West Europe – England & Wales – 8N/9D

Itinerary:

Day 1&2 : London, sightseeing and attractions

Visit some of London’s best museums including the British Museum whose galleries are lined with prized possessions of kings and queens, and the Imperial War Museum with some fascinating stories from World War I. Walk among dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum and compare Ming with modern at the V&A.; See Picassos at Tate Modern and the Constables at Tate Britain or go stargazing at the Royal Observatory. See inside Buckingham Palace while the Queen is on holiday and wander some of the most beautiful parks and gardens in the world including Hyde Park and Kew Gardens. Go deep into tiger territory at London Zoo and see London from above at the Shard.

Day 3 : Day trip to Windsor Castle – Bath and Stonehenge

Picture yourself as part of royal proceedings at Windsor Castle, circle the strange rock formations at Stonehenge, and discover the beautiful Roman baths on a day trip that brings you to three of Britain’s most famous sights. Set against a beautiful historic hilly backdrop overlooking the river Thames, Windsor Castle proudly stands in all its grandeur with lush gardens and the Round Tower. On to Bath where you will feel as if you have just walked in to a Regency storybook, with a visit to the Roman Baths, the beautiful Number 1 Royal Crescent, and a quick peak inside the Museum of Costume and the Assembly Rooms.

Day 4 : Cardiff, sightseeing and attractions

Cardiff is a city of castles, in fact, the Romans were the first occupiers to build a fort on the site of modern day Cardiff Castle, marking the start of 2000 years of history – spanning the Norman Conquest through to Victorian Britain. Other excellent castles to visit are St. Fagan’s, Castell Coch, and Caerphilly Castle. Head off into the city centre for some sensational shopping and the world’s oldest record shop Spiller’s Records. In Cardiff Bay, you will find the stunning Wales Millennium Centre – a truly iconic piece of architecture.

Day 5 : Cardiff – North Wales and Snowdonia

Head up through Wales to the ancient ruins of Conwy Castle, a 13th century fortress. Here you can explore the turrets and towers of an iconic building, and then pop in to the adorable town of Conwy. Stop off and hike or walk in the beautiful Snowdonia National Park – enjoy the rugged climbs, the beautiful brooks, and the backdrop scenery of the mountain itself. Enjoy the twists and turns of the North Wales country roads with beautiful and peaceful backdrops of green forests and mountain slopes, and visit Bodnant Garden, set in 80 acres of beautiful grounds. Head in to the Lake District that boasts some of the best scenery in England.

Day 6&7 : Lake District, sightseeing and attractions

Two days to explore the ‘most beautiful corner of England’ with its magnificent scenery of mountains, valleys and lakes from the south to the north. Take a lake cruise, visit the 4,000 year-old Castlerigg Stone Circle set high on the fells, and stop off at charming Keswick for lunch. Travel over passes, through beautiful valleys and see waterfalls and traditional Lakeland villages – there are plenty of perfect spots for stopping to admire the views and take photographs. Visit Blackwell, a turn of the century home in Windermere that boasts an arts and crafts feel. Take time to hike some of the trails in the district from mountaineering to leisurely ambles. And visit the homes of famous writers including Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth.

Day 8 : Lake District – Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall Country is full of world-class archaeology, spectacular landscapes, rare wildlife and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hadrian’s Wall stretches for 80 miles and was built by the Romans to protect their empire – it is the best known and best preserved frontier of the Empire. Explore the stunning landscape on foot, or hire a bike and cycle at your own ease – take in the wonderful atmosphere of the bustling cities, market towns, and quaint villages along the way. Visit the ancient hilltop city of Durham with its Cathedral and Castle and also the twin Angle-Saxon monasteries at Wear mouth-Jarrow and the Holy Island of Lindsifarne.

Day 9 : Depart

Itinerary:

Day 1&2 : London, sightseeing and attractions

Visit some of London’s best museums including the British Museum whose galleries are lined with prized possessions of kings and queens, and the Imperial War Museum with some fascinating stories from World War I. Walk among dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum and compare Ming with modern at the V&A.; See Picassos at Tate Modern and the Constables at Tate Britain or go stargazing at the Royal Observatory. See inside Buckingham Palace while the Queen is on holiday and wander some of the most beautiful parks and gardens in the world including Hyde Park and Kew Gardens. Go deep into tiger territory at London Zoo and see London from above at the Shard.

Day 3 : Day trip to Windsor Castle – Bath and Stonehenge

Picture yourself as part of royal proceedings at Windsor Castle, circle the strange rock formations at Stonehenge, and discover the beautiful Roman baths on a day trip that brings you to three of Britain’s most famous sights. Set against a beautiful historic hilly backdrop overlooking the river Thames, Windsor Castle proudly stands in all its grandeur with lush gardens and the Round Tower. On to Bath where you will feel as if you have just walked in to a Regency storybook, with a visit to the Roman Baths, the beautiful Number1 Royal Crescent, and a quick peak inside the Museum of Costume and the Assembly Rooms.

Day 4 : Cardiff, sightseeing and attractions

Cardiff is a city of castles, in fact, the Romans were the first occupiers to build a fort on the site of modern day Cardiff Castle, marking the start of 2000 years of history – spanning the Norman Conquest through to Victorian Britain. Other excellent castles to visit are St. Fagan’s, Castell Coch, and Caerphilly Castle. Head off into the city centre for some sensational shopping and the world’s oldest record shop Spiller’s Records. In Cardiff Bay, you will find the stunning Wales Millennium Centre – a truly iconic piece of architecture.

Day 5 : Cardiff – North Wales and Snowdonia

Head up through Wales to the ancient ruins of Conwy Castle, a 13th century fortress. Here you can explore the turrets and towers of an iconic building, and then pop in to the adorable town of Conwy. Stop off and hike or walk in the beautiful Snowdonia National Park – enjoy the rugged climbs, the beautiful brooks, and the backdrop scenery of the mountain itself. Enjoy the twists and turns of the North Wales country roads with beautiful and peaceful backdrops of green forests and mountain slopes, and visit Bodnant Garden, set in 80 acres of beautiful grounds. Head in to the Lake District that boasts some of the best scenery in England.

Day 6&7 : Lake District, sightseeing and attractions

Two days to explore the ‘most beautiful corner of England’ with its magnificent scenery of mountains, valleys and lakes from the south to the north. Take a lake cruise, visit the 4,000 year-old Castlerigg Stone Circle set high on the fells, and stop off at charming Keswick for lunch. Travel over passes, through beautiful valleys and see waterfalls and traditional Lakeland villages – there are plenty of perfect spots for stopping to admire the views and take photographs. Visit Blackwell, a turn of the century home in Windermere that boasts an arts and crafts feel. Take time to hike some of the trails in the district from mountaineering to leisurely ambles. And visit the homes of famous writers including Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth.

Day 8 : Lake District – Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall Country is full of world-class archaeology, spectacular landscapes, rare wildlife and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hadrian’s Wall stretches for 80 miles and was built by the Romans to protect their empire – it is the best known and best preserved frontier of the Empire. Explore the stunning landscape on foot, or hire a bike and cycle at your own ease – take in the wonderful atmosphere of the bustling cities, market towns, and quaint villages along the way. Visit the ancient hilltop city of Durham with its Cathedral and Castle and also the twin Angle-Saxon monasteries at Wear mouth-Jarrow and the Holy Island of Lindsifarne.

Day 9 : Depart