Itinerary

July 31      Arrival at Heathrow and transfer to Windsor Castle. Have a guided tour of the castle, to include Queen Mary’s Doll’s House before taking time to enjoy the town and have lunch at leisure. Continue on to Salisbury for dinner and two night stay at Best Western Red Lion hotel.

Aug 1         Morning visit to Salisbury Cathedral with a guided tour. Continue to Avebury. Explore the village with its amazing stone circles and have lunch at leisure. Continue on to Stonehenge. Enjoy the visitors’ centre before taking the shuttle bus to the stones themselves. Return to Salisbury hotel for dinner.

Aug 2         After breakfast, visit Longleat House and enjoy a guided tour of the house before exploring the gardens and wonderful maze and having lunch at leisure. Transfer to Bath and meet your walking guide for a 1hr city tour. Afternoon guided tour of the Baths and Pump Room. Free time after before transferring to Mariott Bristol City Centre hotel and dinner.

Aug 3         Travel to Caldicot Castle & Museum. Guided tour before heading on to Tintern Abbey. Time to explore these magnificent ruins and have lunch at leisure before continuing to the Big Pit Coal Museum and a guided tour. Transfer to Maldron Cardiff Hotel for dinner.

Aug 4         Visit Cardiff Castle, located in the heart of the city, for a guided tour. Transfer to Cardiff Bay and explore the Dr. Who Experience. Lunch at leisure in Cardiff Bay. Travel to Hay-on-Wye, with time to explore this lovely village with its many bookstores and galleries. Late afternoon transfer to The Metropole Llandridnod Wells hotel for dinner.

Aug 5         Have breakfast, check out of hotel, and travel to King Arthurs Labyrinth. Take a boat tour of the underground caverns before visiting Corris Craft Centre. Have lunch at leisure before continuing to Beddgelert to visit Sygun Copper Mine for a self- guided tour of the old workings and tunnels. Transfer to Waterloo hotel & Lodge in Betws-y-Coed for dinner.

Aug 6         Check out of hotel after breakfast and take the Welsh Highland Railway from Beddgelert to Caernarfon. Enjoy a guided tour of magnificent Caernarfon Castle, with free time to explore the town and have lunch at leisure. Transfer to Ruthin Castle to check in and enjoy their Medieval Banquet. Late to bed (approximately 2300 hrs).

Aug 7         Travel to Jodrell Bank Observatory. See the exhibitions, and discover the amazing history of the site. Lunch at leisure. Continue to Leeds to check into Jurys Inn Leeds hotel with some time to explore the area before dinner.

Aug 8         Travel to York, meet a local guide, and take a walking tour of the city (approximately one hour) as well as visit the Shambles and stunning York Minster. Have lunch at leisure before travelling to Coventry at the Windmill Village hotel and dinner.

Aug 9         Take an early morning guided tour of Coventry Cathedral – both the ruins and the new. Continue on to Blenheim Palace to explore the treasures in the house and grounds and enjoy lunch at leisure. Travel to the village of Bampton, famed as the fictional village in Downton Abbey, with free time. Transfer to Oxford Spires Four Pillars hotel with dinner.

Aug 10       Begin with a guided city walk of Oxford, including a visit to Christ Church College (subject to opening). Free time to explore this lovely city and have lunch at leisure before transferring early afternoon to Bletchley Park. See this important World War II home of the code breakers. Dinner and overnight at The Noke by Thistle St Albans.

Aug 11       Check out of hotel after breakfast and travel to Warner Bros. Studio Tour for The Making of Harry Potter. Spend the morning visiting the various exhibitions and have lunch at leisure. Early afternoon transfer to central London and a late afternoon visit to Kensington Palace for a self-guided tour of this historic royal residence. Transfer to Copthorne Tara hotel in central London for two night stay and dinner.

Aug 12       After an early breakfast, meet a Blue Badge Guide and travel to Buckingham Palace for a tour of the state rooms and gardens. Continue on to Westminster Abbey for a guided tour of this historic building. Have lunch at leisure before taking the short transfer to the Palace of Westminster/Houses of Parliament for a guided tour of this magnificent building. Late afternoon flight on the London Eye. Overnight in central London, with a farewell dinner with author Cory Doctorow (cost not included).

Aug 13            After an early breakfast, meet the Blue Badge Guide and travel to the British Museum for a guided tour of the exhibitions and collections, including the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin marbles. Travel across the river to visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre for a guided tour and to enjoy the exhibitions. Have lunch at leisure before heading back across the river to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a guided tour of this historic building. End the day with a visit to the Tower of London. Have a guided tour. including the Crown Jewels. Transfer to Docklands and drop off at your convention hotel.