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Home , Balmoral Castle

ROYAL TOUR OF BRITAIN

Blue-Roads | Europe

Explore the magnificent castles of Britain on this fascinating tour of England and ’s royal residences and connections. From the historic streets of to the hustle and bustle of London, we’ll take in rich traditions, rolling green hills and jagged coastlines – one breathtaking step at a time.

TOUR CODE:

BEHRTEL-0 Thank You for Choosing Blue-Roads

Thank you for choosing to travel with Back-Roads Touring. We can’t wait for you to join us on the mini-coach!

About Your Tour Notes THE BLUE-ROADS DIFFERENCE Visit Balmoral Castle, the summer residence of the Queen These tour notes contain everything you need to know Discover , the before your tour departs – including where to meet, home of the Duke and Duchess of what to bring with you and what you can expect to do Cambridge on each day of your itinerary. You can also print this Step aboard the Royal Yacht document out, use it as a checklist and bring it with you Britannia, the former royal yacht of on tour. the British monarchy

Please Note: We recommend that you refresh TOUR CURRENCIES this document one week before your tour departs to ensure you have the most up-to-date + Scotland - GBP accommodation list and itinerary information + United Kingdom - GBP available. Your Itinerary

DAY 1 | EDINBURGH - ST ANDREWS - ROYAL

After meeting the group in Edinburgh, we’ll move on to our first stop: St Andrews University, where we’ll take a look at the university golf course. Then: into the Scottish countryside we go! Before we reach our hotel, we’ll take a scenic drive around – the picturesque lake favoured by . After all that sightseeing, a welcome dinner will be the perfect way to round off the day. Accommodation: The Deeside Inn (or similar)

MEALS: Dinner

DAY 2 | ROYAL DEESIDE - BALMORAL - ROYAL DEESIDE

With a visit to either Balmoral Castle or Castle on the agenda, sensational architecture and breathtaking scenic views will be today’s recurring theme! After taking a walk around the site of the this afternoon, we’ll move on to the Royal Distillery for a dram of whisky. Accommodation: The Deeside Inn (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 3 | ROYAL DEESIDE - EDINBURGH

Today’s regal attraction? The Royal Yacht Britannia, Her Majesty the Queen’s former floating palace. Here, we’ll step inside the Royal Deck Tearoom, the Bridge and the Sun Lounge – the very place where the Queen used to enjoy breakfast during her stays on board. Accommodation: Carberry Tower Mansion House (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 4 | EDINBURGH

Today in Edinburgh, a tour of the famous Castle awaits. After discovering the Great Hall, jewels and the Stone of Destiny, we’ll stretch our legs with a walk along the Royal Mile. At the end of the thoroughfare stands , the official Scottish residence of Queen Elizabeth II – so it’s only right that we take a look around before we retire to the hotel for the evening. Accommodation: Carberry Tower Mansion House (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast Dinner DAY 5 | EDINBURGH - SANDRINGHAM (BY TRAIN)

Today it’s all aboard the train as we make our way to Sandringham in Norfolk – where we’ll enjoy an included dinner together this evening. Accommodation: Knights Hill Hotel & Spa (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast Dinner

DAY 6 | SANDRINGHAM - CAMBRIDGE - LONDON

The grand Sandringham Estate will be our next stop. The private residence of The Royal Family, Sandringham is where the Queen spends Christmas each year – and with beautiful grounds, landscaped gardens, parks and woodlands all around, it’s easy to see why. On our way to London later today, we’ll stop off at historic Cambridge for a walking tour – ticking off the likes of the Bridge of Sighs and the ‘Backs’ of Cambridge University as we go. Accommodation: TBC

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 7 | LONDON

This morning we’ll visit the show-stopping – the home of the Royal Family – and pass through Westminster for a closer look at and St James’s Palace. We’ll then move on to Hyde Park to see the Albert Memorial and the unique Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain before heading to the magnificent Kensington Palace (the of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge). Tonight, we’ll come together at a superb local restaurant for a farewell dinner. Accommodation: TBC

MEALS: Breakfast Dinner

DAY 8 | LONDON - WINDSOR - HAMPTON COURT - LONDON

Before we say goodbye, we’ve two more stops to make: the iconic (the historic place where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently tied the knot) and the majestic – the home of Henry VIII. Our tour will then come to a close in bustling London.

MEALS: Breakfast Tour Information

Meals Blue-Roads Travel App INCLUDED MEALS

Breakfast (B) is included daily. Why not check in for your tour using the Back- Some of your lunches and dinners are also Roads app? included, either in hotels or local restaurants. This handy tool allows you to view your These are indicated by (L) and (D) in the bookings, check your itinerary, see tour maps itinerary. and more – making it the perfect travel Please note that drinks will not always be companion for your Back-Roads trip. included. How to Download the Back-Roads app We will do our best to accommodate any specific dietary requirements you may have. 1. Launch the App Store or Google Play on Please ensure to make these clear to us your device before your tour begins so we can 2. Search ‘Back-Roads’ and click ‘OK’ communicate them to our hotels, restaurants 3. Select the Back-Roads app in the search and suppliers. results 4. Click the download/install button 5. The app should be installed in your device’s applications page

Other Information

Finances

CHANGING MONEY SPENDING MONEY CASH: Foreign money can be changed at Naturally, everyone’s spending varies. Many of banks, airports, railway and tube stations, and your meals are included in the price of your at major hotels (though at a less favourable tour, so this just leaves a few meals and your rate) personal spending to budget for. CREDIT CARDS: Visa and MasterCard are widely Tips for the Tour Leader and Driver are not accepted. American Express is only accepted in included. Tipping is entirely at your some larger establishments discretion; however, if you feel you have CASH MACHINES: ATMS are widely available received exceptional service, it is recommended that you tip £1-2/€ per day for Drivers and £4-5/€ per day for Tour Leaders.

Insurance Passports and Visas

You will need to take out full travel insurance We advise you either to carry a photocopy of before travelling with Back-Roads Touring. your passport (and visa, if applicable) with you Please ensure that you have adequate medical, while abroad, or to ensure that you leave a personal effects and cancellation cover. copy with relatives back at home. We recommend that you carry your insurance This will enable the local embassy or high details with you at all times. You may be asked commission to arrange a replacement if the to provide details of your medical insurance or original should be lost or stolen. a payment guarantee in some countries before If you do take copies with you on your trip, medical assistance can be provided. please ensure that you these separate Your insurance company may not assist you from your original documents. with your claim if the instructions given in the It is your responsibility to obtain any visas policy have not been followed. necessary to enable you to travel in Europe or Asia. Contact your local consular office for more information. Transport

We travel in premium mini-coaches equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning and large windows for enjoying the view. With far more flexibility than a standard-size coach, we’re able to take the scenic route – winding through beautiful countryside to the heart of tiny villages and coastal towns. What to Bring

Suggested Packing List Wondering what to take with you on tour? Our packing list can be used as a guide. Please Note: What you pack will depend on the countries you’re visiting and the time of year you plan to travel. The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience:

Sun hat Sunglasses Shorts/skirts Long-sleeved tops Short-sleeved tops Trousers Light jacket Waterproof jacket and Warm jacket umbrella Walking shoes/comfortable shoes Smart casual evening Sleepwear Swimwear and towel wear

Other things to pack:

Multi-use travel adapter Camera Batteries Phone Personal medication Sunscreen Paracetamol or aspirin

OPTIONALS TO CONSIDER:

Motion sickness tablets Anti-diarrhoea tablets Sewing kit Lip balm

That's it!

We look forward to seeing you on tour.