2017 English & Scottish Discovery 8 Days / 7 Nights
Day 1:
Your vacation starts at your London hotel at 2:00 pm when you meet your tour director. Head out on a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Stop at St Paul’s Cathedral, with its world-famous dome, to tour the awe-inspiring interior. Join your tour director to discuss your trip over a welcome drink and dinner.
(D)
Day 2:
Today plan your own day of discovery around London’s attractions when you take an open-top bus tour. There is a choice of routes, a walking tour and a River Thames cruise. Visit the Tower of London to view the magnificent Crown Jewels, guarded by Beefeaters in distinctive Tudor uniforms or you may prefer to visit Kensington Palace, former home of Princess Diana. Dine independently this evening.
(B)
Day 3:
Drive through the Cotswolds, a delightful hilly region with mellow-hued stone houses. Take a panoramic tour around Stratford-upon-Avon to see places associated with William Shakespeare and view charming black-and-white houses dating back hundreds of years. Continue to Liverpool and a local guide will show you around places associated with the “Fab Four.”
(B, D)
Day 4:
Travel through the glorious Lake District, associated with the children’s author, Beatrix Potter, and the poet, William Wordsworth. In the charming village of Grasmere visit Dove Cottage, where Wordsworth lived and wrote. Near the Scottish border stop at the Famous Blacksmith’s Shop in Gretna Green, a popular shopping venue for quality Scottish goods. Enjoy a Scottish dinner and ceilidh, a fun show at your hotel near Edinburgh.
(B, D)
Day 5:
Explore central Edinburgh, starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with its planned streets and elegant Georgian houses. See the Royal Mile where medieval houses are clustered and tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The afternoon is free for independent activities. On August 04 to 18 departures, experience the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
(B)
Day 6:
Travel north to St Andrews, famous for golfing and Scotland’s oldest university. Take a walking tour around the town with your guide who will tell you about the famous people and happenings here. Visit the picturesque ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. Take a break in Pitlochry and continue to Inverness, a major town in the Highlands. Check in to your hotel beside the River Ness in the town center.
(B, D)
Day 7:
Travel south through more wonderful Highland scenery today, passing the shoreline of Loch Ness with views of this deep lake. Drive past Ben Nevis, Britain's highest peak, and through the towering mountains of Glen Coe, which is famous for the Massacre of Glen Coe in 1692. Take a scenic cruise on Loch Lomond, Britain's largest lake. Enjoy a brief drive around Glasgow before checking in to your hotel in time for dinner.
(B, D)
Day 8:
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner