London & Lake District Adventure - 6 Days
Your adventures starts with a two night stay at a 4 star London hotel, during which you will enjoy a live guided panoramic tour – see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and more.
Then enjoy a guided visit to the Tower of London before taking to the river on a relaxing cruise down the Thames.
Leaving the capital behind you, take a high speed rail journey to the peaceful scenery of The Lake District – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws visitors from all over the world. Enjoy the must see attractions with hidden gems, brought to life with local guides.
Experience Beatrix Potter’s favourite countryside including medieval Hawkshead village, a cruise on Lake Windermere, a visit to Beatrix Potter’s 17th century ‘Hill Top’ cottage and a delicious cream tea with scones, clotted cream and jam.
Then relax with overnight stay in a 4 star hotel with connections to its famous author before enjoying an included three course dinner on the first night.
Your second day is a full celebration of outdoor natural beauty as you explore the mountains, lakes and valleys with your local guide. See ten stunning lakes, visit one of the oldest gingerbread shops in Britain and explore the village where poet William Wordsworth was born. You will also have time to visit the market town of Keswick with its picturesque shops and winding streets it has connections to many literary figures and is the site of a neolithic stone circle dating back to 3,000 BC.
On your final day you will enjoy a delicious breakfast before being transferred to the local station for your return train journey back to London.
Following transfer to your 4 star London hotel enjoy a final night in the capital before checking out the next day.
Duration
6 days, 5 nights
Highlights
- Step inside London’s most infamous fortress at the Tower of London
- Unwind on a serene River Thames cruise
- Enjoy two nights in The Lake District with time to relax and unwind
- Visit the locations that inspired the stories of Beatrix Potter
- Enjoy a delicious cream tea of scones, clotted cream and jam
- Explore 17th century ‘Hill Top’ cottage – home to Beatrix Potter
- Visit Grasmere – the birthplace of the poet William Wordsworth
- Sample traditional Gingerbread from a shop dating back to 1854
- Relax on a breath-taking cruise across Lake Windermere
- Marvel at ten stunning Lakes from south to north
- Stay for two-nights in historic Lindeth Howe hotel
- Indulge in a three course dinner on the first night
Inclusions
- Travel on an executive motorcoach in a small group
- Three days of live guided touring
- 3 nights’ hotel accommodation in London on a bed & breakfast basis (4 star equivalent)
- Services of expert local guides
- Panoramic tour of London
- Entry to The Tower of London
- One way Thames River Cruise from Tower Pier to Westminster Pier
- 2 nights’ hotel accommodation in The Lake District on a bed & breakfast basis (4 star equivalent)
- 1 x 3 course dinner on the first night in the Lake District
- Entry to Beatrix Potter’s ‘Hill Top’ cottage
- Cruise on Lake Windermere
- Cream Tea (scones, jam, clotted cream and a choice of tea or coffee)
- Return rail tickets between London Euston and Oxenholme (The Lake District)
Exclusions
- Gratuities (discretionary)
- Transfers before or after your tour
- Accommodation before or after your tour
- Lunch & dinner except where stated
- Porterage
Operates
Tour starts: Day One: at leisure with check-in to your London hotel - Thistle Marble Arch, Bryanston Street, London W1H 7EH.
Tour finishes: Day Six: On check-out (11am or before) from Thistle Marble Arch, Bryanston Street, London W1H 7EH. The closest tube station is ‘Marble Arch’ (Central Line) or ‘Bond Street’ (Central or Jubilee Line)
Itinerary
From 3:00pm: Check into your 4 star hotel and enjoy your evening at leisure on your first day. The Thistle Marble Arch is located in the heart of the capital and within walking distance of the famous stores of Oxford Street & Regent Street. Guests arriving early can store their bags at the Hotel Concierge.
The rest of your day is at leisure to enjoy the capital or relax at the hotel.
Accommodation: Thistle London Marble Arch (or similar). No meals included on this day.
8:45am – Meet your Tour Director in the Lobby of the Thistle Marble Arch Hotel for a 9am departure.
Your adventure begins with an exciting introduction to our capital city. Your guide will bring the stories, myths and legends of the thrilling ‘two cities’ of London to your life on panoramic tour. Our executive coaches allow you to travel in comfort and we will be stopping along the way to feel the city as well as see it. Enjoy the historic Changing of the Guard ceremony* – a celebratory display of pageantry guaranteed to stir the emotions.
