From the royal landmarks of England to the legendary landscapes of Scotland, this Small Group Discovery tour reveals the rich character, culture, and countryside of Great Britain with the comfort and camaraderie that only a smaller group can offer. Explore the storybook villages of the Cotswolds, soak in the scenic beauty of England's Lake District, and venture through Scotland's dramatic Lowlands and Highlands, where ancient castles, grand estates, and timeless traditions await.Stand in the shadow of iconic castles in Windsor and Edinburgh, visit magnificent palaces including Blenheim and Scone, and experience the landscapes that have inspired generations of writers, artists, and royalty. Travel by rail and boat for a fresh perspective on these remarkable destinations, then savor authentic Scottish flavors with time-honored whisky and haggis that celebrate the country's proud heritage.Designed exclusively for small groups, this Discovery tour offers more meaningful connections with local culture, greater access to remarkable places, and the freedom to experience England and Scotland in a more personal and immersive way. From rolling countryside and historic cities to legendary traditions and spectacular scenery, every day invites you to discover another side of Britain.
Special Features Included in this Tour:• Visit to Windsor Castle, the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle• Guided walking tour in Oxford, home to England’s oldest university and its historic colleges• Visit Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage Site• Visit Stratford-upon-Avon – Shakespeare’s Birthplace, and learn more about the life of this famed playwright• Guided sightseeing in Edinburgh with visit to Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Crown Jewels, symbols of Scotland’s royal heritage• Admission to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, where military bands, Highland dancers, and pipers perform against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle (August 9 and 23 departures)• Visit to Levens Hall, home to the world's oldest surviving topiary gardens• Visit to Dove Cottage, the former home of William Wordsworth, and enjoy a poetry reading • Steam train ride through England’s Lake District• Scenic cruise on Lake Windermere, taking in panoramic views of wooded shores, rolling hills, and charming lakeside villages• Grasmere Gingerbread tasting, a beloved local specialty baked to a closely guarded recipe that has delighted visitors since the 19th century• Guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House including a Whisky tasting• Practice golf at St. Andrews, the legendary Home of Golf• Private guided tour and visit to Scone Palace, where generations of Scottish kings were crowned upon the legendary Stone of Destiny• Visit to Castle Menzies, a restored 16th-century Highland stronghold that tells the story of Scotland's powerful Clan Menzies• Visit to Glenside Farm Haggis experience including lunch, where you'll learn about the making of haggis• Exclusive Small Group Discovery experience, designed for fewer guests, special access, and meaningful local connections
Meals
Meals & Itinerary
9 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 5 Dinner
Notes:
This tour requires some uphill walking on rough terrain at Edinburgh Castle which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or those reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs. Some walking is involved back to the hotel after the Edinburgh Tattoo for departures that include the Tattoo.
Itinerary
Day 1 ARRIVE IN WINDSOR, ENGLAND
Your Small Group Discovery Begins! At 3 pm meet your Tour Director and travel companions and walk the short distance to Windsor Castle to visit inside the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and one of the official residences of over 40 monarchs. Later, enjoy a welcome dinner. WINDSOR-CASTLE.jpg
Dinner
Day 2 WINDSOR–OXFORD–BLENHEIM PALACE–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Dukes and Dreams Walk with your Tour Director through the beautiful streets of Oxford to be introduced to “the city of dreaming spires.” On to magnificent Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and home to the Dukes of Marlborough since the early 1700s. Overnight in Stratford-upon-Avon in the heart of the Cotswolds. TOUR HIGHLIGHTArchitectural beauty, academic significance, and cultural contributions are just three reasons why the city of Oxford is renowned worldwide. The University of Oxford, established in the 12th century, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and consistently ranks among the top universities globally. The city is home to stunning and unique architecture. Truly film set stuff!OXFORD-UNIVERSITY.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 3 STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–COTSWOLDS EXCURSION
Cotswolds Charm This morning, you’ll be enchanted by the landscape of rolling hills and the picturesque villages as you explore the Cotswolds. Time to enjoy the honey-colored limestone buildings, stone walls, and thatched houses before returning to Stratford-upon-Avon and a visit to William Shakespeare’s Birthplace. There is plenty of time to explore this market town on your own this afternoon. TOUR HIGHLIGHTAh, young love! Even more true, as young Shakespeare’s fiancée was eight years his senior. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and family home in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales of Shakespeare’s family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.STRATFORD-UPON-AVON-SHAKESPEARS-BIRTHPLACE.jpg
Breakfast
Day 4 STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LEVENS HALL–GRASMERE, THE LAKE DISTRICT
To the Lakes Travel north through the English midlands to Elizabethan Levens Hall with its renowned topiary garden, the oldest in the world. Onwards to the heart of the Lake District, and at Dove Cottage, get absorbed by the life and times of poet William Wordsworth and in an intimate reading of his poems. You will also discover why this tranquil setting inspired him to write some of the finest romantic poems in the English language. TOUR HIGHLIGHTWilliam Wordsworth lived in the Lake District for much of his life. His “Daffodils” poem beginning “I wandered lonely as a cloud” is the quintessential Lake District poem characterized by its emphasis on nature, emotion, and the importance of the individual experience. Feel it all amongst the beauty that motivated its creation. LAKE-DISTRICT.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 5 GRASMERE–LAKE DISTRICT EXCURSION
