Highlights
- Discover local specialties on food tours in London, Conwy, and Manchester
- Cozy up to the backdrop of London's skyline while watching a cinema classic
- Step inside historic film locations and literary pubs on a tour of Oxford
- Discern your pale ales from your bitters on a beer tour in Chester
- Tour castles and stately homes in the beautiful countryside of North Wales
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in London (England), British Museum, Rooftop Cinema | London |
| Day 2 | London Hidden Gems Food Tour, Villains of London Scooter Tour | London |
| Day 3 | Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Hidden Pubs Tour | London |
| Day 4 | Drive to Oxford, Tour the "City of Dreaming Spires" | Oxford |
| Day 5 | Chauffeured Punting Trip & Picnic, Explore Oxford's Pubs | Oxford |
| Day 6 | Explore the Cotswolds, Drive to Stratford-upon-Avon | Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Day 7 | Free Morning in Stratford, Drive to Chester, Craft Beer Tasting | Chester |
| Day 8 | Drive to Conwy (Wales), Welsh Food Tour | Conwy |
| Day 9 | Explore Anglesey & North Wales | Conwy |
| Day 10 | Drive to Manchester (England), Gourmet City Food Tour | Manchester |
| Day 11 | Depart Manchester |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in London (England), British Museum, Rooftop Cinema
Welcome to England! You'll arrive 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 thriving metropolis. Upon arrival at the airport, you'll meet your driver and transfer to your central hotel. After settling in, it's time to explore. Start with a visit to the British Museum, located in London's quaint Bloomsbury area. Step inside, and you'll find collections and exhibitions that detail two million years of human history, art, and culture.
In the evening, you'll combine views of the world-famous London skyline with an open-air rooftop cinema experience. Sit back and relax in your comfy deck chair (blankets are provided if the weather's nippy) while you watch an iconic movie with state-of-the-art wireless headphones. The backdrop to this experience is sweeping views over landmarks such as Big Ben, the Shard and St Paul's Cathedral.
Day 2: London Hidden Gems Food Tour, Villains of London Scooter Tour
You might want to keep it light at breakfast this morning as you'll begin today with a three-hour food tour across London's foodie hotspots. Starting at the Tower of London, you'll wind your way through the back streets and alleyways while your guide shares tales of London's history as you go. You'll feast on morsels from street-food vendors and well-known cafés, culminating with a tour of London's Borough Market. Beneath the restored Victorian railway arches, you'll find over 100 artisan stalls from all over the globe, with many catering to the capital's best restaurants.
London has a fascinating history, and this evening, you'll discover its darker side on a tour that reveals the stories of the East End gangsters, grave robbers, Nazi spies, and treacherous dukes who've called the city home. What's more, you'll be traveling by e-scooter as you start at the Tower of London, where you'll learn about the disappearing princes, executed queens, and wily criminals who desperately attempted to escape the block.
Accompanied by your guide, continue weaving through the city, stopping at churches, alleyways, and pubs to uncover the secrets of London's underbelly. Then, stop at The Old Bailey (the site of the former Newgate Prison) to hear about the scoundrels once imprisoned there. Your tour finishes in Holborn, one of the city's most historic areas. You'll find plenty of excellent restaurants, wine bars, and pubs here to cap off a glorious day exploring the capital.
Day 3: Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Hidden Pubs Tour
No trip to London is complete without a visit to Buckingham Palace, and today you'll witness the palace's "Changing of the Guard," a formal ceremony dating back to the 17th century in which the King's Guard hands over responsibility for protecting the king to the New Guard. From here, you'll catch the tube (subway) to Tower Hill station, where you'll tour inside the Tower of London. Built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, this landmark has served as a castle, a royal palace, a prison, and a place of execution. Inside, it's home to many historical artifacts and, of course, the priceless Crown Jewels.
After a morning spent sightseeing, grab a bite to eat and spend the afternoon on a guided tour of some of the capital's oldest pubs. With over 4,300 pubs to choose from, London's pub scene can be overwhelming, to say the least. Luckily, you'll spend the next few hours in the company of an experienced guide and small group, where you'll follow in the footsteps of literary giants such as Dickens, Shakespeare, Pepys, and Johnson.
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. Non-drinkers can enjoy excellent alcohol-free wines and beers, while gin and wine aficionados are well-catered for. From glamorous Victorian gin palaces to Tudor gems, you'll see the sights, discover London's history, and try traditional English bar snacks such as "pork scratchings."
