6 Day British Panorama

Tour Description

This exciting holiday is a great introduction to the history and culture of England, Scotland, and Wales. In England, discover London’s famous landmarks; Cambridge, one of the country’s oldest seats of learning; and York, England’s most complete medieval city. In Scotland see the mighty Edinburgh Castle with its Crown Jewels. Travel south to Gretna Green, where 18th-century young runaway couples were married by the local blacksmith. Travel through the Lake District, and visit Wordsworth’s charming Grasmere. Enjoy 2,000-year-old Chester and overnight in Liverpool of Beatles fame. In Wales, visit Llangollen with its connections to King Arthur. Return to England to visit Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon; elegant Georgian Bath, famous for its Roman relics; and the mysterious Stonehenge.

Guides

• Local Guide for city sightseeing in Edinburgh
• Host service in London
• Professional Tour Director while touring

Transportation

• Private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach

Your Hotels

• London, Novotel London West (F)
• Leeds, Ramada Leeds North (ST)
• Edinburgh, Novotel Edinburgh Park (F)
• Liverpool, Britannia Adelphi (ST)
• Bristol, Ramada Plaza (F)
• London, Kensington Close (ST)

Tour Meals

• Full English breakfast (B
• 3 three-course dinners (D)
• choice of menus.

Sightseeing

• Visits to Hadrian’s Wall
• Jedburgh
• Melrose
• Edinburgh Castle
• Gretna Green
• Grasmere
• Llangollen
• Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon
• Broadway
• Bath
• Salisbury
• Orientation drive in Bristol
• Walking tours in Cambridge
• York
• Chester

Scenic Highlights

• Northumberland National Park
• Scottish Lowlands
• Lake District National Park
• Cotswold Hills
• Stonehenge
• Salisbury Plain

Your Itinerary

Day 1: London – Cambridge – York – Leeds

Meet your Tour Director and travelling companions and depart at 8 am from your London joining hotel for a day of northbound travel. Enjoy a walking tour in the university city of Cambridge, one of the country’s oldest seats of learning. In York, England’s most complete medieval city, stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. Stop for the night near Leeds. (D)

Day 2: Leeds – Edinburgh, Scotland

See a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast to- coast defense against marauding northern tribes, then motor through wild Northumberland National Park to the Scottish border. Stop for photos at Jedburgh, with glimpses of the house of Mary, Queen of Scots, and then Melrose with its 12th-century abbey ruins and connections with Robert the Bruce. Afternoon arrival in Edinburgh. Tonight an optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B)

Day 3: Edinburgh

A full day to enjoy this “Prince of Cities.” Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Afternoon at leisure. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, which for the Queen was once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Tour five decks and see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. (B)

Day 4: Edinburgh-Lake District, England – Chester – Liverpool

South through the history-steeped Lowland Hills and a visit to Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Drive through beautiful scenery in the Lake District, considered to be the finest of England’s national parks. Visit Wordsworth’s Grasmere, then follow the shores of Lake Windermere. In Chester, the historic county town on the River Dee, your walking tour includes the Roman remains, black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered arcades called the “Rows.” End the day in Liverpool of Beatles fame, once the departure port of the great transatlantic liners. (B/D)

Day 5: Liverpool – North Wales – Stratford – Upon – Avon – Bristol

Into Wales to picturesque Llangollen, home of an international competition for poets and musicians. Back in England, tour fascinating Stratford-upon-Avon, a living monument to William Shakespeare, before driving through the scenic Cotswold Hills with a stop for photos in picture-book Broadway. Overnight in Bristol, where your orientation drive focuses on Brunel’s daring Clifton Suspension Bridge, SS Great Britain, and the historic harbour from where John Cabot sailed in 1497 to discover America. (B/D)

Day 6: Bristol – Bath – Stonehenge – Salisbury – London

A day of memorable highlights with a visit first to the elegant Georgian city of Bath, famous for its Roman relics, before continuing via Stonehenge, still an intriguing mystery, to Salisbury, the “City of the Soaring Spire”. Return to London around 4 pm, where your holiday ends. (B)

Dates and Prices for 2011

Dates and Prices for 2012

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Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist