Elegance of Great Britain - Start Edinburgh, Classic Group
Elegance of Great Britain - Start Edinburgh, Classic Group
$4850
Elegance of Great Britain - Start Edinburgh, Classic Group
12 Days Starting in Edinburgh and ending in London
Visiting: Edinburgh, Gretna Green, Lake District National Park, York, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, Stonehenge, London
Tour operator:
Tour code:
B917ZN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Follow in the footsteps of historical figures and literary giants on a 12-day guided tour of Scotland and England. In Edinburgh be dazzled by the jewels of Scottish royalty and join a Local Expert as you explore the best the city has to offer. Dine with Sir Ludovic, a Scottish Baronet, on his 10,000-acre coastal home - Ardgowan Castle. He’ll tell you about the castle's history and surrounding area as you enjoy traditional tea and scones. Cruise the English Lake District, and visit William Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Plus, marvel at Stonehenge's monoliths and indulge in a Dine-at-Home Experience at York's Thrisk Hall, an 18th-century town house renovated by English architect John Carr.
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- York: Visit the National Railway Museum, housing over 300 years of history, and home to iconic locomotives and an unrivaled collection of engineering brilliance. We celebrate the past, present and future of innovation on the railways.
- York: Delve into the historic and human stories which have shaped the Minster on a visit to York's masterpiece. Explore the cathedral’s rich history, from the Roman Emperor who changed the course of Christianity, to the fires that threatened to destroy the cathedral.
Top Rated Highlights
- Edinburgh: Visit Edinburgh Castle to view the Scottish Crown Jewels, Mons Meg and other artefacts with your Local Expert.
- Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Expert as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- Edinburgh: A hush descends and eyes turn to the castle. The skirl of the pipes rises and drums crack the night air as a tide of tunics and tartan flood from the drawbridge. For a limited time in August, witness the incredible spectacle of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
- Gretna Green: Visit the spot where runaway lovers were married.
- Grasmere: Learn about the life of the poet William Wordsworth and visit his grave.
- Bowness-on-Windermere: The best way to enjoy the Lake District is by cruise, relax as you admire the magnificent views.
- Windermere: Board a steam train and journey along the banks of the beautiful River Leven.
- Haworth: A visit to the Brontë Parsonage Museum provides a fascinating insight into the life of the Brontë family and the inspiration behind their marvelous works of literature.
- York: Walk with your Local Expert to see the majestic York Minster and wander the maze of cobbled streets to see the Shambles.
- Lincoln: Visit Lincoln Castle and admire one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta, which is over 800 years old.
- Stratford-upon-Avon: Learn about the life of William Shakespeare, arguably history's most famous writer, when you visit his birthplace. Then enjoy some time to explore this pretty town with its iconic Tudor houses.
- Bath: During an orientation you will see the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey.
- Stonehenge: Walk around the strange and awe-inspiring megaliths that have reputedly stood for 5,000 years.
- Salisbury: During your free time for lunch, take a moment to explore this historical city. See the tallest spire in England, atop the Medieval cathedral and walk the streets to observe an architectural timeline from the city's medieval walls and half-timbered Tudor town houses to Georgian mansions and Victorian villas.
Make Travel Matter
Ardgowan House: Join Sir Ludovic for a tour of his family home, Ardgowan Estate, and savor a traditional Scottish tea made from local ingredients. Hear more about centuries of history on the beautiful grounds during the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Your visit helps support the estate, helping keep Scottish history alive. The Estate educates its visitors and the local rural community about their sustainability initiatives, reducing food waste and sourcing all ingredients locally to support the local economy. Ardgowan Estate invests in renewable projects including a wood bio mass boiler, a gas plant and wind turbines, to create a greener, more sustainable future. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 & 12: Affordable and Clean Energy & Responsible Consumption and Production.
Bath: Visit the incredibly well-preserved Roman Baths. Discover 2,000 years of history and learn how this hub of culture is pioneering new educational investments to benefit the community. Its school educational program actively supports local schools and students to learn about the cultural heritage of the region. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.
Authentic Dining
Edinburgh: Get to know your fellow travelers over dinner of modern European cuisine, at a quirky bistro tucked away in Leith.
York: Join your hosts for dinner at the historic Thirsk Hall. The building was extended in 1770 by famous English architect John Carr.
Bath: Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers at Brasserie Blanc, while enjoying a delicious French-inspired meal.
Insight Choice
York: Visit the National Railway Museum, housing over 300 years of history, and home to iconic locomotives and an unrivaled collection of engineering brilliance. We celebrate the past, present and future of innovation on the railways.
