Highlights of the United Kingdom

Your great British vacation begins today as you land in London and transfer independently to our central hotel.

Once you've checked in, the rest of your afternoon is free to unwind or explore the local area. You could head out into the bustling streets to soak in the capital's vibrant atmosphere. The hotel is a short distance from Regent's Park and the British Museum, while its location next to Warren Street Underground station means that many attractions are within easy reach. You could stroll along busy Oxford Street, home of Selfridges department store, seek out vintage style at Camden Market, or delve into the fictional world of Harry Potter at King's Cross station - where you can find Platform 9¾.

Returning to our hotel this evening, we get to know each other over our first dinner as a group. Overnight London.

• Dinner

After your first breakfast in the UK, we witness the ceremonial opening of the Tower of London, a tradition that first took place in 1322. A Yeoman Warder dressed in their finery delivers a short talk before the ceremony and there's free time afterward to explore the famous landmark. Built in the 11th century, the tower now houses the Crown Jewels but has played an important role in much of British history. As an infamous prison, former inmates included royals such as a king of Scotland, Anne Boleyn, and the 'princes in the tower'.

There is time to grab lunch on your own, before we embark on a guided tour of London. Traveling around the city by motorcoach, our onboard guide narrates a dazzling array of notable attractions, including Buckingham Palace and Big Ben.

Returning to our hotel, there is a free evening to relax or head out to enjoy the London nightlife, perhaps seeing a West End show or dine in one of the many celebrated or Michelin-starred restaurants. Overnight London.

• Breakfast

Departing London after breakfast, we journey by motorcoach to the wild grasslands of Salisbury Plain. Here, we encounter arguably the most famous Neolithic structure in the world - Stonehenge.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is still revealing its mysterious origins but is believed to have been built about 5,000 years ago - around the same time as the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Each standing stone of this enchanting circle stands around 13 feet high and experts suspect it was a place to conduct rituals relating to the changing seasons. There's time to learn more at the museum, walk around the stones or grab lunch in the café before we move on.

Our destination is beautiful Bath, where the afternoon is at leisure. Originally a Roman spa town, Bath boomed during the Georgian period of the late 1700s. Our hotel showcases this grand architecture style with a honey-colored façade made from Bath stone, and it is here we dine together tonight. Overnight Bath.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a timeline stretching back nearly 2,000 years, there is much to discover on a free day in Bath.

The Romans, attracted to the area by natural hot springs, built their first temple complex in around 60AD. The Roman Baths still stand today, and visitors can stroll around the bathhouse and temple and even taste the waters - although, with a sulfuric odor and strong mineral flavor, it is very much an acquired taste. Nearby is the striking medieval abbey, a place of tranquility in the heart of Bath's small city center.

Spanning the River Avon near our hotel is the Pulteney Bridge. Lined on both sides by quaint stores, you may not notice you are crossing a river. This historic bridge was constructed in 1774 - a time when Bath was enjoying a resurgence thanks to the efforts of notable architects. Admiring the sweeping Royal Crescent transports you back to the opulence of Georgian England. Alternatively, you could visit the Jane Austen Museum to learn about the novelist who brought this period to life through works including Pride & Prejudice. Overnight Bath.

• Breakfast

Boarding a motorcoach after breakfast, we transfer to nearby Bristol for a train journey. With our luggage traveling separately, we can relax in our First Class seats enroute to the historic port city of Liverpool.

Arriving early this afternoon, we check in to our hotel outside Liverpool's Lime Street station. The rest of the day is free to explore this fascinating city on your own, and immediately opposite our hotel is St George's Hall. Opened in 1854, this remarkable neoclassical building was built to honor Queen Victoria - there are equestrian statues to the monarch and her beloved Albert outside. Liverpool brims with culture and history. Near our hotel and St George's Hall is the famous Walker Art Gallery that showcases artworks from Degas to Hockney, while the Tate Liverpool boasts modern pieces in a converted dock building.

Thanks to its historic docks, Liverpool has enjoyed a global influence for centuries and this is reflected in its culinary offerings. Dining independently tonight, you can enjoy everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to cuisine from all across the world. Overnight Liverpool.

• Breakfast

You've got a 'ticket to ride' as we embark on a 'magical mystery tour' of Liverpool today, blending sightseeing with the history of the city's most celebrated sons - the Beatles.

From the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney to locations featured in their hit songs, we get to know more about the Fab Four and how Liverpool shaped them. On our tour, we cover the famed Cavern Club, Penny Lane and Strawberry Field, immortalized in Strawberry Fields Forever. Stopping here, you can view the colorful gates, the posts of which have become a makeshift memorial for the band. We also view the Gothic Liverpool Cathedral and the modernist Metropolitan Cathedral, nicknamed Paddy's Wigwam due to its distinctive shape. Liverpool is synonymous with its port and shipping. Our motorcoach tour also reveals the iconic Royal Liver Building, Albert Dock, the former headquarters of White Star Line (owners of the Titanic), and Europe's oldest Chinatown.

