Essence of England and Wales 2021

This morning use your complimentary rail passes to make your way to Cardiff; the the Welsh Capital is a direct 2hr rail journey from central London. After checking in to your central hotel the afternoon is yours to explore the city at your leisure. We’ll provide you with admission tickets to visit the unique Cardiff Castle whose history stretches from Roman times right through to the industrial revolution and an illustrious Victorian manor house. By evening meet your tour leader for Wales and the rest of the group where we’ll enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Lincoln House Hotel (or similar), Cardiff

Meals: Dinner included.

Boarding the mini-coach, we’ll visit the nearby Museum of Welsh Life; set in the expansive grounds of an Elizabethan manor house you can trace Welsh life through the centuries at this living museum. Later, we head West pausing in the village of Laugharne, the picturesque home-town of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, before continuing to the beautiful seaside town of Tenby. Here we’ll have time to stroll the 13th century town walls and take in views of the sweeping golden bays and outcrop headland overlooking the natural harbour before taking dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight: Heywood Hotel and Spa (or similar), Tenby, Pembrokeshire.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

This morning we continue to explore the natural scenery of the protected Pembrokeshire Coast. We’ll visit the charming village of St Davids, a tiny village which enjoys city status owing to its beautiful cathedral and Bishop’s Palace. From here we’ll turn North and follow Wales’ scenic west coast past the sweeping sands of Cardigan Bay and in to rural mid-Wales. We’ll pause in one or more of the bustling harbour towns before arriving in Aberystwyth, our overnight destination where dinner awaits.

Overnight: Nanteos Mansion Hotel (or similar), near Aberystwyth

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

After a hearty Welsh breakfast we’ll visit the intriguing town of Portmeirion. Designed by Sir William Clough Ellis, this Italianate village nestles in a sheltered position on an enclosed estuary and has since been used for various television productions including the 1960s cult show The Prisoner. After plenty of time to explore, we’ll climb aboard a narrow gauge steam train for an epic mountain railway journey of breath-taking views in to the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. Later we retire to our base in Llandudno on the North Wales coast.

Overnight: Dunoon Hotel (or similar), Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today is a free day to enjoy at your leisure exploring Llandudno and nearby Conwy; equipped with your complimentary open-top bus tour tickets you can visit these contrasting Welsh towns. Llandudno is an elegant Victorian seaside resort whilst Conwy is a cobbled medieval market town nestled on the shores of the Conwy estuary. Together they offer a host of visitor options including an elegant promenade, a Victorian hillside cable tramway up the Great Orme headland, cobbled streets, natural harbours and the medieval ramparts of the imposing 13th century fortress at Conwy Castle.

Overnight: Dunoon Hotel (or similar), Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast included.

Back aboard the mini-coach today we enjoy an epic day passing through the heart of Wales. At the charming Welsh town we’ll pause in Llangollen to see the stunning aqueduct which carries canal boats more than 100 feet above the valley floor. By afternoon we’ll continue south pausing at the beautiful National Trust Powis Castle where we’ll admire the interior collections of the Herbert Family and explore the elegant manicured and wild gardens. Finally, we arrive in the barren landscapes of the Brecon Beacons National Park where wild ponies roam the hillsides. Tonight we enjoy a dinner together at our village hotel.

Overnight: Bear Hotel (or similar), Crickhowell

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Our final journey in Wales will take us south passing the market town of Abergavenny and in the shadow of the impressive Raglan Castle before we follow the course of the scenic Wye valley. We’ll visit the haunting riverside ruins of Tintern Abbey which is said to have inspired Wordsworth himself. We then return to Cardiff where you bid farewell to your Welsh tour leader and board the train for a brief rail journey over the English border to Bath. Arriving in Bath, check-in to your hotel. There’s time to visit the ancient Roman Baths before meeting your England driver-guide for an evening meal at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Bird Bath Hotel (or similar), Bath

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Embarking on the English leg of our tour, we’ll head for the nearby town of Lacock – seemingly frozen in time this historic village and its ancient abbey have been used in TV and film productions including Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. Then, we’ll venture in to the heart of England; we’ll pause in one or more of the eccentrically named Cotswold villages to explore their traditional honey-coloured, thatch cottages and stone-wall lanes. By afternoon we’ll visit a brewery to learn about the traditional brewing process of English beers and sample some local favourites. The its onwards to our base for the next two nights in a traditional Cotswold market town.

