7 Night England to Scotland Self Drive
Pick up your car upon arrival at Heathrow and begin your English Self Drive Adventure. Enjoy the sights as you travel to Oxford, the Cotswolds, York and more. End your week long trip in Edinburgh.
Day 1 Head north via Oxford, with its colleges built beside the river, the university town of Oxford is a vision of medieval learning and modern charm. The city is filled with a stunning array of architecture from across the centuries. Continue on to Stratford – upon – Avon, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, spending the night. Spend a whole afternoon discovering the canals, cottages, and cuisine of Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Day 2 Travel to Warwick Castle, one of England’s best preserved medieval castles. Dating back to the time of William the Conqueror, Warwick Castle is often named as one of the best historic monuments in Britain. In the early afternoon, you return to Stratford-upon- Avon and explore the places that shaped the life of Shakespeare. Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, the Tudor thatched cottage and gardens of his wife, or Mary Arden’s farm where Shakespeare’s mother once lived. Explore the narrow streets of this medieval market town, visit the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, or take stroll along the banks of the River Avon where you can rent a boat or take the ferry across the river. Overnight once again in Stratford and soak up the ambience of this historic and inspiring place.
Day 3 Departing in the morning you drive towards Nottingham, home of legendary outlaw Robin Hood, dynamic culture, rich history and sporting. Experience the romance and mystery of Newstead Abbey, which from 1808 – 1814 was the home to the notorious 'mad, bad, and dangerous to know' Romantic poet, Lord Byron. Inside the Abbey there is much to explore including Victorian room settings, and the poet’s private apartments, while the vast grounds make for beautiful walks, dotted with Japanese gardens and roaming peacocks. Travel on to Sheffield, known the world over as a Steel City, Sheffield was famed for its industry in the heyday of the 1900s and remains a city of innovation to this day. However the smoking chimney stacks are no more and instead you’ll find a green, modern cityscape set against the stunning backdrop of the Peak District National Park. Spend one night in Peak district National Park.
Day 4 Travelling northwards, you pass through some of the heartlands of northern England to the historic walled city of York. Travel via Leeds, Leeds is the perfect place for an inspiring afternoon city break; a vibrant, modern city with a rich industrial past and on the doorstep of the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. York is like nowhere else in northern England; its medieval streets are rich with history, attracting hordes of tourists in search of a quintessentially British experience.
Day 5 Spend the day exploring York. The best views in the city can be seen from the top of the 275 steps that climb up York Minster’s Central Tower to the highest point in the city. From here you can look down on York and admire the rooftops of the old and new buildings and the sight of the River Ouse snaking around the city. Before you head up to the roof, take some time to admire the dramatic Gothic structure of the Minster. Probably the most famous place in York, the Shambles is one of the best preserved medieval streets in the entire world. The street is part of the rabbit’s warren of narrow, twisting cobbled lanes in the city with most of the buildings dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Many quirky independent shops, cafés and pubs have taken up residence in the buildings, most of which used to be butchers when they were first built. Spend 2 nights in York.
Day 6 Departing York and on your way to Edinburgh travel north to Castle Howard. A short drive from the city of York brings you to a long avenue leading to the gates of Castle Howard. The house stands within extensive parkland and formal gardens, where peacocks roam. The setting is idyllic, but it is the house itself that draws the eye. Castle Howard has a striking dome, with two wings enclosing a courtyard. To the north, the ground falls away to a large lake, to the south with formal gardens spaces with water features. When Brideshead Revisited movie was first broadcast in 1981 it catapulted Castle Howard into the public eye and today, for many, the house remains synonymous with Evelyn Waugh's iconic novel. Visitors to the house can enjoy our Brideshead Exhibition in the High Saloon rooms. Travel to Alnwick via Newcastle upon Tyne, the city located in the historic county of Northumberland, northeastern England, lies on the north bank of the River Tyne just 8 miles from the North Sea. In the 12th century the town became important as a fortress settlement because of its key position in the frontier defenses guarding the east coast route from Scotland.
Explore Alnwick, the historic market town in the heart of Northumberland. Visit the market, Alnwick Castle & Alnwick Garden and enjoy the beautiful countryside and stunning coastline. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone filmed on location at Alnwick. The following year, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (the second film in the series) used Alnwick Castle for shooting. Spend the night in Alnwick.
Day 7 Travel on to Edinburgh via Kelso where you explore this quaint town and what is thought to be Scotland’s largest market square. You also see the ruins of Kelso Abbey, a reminder of the many ancient conflicts between Scotland and England. The welcoming market town, nestled in the heart of the Scottish Borders, offers so much to see and do both in the town itself and the stunning surrounding countryside. Arrive in the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. Explore central Edinburgh to see the 200-year-old “New Town” with planned streets and elegant Georgian houses. View the Royal Mile with its narrow medieval houses and tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. Overnight in Edinburgh
Extend your stay in Edinburgh and spend more time in the medieval city or travel onward to the highlands of Scotland!
Stratford- upon – Avon, 2 nights
Peak District National Park, 1 night
York, 2 nights
Alnwick, 1 night
Edinburgh, 1 night
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