From CAD 9,455
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(21 reviews)
Experience Overview
Take the country roads across England and Wales on an exploration of Dorset’s quaint seaside vistas, Cardiff’s Welsh Rugby heritage and Bath’s ancient Roman history. After taking in the grandeur of Cornwall’s manor houses, indulge in the most quintessentially English experience: learning to play croquet on a country lawn, with tips from a professional instructor. Witness the millennia-old Stonehenge and tour the stunning 8th-century ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. The rich honey color hues of the stone houses will delight in The Cotswolds, the literary legacy of Jane Austen will bring Pride and Prejudice to life in Bath, and the luxury accommodations in Dartmoor’s Bovey Castle will give you a regal taste of the high life.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 12 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Brecon Beacons: Visit a local kitchen garden for a peek into the freshest seasonal aromatics from the Brecon Beacons.
- Brecon Beacons: Explore the stunning flora of the Brecon Beacons, forage for edible and medicinal plants with a Local Expert.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
- Bath: After a day exploring the Roman town of Bath, indulge in a traditional roast dinner.
- Puddletown: Experience Devonshire tea with a delicious selection of scones, sandwiches and tea at Athelhampton House and Gardens.
- Dorchester: Toast to your travels at a delicious dinner at your hotel.
Insight Choice
- Brecon Beacons: Visit a local kitchen garden for a peek into the freshest seasonal aromatics from the Brecon Beacons.
- Brecon Beacons: Explore the stunning flora of the Brecon Beacons, forage for edible and medicinal plants with a Local Expert.
Insight Experiences
- Puddletown: Visit the Manor House of Athelhampton and join an Estate Manager Owen on a guided tour to discover the beautiful Tudor architecture and Elizabethan-style gardens.
Make Travel Matter
- Brecon Beacons: Indulge on a hearty Farm-to-Table pub lunch, where a delicious seasonal menu with local ingredients will be available. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Top Rated Highlights
- Oxford: See the spires and colleges of this world-famous university town.
- Cotswolds: This breathtaking area is about as quintessentially British as it gets. Honey-colored stone houses line the winding streets of the area’s most beautiful towns and villages, while rapeseed fields decorate this colorful part of the UK in splashes of gold. See the pretty market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, before heading to the historic city of Bath, with its Roman and Georgian architecture.
- Bath: During an orientation you will see the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey.
- Bath: Visit the Roman Baths, one of the best-preserved ancient bathhouses in Northern Europe whose waters still flow today. Enjoy a personal exploration of the site, including the Sacred Spring, original Great Bath, temple remains and museum displays of artefacts uncovered on site. This complex offers a clear view of public bathing and religious practices during the Roman occupation of Britain nearly 2,000 years ago.
- Cardiff: During an orientation with your Travel Director, see the castle and Principality Stadium.
- Glastonbury: Visit the historic Glastonbury Abbey. Founded in the 7th century, its ruins are now registered as a Grade I listed building.
- Plymouth: During an orientation tour with your Travel Director, see Plymouth Hoe and the Citadel before continuing to the Barbican and Mayflower Steps. Afterward, explore a quaint Cornish fishing village.
- Looe: Journey to this quaint coastal town. A holiday hotspot in the Victorian era, explore its stores and winding streets at leisure.
- Stonehenge: Walk around the strange and awe-inspiring megaliths that have reputedly stood for 5,000 years.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Trip Details
Product Code: 28100
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Supplier Code: 253.1636B
Starts: London, United Kingdom
Finishes: London, United Kingdom
Duration: 13 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 9455 (CAD 727 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to London. After checking into your hotel, enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.
