Food, History & Culture Across England & Wales - 13 Days

Day 1: Arrive in London (England), Afternoon Tea, Rooftop Cinema 

Welcome to England! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel in London. A dynamic, multicultural city, the country's capital is home to world-class museums, culture, history, and a stellar dining scene. Once you've arrived and settled in at your hotel, you'll 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 you'll experience it today in the elegant setting of the Savoy Hotel's Thames Foyer. Sit beneath a luminous glass dome to the classical strains of the in-house pianist while you partake in an array of sweet and savory delicacies. Choose from over 30 loose-leaf teas accompanied by delicate finger sandwiches, delightful cakes, savories, and, of course, homemade scones with clotted cream and jam.

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. Your backdrop is the iconic city skyline with views over landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye, 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: Visit the British Museum, Soho Evening Food Tour

If a morning spent spanning the centuries has helped work up an appetite, head to Salt Yard. This Italian/Spanish-inspired tapas restaurant is an easy 10-minute walk from the museum and has been delighting the Fitzrovia crowd with creative combinations such as lamb with saffron fregola salad and mint pesto since it opened in 2005. 

 

Hopefully, you'll be hungry again by the evening, as you'll spend your last night in London savoring the hidden foodie gems in the capital's central Soho neighborhood. This 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 5: Drive to Oxford, Chauffeured Punting Trip & Picnic 

Today, you'll pick up your rental car and leave the city behind for a two-hour drive 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.) Once you've checked in to your hotel, you'll head down to the riverbank for a relaxing tour of the city along the River Cherwell. You'll travel on a chauffeured punt (flat-bottomed riverboat), gliding gently along the water and passing 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 School, and Christ Church College (where Lewis Carroll taught in the mid-19th century and wrote "Alice in Wonderland"). Your chauffeur has in-depth knowledge of Oxford's history, so you'll hear the inside track of the city's colleges and famous university students. After passing the fertile gardens of St Hilda's College, you'll return to dry land, where the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure. 

Day 6: Tour Blenheim Palace, Champagne Afternoon Tea in the Orangery

No trip to Oxford is complete without a visit to Blenheim Palace, and this morning, you'll set off on a short 25-minute drive north of the city to Woodstock, a picturesque village home to the 18th-century UNESCO-listed estate. The seat of the Duke of Marlborough and one-time birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim was built as a gift to John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, after his victory in the 1704 Battle of Blenheim. 

Start with a tour of the gilded State Rooms and see the priceless collection of artwork, tapestries, and furniture. Then, continue to the upstairs bedrooms, which have hosted guests as diverse as Bill Clinton and Charlie Chaplin. You'll experience your own slice of life at the palace when you sit down for afternoon tea, complemented with a glass of Champagne, in the high-ceilinged, airy surroundings of the Orangery. Finish with a stroll of the manicured gardens and wander through the Marlborough Hedge Maze before driving back to Oxford to spend your final night in the city. 

Day 7: 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 9: Drive to Chester, Craft Beer Tasting

You're off to your next destination today, a scenic cross-country journey 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 it's just over an hour's drive to Chester, a bustling city in England's northwest. Founded in the first century CE 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 10: 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, and 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 11: 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. 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 12: 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 over 1.5 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 13: Depart Manchester

Your tour of England and Wales 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!

More Great England Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to England? Check out these other England itineraries, explore different ways to spend 13 days in England, or discover the best time to visit England.