England, Scotland & Wales

Tour begins: 1:00 PM, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa. A transfer from Edinburgh Airport or Edinburgh Waverley train station to the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh, is included. Your journey starts with a guided visit to Stirling Castle, where memories of the historic struggle between the Scots and the English for control of the kingdom live on. Inside, you'll find elaborately restored color and craftsmanship, reflecting the importance of the arts to its Renaissance-era royal occupants. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Stay Two Nights: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa (D)

A sightseeing tour of historic Edinburgh with a local guide is the perfect place to begin any Scotland and England travel; enjoy an introductory tour to this city of cobbled streets, Georgian architecture and trendy lifestyles. Your tour includes a private visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King's official residence in Scotland (if he is not in residence), and a tour of famed Edinburgh Castle, built into rugged rock above the city skyline.

The remainder of your day is free; select August departure dates will attend an outdoor evening performance of the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

Departing Edinburgh, you'll travel south through landscapes of forest, rivers, castles and country houses to Cumbria, England's northwestern-most county; Cumbria today is a place of peaceful natural beauty. Sparsely populated, it is best known as the home of England's Lake District and many a charming town and village; enjoy lunch in a grand manor house surrounded by gracious gardens.

Traveling on through landscapes of woods, hills and tranquil fields, you'll have time for a brief stop in the village of Grasmere. As you please, enjoy the sights of this pretty village of pubs, cafes and the churchyard where England's poet laureate, William Wordsworth, was laid to rest. Or visit tiny Wordsworth Grasmere, where Wordsworth wrote some of his most famous poems before continuing on to your Lake District hotel on the southern end of Lake Windermere, where you'll dine this evening. Stay Two Nights: The Swan Hotel & Spa (B/L/D)

Living sculpture inspires the imagination today at Levens Hall, a manor house on the banks of the River Kent. Fine furnishings and paintings adorn this stately home, a family residence throughout its history and one of the best preserved Elizabethan interiors in the UK. Best known for its gardens, Levens Hall is surrounded by an orchard, hedges, a pond, a willow maze, rose and herb gardens, and thousands of flowers – plus the most extensive topiary garden in the world.

Over 100 sculpted pieces, some several hundred years old, date back to their original planting in the 1690s, when this Dutch-style garden was all the rage (closed on Saturdays; alternate property is visited). Return to the Swan Hotel & Spa, where the remainder of the day is free for you to spend as you please; your hotel is known for a cozy atmosphere along with its unique style of decor. (B/L/D)

Huge, strong and first built by the Romans, discover the power of walls built to keep ancient invaders out on a visit to the small city of Chester, England. Strategically close to Wales and the Irish Sea, Chester is one of England's best preserved walled cities. The town is nearly completely encircled by broad walls which still offer grand views from atop. Head to Colwyn Bay, a seaside resort town on the north coast of Wales where you'll have time to get settled in at your hotel and take in the idyllic views. Enjoy a Welsh-themed dinner at the hotel this evening. Stay Two Nights: The Quay Hotel & Spa (B/D)

Mighty Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the setting for the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales in 1969, sets a remarkable scale this morning. Constructed to endure, the palace was begun circa 1283 by Edward I as a symbol of English power over the Welsh. Enjoy a privately guided tour of the castle and then time for lunch on your own in the adjacent town.

En route back to your hotel, you may choose to stop to explore the walled city of Conwy, an earlier stronghold of Edward I, on your own. Or return to the hotel for relaxation and spectacular views. Enjoy dinner at your hotel this evening, where optional outdoor dining includes a view of Conwy Castle and the beauty of the bay. (B/D)

In the village of Shottery, you'll visit the restored, timber-framed farmhouse and childhood home of Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare. Back in the Bard's day, it was known as Newlands Farm and had more than 90 acres of attached land; today it's a museum surrounded by gardens.

From here, it's a short distance to Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born and raised. You'll visit his birthplace and have time to browse exhibits that tell the story of how his name came to be known around the world, as well as check out the surrounding town at leisure; Stratford-upon-Avon's favorite son is buried in the town's Holy Trinity Church.

