England Scotland Wales

When you visit England, Scotland, and Wales on this tour of the United Kingdom, you’ll walk in the footsteps of centurions and soldiers, kings and queens, writers and poets—in a land permeated with legend and romance. Experience the diversity of Great Britain as you travel from city to country and back again. You'll discover London in England, tour Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, and traverse the gentle hills of the English countryside. You'll also spend two nights in Bath, to see for yourself how the elegant city got its name. Plus enjoy in-depth discoveries of England's Lake District, a region of soul-stirring natural beauty. Britain is a place one should visit and savor in depth and detail, and you’ll be able to do just that on this discovery-rich vacation.

DAY 1

Depart U.S.

Depart from the U.S. today on your flight to London. Please refer to your individual air itinerary for exact departure and arrival times.

DAY 2

Arrive London, England
Destination: London
Meals included: D
Accommodations: Leonardo Royal London City Hotel or similar

Morning/Afternoon: A Grand Circle representative will meet you at the airport and help you transfer to your hotel, where you'll meet your Program Director and your fellow travelers, including those who took our London, England pre-trip extension. After checking in, you'll set out for a brief vicinity walk to acquaint yourself with the area surrounding your hotel.

The balance of the day is at leisure to relax after your overseas flight or do some exploring on your own. You might consider a visit to the British Museum, which houses antiquities tracing the history of human culture. Its treasures include the Rosetta Stone, the largest collection of Mesopotamian antiquities in Europe, and more than 13 million other historical objects.

Or perhaps you'll wander around Covent Garden, an outdoor marketplace since the 17th century, when it was a center for traders and merchants, and today home to some of London's most talented street performers. In fact, Covent Garden is the only part of London where street entertainment is licensed, and performers must audition and sign up for specific time slots in order to perform there.

Before dinner, gather with your Program Director and travel companions for a Welcome Briefing.

Dinner: Enjoy an included Welcome Dinner at your hotel tonight.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

DAY 3

Explore London
Destination: London
Meals included: B
Accommodations: Leonardo Royal London City Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Begin your England tour with an introduction to London's major landmarks, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, on a panoramic drive this morning.

After your tour, you’ll return to your hotel—you’ll have the option of returning by way of the Tube, London’s robust network of subway trains. Your Program Director will be by your side to help you navigate the system like a local. Alternatively, your motorcoach will be waiting to return you to the hotel.

Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to do as you please. Your Program Director will be happy to recommend a spot for lunch and free time activities. Perhaps you'll visit one of London's many museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum or Tate, a family of four galleries.

Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations.

DAY 4

London • Explore Oxford • Bath
Destination: Bath
Meals included: B D
Accommodations: Apex City of Bath Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Depart for Oxford, whose university has educated some of the world's most prominent scholars and statesmen.

Oxford University was established in the eleventh century, but there is evidence of structured teaching dating back as far as AD 872. Rather than orienting around a central campus, the University is a collection of more than 38 colleges and buildings spread throughout the city. Oxford is also one of the settings for the Harry Potter movies and the Inspector Morse television series.

Set off on a walking tour through the city center, passing some of the legendary colleges that have been seats of learning for many prime ministers, great writers, and various scholars, including Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, and John Wesley. The University colleges dominate the center of Oxford, as you can see by the spires and the numerous stone walls bordering college buildings.

Lunch: On your own in Oxford—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations.

Afternoon: Travel to Bath, which developed into a prosperous, high-society destination in the 18th century under King George III, and retains its elegant air today. The city's striking architecture and Georgian terraces inspired the setting for Jane Austen's novel, Persuasion.

Enjoy free time to relax or explore the city after checking in to your hotel.

Dinner: Included at your hotel this evening.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

DAY 5

Explore Bath • Visit Stonehenge
Destination: Bath
Meals included: B
Accommodations: Apex City of Bath Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Today's discoveries begin with an included tour of the Roman baths. Bath is named for the springs that well up in this city, producing about 500,000 gallons of water each day at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The lead-lined bath, steps, column bases, and edging stones all date from Roman times.

After your tour, you'll have the rest of the morning free to explore Bath independently.

Lunch: On your own in Bath—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations.

Afternoon: Continue on to Stonehenge, the starkly dramatic stone monument that has engaged the world's imagination for centuries. As one of the world's most recognizable images of a prehistoric culture, Stonehenge creates a powerful impression. In addition to appreciating the unique design and construction, many visitors experience a feeling of uncommon mystery.

You'll return to Bath later today, where the rest of the day is yours to spend as you please.