Overnight: Noel Arms Hotel (or similar), Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Meals: Breakfast included.

Our day today begins with a scenic drive through the patchwork fields of the Cotswolds to visit the historic university city of Oxford. Here we’ll enjoy free-time to soak up the whimsical academic atmosphere and explore a host of sightseeing options such as visiting the famous ivy-clad college quads, the Ashmolean Museum, climbing Carfax Tower for unrivalled views of the city’s “dreaming spires” or simply relaxing on a river boat “punted” by one of the local students. By afternoon, we return to Chipping Campden for time at leisure to explore this traditional Cotswolds village.

Overnight: Noel Arms Hotel (or similar), Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Meals: Breakfast included.

Passing North, our first stop today will be the bustling town of Stratford-upon-Avon, a charming medieval town which was once the home of William Shakespeare. We’ll learn about the life and times of the great bard himself at Shakespeare’s Birthplace Exhibition before taking time to stroll around this pretty riverside town. This afternoon it’s all aboard an historic steam train for a scenic rail-ride along the Severn Valley to the historic town of Bridgenorth. Arriving in Chester, your evening is free to dine independently.

Overnight: Queen Hotel (or similar), Chester

Meals: Breakfast included.

After a leisurely breakfast we’ll enjoy a brief stroll around Chester to see some of the highlights of this charming city including the medieval town walls, elegant cathedral and the Tudor Facades of the “Rows”. Then it’s all aboard the bus to visit nearby Liverpool, the home of the Beatles. We’ll enjoy plenty of free-time to explore the revitalised Albert Docks area by the famous Liver Buildings; there’s plenty to see including the Tate Art Gallery, the Merseyside Maritime Museum or the Beatles Story exhibition. Later we continue North from the bright lights of Liverpool to our overnight base the heart of the Lake District.

Overnight: Wordsworth House Hotel (or similar), Grasmere, Lake District

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today is dedicated to exploring the enchanting natural beauty of the English Lake District. In the company of a local guide we’ll venture off the beaten track through the hills and vales of England’s most famous National Park; we’ll drive past shimmering lakes, through towering mountain passes and past sheep scattered fields to charming villages, ancient stone-circles and spectacular look-out points. Our day wouldn’t be complete without a relaxing lake cruise before we return to our hotel and enjoy an included dinner together.

Overnight: Wordsworth House Hotel (or similar), Grasmere, Lake District

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Today we’ll traverse the North of England through the rustic landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales. We’ll pause to visit Aysgarth Falls as we head for Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden where we’ll enjoy free-time to explore the imposing monastic ruins and the pristine gardens which have enjoyed World Heritage status since 1986. Our final stop today will be the elegant Victorian Spa town of Harrogate, the perfect spot for afternoon tea. By evening we continue to the magnificent city of York, our base for the next two nights.

Overnight: Grange Hotel (or similar), York

Meals: Breakfast and afternoon tea included.

This morning we visit one of the North of England’s finest country estates; Castle Howard dates back to the 17th century and consists of a magnificent manor and gardens which have featured in small and big screen productions and period dramas. Then it’s back to York for an afternoon free to explore this magnificent historic city at your leisure. Stroll cobbled lanes, walk atop the medieval city walls or visit one of the many local museums and exhibitions. The highlight will be the magnificent York Minster, Northern Europe’s largest gothic cathedral. Tonight we reconvene for a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Grange Hotel (or similar), York

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

This morning you bid your tour leader farewell after breakfast and your tour ends today after checking out from your hotel. You may choose to continue to explore York at your own pace before taking the train back to London or onwards to Edinburgh using your complimentary rail passes. Either journey is an easy direct rail trip taking around 2hrs. Either way you’ll return to the city having experienced the essence of rural England and Wales.

Meals: Breakfast included.