and drive along the 'Bonnie Banks' of Loch Lomond. Our day ends in the bustling city of Glasgow.

We head south through the history-rich Lowland Hills and visit Gretna Green, famous for its blacksmith weddings. We then drive through the stunning scenery of the Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and end the day in Liverpool, the city of The Beatles. Consider joining an optional city tour in the afternoon.

Today is dedicated to the mountainous beauty of North Wales. We stop in the picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed, drive over the spectacular Llanberis Pass, and through Snowdonia National Park to Caernarfon, known for its historic castle. We then follow the coast road via the walled town of Conway back to Liverpool.

Our first stop today is Ludlow, a charming market town. We then head back into Wales and visit Brecon Beacons National Park, known for its salmon rivers and Welsh mountain ponies. We then head through 'The Valleys', the heartland of the Industrial Revolution, to the Welsh capital, Cardiff. An orientation drive introduces you to the city's major attractions, including Cardiff Castle and Millennium Stadium. Consider joining an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner.

We leave Wales and cross the Severn Bridge to visit the elegant Georgian city of Bath, famous for its Roman relics. We then head to the scenic West Country and Glastonbury, known for its King Arthur associations. In the heart of Dartmoor National Park, we visit the quaint village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Finally, in Plymouth, we learn about Sir Francis Drake and see the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked in 1620.

On the final leg of our journey, we visit Thomas Hardy's Wessex and the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. You'll have the chance to admire the monument up close and explore the visitor centre. We return to London around 3 pm. Consider celebrating the success of your tour with a night out on the town.

Your unforgettable 13-day tour of the United Kingdom concludes with breakfast this morning. We wish you a safe journey home.