Your Itinerary
Welcome to England and its lively capital, London! One of the world’s most visited cities, London is rich in history and filled with antiquity. Home to instantly recognisable landmarks including the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London, this city flaunts exceptional architecture and charming style.
We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your hotel by 5.00pm.
You will meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director for a welcome drink this evening.
London boasts a centuries-old narrative with grand buildings, ancient remains and cosy pubs alongside the River Thames which flows through the south end of the city. It’s a highly diverse city that is vastly multicultural and a hive for innovative arts and culture. We’ll explore some of the most iconic sights on a city tour today, including the majestic Buckingham Palace. We’ll also pass by many of the famous buildings and monuments that make London so iconic, including Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and Trafalgar Square. We’ll finish the tour with a visit to St Paul's Cathedral, whose dome has decorated London’s skyline for the past 300 years.
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax or continue exploring London at your own pace. Why not visit one of the many museums London has to offer, such as the Natural History Museum brimming with exhibits or Madame Tussauds, home to more than 250 lifelike wax figures, including the Royal Family.
Tonight, we’ll enjoy a group welcome dinner.
Day 4 - London – Winchester – Exeter
Today we travel to the historic city of Exeter, located in the county of Devon, surrounded by picturesque countryside. The city has a rich history that dates back to Roman times when it was known as Isca Dumnoniorum.
The first stop on our journey to Exeter is in the city of Winchester, where we visit the Church of England’s Winchester Cathedral. This large cathedral complex (one of the largest in Europe, in fact) was completed in the 1500s, however, there are 15 centuries of history behind it. We’ll tour the complex and learn more about its fascinating history.
Next, we travel to the English Channel coast, stopping to enjoy some free time in the town of Lyme Regis, before continuing to Exeter where we will be spending the night.
Day 5 - Exeter – Cornwall
Located on the rugged southwestern tip of England, you’ll find Cornwall. With coasts lined by towering cliffs, picturesque harbours, beautiful beaches and seaside resorts, Cornwall is one of England’s most breathtaking regions. On the southeastern coast, you will find Gorran Haven, a pretty seaside town, complete with friendly locals and stunning views.
En route to Cornwall, we travel through the Dartmoor National Park, before arriving at the historic Buckland Abbey. Constructed back in 1278, Buckland Abbey was the last Cistercian monastery to have been built in medieval England and was home to monks for more than 250 years. It was then turned into a private estate by Sir Roger Grenville and eventually became the home of Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. Imagine yourself in the pages of history as you venture through the Abbey’s intricately preserved rooms and learn more about those who have called the Abbey home. After we’ve explored the Abbey, we’ll enjoy some light refreshments in the tea room.
Special Experience
Discover Europe’s largest garden restoration, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a horticultural wonderland.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan were unknown and unseen thirty years ago, lost to the brambles of time since the outbreak of WW1 and restored in the 1990s. Today, The Lost Gardens are regarded to be amongst the most popular in the UK.
Next, we’ll see St Michael’s Mount, an island off the coast of Cornwall, home to a tiny village and castle that rises out of the island.
Our last stop today is St Ives, famous for its surf beaches and art scene. We'll take a guided tour with our Tour Director, walking past the iconic Celtic Cross and St Nicholas Chapel.
Please Note: Today we will be travelling in a small minibus, perfectly suited for navigating the small villages dotting our route.
Day 7 - Cornwall – North Devon
Nestled in the southwestern part of England, North Devon is our destination today. A significant part of North Devon is covered by Exmoor National Park offering enchanting landscapes, picturesque coastline, and charming villages.
This morning we will transfer back to the coach to continue our journey. We’ll pass through the quaint fishing village of Port Isaac, a small town which has featured in many English movies and TV series including Doc Martin and Fisherman’s Friends. We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Tintagel Castle. You’ll be dazzled by the views of the rugged coastline and its strong association with the legend of King Arthur.
Challenging Day
Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.
Day 8 - North Devon – Bath
A haven of ancient history, beautiful Roman and Georgian architecture, and famously home to author Jane Austen, bustling Bath is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.
After breakfast, we’ll visit the Valley of the Rocks in Lynton before driving through the scenic landscapes of Exmoor National Park, stopping to stretch our legs in the village of Dunster.
