2022 & 2023 Guided Tours - Cosmos® Affordable Tours

England, Scotland & Wales (9000)

13 Day Tour from London to London

2027 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details » View 2028 Tour Details »

Experience some of Britain’s fascinating towns as you travel through England, Scotland, and Wales, stopping for overnights in London, Leeds, Edinburgh, the Highlands, Glasgow, Liverpool, Cardiff, and Plymouth.

Part of the charm of exploring Britain is seeing the spectacular scenery, and on this Britain tour, you’ll get the opportunity to witness some of its most scenic areas. Travel through Northumberland National Park, with its wide-open spaces and views of endless beauty; Brecon Beacons National Park, with its dramatic landscapes; Dartmoor National Park; and incomparable Snowdonia National Park in Wales, with picturesque villages, mountains, and lakes. Drive through the serene Lake District, England’s largest and finest natural park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On your way to Glasgow, admire some of Scotland’s most stunning scenery, including vast areas of unspoiled wilderness and gorgeous lochs (lakes).

On this Britain tour, you’ll also travel to some of Britain’s charming towns. In Stratford-upon-Avon, explore the town that Shakespeare called home and get a glimpse into life in 16th-century England. Walk through York’s quaint streets with your Tour Director and marvel at England's most complete medieval city. In Bath, enjoy free time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its 2,000-year-old Roman baths. In Plymouth, see the Mayflower Steps, from where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked in 1620. Enjoy an orientation drive of Cardiff, the capital of Wales, and sightseeing in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, including admission to Edinburgh Castle and Scotland's Crown Jewels.

These are just some of the many highlights of this value-minded Britain tour through England, Scotland, and Wales.

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.

Your Tour Includes:
• Walking tour of Oxford, home to the world-famous University of Oxford
• Visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare’s historic birthplace
• Walking tour of York, including its medieval streets and historic Shambles
• Guided city sightseeing in Edinburgh with admission to Edinburgh Castle and Scotland’s Crown Jewels
• Admission to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performance (August 2 and August 16 departures)
• Visit to Gretna Green, Scotland's famous wedding destination
• Scenic drives through the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia National Park, and England’s Lake District
• Orientation drive in of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales
• Free time in the Georgian city of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Roman Baths and elegant architecture
• Admission to Stonehenge and Visitor Centre, one of England's most iconic prehistoric monuments

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Limited Time Insider Sale: Save up to 25% Off on select 2027 Cosmos Europe Tours*
Single supplement waived for select 2027 Cosmos Europe Tours*
England, Scotland & Wales map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Full English breakfast daily, 2 Dinners


Notes:

This tour requires some uphill walking on rough terrain at Edinburgh Castle, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or those reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.

Headsets available on tour except for London.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND

Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, there’s time to rest or to start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

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Day 2 LONDON

Enjoy a free day in London or consider an optional morning sightseeing tour with a Local Guide to explore the city’s famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's mounted Horse Guards, and the Prime Minister's Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. A highlight of your tour is a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708. This afternoon, why not visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels? This evening, we recommend a traditional dining experience followed by a guided nighttime cruise along the Thames River for a different view of some of the capital's most beautiful sights.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 LONDON–OXFORD–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–SHEFFIELD

Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for a memorable day of sightseeing. In Oxford, a walking tour shows you the colleges where Britain’s elite receive their outstanding education. Then, travel through the lovely Cotswold Hills to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. Take photos of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and explore the town at your own pace. Continue to your overnight destination in Sheffield.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 4 SHEFFIELD–YORK–JEDBURGH, SCOTLAND–EDINBURGH

In York, stand in awe before York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. See a section of Hadrian’s Wall, then travel through wild Northumberland National Park to the Scottish border. At Jedburgh, see the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey before a late-afternoon arrival in Edinburgh. No trip to Scotland is complete without an authentic Scottish evening! This evening, enjoy an optional night out that’s filled with traditional food, drinks, singers, dancers, bagpipes, and, of course, the unforgettable Ceremony of the Haggis!


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 EDINBURGH

A full day to enjoy the Scottish capital. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town,” home to famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The afternoon is at leisure. Consider joining an optional excursion this afternoon and get the royal treatment! Discover what life was like on board Queen Elizabeth II’s floating residence during an exciting visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, followed by dinner with wine at an excellent local restaurant!

