Undoubtedly one of England’s most distinct cities, Liverpool is home to a colourful character and a local population (known as Scousers) renowned for their sense of humour and unmistakeable accent (Scouse).
The city’s unique character has developed from a turbulent history; one of the largest ports in industrial England, the city boomed throughout the 18th and 19th centuries as a centre for shipbuilding and the trade of cotton and tobacco with Africa and the Americas. The result was a seven mile stretch of docklands along Liverpool’s waterfront on the banks of the famous river Mersey and an influx of immigrants from around the world.
Liverpool played an important role in World War II as a western port for wartime supplies and saw further immigration as a temporary base for over a million US GIs stationed in Britain. Liverpool was one of England’s hardest hit cities during the recession of the 1980s and saw hardship and deprivation but in true Liverpool fashion has bounced back with vigour; in recent decades the city has become one of the country’s most popular visitor destinations and in 2008, Liverpool was awarded the well-deserved accolade of European City of Culture.
Liverpool is home to wealth of historic and cultural landmarks; the Albert Docks waterfront area of the city is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to more listed buildings than any other city in Britain outside of London. Rejuvenated from its trading routes, the historic Albert Docks now form an unmissable part of modern Liverpool; the area is home to the Merseyside Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool Life, both of which house fascinating exhibitions detailing the city’s unique history, and the Tate Gallery which is one of only two Tate exhibitions found outside of the English capital. Also not to be missed are the boutique shopping galleries and the historic Liver buildings atop which sit the Liver-birds – symbol of the city.
A short walk away, through the modern and hugely popular Liverpool One commercial centre, you’ll find the heart of Liverpool and the bustle of a vibrant city. The only city in England to boast two cathedrals, you’ll find contrasting styles at the modern Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral and the more traditional features of the Liverpool Cathedral. Further highlights can be found at the World Museum of Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery and the historic St George’s Hall which demonstrates some of Europe’s first neoclassic architecture. Liverpool is a great sporting city, home to Britain’s most famous horse-race, the Grand National at Aintree racecourse, and not one but two top-class soccer clubs at Everton and the world-renowned Liverpool FC. By night the city is alive with a vibrant restaurant and pub scene to be found around the fashionable ropewalks area, Bold Street and Concert Square.
In addition to all of this culture however, Liverpool is possibly best known as the birthplace and home of the world’s most famous pop-band, the Beatles. As you would expect, the city is bustling with heritage sites dedicated to the fab four from the preserved childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney to the inspiration for some of their hits in the form of Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane, an unassuming suburban road. Not to be missed is the stunning Beatles Story exhibition located in the Albert Dock and the Cavern Club on Matthew Street famously where the band first performed regularly. Why not take it all in on the retro-psychedelic bus of the Magical Mystery Tour?
An absolute “must” for Beatles fans, Liverpool has so much to offer besides and will be a highlight on any tour of England’s cities.
Enjoy an England and Wales driving tour to experience the contrasts of two distinct British cultures on this in-depth tour of two of Britain's intriguing nations. Enjoy the contrasting vistas of the patchwork fields of the Cotswolds, the rustic Yorkshire Dales, the mountains of Snowdonia and the coastlines of the Pembrokeshire National Park. Not to mention icons of English and Welsh history at Conwy Castle, York Minster, Shakespeare’s Stratford, Cardiff Castle and Stonehenge.
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A Castle Tour of England - Enjoy the history and grandeur of an ancient land on this tour of England. By day you'll explore castle ruins, opulent manor houses, historic sites, stunning landscapes and England’s cultural jewels such as Oxford, Stratford, Chester, York and Bath whilst by night you'll live like royalty as you experience historic and characterful castle hotels and country manor house accommodation!
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A driving tour of England and Scotland - indulge in a unique trip taking in two of Britain’s most unique nations. Your self-drive vacation will take you through the rural landscapes of England and Scotland before returning your vehicle in Edinburgh and returning to London by rail. The trip will take in the beautiful landscapes of the Cotswolds, Yorkshire, Lake District and Scottish Highlands not to mention a host of elegant cities including York, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London.
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A small group tour of England – England’s Rustic Charm is a leisurely tour exploring the highlights of central and Northern England. Departing the elegant city of Bath you’ll enjoy a journey through the rolling hills and honey-coloured villages of the Cotswolds to the ruggedly beautiful landscapes of the English Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. Along the way we’ll visit the dreaming spires of Oxford, the Tudor streets of Stratford-upon-Avon and spend two nights in the medieval city of York. A leisurely journey that will leave you charmed by England’s unique heritage and rustic landscapes.
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A small group tour of Britain – discover what makes Britain Great on this small group journey through the diverse cultures and landscapes of England, Scotland and Wales. This comprehensive itinerary takes you from the peaceful coasts and mountains of Wales, through rustic landscapes of rural England and north in to remote wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. We’ll see iconic landmarks and hidden gems, visit Britain’s quaint villages and heritage cities and enjoy a host of local experiences from steam train rides through the English countryside to whisky tasting in the Highlands. In the company of your local guides, the Great British Journey is the ultimate way to explore Britain.
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English Pub Tour – Is there anything more quintessentially English than a country pub or coaching inn? Our country pubs of England tour offers the opportunity to tour the scenic and historic destinations of this nations whilst overnighting in traditional pubs and inns sure to offer a warm welcome, homely feel and good “pub grub” food and drink. Your journey will take you through the rolling fields of Cambridgeshire to York, over the Dales of Lake District to patchwork countryside of the Cotswolds.
