Highlights
- Take afternoon tea at Sketch, one of London's most stylish restaurants
- Discover centuries of classic and contemporary art at the famous Tate museums
- Meet artisan food producers and sample delicious bites with a food tour in Bath
- Explore lost gardens and coastal vineyards on a three-day trip to Cornwall
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in London, Afternoon Tea at Sketch, Covent Garden Walking Tour | London |
| Day 2 | London's Landmarks & Hidden Gems by Vintage Bike, Tate Britain Museum | London |
| Day 3 | Drive to Bath, Bath Food Heroes Tour, Visit the Roman Baths | Bath |
| Day 4 | Drive to Penzance via Lost Gardens of Heligan | Penzance |
| Day 5 | Hike & Explore St Michael's Mount or Scilly Islands Day Trip | Penzance |
| Day 6 | Morning in St Ives, Polgoon Vineyard Wine Tasting | Penzance |
| Day 7 | Drive to Exeter via the Eden Project, Exeter's Underground Passages | Exeter |
| Day 8 | Drive to London, Hidden Pubs or Soho Evening Food Tour | London |
| Day 9 | Morning at the Tate Modern, Depart London |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in London, Afternoon Tea at Sketch, Covent Garden Walking Tour
Welcome to England! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be met by your driver and whisked to your central hotel in London, the nation's historic capital with a legacy that spans almost 2,000 years, from the Roman conquest to the Tudor dynasty and Victorian era to today's multicultural metropolis. Once you've arrived and settled in at your hotel, you'll kick-start your vacation with one of England's time-honored traditions—afternoon tea. This custom began in the 1800s when Queen Victoria's confidante, the Duchess of Bedford, asked for something to satiate her afternoon hunger pangs.
What was once a "light bite" has transformed over the centuries into a beloved ritual, and today, you'll experience it in the luxurious and highly Instagrammable setting of Sketch in Mayfair. Against the backdrop of a string trio, you'll be waited upon by your own tea master and even a caviar expert, if you choose. Teas run the gamut from jasmine pearl to roasted iron Buddha oolong, while savory treats include brioche buns with black truffle cream cheese. No afternoon tea is complete without scones, and yours will be served with signature fig jam and an array of cakes and tempting pâtisserie.
After an indulgent start, you could spend the rest of your afternoon on a leisurely two-hour walking tour through Covent Garden, the city's main theater and entertainment district in the West End. The elegant main plaza is flanked by the Royal Opera House and luxury boutiques beneath porticoed arches. See the street entertainers who have performed here since the 17th century and spot landmarks, including St Paul's Cathedral, an English Baroque masterpiece designed by Sir Christopher Wren. In the evening, you'll be perfectly placed to catch a West End show or dine at one of the buzzy French bistros.
Day 2: London's Landmarks & Hidden Gems by Vintage Bike, Tate Britain Museum
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll spend the morning touring London's streets by bike. No ordinary cycling tour, you'll be cruising around on a vintage Pashley bicycle, the epitome of British cycling. From the grandeur of Big Ben to the cobbled streets of the East London, you'll ride along atmospheric back streets and cycle lanes to discover a side of the capital beyond the guidebooks. Pedal through elegant royal parks to urban squares and witness London's dynamic street art scene before finishing at one of the city's historic pubs, where you'll toast your fellow cyclists with real ale or craft gin.
Grab a bite to eat after your cycle and spend the rest of the afternoon admiring great British artists from the 1500s to the present day. The Tate Britain Museum holds the largest collection of British art in the world, and you'll spend a few hours visiting the museum's newest collection. Admire Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces and paintings by J.M.W. Turner and William Hogarth and contemporary works by Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Barbara Hepworth, and Bridget Riley. Highlights include "Ophelia" by John Everett Millais and Lowry's "Industrial Landscape."
