HISTORICAL ENGLAND TOUR

DAY 1 AND 2
The first two night's of your tour will be spent in London. One of the world's great capitals. Start off in the West End and see Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Buckingham Palace, St James' Park, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster abbey. Nip to Harrods in Knightsbridge or Oxford Street for world-renowned shopping, or browse around lively Covent Garden or Soho. The British Museum in Bloomsbury houses one of the greatest collections in the world and is a must-see. In the City you can browse around this famous financial district and take in St Paul's cathedral and the Tower of London. There are several world-renowned museums and art galleries, most free to enter, all over the centre of London and further out, and into the suburbs of the capital you will find wonderful sights such as Hampton Court and Ham House. Nightlife in London is rich and varied, from the glamour of theatreland in the West End to the bars and restaurants of Soho, with everything under the sun in between.
Overnight : London area (2 nights)

DAY 3 AND 4
Travel north to York for the next two nights. England's 'eternal city' preserves centuries of history within its towering medieval walls. York Minster, the largest medieval cathedral in England, dominates the city, which also accommodates Roman remains such as the steam baths and the fortress of the Eboracum. York's Viking past can also be traced at the Jorvik Centre, and a walk through the streets takes you through various architectural periods. A wealth of museums is perhaps only surpassed by the colossal number of pubs and restaurants which make for a lively night out after a day's explorations.
Overnight : York area (2 nights)

DAY 5 AND 6
Travel west to Chester for your next two nights. The town is ringed by fine medieval walls with Roman masonry visible here and there. At the Grosvenor Museum, Roman finds are on show. By Newgate, part of the Roman Amphitheatre (Britain's largest) can be seen. The city's most famous Medieval feature is The Rows, which has an upper tier of shops above street level. There is also a Gothic town hall and a sandstone cathedral, restored in the 19th century. Chester Zoo, 3 miles out of town, has animals roaming in enclosures that simulate their natural habitats. If one travels west of the city into Wales, Snowdonia National Park is accessible.
Overnight : Chester area (2 nights)

DAY 7
Your next destination will be either Stratford or Warwick. Stratford was the home town of William Shakespeare, and the town has many places of interest to visit. Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Henley Street - now open to visitors, it was built in the early 16th century and has been fully restored. It is a typical middle class dwelling of the period, being half timbered with the spaces between the strong oak beams filled with wattle and daub. Other places of interest include Anne Hathaway's cottage, Hall's Croft, the home of Shakespeare's daughter and her husband Dr Hall - the Tudor residence contains Elizabethan and Jacobean furniture and a dispensary with apothecaries' jars, herbs and surgical instruments. The Teddy Bear Museum and the World of Shakespeare are not to be missed.
Warwick's majestic 14th century castle has massive walls, towers and turrets reflected in the River Avo. The Waxwork tableaux depict history. The castle is filled with magnificent state rooms or travel down to the dungeons with its grisly torture instruments. Finest buildings are timber-framed almshouses (1383) of Lord Leycester Hospital, precariously leaning over cobbled pavement, and 1720's Court House. Oken's House (1550) has a fascinating Doll Museum, Market Hall (1670) displays geology, history and natural history of Warwickshire. The superb 15th century Beaumont Chapel of St Mary's Church has monuments to Earls of Warwick and Leicester.
Overnight : Warwick / Stratford (1 night)

DAY 8
Your last night will be spent in either Windsor or Reading. Windsor is the jewel in the crown of one of the most breathtaking and famous counties in Britain, offering a combination of rural countryside and the excitement and sophistication of Windsor itself. The landscape is dominated by Windsor Castle which, is the largest fortress of its kind and has belonged to the sovereigns of England for over 900 years. As well as the castle you can go boating on the River Thames, visit the Great Park and the Alexandra Gardens.
The industrial town of Reading 15 miles east of Newbury stands on the River Kennet near its junction with the Thames. It is noted for its university as well as its industry. Henry I lies buried here in the remains of a Norman abbey founded in 1121. Rural life is recalled in the University Museum; industrial life in Blake's Lock Museum, and Roman history in Reading Museum.
Overnight : Windsor / Reading (1 night)

DAY 9
Return journey