Great British Cities - 9 day/8 night

Tour begins 6:30 PM at your Edinburgh hotel. Meet your tour director and fellow travelers and enjoy a lively Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment. (D)

Explore central Edinburgh, starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with planned streets and elegant Georgian houses. See the Royal Mile with narrow medieval houses, and tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is free. The August 5 - 19 departures watch the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. (B)

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.” Enjoy a panoramic tour and free time exploring. Back in Edinburgh, head to a nearby pub for dinner. (B, D)

Visit Abbotsford House, the former home of historical novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott. Continue to Hadrian's Wall which marks the northern edge of the mighty Roman Empire. In York, visit York Minster, famous for its stained glass windows. In the evening dine in a centuries-old pub and then take a light-hearted ghost tour. (B, D)

Head to Pickering Station or Goathland Station, which served as “Hogsmeade” station in the Harry Potter series, and travel on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway by vintage locomotive. In Whitby, take a guided stroll around the picturesque harbor, winding streets, and quaint buildings. Tour the elaborate Castle Howard, an imposing 18th century mansion where “Brideshead Revisited” was filmed. (B, D)

Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon and visit Shakespeare’s birthplace to enjoy an exhibition about his life and work. Drive through the scenic Cotswolds, renowned for picturesque villages built of honey-colored stone with charming gardens. Arrive in London where the evening is free. (B)

Tour London to see some famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Visit the mighty Tower of London to see the fortresses, Beefeaters in elaborate uniforms, and the dazzling Crown Jewels. The afternoon and evening are free exploring and dining. (B)

Enjoy a free day on an open-top bus tour around London’s famous landmarks. Choose from a number of routes including a walking tour or a River Thames cruise. (B)

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner  >