Discover Historic Castles and Manors of England Self Drive Vacation

Upon arrival at the London airport of your choice, pick up your rental car and check into your hotel. If time allows, make your way to Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and a royal residence since William the Conqueror. The castle is one of the official residences of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh who spend the majority of their weekends at the Castle. You can explore the magnificent State Apartments and St. George's Chapel, the setting of Prince Harry and Meghan's fairytale wedding in 2018. Overnight in the Windsor/Slough/Ascot area

Your route today will take you via Oxford through the beautiful Cotswolds on to Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy some time sightseeing in the famous university town of Oxford before exploring the Cotswolds region. Quintessentially English, the Cotswolds is known for its honey coloured limestone cottages and green hills. There are many picturesque villages to explore, for example Burford - a good place for antique lovers - and Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the Venice of the Cotswolds due to its stunning location on the River Windrush. Or head to villages such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden or Broadway and take any route up to Stratford from there. Stopping for traditional Afternoon Tea in one of the pretty tea rooms in the area is highly recommended! (B)Overnight in the Warwickshire/Stratford-upon-Avon area

Today you have a full day to explore Shakespeare's hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, and the surrounding Warwickshire area. Why not spend some time this morning visiting Shakespeare's birthplace in the centre of town to learn more about the bard's family life. You can also venture out to Anne Hathaway's Cottage (Shakespeare's wife) or Mary Arden's Farm (Shakespeare's mother), the latter being less crowded. If you would like to explore Warwickshire, visit the town of Warwick and its castle, which gives you a sense of history, or Kenilworth Castle (included in OVP), which is of particular interest for fans of the Tudors. There are castle ruins and a recently restored Elizabethan garden to explore. (B)Overnight in the Warwickshire/Straford-upon-Avon area

Leaving your hotel this morning, head west into the county of Shropshire. This region is known for its stunning scenery and historic black-and-white architecture. Explore some of the picturesque towns such as Ludlow, famous for its food and castle, or Bridgnorth, known for its funicular railway connecting the upper and lower towns. Shrewsbury is the county town, and it's well worth a visit to explore the higgledy-piggledy lanes and more than 660 listed buildings. Continue across the county border to Cheshire and spend some time in Chester this afternoon. Chester's history dates back to the Romans, and it's the location of the largest Roman Amphitheatre, as well as the most complete city walls in Britain. Spend some time exploring the historic city centre and the Rows, the unique 700 year old shopping galleries. (B) Overnight in the Cheshire area

Today’s route will take you into Derbyshire and the Peak District, one of England's national parks. Explore the stunning scenery on a drive through the national park stopping in pretty villages such as Castleton or Bakewell, known for its delicious pudding. Drive through the dramatic limestone gorge of Winnats Pass to appreciate fabulous views. You may choose to stop to visit Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, where you can explore the 300 rooms and extensive gardens. Continue to Yorkshire, the largest of all English counties with a very diverse landscape and two national parks. (B)Overnight in the North Yorkshire/York area

Today you are free to explore North Yorkshire. Ensure some time for sightseeing in York as well as one of the two national parks. Drive across the North York Moors, with its stunning scenery, to Whitby on the coast. The more adventurous driver can get an adrenaline kick from taking route A170, which starts near Thirsk with a very steep climb up the moors. In Whitby you find coastal views, cliff walks, an old Abbey (included in OVP) - Bram Stoke found his inspiration for the famous book of Dracula here. It is also famous for its seafood and fish & chips, which is a must try. Slightly further up the coast, stop in the old village of Staithes to explore tis winding streets and art galleries, located in a sheltered cove at the base of a cliff. Maybe visit Castle Howard, a stunning stately home known from the Brideshead Revisited series. Or head west to explore the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with its hills and picturesque market towns and villages. (B)Overnight in the North Yorkshire/York area

The last leg of your Britain tour will take you over the border and into Scotland, but there is still much to see in England. Outside of Newcastle, you can do a short detour to view Hadrian's Wall - the Roman wall built in 122 AD - either at Heddon-on-the-Wall for photos or at one of the English Heritage sites, included in your Overseas Visitors Pass, such as Housesteads of Chesters Roman Fort (included in OVP). Continue your drive north, and we would recommend a visit at Alnwick Castle - you might know Alnwick Castle from its starring role as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films. Further north along the coast, Bamburgh Castle is also nearby which invites a photo stop capturing the castle, shoreline, and Farne Island. Alternatively, if the tide is out you can drive on the causeway to the Holy Isle, Lindisfarne. A visit to the Lindisfarne Priory is included in the OVP. Then continue to Berwick-upon-Tweed to cross the border into Scotland before heading up to Edinburgh for your last overnight. (B)Overnight in Edinburgh area

Drive to the Edinburgh Airport and drop off your rental car before your return flight home. (B)