Day 3: Drive to Bath, Bath Food Heroes Tour, Visit the Roman Baths
Today, you'll pick up your rental car and leave the capital behind for a 2.5-hour drive west to Bath, one of England's most enticing and picturesque cities. Its elegant Georgian architecture has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Status, and the surrounding countryside is quintessential England: rolling green hills dotted with honey-colored villages, country lanes, and church spires. Once you've reached your hotel and had a chance to settle in, you'll head out for a half-day tour, visiting the city's landmarks and meeting a selection of Bath's artisan food producers.
As you discover landmarks such as Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge, you'll sample fresh produce such as local sheep's ricotta, delicate goat's cheese, and fennel salami from a selection of the city's leading independent cafés. Meanwhile, you'll hear directly from the innovative individuals driving the current culinary scene.
Later, you'll visit the city's ancient Roman Baths complex, which gives the town its name and is recognized as one of the world's best-preserved Roman bathhouses. The hot springs here bubble up to a toasty 115°F (46°C), and on a tour of the site, you'll walk the original Roman pavements and see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva. In the evening, put your newfound foodie knowledge to good use and spend the evening at one of the city's excellent restaurants.
Day 4: Drive to Penzance via the Lost Gardens of Heligan
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
The next leg of your UK road trip beckons this morning, and your destination is Cornwall—a county on England's southwestern tip that encompasses hundreds of sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, and a past filled with myth and legend. Your destination is Penzance, but you can break up the direct four-hour drive with a detour to visit the evocative Lost Gardens of Heligan. Originally created in the 19th century by the Tremayne family, the gardens fell into neglect after World War I and all but disappeared into a wilderness until they were rediscovered and restored in the 1990s.
You'll be greeted by over 200 acres (81 ha) of themed gardens and pathways. Immerse yourself in the vast Jungle Garden with its subtropical plants, and discover intriguing sculptures like the Mud Maid. Back on the road, it's an hour's drive southwest to Penzance, a town familiar to Gilbert and Sullivan fans as the pirates' base in their comic opera, "The Pirates of Penzance." Nowadays, western Cornwall's largest town is known for its exotic gardens, beautiful coastline, thriving arts scene, and gateway to some of Cornwall's most famous destinations.
Day 5: Hike & Explore St Michael's Mount or Scilly Islands Day Trip
Today, you have a couple of options on the itinerary. If you're keen to stretch your legs, embark on a scenic 3-mile (5 km) walk to St Michael's Mount. This tidal island, reminiscent of Mont St Michel in Normandy (the history of the two was entwined until the dissolution of the monasteries), is crowned by a towering castle and lush, subtropical gardens. If the tide is in and you can't cross the walkway, don't worry; the island is serviced several times a day by boats that leave from the mainland.
Speaking of boats, another option is a sailing excursion to the Scilly Isles, an archipelago that lies just 28 miles (45 km) off the Cornish coast. Your cruise starts with a relaxed sail from Penzance to Land's End along the coastline, reaching the islands just in time for lunch. With miles of hiking trails and secluded sandy beaches to relax on (only five of the islands are inhabited, while others are havens for rare birdlife and flora), it's the perfect way to spend the before returning to Penzance in time for dinner.
Day 6: Morning in St Ives, Polgoon Vineyard Wine Tasting
Say a temporary goodbye to Penzance this morning and make the short 20-minute drive north to spend the morning in one of Cornwall's most popular destinations, St Ives. For centuries, artists and painters have flocked to the picturesque seaside resort seeking the town's exceptional quality of light, said to arise from St Ives' vast quartet of golden beaches. Spend a couple of hours absorbing the works of Cornish artists such as Alfred Wallis at the Tate St Ives, then pick up a piece to take home from one of the many local galleries filled with artwork from both established and emerging local artists.
