Highlights of Britain
Overview
Highlights
- Visits and admissions to Windsor Castle
- Travel through the glorious Lake District, associated with the children’s author
- Explore central Edinburgh Castle
- Explore Devon & Cornwall
- Visit St Andrews, famously known as the “Home of Golf” and location of Scotland’s oldest university
- Visit the mighty Tower of London to see the many fortresses, Beefeaters and the Crown Jewels
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Trip includes
- Sightseeing by luxury coach
- Professional tour director
- 14 nights in hotels listed
- Full breakfast daily (B) except on day 1
- 10 dinners (D) including: Welcome dinner in Windsor, Cardiff Castle Welsh Banquet, Scottish Evening in Edinburgh, Tavern in Edinburgh, Historic Pub in York, 5 table d'hote dinners
- Welcome get-together drink
- Tours of Cardiff, Edinburgh and London
- Walking tours of Windsor, Shrewsbury, Conwy, Chester, St Andrews, York and Whitby
- Boat trip to Royal William Yard
- Sheepdog trials in North Wales
- Reserved seats for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on July 30 to August 13 departures
- Ghost walking tour of York
- Cream tea at Castle Howard
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway vintage train ride
- Visits and admissions to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Bodmin Moor, Lanhydrock House, Land’s End, Minack Theatre, Roman Baths and Pump Room, Cardiff Castle, Famous Blacksmith’s Shop at Gretna Green, Edinburgh Castle, St Andrews Cathedral, St Andrews Castle, York Minster, Castle Howard, Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Tower of London
- Audio headsets and group photo
- Deluxe carry-on backpack, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
- All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
- Free Wi-Fi on coaches and in hotel lobbies
Itinerary
Meals: Dinner
Your vacation starts at your Windsor hotel at 2:30 pm when you meet your tour director. Visit Windsor Castle, residence of The Queen and the largest inhabited castle in the world. Meet your tour director and trip participants over a welcome drink. After dinner take a brief walk around this compact and historic town with a local guide.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Drive to Salisbury Plain to marvel at the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths of Stonehenge and learn about the primitive builders who managed to create such an enduring monument. Stop in Salisbury, a charming old city where the cathedral boasts the tallest spire in England. Arrive at your hotel in Plymouth, where the Pilgrim Fathers sailed from in 1620.
Meals: Breakfast
Today drive through Bodmin Moor, an area of unspoiled natural beauty. Stop for photos at Jamaica Inn, made famous by Daphne du Maurier's tale of smugglers. Visit Lanhydrock House to explore this late-Victorian country house with grand rooms as ...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Drive to the coastal village of Marazion for photos of the majestic outline of St Michael’s Mount, an important pilgrimage destination. Drive to Land’s End, the most westerly point of Britain. Visit the Minack Theatre, an open-air ar...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Travel north to explore Bath, popular for its natural hot springs with the Romans 2,000 years ago. Tour the wonderfully-preserved Roman Baths and Pump Room, renowned for mineral-rich hot springs. Drive to Cardiff for a sightseeing tour around the city center. Tour Cardiff Castle before sitting down for a Welsh banquet with dinner and some lively entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Drive through the Brecon Beacons National Park to Hay-on-Wye, a town famous for books. Continue north through the Shropshire Hills to Shrewsbury, a picturesque town near the English/Welsh border. Take a walking tour with the town crier to see black-and-white buildings that line the narrow streets. Travel through Cheshire to your hotel, located near Chester.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Today drive to Llangollen and across the Horseshoe Pass for wonderful vistas. Visit a farm to see trained dogs herding sheep and travel to Conwy, a medieval town dominated by a huge castle. Take a walking tour around the picturesque ...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Travel through the glorious Lake District, associated with the children’s author, Beatrix Potter, and the poet, William Wordsworth. Stop in the charming village of Grasmere, where Wordsworth lived and is buried. Stop at the Famous Bl...
Meals: Breakfast
Explore central Edinburgh this morning, starting in the 200-year-old “New Town” with planned streets and elegant Georgian houses where many famous writers and inventors lived. See the Royal Mile with its narrow medieval houses and tour Edinburg...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Travel north to St Andrews, famously known as the “Home of Golf” and location of Scotland’s oldest university. Take a panoramic drive around the town and a walking tour to visit the picturesque ruins of St Andrews Castle and Cathedral. Spend some free time to have a browse around the town. Back in Edinburgh, head to a nearby tavern for dinner with your group.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Drive south to Jedburgh for a look around and see the ruined Jedburgh Abbey. Continue to York for a walking tour to appreciate narrow medieval streets, especially the Shambles and visit the mighty York Minster, which is famous for it...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Travel on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway by vintage locomotive. Stroll around the picturesque harbor, winding streets and quaint buildings of Whitby. Tour the elaborate chambers of Castle Howard, an imposing 18th century mansion where “Brideshead Revisited” was filmed and sit down to a cream tea.
