Overview
Itinerary
Welcome to London. Settle into your hotel and meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers over dinner. Settle in with your group and get ready to explore England's history, landscapes and local traditions. (D) Stay: Crowne Plaza Kings Cross
See London's most recognizable sights this morning on a guided tour with a Local Specialist. Admire Buckingham Palace, The Mall, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament before viewing the city from a new angle on a Thames River cruise. There's time to explore or enjoy lunch at your own pace before leaving the capital behind. Travel north through England's countryside to the city of Cambridge. Known for its centuries-old university and architecture, you'll get your bearings on an orientation tour with your Travel Director.
Later, settle in and enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers. (B/D) Stay: Novotel Cambridge North
Begin your day with a Dive into Culture experience as you explore Cambridge from the water on a traditional punting trip. Gliding along the River Cam, you'll pass historic colleges and bridges while hearing stories of the university and its traditions. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Choose to explore the city at your own pace or join an Optional Experience to Audley End House and Gardens, one of England's finest stately homes.
Later, there's the option to enjoy a traditional Sunday roast at a local pub, where roast meats, Yorkshire pudding and a warm local welcome await. (B)
Leave the university city of Cambridge behind as you travel north towards Yorkshire. Stop in Halifax to visit The Piece Hall, a striking Georgian courtyard that once buzzed with cloth merchants and now houses independent shops, galleries and exhibitions.
Later, journey across the Yorkshire Moors on the M62, passing rugged hillsides, stone walls and wide open landscapes that offer a scenic window into northern England. Arrive in Manchester, a city shaped by innovation, music and industry, where your evening is free to relax or explore. (B) Stay: Maldron Manchester City Center
Start the day surrounded by nature at RHS Garden Bridgewater, where carefully designed spaces bring together heritage and horticulture on the site of a historic estate.
Later, travel to Liverpool for your Be My Guest experience at Strawberry Field. Once a Salvation Army children's home, this peaceful space was made famous by The Beatles and now shares its story with visitors from around the world. Enjoy afternoon tea before returning to Manchester. The evening is yours to explore at your own pace. Wander the streets of the Northern Quarter, visit one of the city's many museums or relax with a drink in a local pub. (B)
Leave the city behind and head into the Peak District, stopping in the market town of Bakewell. Dive into Culture over morning tea and a traditional Bakewell Tart, a sweet treat that's become a national favorite. Take in the scenic landscapes en route to Nottingham, where a walking tour reveals the Old Market Square, Town Hall, the Lace Market and the Robin Hood statue. Spend the rest of the day your way. (B) Stay: Mercure Nottingham Sherwood
Travel into the heart of Robin Hood country with a visit to Sherwood Forest. See the Major Oak, believed to be over 1,000 years old, and learn how this ancient woodland became tied to one of England's most famous legends. Back in Nottingham, enjoy free time to explore the city your way—relax in a cafe, browse local shops or visit one of the museums. You can also choose to join an Optional Experience to Nottingham Castle and the caves beneath it. Discover the story of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham, and explore a network of caves carved into the sandstone over a thousand years ago. (B/L)
Visit the Loughborough Bellfoundry Museum for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience attached to the world's largest working bell foundry. Meet the team preserving this centuries-old craft before continuing to Birmingham. Join your Travel Director for an orientation, taking in Victoria Square, the Bullring, Selfridges Building, Birmingham Cathedral and the canals. Spend the rest of the day your way or choose from two Optional Experiences: step into chocolatey wonder at Cadbury World with afternoon tea, or uncover the city's street art and Peaky Blinders filming sites. (B) Stay: Doubletree by Hilton Coventry
Explore Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Walk through the town's historic streets and see the house where the world's most famous playwright was born. From here, the afternoon is yours to explore more of the town or join an Optional Experience to Warwick Castle. Step inside one of England's most impressive medieval fortresses and discover stories of battle, power and pageantry. Back in Coventry, round off your holiday with a final dinner shared with your Travel Director and fellow travelers. (B/D)
Spend time in Oxford, one of England's most renowned university cities. Join your Travel Director for an orientation tour to see the Radcliffe Camera, the Ashmolean Museum and the historic colleges that have shaped centuries of learning. Travel back to London where you will spend the evening at your leisure. (B) Stay: Crowne Plaza Kings Cross
Say a fond farewell to London and your newfound friends at the end of an unforgettable journey. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Explore London, Nottingham
- Discover Cambridge, Manchester, Birmingham, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford
- Visit Piece Hall in Halifax, RHS Garden Bridgewater, Punt on the River Cam, Sherwood Forest, Shakespeare's Birthplace
- View Cambridge and Oxford's colleges
- Cruise the Thames
- Drive the Yorkshire Moors, The Cotswolds and the Peak District
Be My Guest
- Liverpool: Step through the red gates of Strawberry Field in Liverpool, once a Salvation Army children's home and the inspiration for “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Hear stories from your hosts, explore the exhibition and gardens where John Lennon once played, and see the piano used to compose “Imagine” before sitting down to afternoon tea overlooking this iconic place.
