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England

Tales of England: London, Stonehenge & Shakespeare

 
You are viewing the 2026 itinerary. Select your departure year
20262027
Duration
8 days
From per person
$2,495
Tour code
LSJ26
Mobility Rating 2
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Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager
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Connect the England of the past and present on a round-trip itinerary from London featuring Shakespearean undertones and memorable perspectives on iconic sites

Royal landmarks and age-old tales pave the course on this week-long English vacation. Follow a memorable route beginning and ending in London, visiting destinations like Salisbury and Stratford-upon-Avon along the way.

Experience London's many sites while touring its streets and cruising the Thames, and then continue south to uncover a Neolithic mystery on the Salisbury Plains: Stonehenge. Wander the ancient streets of Oxford and see Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare's story continues back in London at the Globe Theatre, and Kensington Palace and UNESCO-listed Kew Gardens provide an aristocratic ending.

Unforgettable Experiences

Uncover the mystery of Stonehenge
Uncover the mystery of Stonehenge
Discover 5,000 years of wonder at Stonehenge, a site whose origins are uncertain yet awe-inspiring, where 13-foot stones stand in an eternal circle overlooking the Salisbury Plains.
Cruise along the River Thames
Cruise along the River Thames
Gain a memorable perspective on London’s landmarks while setting out on a lunchtime cruise along the River Thames, drifting past the Tower of London, London Bridge and iconic buildings, including the “Shard.”
Tour the iconic Globe Theatre
Tour the iconic Globe Theatre
Hear the stories, history and evolution of London's Globe Theatre, touring the third interpretation of this iconic structure, which was originally built 500 years ago and set the stage for William Shakespeare's plays.
Explore the halls of Kensington Palace
Explore the halls of Kensington Palace
With an exclusive early access tour, marvel at 300 years of royal heritage while exploring the opulent rooms and well-manicured gardens of Kensington Palace, the London residence of Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales.
Spend an afternoon at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
Spend an afternoon at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
Find yourself immersed in colorful gardens and lush displays at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, home to more than 50,000 plant species.

What’s included on the tour?

Itinerary

DAY1Arrival in London

Your exploration of England's stories and history begins today as your plane touches down in London and you make your own way to our centrally located hotel. Once you have checked in and settled into your room, you are free to get your bearings in this multi-layered capital city.

The hotel is a short distance from Regent's Park, and its location next to Warren Street Underground station puts many attractions that are further from the city center within reach. You could stroll along Oxford Street, home to the famous Selfridges department store, or seek out vintage style at Camden Market. Alternatively, you might like to delve into the fictional world of Harry Potter at King's Cross station, where you can find Platform 9¾.

Returning to the hotel this evening, meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travelers for our first dinner together. Overnight London.

Includes
  • Dinner
DAY2Getting to know London’s history and culture

London is home to some of Europe's most iconic landmarks, and we get our first look at them on a guided tour of the city. A coach picks us up from the hotel after breakfast, and a guide joins us on board to narrate the journey. Look out upon attractions like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, and marvel at various parks, neighborhoods, cathedrals and historic buildings as our route unfolds.

Wrapping up our tour around midday, we return to the hotel with the remainder of the day and evening at leisure. Our hotel is within walking distance of the iconic British Museum, which was first opened to the public in 1759. Its exhibits and displays tell the story of human history around the world. You could also stroll through the fragrant blossoms of Queen Mary's Rose Gardens or use public transit to reach Hyde Park.

London's culinary scene is filled with options, from Michelin-starred restaurants to traditional pubs, giving you plenty of options for dinner this evening. Overnight London.

Includes
  • Breakfast
DAY3A cruise on the Thames

Enjoy another perspective on the city of London this morning, as we embark on a sightseeing cruise on the River Thames. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before a coach transfer takes us to the Tower of London, where our cruise begins.

We step aboard our vessel with sprawling views of the London skyline. Look up the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, and enjoy views of the London Eye and the ultra-modern Shard building - a hallmark of "new" London. Lunch is served as we drift along the calm waterway back toward the Tower of London.

Following our cruise, we transfer to London Waterloo station to join our First Class seats on the South Western Railway to Salisbury in southern England. This medieval city has been attracting travelers since 1227 and offers a combination of historic attractions and 21st-century amenities. On arrival this afternoon, we take a short coach ride to our hotel, the 17th-century Mercure Salisbury White Heart Hotel. Enjoy free time to get to know the surrounding historic district before dinner at the hotel. Overnight Salisbury.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY4Looking to the past at Stonehenge and Oxford

We begin our day amid the wild grasslands of Salisbury Plain as we make our way by coach toward the most famous Neolithic structure in the world: Stonehenge. This UNESCO World Heritage site is still revealing its mysterious origins, but experts believe it was built 5,000 years ago - around the same time as the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt - and that the 13-foot stones were once a ritual ground.