Meals: Breakfast
Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace to see an exhibition about his life and work. Walk through the furnished house where he was born and see how the family would have lived. Drive through the Cotswolds and onwards to your hotel in London.
Meals: Breakfast
Take a panoramic London tour to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Visit the mighty Tower of London to see the many fortresses, Beefeaters and the Crown Jewels. The afternoon and evening are free.
Meals: Breakfast
Your program ends after breakfast.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with CIE Tours.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
CIE Tours Reviews & Ratings
Other CIE Tours Reviews
Sickness
We used CIE for an amazing tour of Ireland. The food and the locals were amazing. Here is my issue: we were told that another CIE tour from Scotland would be joinin...
Terrible Company
I waited 20 years for my dream trip to Scotland and Ireland and splurged $7000 on this tour. The second half of touring Ireland was great, the first portion in Scotl...
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME/MONEY WITH CIE!
I gave this return 1 star only because that’s the lowest possible option, otherwise they would receive 0 stars!!! I had a trip planned for September of 2021 to Icela...
Tour Operator
For the 2015 season we will celebrate 83 years of travel excellence! During this time CIE Tours International has provided travellers with the highest quality holidays to Ireland and Britain and we continue to improve our tours and our services.
Over the years we have built up an enviable reputation for security and reliability with satisfied clients throughout the world. We set our own high standards for delivering excellent holidays with state-of-the-art luxury coaches; prompt and pleasant customer service; the best hotels; and carefully chosen visits and entertainment.
Our coach tours are fully inclusive with no optional extras to purchase at your destination. You pay one price and we insist that our tour directors focus solely on your enjoyment. Once you pay the deposit, we guarantee our land tour prices.
If you prefer to travel independently, we offer self-drive and chauffeur-drive programs for Ireland with a wide range of hotel accommodation, which can be booked in advance, as well as popular B & Bs. Whichever way you like to travel, choose one of our fine holidays from our website and enjoy the greatest travel experience ever!
What makes CIE Tours unique?
Sightseeing Visits: CIE Tours includes a variety of attractions on every tour for an interesting travel experience. Check each tour itinerary to see exactly which places are featured. Admission costs are included in the tour price so that you don't waste time paying as you enter each attraction.
Guaranteed Departures & Prices: We guarantee most of our land tour departures which are updated daily on our website. We guarantee land tour costs will not increase, once you have paid your tour deposit, to protect you against international currency fluctuations.
Group Airport Transfers: As a newcomer to an airport, it's great to have someone meet you. We include complimentary group transfers on the starting and ending date of tours at times specified on each itinerary. If you arrive or depart later than our tour dates, you may purchase a transfer from us.
Travel Documents: On arrival CIE Tours will supply coach tour clients with tour vouchers, maps, ticket wallets, destination information, rain poncho, carry-on backpack, phone cards, VAT tax card, luggage tags and a strap. Self-drive clients receive accommodation vouchers and listings, ticket wallets, luggage tags and a strap. Use the tags and strap on your baggage for easy identification throughout your holiday. All you need to supply is a valid passport and, if driving, a current drivers license.
Leisure & Spa Facilities: Most of the hotels we use offer wonderful leisure facilities and spas. When you travel on a coach tour, you will have some free time most days and may like to enjoy some relaxation and spa serenity! So be sure to pack a swimsuit and workout clothes.
History & Geography: People who choose to travel in Ireland and Britain usually have an interest in the long history of the region and, as you tour around, you will visit a lot of ancient cities, churches and castles. All of our tour directors are well trained in the background information of the places and incorporate this history into their narratives in a manner that is fun and easy to digest. Similarly they are able to give you facts on the geography of the regions you travel through, giving you an insight into climate, farming, weather and other topics.
Coach Touring & Sightseeing: Some people think that on a coach tour, all you do is sit on the coach all day. Not true with CIE Tours! We have created balanced and varied days of sightseeing with plenty of stops for taking photos, shopping, lunch, snacks and bathrooms. You never travel for longer than two hours without getting off the coach.
Fully Escorted Coach Tours:
See what you get on a CIE coach tour
--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Luxury coach travel, daily sightseeing and a professional tour director
--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Speedy group check-in at hotels
--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain All breakfasts and most dinners including special dinner/shows
--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Airport transfers and baggage handling
--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Prepaid hotels, meals and admissions help you control holiday costs
--CIE Tours to Ireland, Scotland and Britain Comprehensive tour documents
Selection Of Itineraries: Touring by coach is a holiday with a capital H! CIE Tours International offers the widest range of itineraries. Depending on your available time and budget, you can choose an ideal tour. All of our programs are carefully planned to permit full enjoyment of your holiday.
