Best of Britain 9 Day Tour

Included in this tour: 

• Reserved seats for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 5 to August 19 departures.
• Discover the rich history of Windsor, Oxford and York as local historians guide you around these charming old towns.
• All on-tour transportation including shuttles and ferries
• Welcome get-together drink with your group
• 8 nights in hotels listed below 
• Five dinners including a welcome dinner in Windsor, a Scottish evening in Edinburgh, and a festive Welsh evening in Cardiff.
• Visits and admissions to Bamburgh Castle, British Music Experience, Cardiff Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Famous Blacksmith's Shop at Gretna Green, Roman Baths & Pump Room, Stonehenge, Tintern Abeey, Tower of London and Windsor Castle 
• Free Wi-Fi on coaches so you can stay connected along the way
• Deluxe documents wallet and backpack to keep you organized
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & handling of one suitcase per person

Overnights for this tour: 

• Macdonald Windsor Hotel
  Windsor (1 night)
• York Marriott
  York (1 night)
• Dalhousie Castle Hotel
  Edinburgh (2 nights)
• Hilton Liverpool City Centre Hotel
  Liverpool (1 night)
• Clayton Hotel Cardiff
  Cardiff (1 night)
• Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel
  London (3 nights)

Currency:

Please note that we charge in Euros (€). Prices in other currencies are for indication only and subject to fluctuation.

Day 1: WINDSOR CASTLE
Tour begins 2:30 PM, Windsor hotel. Visit Windsor Castle, residence of The Queen and the largest inhabited castle in the world. In the evening, join your group for a welcome drink before dinner. Take an after-dinner walk around this compact and historic town with a local guide.
(D)

Day 2: OXFORD & YORK MINSTER
Stroll through central Oxford to see some of the most famous colleges and impressive buildings. Head to York to tour the Gothic York Minster, which is renowned for magnificent medieval stained glass windows. Enjoy a walking tour -- the only way to access the tiny medieval streets including the Shambles, one of the city’s narrowest alleyways.
(B, D)

Day 3: BAMBURGH CASTLE & SCOTTISH EVENING
As you head north pause for photos at a section of Hadrian’s Wall. Visit Bamburgh Castle, an imposing medieval fortress that is one of the largest inhabited castles in Britain, dating back to 1096. This magical castle is set high on a rocky plateau affording wonderful views along the coast. Continue to Edinburgh and enjoy a lively Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment.
(B, D)

Day 4: GUIDED CITY TOUR & EDINBURGH CASTLE
Explore central Edinburgh, starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with its planned streets and elegant Georgian houses. View Princes Street, the city’s premier shopping street and see the Royal Mile where medieval houses are clustered closely together. Tour the massive Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The afternoon is free for independent activities. On August 5 to August 19 departures watch the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
(B)

Day 5: LAKE DISTRICT & BRITISH MUSIC EXPERIENCE
Travel through the Lake District, a region associated with Beatrix Potter who worked tirelessly for its preservation. Stop in the peaceful village of Grasmere where William Wordsworth penned some of his popular lines. Continue to Liverpool to visit the British Music Experience to see the exhibition dedicated to the history of popular music in Britain and admire the priceless collection of music memorabilia. After dinner head to the world-famous Cavern Club.
(B, D)

Day 6: TINTERN ABBEY & WELSH EVENING IN CARDIFF
Travel through scenic Shropshire, one of the most unspoiled parts of rural England. Stop in Ludlow, a town that can trace its origins back 900 years, to see the huge castle and quaint old black-and-white houses. Continue through the lovely Welsh countryside to visit the picturesque ruins of Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131 and dissolved in 1536 by order of King Henry VIII. Head to Cardiff and tour Cardiff Castle, before enjoying a Welsh evening of dinner and lively music and entertainment.
(B, D)

Day 7: ROMAN BATHS & STONEHENGE
Take a walking tour of Cardiff to see the principal areas and buildings. Head to Bath for a visit to the Roman Baths and Pump Room, hot mineral-rich springs that have been popular since Roman times. Marvel at the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths of Stonehenge at Salisbury Plain and learn about the primitive building methods used to create such an enduring monument. In London, the evening is free for independent activities.
(B)

Day 8: LONDON TOUR & TOWER OF LONDON
Set out on a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus with its statue of Eros, Nelson’s Column flanked by huge lions in Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Visit the mighty Tower of London to see the many fortresses, Beefeaters, ravens and the priceless Crown Jewels. The rest of the day is free for further exploring.
(B)

Day 9: TOUR ENDS IN LONDON
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner