LIMITED OFFER! 2026 Guided Tours at 2025 Prices.

A lovely balance of planned sights, highlights, secret spots, and unique lodgings are the heart of this Essential England tour. In London, enjoy tea while on a classic double-decker bus.  We’ve also arranged a special food tour where you'll sample some classic British favorites, as well as an illuminating London by night experience. Pick up your rental car and head to Southampton, stopping at Stonehenge on the way. 

People have lived in Plymouth since the Bronze Age, and it is the ideal place from which to explore the bucolic Devon countryside of grazing ponies—sample Devon cream! Your next stay is Bath, an elegant village where Roman ruins sit comfortably with Georgian shops. Immerse yourself in the thermae springs and visit Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein. Sheer bliss. From Bath, you’re in Stratford-upon-Avon, home of Shakespeare, and doorstep of the Cotswolds. Your lodging is in the Lake District, waterside. Cruise stunning Lake Windermere, largest lake in England!

Magnificent York is enchanting. Take a steam train through the wild moors. Discover the city’s cobbled lanes, gothic buildings, and the Shambles. There are astounding stories around every corner. Spend your last night in Windsor, summer home of the Queen. The castle is filled with timeless treasures and the grounds are sumptuous. This vacation is England at its finest. 

PLAN AND BOOK

Included Unique Activities

Shakespeare - The Full Story Admission

Shakespeare - The Full Story Admission

24-Hour Cruise Pass on Windermere Lake

24-Hour Cruise Pass on Windermere Lake

Steam Trains, Whitby, and the North York Moors

Steam Trains, Whitby, and the North York Moors

Windsor Castle Admission

Windsor Castle Admission

Black Cab Meet & Greet Transfer Heathrow Airport to Hotel

Black Cab Meet & Greet Transfer Heathrow Airport to Hotel

See London by Night Tour

See London by Night Tour

London Bridge Food Tour

London Bridge Food Tour

The Roman Baths Admission

The Roman Baths Admission

Accommodations

3 Nights

Heart of the City Beautiful Hotel

1 Night

4-Star Countryside Spa Hotel

2 Nights

Boringdon Hall Hotel

2 Nights

The Queensberry Hotel

1 Night

Luxury Heart of Stratford Hotel

2 Nights

Briery Wood Country House Hotel

2 Nights

5-Star Historic Spa Inn

1 Night

4-Star Stylish Hotel

Transportation and Guides

  • Authentic London Black Cab Meet & Greet Transfer on Arrival
  • Automatic Rental Car

Meals Included

  • Full English Breakfast Each Morning

Points of Interest

  • Spend Three Nights in Central London
  • Visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, The London Eye, and the Tower of London
  • Shop on Famous Oxford Street and Wander through Regents Park
  • Discover Rich Maritime Heritage in the Waterfront City of Plymouth
  • Explore Beautiful Bath Architecture & the Ancient Roman Baths
  • Gaze upon the Beautiful Black & White Tudor Buildings of Stratford
  • Visit the Birthplace of the World's Most Famous Playwright - Shakespeare
  • Take in Jaw-Dropping Scenery in Windermere at The Heart of The Lake District
  • Stroll the Charming Streets of the 2,000-Year Old Walled City of York
  • Visit the Maze of Twisting, Narrow Alleyways in York's 'The Shambles'
  • Be Enthralled by Stunning Warwick & Conisbrough Castles
  • Experience the Evocative Expanse of North York Moors National Park

Oxford Street, Greater London

British Museum, Greater London

Piccadilly Circus, Greater London

The Tower of London, Greater London

Tower Bridge, Greater London

Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column, Greater London

Westminster Abbey, Greater London

Big Ben, Greater London

UNESCO World Heritage sites

The Tower of London

The Tower of London

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

Jurassic Coast

Jurassic Coast

Bath

Bath

The Lake District

The Lake District

Included Unique Experiences

  • Afternoon Tea on the Iconic London Red Bus
  • See London by Night Experience
  • London Bridge Food Tour
  • Entrance to the Historic Roman Baths 
  • Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein
  • Shakespeare – The full Story, entrance to all 5 properties
  • 24-Hour Cruise Pass on Windemere Lake
  • Day Trip to Whitby and the North York Moors with Historic Steam train Ride (Seasonal March to October)
  • Entrance to the 11th Century Royal Residence; Windsor Castle

2025 LOW SEASON

Available Dates

May, Nov, Dec

From $5,437 per person

2025 MID SEASON

Available Dates

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

From $5,615 per person

2026 LOW SEASON

Available Dates

Jan, Feb, Mar

From $5,773 per person

2026 MID SEASON

Available Dates

Apr, May, Nov, Dec

From $5,981 per person

2026 HIGH SEASON

Available Dates

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

From $6,177 per person

Your Price Includes

ACCOMMODATION

  • 14 Nights Authentic Accommodations

TRANSPORTATION

  • Authentic London Black Cab Meet & Greet Transfer on Arrival
  • Automatic Rental Car

DINING OPTIONS INCLUDED

  • Delectable Full Breakfast Included Each Morning

INCLUDED UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

  • Afternoon Tea on the Iconic London Red Bus
  • See London by Night Experience
  • London Bridge Food Tour
  • Entrance to the Historic Roman Baths
  • Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein Museum
  • Shakespeare – The full Story, entrance to all 5 properties
  • 24-Hour Cruise Pass on Windemere Lake
  • Day Trip to Whitby and the North York Moors with Historic Steam train Ride (Seasonal March to October)
  • Entrance to the 11th Century Royal Residence; Windsor Castle

