2019 Taste of Britain - 8 Days/7 Nights

2019 TASTE OF BRITAIN - 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS / 11 MEALS

Day 1: LONDON ARRIVAL & TOUR
Tour begins 2:00 PM at your London hotel. Take a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group.

Day 2: TOWER OF LONDON & CITY SIGHTS
Discover London’s attractions on your own with an open-top bus tour. There is a choice of routes, plus a choice of walking tours or a scenic River Thames cruise. You might visit the Tower of London to view the Crown Jewels, or visit Kensington Palace, former home of Princess Diana. The evening is free to explore and dine on your own.
(B)

Day 3: BRITISH MUSIC EXPERIENCE & BEATLES’ LIVERPOOL
Travel to Liverpool, stopping for lunch along the way. A local guide will show you around the city focusing on places associated with the “Fab Four.” Explore pop music history at the British Music Experience. The evening is free to explore and dine on your own. Then check out the world famous Cavern Club for an evening of live music.
(B, L)

Day 4: LAKE DISTRICT & SCOTTISH EVENING
Travel through the Lake District, a region that inspired Beatrix Potter’s children’s books. Embark on a cruise along Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake. Over the Scottish border, stop at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna Green before travelling towards Edinburgh. Enjoy a traditional dinner and ceilidh at your hotel in Edinburgh.
(B, D)

Day 5: EDINBURGH CASTLE & CITY TOUR
Explore central Edinburgh, including the 200-year-old “New Town” with elegant Georgian houses and the Royal Mile where medieval houses are clustered closely together. Tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is free to explore and dine on your own. On August 2 – 16 departures, experience the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
(B)

Day 6: SCONE PALACE & BLAIR ATHOL DISTILLERY
At Scone Palace see outstanding antiques and the world-renowned grounds. Head to Pitlochry for a traditional pub lunch and free time to explore. Take a tour of the Blair Athol Distillery and sample a “wee dram” of their single malt. Continue to Inverness where the evening is free to check out some of the local pubs with traditional music and food.
(B, L)

Day 7: LOCH NESS & LOCH LOMOND CRUISE
Travel south through the Highlands, passing the shoreline of Loch Ness with a stop at Fort Augustus or Spean Bridge. See Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak, and continue through the towering mountains around Glencoe. Explore the village of Tyndrum for lunch on your own then embark on a cruise of Loch Lomond. Enjoy a drive around Glasgow before dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 8: TOUR ENDS IN GLASGOW
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

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Authentic Local Experiences:

• Expect an unforgettable evening of music, ceremony, theatre and dance with reserved seats for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 2nd, August 9th and August 16th departures.
• Get an insider’s perspective on the lives of the “Fab Four” as a local guide shows you around Liverpool, home of The Beatles.

Trip Highlights:

• British Music Experience

  British Music Experience

  The British Music Experience is the newest addition to Liverpool's colourful music offering, moving to its permanent home in the first-class passenger lounge of the iconic Cunard Building.
• Blair Athol Distillery
  Blair Athol Distillery Blair Athol Distillery is one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland. After enjoying a leisurely conducted tour, you can mull over the distinctive character of the finished article as you sip your dram of Blair Athol 12 Year Old.
• Loch Lomond Scenic Cruise

  Loch Lomond Scenic Cruise

  This large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands is approximately 23 miles long and forms part of the Caledonian Canal. It is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 21.8 square miles after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the legendary Loch Ness Monster, also known as “Nessie”.
• Scone Palace

  Scone Palace

  Scone Palace was the crowning place of Scottish kings where Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and Charles II were once crowned. Scone breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. It is the family home of the Earls of Mansfield and the ancient crowning place of Scottish kings on the stone of Scone. See where the Stone of Scone, known as the Stone of Destiny, once stood. It now resides in Edinburgh Castle.
• Tower of London or Kensington Palace

  Tower of London or Kensington Palace

  Founded in 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England, the tower has played an important part in English history for the past millennium. See the White Tower, dating from 1078, view the priceless Crown Jewels and learn about all the monarchs associated with the Tower.
• Edinburgh Castle

  Edinburgh Castle

  The rock on which today’s castle stands has been a stronghold for over 3000 years and Edinburgh Castle has dominated its surroundings for centuries. See the 12th century St. Margaret’s Chapel, the monumental great hall of James IV, opened in 1511, the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.

Dining Experiences:

• 7 breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L) and 2 dinners (D) including a Scottish evening in Edinburgh

Hotels:

• GB-LON-PRB | London (2 nights)
• GB-LIV-HIL | Liverpool (1 night)
• Malmaison Edinburgh | Edinburgh (2 nights)
• GB-INV-COL | Inverness (1 night)
• GB-GLA-MAR | Glasgow (1 night)