|
DAY 1: USA / LONDON.
We begin our British Isles tour by boarding our trans-Atlantic flight to
London.
DAY 2: LONDON.
Upon arrival at London Airport we will be met by our tour Escort and
transferred to our hotel in London. Balance of the day is at leisure,
dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 3: LONDON.
 This
morning we have a sightseeing tour of London's West End. We will view
Mayfair, Piccadilly, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham
Palace and the Changing of the Guard ceremony (if held), Hyde Park and
Marble Arch. The highlight of our tour will be a visit to Westminster
Abbey. This afternoon if free for independent activities - you may wish
to explore London on your own, visit one of the museums, shopping, or
just strolling in one of London's many beautiful parks. Dinner and
overnight at our London hotel.
DAY 4: LONDON / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON /
COVENTRY.
This morning the first leg of our tour takes us to Stratford-upon-Avon,
birthplace of the Bard William Shakespeare. Stratford is an old market
town on the River Avon, rich in half-timbered buildings and memories of
the famous playwright. Our sightseeing will include Shakespeare's
birthplace, the 16th century Harvard House, the Guildhall and Anne
Hathaway's cottage in the nearby village of Shottery. Continue to the
historic Midland city of Coventry. We will visit the fine modern
Cathedral, built beside the ruins of the earlier gothic Cathedral which
was completely destroyed in the dreadful raids of 14th November, 1940.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Coventry.
DAY 5: COVENTRY / STAMFORD / YORK /
HARROGATE.
This morning we drive north to the River Welland and Stamford, one of
England's loveliest stone-built towns. Our drive then takes us past
rugged hills and moors before arriving in York for a visit to the
Minster with its majestic towers and priceless stained glass windows.
We then have a walking tour through medieval York - through ancient
streets where the upper storeys of their houses lean precariously across
the roadway towards each other. The names are facinating - Stonegate,
Goodramgate, Whip-ma-Whopma-Gate, and Shambles, the old butcher's
quarter. We will also have a look at the quatrefoil shaped Clifford's
Tower, the Guildhall, Merchant Adventurer's Hall, Merchant Taylor's
Hall, St. William's college and the Treasurer's House. Continue to
nearby Harrogate, Britain's Floral Resort for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6: HARROGATE / EDINBURGH.
 This
morning we drive via the industrial city of Newcastle (which got its
name from a "new castle" built by Henry II in the 12th century),
Otterburn, crossing the border into Scotland and continuing to
Abbotsford, the turreted mansion built after 1816 by Sir Walter Scott,
and his home until his death there in 1832, with many personal memories
of the great writer as well as historical relics collected by him. Then
on to Melrose, a charming old market town where we will stop to visit
the ruins of Melrose Abbey, the most beautiful in Scotland. Our final
visit will be to Dryburgh Abbey, the 12th to 15th century ruins of the
Abbey destroyed by the English in 1544. It is located in a beautiful
loop of the river Tweed, with the graves of Sir Walter Scott and Earl
Haig lying peacefully in its cemetery. Then on to Edinburgh, the
capital of Scotland, for dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 7: EDINBURGH.
Our morning sightseeing tour of Edinburgh takes us to the Scott
Monument, Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles Cathedral (Thistle
Chapel), Palace of Holyrood house and Park, the prestigious Edinburgh
University, Greyfriars and the Mound. Afternoon at leisure for
independent activities. Dinner and overnight at our Edinburgh hotel.
DAY 8: EDINBURGH / LAKE DISTRICT.
Today we leave Scotland and cross the border back into England at Gretna
Green. Famous as the place where runaway couples from England formerly
came to be married; the Smithy at Gretna Green was a famous place for
weddings. Just south of the important city of Carlisle we enter the
renowned Lake District, favorite area of poets, writers and artists. We
will have a scenic tour through the delightful Lake District National
Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty - a lovely region of inland
water, forests and mountains. We will see Lake Windemere, the largest
lake in the area and some ten and a half miles long. Then through the
delightful town of Ambleside and the picturesque village of Grasmere on
the fringe of the Lake Grasmere to the pleasant old town of Keswick,
situated close t6o the wooded shores of Derwentwater. Dinner and
overnight at our hotel in the Lake District.
DAY 9: LAKE DISTRICT / CHESTER / DUBLIN.
This morning we drive to the fascinating old city of Chester. Our
sightseeing will include the medieval walls that completely enclose
Chester, numerous delightful timber-framed old houses, the 13th century
Cathedral and St. John's, an impressive Norman Church. A few miles
further west we enter Wales, legendary "Land of the Red Dragon", where
there are more Castles to the square mile than any country in Europe.
We drive through North Wales to Holyhead where we board our ferry for
the crossing of the Irish Sea to Dun Laoghaire. Continue to the nearby
capital of Southern Ireland, Dublin for dinner and overnight at our
hotel.
DAY 10: DUBLIN.
This morning our sightseeing includes many of the highlights of this
fascinating city. We will visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, O'Connell
Street, the historic Post Office and gracious Merrion Square. There is
also time to stop at lovely St. Stephen's Green, Dublin Castle, and
Trinity College where the famous Book of Kells is on display. This
afternoon is at leisure to pursue special interests, such as visiting
the National Museum. Dinner and overnight at our Dublin hotel.
DAY 11: DUBLIN / LIMERICK / KILLARNEY. Today
we drive into the southwestern region of the country, passing through
the beautiful dairy lands of Tipperary County. We pass the Rock of
Cashel with its 1000 year old Archbishop's Palace. Continuing westward
we reach Limerick, Ireland's oldest town. We will see St. Mary's
Cathedral, the Treaty Stone, and 13th century King John's Castle. We
then drive south to Killarney, we leave our coach for horse drawn
jaunting carts and a leisurely ride along lovely Lough Leane. Dinner
and overnight at our hotel in Killarney.
DAY 12: KILLARNEY / CORK / WATERFORD.
This morning we leave Killarney and cross the Kerry Mountains to visit
legendary Blarney Castle. After a brief stop to kiss the stone reputed
to impart the gift of eloquent speech, we continue on to Cork, Ireland's
second city. Our brief tour here includes seeing its tiny shops, narrow
streets, and majestic churches. In the afternoon we drive along the
headlands of the southern coast through Youghal and Dungarvan to
Waterford, home of the famous cut crystal, for dinner and overnight.
DAY 13: WATERFORD / ROSSLARE / FISGUARD /
BRISTOL / FROME.
Drive to Rosslare where we board our ferry for the crossing to Fishguard
in Wales. We follow the scenic southern route through Pembroke, past
Carmarthen Castle, and through the seaport city of Swansea. On through
the Welsh capital of Cardiff, past Newport and back into England.
Continue via Bristol, rich in seafaring traditions and linked with the
colonization of America, to the quaint old market town of Frome for
dinner and overnight.
DAY 14: FROME / STONEHENGE / SALISBURY /
OXFORD / LONDON.
Morning departure across the Salisbury Plain to mysterious Stonehenge to
see a fascinating collection of ancient monoliths placed there nearly
2,000 years before the birth of Christ. They were once used to
calculate the eclipses and equinoxes. We continue to the market town of
Salisbury to visit its Cathedral, which has the tallest spire in
England. We then drive north to the world -famous university city of
Oxford, where, time permitting, we will visit one of the many colleges
before continuing to London for dinner and overnight.
DAY 15: LONDON / USA.
Transfer to London Airport for our return flight home to the United
States. |
