Explore the best of the British Isles on This Scotland, Wales and England travel experience. Discover Scotland's vibrant culture and rich history on visits to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond. Travel the Yellow Roads through England's Lake District and the Cotswolds... to Oxford's hallowed halls, Churchill's Blenheim Palace and Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon... to mysterious Stonehenge, ancient Bath and sophisticated London... to unique Welsh treasures like Caernarfon and Portmeirion. Enjoy a private cruise on Loch Lomond... a visit to Hadrian's Wall on a journey across the moorlands from Scotland to the English Lake District ... and a private dinner in the Tower of London prior to the historic Ceremony of the Keys!

Day 1 Arrive Edinburgh
Meals D
This Scotland, Wales and England travel adventure begins: 6:00 PM, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh, Scotland. Welcome to Edinburgh, Scotland's jewel of a capital city. A transfer from Edinburgh Airport to the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa is included. You'll meet your fellow travelers who will share your Scotland and England travel adventures at a welcome reception and dinner tonight at your hotel near historic Edinburgh Castle.

Lodging Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh

Day 2 Edinburgh's castles and palaces
Meals B
A sightseeing tour of historic Edinburgh with a local guide is the perfect place to begin any Scotland and England travel. Start at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official home in the city (subject to closure when Her Majesty is in residence). Then explore 12th-century Edinburgh Castle, on the opposite end of the city's famous Royal Mile, on a guided tour. There is much more of Edinburgh to explore on your own this afternoon. Journeys departing August 7 through August 23 will attend an outdoor evening performance of the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Lodging Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh

Day 3 Stirling Castle & a Loch Lomond cruise
Meals B, L, D
An excursion from Edinburgh brings you on a visit to impressive Stirling Castle – a prime example of Scottish Renaissance architecture, parts of which date back to the 12th century – where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned. Then you're off for a private cruise on bonnie Loch Lomond and a tour of Glasgow on the Clyde before returning to Edinburgh for an evening at leisure and dinner à la carte at the hotel.

Lodging Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh

Day 4 From Roman walls to England's lovely Lake District
Meals B, L, D
Travel from Scotland through some of Britain's most beautiful landscapes to England's Lake District today. En route, stop to check out the remains of Hadrian's Wall – constructed across Roman Britain in the 2nd century AD and named for the emperor who built it, now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and enjoy lunch. Arrive at your hotel and spa, set on a 35-acre estate in the heart of the English Lakes, for a two-night stay; dig into a barbecue dinner this evening.

Lodging The Langdale Hotel

Day 5 Cumbrian gardens & Wordsworth's beloved lakes
Meals B, L, D
An excursion today takes you first to an Elizabethan estate in South Cumbria dating back to 1350; a highlight of your visit to stately Levens Hall and Gardens is its topiary gardens – among the oldest and most celebrated in the world – which have been continuously maintained since 1694. Later, as you explore various Lakes District towns and visit Dove Cottage – where poet William Wordsworth penned many a worthy word as a resident between 1799 and 1808 – you'll see for yourself why so many authors and poets have been inspired by this romantic region. Return to your hotel in the heart of one of England's largest national parks.

Lodging The Langdale Hotel

Day 6 Ancient Chester and on to Wales
Meals B, D
Set out across what's considered among the loveliest parts of England to Chester. Much of this 2,000-year-old city still follows its orginal pattern dating back to when it was the Roman town of Deva; its old defensive walls make a pleasant walk around the ancient city center, sporting Roman ruins, a Gothic cathedral, and a mix of medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern architecture. Cross into Wales, arriving in the idyllic coastal village of Portmeirion for a two-night stay. Television fans may remember the village's celebrated pastel-colored Italianate villas from the 1960s British series The Prisoner, which featured exterior scenes filmed at your Victorian seaside hotel, the Hotel Portmeirion, overlooking Cardigan Bay.

Lodging Hotel Portmeirion

Day 7 To Caernarfon and along the Welsh coast
Meals B, D
The day begins with a visit to the historic seaside town of Caernarfon and the 13th-century riverside castle where the investiture of the Prince of Wales takes place. Then wind your way along the Atlantic coast and back to Portmeirion for an evening at leisure and dinner à la carte at your hotel.

Lodging Hotel Portmeirion

Day 8 The Bard's backyard and on to Bath
Meals B, D
Your England travel adventures continue today with a drive from rural Welsh landscapes to atmospheric Stratford-upon-Avon, city of William Shakespeare. Explore the Bard's pastoral riverfront hometown – site of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and many historic Elizabethan and Jacobean buildings – as you please with admission to Shakespeare-associated sites, before continuing on to the ancient city of Bath. Spend the next two nights at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath.

