Grand Tour of the UK

We meet at our hotel in York where we enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. We discover much of the city’s long and fascinating story on a guided walking tour on Day 2. We see the incomparable Minster, one of Europe’s largest and most ornate Gothic cathedrals, and the Shambles, a quaint street that has remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. Following the tour, you have time to take in this marvellous city at your own pace before we take the train to Edinburgh, where we stay for two nights. This evening we’re welcomed in true Scottish style, enjoying a Great Scot’s Dinner experience, complete with traditional entertainment.

Today we enjoy a guided walking tour of Edinburgh, taking in the city’s main sights. We pass the 16th century Palace of Holyroodhouse, more commonly known as Holyrood Palace. Home of the British monarchy in Scotland, the Queen typically spends some of the summer here.

The centre of Edinburgh is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, containing a beautiful medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, complete with fantastic modern architecture that mixes and melds with its surroundings in a marvellous melting pot of both old and new.

We travel to historic Fort William on Day 4, where we spend the night.

On Day 5, we make our way back to Fort William, where we transfer to the station for a journey on the Jacobite Steam Train* to Mallaig. On arrival in Mallaig, we are free to explore before returning to Fort William by coach. Later this evening, we transfer to the station for our on the Scotrail service to Glasgow, where we spend the night. Our hotel in Glasgow is the Indigo Glasgow hotel.

*Please note: On some early departures, the Jacobite Steam Train may not operate, and we make this excursion on the Scotrail service.

On Day 6 we transfer to the station for our rail service to Preston, then continue by coach to Liverpool for 2 nights.

Day 7 begins with some sightseeing around Liverpool, home of The Beatles. We take in the Waterfront Pier Head, the Cavern Club, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields; made famous by John, Paul, George and Ringo in 1967. We also see Liverpool’s vibrant China Town. Following our tour you are free to explore Liverpool further at your leisure.

We travel by coach to the station today, catching the rail service to Bristol, for a two-night stay. We enjoy a wonderful excursion by rail to the historic city of Bath, on Day 9. The UNESCO protected city is famous worldwide for its natural hot springs. We embark on a guided tour, taking in the city’s main sights, including the stunning Abbey and the architecturally wonderful Royal Crescent. The Crescent, a row of 30 18th-century terraced houses, is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the country.

We begin the journey to London, by coach. En route, we stop off at the famous prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. One of the most impressive Bronze Age monuments in the country, this ring of standing stones has long provided archaeologists with the mystery of what the complex design really represents.

We arrive in London later checking into the NH Kensington. We enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant.

We arrive at the iconic Tower of London in time to witness the famous Opening Ceremony. We are given a short talk by a Yeoman Warder before witnessing the ceremony first-hand. The morning is then free to explore the famous landmark at your own pace. Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the Tower has been utilised for a number of purposes, including a prison and most recently, a tourist attraction and home of the Crown Jewels.

The rest of the day is at leisure in the capital. You may like to take advantage of the city’s wealth of wonderful museums and galleries including the fantastic Natural History Museum and the ever popular British Museum, both possessing a vast collection of some of the finest archeological finds in world history. We enjoy a final dinner in the hotel together this evening.

On Day 12 our tour concludes, and you’re free to depart at your own pace