After lunch, we view Liverpool from a different perspective on a Mersey cruise, providing great panoramas of Liverpool's skyline, before an evening at leisure. Overnight Liverpool.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The leaving of Liverpool follows breakfast today as we travel from west to east. With our luggage going directly to our next hotel, we board our train to York. Our journey to Manchester follows the route of the world's first inter-city railway, opened in 1830. After passing the rising skyline of Manchester, we view the wild Pennines as we reach Yorkshire.

We are greeted at York station by a tour guide who shows us this ancient city's sights. A significant town in Roman Britain, York was invaded by Danish Vikings in the 9th century, before becoming an important religious and trading center in medieval times. Many reminders of this long history remain to this day, including the 13th-century city walls. After visiting the Shambles, a narrow 14th-century lane with overhanging, timber-framed buildings, our tour concludes outside York Minster, a magnificent cathedral boasting an impressive amount of medieval stained glass.

With a free afternoon and evening, you could pay to enter York Minster or stroll the city's charming streets, maybe stopping for tea and cakes at the famous Betty's Tea Rooms. Overnight York.

• Breakfast

A morning at leisure provides the opportunity to explore more of York's attractions, while our luggage is transferred to our next hotel. Rail enthusiasts will enjoy strolling around the National Railway Museum, housing many famous locomotives including Mallard. Step into a world of Scandinavian invaders at the Jorvik Viking Museum, traveling in small carriages through re-creations of Viking life in the city. Alternatively, wander through York's charming streets indulging in a spot of retail therapy.

This afternoon, we return to York train station for a journey north to the capital of Scotland. In Northumberland, England's northernmost county, we can admire scenes of the rugged coastline from our First Class seats before entering Scotland near Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Split into a grand Georgian New Town and a medieval Old Town, Edinburgh is a stunning city of robust sandstone buildings, enchanting history and captivating culture. Our beautiful four-star hotel is on the atmospheric Royal Mile and we check in for two nights ahead of dinner this evening. Overnight Edinburgh.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Edinburgh's UNESCO-listed center is on our doorstep as we wake for our first morning in Scotland's capital. After breakfast, we step out and walk down the Royal Mile to the city's iconic landmark - Edinburgh Castle.

Perched on a craggy volcanic rock, there has been a castle on this site since the 11th century. Home to kings and queens throughout the ages, Edinburgh Castle is rich in tales of sieges, military exploits and even pirates. At the end of the broad esplanade where the annual military tattoo takes place is the Gatehouse, either side of which stand statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. Leaving the castle, we savor a taste of one of Scotland's most popular products. The innovative Scotch Whisky Experience introduces us to the history of whisky and how it is created. After this engaging insight, a guide takes us to a private area to teach us about Scotland's five whisky regions, followed by a tasting of a few drams.

There rest of the day is free to either unwind at the hotel or continue exploring. Overnight Edinburgh.

• Breakfast

The many attractions of Scotland's capital are yours to enjoy on a free day. From the Walter Scott Memorial to the charming statue of Greyfriars Bobby, you are never far from literary heritage in Edinburgh - which became the world's first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004. Perhaps hunt out the café where JK Rowling wrote parts of the Harry Potter series or relax in historic pubs - including Deacon Brodie's, named for the man who inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's creation, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Alternatively, uncover spooky tales in the maze of hidden streets under the Royal Mile at the Real Mary King's Close or gaze upon renowned artworks at the National Galleries. Heading to fashionable Leith, you could embrace British royal history aboard HMS Britannia.

This evening, we sit down for a Scottish banquet in our hotel's Great Scots Hall. With traditional furnishings, latticed sandstone ceiling, painted panels and an open fire, it is an ideal setting for a fine feast accompanied by traditional pipers and dancers. This time-honored celebration is the perfect farewell evening to your amazing vacation. Overnight Edinburgh.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Traveling between the capitals of England and Scotland has showcased an abundance of history, culture and fascinating cities. From witnessing the venerable Ceremony of the Keys in London to enjoying a Scottish gala dinner in Edinburgh, we have explored the mysterious landscape of Stonehenge, Viking history in York, Georgian elegance in Bath and the pop culture of the Swinging Sixties in Liverpool.

After breakfast at our hotel this morning, your grand tour concludes and you are free to make your way to Edinburgh Airport for your flight home.

• Breakfast