Before arriving in Bath, we stop in the village of Avebury to see the fascinating stone circles – one of the great marvels of prehistoric Britain. Built during the Neolithic period, there are 3 stone circles, the largest of which originally comprised around 100 stones and is seen as the biggest stone circle in Britain.
We’ll explore Bath today on a walking tour around this picturesque city. Highlights include Pulteney Bridge and the Royal Crescent, a row of beautiful terrace houses overlooking Royal Victoria Park. Lastly, we’ll visit what this city is famous for, the Roman Baths. Set alongside a temple designed to heal, and surrounded by 18th and 19th century buildings, these baths now stand as one of the best-preserved ancient Roman spas. They were built here because of the simmering hot springs that remain at a warming 46 degrees Celsius.
The afternoon is free for you to relax or explore Bath at your own pace. Why not visit Landrace Bakery on Walcot Street to try a cardamom bun or learn about Jane Austen’s fascinating life at the Jane Austen Centre?
Day 10 - Bath – Cardiff – Llandeilo
This morning we’ll depart for the capital of Wales, Cardiff. Along the way we cross the famous suspended Severn Bridge that connects England to Wales. While it may be compact, Cardiff is now an up-and-coming leading urban centre in Britain. It is adorned with incredible architecture that spreads from an ancient fort to its modern waterfront and was only named the capital of Wales in 1955. Here we'll have a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city including City Hall, Cardiff Castle and the harbour. Originally built in the 11th century as a motte and bailey castle, Cardiff Castle was rebuilt in the 12th century out of stone when it was given a shell keep and defensive walls.
Our journey exploring medieval castles leads us to Castell Coch, one of the most beautiful, fairy-tale-like castles in Wales. Translating to the ‘Red Castle’ in Welsh, this gothic castle is situated among the ancient trees in Fforest Fawr. The original castle is said to have been constructed in the late 11th century to defend Cardiff and the land around the river Taff. Commissioned by the wealthy Bute family during the 19th century, the current castle we’ll visit today was designed by William Burges, an incredible architect responsible for this lavishly decorated castle.
Up next is the Brecon Beacons National Park. With one of the finest landscapes in Wales, Brecon Beacons boasts magnificent Old Red Sandstone peaks and includes some of southern Wales’ highest mountains, including Pen-y-Fan, the highest mountain in Southern Britain. We arrive in the town of Llandeilo just a short distance to the south of the park, which will be our home for the night.
Day 11 - Llandeilo – Liverpool
We cross back into England today, making our way to Liverpool. Located in the northwest of the country, Liverpool was an important seaport between the 18th and 20th centuries. It is perhaps most famous for being the birthplace of the legendary rock band, The Beatles.
Special Experience
Take a steam train on the Vale of Rheidol Railway from Aberystwyth to Devils Bridge, also known as Pontarfynach.
Legend has it that the original bridge was built by the Devil for a woman who lost her cow on the other side of the river. As payment the Devil would take the first soul to cross, so to avoid losing her soul she threw bread over the bridge for her dog to retrieve, leaving the Devil with only the soul of a dog.
We then venture through the idyllic Snowdonia National Park, to the town of Tal-y-cafn. Situated in the northwest region of Wales, Snowdonia National Park mesmerises with its awe-inspiring mountains, glacial formations, sparkling lakes, and majestic rocky summits. As we arrive in Tal-y-cafn, we will have the opportunity to explore the renowned Bodnant Gardens, a horticultural masterpiece that has been nurtured and expanded by five generations of the same family before being entrusted to the care of the National Trust in 1949. Spanning over 80 acres of rolling hillside, the Bodnant Gardens offer a serene sanctuary where nature's beauty is lovingly cultivated and displayed in harmony with the surrounding landscape.
Arriving in Liverpool, we check into our accommodation for the next couple of nights – the Beatles themed Hard Days Night Hotel. Each room in the hotel is individually decorated with exclusive artwork of the band and makes for a unique experience!
Special Experience
Explore Liverpool's famous sites on a Beatles tour, including a visit to the iconic museum, The Beatles Story.
Here we’ll take an immersive journey and learn how The Beatles came to be, starting from modest beginnings to an elevation of dizzying fame and fortunes. We’ll also see the band members’ childhood homes and schools, as well as St Peter’s church hall where John Lennon and Paul McCartney had their first meeting in 1957, and the Cavern Club where the bands’ popularity first took off.
Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to continue exploring the town at leisure.