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A Northern England Driving Tour – enjoy a journey of contrasts from bustling cities to the rustic, rural charm of the English countryside. The northern counties of England offer guests a unique and truly traditional experience; having inspired poets, artists, novelists and musician’s alike, uncover the rugged beauty of the the Yorkshire Moors and Dales and the Lakes and Waterways of the English Lake District. Along the way also discover the Peak District, and some of England’s most renowned historic and cultural cities including York, Durham, Chester Liverpool and Manchester.
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A small group tour of England and Wales – Enjoy an epic journey of discovery through the varied histories and landscapes of England and Wales. We’ll see many of Britain’s most beautiful natural landscapes from the golden coasts of Pembrokeshire and the mountains of Snowdonia in Wales to the rustic hills and vales of Yorkshire and the Lake District in England. Along the way we’ll sample traditional fare and enjoy a host of local visits including archetypal medieval fortresses, stately English manors, ancient cathedrals and historic steam train journeys; the ideal tour to discover the very essence of Britain.
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A British Rail Tour – Get two countries for the price of one as you use the British rail network to explore the rails England and Wales. Your itinerary will include scenic rail rides through the scenic Welsh border Marches and over the Yorkshire Dales whilst overnight stops include the historic cities of Chester and York and the cosmopolitan Welsh capital city of Cardiff. In order to best explore the rural landscapes of Wales we’ve included two separate day tours to explore the South Wales countryside and the mountains of Snowdonia in the North Wales.
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A small group tour of England and Scotland – Beauty of Britain is an epic journey exploring the history, heritage and natural landscapes of England and Scotland. We’ll pass from the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, through the rustic landscapes Yorkshire and the Lake District to the barren wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. Our journey is punctuated with visits to Britain’s heritage cities such as Bath, Oxford, York and Edinburgh and we’ll enjoy a host of local experiences including countryside steam train rides, ancient castle visits, traditional afternoon tea and a whisky distillery tour. The true beauty of Britain is waiting to be discovered.
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An England Rail Tour – Make use of England’s extensive and far-reaching rail network to explore the corners of this great nation. From the capital city of London your journey will take you to England’s farthest reaches in on the Cornish Peninsula and the Lake District. Along the way you’ll visit a host of heritage cites including Plymouth, Bath, Oxford, Chester and York. You’ll take in scenic rail rides along the Cornish Coast and over the Yorkshire Dales and enjoy small-group day tours to reach those less accessible spots including Stonehenge, the Cotswolds and the dramatic scenery of the Lake District.
View this tourA small group tour of England – England’s Rustic Charm is a leisurely tour exploring the highlights of central and Northern England. Departing the medieval university city of Oxford, you’ll enjoy a journey through the rolling hills and honey-coloured villages of the Cotswolds to the ruggedly beautiful landscapes of the English Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. Along the way we’ll experience the dreaming spires of Oxford, the Tudor streets of Chester and spend two nights in the charming city of York. A leisurely journey that will leave you charmed by England’s unique heritage and rustic landscapes.
View this tourA small group tour of Britain – Discover what makes Britain Great on this small group journey through the diverse cultures and landscapes of England, Scotland and Wales. This comprehensive itinerary takes you from the peaceful coasts and mountains of Wales, through rustic landscapes of rural England and north in to remote wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. We’ll see iconic landmarks and hidden gems, visit Britain’s quaint villages and heritage cities and enjoy a host of local experiences from steam train rides through the English countryside to whisky tasting in the Highlands. In the company of your local guides, the Great British Journey is the ultimate way to explore Britain.
View this tourA small group tour of England and Wales – Enjoy an epic journey of discovery through the varied histories and landscapes of England and Wales. We’ll see many of Britain’s most beautiful natural landscapes from the golden coasts of Pembrokeshire and the mountains of Snowdonia in Wales to the rustic hills and vales of Yorkshire and the Lake District in England. Along the way we’ll sample traditional fare and enjoy a host of local visits including archetypal medieval fortresses, stately English manors, ancient cathedrals and historic steam train journeys; the ideal tour to discover the very essence of Britain.
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An England driving tour - England Explorer is a comprehensive tour of this great nation taking you from the heart of England to its far-reaching corners including the beautiful Lake District and the coastlines of Cornwall. You’ll experience classic English countryside including the Cotswolds and Yorkshire Dales and a host of historic cities including York, Chester and Bath not to mention a couple of nights in the vibrant English capital city, London.
View this tourA small group tour of England and Scotland – Beauty of Britain is an epic journey exploring the history, heritage and natural landscapes of England and Scotland. We’ll pass from the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, through the rustic landscapes of Yorkshire and the Lake District to the barren wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. Our journey is punctuated with visits to Britain’s heritage cities, including Oxford, York and Edinburgh, and we’ll enjoy a host of local experiences including countryside steam train rides, ancient castle visits, traditional afternoon tea and a whisky distillery tour. The true beauty of Britain is waiting to be discovered.
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A Small Group Tour of England and Scotland – From the southernmost tip of the Cornish Peninsular to the remote wilderness of the Isle of Skye, enjoy an epic small-group journey through the diverse cultures and landscapes of England and Scotland. Discover the quaint fishing towns of Cornwall, the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, the rustic dales of Yorkshire and the barren moorlands of the Scottish Highlands. Along the way we’ll visit the heritage cities of Bath, York, Chester and Edinburgh and experience regional food, drink and hospitality. South Coast to Skye is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the culture and panoramas of England and Scotland.
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The British Journey tour is a Britain driving tour that takes you on an expedition from the capital of Scotland to the capital of England touching upon Wales and enjoying a wealth of cultural highlights along the way. Explore Scotland’s “Highlands in miniature” and the historic city of Edinburgh before passing south through the inspiring landscapes of the Lake District, Cotswolds and Wye Valley to glorious historic cities including Chester, Cardiff, Stratford upon Avon and Bath. Your trip ends in the thriving metropolis of London.
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