12:00 noon approx. Enjoy free time for lunch in the area of historic Tower Hill. In the afternoon we will visit The Tower of London. This awe inspiring fortress is an incredible survivor of a different era. Step inside and feel the atmosphere of bristling political intrigue and imprisonment all around you. See the recently expanded display of the world famous Crown Jewels following the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and The Queen Consort. As well as a guided introduction you will have time to explore.
3:15pm approx. As you depart the Tower of London, take to the River Thames on board a relaxing River Cruise. You will see London from a different perspective with breath-taking views of its iconic attractions.
4:00pm: Your tour ends at Westminster Pier – right in the heart of the capital and close to many attractions including The London Eye, South Bank and Parliament Square. Continue exploring the amazing sights at your leisure or make your way back to the comfort of your hotel. Travel back to the hotel is independent on this day. Accommodation: Thistle London Marble Arch hotel (or similar). Meals included on this day: A Full English breakfast.
*On days where there is no Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace we will visit Horse Guards Parade.
*On days where there is no Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace we will visit Horse Guards Parade.
7:15am – Meet your Representative next to the Concierge desk at the Thistle London Marble Arch hotel for your transfer to Euston station.
8:15am – London Euston station: Boarding will commence for the train departure at 8:30am. Enjoy comfortable train travel with reserved seats in Standard Class between London and Oxenholme with Avanti West Coast. On-board refreshments are available for purchase.
11:10am – Alight at Oxenholme station – gateway to the Lake District – where your local guide will meet you on platform 1. Upon boarding your small group coach tour you are off on your first guided adventure.
Taking in the spectacular scenery that inspired the author Beatrix Potter, this first day is an ideal opportunity to see the landscapes and places that held huge importance in her writing. Our itinerary gives you a fantastic overview of the Southern Lake District, introducing the culture and history of The Lakes, which created the landscape you see today.
Visit Hill Top Farm, the first Lakeland home of Beatrix Potter, purchased by her in 1905 which helped to inspire many of her most loved stories. Then explore medieval Hawkshead village where young William Wordsworth attended school and where Beatrix Potter spent much of their time.
Taking to the water you will enjoy a relaxing cruise across Lake Windermere – with its breath-taking scenery it features some of the finest views in England.
Round off your day with a traditional cream tea of fresh scones, traditional clotted cream and jam with your choice of tea or coffee. The setting is the beautiful Lindeth Howe once purchased by Beatrix Potter for her mother to reside in, decorated with beautiful theming throughout.
Evening: Upon check-in to your hotel relax before an included dinner sourced from local produce. Meals included on this day: A full English Breakfast in London; Dinner in The Lake District.
Following a delicious breakfast, your second day is a pure celebration of the outstanding scenery for which the Lake District is renowned. You will be collected from your hotel to embark on your small group tour. Sit back and enjoy magnificent mountains, lakes and valleys from the south to the north.
On this day you will see Ten Lakes - including Windermere, Brotherswater, Ullswater, Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite, Buttermere, Crummockwater, Thirlmere, Grasmere and Rydal.
Enjoy free time for lunch in the market town of Keswick and see the Castlerigg Stone Circle with its 360-degree view taking in the surrounding fells. The stone circle dates back to 3000 BC and is thought to have been constructed before Stonehenge.
A highlight of the afternoon is a visit to Grasmere – a picture perfect Lakeland village, nestled between the mountains and made famous as the birthplace of William Wordsworth. We recommend visiting Grasmere’s historic gingerbread shop which has been making gingerbread since 1854.
Evening: Dinner is taken independently on this night. Guests may choose to visit one of the local pubs or restaurants in nearby Bowness or simply enjoy a second night dining at Lindeth Howe (to be paid locally).
Accommodation: Lindeth Howe hotel (or similar). Meals included on this day: A Full English breakfast.
After a delicious breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel in Bowness for the return back to Oxenholme train station arriving just after 11am.
11:26am: Your train departs Oxenholme for London. Enjoy reserved seats in Standard Class. Refreshments are available for purchase on board.
2:15pm – On arrival into London Euston train station enjoy an included transfer to your London hotel. Following check-in the rest of your afternoon and evening ahead is at leisure.
Accommodation: Thistle London Marble Arch hotel (or similar). Meals included on this day: A Full English Breakfast.
Your tour concludes after a delicious breakfast and check-out (11am) at the Thistle London Marble Arch hotel. We bid you a fond farewell and hope you will return to us on your next trip to the UK.
Meals included on this day: A Full English Breakfast.
Please note: all timings are a guideline only and are subject to change based on operational or other considerations.
Images by kind courtesy of visitlakedistrict.com and Mountain Goat Tours