Welcome to London. Settle into your hotel and meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers over dinner. Settle in with your group and get ready to explore England’s history, landscapes and local traditions.
See London’s most recognizable sights this morning on a guided tour with a Local Specialist. Admire Buckingham Palace, The Mall, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament before viewing the city from a new angle on a Thames River cruise. There’s time to explore or enjoy lunch at your own pace before leaving the capital behind. Travel north through England’s countryside to the city of Cambridge. Known for its centuries-old university and architecture, you’ll get your bearings on an orientation tour with your Travel Director. Later, settle in and enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers.
Dive into Culture as you explore Cambridge from the water on a traditional punting trip. Gliding along the River Cam, you’ll pass historic colleges and bridges while hearing stories of the university and its traditions. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Perhaps join an Optional Experience with a Local Specialist to explore Cambridge’s historic streets and visit one of the university’s colleges, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Later, there’s the option to enjoy a traditional Sunday roast at a local pub, where roast meats, Yorkshire pudding and a warm local welcome await.
Leave the university city of Cambridge behind as you travel north towards Yorkshire. Stop in Halifax to visit The Piece Hall, a striking Georgian courtyard that once buzzed with cloth merchants and now houses independent shops, galleries and exhibitions. Later, journey across the Yorkshire Moors on the M62, passing rugged hillsides, stone walls and wide open landscapes that offer a scenic window into northern England. On arrival in Manchester, enjoy an evening at leisure or choose to join an Optional Experience for a behind-the-scenes stadium tour at Manchester City Football Club.
Begin the day with a Dive into Culture visit to RHS Garden Bridgewater, where heritage, horticulture and thoughtful design meet in one of the UK’s most inspiring garden spaces. You’ll continue to Strawberry Field for your Be My Guest experience, where you’ll hear stories of Liverpool, the local community and Beatles heritage over a traditional afternoon tea hosted by the Strawberry Field team. Next up is a visit to the historic Albert Dock, where you can enjoy views of the River Mersey and soak up the lively waterfront atmosphere. An Optional Experience is an in-depth tour of Liverpool’s most famous sights, following in the footsteps of the Fab Four. This evening, return to Manchester, where you’re free to relax or explore the city at your own pace.
Leave the city behind and head into the Peak District, stopping in the market town of Bakewell. Dive into Culture over morning tea and a traditional Bakewell Pudding, a sweet treat that’s become a national favorite. Take in the landscapes en route to Nottingham, where a walking tour reveals the Old Market Square, Town Hall, the Lace Market and the Robin Hood statue. Spend the rest of the day your way, or perhaps join an Optional Experience for dinner and discover the British curry-house tradition.
Travel into the heart of Robin Hood country with a visit to Sherwood Forest. See the Major Oak, believed to be over 1,000 years old, and learn how this ancient woodland became tied to one of England’s most famous legends. Back in Nottingham, enjoy free time to explore the city your way—relax in a cafe, browse local shops or visit one of the museums. You can also choose to join an Optional Experience to Nottingham Castle and the caves beneath it. Discover the story of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham, and explore a network of caves carved into the sandstone over a thousand years ago.
Visit the Loughborough Bellfoundry Museum for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience attached to the world’s largest working bell foundry. Meet the team preserving this centuries-old craft before continuing to Birmingham. Join your Travel Director for an orientation, taking in Victoria Square, the Bullring, Selfridges Building, Birmingham Cathedral and the canals. Spend the rest of the day your way or choose to uncover the city’s street art and Peaky Blinders filming sites.
Explore Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Walk through the town’s historic streets and see the house where the world’s most famous playwright was born. From here, the afternoon is yours to explore more of the town or join an Optional Experience to Warwick Castle. Step inside one of England’s most impressive medieval fortresses and discover stories of battle, power and pageantry. Back in Birmingham, round off your holiday with a final dinner shared with your Travel Director and fellow travelers.
Spend time in Oxford, one of England’s most renowned university cities. Join your Travel Director for an orientation tour to see the Radcliffe Camera, the Ashmolean Museum and the historic colleges that have shaped centuries of learning. Then travel to Windsor for an orientation, with views of Windsor Castle and time to explore the streets around the castle precinct. Travel back to London where you will spend the evening at your leisure.
Say a fond farewell to London and your newfound friends at the end of an unforgettable journey.
