Southern England Escape with London

Welcome to London! Tonight, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

On The Town in London Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes sights of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, the Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Enjoy free time this afternoon. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SITES England’s national treasure of St. Paul’s Cathedral is home to a spectacular array of art from delicate carvings to gilded dome murals and modern works of art. As the seat of the Bishop of London, the cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London, where notable remembrances have been served here, including Queen Victoria’s jubilee, birthdays of Queen Elizabeth II, and funerals of luminaries like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

Spires & Plays Your first stop today is in Oxford, the city of dreaming spires. Your [LOCAL FAVORITE] guided walking tour through the university city shows you colleges, architecture, and historic streets. Visit magnificent Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Continue to the market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and hear the story of “The Bard,” England’s most famous playwright and poet. (B) 119 mi / 192 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT A LEGEND SLEPT HERE Ah, love! Even more true as young Shakespeare’s fiancée was eight years his senior. See Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the family home where the bard’s wife-to-be was born and courted by young Will. Built more than 500 years ago, much of the original structure remains. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and family home in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales of his family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Cottage Stones & Roman Spas Take a scenic drive through the picturesque Cotswolds, characterized by rolling hills and charming honey-colored stone cottages, to Lacock, one of England’s best-preserved villages. Owned almost entirely by the National Trust, its unspoiled appearance has featured in the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey. In Bath, visit the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths, and take some time to visit this fascinating city. (B) 138 mi / 222 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEMS The traditions of one ancient Roman ritual are in full flow in Bath. Amid the remarkable Roman and Georgian architecture and the best-preserved Roman Baths of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a good spa day is never hard to find in one of the “Best Spa Towns in Europe.” The city of Bath sits above geothermal springs that bubble up from the limestone below. Bath also turns up the heat with some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings, a mecca for elite 18th-century society.

Mysterious Monoliths Try to unravel the mystery of prehistoric Stonehenge and explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then view the monument up close. Enjoy some free time on your return to London. (B) 123 mi / 197 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORY & MYSTERY Ponder the who, what, why, and how of Stonehenge, one of the most impressive prehistoric megalithic monuments in the world. Its sheer size and sophisticated architectural design have earned its legendary reverence as the most famous prehistoric monument in the world. Although its original purpose is a mystery, the concentric monuments hold spiritual significance for people from around the world who gather at the massive stone circles to celebrate the summer solstice.

Safe travels until we meet again!? Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)