British Royale

Expedition

Experience Great Britain in all its luxuriant glory as you explore Alnwick and Edinburgh Castles.

EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW

Experience Great Britain in all its luxuriant glory as you explore Alnwick and Edinburgh Castles. At the Tower of London, join the Yeoman Warder for a Ceremony of the Keys—a time old tradition carried out for the past 700-years, to help guard the Crown Jewels. Journey in style from Viking York to the magnificent Castle Howard for High Tea in the grand surrounds of the Grecian Hall, followed by a private tour of the castle and its grounds, after it closes to the public. In Bath join a Local Expert to visit Roman Baths, one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world, before enjoying a spectacular lunch at The Olive Tree. This Michelin-starred restaurant serves up a mouthwatering menu of locally sourced, seasonal fare, with paired with fine wines.

highlights

Dining Summary

3 Dinner (D)
9 Breakfast (B)
3 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Bath: Visit the historic Roman Baths, which draw from Britain’s only natural mineral springs and gave the Georgian city its name. This remarkably preserved historic site was once a gathering spot for Romans to bathe and socialise over 2,000 years ago.
Bath: Visit the immersive Jane Austen Centre dedicated to the writer who lived here in the early 1800s and used the city as a setting for two of her novels. Learn about her life, her works and the Regency period from entertaining actors.

Choose between two carefully selected activities

York: Embark on a leisurely guided tour to the grand York Minster, an excellent example of Gothic architecture.
York: Get active and follow a Local Expert as you walk on the 13th century city walls and you soak up the spectacular views of River Ouse and the Old Town.

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Edinburgh: Visit the 17th century Mary King's Close with a Local Expert, walk in the footsteps of former residents and unlock fascinating stories from Edinburgh's sometimes dark past.
Edinburgh: Try a wee dram of whisky as you embark on a tasting experience of this Scottish staple.

Additional Included Highlights

You will be escorted by one of our fine Travel Concierges, handpicked to serve as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary, available on departures with 15 or more guests.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
At every hotel, you'll be treated to seamless baggage handling, with prompt delivery inside your room.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
Complimentary airport transfers are included on start and end dates and when additional accommodation has been booked through Luxury Gold. Guests will be transferred with fellow Luxury Gold Travellers that arrive on the same flight. Complimentary, private train station transfers are included when train travel is included within the itinerary. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city of the itinerary, may be requested but are not guaranteed.

Exceptional Dining

London: Dine in style at the lavish English Grill Restaurant, just across the road from Buckingham Palace. Enjoy your Welcome Dinner prepared by executive chef Ben Kelliher using only the finest English produce and the same suppliers who serve the King’s kitchen.
Bath: Experience an exquisite Michelin-starred lunch at the Olive Tree restaurant. A fresh, seasonal menu, curated by award-winning Head Chef Chris Cleghorn, offers classic flavours combined with modern techniques. Relax in the chic, yet informal atmosphere and enjoy the best of British cuisine.
York: Visit one of Britain's finest historic houses, Castle Howard. Enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea in the Grecian Hall.
Edinburgh: Say farewell to Edinburgh with a final Celebration Dinner in the historic Scottish capital. Let your tastebuds be delighted with a delicious meal and raise a glass to the health of your companions and your unforgettable journey.

