Highlights of Britain

Overview
Itinerary
Hotels
The Experience
Reviews

4.7

See more of the beauty of Britain

Go off the beaten path as you traverse the whole of Britain to see Devon and Cornwall in England’s Southwest, the medieval heritage of Wales, and Scotland’s delights.

Trip details

Tour start London

Tour end London

Days

Nights

Meals

Available Promotions for this tour

Highlights

Edinburgh Castle

Walk in the footsteps of soldiers, kings and queens, and even the odd pirate or two, in this medieval-era royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, alive with many exciting tales.

Roman Baths

Discover why these mineral-rich hot springs have been a popular destination for more than 2,000 years.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Learn all about the life and work of the Bard — and tour his birthplace at Stratford-Upon-Avon.

St Andrews

Cross the modern Tay Bridge to the medieval town of St Andrews, the "Home of Golf”.

York Minster

Marvel at this millennium-old cathedral and its exquisite medieval-era stained glass windows.

Stonehenge

Try to uncover the mystery of these massive stone arrangements that date back thousands of years.

Abbotsford House

Great Scott! Visit the extraordinary home of Sir Walter Scott, the 19th century novelist who popularized tartan and rediscovered the Scottish Crown Jewels.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Travelers on our July 31st - August 14th departures can watch kilt-clad corps perform with drums and pipes in military precision.

Tower of London

Explore the grand fortress that has served as a royal residence, a prison, an executioner's grounds — and even as a zoo, in its time.

Cardiff Castle

Visit one of the most iconic of the 600 castles that dot Wales' landscape.

Windsor Castle

Visit the Queen's magnificent home, the longest-occupied palace in all of Europe.

Itinerary

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Day 1London Arrival | Windsor Castle

Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your Windsor hotel. Venture to see the splendors of Windsor Castle, a residence of the King, and the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. Then take a walking tour around the medieval town of Windsor with a local guide. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group, and dine and explore as you wish this evening.

Day 2Stonehenge | Salisbury

Marvel at the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths of Stonehenge and learn about the primitive builders who managed to create such an enduring monument. Stop in Salisbury, a charming old city where the cathedral boasts the tallest spire in England. Arrive in Tavistock, a market town on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. (B, D)

Day 3St Michael's Mount | St Ives

Travel through the unspoiled beauty of Bodmin Moor; stop for photos at Jamaica Inn, built in 1750 and immortalized in Daphne du Maurier's tale of daring smugglers. Visit the coastal village of Marazion to see the romantic outline of St Michael's Mount, an island topped by a spectacular castle. In the old fishing town of St Ives, take a walking tour to see its cobbled streets, quaint cottages, art galleries, and surrounding sandy beaches. Enjoy time to explore before returning to a free evening in Tavistock. (B)

Day 4Roman Baths | Cardiff Castle

Explore Bath, a city of elegant Georgian buildings in a distinctive golden stone. Tour the wonderfully preserved Roman Baths. Head to Cardiff, where you'll take a sightseeing tour of the city before touring Cardiff Castle, a medieval castle fabulously renovated in Victorian Gothic style. Dine in your hotel this evening. (B, D)

Day 5Hay-on-Wye | Shrewsbury

Travel through the Brecon Beacons National Park to Hay-on-Wye, a town famous for its bookshops. Continue to Shrewsbury, a picturesque town near the English/Welsh border. Take a walking tour with the town crier to see black-and-white buildings that line the narrow streets. Travel through Cheshire to your hotel in Chester. (B, D)

Day 6North Wales | Chester

Drive through the countryside of north Wales as you journey to Conwy, a medieval town dominated by a huge castle. Enjoy a walking tour around the picturesque streets and see the smallest house in Britain, followed by free time for lunch on your own. In Chester, take another walking tour to see medieval buildings and Roman walls. (B, D)

Day 7Lake District | Scottish Evening*

Travel through the glorious Lake District, which inspired many of Beatrix Potter's children's books. Visit the village of Grasmere, where Wordsworth lived and is buried. Pass through the village of Gretna Green as you cross the border into Scotland. At your hotel, enjoy a lively Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment. (July 31 - August 14 departures will have a free evening instead). (B, D*)

Day 8Edinburgh Castle | City Tour

Explore central Edinburgh starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with planned streets and elegant Georgian houses where many famous writers and inventors lived. See the Royal Mile with its narrow medieval houses, then tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. On July 31 - August 14 departures, attend the world famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

Day 9Glamis Castle | St Andrews

Tour Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of Shakespeare's “Macbeth” and childhood home of the Queen Mother. Cross the modern Tay Bridge to the medieval town of St Andrews, the “Home of Golf.” Take a panoramic tour of this scenic university town by the sea. Have lunch with your group and enjoy some time to explore. (B,L)

