British Classic

Upon arrival at Gatwick airport, you will be welcomed by your first class tour guide who will transfer to your luxury hotel for the first night. This afternoon you will visit Windsor Castle, a Royal Residence and the Queen’s favourite weekend retreat. In the evening you will have a welcome drink followed by welcome dinner in your hotel.

Dinner/Overnight— Castle Hotel Windsor MGallery, Windsor 

After breakfast you will drive on to the ‘city of dreaming spires’, Oxford, where you will have a walking tour of this famous university city and visit Merton College or New College. You will then drive on to Stratford upon Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare. Here you will visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
You will also visit the Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the thatched farmhouse where the young William Shakespeare courted his future bride Anne Hathaway at her picturesque family home.

Overnight— Doubletree by Hilton, Stratford-upon-Avon

After breakfast you will drive north to Yorkshire and on to York. Your guide will take you on a walking tour of this historic city, renowned for its exquisite architecture and tangle of quaint cobbled streets known as ‘The Shambles’. You will also visit the iconic York Minster, one of the great cathedrals of the world.

Dinner/Overnight— Indigo Hotel, York 

After breakfast you will drive to Liverpool, birthplace of The Beatles, where you will discover the greatness of this trading city on a panoramic tour. Liverpool was founded on the cotton and slave trade with highlights such as stunning Victorian architecture, the Northern Tate Modern Art Gallery, the famed ferry across the Mersey River and the restored Albert Docks. You will have some free time for lunch in Liverpool before driving on to visit historical Chester where your guide will give you a short panoramic tour of this Roman city. You will then drive on to North Wales.

Dinner/Overnight—St. George's Hotel, Llandudno

Today enjoy a stunning visit to Snowdonia National Park. The Park is dominated by Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, and is characterized by rugged scenery and breathtaking views. Your tour will also include a ride on the Ffestiniog Railway, a narrow-gauge railway which takes a scenic 13.5-mile route from Porthmadog Harbour to the mountains and slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. You will also visit Conwy Castle, a gritty dark stoned fortress commanding a rock above the Conwy Estuary.

Overnight—St. George's Hotel, Llandudno

Today you will drive to South Wales and en route will have a lunch stop and free time at the historic market town of Ludlow. Perched on a cliff above the River Teme, Ludlow is surrounded by the unspoilt and beautiful hilly countryside of south Shropshire and the Welsh border country. The town came to existence when Ludlow Castle was started in 1086 and the medieval town walls were built shortly after. The town has over 450 listed buildings. You will then drive to the Welsh capital, Cardiff. In the evening you will attend the Spirit of Wales, an evening of Welsh culture and humour in the Welsh Millennium Centre, an iconic building in the fashionable Cardiff Bay area. After a welcome reception with Mead and Welsh nibbles, enjoy a first class meal with wine, including seasonable Welsh specialties.

Dinner / Entertainment / Overnight—New House Country Hotel, Cardiff

After breakfast you will drive to Bath. Here you will view the magnificent Royal Crescent, perhaps the most attractive street in the country, and visit the preserved and fascinating Roman Baths. You will then drive to London for your final night, where you can enjoy the sights in a city filled with iconic landmarks.

Overnight—Copthorne Tara Hotel, London 

Welcome to Scotland! Meet your tour guide at your designated pickup point before undertaking a panoramic tour of Glasgow. You will see Glasgow's highlights including red sandstone Victorian buildings, delightful parks, and the River Clyde, once important for shipbuilding.  We will visit Glasgow Cathedral, one of Scotland's most magnificent medieval buildings, Glasgow Cathedral is the only one on the Scottish mainland to survive the Reformation of 1560 intact. There will also be time to visit the extensive and varied art collections in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Afterward we check into our hotel where we spend our first two nights.

Dinner/Overnight — Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow or similar

Depart for Rabbie Burns Country, where the first stop of the day is Burns National Heritage Park. The museum is the focal point of this beautifully landscaped park where visitors can cross the Brig o’Doon and visit the poet’s birthplace. 
Later, continue to Culzean Castle in Ayrshire. Culzean is surrounded by surging seas, lush forests, and secret gardens.

Overnight — Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow or similar

Depart Glasgow for Inverness travelling along Scotland’s West Coast and Loch Ness. Highlights of the day include Loch Lomond, dramatic Glencoe, a visit to Urquhart Castle and a cruise on Loch Ness in search of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster.

Dinner/Overnight — Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness

Today a day trip to the Isle of Skye, one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands. First stop is Portree, capital of the island. You can enjoy some free time here, exploring the multi-coloured harbour, or warming up by a real coal fire in a local pub. On our return to Inverness, you will visit Eilean Donan Castle.

Dinner/Overnight — Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness

Today we head to Perthshire via Culloden Moor, site of the 1746 Battle of Culloden. Before leaving Speyside, stop at Kincraig for an impressive display from the Working Sheepdogs. On arrival at your hotel, you will be welcomed with “wee dram!”

Dinner/Overnight — Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro

Depart Perthshire for Edinburgh via the Kingdom of Fife. Enroute you will stop for a distillery visit at Kingsbarns Distillery. This tour is the perfect introduction to Scotch whisky. You will visit our exhibition space, go on a guided tour of our distillery and then be led up to one of our tasting rooms to try our new make spirit and two samples of our Kingsbarns single malts including our award-winning ‘Dream to Dram’.  A shop and café await you at the end of the tour.  After the distillery tour, we will travel to St. Andrews, home of Scotland’s oldest university and capital of golf, and then on to Falkland to visit the village and the Palace, built by King James V in 1539. It became a favourite retreat of the Stuart Dynasty including Mary Queen of Scots.

Overnight — InterContinental Edinburgh The George

After an early breakfast in the hotel, you will enjoy an exclusive, pre-opening tour of Edinburgh Castle. You will then enjoy a panoramic city tour of Edinburgh which features the “New” and the “Old” towns. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city further. Tonight, you will attend the Spirit of Scotland Show, an evening of traditional entertainment and dinner at The Royal College of Surgeons.

Dinner/Entertainment/Overnight — InterContinental Edinburgh The George

Sadly your tour ends today after a final hearty breakfast.  Please inquire about our group transfer on offer.