Day 4: Drive to Oxford, Tour the "City of Dreaming Spires"
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
This morning, you'll say "cheerio" to London, pick up your rental car, and drive two hours west to Oxford. Dubbed the "City of Dreaming Spires," the town is home to one of England's oldest and most prestigious universities (the other being Cambridge.) Check into your hotel, and when you're ready, meet your guide for a private city tour. You'll discover some of the town's most beautiful settings as you meander the courtyards and lanes that weave through the honey-toned buildings of Oxford University's 43 colleges.
See sights, including the famous Bodleian Library, home to over 13 million books, and the 15th-century Divinity School, which has been used as a filming location in the "Harry Potter" films. Fans of "Inspector Morse" will also recognize several of the TV series' genteel backdrops. Step inside the grounds of Christ Church College, where Lewis Carroll taught in the mid-19th century and wrote "Alice in Wonderland" while your guide shares stories of famous Oxford graduates, university life, and tales from screen and literature that have immortalized the city's renowned spires.
Day 5: Chauffeured Punting Trip & Picnic, Explore Oxford's Pubs
Enjoy a relaxed morning and settle in for another day exploring Oxford. You'll start with a walk down to the riverbank for a relaxing boat trip along the River Cherwell. While yesterday's tour was on foot, today's is by chauffeured punt (a flat-bottomed river boat). Gently glide along the water and pass the city's iconic sights as you enjoy a light lunch from a picnic hamper. See the Botanic Gardens, the playing fields of Magdalen College, founded by William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, in 1458, and the fertile gardens of St Hilda's, which remained a women's only college until 2008.
Return to dry land, and the rest of the day is yours to discover Oxford at your own pace. You'll get a great feel for the city's past and present with a self-guided tour of the town's historic pubs. Literary fans should head to the Eagle and Child, the well-known haunt of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, while the Turf Tavern, established in 1381, is known for its historic charm and as the watering hole for the "Harry Potter" cast. If tummies are rumbling, then the King's Arms serves hearty English pub classics alongside a selection of cask beers, which can be enjoyed on the pub's riverside terrace.
Day 6: Explore the Cotswolds, Drive to Stratford-upon-Avon
The famous Cotswolds is a rural area in southern England that encompasses six counties and enjoys Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) conservation status. The region lies just over an hour's drive west of Oxford, and the day is yours to hop in the car and explore the rolling green hills, medieval villages, thatched-roof cottages, and ancient church towers that make up the area.
Start with a 1.5-hour drive west to Painswick, a typical Cotswold village best known for its gorgeous Rococo garden and historic churches. Stop for a bite at one of the welcoming tea rooms and continue east for an hour's scenic drive through the quintessential English countryside until you reach the village of Lower Slaughter. On the banks of the River Eye, you'll find plenty of centuries-old historic buildings and the Old Mill Museum, which traces the area's history back to the Norman conquest. Five minutes drive away is the equally picturesque Upper Slaughter, a gorgeous spot to stop for lunch.
Complete your tour of the Cotswolds with a half-hour drive north to Chipping Campden, a delightful village known for its 17th-century market and beautifully preserved limestone buildings. You'll find plenty of places here to pause for afternoon tea before continuing another 30 minutes north to Stratford-upon-Avon, a bustling town on the banks of the River Avon and famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Check in to your hotel and spend the evening with dinner and drinks at The Coach House, a historic, award-winning pub with an almost 500-year-old heritage
Day 7: Free Morning in Stratford, Drive to Chester, Craft Beer Tasting
Spend a relaxed morning in Stratford-upon-Avon, exploring the historic town or seeing the many Shakespearean sights such as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre or Shakespeare's Birthplace. Don't miss a chance to visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage, a charming 15th-century thatched cottage and childhood home of Shakespeare's wife. If the weather's fine, it's a great place to wander through acres of cottage gardens and fruit orchards, with a sculpture trail inspired by the playwright's many works.
You won't want to linger too long, though, as you've around three hours driving today on a scenic cross-country route northwest to Chester. If you're keen to explore more en route, Shropshire is a great stop around the halfway point. The town's Tudor center is lined with half-timbered houses, and you'll find plenty of pubs serving lunch with beer gardens overlooking the River Severn. Hop back in the car, and just over an hour's drive to Chester, a bustling city in England's northwest. Founded in the first century as a Roman fortress, it has the best-preserved Roman walls in the country.
