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London | The Classic Tour of Britain

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London | The Classic Tour of Britain

Itinerary What's Included Pricing Hotels Map Request
15 days from

$50000

See the highlight of Britain, England, Scotland and Wales on this 15-day self-drive vacation.  Set off in your rental car and tour as you choose, spending however long you like in each of the sites along the route. 

Day 1: London

Arriving at your London airport, pick up your rental car and drive the short distance from the airport to your hotel in the city of Windsor for check-in.   Explore Windsor, the town the Queen calls her home, on foot this afternoon. See the Guildhall where Prince Charles married his Camilla and the many lanes and picturesque pubs in this historic town. Visit Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and admire the magnificent State Rooms, St George’s Chapel and Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.

Day 2: Windsor to Stratford-upon-Avon

You have several routes to choose from today when you drive from Windsor to Stratford-upon-Avon. You may choose to explore the Cotswolds region this morning, and stop in one of the villages with the many honey-coloured cottages with thatched roofs which the area is famous for, before continuing to Stratford-upon-Avon, to visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace.  Or you can drive via Oxford, one of the most famous university cities in the world. See many of the famous colleges, such as Christ Church College which was used in some of the Harry Potter films, on a walk around the town centre. A visit to Blenheim Palace can also be included on this route. (B)

Day 3: Stratford-upon-Avon to York

This morning after breakfast and check out, depart northwards to the beautiful city of York. Upon arrival, you are free to explore York on your own. The town walls and medieval lanes mean that the city is best explored on foot, and make sure to walk down the Shambles, the most famous street in York where the overhanging timber-framed buildings almost touch above your head. A visit to the York Chocolate Story or York Minster should not be missed! (B)

Day 4: York to Edinburgh

Drive from York to Edinburgh along the Northumbrian coast. Stop at Hadrian’s Wall to explore the Roman Built wall that was constructed 1800 years ago. Today it’s a world heritage site and you can stop for photos or to visit one of the excellent visitor centres along the wall. You may also choose to visit one of the stunning castles in the area, Alnwick or Bamburgh Castle.  Alnwick Castle is famous for the Harry Potter movies and for its amazing gardens and Bamburgh Castle was once the seat of the kings of Northumbria. Or you may want to drive through the Scottish Borders region, and visit one of the ruined border abbeys, such as Jedburgh or Melrose. (B)

Day 5: Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital city has a lot of shops, pubs and restaurants to offer the visitor, as well as a good selection of activities to choose from. You can explore the beautiful capital city of Scotland on a sightseeing tour or on foot, to see the orderly streets and mansions of the New Town and the cobbled, medieval streets of the Old Town. Edinburgh Castle is situated high above the city on an extinct volcano, and houses the Crown Jewels of Scotland. There are ample opportunities to shop for Scottish souvenirs in one of the many shops on the Royal Mile or try a local beer in a cosy pub.(B)

Day 6: Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands

Today you will leave Edinburgh behind you and venture north to the Perthshire Highlands of Scotland. On the way, stop in at St Andrews, famous for golf and its top university. Continue via Perth where you can stop in at Scone Palace, the site of many Scottish royal coronations. Finally, reach Pitlochry in the highlands where you can perhaps sample a dram of whisky at the local distillery or enjoy a woodland walk in the great outdoors.(B)

Day 7: Scottish Highlands to Glasgow

Depart the Pitlochry area in the morning and you will have two driving routes to choose from on your way to Glasgow. The first option is to go via Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Here you can opt to take a cruise on Loch Lomond itself as you immerse yourself in nature. The alternative is to drive via Stirling and visit the ancient castle that dominates the city skyline. Whichever you choose, you will not be disappointed. Arrive in Glasgow by late afternoon and if you have time you may wish to embark on a brewery tour or visit one of the many museums within the city. (B)

Day 8: Glasgow to Liverpool

Depart Glasgow this morning, and head south to Liverpool or Chester. Along the way, you can choose to stop in Gretna Green for some Scottish quality shopping or make a small detour to the Lake District. The Lake District recently became a UNESCO world heritage site, due to its stunning scenery. If you are staying in Liverpool, visit The Beatles Story and in the evening you can enjoy live music at the Cavern Club. Liverpool is a vibrant city, with plenty of shopping, restaurants and bars. If you are staying in Chester, take a walk around the historic black-and-white town to see the town walls, Chester Cathedral and the Roman amphitheatre. (B)

Day 9: Liverpool to North Wales

Depart Liverpool or Chester and cross the border into Wales – Croeso y Gymru (Welcome to Wales)! Continue to your hotel in North Wales, where you will be based for the next two nights. Why not stop in Conwy on your way to explore this walled town. Stop to take a photo of Britain’s smallest house on the quayside, and you also have the option to visit Conwy Castle, a 13th-century castle in the heart of Conwy, and climb up into the towers for spectacular views of the Conwy estuary. (B)

Day 10: North Wales

You have a wide selection of activities and attractions to choose from during your stay in North Wales. The area is known for its activities, such as Bounce Below - three trampolines, one above the other, in an underground slate cavern, all connected with slides and ladders. Or Zip World Caverns - five huge underground slate caverns that have been turned into a unique adventure playground. The caverns house thrilling zip lines interspersed with rope bridges, balance beams and tunnels. It's an action-packed, three-hour experience for families with children aged 10 and over. You also have Zip World Velocity – a 100mph zip wire over a quarry lake at Bethesda, the longest and fastest in Europe – and Surf Snowdonia, where you can learn to surf on the world’s first inland surf lagoon, with waves ranging from 2m to 0.5m for beginners, in a 300m long lagoon. (B) 

Day 11: North Wales to Cardiff

Today you will travel south to the Capital of Wales: Cardiff. Travel through the stunning Snowdonia National park and reach Cardiff by late afternoon. Dating back to Roman times, you can explore the extravagant castle which was extensively refurbished in the 19th century. Check into your hotel or B&B in Cardiff, a cosmopolitan city with a fully pedestrianized city centre, some of the best shopping in Britain, as well as buzzing bars and restaurants (B)

Day 12: Cardiff to Bristol

Drive from Cardiff to Bristol, via Bath. Bath is a city so beautiful and special that it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a walk around the city centre to see sights such as Pulteney Bridge, a historic bridge with shops built into it, the Jane Austen Centre, and the Royal Crescent, one of the most photographed streets in England. You may also choose to visit the Roman Baths, the remarkably well-preserved remains of a Roman religious spa. Continue on Bristol where you can visit the SS Great Britain or visit the Aerospace museum. (B)

Day 13: Bristol to Southampton

Today you will set off for Southampton on the south coast of England. En route you certainly should stop off to visit Stonehenge where an audio-guided tour will tell you the fascinating story of this iconic stone circle, built almost 5000 years ago. There are many theories as to why Stonehenge was constructed, and how the massive stones were transported from as far away as Wales. A little further on you can visit Salisbury and its famous Cathedral before continuing your journey onto Southampton where you will check in to your hotel. (B)

Day 14: Southampton to London

This is your last full day in the United Kingdom on this tour. Visit nearby Portsmouth where you can attend the Royal Historic Dockyard and learn the history of British maritime whilst witnessing some famous ships such as HMS Victory and the remains of the Mary Rose. Continue back towards London where you can choose to extend your trip to explore this wonderful cosmopolitan city. (B)

Day 15: London departure

Your journey around Britain has come to an end, and it’s time to make your way to London Heathrow and begin your journey home. Cheerio! (B) 

Daily departures!

Highlights:  Windsor Castle  The Cotswolds  Oxford  Stratford-upon-Avon  York  Hadrian’s Wall  Alnwick Castle  Edinburgh  St Andrews  Pitlochry  Glasgow  Liverpool or Chester  North Wales  Cardiff Castle  Bristol  Roman Baths  Stonehenge  Southampton
If this itinerary is not exactly to your taste we can customise it to suit you!