Arrive London

Upon arrival at the airport you will be met in the arrivals hall by your representative and privately transferred to your hotel.

London

This morning, an expert local guide and chauffeur will be waiting to meet you for a full-day sightseeing tour of London. You will start by visit the Tower of London, home of the ‘Beefeaters’ where you will see the dazzling Crown Jewels. You will also gain excellent views of Tower Bridge from the Medieval Palace. Proceed to St. Paul’s Cathedral, rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Head along the south bank of the River Thames, and enjoy a flight on the London Eye, from the top of which you will gain spectacular views of the city. Cross over to Westminster to the Houses of Parliament and ‘Big Ben’, one of the iconic symbols of England. Visit Westminster Abbey, the National Church of England that has been the scene of many state occasions including the Coronation. Continue down Whitehall and past Downing Street to Trafalgar Square, where the National Gallery of Art is overshadowed by Nelson’s Column. Finally return to your hotel driving past Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence in London. The staterooms of the palace may be visited in August and September.

Canterbury and Leeds

This morning, you will meet your driver-guide for a full day excursion by private vehicle to the Kent countryside that lies to the South of London. Drive to Leeds Castle, one of the most romantic and most ancient castles in the United Kingdom. Lovingly restored, it is home to a magnificent collection of medieval furnishings, paintings, tapestries and treasures, and is situated on two small islands in a lake. Take a delightful walk along a flat path, or for guests who are physically challenged, there is a small mini-coach available.

Drive from here across the hills called the North Downs to Canterbury, England’s first cathedral city with historic buildings and narrow streets. As you wander through the lanes, admire the architecture and shop in this unique place. Your highlight visit will be to Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the world’s Anglican Communion. Walk through the soaring nave to the site where St. Thomas à Becket was murdered; then walk around the chancel to see the colorful ‘Corona’, and see the cloisters and chapter house.    

London – Oxford – the Cotswolds

This morning, meet your driver-guide, who will be waiting with your private vehicle to take you on a full day journey into the English countryside. Head first to Oxford, home to England’s oldest university, where you may take a walk through the impressive buildings that are still home to the university’s main ceremonial and educational functions.

Proceed to Woodstock, stopping at Blenheim Palace for a tour. This home of the Duke of Marlborough, designed by the architect Vanbrugh, was the birthplace of wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill. A vast park, landscaped by Capability Brown, surrounds the palace.

Afterwards continue to your hotel in the delightful English village of Lower Slaughter.

Stratford and The Cotswolds

Your driver-guide will lead you on a full day excursion around one of the most quintessentially English parts of the country. Your first stop is Stratford-upon-Avon, the market town that is revered as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Tour Shakespeare’s Birthplace in the town center, and visit Ann Hathaway’s Cottage in the nearby village of Shottery. You may also wish to visit Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried. The church lies on the banks of the Avon beyond the world-famous theatre.

This afternoon see the famed cottages and villages built out of the honey-colored limestone that is so characteristic of the region in places such as Chipping Campden, Burford and Bourton-on-the-Water. You may also make an appointment to view works of art and antiques in the renowned galleries of Broadway and Stow-on-the-Wold

This part of the world is also renowned for its traditional English pubs and tea rooms. Take time to enjoy a pint of local ale with a Ploughman’s lunch, or try an afternoon cream tea in quant old-fashioned surroundings.

Cotswolds – Peak District – Yorkshire

This morning, your driver-guide will take you on a full day north on the highway into Derbyshire where the Peak District National Park is located. Here, visit Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke of Devonshire that is renowned for its fine art collection and exquisite formal gardens. Then cross the Peak District National Park and drive north to your hotel in Yorkshire.

You will be confirmed for 2 nights at the Devonshire Arms, a hotel that is owned Duke himself and has an idyllic location the end of the scenic valley called Wharfedale near to the part-ruined monastery of Bolton Abbey.

Yorkshire

Your day excursion with your driver-guide starts with an exploration one of the most historic English cities. Visit York Minster, the largest medieval cathedral north of the Alps, and browse around the stores of the quaint streets including the Shambles. You may also walk on the ancient walls that circle the city.

This afternoon, you may prefer to take an excursion into the countryside surrounding York. Castle Howard is a fine mansion in the hills to the east of the city. With its large landscape garden, it was used as the setting for the television adaptation of ‘Brideshead Revisited’.

Yorkshire – Bronte Country – Chester

Leave Yorkshire this morning and head south with your driver-guide. Your route will take you through the Worth Valley, an area that is famed for its association with the Bronte Sisters. Stop in the small town of Haworth where this literary family lived at the parsonage with their father.

Continue from here past Manchester to the historic city of Chester. On arrival, take a walking tour of the city centre. Chester is the only town in England to preserve a complete circuit of medieval walls, from which you can walk and see the site of the Roman amphitheatre. Inside the walls, you may visit the colourful sandstone cathedral, and browse along the medieval half-timbered shopping arcades called ‘The Rows’.

North Wales – Snowdonia

Today, your driver-guide will lead you on a full day excursion into North Wales. Head west to the fortified town of Conway, where you will see the impressive town walls and ruined castle. Travel along the Vale of Conway into the Snowdonia National Park, where you will drive over some breath-taking scenery. The Llanberis Pass will take you down to Caernarfon, where Edward I’s sizeable castle dominates this largely Welsh-speaking town.

Time permitting, you may visit the Italianate village of Portmeirion; this ‘ideal village’ was created by architect Clough Williams Ellis to demonstrate how people should be able to live in beautiful surroundings. It is possible to arrive at the village by a miniature steam train on the Ffestiniog railway, one of the small trains built to carry slate from the surrounding mountains down to the ports.

Depart Manchester

Today you will be privately transferred to Manchester airport for your departure flight.