08 May 2027
Twin share
£3,803pp
Single from £4,663
Escorted tour
Elegance of Great Britain – 12 Days
London, Edinburgh, the Lake District, York, Cardiff and Bath, with a tour director throughout.
12 days
From £3,803
Tour overview
This 12-day escorted tour makes a grand circle of Great Britain, from London by train to Edinburgh, then south through the Lake District, Yorkshire, Shakespeare country and Wales to Bath and Stonehenge. A tour director leads the tour by air-conditioned coach with extra legroom, with local experts in key cities. You stay eleven nights in well-located hotels, with breakfast daily and five dinners, including a dine-at-home evening at a Georgian town house near York.
After a free afternoon in London, you take the train north through the English countryside to Edinburgh. A local expert shows you the New Town and the Royal Mile, and inside Edinburgh Castle you see the Honours of Scotland and Mons Meg; on select August departures, tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included. Heading south-west, you are welcomed by Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart to his family estate at Ardgowan, then stop at Gretna Green on the way to Windermere.
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In the Lake District you visit Wordsworth's grave at Grasmere, cruise Windermere and ride a heritage steam train along the River Leven. Crossing the Yorkshire Dales, you visit the Brontë Parsonage at Haworth, then join a family for dinner at historic Thirsk Hall. In York a local expert leads you along the city walls to the Minster and the Shambles, with a choice of the National Railway Museum or York Minster in the afternoon.
Travelling south, you see Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon before crossing into Wales for two nights in Cardiff, with a guided visit to Cardiff Castle. Crossing the Cotswolds, you visit Blenheim Palace with a talk on Churchill, then spend two nights in Bath, with time at the Roman Baths and a farewell dinner. On the last day you visit Stonehenge and Salisbury before returning to London.
The physical rating is low. This tour suits travellers who want to see the very best of England, Scotland and Wales in one comfortable journey.
Trip highlights
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Edinburgh Castle and the Crown Jewels (Day 3)
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A Lake District cruise and steam train (Day 5)
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Dinner at Thirsk Hall (Day 6)
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York Minster and the Shambles (Day 7)
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Cardiff Castle (Day 9)
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Blenheim Palace and Bath (Days 10–11)
Your route
14 stops from London to London
- London Day 1
- Edinburgh Days 2–3
- Gretna Green Day 4
- Windermere Days 4–5
- Grasmere Day 5
- Haworth Day 6
- York Days 6–7
- Stratford-upon-Avon Day 8
- Cardiff Days 8–9
- Blenheim Palace Day 10
- Bath Days 10–11
- Stonehenge Day 12
- Salisbury Day 12
- London Day 12
Why choose this tour
England, Scotland and Wales in one relaxed journey. Rail to Edinburgh and a dine-at-home evening included.
Best suited to
- First-time visitors to Britain
- History and heritage lovers
- Travellers who value comfort
- Couples and solo travellers
Day-by-day itinerary
12 days from London, United Kingdom to London, United Kingdom
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Day 1 · London London
A free afternoon.
- Hotel
- The Clermont Victoria
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Day 2 · Edinburgh Train to Edinburgh
North by rail.
- Hotel
- Apex Waterloo Place
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 3 · Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile Edinburgh
The castle and Crown Jewels.
- Hotel
- Apex Waterloo Place
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Ardgowan, Gretna Green, Windermere Ardgowan and Gretna Green
A family estate.
- Hotel
- The Ro
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 5 · Grasmere, Windermere, River Leven Lake District
A cruise and steam train.
- Hotel
- The Ro
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Haworth, Thirsk Hall York
The Brontës and dinner at home.
- Hotel
- DoubleTree by Hilton
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 7 · York Minster, The Shambles York
The Viking city.
- Hotel
- DoubleTree by Hilton
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 8 · Stratford-upon-Avon, Cardiff Stratford and Cardiff
Shakespeare country.
- Hotel
- Hotel Indigo
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · Cardiff Castle Cardiff
The Welsh capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel Indigo
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 10 · The Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace, Bath Blenheim and Bath
A baroque palace.
- Hotel
- Lansdown Grove
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 11 · Roman Baths Bath
A farewell dinner.
- Hotel
- Lansdown Grove
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 12 · Stonehenge, Salisbury, London Stonehenge
Ancient stones.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- London (1 night) The Clermont Victoria
- Edinburgh (2 nights) Apex Waterloo Place
- Windermere (2 nights) The Ro
- York (2 nights) DoubleTree by Hilton
- Cardiff (2 nights) Hotel Indigo
- Bath (2 nights) Lansdown Grove
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 11 nights in hotels
- Meals 11 breakfasts and 5 dinners
- Standard-class rail from London to Edinburgh
- Coach travel with extra legroom
- Edinburgh Castle, Blenheim Palace, the Roman Baths and Stonehenge
- Lake District cruise and steam train
- Tour director, tips and porterage
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 10 lunches and 6 dinners
- Optional experiences
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want an active holiday
- You want a small group
- You want time to explore London
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–12 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: Days 2, 4, 6, 9 and 11
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,803 per person, twin share, tour only. 8 upcoming departures.
22 May 2027
Twin share
£4,250pp
Single from £5,210
19 Jun 2027
Twin share
£4,275pp
Single from £5,155
03 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,893pp
Single from £4,793
07 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,388pp
Single from £5,368
14 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,875pp
Single from £5,855
28 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,595pp
Single from £5,555
11 Sep 2027
Twin share
£3,866pp
Single from £4,766
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Is the Edinburgh Tattoo included?
Yes, on select August departures.
How do I travel to Edinburgh?
By standard-class train from London, with station transfers.
Are tips included?
Yes, hotel and restaurant tips and porterage are included.
Are airport transfers included?
Yes, at set times on the first and last days when flights match the itinerary.
What is the dine-at-home evening?
Dinner with a family at Thirsk Hall, an 18th-century town house.
Who leads the tour?
A tour director travels with you, with local experts in key cities.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary