Tour Details - The Britannia 2012

Welcome to Great Britain! Visit the mysterious monoliths at Stonehenge in Wiltshire. Visit Winchester, famous for the college founded in 1382, and view Winchester Cathedral where Jane Austen is buried. This evening, meet your companions and Travel Director for a Welcome Pub Reception, which includes a typical British pub meal and drinks.(Welcome Reception)

Take the ferry from Portsmouth To Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight. A short drive takes us to visit Osbourne House, the summer residence of Queen Victoria. This magnificent house is beautifully preserved with a stunning collection of furniture and paintings. Return to the mainland at Lymington and drive past the New Forest enroute to Plymouth for a two night stay.(Full Breakfast / Dinner)

You might like to start your day with an optional cruise around the historic harbour. Later view the Mayflower steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers sailed for the New World and see the Royal Citadel overlooking Plymouth Sound on your orientation. See the charming Cornish peninsula and visit St. Ives, home to a thriving community of artists. View St. Michael’s Mount near Penzance and enjoy a picturesque drive back to Plymouth.(Full Breakfast)

Visit the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and see the legendary burial site of King Arthur. View the limestone cliffs at Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills. Where you will have time to enjoy a relaxed lunch. Later, make your way to Bristol for an orientation of the city before checking into your hotel.(Full Breakfast)

Visit the ancient Roman Baths in the Georgian spa town of Bath. Cross the Severn Bridge and view the spectacular ruins at Tintern Abbey, which has provided inspiration for many poets and artists. Admire the scenery as you drive through the lush Wye Valley. In Cardiff, see the Millennium Stadium and visit the castle, the site of fortifications since Roman times. This evening, enjoy an extra special Be My Guest experience at a heritage Gothic mansion before dining at your hotel.(Full Breakfast / Be My Guest dinner / Dinner)

Drive through glorious Welsh countryside to Llangollen on the River Dee, home of the International Eisteddfod. Later travel the scenic Horseshoe Pass. Your Travel Director shows you the ‘Rows’, the city walls and the Cathedral during your fascinating orientation of Chester. Arrive later in Manchester, a city famous for its industrial heritage and immense creative output. Enjoy an included visit and tour of Old Trafford football stadium - home ground to Manchester United.(Full Breakfast / Dinner)

On the beautiful North Wales coast near the Island of Anglesey, see the tiny railway station with the longest place name in Europe: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Cross the Menai Straits to visit historic Caernarvon Castle. Here you will visit one of the most impressive castles in Wales. In 1969, the castle gained worldwide fame as the setting for the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales. Snowdonia is a glorious, ancient mountain landscape with spectacular views. Enjoy the scenery enroute to your hotel.(Full Breakfast)

Head north into the beautiful Lake District and visit Grasmere, former home of the poet Wordsworth. In Gretna Green, famous for its ‘quick’ marriages, hear tales of eloping couples! See Glasgow’s sights during your orientation sightseeing including the Cathedral, George Square and the River Clyde, once the most famous shipbuilding centre in the world. This evening, join your companions for a Highlight Dinner of Scottish cuisine at a local restaurant.(Full Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)

Travel along the banks of Loch Lomond in Trossachs National Park. Pass through the Vale of the Weeping near Glencoe, site of a tragic massacre in 1692. See the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge and on a clear day enjoy breathtaking views of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Traverse the scenic Glen Shiel, past Eilean Donan Castle to the Kyle of Lochalsh and ‘over the sea to Skye’.(Full Breakfast / Dinner)

Stop on the shores of Loch Ness to take pictures and see if you can spot the famous monster! See the rugged scenery at Culloden Moor where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s aspirations to the throne were ruthlessly quashed. Arrive later at your hotel in Aviemore.(Full Breakfast / Dinner)

Drive south through the Cairngorms National Park. Stop in Pitlochry, a village renowned for salmon fishing. Enjoy an included visit to a whisky distillery to sample a 'wee dram'. Visit St. Andrews, the home of golf and the prestigious university.(Full Breakfast)

Admire the sights of Edinburgh with commentary from your expert Local Guide. See Princes Street and the Royal Mile plus views of the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood House and Arthur’s Seat. Visit Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the city skyline. Spend the afternoon seeing the sights of your choice. In the evening, you might like to experience a traditional Scottish night out − with Highland dancers, whisky and haggis! Tickets to the Edinburgh Tattoo in the Castle grounds are included during the Edinburgh Festival.(Full Breakfast)

View the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey and stop to see a part of Hadrian’s Wall built on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian during his visit. View Durham Castle, built shortly after the Norman Conquest, and see the Cathedral, whose treasures include relics of St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede. In York, your Travel Director will show you the magnificent Minster, the city walls and the famous Shambles on your orientation walking tour.(Full Breakfast / Dinner)

Spend the morning exploring on your own. The city is home to many attractions including the Viking and the National Railway Museum which is free to visit. Shop for souvenirs or lose yourself in the maze of narrow streets! Travel south this afternoon to Warwick. A chance to visit the magnificent Warwick Castle, a jewel in the crown of English Medieval Castles. This evening, celebrate with your fellow travellers at a Farewell Dinner.(Full Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Visitors Centre and see Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon. Drive through rolling Cotswolds countryside and view Sir Winston Churchill’s final resting place in the little churchyard at Bladon. Enjoy a visit to one of Oxford’s colleges (when open) and appreciate the ‘city of dreaming spires’. Later in London, say farewell to your companions at the end of this memorable holiday.(Full Breakfast)