York: Delve into the historic and human stories which have shaped the Minster on a visit to York's masterpiece. Explore the cathedral’s rich history, from the Roman Emperor who changed the course of Christianity, to the fires that threatened to destroy the cathedral.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Accommodation: Apex Waterloo Place Hotel, Edinburgh.
Accommodation Name: Apex Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
Welcome to Scotland - land of legends and romance, from the great cultural cities in the south, to the dramatic mountains and misty lochs of the Highlands. After a transfer to your Edinburgh hotel, the rest of the day is yours to relax before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers.
Day 2: Edinburgh, The Capital Of Culture
Location: Edinburgh
Accommodation: Apex Waterloo Place Hotel, Edinburgh.
Accommodation Name: Apex Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join a Local Expert to see the highlights of the city. Enjoy a drive along Princes Street to the ornate Scott Memorial and see the 18th century New Town with its neoclassical Adam facades. Over in the Old Town, see the Palace of Holyroodhouse and visit the castle, home of Mons Meg, the Stone of Destiny and the Honours of Scotland, Scotland's glittering Crown Jewels. With the afternoon at leisure, why not visit the art treasures in the National Gallery? On select departures, you will also attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo — a colorful mix of pipes and drums, dance and display, set against the floodlit backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.
Day 3: Ardgowan And Gretna Green
Location: Gretna Green
Accommodation: The Ro Hotel Windermere
Accommodation Name: Castle Green, Kendal
Meals Included: Breakfast
Depart the majestic Scottish capital and journey to Ardgowan, set on a stunning 10,000-acre coastal estate. Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes you to his family castle. Learn the history of the area, the Shaw Stewart family and the conservation efforts to protect the land on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, followed by a degustation of traditional Scottish tea and scones. Continue to Gretna Green to see the famous spot where runaway lovers were married at the blacksmith's shop. Your travels continue to the picturesque English Lake District.
Day 4: English Poets And The Lake District Experience Relaxed Start
Location: Lake District National Park
Accommodation: The Ro Hotel Windermere
Accommodation Name: The Ro, Windermere
Meals Included: Breakfast
Devote the day to a scenic wonderland of rugged mountains and tranquil waters - inspiration to a host of English poets.Visit Wordsworth’s grave in the small churchyard at Grasmere.Appreciate the scenic beauty of the English Lake District on a relaxing cruise admiring the magnificent views of rugged mountains, secluded bays and wooded islands. Then, embark on a nostalgic steam train ride along the banks of the beautiful River Leven.
Day 5: Windermere To York Relaxed Start
Location: York
Accommodation: Hilton York.
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton, York
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a morning at leisure before traveling through the Yorkshire Dales to arrive at the charming village of Haworth. Visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum, created within the home of the Brontë family. Learn about the family's literary legacy and what inspired them from the surroundings of their own home. Your journey continues to York, one of the oldest cities in England. In the evening join a family for a Dine-at-Home Experience at the historic Thirsk Hall. This grade II* listed three-storey town house was built in 1720 and extended in 1770 by York architect John Carr.
Day 6: The Viking City Of York Relaxed Start
Location: York
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton York
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton, York
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy an exploration of one of Britain’s most historic cities, controlled by the Vikings during the 9th and 10th centuries and now renowned for its exquisite architecture. Walk within the town walls with a Local Expert to see the York Minster, Britain’s largest medieval cathedral. Explore the tangle of narrow, cobbled streets and see the Shambles. Spend the afternoon with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the National Railway Museum housing over 300 years of history, or the magnificent York Minster, one of the largest in Northern Europe.
Day 7: Lincoln’S Magna Carta
Location: York, Stratford-upon-Avon
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon.
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton, Stratford-upon-Avon
Meals Included: Breakfast
Visit Lincoln Castle, one of the finest Norman castles in England. Your tour will include a chance to see one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta. Continue to Stratford, beautifully situated on the River Avon.
Day 8: Shakespeare's Stratford-Upon-Avon Relaxed Start
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon.
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton, Stratford-upon-Avon
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Discover how William Shakespeare’s legacy still resonates today as you explore his birthplace, filled with fascinating memorabilia and stories from his life. Later, gather with your Travel Director and fellow travelers to enjoy a relaxed Sunday meal featuring classic British comfort food, perfect for unwinding after a day of cultural exploration.