We have time to learn more at the museum, explore the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, and walk around the stones before traveling to Oxford, home to the University of Oxford. With free time on arrival, you could grab lunch in a historic pub, such as The Eagle and Child, which was a meeting spot for the Inklings - a group of writers that included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. You could also wander the 900-year-old college campus or visit Oxford Castle and Prison, whose tower offers a remarkable view over Oxford.

Continuing to Stratford-upon-Avon, we check into our hotel in time for dinner together. Overnight Stratford-upon-Avon.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY5The stories of William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon

The hometown of famed playwright William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is brimming with hundreds of years of history, which we discover on a guided walking tour. A local guide meets us at our hotel this morning, and we set out at a gentle pace, wandering past well-preserved Tudor buildings, half-timbered houses and medieval structures. Highlights of our excursion include Shakespeare's birthplace and the 500-year-old cottage that belonged to the family of his wife, Anne Hathaway.

We make our way back to our hotel with the remainder of the day to continue exploring this charming locale at your own pace. You might like to return to the stops from our tour to uncover their historic interiors, including the original Hathaway bed at the Hathaway Cottage. Elsewhere, Shakespearean touches can be found throughout the town, from his schoolroom to the striking Holy Trinity Church, where he is buried. There are plenty of quirky 16th-century pubs and modern British restaurants in which to find dinner this evening. Overnight Stratford-upon-Avon.

Includes
  • Breakfast
DAY6Exploring Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

Leaving Stratford-upon-Avon by coach after breakfast, we travel from the heart of England back to its capital. Our route takes us through the scenic English countryside and past modern and historic destinations as we approach London. Our first destination on arrival is Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The half-timbered building we see today is the third iteration of this theater, which was first built as a stage for Shakespeare's shows in 1599. The legendary playwright called the theater a "wooden O," due to its circular construction and open-air design, and this incredible setup can still be seen today in the 1997 iteration.

On arrival, there is time to grab lunch independently before a guide introduces the history, stories and features of the Globe Theatre - the only thatched building in London. See the covered stage and the leveled seating area before continuing to explore at your own pace.

Later in the afternoon, we are transferred back to our original hotel, where the evening is at leisure. Overnight London.

Includes
  • Breakfast
DAY7London’s royal side

Today, a full day of sightseeing reveals some of London's royal influences. After an early breakfast, we head to Kensington Palace, the birthplace of Queen Victoria and the London residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales. We arrive an hour before opening for a private tour, with the castle entirely to ourselves.

A palace host greets us and takes us through the beautiful rooms and apartments, providing insider knowledge into the palace's history and its inhabitants. Following the tour, you can continue exploring at your own pace, perhaps getting an audio guide for expert insight as you wander. Afterward, we proceed to the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These colorful gardens were established by Princess Augusta in 1759, and today contain more than 50,000 plants.

We arrive at its location alongside the River Thames and have the afternoon to explore independently. You could grab lunch at one of the on-site restaurants before discovering the various gardens and displays.

Returning to the hotel this evening, we have our final dinner in the hotel's steakhouse. Overnight London.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY8Tour conclusion

For a country roughly the size of Alabama, England is awash in deep history - from battles and Neolithic sites to the roots of one of the world's most famous playwrights, William Shakespeare. We followed a round-trip course from London, exploring the capital's many landmarks and attractions by coach and boat before unraveling stories spanning more than 5,000 years in the heart of the country.

Having come full circle with our Shakespearean explorations, connecting his birthplace with the stage where his plays continue to be performed to this day, and seen the best of London, our vacation concludes this morning. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and beginning your travels home.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours, they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. Please reference our Mobility Ratings Information, and if you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-877-929-7245.

Hotels

Radisson Blu Hotel, London Euston Square, London
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Euston Square, London
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Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel & Apartments, Salisbury
Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel & Apartments, Salisbury
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The Arden Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
The Arden Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
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The White Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon
The White Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon
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Enhance your holiday

Extend your stay

Many of our guests choose to spend additional nights before or after their trip. Vacations By Rail would be happy to make hotel arrangements for you.