Itinerary Details
English Escape
Day 1 ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND Welcome to London! Tonight, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2 LONDON On The Town in London LONDON Morning sightseeing with a local guide includes the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Buckingham Palace, and a visit to St Paul’s Cathedral. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITES England’s national treasure of St. Paul’s Cathedral is home to a spectacular array of art from delicate carvings to gilded dome murals and modern works of art. As the seat of the Bishop of London, the cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London, where notable remembrances have been served here, including Queen Victoria’s jubilee, birthdays of Queen Elizabeth II, and funerals of luminaries like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
Day 3 LONDON-OXFORD-STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Spires & Plays OXFORD Guided walking tour.
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace. (B)
119 mi / 192 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
A LEGEND SLEPT HERE Ah, love! Even more true as young Shakespeare’s fiancée was eight years his senior. See Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the family home where the bard’s wife-to-be was born and courted by young Will. Built more than 500 years ago, much of the original structure remains. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and family home in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales of his family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Day 4 STRATFORD-UPON-AVON-CHATSWORTH HOUSE-YORK Dukes, Duchesses & Mr. Darcy CHATSWORTH HOUSE Guided tour of the home of the Dukes of Devonshire, and the setting of numerous film productions including Pride & Prejudice and The Duchess.
YORK Guided walking tour. (B)
175 mi / 282 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITE Chatsworth House the jewel in the crown of the Peak District National Park. The magnificent house was built from the late 1680s and is a prime example of English Baroque style. Today, some 25 rooms are open to the public including the Painted Hall, along with its superb art and sculpture collections and 105 acres of garden.
Day 5 YORK-SKIPTON-HEBDEN BRIDGE-MANCHESTER Yorkshire Tales SKIPTON Visit the castle.
HEBDEN BRIDGE Free time.
MANCHESTER Free time this evening. (B)
92 mi / 148 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
WRITTEN IN STONE Set in England’s largest county of Yorkshire, Skipton Castle is one of the country’s best preserved medieval castles, dating back to 1090. Look out for the “mason’s mark” in the castle stonework. Stonemasons would leave a carved initial or symbol to show which stones they had dressed so that they could be paid for their work. Moats, a portcullis, stout towers, and watchtowers – they’re all to be found at Skipton.
Day 6 MANCHESTER-LIVERPOOL EXCURSION Cotton & Canals LIVERPOOL Visit the Beatles Story.
MANCHESTER [LF] Guided walking tour. (B,D)
70 mi / 111 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
MAKING A BEE LINE Manchester grew on the back of the cotton and textile trades during the industrial revolution. In the 19th century the city adopted the worker bee as its emblem, denoting Mancunians’ hard work ethic and the city being a hive of activity. The bee has taken on much greater significance in recent years as a representation of unity.
Day 7 MANCHESTER Safe travels until we meet again!? Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
