DAY    1            DEPARTURE FROM NORTH AMERICA
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight to London.

DAY    2            ARRIVE LONDON - WINCHESTER - WESSEX (2 NIGHTS)
We will be met at the airport by our Tour manager/guide, where we will board our own private bus and transfer into the beautiful English countryside. We will stop to visit Winchester, closely associated with Alfred the Great, and once the ancient capital of England. Our sightseeing begins with a visit to the remains of Winchester Castle, where a round oak table, King Arthur's Round Table, is attached to the wall. We will also visit Winchester Cathedral, the longest medieval cathedral in Britain, and the burial place of Jane Austen. We continue to our hotel in the Wessex region.

DAY    3            DAY TRIP TO STONEHENGE, OLD SARUM & SALISBURY
This morning we visit mysterious Stonehenge, a huge circle of lintels and megalithic pillars, and one of the most impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain. We continue to nearby Old Sarum, where a Celtic hill fort, as well as Roman, Saxon and Norman strongholds once stood. We will spend the afternoon in Salisbury, where we will visit Salisbury Cathedral. Our visit will include the cathedral's 13th-century octagonal chapter house, which displays one of the four surviving original texts of the Magna Carta.

DAY    4            WESSEX - BATH - STRATFORD-UPON-AVON AREA (1 NIGHT)
This morning we explore the ancient Roman city of Bath. We begin with a visit to the Roman Baths, first associated with the Celtic King Bladud, and later established by the Romans in the 1st century. We continue with a Walking Tour through historic Bath, where we will see: the spectacular façade of Bath Abbey; Pulteney Bridge, featuring quaint shops and wonderful views of the city; the Circus and the Royal Crescent, one of Britain's finest streets. We continue to Stratford-upon-Avon, where we will visit Shakespeare's Birthplace, where the Bard was born on April 23, 1564, and died on the same date 52 years later, as well as the modern Shakespeare Centre, built next door to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Bard's birth. We continue with a brief visit to Holy Trinity Church, the parish church where Shakespeare is buried, located in an attractive setting near the River Avon. This evening we will enjoy a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company. (Subject to RSC schedule)

DAY    5            STRATFORD AREA - WARWICK - YORKSHIRE (2 NIGHTS)
Our morning commences with a visit to Anne Hathaway's Cottage, located just outside the city center. The cottage provides a rare insight into the life of a family in Shakespearean times, and many of the original furnishings are preserved inside the house. We continue to nearby Warwick for a visit to Warwick Castle, surrounded by gardens, lawns, and woodland, where peacocks roam freely. Our visit will include: the State Rooms, the Great Hall, the Armory, dungeons, a torture chamber, ramparts and a ghost tower. After lunch we will journey to northern England and our hotel in Yorkshire.

DAY    6            YORK (A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME)
Our day begins in Exhibition Square, where we will take a guided Walking Tour of the city, a perfect way to learn about the history and lore of the city, through numerous intriguing stories. We continue with a visit to York Minster, which traces its origins from the early 7th century, and features stunning stained glass from the Middle Ages. Those who choose can ascend the Central Tower, for panoramic views of York. We continue to the Shambles, once the meat-butchering center of York, which remains a narrow ancient street filled with shops and cafes. Our afternoon concludes with a visit to the Jorvik Viking Centre. This Viking city, discovered many feet below present ground level, was reconstructed as it stood in 948, and a "time car" will take us back through the ages. After dinner, we will enjoy a Ghost Walk through the haunting streets of York.

DAY    7            YORKSHIRE - CAMBRIDGE - LONDON (3 NIGHTS)
This morning we journey to Cambridge, one of Britain's top university cities, which is has retained much of its medieval appearance. We will take a University Walking Tour around the quaint and tranquil streets of Cambridge. We will also visit King's College, founded by King Henry VI in 1441, highlighted by the medieval chapel, which took over 70 years to complete. We continue to London, Britain's historic capital city. Upon our arrival, we can take a leisurely Walking Tour of Westminster and Whitehall, including: Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Horseguards Parade, Parliament Square, Downing Street, St. James's Park and Buckingham Palace.

DAY    8            LONDON (THE KINGS AND QUEENS OF ENGLAND)
We begin with a visit to Westminster Abbey, where English kings and queens have been crowned since 1066. We will take a Blue-Badge guided tour, which will include the Royal Chapels, holding the tombs of the monarchs, as well as Poets' Corner, featuring memorials to famous British literary figures. Our morning continues as we walk past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, before taking a Thames River Cruise, a relaxing way to view many of London's most magnificent sights. This afternoon we will visit the Tower of London, one of Britain's most fascinating and important historical structures, with macabre associations with the legendary figures imprisoned and/or executed here. Our visit will include the armories, a display of instruments of torture and execution and the Crown Jewels Exhibit. This evening we will spend time around Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, two of London's most vibrant and lively areas.

DAY    9            LONDON (ARTIFACTS & ARCHITECTURE IN LONDON)
Our morning begins with a visit to the British Museum, one of the most comprehensive collections of art and artifacts in the world. Highlights of our visit will include: the Rosetta Stone, whose discovery led to the deciphering of hieroglyphs, the Elgin Marbles, from the Parthenon in Athens, and the Sutton Hoo Treasure. After a bit of free time to shop and explore Carnaby and Regent Streets, we continue with a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's Renaissance-style masterpiece. Our visit will include an ascent to the Whispering Gallery, an acoustic marvel in which the faintest whisper can be heard clearly on the opposite side, as well as the American Memorial Chapel, honoring the 28,000 U.S. service personnel who lost their lives while stationed in Britain during World War II. This evening, we will dine and explore the area around Covent Garden, before attending a West End Theater Performance.

DAY    10            DEPARTURE FROM LONDON
Your enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as your guide accompanies you to the airport for the return flight home.