ENGLAND/SCOTLAND/WALES ITINERARY:
1. Arrive Edinburgh
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh,
Scotland. Welcome to Edinburgh! A transfer is included from
Edinburgh Airport to your first night’s hotel, the Sheraton
Grand Hotel & Spa. Your hotel is situated right in the heart of
Edinburgh, nestled in the shadow of historical Edinburgh Castle.
Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D
2. Sightsee Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle commands a strategic site on Castle Rock
overlooking the city. Built in the 11th century, it has played a
prominent role in Scottish history; take a guided tour of the
castle accompanied by a Scottish guide, enjoying panoramic views
of the surrounding countryside and learned insights about this
important landmark. Next it’s on to the majestic Palace of
Holyroodhouse for a visit to the Queen’s official residence in
Edinburgh (subject to closure). Edinburgh Castle and
Holyroodhouse are connected by The Royal Mile, which dates back
to the Middle Ages. Spend the afternoon at your leisure; you
might choose to visit Princes Gardens, Princes Street or the
Botanical Gardens and the National Gallery of Scotland. Tours
that are departing August 2 through August 23 will enjoy an
outdoor evening performance of the famous Edinburgh Military
Tattoo. Meals
B
3. Pitlochry / Edinburgh
For tours departing in May through July 26, this day features a
morning visit to the exhibitions and grounds of Balmoral Castle,
summer home of the Royal Family. Tours that depart July 31 to
October 4 will visit Blair Castle, once the home of the Duke of
Atholl. Journey into rural Scotland today, where an
awe-inspiring glen laced with rivers, streams and mountains
awaits. Enjoy an overnight stay tonight in Inverness. Meals BD
4. Royal Yacht Britannia / Loch Lomond
Drive to the shoreline today for a visit to the Royal Yacht
Britannia, private cruise vessel for the Royal Family.
Learn about the history of life on board this celebrated ship,
then continue on your journey to Loch where a different ship
experience awaits. A cruise aboard Tauck's private boat on
the storied waters of Loch Lomond hitns at the scenic treasures
that await at your acclaimed lakefront accommodations -
celebrities and literary figures, including Sir Winston
Churchill and Princess Margaret, have enjoyed the grounds and
hospitality of the baronial De Vere Cameron House, set on over
100 acres of wooded glades on the bonnie shores of Loch Lomond,
since the 18th century. Meals BD
5. Glasgow / Lake District
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Glasgow en route to the beautiful
English Lake District; lined with more parks per square mile
than any other city in Europe, ancient Glasgow reveals its
diverse historic legacy during a visit to Glasgow Cathedral in a
city of classic Victorian architecture. Travel into the charming
English Lake District for a two-night stay in the heart of one
of England’s largest national parks; learn about daily life in
this beautiful region when you have lunch in a private home with
the owners. Your accommodations at the rustic Langdale Hotel &
Country Club reign over 35 acres of woodlands, streams and
tarns, dotted with massive millstones and historic monuments.
Meals BLD
6. Gardens / Lake Windermere
Immortalized by renowned poets for its hauntingly beautiful
landscapes of mountains, forests and lakes, the Lake District is
blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. Start your day with
a visit to Levens Hall & Gardens; dating from 1350, this
Elizabethan estate is renowned for its topiary garden which as
first started in 1694. Leisure time in Bowneses-on-Windermere,
deep in quintessential Beatrix Potter country, indulges with
spectacular lakeside vistas on the eastern shore of Lake
WIndermere in Cumbria - take a private cruise on the lake before
returning to your hotel. Meals BLD
7. Chester / Portmeirion / Wales
Visit the medieval town of Chester today as you travel to the
picturesque seaside village of Portmeirion. Built by the Romans,
the layout of Chester still follows the Roman pattern, and the
Roman defensive walls create a pleasant walk around the old city
center. Travel through the rolling hills of North Wales,
stopping at well-known Bodnant Garden, one of the most beautiful
gardens in the United Kingdom, spanning some 80 acres. Continue
on to Portmeirion for a two-night stay. This idyllic coastal
village is renowned for its remarkable mix of Italianate
pastel-colored architectural styles and landscape designs.
Formerly an early Victorian villa, the acclaimed Hotel
Portmeirion overlooks Cardigan Bay from its own peninsula. Meals BD
8. Caernarfon / Betws-y-Coed
Start the day with a trip to the town of Caernarfon to visit the
castle where the investiture of the Prince of Wales takes place.
Have lunch at Betws-y-Coed, nestled in the tree-lined valley of
the River Conwy, where an antique church, old bridges, stone
houses and woodland paths create a most picturesque setting.
Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure in Portmeirion.
Meals BLD
9. Wedgwood / Stratford-Upon-Avon
Continue your exploration of Wales with a drive south through
stunning rural landscapes to Stoke-on-Trent, best known for its
pottery since the 14th century. You will have the unique
opportunity to watch highly skilled potters and craftsmen turn
clay pots into Wedgwood during a factory tour, before adding
your personal touch to your own piece. After experiencing
an afternoon tea-style lunch, visit the cottage of William
Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, in Stratford-upon-Avon. The
cottage is actually a substantial, twelve-room Elizabethan
farmhouse with a low thatched roof, timbered walls and lattice
windows that have changed very little since the 1800s. Spend two
nights in Stratford-upon-Avon at the historic Shakespeare Hotel
in the center of the village. The birthplace of William
Shakespeare, this riverfront city is home to the Royal
Shakespeare Theatre and historic Elizabethan and Jacobean
buildings. Meals BLD
10. Cotswolds / Blenheim / Oxford
Venture into the charming Cotswolds this morning; stone houses
and thatched cottages dot the region’s landscapes of grassy
limestone hills, deep ravines, and barren plateaus known as “wolds,”
Old English for "God’s high open land." A visit to
Blenheim Palace, one of England's most outstanding examples of
English Baroque architecture, and a guided tour of the esteemed
Oxford University, dating back to 1167, make this a most
memorable day in the English countryside. Meals BD
11. Experience the Best of Bath
Travel through the rolling English countryside to Bath, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site founded by the Romans as a thermal spa. An
important center of the wool industry in the Middle Ages, it
developed into an elegant town in the 18th century with
neoclassical Palladian buildings which blend harmoniously with
the Roman baths. Visit the famous Roman baths before a tour of
the city shows you the Royal Crescent, the Circus and other
major sights. The remainder of the day is at leisure; the heart
of Bath is traffic-free, where street musicians often perform. Meals BD
12. Stonehenge / London
View the mysterious monoliths of Stonehenge, England’s oldest
prehistoric monument dating back 5,000 years and designated a
UNESCO World Heritage Site; the ancient stone circle is one of
the wonders of the world whose origins are still being debated
today. Continue on to London for two nights. A city sightseeing
tour upon your arrival includes famous landmarks such as Big
Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, #10
Downing Street and Green Park, as well as a guided visit to
magnificent Westminster Abbey. Meals BL
13. London / West End Theatre
Spend the day at your leisure; your hotel is close to major
sites on Bond Street, Grosvenor Square and Oxford Street. Enjoy
a farewell dinner, followed by a theatre performance of one of
London’s newest arrivals, Evita, in the city’s famous West End
Theatre District. Tours beginning on Tuesdays will have an
alternative London schedule. Meals BD
14. Journey Home
Tour ends: London, England. A transfer from the Millennium Hotel
London Mayfair to London’s Heathrow Airport is included. Allow a
minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
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