12-Nights Coasts and Countrysides of England - Explorations – Small Group from $6,399

Coasts & Countrysides of England featuring the Royal Edinburgh Militar

Day 1 Overnight Flight
From bustling capitals to poetic countrysides, experience the many distinctive sides of Great Britain. Encounter the history, connect with the locals, and see what life is like in the towns and cities.

Day 2 Edinburgh, Scotland
Hotel: VOCO
Arrive in Scotland, where age-old legends intersect with scenic beauty. In Edinburgh, the country’s capital, you can enjoy time on your own to discover this eclectic and vibrant city. Delve into Scottish culture with a locally inspired dinner with a modern-day twist.(D)

Day 3 Edinburgh
Hotel: VOCO
See the city like a local during a two-hour walking tour of the Old Town, passing by Victorian houses and cobblestone streets. Explore the Royal Mile, ending at the top of the hill at Edinburgh Castle, where you’ll enjoy exploring this historic fortress. The rest of the afternoon is yours. Later this evening, take your seat at the spectacular, world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of Scotland's greatest events.(B)

Day 4 Edinburgh - Lake Windermere, England
Hotel: Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa
Say goodbye to Scotland and travel to the scenic Lake District, eternalized through the works of Scott and Wordsworth. Along the way, visit the UNESCO site of Vindolanda and discover the gritty past of Hadrian’s Wall. This sixty-minute guided tour of the working archeological site will bring the Roman fortress and garrison to life. This afternoon stop for a quick break at England’s most famous motorway station, Tebay. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the shores of Lake Windermere, your home for the next 2 nights. Breathe in the crisp air and admire the rolling hills nestled against the water.(B, D)

Day 5 Lake District
Hotel: Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa
See the area from a different perspective and set sail on Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake. Take in the tranquil backdrop before visiting the charming village of Grasmere. Personalize your afternoon because it’s your choice! Soak up the romance of the Lake District with a visit to Rydal Mount, the home of poet William Wordsworth -OR- embark on a two-hour guided hike through glacial valleys and along lakeside trails.(B)

Day 6 Lake Windermere - Liverpool
Hotel: Hotel Indigo
Head to Liverpool, England’s popular port city. You will visit Strawberry Fields, the site where John Lennon came to play as a child, which he later immortalized in the song, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. Here you will experience an Impact Moment and learn about the work the Salvation Army does at Strawberry Fields to give young people with learning difficulties the opportunity for work experience. This afternoon, embark on a two-hour walking tour of Albert Dock and learn about Liverpool’s rich industrial history and connection to the American Civil War, as well as exploring Merseyside's maritime past.(B)

Day 7 Liverpool - Cotswolds
Hotel: The Queens Hotel
This morning take a ferry across the Mersey and as Gerry Marsden sang, see how "life goes on day after day." This public commuter ferry gives you the most spectacular views of the iconic city scape. Continue your journey by motor coach to Shrewsbury, a historic English border town, where you can take some time to have your lunch. In the early evening, arrive in the Cotswolds, a region of hilly fields and stone houses. The Cotswolds is a charming collection of storybook villages. Settle into an 18th-century, modern boutique hotel for the night, in the heart of a charming Cotswolds town.(B, D)

Day 8 Cotswolds
Hotel: The Queens Hotel
This morning, visit Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Over three hundred years old, this impressive house is a perfect example of a princely dwelling. This afternoon spend time in Stow on the Wold taking in the rolling hills and honey-colored stone homes that make this one of England’s most beautiful areas. Visit this quaint village and enjoy free time in this picturesque town. Take the afternoon to relax and enjoy the Cotswolds at your own leisurely pace.(B, L)

Day 9 Cotswolds - Bath - Cornwall
Hotel: The Cornwall Hotel and Spa
The morning will be spent in the city of Bath, where centuries-old history is told with a visit to the Roman Baths. Learn about the indulgence and opulence of a bygone time and see how Bath developed over centuries. After lunch on your own, the journey will continue to Poldarks Cornwall. Tonight, after dinner join your fellow travelers for an evening of song by a local Sea Shanty Band.(B, D)

Day 10 Cornwall
Hotel: The Cornwall Hotel and Spa
Today will be a full day tour of Cornwall’s dramatic north coast, with a combination of walking and traveling by motor coach. Learn of Cornwall’s tin mining past and how this shaped the landscape we see today. Along the way will provide opportunities to capture the rugged beauty of the coast on foot with free time for lunch in a typical Cornish town. After a full day of viewing beautiful Poldark country scenery, the journey ends in the early evening back at the hotel.(B, D)

Day 11 Cornwall
Hotel: The Cornwall Hotel and Spa
This morning, visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the largest garden restoration in Europe and home to a National Collection of camellias and rhododendrons and bursting with romance and intrigue around every pathway and corner. Explore Cornwall’s idyllic south coast on foot with a local guide and discover what makes this pretty peninsula so special, followed by a traditional Cornish Cream Tea.(B)

Day 12 Cornwall - Great Western Railway - London
Hotel: Tower Suites Hilton
Wish the countryside goodbye and travel on the Great Western Railway to London, England’s lively capital. Upon arriving in London, get the lay of the land on a walking tour with a local expert. Take in the exterior of London’s iconic sites on foot, such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. The rest of the evening is yours to explore independently.(B)

Day 13 London
Hotel: Tower Suites Hilton
Spend the day discovering London on your own. Perhaps you’ll grab a pint with the locals, wander through one of the many museums, or see the city from a different perspective on the London Eye. You may choose to join an optional excursion to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant and toast the end of an incredible adventure.(B, D)

Day 14 London - Tour Ends
Your journey through Great Britain comes to a close today.(B)