For August 2 and August 16 departures, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, featuring Scottish pipe bands, military displays, and cultural performances on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 EDINBURGH–ST. ANDREWS–PITLOCHRY–CULLODEN MOOR–HIGHLANDS

A day of memorable sightseeing: take the elegant Forth Road Bridge to St. Andrews, home of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and widely regarded as the Home of Golf. Continue across the Firth of Tay and, via Dundee and Perth, head into the Scottish Highlands, stopping in the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry. Visit Culloden Moor, site of the 1746 Battle of Culloden, then continue via Inverness to your Highland destination.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 7 HIGHLANDS –FORT WILLIAM–GLASGOW

Look out for signs of the mysterious Loch Ness monster as you travel along Loch Ness, then proceed via Fort William, beneath Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles. Drive through Glen Coe, where the MacDonald Clan was massacred in 1692, and along the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond before arriving in Glasgow.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 GLASGOW–GRETNA GREEN–LAKE DISTRICT, ENGLAND–LIVERPOOL

Travel south through the history-steeped Lowland Hills and a visit to Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Drive through beautiful scenery in the Lake District, England’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. End the day in Liverpool, birthplace of The Beatles and once a major departure port for the great transatlantic ocean liners. This afternoon, consider an optional city tour with a Local Guide who brings to life the city’s historic and celebrated sites – including those connected to the Beatles.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 LIVERPOOL. NORTH WALES EXCURSION

A day dedicated to the mountainous beauty of North Wales. After a stop in pretty Betws-y-Coed, drive over spectacular Llanberis Pass and through Snowdonia National Park to Caernarfon, where the castle saw the investiture of King Charles III as Prince of Wales in 1969. Then, follow the coast road via the walled town of Conwy back to Liverpool.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 10 LIVERPOOL–LUDLOW–CARDIFF, WALES

First stop today is in the pretty market town of Ludlow before heading back into Wales and Brecon Beacons National Park, land of mountains, salmon rivers, and the Welsh mountain pony. Continue through “The Valleys,” whose iron ore and coal industries helped fuel the Industrial Revolution, to the Welsh capital. Here, an orientation drive introduces you to the major attractions, including Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, Principality Stadium, and the stately civic buildings. Experience Welsh culture at its finest during a memorable optional excursion featuring a dinner of local specialties and wine.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 11 CARDIFF–BATH, ENGLAND–GLASTONBURY–WIDECOMBE–PLYMOUTH

Leaving Wales, cross the Severn Bridge for a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath, famed for its Roman Baths and elegant Georgian architecture, before heading into England’s West Country and Glastonbury, long associated with the legends of King Arthur. In the heart of Dartmoor National Park, visit quaint Widecombe-in-the-Moor, the ghostly setting for Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. Finally, in Plymouth, hear about Sir Francis Drake and see the Mayflower Steps, from where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked for America in 1620.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 12 PLYMOUTH–STONEHENGE–LONDON

On the final leg of your journey, travel throughThomas Hardy’s Wessex and visit Stonehenge to admire the magnificence of the monument from up close and explore the visitor centre with its imaginative exhibitions. Return to London around 3 pm. This evening, consider celebrating the success of your tour with a night out on the town? Curtain’s up with an optional escorted evening in London's theatre district, starting with a delicious dinner, followed by excellent seats at your chosen show.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 13 LONDON

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JULIE ANNE BARNETT

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“The start of a tour is exciting. Clients look forward to experiencing everything they believe it will be. And me? I know it's even better. At the end of each tour, I ask, "Is our country what you expected?" They invariably say, "It's so much more." That makes me a proud Tour Director!”

Tour Director - JULIE ANNE BARNETT

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


London
Edinburgh
Liverpool
Cardiff
Plymouth

London

Morning City Sightseeing

Morning City Sightseeing

Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister's Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. The highlight is a visit to ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708.

Price Range: $$

Edinburgh

Scottish Evening

Scottish Evening

No trip to Scotland is complete without an authentic Scottish evening filled with traditional food, drinks, singers, dancers, bagpipes, and, of course, the unforgettable Ceremony of the Haggis!

Price Range: $$$$

Royal Yacht Britannia and Dinner

Royal Yacht Britannia and Dinner

Discover what life was like on board the floating royal residence during an exciting visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, followed by dinner with wine at an excellent local restaurant!

Price Range: $$$$

Liverpool

Liverpool City Tour

Liverpool City Tour

This private guided tour is an entertaining introduction to Liverpool, featuring the city's glorious maritime past, the cathedral, historic civic buildings, and sites made famous by the Beatles!

Price Range: $

Cardiff

Welsh Pub Evening and Dinner

Welsh Pub Evening and Dinner

A special visit to a local pub tonight, meet a harpist and enjoy relaxing, harmonious melodies. Dinner with couple of drinks is included at a pub.

Price Range: $$$

Plymouth

Plymouth Harbor Cruise

Plymouth Harbor Cruise

Follow in the footsteps of Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, and the Pilgrim Fathers on this narrated cruise on Plymouth Sound, one of the world's great natural harbors.

Price Range: $

 Private Touring

Private Touring: Cosmos European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Cosmos tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience. For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party. Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $5,773*
18 guests in a party: $1,194*

Contact Cosmos or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Cosmos Private Touring.

*Supplement pricing is per person (CA) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2021 travel year. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.


The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.