Back in Penzance, you'll spend the afternoon learning about the area's unique microclimate and viticulture at a local winery just outside town. Polgoon Vineyard, nestled on slopes overlooking Mount's Bay, is a thriving orchard and vineyard that produces award-winning artisan Cornish wines and ciders. See how the vines and fruit are meticulously cared for, then follow the tour with a late lunch in the Vine House Kitchen and a tasting of five award-winning wines.
Later on, take a 20-minute drive southwest to one of Cornwall's undisputed gems, the open-air Minack Theatre. The site, which resembles an ancient Greek amphitheater, was created by Rowena Cade, who set out to build an incredible open-air theater carved into the towering granite rock and set high above the white sands of Porthcurno Bay. Now, almost 100 years later, the Minack regularly shows performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company, although if you're planning to catch a performance, you'll need to book well ahead.
Day 7: Drive to Exeter via the Eden Project, Exeter's Underground Passages
Soak up the sea air this morning before getting back behind the wheel and driving east. You'll overnight in Exeter, but for now, there's one last Cornish highlight to squeeze in. In around 1.5 hours, you'll reach the Eden Project, a vast botanical garden that includes several biomes, the largest of which contains the world's largest indoor rainforest. Marvel at the lush treetops as you walk along the canopy walkway then breathe in the heady scents of Italy, Greece, and Spain with a stroll around the Mediterranean Biome.
When you're ready, jump in the car and drive 1.5 hours northeast until you reach Exeter. With over 2,000 years of history and one of the UK's finest Gothic cathedrals, the city's lively student population (the university is regularly ranked within the top 10 in Europe) gives the town a refreshing and independent vibe alongside its historic charms.
Check into your hotel, and once you're all settled, head out to experience one of the city's foremost attractions: Exeter's ancient medieval Underground Passages, the only ones of their kind open to the public. This afternoon, you'll weave your way through these narrow passageways on a guided tour filled with interactive exhibits that show how clean drinking water was transferred into the medieval city via the passageways from springs outside the city walls. In the evening, drop in for a pint at one of the historic local pubs, then make your way to the waterfront for al fresco dining with quayside views.
Day 8: Drive to London, Hidden Pubs or Soho Evening Food Tour
It's time to head back east this morning to London, and while it's just under a four-hour drive from Exeter to London, you can stop halfway at the excellent Gloucester Services on the M5 motorway. Several notches above your average motorway service station, the family-run business works with more than 130 producers within a 30-mile (48 km) radius and is a great place to grab a bite or shop for quality artisanal gifts, including top-of-the-range culinary gifts.
Eventually, you'll arrive back in London, where you can drop off your rental car, check back into your hotel, and get ready for your final afternoon in the capital. One excellent option is to spend it on a guided tour of some of London's oldest pubs. Meet your guide outside St Paul's Cathedral and wind your way through the city's ancient backstreets and rambling courtyards, stopping for a drink in at least four pubs that date back as far as the 1500s. You don't have to be a beer drinker to enjoy the tour. Nondrinkers can enjoy excellent alcohol-free wines and beers, while gin and wine aficionados are well-catered for.
If you're hungry for something more toothsome, spend the evening savoring hidden foodie gems in Soho. The area is filled with eateries ranging from fine dining to secret speakeasies, hole-in-the-wall hidden gems, and a vast variety of international cuisine. In the company of an experienced and food-obsessed local guide, you'll stop at seven hand-picked local finds, nibbling delights such as mouthwatering croquetas and sipping Catalan vermouth to weaving your way through Chinatown in search of the city's best bao buns.
Day 9: Morning at the Tate Modern, Depart London
Your England adventure is drawing to a close, and depending on your flight time, you could make the most of any extra time this morning with a visit to the Tate Modern in south London. One of the world's largest museums of modern and contemporary art, you'll find paintings, sculptures, and large-scale installations by artists ranging from Yayoi Kusama to Pablo Picasso, as well as immersive light sculptures by Anthony McCall.
When you're ready, transfer to the airport in time to make your flight home or continue your European adventure. Safe travels!
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