Trains, Lakes & Gingerbread Enjoy a relaxed and scenic day in the Lake District, including a 
train journey through the Leven Valley to Lakeside, where you’ll board a boat for a cruise of unrivalled scenic beauty across Lake Windermere. Stroll in the bustling village of Bowness-on-Windermere before returning to the village of Grasmere to sample the famous Grasmere Gingerbread. LOCAL FAVORITEStep back in time on the Haverthwaite Steam Railway, a heritage line originally built in the mid-19th-century to carry iron ore between Barrow in Furness and the Lake District. Saved from closure in the 1970s, the 3.5-mile track is operated by enthusiasts with the journey taking you to the shore of Lake Windermere. Scenic beauty and nostalgic charm at its best!HAVERTHWAITE-STEAM-RAILWAY.jpg
Breakfast
Day 6 GRASMERE–ABBOTSFORD, SCOTLAND–EDINBURGH
Escape to Scotland Continue to the Scottish border, pausing at Gretna Green where the blacksmith became famous for presiding over the marriages of runaway couples, and into the Scottish Lowlands. At Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House, a guided tour is followed by a tasting of Abbotsford Whisky. Spend the next two nights in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. TOUR HIGHLIGHTYour small group tour of Abbotsford House gets you up close to the home of Sir Walter Scott, renowned Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and biographer. His numerous novels helped to shape the modern perception of Scotland and its history through characters such as Rob Roy and his interpretation of key events in Scottish history, and he is credited for promoting the use of tartan and Highland dress. And to top off your visit, join a special private tasting and talk about Abbotsford Whisky. ABBOTSFORD-HOUSE.jpg
Breakfast
Day 7 EDINBURGH
Crown Jewels and Castle Views Morning sightseeing with your small group companions in the company of a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists associated with the city of Edinburgh. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire up close Scotland’s crown jewels. The afternoon is free to explore. TOUR HIGHLIGHTAscend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with a 1,100-year history as "the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is included on departures August 9 and 23.EDINBURGH-CASTLE.jpg
Breakfast
Day 8 EDINBURGH–ST ANDREWS–SCONE PALACE–HIGHLANDS
Highland Tees From Edinburgh, head over the mighty Firth of Forth and a fun inclusion is the opportunity to hit a few balls at the St Andrews Golf Practice Centre driving range. At Scone Palace, the ancestral seat of the Earls of Mansfield, join your guide for a private tour and hear about the crowning of Scottish kings including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce. On into the Highlands to your overnight accommodation. TOUR HIGHLIGHT St Andrews is considered the “Home of Golf” for good reason. The earliest documented mention of golf in St Andrews dates back to 1552. Two hundred years later, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews was formed, and it has played a significant role in shaping the rules and traditions of golf. The Old Course is, as the name suggests, one of the oldest courses in the world with a history spanning over 600 years. Hole in one!ST-ANDREWS-GOLF.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 9 HIGHLANDS–CASTLE MENZIES–GLENSIDE FARM–GLASGOW
A Toast to the Haggis First stop today is coffee at Castle Menzies, seat of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies for over 500 years, its location ensuring it has been involved in much of Scotland’s turbulent history. At the Glenside Farm Haggis Experience, you’ll hear all about Scotland’s national dish. Discover how to make it and enjoy a never-to-be-forgotten haggis lunch. Through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the final stop is the city of Glasgow where dinner in a local restaurant rounds off a memorable time in England and Scotland. LOCAL FAVORITE Dig into the iconic dish of Scotland with a Haggis lunch. This traditional Scottish specialty is famously associated with Burns Night, celebrated annually each January 25th in honor of Scottish poet Robert Burns. His legendary poem, “Address to a Haggis” is traditionally recited before haggis is served. At Glenside Farm, your small group will hear all about the history, traditions, and cultural importance of this national dish of Scotland. It's a must-try for a true Scottish experience!HAGGIS.jpg
Day 10 GLASGOW
Safe travels until we meet again! Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. GLASGOW-SUNRISE.jpg
Breakfast
Tour Director
With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.
MATTHEW BELL
Escorting tours for more than 20 years
Escorting tours for more than 20 years
“I always tell people that I want them to go home having learned all about our beautiful and historic countries, but also having enjoyed themselves. You're among friends here, and I will look after you from arrival to departure!”
Optional Excursions
No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else,
we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.
When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination,
so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities.
Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value.
Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences.
We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.
The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.
Price Ranges
$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)
Edinburgh
Scottish Evening
No trip to Scotland is complete without an authentic Scottish evening filled with traditional food, drinks, singers, dancers, bagpipes, and, of course, the unforgettable Ceremony of the Haggis!
Price Range: $$$$
Royal Yacht Britannia and Dinner
Discover what life was like on board the floating royal residence during an exciting visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, followed by dinner with wine at an excellent local restaurant!
Price Range: $$$$
The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.