Dive Into Culture
- Taste Bakewell Tart
- Cambridge: Experience Cambridge from the water on a traditional punting trip. Pass by the city's historic colleges and bridges as your guide shares insights into university life and local history from a unique vantage point.
- Bakewell: Pause for a traditional cuppa and try the town's famous sweet treat—the Bakewell Tart. With its almond and jam filling, it's a local favorite and a delicious taste of Derbyshire.
Iconic Experience
- London: See London's iconic sites with a Local Specialist.
- London: See London from a different angle on a Thames River cruise. Glide past iconic sights like the Tower of London and Tower Bridge as you take in the city's skyline from the water.
- Cambridge: Join your Travel Director for an orientation tour of Cambridge. See the university's historic colleges, walk along the River Cam and get to know the city's academic heritage and charming streets.
- Halifax: Discover Halifax's Georgian masterpiece. Once a hub for trading cloth, this open-air courtyard now blends history with culture. Explore independent shops, galleries and exhibitions as you learn how this unique space helped shape the town's story.
- Lancaster: Drive the M62 from Halifax to Manchester through the Yorkshire Moors. Pass dramatic moorland, stone farmhouses and sweeping views as you cross one of England's highest motorways, linking rural landscapes with the energy of the north's great cities.
- Manchester: Explore one of the UK's newest gardens, set on the site of Worsley New Hall. Walk through designed spaces that reflect both heritage and modern planting, and see how the Royal Horticultural Society is bringing new life to this historic landscape.
- Manchester: From the world's first industrial city to the birthplace of iconic bands and football legends, Manchester blends heritage and creativity. Visit the Science and Industry Museum, explore the Northern Quarter's street art and shops, and experience the energy that's made this city a cultural powerhouse.
- Bakewell: Explore the charming market town of Bakewell, set in the heart of the Peak District. Wander through its stone-built streets, browse local shops and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a place known for its character and countryside charm.
- Nottingham: Take in the landscapes of the Peak District as you travel from Manchester to Nottingham. With rolling hills, stone villages and sweeping views, this national park has long inspired writers like Jane Austen. A scenic drive through English countryside.
- Nottingham: Join your Local Specialist in Nottingham to explore the city's history and legends. See the Old Market Square, Town Hall, the famous Robin Hood statue and the Lace Market, once the heart of Britain's lace industry.
- Nottingham: See the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, a tree estimated to be over 1,000 years old. Learn how this ancient woodland became linked to the story of Robin Hood and explore the setting behind one of England's most enduring legends.
- Birmingham: Explore Birmingham with your Travel Director on an orientation tour through the city center. See Victoria Square and its civic buildings, pass the Bullring's modern architecture and view the striking Library of Birmingham. Learn how the city has evolved from its industrial roots into a hub of culture, innovation and design in the West Midlands.
- Stratford-upon-Avon: Explore the town where William Shakespeare was born and raised. Walk through timber-framed streets, see the River Avon and discover how this small market town became one of England's most famous literary landmarks.
- Shakespeare's Birthplace: Travel through the Cotswolds and Warwickshire countryside, where gentle hills, farmland and honey-stone villages set the scene. Featured in shows like Downton Abbey and Father Brown, this region is known for its picture-perfect English charm.
- Oxford: Explore Oxford with your Travel Director and see the Radcliffe Camera, the Ashmolean Museum and the university's colleges. Learn how this city became a center for learning, with a university that's shaped history for over 900 years.
Make Travel Matter®
- Loughborough: Take a guided tour of Loughborough Bellfoundry Museum, the world's largest working bell foundry. Learn how bells are cast, tuned and installed, and meet the dedicated team keeping this rare skill alive. Discover the global legacy of Taylor bells, from St. Paul's Cathedral to New York, Cape Town and Sydney. Your visit directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- London: The services of a Trafalgar Local Host when you stay at Trafalgar's recommended London hotel
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences (Additional Cost) and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized
- 3 Dinners (D)
- 10 Breakfasts (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
You’ll enjoy the icons and hidden gems with a Local Specialist by your side. Read more
With one on every itinerary, Be My Guest ensures your journey is truly one-of-a-kind, wherever it takes you. Read more
Find yourself overnighting in accommodations with stories as rich as the destinations you’re exploring. Read more
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Trafalgar UK & Ireland (2025-26)
Dates & Pricing
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Trafalgar. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
