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BRITISH PANORAMA - 2010
10 days incl. air, or 9 days from London
to London (CO-9020)
Vacation Overview
This exciting vacation is a delightful introduction to the
history and culture of England, Scotland, and Wales. Begin your trip in
London with a full day to discover the city’s landmarks on your own or to
take an optional tour. Afterwards, enjoy a walking tour first in
Cambridge, one of the country’s oldest seats of learning, and then in
York, England’s most complete medieval city. See a section of Hadrian’s
Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes,
before arriving in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, where your guided
sightseeing tour includes the mighty Edinburgh Castle with its Crown
Jewels. Take your photos of Loch Lomond, then spend a night in Glasgow,
Scotland’s largest city. Travel south through the Lowlands to Gretna
Green, where in the 18th-century young runaway couples were married by
the local blacksmith. Continue through the Lake District, considered the
finest of England’s national parks. Visit Wordsworth’s charming Grasmere
and follow the shores of beautiful Lake Windermere, England’s largest
lake. Enjoy a walking tour of 2,000-year-old Chester and an overnight in
Liverpool of Beatles fame. Next up: Llangollen in Wales with its
connections to King Arthur. Return to England to Shakespeare’s
Stratford-upon-Avon and drive through the scenic Cotswolds. Enjoy an
orientation drive in Bristol and explore elegant Georgian Bath, famous
for its Roman relics. Contemplate mysterious Stonehenge and majestic
Salisbury. Return to London for the conclusion of your grand Britain
vacation featuring some of the highlights of Scotland, Wales, and
England. A wonderful trip with historic ruins, beautiful scenery, and
charming towns!
Itinerary
Day 1 Fri.
BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day 2 Sat.
ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND
Check into your hotel. In
the afternoon there’s time to rest or start exploring the lively British
capital; uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your
stay.
Day 3 Sun.
LONDON
A full day to enjoy our
exciting program of optional activities. Morning sightseeing features all
the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of
Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminter Abbey, Whitehall’s
mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, and
Buckingham Palace. A highlight is the ceremonial pageantry of the
Changing of the Guard, if held. This afternoon you may want to visit
Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with the spectacular Crown Jewels,
and tonight a leisurely cruise on the River Thames would be fun. (B)
Day 4 Mon.
LONDON-CAMBRIDGE-YORK-LEEDS
Meet your Tour Director
and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for a day of northbound
travel. Enjoy a walking tour in the university city of Cambridge, one of
the country’s oldest seats of learning. In York, England’s most complete
medieval city, stand in awe in front of the great structure of York
Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets,
including the narrow Shambles. Stop for the night near Leeds. (B,D)
Day 5 Tue.
LEEDS-EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
See a section of
Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding
northern tribes, then motor through wild Northumberland National Park to
the Scottish border. Stop for photos at Jedburgh, with glimpses of the
house of Mary, Queen of Scots, and then Melrose with its 12th-century
abbey ruins and connections with Robert the Bruce. Afternoon arrival in
Edinburgh. Tonight an optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers,
bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis. For August 7,
August 14 and August 21 departures, tickets are included for tonight’s
performance of the world-renowned Military Tattoo, a vast spectacle of
massed Scottish pipe bands which takes place in an arena on the esplanade
of Edinburgh Castle. (B)
Day 6 Wed.
EDINBURGH-GLASGOW
Morning sightseeing with
a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous
scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the
narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels.
After lunch, focus your camera first at historic Stirling of Braveheart fame, then pause at the
"Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond before arriving in Glasgow,
Scotland's largest city. (B,D)
Day 7 Thu.
GLASGOW-LAKE DISTRICT, ENGLAND-CHESTER-LIVERPOOL
South through the history-steeped Lowland Hills and a
visit to Gretna Green
Gretna Gree, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Drive through beautiful
scenery in the Lake District, considered to be the finest of England’s
national parks. Visit Wordsworth’s Grasmere, then follow the shores of
Lake Windermere. In Chester, the historic county town on the River Dee,
your walking tour includes the Roman remains, black and white
half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered arcades called the “Rows.”
End the day in Liverpool of Beatles fame, once the departure port of the
great transatlantic liners. (B,D)
Day 8 Fri.
LIVERPOOL-NORTH WALES-STRATFORD-UPON-AVON-BRISTOL
Into Wales to picturesque
Llangollen, home of an international competition for poets and musicians.
Back in England, tour fascinating Stratford-upon-Avon, a living monument
to William Shakespeare, before driving through the scenic Cotswold Hills
with a stop for photos in picture-book Broadway. Overnight in Bristol,
where your orientation drive focuses on Brunel’s daring Clifton
Suspension Bridge, SS Great Britain,
and the historic harbor from where John Cabot sailed in 1497 to discover
America. (B,D)
Day 9 Sat.
BRISTOL-BATH-STONEHENGE-LONDON 
Stonehenge
A day of memorable
highlights with a visit first to the elegant Georgian city of Bath,
famous for its Roman relics, before continuing via Stonehenge, still an
intriguing mystery, to Salisbury, the “City of the Soaring Spire.” After
returning to London around 4 pm, how about celebrating the success of
your tour with a night out on the town? (B)
Day 10 Sun.
YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers may be included when you make your
international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
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Departure
Details
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Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
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3/26/2010
|
3/27/2010
|
4/4/2010
|
$1,069.00
|
Available
|
|
4/2/2010
|
4/3/2010
|
4/11/2010
|
$1,069.00
|
Available
|
|
4/9/2010
|
4/10/2010
|
4/18/2010
|
$1,069.00
|
Available
|
|
4/16/2010
|
4/17/2010
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4/25/2010
|
$1,069.00
|
Available
|
|
4/23/2010
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4/24/2010
|
5/2/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
4/30/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
5/9/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/7/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
5/16/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
5/14/2010
|
5/15/2010
|
5/23/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
5/21/2010
|
5/22/2010
|
5/30/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
5/28/2010
|
5/29/2010
|
6/6/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
6/4/2010
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6/5/2010
|
6/13/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/11/2010
|
6/12/2010
|
6/20/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
6/18/2010
|
6/19/2010
|
6/27/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
6/25/2010
|
6/26/2010
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7/4/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
7/2/2010
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7/3/2010
|
7/11/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
7/9/2010
|
7/10/2010
|
7/18/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
7/16/2010
|
7/17/2010
|
7/25/2010
|
$1,179.00
|
Available
|
|
7/23/2010
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7/24/2010
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8/1/2010
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$1,159.00
|
Available
|
|
7/30/2010
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7/31/2010
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8/8/2010
|
$1,159.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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8/6/2010
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8/7/2010
|
8/15/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/13/2010
|
8/14/2010
|
8/22/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/20/2010
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8/21/2010
|
8/29/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
8/27/2010
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8/28/2010
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9/5/2010
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$1,169.00
|
Available
|
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9/3/2010
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9/4/2010
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9/12/2010
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$1,189.00
|
Available
|
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9/10/2010
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9/11/2010
|
9/19/2010
|
$1,189.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/17/2010
|
9/18/2010
|
9/26/2010
|
$1,189.00
|
Available
|
|
9/24/2010
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9/25/2010
|
10/3/2010
|
$1,189.00
|
Available
|
|
10/1/2010
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10/2/2010
|
10/10/2010
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$1,149.00
|
Available
|
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10/8/2010
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10/9/2010
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10/17/2010
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$1,149.00
|
Available
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Popular Departure - due
to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out
quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
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