Dinner/Evening: Enjoy independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations.

DAY 6

Bath • Apley Farm experience • Snowdonia, Wales • Home-Hosted Dinner
Destination: Snowdonia
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Celtic Royal Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel early this morning.

Morning: Begin your transfer toward the Snowdonia region of Wales. Along the way, you’ll stop for an exclusive Discovery Series visit to Apley Farm Shop, a picturesque village in the English countryside near Shropshire.

Here, you’ll get a glimpse into the artistic side of rural England, as the farm shop features a number of small pottery and craft studios, where you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a hands-on demonstration.

Lunch: Savor an included lunch at the farm, prepared from locally-sourced, farm-fresh ingredients.

Afternoon: Continue on your way into the ruggedly beautiful Welsh countryside. The principality of Wales, together with Scotland and England, makes up Britain. Until the time of English King Edward I in the 13th century, this was an independent nation whose Celtic people fiercely defended their sovereignty. Welsh identity remains distinct today, exemplified in the language, which is actually much easier to pronounce than it looks once you learn the sounds associated with the letters.

Our destination is the strikingly scenic and mountainous section of Wales called Snowdonia, which surrounds the region's highest peak, Mount Snowdon. Snowdonia is part of the impressive Cambrian Mountains, which are steep-sided and rugged, presenting some of the most spectacular natural beauty in the British Isles.

You are staying in Caernarfon, a small historic town right on the coast looking across to the Island of Anglesey. Near your hotel is the medieval castle and walls built by the English after their conquest of Wales. It was here that Prince Charles was formally inaugurated as Prince of Wales in 1969.

Dinner: This evening, you'll be welcomed in by a local family for Home-Hosted Dinner and some of the legendary Welsh hospitality during an exclusive Discovery Series event.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

DAY 7

Snowdonia • Optional Welsh Experience tour
OPTIONAL TOUR
Destination: Snowdonia
Meals included: B
Accommodations: Celtic Royal Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Spend the day exploring Snowdonia on your own.

Or, join an optional tour that includes a steam train ride on the Ffestiniog Railway from the coast of Porthmadog into the mountains at Blaenau Ffestiniog. The Ffestiniog Railway is the oldest independent narrow-gauge railway in the world. It was built in 1832 to carry slate but has been carrying passengers since 1864. This route will take you through some of Snowdonia's spectacular scenery.

Your optional tour continues with a visit to the National Slate Museum, where you’ll learn more about this historic Welsh industry. In addition to educational exhibits, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from a slate worker about the mining trade.

Lunch: On your own—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations. Or, if you have chosen to join our optional tour, you’ll savor an included lunch at the National Slate Museum, in a replica of a worker’s cabin, prepared with ingredients that a miner of the time might have enjoyed on their afternoon break.

Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations.

Welsh Experience - $90/person

Join an optional tour that includes a steam train ride on the Ffestiniog Railway from the coast of Porthmadog into the mountains at Blaenau Ffestiniog. The oldest independent railway in the world, the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway was built in 1832 to carry slate, and has been carrying passengers since 1864. This route will take you through some of Snowdonia’s spectacular scenery.

Then you’ll pay a visit to the National Slate Museum, for a glimpse into the world of a traditional Welsh slate miner. You’ll browse a number of educational exhibits, and hear firsthand stories from slate miners about what life was like among the rocks. You’ll also enjoy an included lunch inside a replica of a worker’s cabin, prepared to resemble what a miner might have eaten on their afternoon break.

DAY 8

Snowdonia • Explore Chester, England • York
Destination: York
Meals included: B D
Accommodations: Park Inn York Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Depart Wales for York via Chester. Upon your arrival in Chester, enjoy a short walking tour of this ancient English town with Roman roots and a well-preserved medieval center.

Around AD 60, the Romans expanded their empire in Britain to the banks of the Dee River, where Chester is located. The city today still displays the Roman layout, extending from the Cross, where a Roman fortress once stood, to four city gates. In the Middle Ages, commerce on the Dee River, particularly with Ireland, enriched the town in the twelfth and 13th centuries.

The prosperity of those times is still evident in one of Chester's unique features: “the Rows,” a series of two-tiered shops along the ancient streets of the historic town center. Chester also holds a significant place in English cultural history as the town where, beginning in the 14th century, mystery plays (public theater depicting biblical events) were presented.

Lunch: On your own in Chester—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations.

Afternoon: Continue on to York after lunch, arriving by late afternoon. Enjoy time to relax or explore on your own before dinner.