Luxury Touring Coaches: Travel in the height of comfort with CIE Tours and sit back and let an expert do the driving! Our state-of-the-art coaches feature panoramic windows for optimum viewing while reclining seats, individual climate controls and a public address system ensure your well-being.
Your Tour Director: CIE Tours could not exist without our great locally employed tour directors they are the envy of the travel industry. From the moment you land in Ireland or Britain, your tour director is there to welcome you, handle your luggage, drive you from place to place and give you a daily commentary. Tour directors make history and culture come alive and create a superb experience with daily doses of humour, information and assistance.
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Accommodation
MGallery Castle Hotel
Windsor (1-night)
4 star hotel
Castle Hotel is a characterful and harmonious building, with a unifying palette and design features. The concept of how history and people have made their mark permeates the entirety of the property's new creative interior design. Immerse yourself in history in a unique location. Castle Hotel Windsor is an elegant Georgian building with a rich past and an enviable address: directly opposite Windsor Castle. Walk through the doors and walk back in time, as you discover fascinating authentic features and lovingly restored décor, before you retire to your gloriously relaxing room. The town's cobbled streets offer much to explore, and you'll have the best view possible for the pomp and grandeur of the Changing of the Guard.
Duke of Cornwall Hotel
Plymouth (3 nights)
3 star hotel
Built during the Golden Age of steam and steeped in history, the Duke of Cornwall was Plymouth's first luxury hotel and still provides first class accommodation and service today. Enjoy the lovely details of this historic building. The hotel has 72 rooms, each with a unique view and decor. The beautifully-appointed dining room has won many awards for its excellent cuisine coupled with friendly service.
Clayton Hotel Cardiff
4 star hotel
Cardiff (1 night)
This new 12-story hotel, opened in 2011, is one of Cardiff’s tallest buildings with panoramic views over Cardiff Bay. The Cardiff Hotel Bar is open for drinks and casual food throughout the day. Stir Bar & Restaurant overlooking Mill Lane offers an array of dishes to tempt your taste buds. 216 guest rooms provide every amenity for a comfortable stay. Guest rooms offer the perfect place to relax and unwind. These spacious and airy rooms offer beds with crisp white duvet and pillows, with outstanding views of the beautiful Cardiff surroundings. Facilities include air-conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Carden Park Hotel
Near Chester (2-nights)
4 star hotel
Just 20 minutes from Chester city centre, Carden Park Hotel is located within 1,000 acres of beautiful Cheshire countryside. With 196 stylish bedrooms, you’ll also be spoiled for choice with two championship golf courses – the Cheshire and the Nicklaus – a luxurious spa and two restaurants including AA Rosette awarded Redmond’s Restaurant. The Event Station offer a range of thrilling activities onsite, from JEEP off-roading to falconry, or why not relax for afternoon tea in Morgan’s Bar.
Norton House Hotel & Spa
Edinburgh (3 nights)
4 star hotel
This Victorian mansion was built in 1840 on 55 Acres of parkland and gardens. The hotel offers 83 luxury bedrooms with satellite TV/DVD player and a minibar. Ushers Restaurant offers fine dining and specialty wines in elegant surroundings. The Brasserie offers traditional British cuisine, and The Glass Lounge serves classic cocktails and afternoon teas. Guests can relax in the sauna, steam room or hydrotherapy pool in the luxurious spa. Edinburgh is a 20 minute drive, and Edinburgh Airport is 3 miles away.
York Marriott
York (2 nights)
4 star hotel
This modern, stylish hotel is an ideal base for exploring York. The Chase Bar & Grill is open for all meals with an international menu. 151 luxuriously appointed guest rooms offer satellite TV, a hairdryer and tea and coffee facilities. Guests can enjoy one hour of free Wi-Fi access in public areas. The leisure club features a heated pool and spa facilities. York city center is within 2 miles of the hotel with York Minster being a 40-minute walk.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London - Victoria
London (2 nights)
4 star hotel
Conveniently located opposite Victoria Station, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London – Victoria provides an immediate link to London’s public transport, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports and some of the city’s most popular points of interest. Walk to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Harrods, and the famous Oxford and Bond Street from this central London hotel. Our friendly multi-lingual staff look forward to welcoming you with a signature DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie. Feel at home in our vibrant hotel lobby in central London. Expect a knowledgeable 24-hour Concierge service and complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel.
14 Breakfasts and 8 Dinners
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