Lodging Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath

Day 9 Roman, Georgian & Victorian treasures in Bath
Meals B
Known as one of the architecturally finest and most fascinating cities in all of Britain, the historic spa town of Bath invites your exploration with its splendid Georgian townscape crafted from native limestone. Enjoy a guided tour including the Roman Baths, the Circus and the impressive Royal Crescent, among other sites that reflect its rich Roman, Georgian and Victorian history. Spend the rest of the day as you wish.

Lodging Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath

Day 10 Stonehenge mysteries & the hallowed halls of Oxford
Meals B, L
Depart Bath on this memorable day of England travel, and head across the Salisbury Plain, passing through rolling countryside where grazing sheep appear to be everywhere. Let your imagination take you back in time 4,000 years or more as you view Stonehenge, the mysterious circle of stones and monoliths erected by still-unknown ancient peoples. Continue on to Oxford for a guided walking tour of esteemed Oxford University, now just a few decades short of its 1,000th anniversary, and the rest of the day spent as you please.

Lodging Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford

Day 11 Young Winston's Blenheim & the charming Cotswolds
Meals B, D
Enjoy a glimpse into the life of famed 20th-century British statesman Sir Winston Churchill on visits to Blenheim Palace – the Baroque estate where he was born, now the home of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough – and his burial place in Bladen. Journey through the hills and plateaus of the peaceful Cotswolds (from the Old English for "God's high open land"), stopping for lunch on your own in one of these quaint villages dotting the countryside. Return to Oxford for dinner this evening.

Lodging Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford

Day 12 Windsor Castle and on to London
Meals B
Call on one of the world's most famous addresses today – Windsor Castle, which British royalty has called home for about 900 years. Schedule permitting, your tour of this extraordinary complex includes St. George's Chapel, Queen Mary's Dolls' House, and the State Apartments. Your final destination today is legendary London, capital of the United Kingdom. Your five-star hotel, The Royal Horseguards, is ideally located in a historic building that served as the headquarters of the British Secret Service during the First World War.

Lodging The Royal Horseguards

Day 13 Merrie olde London and a grand finale in the Tower
Meals B, D
Your day in London begins with a visit to majestic Westminster Abbey, dating back nearly a thousand years, followed by a guided sightseeing tour including famous sights such as Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, #10 Downing Street, and Green Park. After some time to explore on your own, join us this evening for a remarkable end to an extraordinary journey – a private dinner at the Tower of London, followed by the 700-year-old tradition known as the Ceremony of the Keys... where you'll witness the Chief Yeoman Warder and his men secure the Tower for the night! Note: Accessing the Tower requires walking on cobblestones and up steps.

Lodging The Royal Horseguards

Day 14 Journey Home
Meals B
This Scotland, Wales and England travel adventure ends: London, England. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Royal Horseguards to London's Heathrow Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Nights 1 - 3 : Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh - Edinburgh, Scotland
Situated in the shadow of famed Edinburgh Castle and close to Princes Street, the five-star Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh is an ideal location from which to explore Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town and the lovely Georgian New Town area. Its newly revovated guest rooms and attentive service make this one of the most sought-after addresses among discerning visitors to Edinburgh. Dining options include Santini for a new take on Italian cuisine; the bright, less formal Terrace Restaurant; and The Exchange, an elegant, spacious lounge bar perfect for drinks, lighter fare and afternoon tea.

Nights 4 - 5 : The Langdale Hotel - Langdale, England
Located in the heart of England’s storied lake District on the 35-acre Langdale Estate, The Langdale Hotel offers a delightful resort experience in a strikingly beautiful setting. Guest rooms are all decorated in a luxurious yet contemporary style and, located in a resort setting with mature woodland, streams and tarns. All rooms are furnished to a high standard including Sealy beds made up with down duvets and Egyptian cotton linen, LCD flat screen TV, luxury toiletries, fair-trade refreshments and complimentary Wi-Fi access.

Nights 6 - 7 : Hotel Portmeirion - Portmeirion, Wales
Portmeirion is unique in that the entire village was conceived and built by one man, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, beginning in 1926. Portmeirion is probably best known as the location of the 1960s television series, The Prisoner. Located in the midst of the fanciful Portmeirion Village on the banks of a lovely estuary, the Hotel Portmeirion richly deserves the “Best Place to Stay in Wales” distinction awarded to it by the Wales Tourist Board.

