London & North Yorkshire Explorer

Begin your trip with arrival into London with a warm welcome from your private driver who will provide a transfer to your hotel in the city. Unlike any other, it has a wide range of famous attractions, a long and dramatic history, outstanding shopping opportunities, and many beautiful green spaces, and hosts some of the world’s top museums. After getting settled into your accommodation, you’ll have the rest of the day to yourself, perhaps resting and relaxing or getting out to do a little exploring. Numerous sights will be revealed on your tour tomorrow so you might head to Trafalgar Square to unwind while people-watching.

Today you’ll immerse yourself in all things London on the Ultimate London Tour, taken in one of the city’s famous black cabs. Your driver has lots of “cabby” experience that makes this one extra unique as you’ll see London through the eyes of a local. See Westminster Abbey, England’s kings and queens have been crowned and buried since 1066 as well as being the setting for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. Gaze up at Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament’s clock tower and one of the most iconic landmarks in London, Buckingham Palace, and more, with lunch enjoyed in an over 300-year-old riverside pub.

While you’ll say farewell to London today, enjoy a grand goodbye with a ride on the London Eye. We’ve included fast-track tickets which means no wait in line for a ride that will bring you 443 feet above ground for a bird’s-eye view over the city. Afterward, your private driver will transfer you to the ancient walled city of York, known as the “Great City in the North.” After checking into your hotel, enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. York has a fascinating 2,000-year history with a historic site or picturesque view found along nearly every street and alleyway.

You’ll have a full day to take in the sights you’d most like to experience in York and we’ve even provided you with a York Pass to enjoy them. It includes free entry to world-class attractions in the city like Clifford’s Tower, a ruined Norman keep at the center of York Castle which offers spectacular panoramas over the city from a hilltop perch. At the Jorvik Viking Centre, delve into York’s Scandinavian past, and at the city walls that have stood since Roman times, visit Mickelgate Bar, one of the city’s historic gateways, to hear 2,000-year-old stories involving battles and imprisonment.

Yesterday was filled with historic sites and impressive views in the city of York. Today you’ll go beyond to discover the natural beauty of Yorkshire in addition to the area’s ancient past. A guided tour brings you into North York Moors National Park, famous as England’s largest area of heather moorland that serves as an important habitat for many birds and other wildlife. It’s one of the most important historical areas in Britain too, with more ancient monuments than anywhere else, including burial mounds and standing stones. If you’re here on a clear day, you’ll enjoy a view that stretches for 50 miles or more.

Explore more of England’s dazzling beauty at the Yorkshire Dales, one of the country’s most famous and largest national parks. A full-day tour brings you through its classic scenery, including five of the most famous dales (valleys), like Swaledale with tranquil pools and lush meadows. You’ll stop at Masham, a small market town on the western banks of the River Ure, and enjoy lunch at Reeth village in Swaledale. As you travel through some of England’s most spectacular countryside there will be several stops made to enjoy the views, including Aysgarth Falls and Bolton Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in the 16th century.

After a week in London and York, your trip comes to an end this morning. Your private driver will meet you at your hotel upon checkout for transfer to Manchester Airport to begin your journey back home or head out on further travels. Should you wish to combine this itinerary with another, our travel experts will be happy to help. Otherwise, we hope to host you on another trip in the future and wish you safe travels wherever you might go.