British Isles Capitals, Castles & Countryside - 11 Days

Welcome to London – on arrival we’ll transfer you to your hotel, after which you’ll have free time to settle in. In the afternoon, please check the notice boards at hotel reception for information about the start of your tour. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

In the morning, we set out on a city tour of London – Westminster, the Parliament, the City and the Thames. The afternoon is free – you can explore independently or join our optional excursion to the Thames Valley, including Windsor and its castle. In the evening, we meet at Piccadilly for a walk through Leicester Square, Chinatown and Soho, known for their theatres and lively atmosphere, before returning to the hotel by coach. Please note this evening programme may be operated on the previous day, depending on arrival time in London.

Enjoy a full free day in London to explore at your own pace. There are no scheduled activities today – spend the time as you wish, whether you prefer relaxed wandering or independent sightseeing. The day is entirely yours.

We leave London this morning and travel north to Cambridge, where we’ll take in the elegant college buildings that define this historic university city. After time for lunch, we continue to York to see its impressive cathedral, its Roman walls and the lively shopping streets – you’ll have some free time here to explore. Later, we head further north to Durham, a vibrant medieval city with a magnificent cathedral set opposite the castle.

We travel north into Scotland, stopping in Alnwick, a picturesque town renowned for its beautiful gardens and large medieval castle – famously featured in the Harry Potter films. We then continue to Edinburgh, arriving around midday. As Scotland’s capital, its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the castle overlooking the city’s steep streets and parks. We round off the day with a panoramic tour led by a local guide.

We journey deep into the Scottish Highlands today. We stop in Pitlochry for coffee and a short stroll before continuing via Inverness towards Loch Ness. We visit Urquhart Castle – admission included – then board a boat to cruise the loch’s dark waters. We pass Fort Augustus with its sluice system and continue by Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak. Turning south, we cross the high plateaus – often snow‑dusted – and follow the scenic shores of Loch Lomond, reaching Glasgow towards the end of the day.

From 15 November to the end of February, we follow an adjusted route due to shorter days and frequent snow on the roads. We depart Edinburgh at 08:00 for Pitlochry (09:45–11:15), including a visit to a traditional whisky distillery – admission included. We then continue to Stirling (12:30–15:30), where entry to Stirling Castle is included. After time for lunch, we pause to photograph The Kelpies before continuing to Glasgow, arriving at around 17:00 with time to stroll in the city centre.

We leave Glasgow in the morning and travel south by coach to Cairnryan, where we board the ferry to Northern Ireland. On arrival in Belfast – the capital and a monumental city that has emerged from decades of religious conflict – we continue by road into Ireland, reaching Dublin by the end of the day.

We begin with a panoramic tour of Dublin – Ireland’s capital – taking in the River Liffey, its green parks, the historic university quarter and the lively city centre. We’ll also view the exterior of Trinity College. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace. Please note that, depending on our arrival time and daylight hours, the city tour may take place the previous afternoon.

We start early, boarding the morning ferry – the crossing to Wales takes around three to three and a half hours. On arrival, we continue to Caernarfon, a seaside World Heritage Site dominated by its impressive castle – you’ll have time for lunch and a stroll. We then travel on to Liverpool, where we take a short orientation tour by bus around this historic port city. You can choose to visit The Beatles Museum.

From Liverpool we journey through central England. Our first stop is Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s hometown – you’ll have free time to find lunch and explore at your own pace. We then continue to Oxford, renowned for its academic heritage, where we spend time in the historic centre. We finish the day in London, arriving in the evening.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in London. No further activities are scheduled – you are free to depart at your convenience or spend extra time in the city if you wish. Safe travels and thank you for joining us.