Tour Inclusions

10 Nights
15 Meals 10 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
Hotel
Driver
Tour Leader

Highlights of Britain

11 days
England / Scotland
Max 18 Passengers

Overview

Join us for a classic journey that delves deep into Britain’s fascinating history and culture. In England we’ll trace the footsteps of famous writers and poets, uncovering the scenic countryside that inspired their greatest works. While in North Wales and Scotland, our journey will take in evocative scenery and dramatic castles – immersing ourselves in age-old traditions as we go. Experience it all on this unforgettable 11-day journey.

Worth Noting…

Guests travelling during selected departures in early September will visit York Minster instead of Worcester Cathedral. For those travelling on selected dates in March, April and July, please note you will explore Kiplin Hall instead of Castle Howard.

Tour Starts/Ends
1 Overnight Stop
Day Stop

Tour Highlights

Explore some of Britain’s most spectacular regions including the Cotswolds, Snowdonia National Park, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District
Discover the medieval Shambles and Snickelways of York
Immerse yourself in the grandeur and opulence of Castle Howard
Get better acquainted with the Fab Four at The Beatles Story Museum

Gallery

Tour Itinerary

Expand Full Itinerary

Day 1 - London (England)
An epicentre of rich history and innovation, London is where we’ll meet for the start of our incredible journey. Tonight, we’ll get to know one another over a delicious welcome dinner. Accommodation: Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid (or similar)
- Meals
  - Dinner
Day 2 - London – Oxford – Cotswolds
After breakfast, we’ll leave the capital behind us and set a course for the ‘dreaming spires’ of Oxford – where we'll discover the highlights of this medieval university city on an orientation walk with our expert Tour Leader. Then: it’s off to the Cotswolds, where we’ll spend some time exploring charming villages full of honey-coloured cottages. Accommodation: Three Ways House Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 3 - Cotswolds – Stratford-Upon-Avon – Cotswolds
This morning, we’ll board the mini-coach and make tracks to Stratford-upon-Avon – the picturesque Tudor market town where William Shakespeare was born. We’ll follow in the Bard’s footsteps on an orientation tour before we return to the Cotswolds where there’ll be time to explore more of its rolling hills, charming villages and panoramic views. Accommodation: Three Ways House Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 4 - Cotswolds – Worcester – Denbighshire
We’ll discover more about the crusades of saints and kings on a visit of Worcester Cathedral before our road turns towards the rugged ancient landscapes of Wales this afternoon. This evening, we’ll dine together in Denbighshire. Accommodation: The Mulberry Inn (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 5 - Denbighshire – Snowdonia National Park – Denbighshire
Prepare for a soul-stirring sight this morning – the magnificent Snowdonia National Park (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is our next stop. Boasting 823 square miles of captivatingly diverse landscapes, Snowdonia National Park is an area steeped in culture and local history. We’ll spend the day exploring the park together before returning to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner. Accommodation: The Mulberry Inn (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 6 - Denbighshire – Liverpool – York
Today’s itinerary has a distinctly musical theme. After breakfast, we’ll leave Wales behind us and move on to Liverpool – the welcoming (and fiercely proud) city that gave birth to The Beatles. What better way to get into the ‘Beatlemania’ spirit than a visit to The Beatles Story Museum? Toes still tapping, we’ll round off the day in York where we’ll have the evening to spend at our leisure. Accommodation: The Churchill Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 7 - York
We’ve a full day to spend getting to grips with York, starting with an orientation tour of the Old Town. There are centuries of history to uncover along the medieval Shambles and Snickelways – and plenty of photo opportunities to be claimed! This evening is ours to spend at leisure in town or back at the hotel. Accommodation: The Churchill Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 8 - York – Castle Howard – Lake District
Today we’ll rewind to the glory days of the English country estate with a self-guided tour of the magnificent Castle Howard. Our path will then take us through Yorkshire Dales National Park, passing by rivers, tiny villages and centuries-old stone walls. The invigorating Lake District will be the spectacular conclusion to the day’s journey. Tonight, we’ll come together to share a delicious meal at the hotel. Accommodation: Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 9 - Lake District
What better way to spend the day than discovering the Lake District’s highlights? Our first stop will be charming Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s quaint holiday home. With its flower-filled gardens and glorious countryside views, it’s easy to see why the famed children’s author was inspired by this tranquil spot. Later, a scenic lake cruise awaits. We’ll take to the water to soak up the awe-inspiring scenery of this spectacular region before returning to our accommodation for the evening. Accommodation: Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 10 - Lake District – Scottish Borders (Scotland)
We’ll commence our day of culture this morning with a visit to The Bowes Museum in the market town of Barnard Castle. Showcasing an eclectic mix of art and antiques, there’s something for everyone in this treasure trove! Next, we’ll turn our attention to Birdoswald Roman Fort in Cumbria. Located on the longest continuous stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, here we’ll take some time to uncover centuries-old history and admire the awe-inspiring vistas before pressing on to the Scottish Borders. This evening we have a local treat in store! A traditional haggis dinner and bagpipe demonstration will provide us with a grand ending to our final night. Accommodation: Woodland House Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 11 - Scottish Borders – Abbotsford House and Rosslyn Chapel – Edinburgh
Before we say our goodbyes, there’s still plenty of time to round things off with a visit to the grand Abbotsford House and beautiful Rosslyn Chapel. Our tour will conclude upon arrival in Edinburgh.
- Meals
  - Breakfast

Tour Inclusions

Accommodation

- 10 nights in hand-picked accommodation

The Crew

- Experienced Tour Leader and Driver

Transport

- Premium mini-coach transportation

Reviews

218 reviews

Reviews Rating

9th December 2024
Review rating

Excellent tour. Outstanding Tour Director Peter Wilson. Peter was informative and pleasant and friendly.
17th November 2024
Review rating

Backroads Tour - Highlights of Britain BHBLE4 – 13 to 23-October 2024 Great tour from start to finish. Our tour commenced with welcome dinner at the Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid in London. Our tour guide Peter welcomed us all. We then had the opportunity to introduce ourselves. We met Steve, our bus driver, the next morning. We were encouraged to move to different seats in the bus which everyone was agreeable and did so each day. Even though the route/destination had been planned, Peter and Steve were open to suggestions to detour if the locations were not too far off track. There were some surprise locations which added to the tour. However, we did need to detour due to unseasonal roadway flooding. Peter is an exceptional tour guide who has a wealth of knowledge and was able to provide insight into many historical facts on the way. At our destinations Peter provided suggestions on the best places to get your lunch/snacks, café or pub. There were regular stops. Steve is also to be highly commended on his driving skills in manoeuvring the bus in very tight country roads. Overall, the accommodation and food were as described. Some places cosier than others. Our evening entertaining game of skittles at Mickleton and trivia evening at The Mulberry Inn Llangollen were great fun nights. Our fellow passengers were great and the whole tour from Day 1 to 11 was fantastic. Highly recommend Back-Roads Highlights of Britain small group tour.
14th November 2024
Review rating

So many sights and so much history. The tour was amazing and the size of the group was perfect. Our friendly tour guide and bus driver were absolutely brilliant. Loved it so much I've already recommended it to others.