Accommodation: The Clermont Victoria, London
From lush green rolling hills to old-world villages, this pretty country surprises and delights at every corner. Make your your way along the scenic Great West Way to Oxford. A city built to be discovered, Oxford is a wholesome image of leather-bound books, libraries, storybook buildings and picnics. Continue your journey to the Cotswolds. Just as charming as Oxford, this breathtaking area is about as quintessentially British as it gets. Honey-colored stone houses line the winding streets of the area’s most beautiful towns and villages, while rapeseed fields decorate this colorful part of the UK in splashes of gold. See the pretty market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, before heading to the historic city of Bath, with its Roman and Georgian architecture. Head on an orientation of the city before checking in to your accommodation for the night, the luxury Apex Hotel. End your day in the most British of manners with a Sunday roast dinner.
Accommodation: Apex, Bath
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After a relaxed start to enjoy the amenities at your hotel, begin your exploration of Bath. Having attained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987, this unique city is famous for its Georgian and Victorian architecture and of course its Roman-built baths which you will discover on a visit. During free time perhaps learn more about the life of the esteemed author Jane Austen, who made Bath her home?
Accommodation: Apex, Bath
Meals: Breakfast
After a relaxed start you’ll move cities, and countries, as you make your way to Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Along the way you’ll visit the Brecon Beacons. A mountain range in South Wales, it is little surprise this striking location is a chosen destination for so many hikers and nature enthusiasts. Its old red sandstone cliffs hold a variety of plant life, including roseroot, green spleenwort and rue-leaved saxifrages, while its range of fauna includes otters, herons, kingfishers and the soaring red kite, which is the national bird of Wales. Visit the Brecon Beacons with Insight Choice. Choose to join your Local Expert for a foraging walk in the stunning surroundings of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Under her tuition she will show you how to reconnect with nature, and forage for edible and medicinal plants. Alternatively, visit a local kitchen garden for a peak into the freshest seasonal aromatics from the Brecon Beacons. After a morning in the great outdoors, rectify your lethargic bliss with a hearty Farm-to-Table pub lunch, where a delicious seasonal menu with local ingredients will be available. In the afternoon, you’ll arrive in Cardiff, Wales’ cultural hub.
Accommodation: Clayton, Cardiff
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a relaxed start this morning. Join your Travel Director for an orientation of this vibrant city. See Principality Stadium, home of Welsh Rugby, and Cardiff Castle. The rest of your day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Clayton, Cardiff
Meals: Breakfast
Begin your day at the historic ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, an 8th-century monastery steeped in legend and now registered as a Grade I listed building. Continue to the port city of Plymouth in Devon, famous for its cobbled streets, gin distilleries and the Mayflower that transported the first English Puritans to the New World.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza, Plymouth
Meals: Breakfast
Journey to the quaint coastal town of Looe, a holiday hotspot of the Victorian era. Admire Looe’s turquoise waters and sandy beach before continuing to St. Ives, where art galleries, surf shops and fashion boutiques line the quaint streets. Continue to Penzance, made famous by the comic opera "The Pirates of Penzance," which recounts the adventures of pirates who arrived at the city's shores in the late 18th century.
Accommodation: The Royal and Fortescue, Barnstaple
Meals: Breakfast
Admire the unspoiled maritime scenery of Cornwall as you begin your day in Tintagel, featured in the legendary tale of King Arthur and where, according to local lore, Arthur was born. Travel to Port Isaac, a pretty fishing village and popular filming location for British television programmes. Have your camera ready to capture stonework façades and coastline views during an orientation around the village. For lunch, visit Padstow and perhaps try traditional fish and chips before returning to Barnstaple.
Accommodation: The Royal and Fortescue, Barnstaple
Meals: Breakfast
Stop in the town of Lynmouth before journeying to Somerset's Exmoor National Park, a unique landscape of moorland, woodland and dramatic coastline. A protected Area of Outstanding Beauty, this stunning park is a mass of verdant open land, livestock and flora. Stop in Exmoor for lunch at your leisure. Your day ends at Bovey Castle. Nestled in the rolling valleys of Dartmoor National Park, this five-star accommodation stands amid 275 acres of picturesque countryside and offers an award-winning 18-hole golf course, two refurbished restaurants and individually-designed rooms. Unwind in this natural sanctuary as you enjoy the comforts of Bovey Castle. Tonight, catch up with your fellow travelers over dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Bovey Castle, Dartmoor
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stop at Athelhampton, a 500-year-old Tudor Manor House in the heart of Dorset. Join Estate Manager Owen for a walk through one of the world’s greatest estates, and enjoy time at leisure to explore the tranquil Elizabethan gardens. Delight in a quintessential Devonshire high tea with freshly baked scones and sandwiches.
