TOUR OPERATORS

ITINERARY 2 - 6 DAYS/5 NIGHTS DAY 1 Arrive London where you will be met and escorted to your coach. Transfer to your hotel in London via a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city's major attractions. Check into your hotel where the balance of the day is free until this evening's welcome dinner. OVERNIGHT LONDON DAY 2 Your guide will meet you at your hotel this morning for your tour of the capital which will include visits to St. Paul's Cathedral - Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece - and the Tower of London where you will see the world-famous Crown Jewels. Your visit to the Tower will be followed by a lunch cruise along the River Thames, from where you will get a different perspective of this great city, and then a trip on the London Eye for a 'bird's eye view'. Return to your hotel late afternoon. Balance of day free. OVERNIGHT LONDON. DAY 3 Your guide will meet you at your hotel this morning for your visit to Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world. Originally built by William the Conqueror, the castle has had many additions made to it down the centuries by various monarchs. There will be time to visit St. George's Chapel where many of England's monarchs are buried, including Henry VIII, and where the Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward married Sophie Rees-Jones. St. George's Chapel was also the setting for the blessing of the marriage of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker-Bowles following the civil service in the Guildhall, Windsor. There will be some free time in Windsor for independent lunch/shopping before returning to the hotel mid-afternoon. This evening, enjoy a performance at one of London's theatres. OVERNIGHT LONDON DAY 4 The historic university city of Oxford is your destination this morning. Your coach and guide will be at the hotel after breakfast to meet you and the journey will take around and hour and a half. Once in Oxford your guide will conduct a walking tour through the narrow, twisting lanes that take you through the city and there will be the opportunity to visit one of the colleges which are subject to varying opening times. You will also see the city's other famous attractions such as the Sheldonian Theatre and the Ashmolean Museum. From Oxford, drive to the village of Woodstock where a pub lunch has been arranged before you visit Blenheim Palace - the home of the Duke of Marlborough and one of the country's finest stately homes. Designed by Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor for John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough - victor of the Battle of Blenheim in 1704 - this beautiful palace is set in magnificent landscaped gardens designed by 'Capability' Brown. Return to your hotel early evening. OVERNIGHT LONDON DAY 5 A free day in London for independent shopping or further sightseeing. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at one of London's top restaurants. OVERNIGHT LONDON DAY 6 Transfer to the airport for your return flight. ITINERARY 3 - 10 DAYS/9 NIGHTS DAY 1 Arrive Glasgow where you will be met and escorted to your coach. Your guide will conduct a panoramic tour of Scotland's second city, which has undergone some major regeneration during the past few years, before you check in at your hotel. Balance of day is free until this evening's Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. OVERNIGHT GLASGOW DAY 2 Leave Glasgow and drive into the Campsie Fells to visit Glengoyne Distillery. Your tour of the distillery will include the opportunity to sample the produce before heading westward to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city. After your pub lunch, you will be met by a local guide who will conduct a city tour which will include visits to Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence when in Scotland. Check in at your hotel after the tour. OVERNIGHT EDINBURGH DAY 3 This morning head north, crossing the Firth of Forth and driving on into the Kingdom of Fife to visit the famous town of St. Andrews. St. Andrews is home to the oldest university in the country (Prince William studied at St. Andrews) as well as being world famous as 'The Home of Golf'. Some free time in St. Andrews for independent lunch, shopping etc., before returning to Edinburgh via the East Neuk villages of Crail, Anstruther and Pittenweem. OVERNIGHT EDINBURGH DAY 4 Head south from Edinburgh, crossing the border into England and continuing to Durham - an ancient university and cathedral city set in a horseshoe bend of the River Wear. Visit the cathedral, which is over 900 years old and often described as one of the great architectural experiences of Europe., and enjoy some free time before continuing your journey into Yorkshire and to the historic city of York - one of the finest walled cities in the world. Check into your hotel. OVERNIGHT YORK DAY 5 A walking tour of York this morning - see 'The Shambles', a series of narrow, cobbled streets, the Castle and of course York Minster -famed for its beautiful stained glass windows - which you will visit. The balance of the day is free for your to enjoy this maginficent city at leisure. OVERNIGHT YORK DAY 6 Leave York and drive into Derbyshire's Peak District to visit Chatsworth House, home to the Duke of Devonshire and one of England's finest stately homes. A short stop in the nearby town of Bakewell and then continue through the Peak District - one of the UK's National Parks - and on to Chester, a city that dates back to Roman times. On arrival in Chester, there will be a walking tour of the city before you check into your hotel. OVERNIGHT CHESTER DAY 7 A full day's excursion into North Wales visiting beautiful Bodnant Gardens, the pretty Alpine-like village of Betws y Coed and magnificent Caernarvon Castle - one of a series of castle built by King Edward I during his fortifications of Wales back in the 13th century. OVERNIGHT CHESTER DAY 8 Leave Chester and head south to Stratford upon Avon, the home town of William Shakespeare. Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace and enjoy some free time in the town before continuing your journey to London to arrive late afternoon. Check into your hotel. OVERNIGHT LONDON. DAY 9 A guided tour of London this morning, including a visit to the Tower of London where you will see the famous Crown Jewels. Return to your hotel around lunchtime and the balance of the day is free before this evening's Farewell Dinner at one of London's many restaurants. OVERNIGHT LONDON DAY 10 Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

AN ALTERNATIVE FULL DAY TOUR CAN BE INCLUDED - E.G. FULL DAY STRATFORD UPON AVON & WARWICK CASTLE OR FULL DAY STONEHENGE & BATH.