After checking in at your hotel, you'll discover one of the town's other highlights—its burgeoning craft beer scene. Meet your guide and a small group of fellow beer enthusiasts at a local brewery, where you'll begin with an introduction to the eight ales you'll be tasting. Learn how to tell the difference between hops and malt and discern the subtle flavor differences that make each beer unique. Throughout the masterclass, you'll be treated to delicious nibbles and one of the Brewhouse and Kitchen's famous gourmet burgers.
Day 8: Drive to Conwy (Wales), Welsh Food Tour
Today, you'll wave Chester goodbye and drive an hour west into Wales, a proud country with excellent local produce (Welsh lamb is exceptional), award-winning cheeses, tasty snacks such as griddle-baked Welsh cakes, and Welsh rarebit, delicious cheese on toast with savory spices and Worcestershire sauce. The country's also home to rolling valleys, mountainous national parks, and over 600 castles. You'll see one of these fortresses when you get to your destination, Conwy, a walled medieval town in North Wales that's a jumping-off point for adventures in Snowdonia.
Once you've settled in at your hotel, you'll explore the town and its cuisine on a city food tour. Discover local culinary delights as you curate your personalized food basket of local cheeses, chocolate, wines, and cider at stops to a renowned chocolatier, the winner of Britain's best independent off-license, and many more. You'll also learn about local history with a visit to Conwy's 13th-century, UNESCO-listed castle and the quaint harbor where pots of gleaming, fresh mussels make their way onto the plates of local diners.
Day 9: Explore Anglesey & North Wales
It's your last day in Conwy, and you can relax or explore as you like. Build on yesterday's food tour with a 1.5-hour guided trail through the town that takes you to all the main attractions, including the castle and quayside, if you're keen to spend longer discovering the history of both. You'll also see landmarks such as Plas Mawr, widely recognized as Britain's finest surviving Elizabethan townhouse. Step inside, and you'll find the vision of Robert Wynn, a Tudor diplomat who bought the mansion in the late 1500s and turned the house's 17 rooms into a celebration of his life, times, and work.
If you're keen to explore more of North Wales, you couldn't be better placed. Hop in the car and drive 30 minutes southwest to Caernarfon to see its 13th-century Royal Castle, built by Edward I as a royal palace and military fortress. Then, continue in a clockwise loop to Anglesey, an enchanting island separated from the mainland by the Menai Strait. Highlights include Beaumaris, a lovely seaside town with a mix of medieval, Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian architecture, and South Stack Lighthouse, located on a tiny peninsula accessed via 400 steps from the mainland cliffs.
Tour the former lighthouse engine room and spot the guillemots, razorbills, and puffins that call the rocks home. On the drive back, stop by Plas Newydd, the ancestral stately home of the Marquess of Anglesey. Here, you can explore the grand 18th-century estate, manicured gardens, and an exhibition of Rex Whistler's paintings. From the house, it's a 30-minute drive back to Conwy, where you'll be spoiled for choice with dining options.
Day 10: Drive to Manchester (England), Gourmet City Food Tour
The last leg of your foodie tour beckons today, and after checking out of your hotel, you'll drive just under two hours east to Manchester. Probably best known for its two world-class soccer teams, Manchester United and Manchester City, the town is also famous for its heritage as the world's first industrialized city. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Manchester became the UK's leading producer of cotton and textiles, then, after World War II, fell into rapid decline. The city's fortunes changed after the devastating IRA bombing in 1996, which led to an extensive period of investment and regeneration.
Since the early 21st century, the city's fortunes have continued to rise, and these days, it's a boom town of historic architecture, international concert venues, and one of the UK's best food and drink scenes. Settle into your hotel after the drive, and once you're refreshed and ready to go, you'll meet your guide for a four-hour foodie tour. You'll sample eight delicious tastings across the city as you explore Manchester's history through the lens of its food: from the ice cream vendors of Ancoat's Little Italy to the diet of the Victorian mill worker and the birth of vegetarianism.
At the end of the tour, you'll part ways with your guide, and the rest of the evening is yours to relax at a local bar or explore the city's legendary nightlife.
Day 11: Depart Manchester
Your tour of England has come to an end. After breakfast and checkout at your hotel, drop off your rental car, and head to the city's airport to catch your departing flight. Safe travels!
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