Accommodation: Summer Lodge Country House, Dorset
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Admire England's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, during a visit to Lulworth Cove. Stroll with an ice cream on the pebbled beach or learn about the unique geology at the Visitor Center. Travel to seaside Weymouth and enjoy time at leisure to explore the town while snacking on traditional 'seaside rock'. Perhaps join an optional visit to historic Nothe Fort with its ghost tunnel and rampart views. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a dinner of delicious local cuisine and wine.
Accommodation: Summer Lodge Country House, Dorset
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, journey to iconic Stonehenge to appreciate the history, and mystery, of this prehistoric monument. The ring of standing stones is believed to have been constructed between 3000 BC and 2000 BC. It was made a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1882 and, as one of Britain’s most celebrated sites, draws visitors from around the world. Continue to Salisbury and visit the 13th-century cathedral. Witness Britain's tallest spire and see the world's best-preserved original copy of the Magna Carta. End your day in London at the hotel.
Accommodation: The Clermont Victoria, London
Meals: Breakfast
Bid farewell to England and Wales as your journey ends this morning.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Julie B. - Traveled, November 2024
It lives up to the ads. The bus driver was very skilled with an interesting personality. He was always near the bus for those who might want to board early. It covers a lot of territory in the West Country, much of the travel is on country roads. There are days with a later start and just the right amount of free time is allotted at venues visited. Especially like the stays at the Bovey Castle and the Summer Lodge. Tour Director was great.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
Enjoyed traveling the country roads in the bus. Having driven some of this area with my wife about 10 years ago it took a few days to understand that traveling in the bus that was elevated enough to see the complete countryside made the trip complete. The roads are completely enclosed with tall hedgerows and hide the beautiful patchwork of farmland and landscape that the area is famous for. What a difference.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2024
Roger A. - Traveled, November 2024
Great service, staff well informed and very very helpful, on the tour and off. The itinerary was perfect great choice of venues and hotels. Be patient if you watch the attached video, but it is worth waiting for.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
Enjoyed areas visited in itinerary. Pace was good & meals were good. Great variety from area lamb, fish etc. Would have liked to visit St Michael’s Mount. Could improve sequence of towns visited as appear to go back & forth over same area.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2024
Marilyn P. - Traveled, November 2024
Our guide was terrific And so was the bus driver, and neither were easy tasks! There is a lot of bus travel on this trip along winding country roads, but the company has nicely broken it up with stop so along the way. The scenery is breathtaking with rolling bright green fields, holding sheep and cattle and crops. The itinerary is fabulous and I enjoyed all of it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
We never had to worry about anything on the tour because it was taken care of by the host and driver.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
Attention to detail . Accommodation was very good and tried to support local economies at the same time - important in current economy. Guide was knowledgeable with a good sense of humour and ability to relate to people. On our tour there was a very good sense of camaraderie and everyone got on well with everyone else. I would think this is not always the case Local experts brought in were also excellent. Varied, interesting, very well organised with a helpful, knowledgeable guide and superb drivers in conditions that were not always straightforward . It is on country roads. It even featured a night’s stay in a castle.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
It was a disappointment this year after two great previous tours with Insight. It was a disappointment this year after two great previous tours with Insight. It was poorly organized and executed, at times it seem we spent more times in the bus than we did seeing things. We were supposed to see Salisbury Cathedral but it wasn’t open to the public, so we drove to Windsor to tour the castle but it was not open that days. Both closures should have been known and avoided. One of the best places to stay was Bovey castle, but we arrive late that day and left early the next and therefore we’re not able to enjoy any of the facilities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
Top tour manager and bus driver. Locations and accomodations also great with just a couple of minor short comings with meals. Happy with locations visited but route seemed to backtrack requiring extra bus travel time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, January 2025