Dinner: Included at your hotel tonight.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

DAY 9

Explore York & York Minster
Destination: York
Meals included: B
Accommodations: Park Inn York Hotel or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Walk through the medieval city to York Minster for an included tour with a local guide, who will highlight the history of the cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral north of the Alps. The stained glass here is magnificent. The cathedral's Great East Window—created by John Thornton of Coventry and completed in 1408—is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world. It is 76 feet tall and comprises 1,680 square feet of glass.

After your visit, you'll set off for a walking tour of the city with your Program Director, where centuries-old city walls enclose the best-preserved medieval town center in England. York's history stretches back into ancient Roman times, when it was called Eboracum and served as the military capital of northern Britannia. Traces of Roman garrisons built before the fifth century are sprinkled throughout the city.

By the ninth century, Vikings—from what is now Denmark—had succeeded the Romans, calling the town Jorvik and leaving one legacy you'll still see today: the suffix “-gate”—meaning “street” in the old Viking language—in many street names.

Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to do as you please. Your Program Director will be happy to recommend a spot for lunch and free time activities. Maybe you'll take in the Shambles—originally the meat-butchering area of York. The cramped, ancient street now houses a variety of shops, and in some areas it is possible for upstairs residents to stretch out and shake hands across the street.

Or pay a visit the National Railway Museum, one of the world's best museums devoted to the legacy of steam engines and railway memorabilia.

Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations.

DAY 10

York • Optional Whitby & Castle Howard tour
OPTIONAL TOUR
Destination: York
Meals included: B
Accommodations: Park Inn York Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Today is yours to explore at your own pace.

Or, join us for a full-day optional tour to Whitby and Castle Howard. After crossing the heather-clad North York Moors National Park, you'll arrive in Whitby, a key setting for Bram Stoker's Dracula. You'll visit Whitby Abbey, where, on a clear day, you will have spectacular views over the city itself and the North Sea.

It was from this town that the explorer James Cook first set out to sea, and during the 19th century, Whitby was renowned for creating jet jewelry that was a favorite of Queen Victoria's after the death of Prince Albert.

Lunch: On your own—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations. Or, if you’ve chosen our optional tour, you'll take time in Whitby to savor an included Yorkshire lunch of fish and chips.

Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

Or, if you’ve joined our optional tour, your discoveries continue as you head for Castle Howard, one of England's finest stately homes, still lived in by the Howard family and where much of the filming for Brideshead Revisited was done.

Although construction on this Baroque masterpiece began in 1699, it took 100 years to complete. Admire its lavish, treasure-filled rooms—including paintings by Rubens and Gainsborough—and perhaps enjoy a stroll in its famed Rose Gardens.

Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations.

Whitby & Castle Howard - $105/person

Discover two Yorkshire gems—the town of Whitby and imposing Castle Howard—on this full-day tour. After crossing the heather-clad North York Moors National Park, you'll arrive in Whitby, a key setting for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Bisit Whitby Abbey, where on a clear day you will have spectacular views over the city itself and the North Sea. You'll take time in this original whaling port to savor an included Yorkshire lunch of fish and chips. Afterwards, head for Castle Howard, one of England’s finest stately homes, still lived in by the Howard family and where much of the filming for Brideshead Revisited was done. Although construction on this Baroque masterpiece began in 1699, it took a century to complete.

DAY 11

York • Transfer to the Lake District
Destination: Lake District
Meals included: B D
Accommodations: Hydro Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Depart for the scenic Lake District, England's largest national park and home to 16 major lakes. Set amidst the most mountainous region of England, it has been the inspiration for countless writers, from Wordsworth and Keats to Beatrix Potter.

Lunch: On your own in a traditional market town near the Lake District—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations.

Afternoon: Continue your transfer this afternoon, pausing along the way to stretch your legs in the Lake District village of Hawkshead. Here, you’ll have about an hour to spend at leisure amidst the hodgepodge of traditional white-washed country cottages. Perhaps you’ll poke your head into the Beatrix Potter Gallery, featuring original artwork sketched by the hand of this cherished English author; see the house where William Wordsworth lived during his time as a student here; or enjoy a spot of tea and idle conversation with some of the locals.

Arrive at your hotel in Grasmere late this afternoon, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner: Included at the hotel with your fellow travelers.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

DAY 12

Explore Lake District • Lake District islands cruise
Destination: Lake District
Meals included: B D
Accommodations: Hydro Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This morning, you may join your Program Director for a short discovery walk of the village of Grasmere, followed by some time at leisure.

Lunch: On your own in Grasmere—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations.