Nights 8 - 9 : Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath - Bath, England
The luxurious Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath began life as a grand Georgian mansion in the 1830s and great care has been taken to retain its distinguished ambiance. While secluded within its expansive grounds and lovely landscaped gardens, it is also close to the city of Bath and its attractions, such as the ancient Roman baths, for which the city is named. Its guest rooms' plush soft furnishings and 5-star elegance will enhance your stay; comfortable beds, luxury en-suite marble bathrooms and flat screen satellite TVs are standard in every room.

Nights 10 - 11 : Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford - Oxford, England
The five-star Mcdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford has been a landmark in the center of Oxford since it opened its doors in 1864 and has hosted prime ministers, presidents… and Inspector Moore, the world-famous fictional detective hero of Colin Dexter’s detective novels and the popular British TV series. Individually styled guest rooms promise a good night’s sleep in comfortable beds with wooden headboards and offer high ceilings, flat-screen satellite TV, iron, ironing board and trouser press, hairdryer and coffee- and tea-making facilities. The Spa at the Randolph, with its lantern-lit walkways and subtle music, is the perfect places to step away from the hustle and bustle of the day and relax with a pampering treatment or a little workout in the mini-gym. Dine amid the impeccable ambiance and service at The Restaurant at the Randolph, take afternoon tea in the Drawing Room or find yourself surrounded by the spirit of Oxford in the Morse Bar.

Nights 12 - 13 : The Royal Horseguards - London, England
Just yards from Westminster and Downing Street in the historic heart of London, The Royal Horseguards was the headquarters of the British Secret Service during the First World War. Spacious, sumptuously furnished guest rooms reflecting the Victorian age in this historic hotel offer up-to-the-minute amenities like an iPod docking station with Bose surround sound, an electrical plug built into the in-room safe so you can charge your laptop while keeping it safe, plasma-screen TV in the bedroom and the bathroom and free BT Openzone wireless Internet access as well as a minibar, Egyptian linens, and coffee and tea making facilities. If you still have energy to spare after a busy day in London Town, visit the hotel’s gym offering a complete range of cardiovascular fitness equipment and weights. The Terrace, offering alfresco dining, is a peaceful oasis in the midst of the busy city while the Equus Bar, which has a wide array on interesting non-alcoholic refreshments such as Equus Cola made from a top-secret recipe, as well as traditional and contemporary cocktails, is reminiscent of the kind of “gentlemen’s club” of which upper-crust Englishmen were so fond in days gone by.

INCLUDED
Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, private Loch Lomond cruise, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, porterage, and the services of the local guides, drivers and the Tour Director are included. Transportation from Edinburgh Airport to the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa is included, regardless of the time you check in to the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight information at least two weeks prior to the start of the tour. If you are arriving into a local train station please retain a receipt for the transfer and submit it to your Tour Director for reimbursement. Transportation from the Royal Horseguards, London to Heathrow or Gatwick Airports or St. Pancras or Waterloo Train Stations is also included when you check out of the hotel. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other guests.

Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tour Director – England, Scotland & Wales is conducted by a Tour Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tour Director is a professional, fully trained employee.

Gratuities Included – All customary gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff and local guides are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tour Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

NOT INCLUDED
Transportation to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from us for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, we will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through us. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. Airport and train station transfers are included for these bookings as described above in Inclusive Prices. If you wish to spend additional nights, please discuss it with your reservations sales consultant or travel agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Travel Protection Product that will be offered at time of booking for more information.

Lost luggage is an unfortunate possibility in today's world of airline travel. We suggest that you:
Pack at least one change of clothing in your carry-on bag
Split your items between your suitcase and a traveling companion's suitcase
Do not pack any vital medications or valuables in your checked luggage
Confirm that your luggage is checked and tagged to your final destination at airport check-in
Place your luggage claim tags in a secure place for your flight
File a claim for any missing luggage immediately before leaving the baggage claim area
Secure a case number and contact information for follow-up communications
Make certain that the airline has your onward itinerary

Your Tour Director will assist you with airline and other carrier communications, but has no inside contacts to guarantee or expedite recovery of lost luggage. All recovery costs, including the communication costs, are your responsibility. Check your travel protection details for covered expenses.

Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and other beverages not specifically included, laundry, dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, airport arrival and departure taxes, individual airport transfers (when applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Tour Director Gratuities - The customary gratuities for the Tour Director and local drivers are not included. We ask that gratuities be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.