Very full on but so enjoyable. Good amount of time at attractions mostly though could have had a little more in some Had excellent tour director who organised our daily routine well.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/29/2025
Mary M. - Traveled, October 2024
I reserved through an agent so I only spoke to them directly once when I had some difficulties entering my information on line. The customer rep was efficient and helpful. All paperwork was correct when I received it and the purchased airport transfers worked seamlessly! This was a great Itinerary for me! My previous visits to England covered mainly the London area, Stratford, Coventry, And north to York, Lake District etc. I had really wanted to visit the southwestern area. Several two night stays help counter some long bus days. That being said, it covers some of the most beautiful countryside I’ve ever seen. Such a green patchwork quilt! The hotels were great, especially Summer Lodge& Bovey Castle.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
No problems wiith Customer Service. Whenever my agent had questions that I gave her, Customer Service answered them quickly. Too much time on the road and always a short amount of time to visit a site. Also, never informed that there were many hills to climb to get to a site.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/29/2024
Cheryl F. - Traveled, October 2024
It was excellent service! The tour director was fabulous. She was fun and informative. She kept us safe and caring. The drivers were so good. Navigating those narrow country roads safely and efficiently was an amazing feat! My hat's off to them! The service at each hotel was impeccable. Also, as I have celiac disease, they always accommodated my dietary needs with no issues and I had no problems or concerns. This tour was amazing! We visited so many places and experienced so much. It was fun, informative and even made new friends! This tour was exactly what I wanted. It leaves you with a taste of each area. I will do another tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/29/2024
Anoymous - Traveled, October 2024
Our tour guide, Kelly, conveyed amazing amounts of information and she kept us very happy while she did it. She shared her personal insights and also what she found online. My questions were answered as I asked them or the answer was provided when it was discovered. This tour consisted of mature people. I think the information should stress a little more that there is a lot of uphill walking.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
If you don't want to have time to explore anything then I recommend this tour. Most of the stops along the route we had an hour or less to explore the "Castle" was only for one night and we barely had any time to do anything that place needs two nights.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
Insight Vacation service was overall thorough. Contactable, helpful. Itinerary was good, however did travel over same roads quite a bit.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
Jeri - Traveled, July 2024
I enjoyed the beautiful scenery while traveling down 1,548 miles of mostly VERY narrow, “Coach Inappropriate,” county lanes. We made many stops in tiny seaside villages, visited three World Heritage sites (Bath, the Jurassic Coast, and Stonehenge), spent time in several beautiful national parks, and saw an original copy of the Magna Carta. “Well done!” … “Proper Job!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
Obviously, the region is gorgeous and historic. Food and hotels were better than expected. Our tour director and driver were superb. The local guides and entertainers were among the best we have encountered (and we travel a lot). My only regret is that the tour was not longer and did not get into northern Wales.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
Jane F. - Traveled, July 2024
We were able to speak to somebody right away, and they were able to finalize the whole trip from beginning to end, including seating on the two flights. Expect 1.5 to 2.0 hours at each site, which may not be long enough for some of the expedition sites.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
N Levine - Traveled, July 2024
The tour director and coach driver were terrific. If you like to visit small towns and villages off the beaten path this tour is for you. On the downside since there are few major motorways you spend a lot of time on country roads to spend a short amount of time in many places.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
Ian R. - Traveled, July 2024
Find somewhere to stay in Cornwell instead of a 2 hour drive to Devon accommodation and then back to Cornwell the next day. Extend tour so we can enjoy the facilities of the hotels we stayed at, ie golf, skeet shooting, gardens etc. We missed using these and rest time. Some of the hotels did not provide fridges in our rooms….I need to refrigerate medication. Tour guide Kelly and driver Claude were very good.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2024
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