See the places you’ve always read about on this exciting journey through southern England. Begin in London with guided sightseeing that shows off the city’s most famous landmarks: Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and visits to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Changing of the Guard, if held. Stop to admire the breathtaking gardens at Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace, then drive through Runnymede, site of the signing of the Magna Carta, and explore the university city of Oxford. Spend the night in Stratford-upon-Avon and visit Shakespeare’s birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s cottage. Continue west through the scenic Cotswolds, stopping at the Elizabethan village of Broadway and at 12th-century Tintern Abbey in southeastern Wales. See the amazing Roman excavations in Bath, contemplate mysterious Stonehenge, and cross the Salisbury Plain on your way to the seaside resort of Brighton. Tour the Royal Pavilion and visit moated Leeds Castle before returning to London for the completion of your vacation.

Day 1 Arrive in London, England
Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 2 London
After a hearty English breakfast, morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. Free time in the afternoon for independent activities or to join an optional excursion to Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with its fabulous Crown Jewels. Later, maybe an optional dinner followed by a cruise on the River Thames? (Breakfast)

Day 3 London–Hampton Court–Oxford–Stratford-Upon-Avon
Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for a lovely day of sightseeing. First, a special visit to admire the breathtaking ORNAMENTAL GARDENS of Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace. Your Tour Director will take you on a walk to see the Great Vine, Pond Garden, Privy Garden, and the flower borders of the Great Fountain Garden. Drive through Runnymede, site of the sealing of the Magna Carta, then, take a stroll in Oxford to see the colleges where Britain’s elite receives its outstanding education. Arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon in good time to take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4 Stratford-Upon-Avon–Broadway–Bath
A particularly scenic day. Enjoy vistas of the Cotswold Hills as you motor to the Elizabethan village of Broadway. On to Wales for a drive through the beautiful Wye Valley and pictures of the romantic ruins of 12th-century Tintern Abbey. Cross the 3,240-foot Severn Road Bridge, and in elegant Georgian Bath, see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS with time to explore further on your own. This evening, consider an optional excursion to the picture-book 13th-century village of Castle Combe. (Breakfast)

Day 5 Bath–Stonehenge–Salisbury–Brighton
Try to unravel the mystery of prehistoric STONEHENGE on the drive across Salisbury Plain, then stroll through the picturesque city of Salisbury with its magnificent cathedral, the ultimate in Early English Gothic architecture. Pause in the town of Arundel, dominated by its huge castle, home of the Duke of Norfolk, before arriving in the Regency seaside resort of Brighton. A unique highlight: a tour of the exotic ROYAL PAVILION, the lavish oriental palace built for the Prince Regent in the early 1800s. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6 Brighton–Tunbridge Wells–London
Start the day with a visit to Royal Tunbridge Wells, a beautiful Georgian spa town, on your way to magnificent moated LEEDS CASTLE, which Lord Conway called “the loveliest castle in the world.” Take a leisurely stroll in the landscaped gardens, and admire the lavish state apartments where international summit meetings have been hosted. Return to London around 3:30 pm. How about celebrating the end of your vacation by taking in one of the great West End shows? (Breakfast)

Day 7 London
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

INCLUDED FEATURES

London
Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and see the Changing of the Guard, if held

Hampton Court
A special walking tour through the palace’s ornamental gardens

Oxford
Visit the university city

Stratford-Upon-Avon
Take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’s birthplace; welcome dinner

Broadway
Visit the picturesque Cotswold village

Tintern Abbey
Take pictures of the abbey ruins

Bath
Visit the Roman relics

Stonehenge
Visit the prehistoric monument

Salisbury
Visit the cathedral city

Arundel
Admire the Duke of Norfolk’s castle

Brighton
Royal Pavilion tour

Tunbridge Wells

Leeds Castle
Visit the mighty, moated castle and gardens

INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

MEALS
Full English breakfast; 2 three-course dinners with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Stratford

SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class
LONDON Hilton London Metropole (SF), STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Holiday Inn (SF), BATH Hilton (F), BRIGHTON Hilton Metropole (SF), LONDON Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (SF)

Optional Excursions

Important Note: the following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation as they are the excursions that are being offered for this vacation in the current travel year. These optional excursions might or might not be offered next year, as well as new optional excursions might be offered. Information about what optional excursions will be offered for your vacation will be available later this year into next year. If no example excursions are listed, please check back later.

Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.

Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency.

CITY: Bath

Pub Dinner at Castle Combe
Two drinks of your choice and dinner at a quaint old village inn will make this a memorable evening.
Approximate value: GBP £36 per person

CITY: London

Tower of London and Crown Jewels Afternoons daily
Let your guide bring the 900-year-old Tower Of London to life before you inspect the fabulous Crown Jewels. Afternoons daily.
Approximate value: GBP £37 per person

Afternoon Excursion to Windsor Castle Daily
Enjoy your guided visit to the Queen's favorite residence, the largest inhabited castle in the world. The highlight is the newly refurbished state rooms.
Approximate value: GBP £37 per person

Buckingham Palace & the Royal Mews Afternoons daily July 23 to October 3
First a guided visit to the Royal Mews to see the magnificent gold coach, then admire over 20 grand rooms in the palace used by the Queen for state occasions.
Approximate value: Please check back later per person

A Taste of London Daily April to October
Ideal for your arrival day, this guided evening excursion combines a traditional London pub experience with a relaxed, night-time river cruise, viewing some of the capital's most beautiful illuminated sights. Enjoy a three-course dinner at an historic London pub in the City of London.
Approximate value: Please check back later per person

Shownight - Wicked (Fridays & Saturdays)
A marvelous evening in London's theater district starts with a gourmet dinner at The Bank restaurant in Westminster followed by best seats at The Apollo Victoria Theatre to see the sensational London production of Wicked.
Approximate value: Please check back later per person

Shownight - Billy Elliot (Fridays & Saturdays)
A marvelous evening in London's theater district starts with a gourmet dinner at The Bank restaurant in Westminster followed by best seats at the Victoria Palace Theatre to see the original London staging of the inspirational musical Billy Elliot.
Approximate value: Please check back later per person