Tour begins: 1:00 PM, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa. A transfer from Edinburgh Airport or Edinburgh Waverley train station to the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh, is included. Your journey starts with a guided visit to Stirling Castle, where memories of the historic struggle between the Scots and the English for control of the kingdom live on. Inside, you'll find elaborately restored color and craftsmanship, reflecting the importance of the arts to its Renaissance-era royal occupants. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.

Visit Hadrian's Wall this morning en route to England's Lake District and stop for lunch in a manor house. Living sculpture inspires the imagination today at Levens Hall, a manor house on the banks of the River Kent located at the gateway to the Lake District National Park. Fine furnishings and paintings adorn this stately home, a family residence throughout its history and one of the best preserved Elizabethan interiors in the UK. Best known for its gardens, Levens Hall is surrounded by an orchard, hedges, a pond, a willow maze, rose and herb gardens, and thousands of flowers plus the most extensive topiary garden in the world. Over 100 sculpted pieces, some several hundred years old, date back to their original planting in the 1690s, when this Dutch-style garden was all the rage (closed on Saturdays; alternate property is visited). Continue on to Swan Hotel & Spa, where the remainder of the day is free for you to spend as you please in the hotel's cozy atmosphere.

Huge, strong and first built by the Romans, discover the power of walls built to keep ancient invaders out on a visit to the small city of Chester, England. Strategically close to Wales and the Irish Sea, Chester is one of England's best preserved walled cities. The town is nearly completely encircled by broad walls which still offer grand views from atop. Head to Colwyn Bay, a seaside resort town on the north coast of Wales where you'll have time to get settled in at your hotel and take in the idyllic views. Enjoy a Welsh-themed dinner at the hotel this evening.

In the village of Shottery, you'll visit the restored, timber-framed farmhouse and childhood home of Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare. Back in the Bard's day, it was known as Newlands Farm and had more than 90 acres of attached land; today it's a museum surrounded by gardens. From here, it's a short distance to Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born and raised. You'll visit his birthplace and have time to browse exhibits that tell the story of how his name came to be known around the world, as well as check out the surrounding town at leisure; Stratford-upon-Avon's favorite son is buried in the town's Holy Trinity Church. Late afternoon, it's off to the bookish world of Oxford, one of the world's most famous university towns. A guided orientation walk introduces its cobbled streets, guarded quadrangles, celebrated libraries and archaic traditions of learning. Continue to Oxford, where you'll have a guided orientation walk followed by the remainder of the day spent as you please.

At Stonehenge, this morning's self-guided walk around the famous ring of stone (bluestones from Wales and sarsens thought to be from the Avon River, some weighing as much as 50 tons) shares the mystery of its origins. Purposefully put into place some 5,000 years ago, Stonehenge was a massive undertaking requiring the labor of thousands. Bath, one of Britain's most beautiful cities, is your next destination. Arrive for lunch at the stylish Pump Room Restaurant, set within the city's ancient Roman Baths complex. Founded upon natural hot springs, the baths were built for bathing and socializing around 70 AD; they are among the world's best preserved as you'll see on your included tour. Afterward, check in to your tastefully restored hotel located near Bath city center. Dinner this evening is your choice from a selection of restaurants.

On a morning's drive toward London, stop for a visit to Hampton Court Palace, set in London's borough of Richmond upon Thames. Grand in every way, during the 16th century Hampton Court Palace first caught the eye of King Henry VIII... and a legacy of monarchs in ensuing centuries contributed to the palace's rich history and amazing artworks. Arrive in London mid-afternoon for an introductory sightseeing tour featuring some of the British capital's most iconic sights, including Big Ben, the famed clock face and bell atop Parliament's Elizabeth Tower; Buckingham Palace, housing the offices of those who manage the Queen's affairs; Hyde Park, one of the city's Royal Parks and home to the Memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales; and historic St. Paul's Cathedral, the masterpiece of the great British architect Sir Christopher Wren. Check in for a three-night stay at your iconic hotel, The Savoy. The remainder of the day and evening are free to spend in London as you please.

You have an opportunity to join us today for a walking tour of key London sites; following the tour, your afternoon is free to pursue what interests you most in London. Join us the evening for a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel. Note: Select small group departures, specially priced, include an exclusive presentation by Carolyn Robb, former Executive Chef to the royal household of TRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana.