Enjoy 8 wonderful days exploring the best that England has to offer. Starting with three days in London, you will get to enjoy a privately guided walking tour of London by Foot on arrival, a day tour to Warwick Castle, the Cotswalds, and the birth place of Shakespeare - Stratford-on-Avon. Have fun exploring by yourself with your London pass, indulging in some shopping (check out our suggestions in the itinerary) and visiting sites of particular interest to you on your last day in this cultured city. The London Pass is the easiest way to get around the city and visit many of the sites. The last destination on your tour is the designated area of beauty of the Lake district - and more precisely, Windermere. Kick back and absorb all of the magnificent views on a full day discovery of the area. Of course, a vacation wouldn't be a vacation without some pampering which is duly catered to in your hotel. Take time out, or take to the hills on a self guided walk/hike (options for length and level of difficulty) in this picturesque setting. Alternatively, hop on a bike for a meander through the quaint villages, stopping off at various places of interest and afternoon tea along the way.

Enjoy an airport transfer with private vehicle and driver. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Your English speaking guide will meet your group at the airport and accompany you to your hotel. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price).

Millennium Gloucester is a large modern hotel set in exclusive South Kensington, 50 metres from Gloucester Road London Underground station and adjacent to the Millennium Conference Centre. MillenThe hotel's 610 guestrooms have cherry wood furniture and fabrics in muted colours; all have desks, minibars and high-speed Internet connections. The galleried lobby leads through to Humphrey’s Bar, where guests chat and cream teas are served; concierge and business services onsite.

London is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its settlement, London has been part of many important movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival. London is one of the world's leading business, financial and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contribute to its status as a major global city. London boasts four World Heritage Sites: The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church; the Tower of London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The city is a major tourist destination both for domestic and overseas visitors.

A visit to the magnificent medieval Warwick Castle, most of whose amazing towers and ramparts are still intact. Warwick Castle will take you back through its 1,000 year history as you enter over the footbridge to a bygone world of banquets, battles and ceremony. Visit the Tussaud"s waxwork, or if you"re feeling brave visit the spine-chilling dungeons where prisoners were tortured. You might wish to stroll through the Castle"s delightful and lovingly tended gardens set in the peaceful surroundings of England"s finest medieval Castle. During the summer months, archery, falconry and jousting take place.
Steeped in history and heritage the area of England known as the Cotswolds is a charming blend of cottages with honey-coloured walls and thatched roofs, market towns with crooked half-timbered houses lining the High Street, and ancient stone crosses, all set in the gently rolling hills ("wolds") that are so typically English in character.
We then travel through the rolling Warwickshire hills to Stratford-upon-Avon, a market town at the edge of the Forest of Arden made famous for being the birthplace of the world-famous playwright William Shakespeare. We"ll visit the Tudor-style birthplace of William Shakespeare, gaining a fascinating insight into his childhood with its typical parlour, bedrooms, kitchen, buttery and of course the glove-maker"s workshop used by John, Shakespeare"s father.
The colleges in Oxford date back to the 13th century and among its famous students were Bill Clinton, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein and Lewis Carroll. We take you on a fascinating walking tour through the cobbled streets of Oxford to see the Bodleian Library and the picture-perfect college courtyards, for which Oxford is justifiably famous.

Admission to Warwick Castle, Christ Church college and Shakespeare's Birthplace is included in the tour price.

Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Millennium Gloucester (4*).

Here are some ideas for a Self Guided Shopping Tour... Outside of the mainstream shopping street of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Knightsbridge, there are plenty of great areas to check out... The Cabbages & Frocks Market in Marylebone High Street offers the best of global food, together with fashion and lifestyle. Popular with the tourists, St Christopher's Place is one of the most exciting specialist shopping locations in the West End. The area is made up of walkways that include Gees Court, St Christopher's Place, James Street, Barrett Street and parts of Oxford Street and Wigmore Street. Duke of York Square, in Chelsea is the area's newly developed pedestrian precinct. The eateries feature great outdoor spaces. One of the best places for outdoor shopping, Spitalfields is a quirky shoppers' dream. If you're looking for a one-off piece or something truly unique, you'll find it here. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Millennium Gloucester (4*).

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel. Enjoy a train ride from London to Cheltenham. The train takes around two hours. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price).

This Cheltenham property is situated close to Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum. Another nearby point of interest is Holst Birthplace Museum. Guestrooms have trouser presses, complimentary newspapers, and cable television; rooms also include coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Recreational amenities at Thistle Cheltenham include an indoor pool, a health club, and a sauna. Other amenities include a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and spa services.

