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England,
Scotland & Wales
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Thursday - Edinburgh:
Following our connecting flight in London, we'll arrive in Edinburgh
in the mid-morning. Before checking into our hotel this afternoon,
we'll explore the "City of Greats." Sir Walter Scott, Robert
Lewis Stevenson, Mary Queen of Scotts and Bonnie Prince Charlie all
lived here. Overnight Edinburgh. (D)
Friday - Edinburgh:
Our city tour of Edinburgh will include a visit to the Edinburgh Castle
towering above the Old Town, the venerable St. Giles Cathedral, and
Holyrood Palace, the royal residence for centuries. A drive along
Princes' Street and the Royal Mile brings to mind stories of some
intriguing characters, such as the Bodysnatchers, Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde. The balance of the afternoon is free to explore on your own
through the Old Town, take advantage of the excellent shopping, or
simply relax. Overnight Edinburgh. (CB)
Saturday - Edinburgh
/ York: Crossing the Scottish border through the rolling Border country,
we visit Jedburgh Abbey, founded in 1165 by William the Lion, King
of Scotland. We continue south, passing a section of Hadrian's Wall,
the Roman coast-to-coast defense against northern tribes, and arrive
in York. In this medieval city, our local guide takes us through a
maze of quaint streets, including "the Shambles," to York
Minster. This evening we'll enjoy a "Ghost Tour" of the
Old Town. (CB, D)
Sunday - York
/ Chester: Journeying south from York, visit the grand estate of Chatsworth,
with beautiful gardens and cascading fountains. The picturesque landscapes
of Northern England's brooding moors gradually give way to the rolling
hills and valleys of central England. Travel via Peak District National
Park to the medieval walled city of Chester, renowned for its distinctive
black and white architecture. Overnight Chester. (CB, D)
Monday - Chester
- Snowdonia National Park in Wales - Chester: A full day excursion
begins amid the dazzling colors of Bodnant Gardens, one of the finest
gardens in Britain. Continue on to Betws-y-Coed, a picturesque Welsh
town, and then on to explore the scenic splendor of Snowdonia National
Park. Later, a stop will be made in Llangollen, home of an international
contest for poets and minstrels. To round off the drive through North
Wales, we'll take the panoramic route over Horseshoe Pass on our return
to Chester. Overnight Chester. (B, D)
Tuesday - Chester
/ Warwick Castle / Stratford: The day begins with a ride to Coventry,
the home of the infamous Lady Godiva, and a visit to it's famous cathedral.
Then on to the finest medieval castle in all of England, Warwick Castle.
As strutting peacocks bob past our group atop this cliff-top castle,
we'll have the opportunity to take pictures of the glorious view of
the blue-green River Avon flowing peacefully past. Next, we'll visit
Stratford-upon-Avon, home of William Shakespeare, with its characteristic
half-timbered Tudor houses that nestle against the lanes. Overnight
Leamington Spa. (CB, D)
Wednesday - Oxford
/Cotswolds / Bath: Our first stop this morning will be in Oxford where
we'll see the most famous colleges. Later, we motor through the beautiful
Cotswold Hills to visit quaint, medieval Stow-on-the-Wold. Overnight
Bristol. (B, D)
Thursday - Bath
/ Stonehenge / London: We'll arrive in the elegant Georgian city of
Bath with its fine gardens and flower-festooned streets in the morning.
Here we'll see the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths. Then try
to figure out the prehistoric mystery of Stonehenge. We'll visit picturesque
Salisbury with its vast cathedral, the ultimate in English Gothic,
before arriving late this afternoon in the British capital, London.
(B, D)
Friday - London:
We'll see the grand tombs of kings, queens, and heroes in Westminster
Abbey; the Houses of Parliament; and the Tower of London where the
Crown Jewels are displayed. This afternoon we will visit Windsor Castle,
home to British kings and queens for nine centuries. Dinner is on
your own this evening in London. Overnight London. (CB)
Saturday - London:
All day at leisure. London has so many delights and attractions that
you will have plenty to see and do, no matter what your interests.
Choose from the famous sights such as the Tower of London, or Westminster
Abbey, browse around the many street markets or visit Harrod's Department
Store in Knightsbridge. In the evenings you have a wide variety of
activities to choose from ... the theater, dining, or night clubs.
(CB)
Sunday - London
/ Canterbury: Today, we visit Canterbury and step into the pages of
Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" as we visit the famous Canterbury
Cathedral. Later, we visit Leeds Castle, a fortified structure idyllically
set on two islands in the middle of a lake. Overnight London. (CB)
Monday - London
/ USA: Depart London and arrive USA in the early afternoon.
(CB)
CB
- Continental Breakfast
B - Breakfast
L - Lunch
D - Dinner
SD - Special Dinner
