Traditional England—11 day tour
This tour explores the traditional cities, towns and villages of England, starting with the grand capital of London. Additional highlights include a visit to Stonehenge, William Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, the scenic Lake District and picture-postcard, thatched Cotswolds villages.
Included Highlights
- Westminster Abbey
- Thames River Cruise
- West End Theatre
- Stonehenge
- Bath
- Cotswolds Cream Tea
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Lake District Cruise
- Canal Cruise
- York Minster
Hotel Nights
- London 2
- Bath 1
- Cotswolds 1
- Stratford-upon-Avon 1
- Lake District 2
- York 2
- London 1
Day 1 London
Arrival at one of London's airports. Meet and greet by a professional London guide who will accompany us by motor coach on a panoramic sightseeing tour of London. Passing well-known sites such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace gives a great overview of the city.
Overnight London
Day 2 London
Today our guide takes us on an in-depth tour of London. Highlights include a 'flight' on the London Eye, a tour of Westminster Abbey, a cruise on the River Thames, a pub lunch and admission to the Tower of London. We may also want to experience a journey on the tube, a ride on a red double decker bus or a visit to one of the city's many museums, many of which are free to enter. Tonight a pre-theatre dinner and tickets to a top West End theatre performance, with private transfers, are included.
Overnight London
Day 3 Stonehenge - Salisbury - Bath
Leaving London we travel southwest and stop at the mysterious stone circle of Stonehenge before spending time in the cathedral city of Salisbury. Built in 1258 the medieval cathedral is one of the finest in England and also houses one of the Magna Cartas. Written in 1215, this book is even older than the cathedral itself. In the early afternoon we arrive in the World Heritage Site city of Bath where a local guide takes us around the elegant streets and into the Roman Baths and Pump Room, source of the only hot water spring in England.
Overnight Bath
Day 4 Cotswolds
Today experience the Cotswolds. Explore picturesque 'chocolate box' villages and towns such as Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water. We cannot pass this way without a quintessential English experience - afternoon cream tea in a traditional teashop. Our day is rounded off with a visit to a classic English manor house and garden, built over 500 years ago in the local golden yellow stone.
Overnight Cotswolds
Day 5 Oxford - Stratford-upon-Avon
Today we meet a local guide to explore the university city of Oxford. It is a great seat of learning and on a walking tour we will visit one of the historic colleges. Oxford was once home to Lewis Carroll, John and Charles Wesley and C. S. Lewis. After lunch we arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan home of Anne Hathaway. Transfers and tickets to a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company can be arranged for this evening.
Overnight Stratford-upon-Avon
Day 6 Chester - Lake District
We journey north towards the Lake District and en route we stop at one of England's finest china companies, Wedgwood. Here, a tour of the Visitor Centre reveals the story of china manufacture since 1759. Later, accompanied by a local guide explore the Roman city of Chester with an opportunity to shop in the black and white timber-framed 'Rows'. Chester's ancient encircling walls are the most complete in Britain. Continuing to the North West we arrive in the Lake District, considered to be one of the most beautiful areas of the United Kingdom. The area has provided inspiration for generations of British and foreign artists, writers and musicians.
Overnight Lake District
Day 7 Lake District
First stop this morning is Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum in Grasmere. Dove Cottage was home to the romantic poet William Wordsworth and is where he wrote many of his famous poems. We then explore the attractive town of Ambleside, where there are cafes, restaurants and shops to find. An afternoon cruise across Lake Windermere is included to relax and enjoy the pastoral, mountainous and lakeside worlds of Peter Rabbit, Swallows and Amazons, Coleridge and even Stan Laurel.
Overnight Lake District
Day 8 Yorkshire Dales - York
We immerse ourselves in more fine scenery today and visit the market town of Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Here our tour of the Wensleydale Creamery shows us how the famous cheese is made. Later a canal boat takes us on the Skipton Canal, England's longest, to cruise this ancient waterway. We continue through the Pennines to the walled, riverside city of York.
Overnight York
Day 9 York
Meet a local guide for a morning tour of this remarkable and well-preserved city. Step back in time to 975 AD at Jorvik Viking Centre with a journey through a reconstructed Viking village. Afterwards a cathedral guide will show us stunning York Minster, one of the world's greatest cathedrals and the largest in northern Europe. The afternoon is free to explore the cobbled streets of this fascinating city. Perhaps take a walk along York's famed medieval city walls, or down Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate. The city also has an excellent Railway Museum and York Castle Museum has recreated a Victorian street scene.
Overnight York
Day 10 London
After breakfast we take the road south, arriving in London at lunchtime. This afternoon is free for independent exploration.
Overnight London
Day 11 London
Group transfer to the airport. We will be pleased to tailor your tour to suit your preferred arrival and departure airports.
You can find out more about our service on the Your Tour and Tour Price page. Please do email or call us to discuss your requirements. All quotations are provided free of charge and without obligation. We look forward to hearing from you.