Day 13 - Liverpool – York - Leeds
Founded by the ancient Romans in the 1st century, York is a walled city located at the confluence of the Ouse and Foss rivers and is renowned for its warm Yorkshire county hospitality, and historical landmarks including York Minster.
On arrival we'll take a walking tour of the city where we’ll visit York Minster, see Cliffords Tower and explore the ancient alleys, ginnels, snickets and lanes known locally as shambles and snickelways. Next, we continue our journey to Leeds where we will spend the next two nights.
This morning, we’ll depart for Whitby, a coastal town located north of Yorkshire. Upon arrival, you will have ample free time to leisurely explore the town and its picturesque coastline at your own pace. As you stroll through the historic streets, you may like to think about how such a charming town could have served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula back in 1897.
Special Experience
Travel along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a heritage railway which runs through the North York Moors National Park to Pickering.
After our panoramic train journey our coach will bring us back to the hotel, where the evening is at leisure.
Day 15 - Leeds – Windermere - Glasgow
Today we say, ‘Hello Glasgow!’ as we cross the border into Scotland. While it isn’t the country’s capital, it is the biggest city and is home to more than 600,000 people. Famous for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, you’ll also find a buzzing nightlife here.
Special Experience
Visit Wensleydale Creamery to taste the iconic cheese that was a favourite of famous clay animation characters Wallace and Gromit.
Next, we head to the Lake District where it’s time to set sail and enjoy a cruise on Lake Windermere, the largest natural lake in England. We'll cruise the calm waters and take in the expansive English countryside views, including mountain peaks and villages along the way. Disembarking in the town of Ambleside, you’ll have some free time for lunch.
Crossing the Anglo-Scottish border into Scotland, we stop at Gretna Green, thought to be the UK’s most popular wedding destination. In the 1700s many young people from England would elope here as different laws applied to those who wed in Scotland and the tradition is still alive today.
We proceed to Glasgow, where you can enjoy the evening at your own pace.
Today, we will delve deeper into Glasgow as we embark on a walking tour of the city. As we stroll through the city, we’ll see highlights including the Merchant District, the cultural heart of the city, George Square which is surrounded by architecturally important buildings. We then visit the Royal Exchange Square, whose impressive Exchange building was initially built by a rich tobacco lord before being acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
This afternoon, you have the freedom to explore the city at your preferred tempo or unwind and enjoy the ambiance of one of the numerous bars available.
Day 17 - Glasgow – Inverness
Inverness is the largest city in the Scottish Highlands, located on Scotland's northeast coast. An ancient cathedral city, it was built on the banks of River Ness, and is often bustling with tourists keen to spot the legendary monster in nearby Loch Ness.
Making our way through the Scottish countryside this morning, we'll pass through Trossachs National Park, home to bonny Loch Lomond. Enjoy some free time to explore Fort William after a quick photo stop in Scotland's most famous glen, Glencoe.
Special Experience
Have a wee dram of single malt scotch whisky and discover the production process at the Ben Nevis Distillery.
As we make our way to Inverness, we will travel along the edge of Loch Ness. Make sure you keep your eyes out for Nessy! Supposedly, she’s long and thin, green in colour with black humps, has a long tail and a snake like head.
Day 18 - Inverness – Edinburgh
Described as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Edinburgh is draped with magnificent craggy peaks offering amazing sea views, and the town intricately entwines with the surrounding landscape.
Venturing east, our first stop is at the historic Culloden Battlefield where the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising in 1745 took place, now famously known as the Battle of Culloden. We then continue to Edinburgh, passing through Britain’s largest national park, Cairngorms.
We then continue to Edinburgh, the gorgeous and compact capital of Scotland.
Edinburgh, a captivating city boasting both a medieval Old Town and an elegant New Town, is brimming with historical landmarks. Today, we will embark on a city tour to discover these treasures. We'll walk through Old Town and over the Royal Mile past the St Giles Cathedral and to the emblematic Edinburgh Castle. This historic fortress, which proudly dominates the city skyline, holds stories of the past and offers breathtaking views.
The afternoon is then free for you to relax or explore at your leisure. Why not snap a picture with Edinburgh’s most famous historical figure, a statue of a small dog known as Greyfriars Bobby, across the road from the National Museum of Scotland?
Tonight, we’ll enjoy a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 20 - Depart Edinburgh
Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!
Day 21 - Arrive Australia
Day 21 - Arrive Australia
