Daily Itinerary
Best of England and Scotland | April 24 - May 5, 2025
Day 1, April 24
Depart Houston’s Bush Airport for our overnight flight to Edinburgh, Scotland
Day 2, April 25
Upon arrival at Edinburgh airport, we will be met by our local tour guide and motorcoach for our 11-day tour. After a tasty Scottish lunch, we will enjoy a panoramic city tour of Edinburgh, a city enchanted with stories, legends, dark secrets, curiosities and anecdotes. After lunch, we will visit one of Scotland’s many whisky distilleries to learn about the traditional whisky making process. And no tour to a distillery is complete without free samples! Tonight, we will have a group welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Edinburgh – Edinburgh Haymarket Hotel (D)
Day 3, April 26
This morning we will visit Trossachs National Park, Scotland’s first national park which offers some of the most stunning scenery in all of Scotland. It is a place of contrasts, from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, and has many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands. We will enjoy a cruise on Loch Katrine which was the inspiration for the famous 19th century poem, The Lady of the Lake, by Sir Walter Scott. After lunch, we will continue south and visit Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s greatest stone castles. Overnight Edinburgh – Edinburgh Haymarket Hotel (B)
Day 4, April 27
After breakfast, we will tour Edinburgh Castle, one of the oldest fortified buildings in Europe. The castle, home of the Scottish Royal Jewels, sits upon Castle Rock which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. After lunch in a traditional Scottish pub, we will visit one of Scotland’s most remarkable buildings, Rosslyn Chapel. The mysterious symbolism of the chapel’s ornate stonework has inspired, attracted and intrigued writers and artists and served as a pivotal point in the world famous novel, The Da Vinci Code. Overnight Newcastle – Holiday Inn Sunderland (B)(L)
Day 5, April 28
This morning we will drive to York, England via the seaside town of Whitby, the former home of Captain Cook and the inspiration for the horror film, Dracula. We will continue our journey south through the North York Moors National Park, a special place with sweeping moorlands, a crinkly coast, ancient woods and timeless villages that was forged by nature and shaped over generations. We will tour the 18th century stately home & gardens of Castle Howard, one of England’s finest historic houses, set in a thousand acres of sweeping parkland dotted with statues, temples, lakes and fountains. Later this afternoon, we will walk through York, one of England’s finest and most beautiful historic cities. The crown jewel of York is York Minster Cathedral, one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals. Shambles is another one of York’s most famous landmarks and one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe. Overnight York – Holiday Inn York Tadcaster Road (B)(D)
Day 6, April 29
This morning is all about The Beatles Rock Band, the most influential band of all time and an integral piece to the development of 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular music as an art form. We will enjoy interactive exhibitions at the Beatles Story Museum. After lunch, we will enjoy a panoramic walking tour of Chester, England. Chester was originally a Roman fortress and is now known for its extensive city walls and half-timbered buildings. Overnight Birmingham area – Premier Inn Birmingham Oldbury (B)(D)
Day 7, April 30
After breakfast, we will explore the medieval town of Stratford Upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. We will discover the fascinating story of William Shakespeare’s early years and where he spent the first five years with his wife, Anne Hathaway. Later this morning, we drive south through the Cotswold region, home to some of England’s most scenic landscapes with quaint villages, rolling green hills, and winding country lanes. We will enjoy a leisurely lunch in one of the Cotswold Villages such as Chipping Norton. We will end the day with a visit to Blenheim Palace, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting a long and diverse history and is the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Overnight Oxford area – Premier Inn Oxford Botley (B)(D)
Day 8, May 1
Today begins with a walking tour of Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires, known for its university and place in history. Later this morning, we will visit the famous stone circle of Stonehenge. Stonehenge is the world’s most famous prehistoric monument. It was built in several stages: the first monument was built about 5,000 years ago and the unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BC. Overnight London – Copthorne Tara (B)
Day 9, May 2
This morning we will explore the city of London, the capital and largest city of England. Our panoramic tour will include Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral. After lunch, we will enjoy a guided visit to the British Museum, the first national public museum of the world. No other museum is responsible for collections of the same depth and breadth, beauty and significance as the British Museum. Overnight London – Copthorne Tara (B)
Day 10, May 3
After breakfast we will enjoy a guided tour of Westminster Abbey. This church is perhaps the most famous church in the United Kingdom noted for its royal weddings, coronations, and burials. Famous people buried here include Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, George Frederic Handel, Charles Dickens and many others. After lunch we will enjoy a cruise on the river Thames to see many of London’s most famous buildings and cherished landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the Tower of London. The cruise will end at the Tower of London where we will tour the Castle and see the world-famous Crown Jewels of the Royal Family. Overnight London – Copthorne Tara (B)
Day 11, May 4
This morning, we will drive to Windsor Castle. This castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. It has since been the home of 40 monarchs and is the burial site of the late Queen Elizabeth and King Phillip. After returning to London early afternoon, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore one of the many museums, parks or the famous Harrod’s department Store. The evening is free as well and you may enjoy a theatre show in London’s West End. Overnight London – Copthorne Tara (B)
Day 12, May 5
Transfer to Heathrow airport for your return home (B)
(B) Breakfast Included
(L) Lunch Included
(D) Dinner Included
