Journey through Britain England, Scotland & Wales – June 30 – July 13, 2025
This is a fully escorted cultural tour, no painting is scheduled on this extensive tour. However, sketch books and drawing pencils are always welcome!
We will travel from city to country and back again: from gracious Edinburgh to England’s legendary Lake District, from spectacular Snowdonia to the rural Cotswolds and Roman Bath, ending in cosmopolitan London. As we see history and legend come to life on our journey, we’ll also enjoy the region’s timeless hospitality.
London extension on your own – July 13-15, 2025: Theater, art, shopping, restaurants – London has it all, in abundance. Enjoy this world capital in your own style, at your own pace.
DAY 1: Depart U.S. for Edinburgh, Scotland
DAY 2: Arrive Edinburgh. We arrive in the Scottish capital and transfer to our hotel. The remainder of the day you are free to relax and recharge as we have no group activities planned during the day. Late this afternoon, we meet for a briefing about the journey ahead; tonight we gather for a welcome dinner. Accommodations: Apex Waterloo Place Hotel Meals: Dinner
DAY 3: Edinburgh. Our morning tour of this stately city built on seven hills includes the 18thcentury “New Town” and the medieval “Old Town,” where we visit Edinburgh Castle, symbolic heart of Scotland. This afternoon is at leisure to discover Edinburgh as we wish; museums, galleries, and shops abound. Dinner tonight is on our own, and Edinburgh boasts a robust culinary scene. Accommodations: Apex Waterloo Place Hotel Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4: Edinburgh. This morning we encounter the Royal Mile, the historic boulevard connecting Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyrood House. We tour Holyrood, as it is called, and see where British royalty schemed and slept as we tour the State Apartments. After lunch at a local restaurant, the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration and dinner on our own. Accommodations: Apex Waterloo Place Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5: Edinburgh/Lake District. Today we’re bound for the beautiful – and beloved – Lake District of northwest England, a national park and diverse landscape of lakes, rivers, ancient woodlands, and small towns and villages. Upon arrival we stop at Dove Cottage, where English Romantic poet William Wordsworth penned some of his most memorable lines. Late this afternoon we reach our hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere. Accommodations: Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6: Lake District Today’s explorations begin with a cruise on idyllic Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake at 10½ miles long. We continue to the village of Hawkshead, where we have time for lunch on our own followed by a visit to Hawkshead Grammar School, famously attended by poet William Wordsworth. Next, we visit the Armitt, a museum, gallery, and library that’s home to a vast collection of books, records, photographs, artwork, and more showcasing the social history of the Lake District (2025 departures visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery instead). Late afternoon we return to our hotel and dine there tonight. Accommodations: Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7: Lake District/North Wales. We travel through splendid Lake District scenery today en route to Wales, with its rugged natural beauty and distinct culture. Our first stop is at Bodnant Garden, the historic 80-acre National Trust property with a lovely hillside setting and everchanging displays, from manicured lawns to flower-filled terraces. After our visit, we continue on to the seaside town of Llandudno, dubbed “Queen of the Welsh Resorts” and our home for the next two nights. We dine tonight at our hotel. Accommodations: Llandudno Bay Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8: North Wales/Snowdonia National Park Wales is a land of fierce natural beauty, as we see for ourselves on this morning’s visit to Snowdonia National Park, where we enjoy a scenic train ride. Then we head to the port town of Conwy for a visit to 13th-century Conwy Castle, a medieval fortress whose brute appearance symbolized English domination over the Welsh. Strategically set at the mouth of its namesake river as it empties into Menai Strait, the castle was built starting in 1283 by King Edward I of England. This UNESCO World Heritage Site ranks as one of the finest pieces of 13th century military architecture remaining in Europe, with some of the UK’s best-preserved medieval chambers in store for us once we enter the castle. Midafternoon we return to our coastal retreat, with time at leisure before dinner together tonight. Accommodations: Llandudno Bay Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9: North Wales/Stratford-upon-Avon Returning to England today, we travel to Stratfordupon-Avon, where our touring includes a visit to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage & Gardens, the thatched farmhouse of Shakespeare’s bride that still contains some original furnishings. We also tour Shakespeare’s Birthplace, a restored 16th-century half-timbered house where “The Bard” is believed to have been born in 1564. Then we have time in this 800-year-old market town for lunch on our own and to explore independently before we dine together at our hotel this evening. Accommodations: The Arden Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10: Stratford-upon-Avon/The Cotswolds/Bath. Today we encounter the Cotswolds, England’s south central region of gently rolling hills dotted with villages of honey-colored limestone, market towns, and unspoiled countryside, looking much as it did 300 years ago. We arrive in Bath mid-afternoon, with the remainder of the day and this evening at leisure. Accommodations: The Francis Hotel Bath Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 11: Bath. We set out on a morning tour of this storied and graceful city where the ancient Romans first “took the waters” at England’s only hot springs. Today the historic Roman Baths count among the city’s most popular sites, along with the 18th-century Assembly Room, Bath Abbey, The Circus, and the Royal Crescent, all of which we see on our tour. The afternoon is free to explore as we wish before we dine together at our hotel this evening. Accommodations: The Francis Hotel Bath Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12: Bath/Stonehenge/Windsor/London. We leave our pastoral days behind as we travel today to London, stopping en route to see Stonehenge, the 4,500-year-old Neolithic monument that remains something of a mystery today. That the prehistoric circle of stones is a masterpiece of engineering and building is undisputed; exactly why it was created is less certain. Next, we visit Windsor Castle, home to British royalty for more than a millennium. We tour the castle, including St. George’s Chapel, burial place of British monarchs since the 15th century. Then we continue on to London, arriving late afternoon. Dinner tonight is on our own in this world-class city. Accommodations: The Clermont, Charing Cross Meals: Breakfast
DAY 13: London A panoramic city tour this morning passes such celebrated London landmarks as the infamous Tower of London, grand Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Hyde Park. Our afternoon is at leisure to explore this wondrous city as we wish; London offers an embarrassment of riches from which to choose. Tonight we celebrate our journey through Britain at a farewell dinner. Accommodations: The Clermont, Charing Cross Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 14: Depart for U.S. We transfer this morning to Heathrow Airport for our flights home. Meals: Breakfast
OR
London extension on your own – July 13-15, 2025: Theater, art, shopping, restaurants.
Post-Tour Extension Includes:
2 nights’ accommodations at The Clermont, Charing Cross (Superior First Class); 2 meals: 2 breakfasts; Transfer to airport