Afternoon: Board your motorcoach and ride to the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, located on the shores of Windermere Lake, the largest natural body of water in the Lake District. Here, you’ll board a boat for a 45-minute cruise, tracing a circular route around the center of the lake.

You’ll have a choice of indoor and outdoor viewing decks from which to take in the peaceful scenery of this beloved landscape, including lush forests, hidden island coves, splendid estates, and undulating mountains looming in the distance.

Your cruise concludes back in Bowness, where you’ll have about an hour and a half to spend as you please. Perhaps you’ll browse the wares of the shops along the town’s high street, enjoy some refreshment at a local cafe, or sit by the lake and relax by the water.

Return to your hotel in Grasmere in the early evening.

Dinner: Savor an included dinner at a local restaurant, where you’ll enjoy a meal accompanied by a wonderful lakeside view.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

DAY 13

Lake District • Transfer to Edinburgh, Scotland
Destination: Edinburgh
Meals included: B L
Accommodations: Apex Grassmarket Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Set off along the road to Edinburgh. During your drive, you'll pass through Gretna Green, Scotland's southernmost town that was once popular with couples desiring to elope and marry.

Lunch: You'll stop for an included lunch during your transfer to Scotland.

Afternoon: Arrive in Edinburgh and check into your hotel, then join your Program Director for a discovery walk to acquaint yourself with the area around your lodgings.

Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations.

DAY 14

Explore Edinburgh • Optional Scottish Evening
OPTIONAL TOUR
Destination: Edinburgh
Meals included: B
Accommodations: Apex Grassmarket Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy a panoramic tour of Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, the historic center of Scottish culture, commerce, and education. You'll see the unique atmosphere and architecture of Edinburgh's Old and New towns as you pass along the Royal Mile.

Your tour includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle, which overlooks the city from a perch atop a long-extinct volcano. A royal dwelling has been located here since the twelfth century, and the castle's St. Margaret's Chapel—the oldest surviving building in the city—dates to this time.

Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to do as you please. Your Program Director will be happy to recommend a spot for lunch and free time activities.

Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations.

Or, join us for an optional evening of Scottish entertainment and dining at an annex of Prestonfield House, set in the heart of Edinburgh. Your Scottish evening includes dinner and a selection of typical historic Scottish tunes and melodies played on the accordion and fiddle, accompanied by a variety of singers. There will also be a demonstration of Scottish dancing, the Addressing of the Haggis (during which a Robert Burns poem is recited), and a performance on the Scottish bagpipes.

Scottish Evening - $130/person

Join us for an evening of Scottish entertainment at an annex of Prestonfield House, set in the heart of Edinburgh. It was built in 1688 by Sir James Dick, one of Scotland’s most prosperous merchants.

Your Scottish evening includes a selection of typical historic Scottish tunes and melodies played on the accordion and fiddle, accompanied by a variety of singers. There will also be a demonstration of Scottish dancing, the Addressing of the Haggis (during which a Robert Burns poem is recited), and a performance on the Scottish bagpipes. The grand finale includes the audience participating in saying good night by singing "Auld Lang Syne." Your evening includes dinner and a drink.

DAY 15

Edinburgh • Optional Royal Scotland tour
OPTIONAL TOUR
Destination: Edinburgh
Meals included: B D
Accommodations: Apex Grassmarket Hotel or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy a full day to make your own discoveries. If you’re traveling in August, you may be interested in attending the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the world-renowned exhibition of British, Commonwealth, and international military bands held in the Scottish capital each year. The festival takes place between August 2-24 in 2019, and if you’re interested in attending, we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, as availability is limited.

Or, join our optional Royal Scotland tour, where you'll enjoy a half-day visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, a luxury ship commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 1954. The vessel was perhaps most famously used by Prince Charles and Lady Diana for their honeymoon cruise. You’ll board the ship and enjoy a snack fit for a Queen as you savor tea and handmade scones aboard.

Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to do as you please. Your Program Director will be happy to recommend a spot for lunch and free time activities.

Dinner: Toast to your journey over an included Farewell Dinner with your fellow travelers tonight.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations.

Royal Scotland - $90/person

Step aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and has since transported the royal family and various dignitaries on nearly 1,000 trips through the world’s oceans. You’ll tour the ship, learn about its notable voyages, and cap off your visit with an onboard snack of tea and handmade scones.

DAY 16

Edinburgh • Return to U.S.
Meals included: B
Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for your return home today, or continue your guided tour of Scotland with our optional Scottish Highlands extension.