West Europe – The West End, Museums & Castles – 6N/7D

Itinerary:

Day 1 : London – West End and a West End show

Spend a day soaking up the unique atmosphere of London’s West End and experience the vibrant shopping, culture and history as well as food and drink. Walk around Leicester Square, and take time to stroll along Oxford Street and Regent Street and pop into magnificent Selfridges the shop that sells everything! Relax in Hyde Park with an ice-cream before taking in a fabulous West End show – The Lion King and Les Miserable’s are top of the bill with their incredible stage settings, colourful costumes and magical singing and dancing.

Day 3 : Day trip to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath

Take a day trip to Windsor Castle and visit the magnificent Sate Apartments that are still used for State occasions and Royal receptions and take time to explore the castle grounds and the 14th century St. George’s Castle. On to the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge that the most important prehistoric site in England and then time for tea in the beautiful Georgian City of Bath and a wander around the Roman Baths, built around thermal springs that have been supplying water for over 2000 years.

Day 4 : London at leisure – take tea at Grosvenor House – London pubs

Take time today to explore London at leisure. Wander the trail of London’s hidden waterways – the buried rivers that surge beneath the city’s surface, there is a river that runs directly beneath Buckingham Palace. Wander around lively Covent Garden and pop into London Perfumer Penhaligon’s for a spot of fragrance testing. Row a boat at London’s parks – the biggest and best-known is the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park. Ride the Routemaster heritage routes that were decommissioned in 2005 it’s still possible to ride the route 15 from Tower Hill to Trafalgar Square. And take afternoon tea at the plush London Grosvenor hotel with a super spread of delicate sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and tiny bite-sized cakes – delicious! Relax in the evening with a drink at a London pub – try the Old Coffee House in Soho, the Holborn Whippet in Bloomsbury or The Lyric in Soho.

Day 5 : Optional day trip to the Cotswolds or Stratford on Avon

Take a day trip into the gorgeous countryside of the Cotswolds that make up some of England’s most beautiful terrain. Stratford, to the north, is the home of Shakespeare and you will see many of the region’s charms enroute by way of tiny villages and perfect pubs. Invest in a combination ticket to see Shakespeare’s birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and visit Hidcote Manor Gardens – one of Britain’s best and biggest gardens. If time, stop off at Sudeley Castle – the home of Henry VII’s last wife, and famous for the roses in its Queen’s Garden.

Day 6 : South Wales – explore Cardiff

Off to beautiful South Wales with its medieval castles, industrial history, a wild and spectacular coastline, rolling green hills, and Wales’s capital – Cardiff, with its innovative architecture that sits comfortably alongside historic buildings. Spend time exploring Cardiff that has emerged from a small settlement to being the world’s busiest port. Visit the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay that is nicknamed The Armadillo due to its copper coloured dome. And don’t miss Cardiff Castle the foundations of the castle date back to 50 AD and the imposing building is walled with elaborate gargoyles that depict a 19th century gothic fantasy. And, if time, take a stroll or rent a bike and follow the Taff Trail along revamped rail routes, towpaths and tramways Cardiff has more green space than any other city in Europe.

Day 7 : South Wales Valley Tour

Take a tour of the beautiful South Wales Valley before heading back to London. Enjoy a scenic drive through an ancient wood and mountain road to descend into the Rhymney Valley to Caerphilly town and see Caerphilly Castle a mighty fortress with the famous tower that our leans Pisa! Journey through the former industrial valleys of South Wales and take a sightseeing tour of the Brecon Beacons National Park a jewel in the crown of UK’s protected landscapes full of rolling hills and lush green valleys. Next stop are the Black Mountains, located on the eastern region of the park where there is an abundance of wide open spaces for Welsh black cattle, mountain ponies and lots of sheep.

Day 8 : Depart

Itinerary:

Day 1 : London – West End and a West End show

Spend a day soaking up the unique atmosphere of London’s West End and experience the vibrant shopping, culture and history as well as food and drink. Walk around Leicester Square, and take time to stroll along Oxford Street and Regent Street and pop into magnificent Selfridges the shop that sells everything! Relax in Hyde Park with an ice-cream before taking in a fabulous West End show – The Lion King and Les Miserable’s are top of the bill with their incredible stage settings, colourful costumes and magical singing and dancing.

Day 3 : Day trip to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath

Take a day trip to Windsor Castle and visit the magnificent Sate Apartments that are still used for State occasions and Royal receptions and take time to explore the castle grounds and the 14th century St. George’s Castle. On to the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge that the most important prehistoric site in England and then time for tea in the beautiful Georgian City of Bath and a wander around the Roman Baths, built around thermal springs that have been supplying water for over 2000 years.

Day 4 : London at leisure – take tea at Grosvenor House – London pubs

Take time today to explore London at leisure. Wander the trail of London’s hidden waterways – the buried rivers that surge beneath the city’s surface, there is a river that runs directly beneath Buckingham Palace. Wander around lively Covent Garden and pop into London Perfumer Penhaligon’s for a spot of fragrance testing. Row a boat at London’s parks – the biggest and best-known is the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park. Ride the Routemaster heritage routes that were decommissioned in 2005 it’s still possible to ride the route 15 from Tower Hill to Trafalgar Square. And take afternoon tea at the plush London Grosvenor hotel with a super spread of delicate sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and tiny bite-sized cakes – delicious! Relax in the evening with a drink at a London pub – try the Old Coffee House in Soho, the Holborn Whippet in Bloomsbury or The Lyric in Soho.

Day 5 : Optional day trip to the Cotswolds or Stratford on Avon

Take a day trip into the gorgeous countryside of the Cotswolds that make up some of England’s most beautiful terrain. Stratford, to the north, is the home of Shakespeare and you will see many of the region’s charms enroute by way of tiny villages and perfect pubs. Invest in a combination ticket to see Shakespeare’s birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and visit Hidcote Manor Gardens – one of Britain’s best and biggest gardens. If time, stop off at Sudeley Castle – the home of Henry VII’s last wife, and famous for the roses in its Queen’s Garden.

Day 6 : South Wales – explore Cardiff

Off to beautiful South Wales with its medieval castles, industrial history, a wild and spectacular coastline, rolling green hills, and Wales’s capital – Cardiff, with its innovative architecture that sits comfortably alongside historic buildings. Spend time exploring Cardiff that has emerged from a small settlement to being the world’s busiest port. Visit the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay that is nicknamed The Armadillo due to its copper coloured dome. And don’t miss Cardiff Castle the foundations of the castle date back to 50 AD and the imposing building is walled with elaborate gargoyles that depict a 19th century gothic fantasy. And, if time, take a stroll or rent a bike and follow the Taff Trail along revamped rail routes, towpaths and tramways Cardiff has more green space than any other city in Europe.

Day 7 : South Wales Valley Tour

Take a tour of the beautiful South Wales Valley before heading back to London. Enjoy a scenic drive through an ancient wood and mountain road to descend into the Rhymney Valley to Caerphilly town and see Caerphilly Castle a mighty fortress with the famous tower that our leans Pisa! Journey through the former industrial valleys of South Wales and take a sightseeing tour of the Brecon Beacons National Park a jewel in the crown of UK’s protected landscapes full of rolling hills and lush green valleys. Next stop are the Black Mountains, located on the eastern region of the park where there is an abundance of wide open spaces for Welsh black cattle, mountain ponies and lots of sheep.

Day 8 : Depart