The Britannia

19 Days
Featuring: London, Oxford, Stratford, Coventry, York, Edinburgh, Scottish Highlands, Isle of Skye, Glasgow, Lake District, North & South Wales, Chester, Bathe, Exeter, Cornwall, Isle of Wight, Stonehenge

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Day 1  Depart USA Overnight flight to London.

Day 2  Arrive London (2nights) After checking into your Trafalgar hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 3  London sightseeing at leisure Many major sights are included on our morning sightseeing tour. (Continental breakfast)

Day 4  London - Oxford - Stratford - Coventry Greetings from our Tour Director as we travel to Oxford. Here we visit one of the famous Colleges (or the Sheldonian theatre when the Colleges are closed) before reaching Bladon to view Sir Winston Churchill's grave in the little churchyard. Then on through the Cotswolds to Stratford-upon-Avon, to visit Shakespeare's birthplace and drive past Anne Hathaway's cottage. Later, on to Coventry, home of Lady Godiva, to see its two Cathedrals before heading to our hotel. Tonight, we enjoy dinner and a welcome drink with our Tour Director. (Continental breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 5  Coventry - Wedgewood - York - Harrogate A morning drive brings us to The Potteries to visit the Wedgwood Pottery Centre. Then we continue towards Brontë countryside and the historic city of York. Here an orientation tour takes us to view the gothic Minster and for a walk through the picturesque 'Shambles'. There is free time perhaps to shop before we go on to enjoy typical Yorkshire hospitality at a dinner in a local pub. After we head to our hotel in the elegant Harrogate. (Full English breakfast/ Hotel Dinner)

Day 6  Harrogate - Edinburgh (2nights) This morning our journey takes us through the Yorkshire countryside to Hadrian's Wall and then Northumberland National Park to the Scottish Border. Time to take pictures of ruined Jedburgh Abbey en route to Scotland's attractive capital city, Edinburgh. During the Festival, we include tickets to the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo. (Full English breakfast)

Day 7  Edinburgh sightseeing Elegant Princes Street and the Royal Mile are featured on our sightseeing tour, plus a visit to the castle. We'll view Holyrood House, before free time to shop for tartans or sample delicious shortbread. Later, there's a chance to see Highland dancers on an optional Scottish night out, complete with haggis and bagpipes. (Full English breakfast)

Day 8  Edinburgh - St. Andrews - Scottish Highlands Across the Forth Bridge to the Fife Coast and St. Andrews, home of the famous golf course. Then over the River Tay via Dundee and Perth to Pitlochry. Maybe visit the castle at Blair Atholl before we arrive at our hotel deep in the Scottish Highlands. (Full English breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 9  Scottish Highlands – Isle of Skye Through rugged scenery to Culloden Moor, scene of the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Then along the banks of Loch Ness and through Glen Shiel, past Eilean Donan Castle to the Kyle of Lochalsh where we cross over the sea to Skye. (Full English breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 10  Isle of Skye - Glasgow Enjoy more splendid scenery as we cross back to the mainland. Next we drive past Fort William with glimpses of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, en route southwards to the Vale of Glencoe. Then along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond en route to Glasgow. (Full English breakfast)

Day 11  Glasgow - Liverpool (2nights) We drive through the Southern Uplands to visit Moffat Woollens. Then we cross into England and the scenicLake District to visit Grasmere, home of the poet Wordsworth. . Finally, on to Manchester for two-nights. (Full English breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 12  North Wales Excursion After breakfast we enjoy a drive to Anglesey and Caernarvon where we visit the Castle. Then on through the scenic Snowdonia National Park, stopping at Betws-y-Coed, with its 15th century Stone Bridge. Here there's time for tea, before returning to Manchester. (Full English breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 13  Manchester - Chester - Llandrindod Wells Our first stop is at Chester to admire the Cathedral and city ramparts with time to explore the galleried 'Rows'. Then we drive over the Horseshoe Pass to Llangollen, home of the International Music Eisteddfod in Wales. Next into Shropshire to visit the market town of Ludlow, en route to our hotel in Llandrindod Wells. (Full English breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 14  Llandrindod Wells - Cardiff - Bath - Bristol Today's drive brings us to Caerphilly where we see its spectacular castle. Then on to Cardiff with time to explore before descending into the Wye Valley to view the 12th century Tintern Abbey. Next, we cross the Severn Bridge arriving in Georgian Bath to visit the Roman Baths. We continue to nearby Bristol where tonight we enjoy dinner in a characteristic restaurant. (Full English breakfast/ Hotel dinner)

Day 15  Bristol - Tiverton (2nights) After a drive to admire the rugged beauty of Cheddar Gorge, we reach Glastonbury the legendary burial site of King Arthur. On to Dunster with its timbered houses and yarn market dominated by the great castle. Later, we cross the wilds of Exmoor, Lorna Doone country to Tiverton. (Full English breakfast)

Day 16  Cornish Excursion A delightful day touring this beautiful area and rugged coastline. We will visit the artists' colony of St. Ives and Penzance to view St. Michael's Mount. There's time for lunch before we head back into Devon to Plymouth and return past Dartmoor National Park to our Tiverton hotel for dinner and overnight. (Full English breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 17  Tiverton - Isle of Wight - Portsmouth This morning we head towards Portsmouth through the yachting mecca of Lymington and continue by ferry to Yarmouth and the Isle of Wight. Here we will visit Osborne House, home of Queen Victoria and her consort before taking ferry to Portsmouth. (Full English breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 18  Portsmouth - Salisbury - Stonehenge - London After breakfast we drive to Salisbury, to view its magnificent Cathedral. Then, we cross Salisbury Plain to see the ancient monoliths of Stonehenge before continuing to London. (Full English breakfast)

Day 19  London - USA Today bid farewell on our return flight to America. (Continental breakfast)