Best of Britain 10 Days/9 nights Tour

Tour begins at 2:00 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 the compact and historic town of Windsor with a local guide. (D)

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 Dartmoor National Park (B, D)

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 daring 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)

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)

Explore Bath, popular for over 2,000 years for its natural hot springs. Tour the wonderfully preserved Roman Baths. Head to Cardiff for a sightseeing tour around the city center. Tour Cardiff Castle before sitting down to a Welsh banquet with dinner and lively entertainment. (B, D)

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)

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, followed by free time for lunch on your own. In Chester, take another walking tour to see medieval buildings and Roman walls. (B, D)

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 lively Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment. (B, D)

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 for you to explore. On August 2 – 16 departures, attend the world famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

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 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)

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner >