Grand Tour of the UK

London to York

Join the group at our dedicated Departure Office in St Pancras then travel by First Class rail to York where we stay at The Principal.

Historic York

We discover much of the city's long and fascinating story on a guided walking tour of its main attractions. These include the incomparable Minster, which is one of Europe's largest and most ornate gothic cathedrals, and the Shambles, a quaint street that has remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. Following the tour, you have the chance to take in the sights of this marvellous city at your own pace.

Rail to Edinburgh

This morning we transfer to the station for the train north to Edinburgh in First Class.Upon arrival we check into our hotel for a two night stay. That evening we are welcomed in true Scottish style, enjoying a traditional Great Scot's Dinner experience at the hotel, complete with exciting and traditional forms of entertainment.

Exploring Edinburgh

Today we enjoy a guided walking tour of Edinburgh, taking in the city's main sights. We pass the 16th century Palace of Holyroodhouse, more commonly known as Holyrood Palace. Home of the British monarchy in Scotland, the Queen typically spends some of the summer here.

The centre of Edinburgh is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, containing a beautiful medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, complete with fantastic modern architecture that mixes and melds with its surroundings in a marvellous melting pot of both old and new.

On to Inverness

Today we board the rail service to Inverness. After checking into the Macdonald Hotel Drumossie, you are free to explore.

Situated at the north end of the Great Glen, this beautiful and historic town is known as the 'Capital of the Highlands', and has been used as a base for much of Scotland's travel, trade and communication for hundreds of years. Why not visit the incredible Inverness Castle? Although not open to the public, this is a picturesque 19th century sandstone building that overlooks the River Ness, and is a delight to behold.

Loch Ness and Fort William

We travel to historic Fort William today, taking the coach from Inverness. Along the scenic route, we briefly stop at iconic Loch Ness. Upon arrival in Fort William, we have time for lunch, then transfer to our hotel, stopping en-route at Glencoe and the Three Sisters Mountains for a photo opportunity.

Jacobite Steam Train and Mallaig

This morning we make our way back to Fort William, where we transfer to the station for a journey on the Jacobite Steam Train* to Mallaig. On arrival in Mallaig, we are free to explore before returning to Fort William by coach. Later this evening, we transfer to the station for our on the Scotrail service to Glasgow, where we spend the night. Our hotel in Glasgow is the Jury's Inn.

*Please note: On some early departures, the Jacobite Steam Train may not operate, and we make this excursion on the Scotrail service.

Discovering Liverpool

On Day 8 we transfer to the station for our rail service to Preston, then continue by coach to Liverpool for 2 nights.

Day 9 begins with some sightseeing around Liverpool, home of The Beatles. We take in the Waterfront Pier Head, the Cavern Club, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields; made famous by John, Paul, George and Ringo in 1967. We also see Liverpool's vibrant China Town. Following our tour you are free to explore Liverpool further at your leisure.

Onwards to Bristol

We travel by coach to the station today, catching the rail service to Bristol, via Stafford, for a two-night stay. We enjoy a wonderful excursion by rail to the historic city of Bath, on Day 11. The UNESCO protected city is famous worldwide for its natural hot springs. We embark on a guided tour, taking in the city's main sights, including the stunning Abbey and the architecturally wonderful Royal Crescent. The Crescent, a row of 30 18th-century terraced houses, is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the country.

Stonehenge

We begin the journey to London, by coach. En route, we stop off at the famous prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. One of the most impressive Bronze Age monuments in the country, this ring of standing stones has long provided archaeologists with the mystery of what the complex design really represents.

We arrive in London later checking into the NH Kensington. We enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant.

The Tower of London

We arrive at the iconic Tower of London in time to witness the famous Opening Ceremony. We are given a short talk by a Yeoman Warder before witnessing the ceremony first-hand. The morning is then free to explore the famous landmark at your own pace. Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the Tower has been utilised for a number of purposes, including a prison and most recently, a tourist attraction and home of the Crown Jewels.

The rest of the day is at leisure in the capital. You may like to take advantage of the city's wealth of wonderful museums and galleries including the fantastic Natural History Museum and the ever popular British Museum, both possessing a vast collection of some of the finest archeological finds in world history.

We enjoy a final dinner in the hotel together this evening.

Home

After breakfast the tour concludes, and you are free to depart.

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour features the same excursions, they may not necessarily be in the order listed above.

Departure Times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.