Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in London
You'll arrive at London Heathrow and head to the Rubens at the Palace, which sits right across from Buckingham Palace. The afternoon is yours to settle in and get comfortable at the hotel. At 6 PM, you'll meet your Travelling Concierge and fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner at the English Grill restaurant downstairs.
- Meals
- Dinner (Grand Welcome Dinner at English Grill restaurant with Wine)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner at English Grill restaurant
Landmarks Buckingham Palace - Day 2
London
A Local Expert guide takes you through central London starting with Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. You'll walk past Downing Street, then move through Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Mid-morning you can try on royal uniforms at the Household Cavalry Museum. Afternoon options include shopping at Harrods, catching speakers at Speaker's Corner, or viewing paintings at the National Gallery. After sunset, a Yeoman Warder leads a private after-hours tour of the Tower of London, ending with the Ceremony of the Keys.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour with Local Expert - Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus
- Household Cavalry Museum visit and royal uniform experience
- Private after-hours tour of Tower of London with Yeoman Warder
- Ceremony of the Keys viewing
Optional Activities
- Shopping at Harrods
- Speaker's Corner visit
- National Gallery masterpieces viewing
- Dinner at restaurant (Travelling Concierge can provide recommendations)
Landmarks Big Ben Houses of Parliament Westminster Abbey Downing Street Trafalgar Square Piccadilly Circus Household Cavalry Museum Harrods Speaker's Corner National Gallery Tower of London - Day 3
Stonehenge and Bath
You'll start at Stonehenge, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, before heading to Bath. The Georgian architecture throughout the city is worth a good walk, and you'll notice the streets really do feel timeless. Dinner happens at Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park, a Michelin-starred spot serving contemporary fare.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Highlight Dinner at Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park, a Michelin-starred restaurant, with Wine)
Included Activities
- Visit to Stonehenge
- Walking tour of Bath Georgian architecture
- Highlight Dinner at Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park
Landmarks Stonehenge - Day 4
Cotswolds - Stratford-Upon-Avon - York
Morning takes you through the Roman Baths and the Georgian Pump Room, where you can see where Romans actually came to use the healing waters centuries ago. From there you'll travel through the Cotswolds with its rolling hills and river valleys, passing through Stratford-Upon-Avon (Shakespeare's birthplace) before arriving in York for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Roman Baths visit
- Georgian Pump Room visit
- Cotswolds journey through rolling hillsides and market towns
- Stratford-Upon-Avon pass-through
Landmarks Roman Baths Georgian Pump Room - Day 5
York and Castle Howard
York has medieval charm everywhere with its 13th century stone walls encircling the city. Choose either a Local Expert walk on the city walls with river views, or a guided tour inside York Minster, the largest medieval cathedral in northern Europe. Later you'll travel to Castle Howard for afternoon tea in the Grecian Hall. That evening a private guide shows you the castle's architecture before you wander the gardens, then head back to York for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Afternoon Tea (Traditional English cream tea in the Grecian Hall of Castle Howard)
Included Activities
- Choice of: City walls walk with Local Expert OR York Minster guided tour
- Castle Howard visit
- Traditional English afternoon tea at Grecian Hall
- Private after-hours tour of Castle Howard with guide
Landmarks York City Walls York Minster Castle Howard - Day 6
English Lake District and Lowther Castle
The Lake District landscape here inspired writers like Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth back in the 1800s. You'll board a historic steam train at Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway Station for a scenic ride south along the lake through forests to Bowness-on-Windermere. After exploring town, you'll head to your hotel at Ullswater. Later you'll enter Lowther Castle's dramatic ruins and explore the grounds before a private dinner in the sculpture gallery overlooking the gardens.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Private dinner in the sculpture gallery overlooking castle gardens with Wine)
Included Activities
- Historic steam train ride at Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Station
- Bowness-on-Windermere town exploration
- Lowther Castle ruins visit and grounds exploration
- Private dinner in sculpture gallery overlooking castle gardens
Landmarks Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Station Bowness-on-Windermere Lowther Castle Ullswater - Day 7
Alnwick Castle and Edinburgh
Alnwick Castle comes first, where a Local Expert shows you the interiors and explains the 11th century medieval architecture (it's famous from Harry Potter films too). Then you'll travel to Edinburgh for an evening free to explore. For Chairman's Collection travelers, there's a private garden tour with the Duchess of Northumberland and her Head Gardener, followed by a seasonal lunch. August departures can catch the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo if interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Alnwick Castle guided exploration with Local Expert
- Travel to Edinburgh
Optional Activities
- The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo viewing (available during August)
- Chairman's Collection: Private garden tour with The Duchess of Northumberland and seasonal lunch with the Head Gardener
Landmarks Alnwick Castle Edinburgh Castle - Day 8
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most visited landmark and you'll skip the regular queue with a Local Expert guide exploring the castle grounds and learning its complicated history. The views over the city from up there are great. You'll head down Princes Street past the Gothic Sir Walter Scott Monument, then down the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A professional bagpiper plays while you have tea and scones, hearing Scottish cultural stories. Dinner wraps up the evening with a toast celebrating the journey with your group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Morning Tea (Tea and scones with professional bagpiper performance and Scottish cultural stories), Dinner (Celebration Dinner with toast to new friendships and memorable journey with Wine)
Included Activities
- Edinburgh Castle skip-the-queue guided tour with Local Expert
- Princes Street walk past Sir Walter Scott Monument
- Royal Mile walk to Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Professional bagpiper performance with tea and scones
- Celebration Dinner with toast
Landmarks Edinburgh Castle Sir Walter Scott Monument Royal Mile Palace of Holyroodhouse - Day 9
Edinburgh to London
After breakfast you'll transfer to the train station and ride first-class back through the English countryside toward London. Once you arrive, you'll head to the Rubens at the Palace to check in. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free to relax at the hotel or continue exploring the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- First-class train service through English countryside
Optional Activities
- Leisure exploration of London
- Day 10
Departure from London
Your trip ends this morning after breakfast with a transfer to London Heathrow Airport included.
- Meals
- Breakfast
