Great Britain may not be the largest country in the world, but it certainly has an abundance of iconic landscapes, unrivalled heritage and breathtaking countryside. From London with its wonderful museums and prestigious restaurants, and smaller cities such as Oxford, Bath and Edinburgh with their impressive architecture, to the dramatic scenery and wildlife of the Scottish Highlands, Great Britain is an utterly fascinating destination. Start with a short stay in London before you jump on a train and head northwards, first to the glorious Peak District, then to York and an adventure by steam train to Scarborough. Continue on through Newcastle to Edinburgh, before setting off to explore the northwest coast of Scotland, including an adventure on board the glorious Jacobite Steam Railway. Return to London again on the Caledonian Sleeper train from Fort William.
GREAT BRITAIN BY RAIL
HIGHLIGHTS
- Visiting the splendid State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace.
- The natural, unspoilt beauty of the Peak District & Scottish Highlands.
- Admiring the fine architecture in historic towns & villages.
- A memorable scenic journey on the Jacobite Steam Train.
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Arrive
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Day 1 Arrive in London
Arrive in London where you will be met on arrival and transferred to your elegant 5-star hotel in the heart of Mayfair. You'll have the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Brown's Hotel
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Day 2 London
A full day sightseeing tour of London, including a stop at Westminster Abbey, the setting for all royal coronations since 1066 and the most recent Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The morning will finish with a ride on the London Eye, providing a bird's eye view of the capital. After lunch depart for a tour of Buckingham Palace, which opened its doors to visitors for the first time in 1993. A visit will be made to the splendid State Rooms including the Throne Room, the Music Room and the State Dining Room, used for entertaining statesmen and members of Royalty from overseas. There will also be an opportunity to wander through the magnificent gardens. The evening will be at leisure.
Overnight: Brown's Hotel
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Day 3 London to the Peak District
Travel by train from London St Pancras International direct to Chesterfield this morning. On arrival you will be met and transferred privately the short journey to your hotel in the heart of the Peak District near the village of Baslow. You will be whisked off for an afternoon to explore the delights of the Peak District in the company of an experienced and knowledgeable local guide.
Overnight: Cavendish Hotel
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Day 4 Buxton, The Peak District & York
Begin your day in the market town of Buxton, the gateway to the Peak District. The town's famous Georgian and Victorian architecture provides an impressive backdrop to a rich and vibrant range of music, theatre and festivals all year round. Added to all this there are stunning, ornamental Pavilion Gardens, a wealth of independent and high street shopping opportunities and a wonderful choice of cafes, bars and restaurants. After a morning to explore, take the afternoon train to York via Manchester Piccadilly. The evening is at leisure to enjoy the charms of the historic city of York.
Overnight: The Grand Hotel & Spa
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Day 5 York and the Steam Train to Scarborough
Meet your guide this morning for a guided exploration on foot of this historic walled city. You'll visit the famous Minster and explore the narrow cobbled streets filled with delightful little shops and cafes. At the end of the morning, board the Scarborough Spa Express and head east to Scarborough on the coast on one of the oldest steam engines in the world. Return to York for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: The Grand Hotel & Spa
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Day 6 York to Edinburgh
Board the train to Edinburgh and take the scenic route along the east coast. Arrive in Edinburgh Waverley around midday. After lunch, meet your private guide for a tour of the capital city of Scotland, including a visit to Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the capital from atop a huge promontory of rock in the city centre, and where the Crown Jewels of Scotland, older than those of England, are kept. Afterwards drive down the Royal Mile to the Holyrood Palace, the official residence of H.M. The King when in Edinburgh, and former home of the ill-fated Mary, Queen of Scots in the 16th century, to visit the State Apartments. The evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Balmoral
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Day 7 Edinburgh & Glasgow
This morning you might like to head to Leith and step on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, the one place where the late H.M. The Queen is said to have been able to truly relax, and get a glimpse of the private lives of the royalty in the sumptuous interiors. In the afternoon, you'll travel by train to Glasgow, where you will be met at the station and transferred to your hotel. Meet your guide and head to the West End of the city to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Following extensive refurbishment between 2003 and 2006, the museum has become the most popular free-to-enter visitor attraction in Scotland and the most visited museum in the United Kingdom outside London. While in the West End, you'll also visit the beautiful Glasgow Botanic Gardens, created in 1817 and featuring several glasshouses, the most notable of which is the Kibble Palace.
Overnight: Hotel du Vin
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Day 8 Glasgow & Journey to Fort William
You'll have a morning in Glasgow to explore the city centre, perhaps for a spot of shopping in the Buchanan Galleries, before boarding your train to Fort William. On arrival, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Inverlochy Castle
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Day 9 Inverlochy & Fort William
Today is at leisure to enjoy the hotel's extensive grounds and excellent facilities. Try your hand at clay-pigeon shooting in the hotel grounds, or play a round of golf at the challenging Fort William Golf Course nearby. You might also like to visit the Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery, one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland beautifully located at the foot of Ben Nevis.
Overnight: Inverlochy Castle
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Day 10 Jacobite Steam Train & Caledonian Sleeper Train
Today you'll enjoy the 84-mile scenic round trip by steam train between Fort William and Mallaig, including crossing over the world-famous 14-arch Glenfinnan viaduct which featured in the Harry Potter films. Mallaig isn't just the main access point to the Isle of Skye (via ferry) but also a thriving fishing community, and you'll have time to visit the village, perhaps sampling one of the village restaurants offering freshly caught fish and shellfish, before joining the train again for the return journey to Fort William. (Your seats will be in the First Class carriages). Join your overnight sleeper train in Fort William in the early evening. Enjoy dinner on board before retiring for the night to your private, air-conditioned cabin.
Overnight: Caledonian Sleeper Train
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Day 11 Journey Home
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on board the Caledonian Sleeper Train this morning as you arrive into London Euston.
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Depart
INCLUSIONS
- All accommodation as detailed in the itinerary.
- Daily breakfast.
- Private transfers throughout.
- All sightseeing, entrance fees and guide services as detailed in the itinerary.
- All train journeys detailed in the itinerary
- Internal flights where detailed in the itinerary.
EXTRAS
- International flights.
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, gratuities (discretionary).
- Entrance fees and excursions not specifically mentioned as included.
- Travel insurance or visa fees.
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REASONS TO BOOK
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