The Best of England and Wales 10 DAYS/9 NIGHTS – GROUP TRAVEL SUGGESTED ITINERARY - CAN BE CUSTOMIZED This tour covers the breadth of England and Wales including impressive castles, fairytale INCLUSIONS cottages, porcelain factories, iconic monuments and more. In between visits to a historic 2 nights each in university, the birthplace of Shakespeare and impressive museums, you will delight in the Cardiff, Colwyn Bay Area, Stratford- scenic views of Wales and the English countryside. upon-Avon, and London 1 night in Bath DAY 1 ~ ARRIVE the world. Today those very docks have LONDON been transformed into a dazzling Breakfast daily waterfront complex of restaurants & visitor Upon arrival to London, Lunch and dinner your group will clear attractions. per itinerary customs and meet its tour director in the DAY 3 ~ CARDIFF Ground transport arrivals hall. From here the group will head via air conditioned This morning after out for England's West Country by private luxury coach breakfast we will set out to coach. Travel through quaint towns with explore some of Cardiff's English speaking thatched roofs and red, bricked cottages to history at magnificent Cardiff Castle. assistant and guides Salisbury where we will visit mysterious Situated in the very heart of the capital, Admission tickets Stonehenge. More than 4,000 years ago, alongside city-center shopping and the as outlined in the people of the Neolithic period decided magnificent Bute Park, the castle's fairytale itinerary to build a massive monument using earth -like towers conceal an elaborate and and stones, placing it high on Salisbury splendid interior. Contained within its Plain. Marvel at this work of primeval mighty walls is a history spanning nearly architecture. We continue on to the historic 2,000 years, dating from the coming of the City of Bath. First settled by the Celts Romans in the first century AD. The balance (legend has it that they discovered the hot of the day you are free to explore on your springs' medical qualities) and later own. You will never be at a loss for occupied by the Romans, Bath became a something interesting to see or do in and fashionable resort during the Victorian Era. around Cardiff: arts, heritage, sports, family DAY 2 ~ CARDIFF attractions and much more are within easy This morning after reach. With Cardiff's proximity to the coast breakfast we will first visit and the mountains, the city truly has the magnificent Roman something for everyone. The city's arts Baths. We then head to Cardiff, the capital facilities are exceptional, with the National of beautiful Wales. As one of Europe's Museum and Gallery housing the second youngest capitals, Cardiff has a progressive largest Impressionist collection after Paris. and confident personality to match. A Cardiff's Bay has been transformed into a century ago, it was the busiest coal port in stunning waterfront with a wealth of attractions, leisure facilities and its own Visitor Center 'The Tube' full of this town before you are free to explore. information. This evening enjoy a Welsh With 2,000 years of history, this is one of Banquet at Cardiff Castle. Europe's top heritage cities - and it is easy to see why! Chester boasts a complete DAY 4 ~ COLWYN circuit of walls, sections of which date back BAY to Roman times, as well as a Norman This morning after cathedral. The famous Rows, unique two- breakfast we will be tiered galleries built in the traditional black HIGHLIGHTS heading to north Wales and the Colwyn Bay and white 'magpie' style, contain a wide area. Our first stop of the day is Investigate range of shops selling goods from antiques mysterious Portmeirion, the fascinating Italianate to high fashion. In fact the city is one of the Stonehenge fantasy village created by Sir Clough top retail centers in the UK, boasting large Learn the history of Williams-Ellis, and home to the Portmeirion branches of national stores and attractive the Roman Baths pottery. Here, the Tour Director will offer View the large shopping malls. Our route then brings us Impressionist an optional exciting ride on one of Wales' through the bustling heartland of England collection at the Great Little Trains from Minffordd to and by the towns of Stafford and Stoke-on- National Museum Blaenau Ffestiniog. This narrow-gauge Trent, both famous for their fine porcelain and Gallery in steam railway takes you back in time while Wales and china. Here we will stop to explore the Attend a Welsh enjoying some of the stunning scenery of creative delights of the famous Wedgwood Banquet the Snowdonia National Park. Factory. At Wedgwood we shall tour the Admire the scenery working factory and see the processes that of Snowdonia DAY 5 ~ COLWYN go into creating a Wedgewood