Itinerary

Day 1	Fly overnight to England
Day 2	London
Day 3	London
Day 4	Warwick *Stratford
Day 5	Chester *Lake District
Day 6	Lake District *Edinburgh
Day 7	Edinburgh
Day 8	Yorkshire
Day 9	Yorkshire
Day 10	Depart for Home

Day 1 Flight

• Overnight flight to Great Britain - Spend the night flying across the Atlantic.

Day 2 London

• Arrival in London
• Touch down in London, Europe’s largest city.  After clearing customs you are greeted by your EF Tour Director, who will remain with you throughout your stay.  EF walking tour of London.
• Stroll through the heart of London on our EF walking tour, which begins along the banks of the River Thames. 
• As you walk along the ancient embankment, note that these shadowy waters gave the city its name, which derives from Llyn-Dyn, Celtic for “city of the lake.”  Walk along the Strand and see the spot from which all distances to London are measured.  Enter Trafalgar Square and pause at Nelson’s Column, a symbol of Britain’s once unrivaled naval power.  Continue on to Leicester Square, where duelists once fought to the death.  Then saunter through London’s tiny Chinatown.  Your walk ends at chic Convent Garden, where street performers (or “buskers”) and stylish passers-by amuse the lively crowds.  (The exact walking route may vary, depending on your hotel location and the day’s other activities.)

Day 3 London

• Guided sightseeing of London
• A local guide leads you on a panoramic tour of London.  Begin in Grosvenor Square; site of the U.S. embassy and the house where Eisenhower once lived, this area is sometimes called “Little America.”  Continue to Hyde Park Corner, located at the southeast corner of Hyde Park, one of London’s largest parks.  At bustling Piccadilly Circus, the intersection of five busy streets, check out the bright lights and big city displays, before heading to Trafalgar Square, site of Nelson’s Column, built to commemorate his 1805 victory in the Battle of Trafalgar.  Pass Speaker’s Corner, where anyone with something to say is invited to speak his mind. 
• Snap a photo of the Houses of Parliament and continue along London’s South Bank for views of the famous Tower of London and London Bridge.  Stroll across the Millennium Bridge for an orientation of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the magnificent 17th-century Baroque church designed by Sir Christopher Wren.  Finally, witness a London tradition—the Changing of the Guard. 
• Dickensian walking tour * An expert local guide traces the literary history of Charles Dickens on your Dickensian walking tour.  Hear about the inspiration behind the author’s most famous works including A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist and David Copperfield. 
• Evening Theater - Celebrate London’s vibrant drama scene as you attend an evening of theater in the West End.

Day 4 London - Stratford Region

• Visit to Warwick Castle
• Your journey through the English countryside begins at Warwick Castle.  Former home of Richard the Kingmaker—a pivotal figure during the War of the Roses—Warwick is considered by many to be the finest medieval castle in England.  Climb the towers and ramparts, view the treasures in the Great Hall, or descend deep into the castle’s bowels for a look at the dungeon and torture chamber.  But tread softly as you go—the castle is reputedly haunted by the ghost of Sir Fulke Greville, who was stabbed to death here by a servant in 1628. 
• Tour director—led sightseeing of *Stratford* “It is something, I thought, to have seen the dust of Shakespeare.” Discover what inspired Washington Irving’s famous words as you tour Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, raised and buried.  Step back into the Elizabethan age as you visit the half-timbered home in which the Bard was born, as well as the Anna Hathaway Cottage, a picturesque thatched farmhouse where Shakespeare’s wife spent her childhood.  Complete Day 4 with dinner in Stratford.

Day 5 Stratford Region - Lake District

• Transfer via *Chester* Travel by way of Chester, a town that dates back to Roman times.  Chester is also home to the largest Roman amphitheater in Great Britain. 
• Tour director—led sightseeing of Chester; Reflect on the days of the Roman occupation as your tour director leads throughout the sea-trading town of Chester.  Once a fortified city, Chester is still surrounded by medieval walls, now converted into pedestrian walkways.  Stroll through The Rows, a bi-level series of galleries and fanciful shops.
• Transfer to the Lake District: Drive through lands that were invaded by Vikings and marauding tribes of Scots as you head for the breathtaking Lake District.  Britain’s largest national park.

Day 6 Lake District - Edinburgh Region
Tour director—led sightseeing of the *Lake District*

• Discover the deep grooves of history that give shape to the Lake District, Britain’s largest park.  On this half-day excursion, your tour director will take you through scenic countryside.  You’ll learn about the transformation of the Lake District from prehistoric periods, through medieval and Victorian eras, to the present. 
• Visit to Rydal Mount * Visit the family home of celebrated poet William Wordsworth, Rydal Mount.  Wordsworth lived here in the splendor of the Lake District until 1850; his descendants continue to call it home today.  See some of his belongings inside the house, stroll through four acres of well-tended gardens and take in stunning views of the surrounding countryside, including Lake Windermere and Dora’s Field.  After his daughter died in 1847, Wordsworth planted hundreds of daffodils, creating this fragrant tribute to her memory.  Alternatively, visit Dove Cottage in Grasmere. 
• Transfer to the Edinburgh region: Arrive in the Edinburgh region and admire the rolling hills and dazzling seascapes that surround the Scottish capital.

Day 7 Edinburgh Region
Guided sightseeing of *Edinburgh*

• Today, enjoy a sightseeing tour that offers panoramic views of Edinburgh’s New Town, constructed in the 18th century during a time of rapid expansion, known as the “Scottish Enlightenment.”  See Charlotte Square, the center of New Town, then pass by the homes of Alexander Graham Bell and Robert Louis Stevenson, and view a monument to Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet.  Visit Calton Hill, which offers splendid views of the Firth of Forth, to the Lomond Hills of Fife.  Pass the Palace of Holyroodhouse, still the Royal Family’s official residence in Scotland, and the city’s monument to Lord Nelson.
• Visit to Edinburgh Castle* Your guided tour of Edinburgh includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle.  Situated atop an extinct volcano, the castle is the enduring symbol of Scotland’s capital and home to many of the nation’s storied events.  Ownership of the fortress changed hands on numerous occasions over the centuries, from Scottish to English and back again.  Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth in the castle to James VI of Scotland, who would later rule England as James I.  Enter the castle through the Esplanade and see the Stone of Scone, the coronation stone that was returned to Scotland in 1997 after 700 years of English possession. 
• You’ll also see tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest part of the castle, dating back to the 11th century.  EF walking tour of Edinburgh * On your EF walking tour, stroll down the Royal Mile and through the Old Town, a historic and romantic jumble of medieval buildings.  As you make your way along the Royal Mile, the narrow alleyways—known as closes—will give you a real sense of what it was like to be a resident of Edinburgh in centuries past.  Edinburgh provided the setting for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; a local resident inspired the plot! 
• Stroll down Princes Street, see the city’s monuments to Sir Walter Scott (one of Edinburgh’s most illustrious sons), pass by the National Gallery of Scotland and the High Kirk of St. Giles, a historic cathedral built in the 12th century.
• Optional Ceilidh * Partake in a traditional Scottish Ceilidh featuring haggis, neeps and tatties, as well as authentic Scottish sword dancing!

Day 8 Edinburgh Region - Yorkshire

• Transfer to Yorkshire via Hadrian’s Wall at Housesteads: En route to Yorkshire, stop at Housesteads, site of one of the best-preserved forts along Hadrian’s Wall, Emperor Hadrian visited England in A.D. 122 and ordered that a wall be built to prevent attacks from Scotland.  It took the Romans only four years to complete the massive structure, which stretches from Bowness-on-Solway in the west to Wallsend-on-Tyne in the east.  The wall also served as the northern border of the far-reaching Roman Empire, a border that spanned nearly 2,500 miles during the time of Hadrian. 
• Abbotsford House * Step inside the ivy-covered stone walls of 19th-century author Sir Walter Scott’s home.  Walk through the library, an impressive collection of over 9,000 volumes, and Scott’s study, where he is said to have penned many classic novels, including Rob Roy and Ivanhoe.
• Transfer to Yorkshire * Continue through “James Herriot country,” the pastoral landscapes of Yorkshire.  Arrive in York, an ancient town that once served as a Viking stronghold.
• Guided sightseeing of York: Stroll along 14th-century medieval defense walls that encircle the city of York on your guided sightseeing tour.  If it’s springtime, look for clusters of daffodils that grow along the embankments of the city walls.  Pass by Clifford’s Tower, an imposing stone fortification and one of the last remaining structures from York Castle.  Continue on through the narrow, cobblestone streets of the Old Town and venture down the Shambles, a street that was a bustling meat market in 14th-century York.

Day 9 Yorkshire

• Visit to the York Minster * Great Britain’s largest Gothic cathedral is also York’s treasured trademark.  Constructed between 1200 and 1470, the Minster stands as a testament to medieval faith.  Gaze up at the vaulted ceilings and stone pillars as you tour the cavernous interior of the cathedral.  The Minister’s east window, which depicts the beginning and end of the world in 100 individual scenes, is the largest piece of medieval glass in the world.
• Visit to the York Castle Museum * Housed in what was formerly an 18th-century debtor’s prison, the Castle Museum offers a glimpse at the history of York.  A recreated cobblestone street lined  with shops depicts life in the Victorian era.  You’ll also see a working water mill and the 1,200-year-old Coppergate Helmet, which was discovered during excavation of the city.  The helmet dates back to the days when Vikings made York, or “Jorvik,” as they called it, their English capital.

Day 10  Home

• Return home
• Your tour director assists with the transfer to the Manchester airport, where you’ll check in for your return flight home.

 

EXTENSION
Day 10 York * North Wales

• Arrival in North Wales: Continue on to North Wales, via Haworth, home of one of the most talented families in the history of English literature.  It was in this moorland town that the Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) crafted their famous novels—Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Day 11 North Wales

• Full-day excursion in North Wales
• Spend the day discovering the beauty and history of North Wales.  The dramatic natural scenery of Snowdonia National Park unfolds all around you as you make your way to the town of Llanberis, near the towering Snowdon Mountain.  At 3,560 feet high, Snowdon is the tallest peak in Wales.  In Llanberis, whose gray terraces built into the hills recall its heyday as a slate-mining town in the 19th-century, you’ll visit the Welsh State Museum and learn about Welsh slate communities of years past. 
• Your journey continues to Caernarvon Castle, which Dr. Samuel Johnson called, “an edifice of stupendous majesty and strength.”  As you explore the castle, learn how a royal birth here in 1301 resonates today—ever since, the English have referred to the future heri-apparent to the throne as the Prince of Wales!  Then immerse yourself in the history of the ancient town of Conwy, and visit Plas Mawr, a fascinating example of an Elizabethan-era townhouse.

Day 12 Home

• Return home
• Your tour director assists with the transfer to the Manchester airport, where you’ll check in for your return flight home.

 

For complete financial and registration details, please refer to the Booking Conditions.