Itinerary Details
CIE Tours: 2025 - 13 Day Highlights of Britain
Day 1 London Arrival | Windsor Castle
Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your Windsor hotel. Venture to see the splendors of Windsor Castle, a residence of the King, and the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. Then take a walking tour around the medieval town of Windsor with a local guide. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group, and dine and explore as you wish this evening.
Day 2 Stonehenge | Salisbury
Marvel at the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths of Stonehenge and learn about the primitive builders who managed to create such an enduring monument. Stop in Salisbury, a charming old city where the cathedral boasts the tallest spire in England. Arrive in Tavistock, a market town on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. (B, D)
Day 3 St Michael’s Mount | St Ives
Travel through the unspoiled beauty of Bodmin Moor; stop for photos at Jamaica Inn, built in 1750 and immortalized in Daphne du Maurier’s tale of daring smugglers. Visit the coastal village of Marazion to see the romantic outline of St Michael’s Mount, an island topped by a spectacular castle. In the old fishing town of St Ives, take a walking tour to see its cobbled streets, quaint cottages, art galleries, and surrounding sandy beaches. Enjoy time to explore before returning to a free evening in Tavistock. (B)
Day 4 Roman Baths | Cardiff Castle
Explore Bath, a city of elegant Georgian buildings in a distinctive golden stone. Tour the wonderfully preserved Roman Baths. Head to Cardiff, where you’ll take a sightseeing tour of the city before touring Cardiff Castle, a medieval castle fabulously renovated in Victorian Gothic style. Dine in your hotel this evening. (B, D)
Day 5 Hay-on-Wye | Shrewsbury
Travel through the Brecon Beacons National Park to Hay-on-Wye, a town famous for its bookshops. Continue to Shrewsbury, a picturesque town near the English/Welsh border. Take a walking tour with the town crier to see black-and-white buildings that line the narrow streets. Travel through Cheshire to your hotel in Chester. (B, D)
Day 6 North Wales | Chester
Drive through the countryside of north Wales as you journey to Conwy, a medieval town dominated by a huge castle. Enjoy a walking tour around the picturesque streets and see the smallest house in Britain. In the ancient city of Chester, explore the Roman and medieval heritage on a walking tour. Your evening is free to explore this fascinating place as you wish. (B)
Day 7 Lake District | Edinburgh
Travel through the glorious Lake District, which inspired many of Beatrix Potter’s children’s books. Visit the village of Grasmere, where Wordsworth lived and is buried. Pass through the village of Gretna Green as you cross the border into Scotland. Arrive at your hotel in Edinburgh, where your evening is yours to explore. (B)
Day 8 Edinburgh Castle | City Tour | Scottish Evening*
Explore central Edinburgh starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with planned streets and elegant Georgian houses where many famous writers and inventors lived. See the Royal Mile with its narrow medieval houses, then tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. Spend the evening with your group. Most departures will enjoy a lively Scottish evening with dinner and entertainment. Departures from July 29 – August 12 will attend the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo with reserved seats on the castle esplanade. (B, D*)
Day 9 Abbotsford House | York
Visit Abbotsford House, the rambling and picturesque former home of Sir Walter Scott, the internationally famed 19th-century novelist; he was one of Scotland’s greatest historic characters and played a large role in the modern popularity of tartan. Head to York, an ancient city of narrow cobbled streets, charming tearooms and quaint old pubs, and fantastic medieval churches. Here you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore and dine as you wish. (B)
Day 10 Whitby | Castle Howard | York Minster
Visit the old fishing town of Whitby. Tour its pretty harbor and cobbled streets with your tour director before departing for Castle Howard, a 300-year-old stately home that has been the setting for numerous film and TV productions, including the hit show “Bridgerton”. Return to York to tour magnificent York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe. (B, D)
Day 11 Shakespeare’s Birthplace | London
Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Discover the world that shaped the man as you look through an exhibition about his life and work, and take in a short performance to see his words come to life. Drive through the scenic Cotswolds region, renowned for picturesque villages built of honey-colored stone with charming gardens. Arrive in London and enjoy dinner with your group. (B, D)
Day 12 Tower of London | City Sightseeing
Take a panoramic London tour with a local guide to see some of the famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Visit the mighty Tower of London to see the many fortresses, Beefeaters in their elaborate uniforms, and the dazzling Crown Jewels. The afternoon and evening are free for independent activities. (B)
Day 13 Tour Ends in London
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B)B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner *Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner.>