Late afternoon, it's off to the bookish world of Oxford, one of the world's most famous university towns. A guided orientation walk introduces its cobbled streets, guarded quadrangles, celebrated libraries and archaic traditions of learning. Continue to Oxford, where you'll have a guided orientation walk followed by the remainder of the day spent as you please. Stay Two Nights: The Store (B)

A first stop today explores a world of Baroque architecture at Winston Churchill's birthplace, Blenheim Palace and Park. The 18th-century palace was built as a celebration of the English victory over Louis XIV's French troops at the Battle of Blenheim. Since the early 1700s, it's been a home to 11 Dukes of Marlborough (Churchill was the grandson of the seventh). Your private guide will share the history and beauty of the palace and its extensive grounds. After lunch on your own, spend some time in Oxford exploring as you please.

Tonight, you'll attend a special hosted dinner at Oxford University. (B/D)

At Stonehenge, this morning's self-guided walk around the famous ring of stone (bluestones from Wales and sarsens thought to be from the Avon River, some weighing as much as 50 tons) shares the mystery of its origins. Purposefully put into place some 5,000 years ago, Stonehenge was a massive undertaking requiring the labor of thousands. Bath, one of Britain's most beautiful cities, is your next destination.

Arrive for lunch at the stylish Pump Room Restaurant, set within the city's ancient Roman Baths complex. Founded upon natural hot springs, the baths were built for bathing and socializing around 70 AD; they are among the world's best preserved – as you'll see on your included tour. Afterward, check in to your tastefully restored hotel located near Bath city center. Dinner this evening is your choice from a selection of restaurants. Stay Two Nights: Hotel Indigo Bath (B/L/D)

Founded by the Romans as a thermal spa and developed more than a thousand years later into a lavish resort by the 18th-century British aristocracy, Bath today reigns as a magnificent Georgian townscape crafted from native limestone. Architecturally, it ranks among Britain's finest cities and enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status. You'll learn why on a city tour with a local guide that takes in the 18th-century terraced houses known as the Royal Crescent and the Circus, distinctive elements of British urban planning that were later incorporated in the city of London.

View the elegant Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey, where the first king of England was crowned. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the city of Bath as you choose. (B)

On a morning's drive toward London, stop for a visit to Hampton Court Palace, set in London's borough of Richmond upon Thames. Grand in every way, during the 16th century Hampton Court Palace first caught the eye of King Henry VIII... and a legacy of monarchs in ensuing centuries contributed to the palace's rich history – and amazing artworks.

Arrive in London mid-afternoon for an introductory sightseeing tour featuring some of the British capital's most iconic sights, including Big Ben, the famed clock face and bell atop Parliament's Elizabeth Tower; Buckingham Palace, housing the offices of those who manage the Queen's affairs; Hyde Park, one of the city's Royal Parks and home to the Memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales; and historic St. Paul's Cathedral, the masterpiece of the great British architect Sir Christopher Wren.

Check in for a three-night stay at your iconic hotel, The Savoy. The remainder of the day and evening are free to spend in London as you please. Stay Three Nights: The Savoy (B/L)

Visit Westminster Abbey this morning on a guided tour; the final resting place of 17 kings and queens, this esteemed city landmark is the site of some of England's most famous stories. The afternoon is free for you to explore London's key sights as you wish before joining us for dinner at The Savoy followed by your choice from a selection of theatre performances in the West End theatre district. (B/D)

You have an opportunity to join us today for a walking tour of key London sites; following the tour, your afternoon is free to pursue what interests you most in London. Join us the evening for a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel. Note: Select small group departures, specially priced, include an exclusive presentation by Carolyn Robb, former Executive Chef to the royal household of TRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana. (B/D)

Tour ends: The Savoy. A transfer is included to London's Heathrow Airport or Gatwick Airport. Fly home anytime; please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in. (B)