Day 9: The Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace And Bath
Location: Bath
Accommodation: Lansdown Grove
Accommodation Name: Lansdown Grove, Bath
Meals Included: Breakfast
An enchanting day awaits in the morning. Cross the beautiful Cotswold hills, a chocolate box scene of golden stone villages with roses around the doors. Visit the magnificent stately home and gardens of Blenheim Palace, the greatest building of the English Baroque, and learn more about Churchill's life at Blenheim during a talk by a historian. Continue to the elegant Georgian city of Bath, built in amphitheater style on the surrounding hills. Your Travel Director introduces you to the Pulteney Bridge, built in mellow local stone.
Day 10: Bath Relaxed Start
Location: Bath
Accommodation: Lansdown Grove
Accommodation Name: Lansdown Grove, Bath
Meals Included: Breakfast
The City of Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built above one of Britain's thermal, mineral springs. Enjoy a visit to its incredibly well-preserved Roman Baths. With the rest of the day at leisure, why not soak and relax with a visit to Thermae Spa? In the evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers as you raise a glass over your Celebration Dinner to commend your wonderful journey.
Day 11: Ancient Stonehenge To London
Location: Stonehenge
Accommodation: The Clermont Victoria, London, Thistle Marble Arch, London.
Accommodation Name: Thistle Marble Arch, London
Meals Included: Breakfast
Travel across Salisbury Plain to visit the prehistoric and mysterious Stonehenge, where the strange and awe-inspiring monoliths are reputed to be up to 5,000 years old. Continue into the heart of Wiltshire to the city of Salisbury where you have time at leisure to enjoy lunch and explore. See the tallest spire in England, atop the medieval cathedral, and observe an architectural timeline from the city's medieval walls and half-timbered Tudor town houses to Georgian mansions and Victorian villas. Upon arrival in London you are at leisure for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 12: Homeward Bound
Location: London
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your journey comes to an end after breakfast.
What's Included
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Meals
4 Dinners with Wine, 11 Breakfasts, 1 Afternoon Tea, and 1 Dinner are included.
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Activities
Choose between two carefully selected activities in York: Visit the National Railway Museum or explore York Minster.
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Personal Radio Headsets
Personal radio headsets are provided to give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights without missing any commentary.
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Hotel and Restaurant Tips
Hotel and restaurant tips are included, so you don’t have to worry about how much to give or search for foreign currency.
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Porterage
Porterage is included, with your bags being carried and promptly delivered to your hotel door.
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Insight Flourish
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, a local specialty representing the destination.
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Wi-Fi
Stay connected with complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
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Transfers
Transfers are available at scheduled times if your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates. If your flights are outside these times, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
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Luxury Coach
Enjoy the comfort of Insight’s luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. The coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and maintained to very high standards.
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Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
What's Not Included
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Additional Transfers
If your flights are outside the scheduled times or you have booked additional nights’ accommodation, you may need to purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities and excursions not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Gratuities for Tour Director and Driver
Gratuities for the Tour Director and Driver are not included and are at your discretion.
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 11 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Afternoon Tea (AT)
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
- If your arrival flights are as per the itinerary start date, then arrival transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport. You may purchase transfers to London Heathrow and Gatwick airports on departure day, or when additional night accommodation has been booked through Insight Vacations. Alternatively, please make your own way from/to the airport.
Insight Experiences
- Blenheim Palace: Witness a masterpiece of the English Baroque, brimming with priceless art and tapestries, and learn more about Churchill's life at Blenheim during a talk by a historian.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides transportation aboard Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and an onboard washroom, ensuring a comfortable journey throughout the tour.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour package includes 4 dinners with wine, 11 breakfasts, 1 afternoon tea, and 1 additional dinner.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
You will stay in comfort at various hotels including the Apex Waterloo Place Hotel in Edinburgh, The Ro Hotel in Windermere, DoubleTree by Hilton in York and Stratford-upon-Avon, Lansdown Grove in Bath, and Thistle Marble Arch in London.
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Are there any special experiences included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes special experiences such as a visit to Blenheim Palace with a talk by a historian about Churchill's life, and a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Ardgowan with a traditional Scottish tea and scones.
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Is Wi-Fi available during the tour?
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available on the coach and at hotels where available, allowing you to stay connected throughout the tour.
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Are tips and porterage included in the tour?
Yes, hotel and restaurant tips are included, as well as porterage, meaning your bags will be carried and promptly delivered to your hotel door.
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What happens if my flight does not align with the scheduled transfer times?
If your flights are outside the scheduled times, you may need to purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport. Transfers are available at scheduled times if your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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