9-Day France and UK Tour: Paris – London – Edinburgh – Lake District

Today, our journey starts with our Paris tour package, starting things off with a wonderful Paris tour. First, we're going to cruise down the iconic Champs Elysees to Place de la Concorde, one of the darkest chapters of the French Revolution, which played a key role. We will be able to see the famous Arc de Triomphe along the way. Next, we'll go to the Hotel National des Invalides, which is home to the tomb of Napoleon and a number of other monuments linked to France's military past. We will fly to the magnificent Palace of Versailles (admission not included), the residence of the royal family before the start of the revolution in 1789, after introducing ourselves to Paris. We'll return to Paris in the evening after visiting this spectacular structure. You will want to make use of the optional cruise along the Seine River (admission not included) after dinner.

The second part of our Paris tour package is going to take us through the rich cultural history of the region. Only a visit to the Louvre, the grand dame of the art museums, may do this. The art lover in you will dance with joy within these flawless walls as you set your sights on some of the most valuable masterpieces in the Western world, like the Venus de Milo, the Winged Triumph of Samothrace, and the Mona Lisa. We'll go to Boulevard Haussmann after lunch, a shopping paradise in the heart of Paris, where you'll be able to shop until you drop off.

Our Paris tour package is coming to an end today, but our journey has only just begun. Bidding farewell to France, we'll resume our tour of the UK. We're going to kick things off with a scenic Calais drive. Our coach can cross the English Channel either by ferry or by Eurotunnel, finally arriving at the Port of Dover. Enjoy the drive en route to London through the stunning English countryside.

With a walking tour of London's main attractions (only outside): Big Ben, House of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street, Whitehall, St James Park, Buckingham Palace and River Thames, we'll launch our exciting UK tour. We will visit the famous British Museum in the afternoon, and, if time permits, the Cathedral of St Paul. While on board the motorcoach, you can enjoy the scene of Tower Bridge and Tower of London. We'll stay in London or a nearby city overnight.

We will leave London for one of England's most prestigious educational institutions after breakfast at the hotel: Cambridge University, which includes King's College and Queen's College, among many other world-famous colleges. We will fly to York, a true medieval melting pot of Roman, Saxon and Viking heritage, after exploring this historic region. Still preserved from the Middle Ages, the town is emblematic of the more bucolic side of England. We'll visit York Minster, northern Europe's largest Gothic cathedral. Then we will walk on the walls of the city of York, dating back to Roman times. There will be enough time to explore for those willing to discover the little grass-roots shops.

We will cross the border into Scotland today and visit the compact but intriguing capital of the world, Edinburgh, the ideal representation of Scottish heritage. Gold single malt whiskey wooden barrows, checked kilts and Scottish bagpipes can make you grow fond of this vibrant nation full of quirky characters. A visit to Edinburgh Castle (admission not included) is first on the list, where we can admire the oldest royal crown and jewels. We'll go down the Royal Mile from here to Holyrood Palace, City Hall and the Royal Parks. You can also choose to join us to enjoy a cup of coffee (own cost) for a visit to JK Rowling's Ivory Cafe, where Harry Potter was penned. The evening accommodation is in Glasgow or a neighboring area.

We'll head back over the border to the northwest of England in the morning. We'll head straight to the Lake District, and we'll make a stop on the way to Gretna Green, a village popular for 'runaway marriages' dating back to 1754 in the south of Scotland. The Lake District National Park, the most popular and most visited national park in England, is a picturesque landscape of rolling hills, scenic lakes, and beautiful foliage. Every year, tens of thousands of visitors travel to the lakes , rivers, mountains, and waterfalls to see thousands of years of geological changes. You can choose to take a Lake Windermere cruise (own expense), or jump off at the Beatrix Potter World. The day will end with a drive to Manchester, the headquarters of Manchester United, and the most industrial city in England. A pilgrimage to the Manchester United Old Trafford grounds can be enjoyed by football fans.

We will take a stunning drive from Manchester to the birthplace of the famous English playwright William Shakespeare, Stratford-Upon-Avon. All is about Shakespeare-a heavenly place for the romantically inclined-from the cobblestone streets to the drinking dens, theatres and road signs. The Bicester Village outlet shopping center, home to over 130 luxury and lifestyle boutiques, including Gucci, Armani, Prada, Calvin Klein, Dunhill, DKNY, Burberry, Paul Smith, Bally, and Clark's, is the most awaited outing of the day, offering discounts of up to 60% year round. Our lodging for tonight will be in a neighboring city or in London.

We'll be travelling from Dover to Calais by ferry on the last day. We will arrive in France after the one and a half hour ferry crossing and drive back to Paris.