Highlights of Britain 10 Day tour from $1924   an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Hotels

There is a broad selection of hotels on this British tour, ranging from the modern Quality hotel in the heart of York, to the Grand hotel in Torquay, which epitomises the traditions of the English seaside hotels.

Fellow Passengers

A brilliant introduction to Britain covering all the major 'must see' sights,  so this tour is ideal for first time visitors. With the visits to the Lake District  and Dartmoor it also appeals to those with an interest in English literature.

Highlights

The historic towns and monuments such as Stratford, York, Edinburgh, Chester,  Plymouth & Stonehenge are highlights. But also the scenic drives in the Cotswolds,  Lake District, Dartmoor and Wye Valley.

Excursions & Sights

• Visit Roman Bath, 18th Century Pump Rooms and see the Abbey
• Visit Stonehenge
• Visit Edinburgh Castle and drive down the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse Palace
• Visit Shakespeare's birthplace
• See Chester's Cathedral, 'Rows' and  city walls
• Visit William Wordsworth's grave in Grasmere
• See Cardiff's Civic  Buildings
• See Ludlow Castle
• See York Minster, City Walls & the 'Shambles'
• See romantic Tintern Abbey
• Visit Winston Churchill's grave
• See Coventry's two cathedrals
• Visit mysterious Glastonbury
• See Oxford's University buildings
• Cross the Severn bridge
• See the Hoe & Barbican in Plymouth
• Visit a woollen mill
• See Durham Cathedral

Scenic Drives through the Cotswolds, Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Dartmoor & the Wye Valley

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tour in Edinburgh.

Orientation tours  in Oxford, Stratford, York, Durham, Chester, Cardiff, Bath, Plymouth

Insight's First Class Services

• Professional Tour Director to escort you
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Free Airport transfers when booking our London hotel (ask for details)

Quality Dining

Highlight dinner at a local restaurant in York

9 full breakfasts and 5 three course evening meals with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

Well paced tour with two night stays in Edinburgh & Torquay. Distances on  driving days are comfortable, with regular stops at points of interest along the way.

DAY 1 SUN - LONDON - STRATFORD

After meeting our Tour Director, our first stop is Oxford, to see the famous university buildings. Then we visit Churchill's grave at Bladon before a scenic  drive takes us through the golden stone villages of the Cotswolds. Soon we reach  the quiet market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, home to the greatest writer in the English language, William Shakespeare, and we visit his birthplace next. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Thistle. (D)

DAY 2 MON - STRATFORD - YORK

This morning we see Coventry's two cathedrals, before heading north to York. We walk inside the ancient city walls, to see the maze of narrow streets including the Shambles, where the houses lean towards each other so far that they almost touch.  We also see the Minster, largest medieval church in northern Europe. Tonight we  enjoy a Highlight Dinner. Hotel: Quality. (B,HD)

DAY 3 TUE - YORK - EDINBURGH

We head north through the landscapes immortalised in the tales of the Bronte family and James Heriot to Durham where our orientation tour shows us the cathedral  and castle. Then it's over the Northumberland Moors to enter Scotland at Carter Bar in the wild Cheviot Hills. Our route passes the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey and crosses the salmon rich river Tweed, before reaching the elegant Scottish capital of Edinburgh. Hotel: Royal Terrace. (B)

DAY 4 WED - EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING

Today, with our local guide, we drive along Prince's Street to see the ornate  Scott Memorial, then visit the 18th century 'New Town' with its classical Adam facades. Now into the Old Town, to visit Edinburgh Castle perched on its rock. We follow  the Royal Mile down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse where Mary Queen of Scots lived - it is still the official Scottish residence of the Queen. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight, selected departures enjoy the Edinburgh Tattoo - a colourful mixture of military manoeuvres, complete with pipes and drums. (B)

DAY 5 THU - EDINBURGH - LAKE DISTRICT

We begin our day with a spectacular drive through the contrasting scenery of the Southern Uplands. We stop to visit the Moffat Woollen Mills before crossing  the border back into England. We see some of Britain's most scenic spots as we drive  along the lakes and valleys of the English Lake District and stop in lakeside Grasmere.  After visiting Wordsworth's grave in the churchyard we travel through pastures reminiscent of his great poetry and along the shores of Windermere to arrive at our hotel for  our over night stay. Hotel: Old England. (B,D)

DAY 6 FRI - LAKE DISTRICT - CHESTER

We travel through the 'Auld Grey Town' of Kendall this morning, on our way to  visit Levens Hall. We admire the ornate Great Hall of this Elizabethan manor and the renowned Topiary Gardens, designed in 1690. Then the smooth motorway carries us to the former Roman fortress of Chester. Our orientation tour within the well preserved walls shows us the galleried shopping arcades called the 'Rows' and fine half timbered buildings. We also see the remains of the Roman Amphitheatre, the  colourful Jubilee Clock and impressive cathedral. Hotel: Hoole Hall. (B,D)

DAY  7 SAT - CHESTER - CARDIFF

This morning our route follows the Welsh borders to ancient Ludlow. Today's bustling town is still dominated by the massive fortress built to resist the frequent Welsh  raids, while the 15th century mansions on Broad Street reflect a later time of peace  and prosperity. Now through the apple orchards of Herefordshire before crossing  in to Wales, 'Land of Song'! In the enchanting Wye Valley we pass the ruins of Tintern  Abbey on our way to our hotel in the capital of Cardiff. Hotel: Holland House. (B)

DAY 8 SUN - CARDIFF - TORQUAY

We cross the soaring Severn Bridge back into England today, en route to the delightful Georgian city of Bath, its curative waters famous since Roman times. Here we visit  the 18th century Pump Room and the ancient Baths, where parts of the Roman plumbing are still in use today! We also see the 15th century Abbey, before continuing to mysterious Glastonbury, a town steeped in legend - some say that King Arthur is buried in the ruined abbey. Then through the cider orchards of 'scrumptious Somerset'  to our hotel in the seaside town of Torquay. Hotel: Grand. (B)

DAY 9 MON - DARTMOOR EXCURSION

We drive to Saltash to join our cruise up Plymouth Sound to the harbour, and the Mayflower Steps, from where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail on the Mayflower. Back  on dry land, we see the Hoe, where Drake played bowls, and explore the Barbican area. Now we tour wild, heather clad, Dartmoor, with its sinister memories of the  remote Prison and 'Hounds of the Baskervilles', before returning to our hotel in Torquay. (B,D)

DAY 10 TUE - TORQUAY - LONDON

Today we cross Salisbury Plain to visit the ancient mysterious stone circle of Stonehenge. These strange and awe-inspiring monoliths are reputed to be over 4,000 years old. Then we return to London where we bid farewell to our Tour Director and our tour comes to an end. (B)