Itinerary Details
British Escape With Return To London
Day 1 ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND Welcome to London! Tonight, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
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Day 2 LONDONOn The Town In London LONDON Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Buckingham Palace, and a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITES England’s national treasure of St. Paul’s Cathedral is home to a spectacular array of art from delicate carvings to gilded dome murals and modern works of art. As the seat of the Bishop of London, the cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London, where notable remembrances have been served here, including Queen Victoria’s jubilee, birthdays of Queen Elizabeth II, and funerals of luminaries like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
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Day 3 LONDON–STONEHENGE–BATHAncient Stones & Spa Days STONEHENGE Guided visit.
BATH Visit the excavations of the Roman Baths. (B,D) 136 mi / 219 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS The traditions of one ancient Roman ritual are in full flow in Bath. Amid the remarkable Roman and Georgian architecture and the best-preserved Roman Baths of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a good spa day is never hard to find in one of the “Best Spa Towns in Europe.” The city of Bath sits above geothermal springs that bubble up from the limestone below. Bath also turns up the heat with some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings, a mecca for elite 18th-century society.
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Day 4 BATH–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LIVERPOOLThe Great Bard & The Fab Four STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
LIVERPOOL Free time this afternoon. (B) 222 mi / 357 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT If “the play’s the thing” then this is the place where the world’s greatest playwright’s story began. Experience the humble beginnings of the boy called Will Shakespeare and visit the house where he spent his childhood and his early years. See the artefacts such as a 400-year-old pair of gloves and a book of Shakespeare’s complete works, and wander through the beautiful garden.
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Day 5 LIVERPOOL–GRASMERE–GRETNA GREEN, SCOTLAND–EDINBURGHSecret Weddings & Gingerbread LAKE DISTRICT Scenic drive through the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
GRASMERE Visit Wordsworth’s beloved village. [LF] Sample the original Grasmere gingerbread.
GRETNA GREEN See where the blacksmith would wed runaway couples.
EDINBURGH Free time this evening. (B) 239 mi / 384 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
TIMELESS TRADITIONS Sweeten the day with classic Grasmere gingerbread and hear the story of Sarah Nelson, the Victorian cook who invented the world famous cross between cake and biscuit in 1854.
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Day 6 EDINBURGHCrown Jewels & Castle Views EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon before a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-year history as "the most besieged place in Great Britain." Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels.
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Day 7 EDINBURGH–LONDON, ENGLANDBack To The Capital Board the Express train (first-class) to London.
LONDON Free time. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS A favorite character in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice noted “London is so diverting; there is so much to entertain!” This is even more true today, from its panoramic views of wide-open spaces and leafy landscapes to its bustling British sense and sensibilities, museums, galleries, and iconic sights. Be enthralled by a dazzling show at one of the West End’s historic theaters, a fabulous bookend to your time in London.
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Day 8 LONDONSafe Travels Until We Meet Again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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