Day 10Abbotsford House | York

Visit Abbotsford House, the rambling and picturesque former home of Sir Walter Scott, the internationally famed 19th-century novelist; one of Scotland's greatest historic characters, he played a large role in the modern popularity of tartan. Head to York, an ancient city of narrow cobbled streets, charming tearooms and quaint old pubs, and fantastic medieval churches. Here you'll have the rest of the day free to explore and dine as you wish. (B)

Day 11Whitby | Castle Howard | York Minster

Visit the old fishing town of Whitby. Tour its pretty harbor and cobbled streets with your director before departing for Castle Howard, a 300-year-old Stately home that has been the setting for numerous film and TV productions, including the hit show "Bridgerton." Return to York to tour magnificent York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe. (B, D)

Day 12Shakespeare's Birthplace | London

Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare's Birthplace. Discover the world that shaped the man as you look through an exhibition about his life and work, and take in a short performance to see his words come to life. Drive through the scenic Cotswolds region, renowned for picturesque villages built of honey-colored stone with charming gardens. Arrive in London and enjoy dinner with your group. (B, D)

Day 13Tower of London | City Sightseeing

Take a panoramic London tour with a local guide to see some of the famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Visit the mighty Tower of London to see the many fortresses, Beefeaters in their elaborate uniforms, and the dazzling Crown Jewels. The afternoon and evening are free for independent activities. (B)

Day 14Tour Ends in London

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner *Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner. >

Where you’ll stay

Castle Hotel Windsor Windsor, England

The Castle Hotel, Windsor – MGallery Hotel Collection is a 4 star luxury hotel-based in the heart...

The Bedford Hotel Tavistock, England

The Bedford Hotel is a classic English townhouse hotel in the heart of the award-winning Devon...

Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel & Spa Cardiff, Wales

In a prime city center location, this 4-Star luxury hotel has a swimming pool, a gym and a spa....

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Chester Front Entrance

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Chester Chester, England

Featuring a cocktail bar, Doubletree by Hilton Chester is set in an 18th-century manor house with...

Leonardo Royal Edinburgh Haymarket Edinburgh, Scotland

The Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket is in the historic heart of the city. ...

Delta Hotels by Marriott York York, England

The York Marriott Hotel is within a 20-25 minute walking distance of York city centre and its many...

100 Queen's Gate Hotel - an impressive white building on a London street

100 Queen's Gate Hotel London, Curio Collection by Hilton London, England

A stylish city spot, a fashionable location where history meets modernity: 100 Queen's Gate was...

Inclusive package with no hidden extras

What's included?

Full daily breakfast and many meals*
Transportation (Buses, shuttles & ferries)
Welcome drinks with your group
Free Wi-Fi on luxury coaches
All entrance fees to attractions
Comprehensive travel itinerary and documents

*Breakfast is not included on Day 1

Our welcome gift to you

A travel backpack
Travel adapter
Rain poncho
Luggage strap and tags
Documents wallet

From our travelers

What a fabulous tour! We saw so much of Great Britain! This tour is great! If you have never traveled to GB or traveled overseas, like us, this is the way to do it. Our tour director was so informative, organized and humorous! The bus driver was excellent and so personable. Everything was taken care of for us. No worries...just fun. Our fellow travelers were wonderful. Meals and hotels were excellent. I would definitely recommend this tour. I look forward to taking another CIE tour in the future.

Ron and Melissa, Maryland

We take care of everything: authentic experiences, expert local tour directors, and more. Check out the CIE Tours difference!

See what people are saying about this trip

Allyn A Medeiros

11 months 1 week ago

Too long on the road, not enough time at the stops to enjoy it.

Erin Kimberly Blackburn

1 year 4 months ago

CIE always delivers! I recommend them to everyone I know!

CIE always does a great job with the hotels, site visits and travel arrangements. This was such a great introduction to all parts of Great Britain! I enjoyed every minute of it!

CIE Tours Customer

3 years 10 months ago

Great value!

LeahP

4 years ago

Great experience, no worries

We saw such a great selection of Great Britain's highlights without worrying about logistics at all. Great hotels and food, informative and entertaining guides, comfortable bus. Wonderful experience. The only negative I can mention is that City Transfers, the company that handled airport transfers, was very late in both directions, to the point that we worried we'd be late, and had actually called a taxi just in case CT didn't show up. CIE should consider not using this company anymore, as we heard from airport and hotel staff that this happens all the time.

Mr. Kenneth Robert Mcconnaughay