12 days Essential Britain
Thrones and scones. Hops and scotch. Rock stars and famous rocks. They’re all included on this enthralling and encompassing tour of Britain. Pack your tweed and tartans for the best of London and country, the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, and the enchanting villages and valleys of Wales-and prepare to be swept away like a runaway bride at the elopement capital of Gretna Green. The castles and cathedrals of London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff, as well as the charming pubs on every corner, will steal your heart away. With visits to the baffling boulders of Stonehenge, the battlefield of Culloden Moor, Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon, and The Beatles’ hometown of Liverpool, this tour of Britain promises rocking discovery and enlightenment, not to mention honorary degrees in ancient history, English literature, and music appreciation.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND | LONDON Welcome to London! Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Free time this afternoon. |
| 2 | LONDON–STONEHENGE–PLYMOUTH | LONDON Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions at 8 am before departing for Stonehenge. STONEHENGE Guided visit. 219 mi / 352 km (B,D) |
| 3 | PLYMOUTH | EXCURSION TO CORNWALL. Scenic drive through West Country to Poldark’s Cornwall. LOOE Visit the pretty fishing village and former smugglers’ port. PLYMOUTH [LF] Scenic cruise on Plymouth Sound. Free time this evening. (B) 42 mi / 70 km ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Plymouth with an excursion into Dartmoor National Park including an evening of storytelling at a local pub. This and many more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app. |
| 4 | PLYMOUTH–GLASTONBURY–BATH–CARDIFF, WALES | GLASTONBURY Visit the city of King Arthur and the Holy Grail Legends. BATH Visit the excavations of the Roman Baths. (B) 184 mi / 295 km |
| 5 | CARDIFF–BUILTH WELLS–LLANGOLLEN–LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND | Scenic drive along the Taff Valley and Brecon Beacons National Park. BUILTH WELLS Stop at the ancient market town. LLANGOLLEN Visit the picturesque town. LIVERPOOL Free time the remainder of the day. (B) 190 mi / 306 km |
| 6 | LIVERPOOL–GRASMERE–GRETNA GREEN, SCOTLAND–GLASGOW | LIVERPOOL Visit The Beatles Story. LAKE DISTRICT (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) Scenic drive. GRASMERE Visit Wordsworth’s beloved village. Sample [LF] the original Grasmere gingerbread. GRETNA GREEN See where the blacksmith would wed runaway couples and [LF] take part in a wedding re-enactment. (B,D) 236 mi / 380 km |
| 7 | GLASGOW–FORT WILLIAM–INVERNESS GLASGOW | Orientation drive to see the 12th-century cathedral, university buildings, and Georgian squares. Scenic drive past Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe, and Fort William. LOCH NESS Drive the length of the legendary lake. (B,D) 178 mi / 286 km |
| 8 | INVERNESS–CULLODEN—PITLOCHRY–ST. ANDREWS–EDINBURGH | CULLODEN See the battlefield of Culloden Moor. PITLOCHRY Walk through the Victorian mountain resort. ST.ANDREWS See the home of golf and the famous university town. EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Attend the world-renowned Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performance. (Departures July 31 through August 21 only). (B) 202 mi / 326 km |
| 9 | EDINBURGH | EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town and Old Town. Visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Visit to Holyrood Palace (when available, excluding August and other occasional dates). Free time. (B) |
| 10 | EDINBURGH–ALNWICK, ENGLAND–YORK | ALNWICK At Alnwick Castle choose to visit the Castle or explore the garden.YORK See York Minster and walk through The Shambles. (B,D) 214 mi / 344 km |
| 11 | YORK–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LONDON | STRATFORD-UPON-AVON See Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace. (B) 255 mi / 410 km |
| 12 | LONDON | LONDON Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |