Program
Britain is an old, timeless classic, as alluring as the King’s diamonds and as rich as the notes of a fine single malt, with literary landscapes that awaken the senses and stir the soul. On this tailor-made British escape, allow A&K’s experts to guide you through some of the country’s most iconic urban and rural experiences. Explore bustling cities full of history and the inspiring landscapes of the national parks as you venture between two iconic capital cities, spending the night in accommodation that captures the essence of your destination: from luxurious city sanctuaries to grand country estates full of local character.
- See the sights and uncover royal histories in London and Edinburgh, two of Europe’s most captivating capitals
- Peel back the layers of history in medieval York, home to the country’s largest Gothic cathedral
- Escape to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, exploring the literary landscapes and fantastical rock formations
- Immerse yourself in the romantic green landscapes of the Lake District, a place of inspiration for writers such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter
- Take in the rolling scenery of rural Ayrshire, meeting the gorgeous, shaggy Highland cows on a working farm
- Unwind in style in refined urban hotels and 19th-century country retreats for the quintessential British experience
Day 1-2 London, United Kingdom
Where centuries of history collide in style
The British capital is an overflowing antiques cabinet on the River Thames, the cosmopolitan home of royalty and rascals, red double-deckers and black cabs. Catch a show in Shakespeare’s Globe theater, roam the hallowed aisles of Westminster Abbey or soar above the skyline on the London Eye. Years could be spent idling between museums and markets, parks and pubs here, but even a day’s exploration promises an unforgettable first taste.
Your A&K Experiences:
Step through a thousand years of British history at the Tower of London, the iconic, 11th-century fortress that has been both a royal residence and dreaded place of execution. Meet the Tower’s famous ravens and traditional Yeoman Warders, before seeing the dazzling Crown Jewels.
Day 3-4 York, United Kingdom
Gothic grandeur and historic streets
Listen carefully enough and you might just hear York groaning beneath the weight of its own history. Romans, Vikings, Tudors: they all crafted this cobbled, medieval tangle of streets and stone gatehouses, laid out in the skirts of the largest gothic church in Northern Europe, York Minster. Squeeze beneath the beams in tucked-away pubs, peer into old shop windows in the Shambles and then catch your breath in Yorkshire’s romantic landscapes, rolling away to the north and west.
Your A&K Experiences:
Escape to the Yorkshire Dales to discover Brimham Rocks, a dramatic landmark that starred in film adaptations including Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Look out across the fanciful limestone landscapes of Nidderdale, eroded by the elements, taking in the scenery along bracing hiking paths. Continue to the historic city of York, where you’ll stroll the medieval Shambles and visit the Gothic York Minster.
Day 5-6 Lake District, United Kingdom
Poetic, painterly landscapes
“The loveliest spot that man hath found,” wrote poet William Wordsworth of his beloved Dove Cottage. The same could be written of the landscapes that surround his beloved Grasmere home, for Lakeland is England at its green-and-pleasant best, a land of rolling fells (hills) and ribbons of deep, glassy lakes that has enchanted writers, artists and travellers for centuries. Still now, they come for fellwalking, the timeless scenery and one of the finest gourmet scenes in the country; the region’s famously hardy sheep, meanwhile, remain utterly unfazed.
Your A&K Experiences:
Sail the scenic waters of Windermere, taking in magnificent mountain views, before exploring Hawkshead, a charming village close to the lake’s edge forever entwined with the life of author Beatrix Potter, who lived and farmed nearby and was instrumental in conserving the Lakeland landscape. While in Hawkshead, discover its connection to poet William Wordsworth, who attended the village grammar school, offering insight into the early life of one of England’s literary greats.
Day 7-8 Ayrshire, United Kingdom
In the footsteps of poets
Where the Firth of Clyde meets the forested hills of Galloway, Ayrshire unfurls with all the hallmarks of a classic Scottish adventure. The flags of iconic golf courses flutter in the sea breeze and baronial manors age magnificently beneath heather-blue skies. But most of all, the county is a place of pilgrimage for devotees of Robert Burns; fans come to trace the life of the Scotland’s National Bard, from his humble first cottage in Alloway to his stately tomb in handsome Dumfries.
Your A&K Experiences:
Get a feel for the traditional farmer’s life with a visit to a working Ayrshire farm. Tuck into some fresh farmhouse baking on arrival before meeting the adorable, shaggy-haired Highland cattle and enjoying a picnic at a scenic spot on the farm.
Day 9-10 Edinburgh, United Kingdom
A tome of old stories in Scotland’s regal capital
Scotland’s lamplit capital is a wise old sage with a hundred tales to tell, brooding in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat. Lose yourself in its handsome streets and discover a tale of two dueling souls: the Old Town, a medieval tangle of cobbled lanes and closes, and the New Town’s grand Georgian terraces, the green furrow of Princes Street Gardens dividing the two halves. Watching over it all is the Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, sparkling like Hogmanay fireworks.
Your A&K Experiences:
Delve into Edinburgh’s intriguing Old Town: wander the iconic Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s official residence in Scotland. If no member of the royal family is in residence, explore the historic apartments in which Mary, Queen of Scots once resided.
Information
Prices and tour program are promotional. For all current information, please contact the manager.