Cheltenham (or Cheltenham Spa) is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire. Cheltenham is located on the edge of the Cotswolds and has an image of being respectable and wealthy. Cheltenham has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716. The town is famous for its Regency architecture and is said to be "the most complete regency town in England".

Enjoy a private 10 hour tour with your own vehicle, guide and driver to the Roman town of Wells, the world heritage site of Stonehenge and the Georgian town of Bath. The first stop is the beautiful town of Wells, with it's gothic buildings including the magnificent cathedral and St Cuthbert's church. Explore the town on foot, along the cobblestoned streets, before visiting the Bishop' Palace and Vicar's close. Lunch is at leisure. Continue through the rolling Wessex landscape to Stonehenge, a collection of stones dragged 5000 years ago to this lonely windy plain near Salisbury. Stonehenge continues to enthrall the imagination and captivate the heart of every visitor. In Bath, you'll enjoy a panoramic tour, in which you'll see the famous Bath Abbey, the often photgraphed Pulteney Bridge which is modelled on the Florentine Ponte Vecchio and the Georgian crescents that helped make Bath so famous. During the tour you will visit the Roman Baths that made the city famous, the best preserved Roman spa from the ancient world. (Includes entrance to Bath museum and baths and entrance and audio guide in Stonehenge). Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Continue your full day tour. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Thistle Cheltenham (4*).

Train station transfer in private vehicle with driver. Enjoy the train ride from Cheltenham to Oxenholme (20 mins from Windermere). A connection in Birmingham is required. Train travel time is approximately 3 hours. Private transfer with vehicle and driver from/to Oxenholme train station to/from accommodation in Windermere. Enjoy a day at leisure in Windermere. Pick up some information at the local tourist information centre on short walks and hikes in the area, stroll down to the lake shore, enjoy an afternoon tea in one of the many cafes and try the local Kendal mint cake - a staple for hikers on their ambles across the mountains. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price).

Standing on the shore of Lake Windermere, England's largest lake, the historic Macdonald Old England Hotel and Spa is an ideal base for exploring the Lake District National Park. The award-winning Vinand Restaurant offers unrivalled views over mature lawns to the lake, where you can hire private jetties and moorings. For Your Comfort, enjoy one of the 106 luxurious bedrooms, spectacular lakeside setting. spa treatments and packages, 20m pool, gym, sauna and steam room, 2 AA Rosette restaurant, bar, lounge and terrace, and proximity to local attractions and watersports.

Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since 1847, when the Kendal and Windermere Railway built a branch line to it. It is in the county of Cumbria and entirely within the Lake District National Park.

Experience what this region has to offer as you take in the splendid views throughout the day on a full day (shared) tour with a driver/guide. Often described as 'the most beautiful corner of England' this tour offers a wonderful introduction to the magnificent scenery of the English Lake District. Along the way, you will see ten Lakes and three mountain passes, before embarking on an extended cruise from the mountains to the moorland on Ullswater - 'Queen of the English Lakes'. We will pass a beautiful waterfall, Castlerigg Stone Circle, and the ancient township of Keswick (where you have lunch at leisure). Our last stop of the day is the delightful village of Grasmere. At the end of the day, you are sure to appreciate why this area has inspired poets and artists alike and for generations has drawn visitors from all over the world. Throughout the tour there are frequent stops for photographs and short walks. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Continue your full day tour. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at MacDonald Old England (3*).

Who has not heard of Peter Rabbit? Or Pigling Bland, Jeremy Fisher, Tom Kitten, Samuel Whiskers and other characters brought to life by Beatrix Potter!

This is a comprehensive tour of the houses, farms, villages, valleys, lakes and mountains that are linked to her stories. We enter the real world of Beatrix, a lonely child who became one of the world's best loved children's authors, and one of the most important benefactors of the National Trust, using income from her Peter Rabbit Tales to protect her beloved Lake District.
Essentially this tour is of the central and northern parts of the area, with frequent stops for photographs and detailed commentary. Including stop-overs at Near Sawrey, with time to visit Hill Top, Beatrix's home and delightful Hawkshead village.
The lunchbreak at Grasmere provides an opportunity to visit Dove Cottage, home of William Wordsworth. The afternoon sees us near Keswick visiting locations where Beatrix Potter holidayed and which inspired her Tales of Mrs. Tiggy-winkle and Benjamin Bunny, including Newlands Valley and Moss Force Waterfall.
A lake cruise on Squirrel Nutkin's Derwentwater, a spectacular drive over the northern mountain passes and a visit to the 5,000 year old Castlerigg Stone Circle complete one of the finest tours in England. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Continue your full day tour. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at MacDonald Old England (3*).

Transfer to Manchester Airport in private vehicle with driver. Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from Manchester/Liverpool airport - end of itinerary.