London with Scottish Dreams

PROPOSED ITINERARY

Day 01:
LONDON
RIDE THE WORLD’S LARGEST OBSERVATION WHEEL – THE LONDON EYE – Get the best ever view of this English capital as you get on board the London Eye – one of the world’s largest observation wheel that takes you 450 ft. above the River Thames.

Day 02:
LONDON
A LONDON EXPERIENCE IN A DAY – The tour begins with a panoramic drive around Parliament Square to see the magnificent Westminster Abbey, then head to St James’ Park & Buckingham Palace to see the colourful ceremony of the Changing of the Guard. Accompanied by a military. Later take a guided tour of St Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece with its magnificent dome. The Cathedral was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666. In recent years it has seen the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer &, more recently, the thanksgiving services for both the Diamond Jubilee & 80th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. Climb 259 steps up the dome & you will find The Whispering Gallery, which runs around the interior of the Dome. Finally on to the Tower of London, one of the world’s most famous & spectacular fortresses. Over the past 1000 years it has been a Royal Palace, an armoury & a place of imprisonment & execution. The Beefeaters who guard the Tower will regale you with stories of its past. We will visit the Crown Jewels, including the magnificent solid-gold crown used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the enormous Cullinan diamonds & the extraordinary Koh-I-Noor.
Overnight at London hotel.

Day 03:
DISCOVER OXFORD, STRATFORD, COTSWOLD AND WARWICK CASTLE
Approx Duration – approx. 12 hours
After breakfast, enjoy the opulence of Oxford! Renowned for over 900 years as a centre of academic excellence, follow in the footsteps of its famous students; from Bill Clinton to Lewis Carroll & C.S. Lewis. Uncover the university town of Oxford at a leisurely pace & take in the famous ‘city of dreaming spires’ & see the Bodleian Library & the captivating college courtyards on your travels. Be guided through unspoilt narrow alleys & ancient squares of the historic town. The journey will continue with a visit to the delightful market town at the edge of the Forest of Arden- Stratford, also known as the birthplace of the world-famous playwright, William Shakespeare. We will then drive through the Cotswold, a charming blend of breath-taking natural beauty, bustling market towns & sleepy villages. Immerse yourself in battle preparations & feel the weight of a medieval sword deep in the heart of Warwick Castle, the last stop of a marvelous journey.
Overnight at London hotel.

Day 04:
HALF DAY WINDSOR TOUR
Approx Duration: 4 hrs 30 min
Today we will visit the royal chapel of St George, where famous historical figures are buried, such as King Henry VIII with his third wife, Jane Seymour, King Charles I (beheaded in 1649 after having lost the Civil War against the Parliamentarians), & the current Queen’s parents & sister: Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, her husband King George VI (represented in the recent film, the King’s Speech) & their youngest daughter, Princess Margaret. This chapel is a marvelously beautiful example of the English Gothic architectural style & is also the spiritual home to the highest order of nobility in the country: The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in the fourteenth century by King Eduard III, which still exists to this day & whose membership includes Prince William (the son of Lady Diana & heir to the throne). You will also enter & walk through the magnificent Royal State Apartments, splendidly restored after a fire in 1992.
Overnight at London hotel.

Day 05:
WINDSOR CASTLE, STONEHENGE & OXFORD
Built high above the River Thames, Windsor Castle has been home to the Royal Family for 900 years & is still an Official Residence of the Queen. We visit the magnificent State Apartments*, still used for State occasions & Royal receptions. Take some time to explore the castle grounds & the fourteenth-century St. George’s Chapel, one of the most beautiful examples of medieval church architecture in England & a burial place of kings & queens, including Henry VIII & his third wife Jane Seymour. Clouded in mystery, the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is an amazing feat of engineering & the most important prehistoric site in England, but beyond its archaeological significance & possible astronomical role, Stonehenge is also a place of spiritual importance. Early legends link it with Merlin & King Arthur, but over the last hundred years the midsummer sunrise has attracted pagan groups & followers of the Ancient Order of Druids. Known as ‘The City of Dreaming Spires’, Oxford has been a seat of learning since 1249. Enjoy a fascinating walking tour of the city, passing Trinity College, the Sheldonian Theatre, the newly renovated Ashmolean Museum & the Martyr’s Memorial. See Divinity School, made famous in the Harry Potter films, & learn why this magical city inspired so many writers, including Lewis Carroll, JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis.
Approx Duration: 10 hrs

Day 06:
ARRIVAL AT EDINBURGH:
After breakfast transfer to train station to board the train to Edinburg.

Arrival at Edinburgh airport. Pickup and transfer to hotel. Rest day free for leisure activities. Overnight stay at hotel in Edinburgh

Day 07:
EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING WITH EDINBURGH CASTLE
After breakfast, Depart for Full day Edinburgh City Sightseeing. Edinburgh stands on seven hills creating the dramatic skyline of this lively cosmopolitan city. What better way to see this fantastic city than from the top of a City Sightseeing Tour Bus. Marvel at the impenetrable Castle Rock and hear about the attempts to capture Edinburgh Castle, see the Royal Mile which joins Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House and discover the fascinating history of this amazing city!. Entrance to Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh Castle: Edinburgh Castle dominates Scotland’s capital city from its great rock. Its story has helped shape the nation’s story. Battles and sieges were fought over it, royalty lived and died within its walls, and countless generations have been and inspired by it. Overnight stay at hotel in Edinburgh

Day 08:
ROSSLYN CHAPEL, SCOTTISH BORDERS & GLENKINCHIE DISTILLERY (APPROX DURATION: 08 – 09 HRS)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Today visit the intriguing Rosslyn Chapel, experience the pretty Border town of Melrose and explore its Abbey. Then be led from the spiritual to the spiritful with ‘a tour and a taste’ at a small and rare lowland whisky distillery. Travel through the Scottish Lowlands and Borders on an enjoyable day-tour. See the varied natural wonders that make this section of Scotland famous. See historic sites and sample real Scottish whisky as you travel with a friendly and knowledgeable guide!
Dating back to 1445, the Rosslyn chapel gained worldwide fame thanks to the increasing interest in Freemasonry and the Knights Templar. See the intricate “musical” boxes and green men carved throughout the chapel. Leave Roslin and continue your journey into the heart of the Scottish Borders in the eastern part of the Scottish Uplands. This area is rich in hills, valleys, rivers, and moorland, as is also the traditional home of Scottish rugby. Travel to the historic town of Melrose, the birthplace of the game of Rugby Sevens and home to of Melrose Abbey. Travel on to the village of Pencaitland, where you will tour the charming Glenkinchie Distillery and sample and learn about real Scottish whisky. Glenkinchie is one of few Lowland distilleries in Scotland. Finally, you will return to Edinburgh. Overnight stay at hotel in Edinburgh

Day 09:
LOCH LOMOND, TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK & STIRLING (APPROX DURATION: 09 HRS)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Today spend a day discovering the legends of Scottish heroes William Wallace & Rob Roy, & experience the natural beauty of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Begin with a memorable visit to Stirling Castle, explore the pretty villages of Luss, & finish off with a spectacular cruise across Loch Lomond. Departing Edinburgh, we travel north-west for our first stop of the day at magnificent Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most historically significant castles. You will have time to visit the castle & learn of the exploits of key historic figures including William Wallace, Robert the Bruce & Mary Queen of Scots. We continue on, past medieval Doune Castle, to the pretty town of Aberfoyle, situated on the banks of the River Teith in Stirlingshire, where we stop to enjoy some lunch. From here we enter The Trossachs National Park, also known as “The Highlands in miniature” for its abundance of lochs, mountains & forests, & famous as the homeland of legendary outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor. We then reach the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, one of the prettiest & largest lochs in the whole of Scotland. Here you can enjoy an hour long cruise. Alternatively, take a stroll through the picturesque loch-side conservation village of Luss, with its quaint houses, cafes & stunning views across the loch’s western shoreline. We then travel back to Edinburgh.

Day 10:
ON TO GLASGOW. GLASGOW CITY TOUR
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Later board your train to Glasgow. Arrive Glasgow, check in at the hotel in Glasgow. Today proceed for a city tour of Glasgow visiting the George Square, Glasgow Cathedral and Glasgow Science Centre. Overnight stay at hotel in Glasgow

Day 11:
DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel. Later transfer to the airport for your flight back home