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Worldwide Escorted Bus Tours & River Cruises
Essential Britain
This vacation offers a panoramic exploration of England, Wales, and Scotland. Begin with an overnight and free time in London, then head west to prehistoric Stonehenge, picturesque Salisbury, and Widecombe-in-the-Moor in Dartmoor National Park. Spend two nights in Plymouth, with an excursion to Land’s End and the seaside resort of St. Ives. North to Glastonbury of King Arthur fame and stop to see the amazing Roman excavations in Bath. Cross into Wales, for an overnight in Newport and a drive through Brecon Beacons National Park to Chester and then to Liverpool, where you visit the Beatles Story. Explore England’s scenic Lake District and Wandsworth’s Grasmere before crossing into Scotland for a stop in Gretna Green. Spend the night in Glasgow, then skirt the banks of Loch Lomond on your way to the Isle of Skye. After a stop in the Highland capital of Inverness, head south through Culloden Moor, Braemar, and St. Andrews. A 2-night stay in Edinburgh includes guided sightseeing and visits to Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. Back in England, choose between a visit to Alnwick Castle or to the lavish Alnwick Garden, then see a section of Hadrian’s Wall, and medieval York. Pass along Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest on the way to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. Return to London for an overnight and the completion of your magnificent vacation.No one brings the world’s stories to life like we do. What story will you discover next?Special Departure:Tickets for the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included for July 30 through August 20 vacations.
Highlights:
Itinerary:
| Day #1 |
Arrive in London, England. Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. After checking into your hotel and an afternoon at leisure we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with dinner followed by a guided illumination cruise on the River Thames. |
| Day #2 |
London–Stonehenge–Salisbury–Plymouth. Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart London at 8 am. First, visit prehistoric STONEHENGE before taking a stroll in picturesque Salisbury with its vast cathedral. Continue on through Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, and head for quaint Widecombe-in-the-Moor in Dartmoor National Park. The next two nights are spent in Plymouth, home of historical figures such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (B,D) |
| Day #3 |
Plymouth. Cornwall Excursion. A day full of West Country sights as you head through Daphne du Maurier’s Cornwall. After viewing St. Michael’s Mount, take your photos at Land’s End before exploring the popular seaside resort of St. Ives. Back in Plymouth, your Tour Director will arrange an optional evening visit to a local inn for dinner. (B) |
| Day #4 |
Plymouth–Glastonbury–Bath–Newport, Wales. At Glastonbury, hear about its associations with King Arthur, and in elegant Bath, see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS with time to explore further on your own. Tonight’s optional is to Cardiff Castle for an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner. (B) |
| Day #5 |
Newport–Llandrindod Wells–Chester, England–Liverpool. Your journey through Wales takes you north along the Usk Valley and Brecon Beacons National Park, and via Llandrindod Wells to Chester. On your walking tour, see the Roman remains, the characteristic black and white half-timbered buildings, and the famous two-tiered arcades called the “Rows.” Spend the night in Liverpool; your Tour Director will have dining recommendations for this evening. (B) |
| Day #6 |
Liverpool–Lake District–Glasgow, Scotland. Start the day with a guided tour of the award-winning BEATLES STORY, an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture, and music of the “Fab Four.” Later, focus on the tranquil Lake District, considered to be the finest of England’s national parks. After a break in Wordsworth’s beloved Grasmere, head north for the Scottish border and stop at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Overnight in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. (B,D) |
| Day #7 |
Glasgow–Isle of Skye–Inverness. Follow the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond, then proceed via Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe, Fort William, and the “Road to the Isles.” At Mallaig, board your FERRY for the crossing to the Isle of Skye, where you visit the MUSEUM OF THE ISLES at the Clan Donald Centre. Return to the mainland and trace the shores of Loch Ness on the way to the Highland capital. (B,D) |
| Day #8 |
Inverness–Braemar–St. Andrews–Edinburgh. Main features today: the battlefield of Culloden Moor; Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games; St. Andrews; and over the elegant Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh. Tonight, an optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. For departure numbers 0731 through 0821 tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO. (B) |
| Day #9 |
Edinburgh. Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (except when the Queen is in residence). Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia to see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. (B) |
| Day #10 |
Edinburgh–Alnwick, England–York. This morning at ALNWICK CASTLE the choice is yours: visit the CASTLE itself, the opulent ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, or explore ALNWICK GARDEN, where the fountains and waterfalls are a breathtaking feature. Next, pass a section of Hadrian’s Wall on your way to York, England’s most complete medieval city. Here, stand in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (B,D) |
| Day #11 |
York–Stratford-upon-Avon–London. Skirt Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest on the way to Stratford-upon-Avon. Take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE. On return to London at about 3:30 pm, a Shownight Theater Evening would be an incredible finale to your vacation. (B) |
| Day #12 |
London. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Hotels:
London Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (SF), Plymouth Holiday Inn (SF), Newport Hilton (F), Liverpool Novotel (F), Glasgow Thistle (F), Inverness Ramada (F), Edinburgh Barceló Carlton (SF), York Novotel (F), London Hilton London Metropole (SF)
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Pricing Options:
| Depart US | Land-Only |
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| 05/06/2011 | $2,039.00 | | 05/13/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 05/20/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 05/27/2011 | $2,289.00 | | 06/03/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 06/10/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 06/17/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 06/24/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 06/24/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 07/01/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 07/08/2011 | $2,029.00 | | 07/15/2011 | $2,029.00 | | 07/22/2011 | $2,029.00 | | 07/29/2011 | $2,069.00 | | 08/05/2011 | $2,069.00 | | 08/12/2011 | $2,069.00 | | 08/19/2011 | $2,069.00 | | 08/26/2011 | $2,029.00 | | 09/02/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 09/09/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 09/16/2011 | $2,049.00 | | 09/23/2011 | $2,039.00 |
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©2005 Flamingo Travel Group
All Rights Reserved
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