POINTS OF INTEREST

  • Spend Three Nights in Central London
  • Visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, The London Eye, and the Tower of London
  • Shop on Famous Oxford Street and Wander through Regents Park
  • Discover Rich Maritime Heritage in the Waterfront City of Plymouth
  • Explore Beautiful Bath Architecture & the Ancient Roman Baths
  • Gaze upon the Beautiful Black & White Tudor Buildings of Stratford
  • Visit the Birthplace of the World's Most Famous Playwright - Shakespeare
  • Take in Jaw-Dropping Scenery in Windermere at The Heart of The Lake District
  • Stroll the Charming Streets of the 2,000-Year Old Walled City of York
  • Visit the Maze of Twisting, Narrow Alleyways in York's 'The Shambles'
  • Be Enthralled by Stunning Warwick & Conisbrough Castles
  • Experience the Evocative Expanse of North York Moors National Park
  • Meander through the Royal Town of Windsor
Prices Based On
  • All Taxes & Fees Included
  • Prices are Per Person based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room.
  • Traveling Alone? No Problem. Just Ask Us for a Single Supplement Price.

"Fun in the Emerald Isle"

Sarah C.

Arizona

Took my mom for her 75th bday on a trip to Ireland. We did a lot of sightseeing and travel by car to all parts of Ireland. The travel plans were easy and had time for relaxation and exploration. I would recommend this service.

"We enjoy every second of our time in Italy"

Kelly R.

Wyoming

My mom's dream since she was a little girl was to go to Italy to see the Vatican and Pompeii. She's 82 and it was time to make it happen. The team at Authentic Vacations knocked the trip out of the park. The guides on our various tours were incredible. Every driver we booked was friendly and safe with immaculate vehicles. The hotels were in great locations, clean, roomy, and had great breakfast offerings. My mom enjoyed every second of our time in Rome and Florence as well as our two day trips to Pompeii and Siena. So glad to get to experience this with her thanks to Michaela and Authentic Vacations!

"Wonderful trip to Scotland"

Rebecca W.

Mequon, WI

Everything was quite wonderful! LOVED the Food tour. LOVED the handbag workshop. LOVED the Royal Mile tour (even though it was too windy for the castle entry -- next time!). The Rabbies tour to Kelpsies, Loch Lomond, and Stirling Castle was great (the castle tour guide inside was incredible!). The Scotland Showcase was good for tourists who know nothing about Scottish music and dance -- was a little underwhelming for us because we just spent 5 days at the RSCDS Winter School with the most amazing musicians and dancers! It is kind of our thing. All in all, it was great! THANKS!

"Trip of a lifetime in Australia"

Deborah R.

Ohio

I loved our trip—it really did exceed expectations. As far as the Australia part, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Authentic Vacations did a great job with the itinerary given the time constraints I had. All the transfers went smoothly and it was lovely not to have to find our own way to/from accommodations. My hope was to see a little part of Australia and especially the wildlife and I did—the trip certainly lived up to and exceeded expectations. I’m very happy with the itinerary and how everything went.

"Fabulous family vacation for clients"

Gwen C.

Anchorage

Authentic Vacations is wonderful to work with. As a travel professional who's clients were looking for a relaxed informative trip, Ellie at Authentic Vacations nailed it. So easy to work with and come up with fabulous trip for my travelers. Ellie is very knowledgeable about Ireland and the properties, driver and sights recommended along with way were fantastic!

Would definitely recommend Authentic Vacations and Ellie to anyone.

"Northern Lights in Norway"

Teresa T.

Texas

We had a wonderful time in Norway! The weather was very cooperative for all of our outdoor activities. We had the best night for viewing the Northern Lights of the whole week. We had a spectacular "show" at our first stop that our guide said he hadn't seen all season. It is absolutely enthralling! The dogsledding was a lot of fun and learning about the dog training through what happens when the dogs are retired was very interesting. The Northern Lights Dinner Cruise was not as expected but actually better. The reindeer sledding and Saami people experience was also well done. As far as feedback, we really appreciated how you kept us updated with any changes that occurred and were prepared to present us with alternatives. Thank you again for all your help. We had an amazing time and are so glad we went!

"Fabulous Anniversary in the UK"

Jones B.

Dublin, GA

Authentic Vacations tailored our trip exactly the way we wanted it. Fabulous accommodations and experiences in Glascow, Inverness, and London. Great drivers to and from our locations. This is the second trip AV has done for me, and it will not be the last. Thank you!

"Incredible Honeymoon in Ireland"

Kelsey F.

South Carolina

Where to begin? Our honeymoon was absolutely incredible, and we owe it all to Joleen! She was an absolute joy to work with throughout an entire year of planning. From our first phone call to organizing and answering our endless questions, to making adjustments and ensuring every detail was perfect, Joleen went above and beyond to make the process stress-free and enjoyable.


We spent 10 magical days in beautiful Ireland, and everything went off without a hitch. The hotels Joleen selected for us were lovely, our travel arrangements were seamless, and she managed to stick to our budget—something we didn’t think would even be possible for a trip this special.


Thanks to Joleen, our dream honeymoon became a reality, and we couldn’t be more grateful. We highly recommend Authentic Vacations, as the entire experience was fantastic. I have already recommended it to several friends! Their online portal is so user-friendly, and we loved the flexibility of being able to make payments on our trip whenever it suited us.


Thank you for everything, Joleen—we already miss emailing with you! You truly deserve a raise for the incredible service you provide!

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