piece. There National Park BAY is also time for shopping not just for Jasper, Visit 'the Potteries,' This morning we head to and area famous for but also Black Basalt, Queensware and the Isle of Anglesey where fine porcelain and others. We continue on to Stratford where china we will visit the village most commonly we will spend the next two nights. Learn the process known as Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. The longer of making a piece of name of the town is officially the longest DAY 7 ~ STRATFORD- China on the UPON-AVON Wedgwood Factory recognized place name in the UK and one Tour of the longest in the world standing at 58 Today after breakfast we Attend a letters in length (51 in the Welsh alphabet). will explore Stratford-upon- performance by the Visit the train station and have your picture Avon, the birthplace of William Royal Shakespeare taken with the station sign or visit the Company Shakespeare. Set in the beautiful, rural Visit historic nearby Visitors Center. While in Anglesey Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of Oxford University, keep a close eye on the locals as this is now the River Avon, it is one of the most historic also a site of the the home of HRH Prince William and the destinations in the United Kingdom. The Harry Potter films Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Katherine. Visit the largest house has been owned by the Shakespeare inhabited castle in We will then head to Conwy where we will family from the time of Shakespeare's the world, Windsor visit Conwy Castle, a masterpiece of father, John Shakespeare. Today it is Castle medieval military architecture. Walk along owned by The Shakespeare Birthplace Full-day tour of walls that are over 700 years old. London's most Trust. The house holds 400 treasures in 8 famous sites DAY 6 ~ STRATFORD- rooms, including documents, portraits, including UPON-AVON pictures and old coins. This afternoon we Parliament, Big Ben will enjoy a tour of the Cotswolds, enjoying and the Tower of This morning after the charm, stunning scenery and charming London breakfast we will head to towns and villages that this area has to Chester. Upon arrival we will have a tour of offer. After an early dinner we will attend a was executed at the Tower, and tradition performance at the Royal Shakespeare says the Little Princes (Edward V and his Company Theatre. brother, the Duke of York) were murdered inside as well. The Jewel House with its DAY 8 ~ LONDON priceless treasures of the Royal Regalia and This morning we head the Yeoman Warders (also known as south to London. Our first Beefeaters) in their Tudor uniform, provide stop is Oxford, which is a contrast to the grim, yet fascinating situated on the River Thames and best interior of The Tower of London. This known for its university. Founded in the evening you are free to explore the 12th century, Oxford University is one of multitude of restaurants and bars in this the oldest universities in England. It cosmopolitan city, where every taste under dominates the life and culture of the city. the sun is catered for. The University is divided into many DAY 10 ~ LONDON Why Should You different colleges with the most famous Encourage Your colleges being Balliol, Trinity and Christ After breakfast, we bid Travel Agent to Church. Each one maintains its own style farewell to England and Book Your Group and features beautiful architecture. The Wales as we board our Through Us? great hall at Christ Church was used as a coach for transfer to Heathrow Airport location for the Hogwarts School of Magic where group members will board flights to in the Harry Potter films. We board our return to the US. coach again and head south to Windsor Ease of Use Castle, the residence of Her Majesty the Queen, and the largest inhabited castle in Experience the world. View the guard change, the fantastic Doll's House and St George's Chapel where many Kings and Queens are Flexibility buried. The lavish staterooms are of breathtaking elegance and beauty. After a busy day we arrive in London and check For information and reservations, please see your professional travel agent Peace of Mind into our hotel for our last two nights. DAY 9 ~ LONDON This morning after a full breakfast, we board our coach for a full-day tour of this exciting city. We will see such historic sites as Buckingham Palace, the colorful pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, Westminster Abbey, where the Kings and Queens of England are crowned, Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly the traditional "Heart of London," and the massive Tower of London. Inside a history of intrigue, injustice, treason and torture lingers at every turn. Anne Boleyn .