9 days Gems of Northern England 2024
Explore the northern corner of England's bustling cities and breathtaking scenery
Head north to discover some of England’s most fascinating places: the romantic Lake District, the scholar’s life in Oxford and Cambridge, and York’s medieval charms.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independent Exploration in London | Welcome Dinner | Your day is free to enjoy the many delights of London as you wish. Your tour begins in the evening, when you meet your group for dinner at your hotel. (D) |
| 2 | Kensington Palace | London Exploring | Visit Kensington Palace, the birthplace of Queen Victoria and the home of young royals for 300 years – including the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate. Walk in the footsteps of royalty, exploring the lavish rooms of the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments. Savor a light lunch with your group before spending the rest of the day exploring London as you please. (B, L) |
| 3 | Cambridge American Cemetery | Punting | Depart London for the Roman city of St Albans or 17th-century Hatfield House, depending on your departure date. Next, visit the Cambridge American Cemetery, honoring the thousands of American soldiers who gave their lives in World War II. Continue on to Cambridge for a sightseeing trip on the River Cam, as you go punting on a traditional flat-bottomed boat. Your evening is free to explore as you wish. (B) |
| 4 | Lincoln | York | Head to Lincoln, with its towering cathedral and castle overlooking the city. Stop in a pub for a traditional Sunday roast lunch. Arrive in York, an ancient city of narrow cobbled streets, charming tearooms, quaint old pubs, and intriguing medieval churches. Your tour director will bring you on a walking tour, then the rest of your day is free for exploring. (B, L) |
| 5 | Whitby | Castle Howard | York Minster | Visit the old fishing town of Whitby. Tour its pretty harbor and cobbled streets with your tour director before departing for Castle Howard, a 300-year-old stately home that has been the setting for numerous film and TV productions, including the hit show “Bridgerton.” Back in York, you’ll visit York Minster, a Gothic cathedral resplendent with medieval stained glass. (B, D) |
| 6 | Yorkshire Drive | Lake District | Take a scenic drive through the lush green splendor of the Yorkshire Dales, pausing in the romantic market town of Richmond. In the famously beautiful Lake District, you’ll have free time for lunch in Keswick. Visit The Lakes Distillery to discover how the landscape inspires these producers of whisky, gin, and vodka. Have dinner with your group at your hotel, located near the banks of Lake Windermere. (B, D) |
| 7 | Cruise on Lake Windermere | Liverpool | Take a short scenic cruise on England’s largest lake, Windermere, seeing mountain vistas, wooded isles, and lakeside villages. Continue to Liverpool, birthplace of the Beatles. Tour this fun, friendly city on foot with your tour director – and you are free to explore for the rest of the day. You might check out the many attractions around the Albert Dock, including the Beatles Story, the Tate Liverpool, and the Merseyside Maritime Museum. (B) |
| 8 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Anne Hathaway’s Cottage | Oxford | In Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare’s hometown, you’ll visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Explore the 500-year-old thatched house and gardens where The Bard’s wife was born. Drive to Oxford to discover this storied university city on a walking tour with your tour director. Enjoy a farewell dinner with your group. (B, D) |
| 9 | Tour Ends In Oxford | Your program ends after breakfast. (B) |