Tales of England: London, Stonehenge & Shakespeare

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.

Our hotel is a short distance from Regent's Park, and its location next to Warren Street Underground station puts many attractions 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.

• Dinner

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 onboard 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 transport to reach Hyde Park.

London's culinary scene ranges from Michelin-starred restaurants to traditional pubs, giving you plenty of options for dinner. Overnight London.

• Breakfast

After breakfast, we transfer to London Waterloo station to join our First Class seats on a train 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 continue by coach to Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has stood amid the grasslands of Salisbury Plain for more than 5,000 years. As the world's most famous Neolithic structure, it's believed these mysterious stones were built around the same time as the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. There's time to gaze in awe at the 13-foot stones that were once a ritual ground or learn more at the museum and visitor center.

After, we head back to Salisbury to tour this small city's cathedral, which boasts Britain's tallest spire, the world's oldest clock, and the best preserved of only four original Magna Carta, designed to protect the rights and freedoms of individual citizens. Checking in to the 17th-century Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel, we enjoy dinner together. Overnight Salisbury.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Salisbury after breakfast, we travel onward to Oxford, home to the University of Oxford, a place of learning dating back to the 11th century.

A guided tour begins at the Ashmolean Museum, from where we explore Oxford and its honey-hued limestone buildings. Age-old and revered colleges appear around almost every corner and we view some of the city's highlights as we wander, including the iconic Bodleian Library and the Bridge of Sighs that connects two parts of Hertford College. As the tour ends, there's time at leisure and you could grab lunch in a historic pub.

Continuing to Stratford-upon-Avon, we check in to our hotel in time for tonight's memorable dinner - a feasting banquet. In our historic hotel's Woodsman restaurant, with exposed beams and an authentic Elizabethan fireplace, we savor high-quality British produce in elegant surroundings. Overnight Stratford-upon-Avon.

• Breakfast, Dinner

As the hometown of famed playwright William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is brimming with hundreds of years of history, which we discover today, beginning with a special experience. Entering his timber-framed birthplace before it opens to the public, we enjoy a private guided tour, learning about his childhood and life in Stratford in the 16th century.

Leaving Shakespeare's birthplace, we join a local expert for a guided tour of the town, following in the footsteps of the Bard of Avon. Wandering past well-preserved Tudor buildings, we also visit the 500-year-old cottage that belonged to the family of Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway.

The rest of the day is at leisure, and more 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 for dinner this evening. Overnight Stratford-upon-Avon.

• Breakfast

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 Theater. 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 theater - 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.

• Breakfast

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 building entirely to ourselves. A palace host greets us and takes us through the rooms and apartments, providing insider knowledge into its history and its inhabitants. After the tour, you can continue exploring at your own pace, perhaps getting an audio guide for expert insight as you wander or viewing the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial garden.

Afterward, we proceed to the UNESCO-listed Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 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 with prosecco in the hotel's steakhouse. Overnight London.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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 before unraveling stories spanning more than 5,000 years in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside.

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, your vacation concludes this morning. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and beginning your travels home.

• Breakfast