Journey Highlights

London: Your passionate Local Expert will lead you from Westminster to Piccadilly Circus as they recount fascinating tales of London and its famous landmarks. Pass by the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, and Trafalgar Square as you explore the English capital.
London: Step through history at Horse Guards Parade, the ceremonial grounds of St James Park in the shadow of Buckingham Palace. Discover the secrets of a cavalryman’s uniform in the Household Cavalry Museum before trying on the royal clothes yourself.
Stonehenge: Visit the mysterious circle of upright stones, the best known prehistoric site in Europe. Experience the lives led by Neolithic builders 3,500 years ago and admire the selection of archaeological treasures that have been unearthed in this place.
Bath: Be taken through the grand historic sights of Bath with a private orientation tour. See the majestic Royal Terrace, the inspiring architecture of Bath Abbey, and, the stately Pulteney Bridge, completed in 1774.
Bath: Join a Local Expert for an insightful tour revealing the town's history.
Cotswolds: Journey through the Cotswolds, one of the most quintessential and unspoiled regions of England, famous for gentle, rolling hillsides known as ‘wolds’, green river valleys and historic market towns, where time has stood still for over 300 years.
Stratford-upon-Avon: Fans of the famous playwright, William Shakespeare, will love exploring this vibrant town where he was born. This cultural centre still has many rows of attractive half-timbered houses that date back to the 16th century.
Ullswater: Enjoy a scenic cruise on one of England's most beautiful lakes.
Alnwick Castle: Join a Local Expert for an in-depth exploration of the 11th century castle, with its striking medieval architecture and see why it was featured in the Harry Potter films.
Edinburgh: A Local Expert guides you around magnificent Edinburgh Castle, perched on a black basalt outcrop. Discover the site’s 900-year history and take in the spectacular panoramic views over the city’s most famous landmarks.
Edinburgh: Wander along Princes Street with your Local Expert, past the Gothic Sir Walter Scott Monument, and continue down the old-world Royal Mile to the gates of Holyrood Palace, the principal residence of Scottish royalty since the 16th century, and the Queen’s official Edinburgh lodgings.
Edinburgh: In true Gaelic style, meet a fabulously entertaining bagpiper, playing pipes passed down since 1888. Hear fascinating tales from the time he played for the Queen Mother, to riotous nights at Edinburgh Castle.

Luxury Hotels

York: Housed in the iconic former headquarters of the prestigious North Eastern Railway Company, the five-star Grand Hotel & Spa places you minutes away from museums, shops and the River Ouse.

Personalize your day

Bath: Visit the historic Roman Baths, which draw from Britain’s only natural mineral springs and gave the Georgian city its name. This remarkably preserved historic site was once a gathering spot for Romans to bathe and socialise over 2,000 years ago.
Bath: Visit the immersive Jane Austen Centre dedicated to the writer who lived here in the early 1800s and used the city as a setting for two of her novels. Learn about her life, her works and the Regency period from entertaining actors.
York: Embark on a leisurely guided tour to the grand York Minster, an excellent example of Gothic architecture.
York: Get active and follow a Local Expert as you walk on the 13th century city walls and you soak up the spectacular views of River Ouse and the Old Town.
Edinburgh: Visit the 17th century Mary King's Close with a Local Expert, walk in the footsteps of former residents and unlock fascinating stories from Edinburgh's sometimes dark past.
Edinburgh: Try a wee dram of whisky as you embark on a tasting experience of this Scottish staple.

VIP Experiences

London: You’re invited to the Tower of London to experience the Ceremony of the Keys, the oldest practiced military ceremony in the world. At your special after-hours visit you’ll get an inside look at the 700-year-old tradition that stood the tests of even the most tumultuous times.
York: Feeling like the star of a period drama, you’ll enter the 18th century mansion for a private tour of the house.

Well-being

Our customised luxury coaches are sanitised before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customised luxury coaches.
Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Concierges, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Highlights

Dining Summary

3 Dinner (D)
9 Breakfast (B)
3 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Bath: Visit the historic Roman Baths, which draw from Britain’s only natural mineral springs and gave the Georgian city its name. This remarkably preserved historic site was once a gathering spot for Romans to bathe and socialise over 2,000 years ago.
Bath: Visit the immersive Jane Austen Centre dedicated to the writer who lived here in the early 1800s and used the city as a setting for two of her novels. Learn about her life, her works and the Regency period from entertaining actors.

Choose between two carefully selected activities

York: Embark on a leisurely guided tour to the grand York Minster, an excellent example of Gothic architecture.
York: Get active and follow a Local Expert as you walk on the 13th century city walls and you soak up the spectacular views of River Ouse and the Old Town.

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Edinburgh: Visit the 17th century Mary King's Close with a Local Expert, walk in the footsteps of former residents and unlock fascinating stories from Edinburgh's sometimes dark past.
Edinburgh: Try a wee dram of whisky as you embark on a tasting experience of this Scottish staple.

Additional Included Highlights

You will be escorted by one of our fine Travel Concierges, handpicked to serve as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary, available on departures with 15 or more guests.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
At every hotel, you'll be treated to seamless baggage handling, with prompt delivery inside your room.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
Complimentary airport transfers are included on start and end dates and when additional accommodation has been booked through Luxury Gold. Guests will be transferred with fellow Luxury Gold Travellers that arrive on the same flight. Complimentary, private train station transfers are included when train travel is included within the itinerary. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city of the itinerary, may be requested but are not guaranteed.

Exceptional Dining

London: Dine in style at the lavish English Grill Restaurant, just across the road from Buckingham Palace. Enjoy your Welcome Dinner prepared by executive chef Ben Kelliher using only the finest English produce and the same suppliers who serve the King’s kitchen.
Bath: Experience an exquisite Michelin-starred lunch at the Olive Tree restaurant. A fresh, seasonal menu, curated by award-winning Head Chef Chris Cleghorn, offers classic flavours combined with modern techniques. Relax in the chic, yet informal atmosphere and enjoy the best of British cuisine.
York: Visit one of Britain's finest historic houses, Castle Howard. Enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea in the Grecian Hall.
Edinburgh: Say farewell to Edinburgh with a final Celebration Dinner in the historic Scottish capital. Let your tastebuds be delighted with a delicious meal and raise a glass to the health of your companions and your unforgettable journey.

Journey Highlights

London: Your passionate Local Expert will lead you from Westminster to Piccadilly Circus as they recount fascinating tales of London and its famous landmarks. Pass by the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, and Trafalgar Square as you explore the English capital.
London: Step through history at Horse Guards Parade, the ceremonial grounds of St James Park in the shadow of Buckingham Palace. Discover the secrets of a cavalryman’s uniform in the Household Cavalry Museum before trying on the royal clothes yourself.
Stonehenge: Visit the mysterious circle of upright stones, the best known prehistoric site in Europe. Experience the lives led by Neolithic builders 3,500 years ago and admire the selection of archaeological treasures that have been unearthed in this place.
Bath: Be taken through the grand historic sights of Bath with a private orientation tour. See the majestic Royal Terrace, the inspiring architecture of Bath Abbey, and, the stately Pulteney Bridge, completed in 1774.
Bath: Join a Local Expert for an insightful tour revealing the town's history.
Cotswolds: Journey through the Cotswolds, one of the most quintessential and unspoiled regions of England, famous for gentle, rolling hillsides known as ‘wolds’, green river valleys and historic market towns, where time has stood still for over 300 years.
Stratford-upon-Avon: Fans of the famous playwright, William Shakespeare, will love exploring this vibrant town where he was born. This cultural centre still has many rows of attractive half-timbered houses that date back to the 16th century.
Ullswater: Enjoy a scenic cruise on one of England's most beautiful lakes.
Alnwick Castle: Join a Local Expert for an in-depth exploration of the 11th century castle, with its striking medieval architecture and see why it was featured in the Harry Potter films.
Edinburgh: A Local Expert guides you around magnificent Edinburgh Castle, perched on a black basalt outcrop. Discover the site’s 900-year history and take in the spectacular panoramic views over the city’s most famous landmarks.
Edinburgh: Wander along Princes Street with your Local Expert, past the Gothic Sir Walter Scott Monument, and continue down the old-world Royal Mile to the gates of Holyrood Palace, the principal residence of Scottish royalty since the 16th century, and the Queen’s official Edinburgh lodgings.
Edinburgh: In true Gaelic style, meet a fabulously entertaining bagpiper, playing pipes passed down since 1888. Hear fascinating tales from the time he played for the Queen Mother, to riotous nights at Edinburgh Castle.

Luxury Hotels

York: Housed in the iconic former headquarters of the prestigious North Eastern Railway Company, the five-star Grand Hotel & Spa places you minutes away from museums, shops and the River Ouse.

Personalize your day

Bath: Visit the historic Roman Baths, which draw from Britain’s only natural mineral springs and gave the Georgian city its name. This remarkably preserved historic site was once a gathering spot for Romans to bathe and socialise over 2,000 years ago.
Bath: Visit the immersive Jane Austen Centre dedicated to the writer who lived here in the early 1800s and used the city as a setting for two of her novels. Learn about her life, her works and the Regency period from entertaining actors.
York: Embark on a leisurely guided tour to the grand York Minster, an excellent example of Gothic architecture.
York: Get active and follow a Local Expert as you walk on the 13th century city walls and you soak up the spectacular views of River Ouse and the Old Town.
Edinburgh: Visit the 17th century Mary King's Close with a Local Expert, walk in the footsteps of former residents and unlock fascinating stories from Edinburgh's sometimes dark past.
Edinburgh: Try a wee dram of whisky as you embark on a tasting experience of this Scottish staple.

VIP Experiences

London: You’re invited to the Tower of London to experience the Ceremony of the Keys, the oldest practiced military ceremony in the world. At your special after-hours visit you’ll get an inside look at the 700-year-old tradition that stood the tests of even the most tumultuous times.
York: Feeling like the star of a period drama, you’ll enter the 18th century mansion for a private tour of the house.

Well-being

Our customised luxury coaches are sanitised before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customised luxury coaches.
Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Concierges, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Trip details

Trip Type: Group Tour

Comfort: Deluxe

Travel Styles: Family, 55+, Luxury

Starts: London, United Kingdom

Finishes: Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Duration: 10 days

ITINERARY

1Day 1: Welcome to London

Your UK luxury tour begins with a private chauffeur to your five-star hotel, Rubens at the Palace. Here you are welcomed with the royal treatment from their red tail-coated doormen. Tonight, enjoy sumptuous British fare at the English Grill Restaurant.

Accommodation: The Rubens at the Palace, London.
Meals: Dinner

2Day 2: Traditions and Treasures of London

Hear the bells of Big Ben and admire the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Enter bustling Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus before visiting the Household Cavalry Museum. After the sun sets and London lights up, you’re treated to a private, after-hours tour of the Tower of London and the historic Ceremony of the Keys.

Accommodation: The Rubens at the Palace, London.
Meals: Breakfast

3Day 3: Stonehenge and Georgian Bath Relaxed Start

At mysterious Stonehenge, stand in awe of Britain's best-known UNESCO World Heritage Site. Immerse yourself further into British history as you travel to Bath. Stroll the streets lined with Georgian architecture feeling as though you’ve stepped into a classic English novel.

Accommodation: Francis Hotel, Bath.
Meals: Breakfast

4Day 4: Explore Bath Relaxed Start

Personalise your day in Bath at the Jane Austen Centre or visit the Roman Baths and Georgian Pump Room, Britain’s only natural hot springs. Share the highlights of your morning over locally sourced dishes at the Michelin-starred Olive Tree restaurant.

Accommodation: Francis Hotel, Bath.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

5Day 5: Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and York

Travel through the charmed villages of the Cotswolds to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, and admire quaint Tudor cottages. Your day concludes in York where cobbled streets, classic tearooms and Gothic buildings lure you further into the past.

Accommodation: The Grand Hotel & Spa, York.
Meals: Breakfast

6Day 6: Medieval Wonders of York Relaxed Start

Step back into the Middle Ages in York joining an expert-led tour of the York Minster or a walk on the 13th-century city walls. Enter the stately Castle Howard through landscaped gardens before sitting down to a traditional English afternoon tea and private tour of the house.

Accommodation: The Grand Hotel & Spa, York.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

7Day 7: The Wild and Poetic Lake District

Let the beauty of the Lake District inspire you as you cruise shimmering Ullswater Lake, taking in some of the best views of this region. Later, check into the lovingly restored country house overlooking Lake Windermere.

Accommodation: Merewood Country House Hotel, Lake District
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

8Day 8: Alnwick Castle

Discover majestic Alnwick Castle’s magnificent interiors with a Local Expert before exploring Edinburgh's beautiful, walkable city. Should you visit during August, witness The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the most spectacular military concerts and celebration of the history, heritage and colours of Scotland’s regiments.

Accommodation: Kimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.
Meals: Breakfast

9Day 9: Highlights of Beautiful Edinburgh

Explore the grounds of Edinburgh’s ''castle on the hill,'' as your guide unlocks more than 900-years of history. Personalise your afternoon visiting the 17th-century Mary King's Close or with a stimulating whisky tasting. A meal of fine dishes such as Scottish Border brisket of beef or poached fillet of sole, rounds off your final day, accompanied by music from a former bagpiper to the Royals.

Accommodation: Kimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

10Day 10: Farewell Edinburgh

Bid farewell to your travel companions and continue your onward journey with transfers timed to meet your flight.

Meals: Breakfast

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Partner Details

Luxury Gold (US)

In Business Since 1978

A world of immersive journeys awaits you, each with VIP experiences, exceptional dining, magnificent hotels and a Travelling Concierge who’s there to tailor everything to your desires.