Epic Southern England & Scotland: London to the Isle of Skye - 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive in London (England), Afternoon Tea at Claridges

Welcome to England! You'll arrive in London, the nation's historic capital with a legacy that spans almost 2,000 years, from the Roman conquest to the Tudor dynasty and Victorian era to today's multicultural metropolis. Touch down at the airport, and you'll meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel.

Drop your bags, then start exploring at your own pace. Take a stroll past Buckingham Palace, then continue into the peaceful green space of neighboring St James's Park, or stop by the 11th-century Westminster Abbey, the final resting place of monarchs and notable Britons such as Sir Isaac Newton and Queen Elizabeth I. A 15-minute walk north of the abbey takes you along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square (catching glimpses of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben along the way), where you'll find the National Gallery, home to over 2,300 masterpieces dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. 

Later this afternoon, you'll refuel with the time-honored British ritual of afternoon tea at Claridge's, a legendary London hotel set in the heart of Mayfair. This two-hour seating takes place in the elegant Art Deco foyer, where you'll choose from over 20 loose-leaf teas and enjoy a succession of sweet and savory treats. Expect dainty finger sandwiches, tempting pastries, and homemade scones with clotted cream and jam—all accompanied by the classical strains of live musicians.

Day 2: Transfer to Oxford, Chauffeured Punting & Picnic, Bodleian Library Tour

This morning, you'll say "cheerio" to London and meet your driver outside your hotel for a two-hour drive west to Oxford. Dubbed the "City of Dreaming Spires," the town is home to one of England's oldest and most prestigious universities (the other being Cambridge). Once you've checked in to your hotel, you'll head down to the riverbank for a relaxing tour of the city along the River Cherwell. You'll travel on a chauffeured punt (flat-bottomed riverboat), gently gliding along the water and passing the city's iconic sights as you enjoy a light lunch from a picnic hamper.

You've spent the morning exploring the College Backs, and this afternoon, you'll head inside Oxford's 11th-century university for a tour of one of the highlights, the Bodleian Library. Oxford's main research library, the Bodleian, is home to over 13 million books. You'll find some of these on a visit to the 15th-century Divinity School, Convocation House, Chancellor's Court, the medieval Duke Humfrey's Library, and Radcliffe Camera, which houses the science library. 

Day 3: Transfer to Broadway & the Cotswolds, Vintage Steam Railway Experience

You're on the move again today, joining your private driver as you transfer an hour north into the Cotswolds, a rural area in southern England that encompasses six counties and enjoys Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) conservation status. Your destination is Broadway, known as the "Jewel of the Cotswolds" for its picture-perfect setting and honey-colored stone cottages. Settle into your hotel, then take a stroll down the charming High Street, passing independent shops and traditional pubs as you catch a glimpse of the hilltop Broadway Tower in the distance. 

After settling in at your hotel and taking a stroll around the village, head to the train station for a scenic ride on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, a volunteer-operated heritage train line that runs between Broadway and Cheltenham, passing tiny Cotswold villages and skirting the ruins of a 13th-century Cistercian abbey en route. An all-day, roundtrip ticket allows you to take your time along the roughly three-hour journey, hopping on and off at each station and grabbing sandwiches or afternoon tea at one of the vintage-style station cafés before returning to Broadway in the late afternoon. 

Day 4: Northern Cotswolds Day Trip with Baking & Afternoon Tea

Dive deeper into the northern Cotswolds today when you join your private driver-guide and set off to explore some of the region's loveliest villages. Your route might include stops in Chipping Campden, a bustling market town and the start of the famous 102-mile (164 km) Cotswold Way walking route, and Stow-on-the-Wold, where you can stroll the postcard-pretty High Street lined with boutiques, inns, and pubs. Don't miss the "Tolkien door" at the medieval church of St Edward's, where the arched entryway flanked by ancient yew trees is rumored to have inspired The Lord of the Rings. 

You might also swing by lesser-visited gems like Guiting Power, home to just 300 residents, and Stanton, regularly voted as one of the most beautiful places in the Cotswolds. A highlight of the day comes when you pause at a private village home for an afternoon of baking, helping to make treats like scones, Victoria sponge cake, and shortbread before sitting down to a classic afternoon tea around the kitchen table. Enjoy your creations alongside savory finger sandwiches and several cups of tea as you chat with your host about life in the Cotswolds.

Day 5: Transfer to Bath, Visit the Roman Baths, Thermae Spa Experience

Bath is one of the jewels of England's southwest. Architectural wonders like well-preserved Roman ruins and elegant Georgian terraces have earned it UNESCO World Heritage Status, while the surrounding countryside is quintessential England: rolling green hills dotted with villages, country lanes, and church spires. You'll see the scenery for yourself this morning on a two-hour private transfer to the city. Upon arrival, check into your hotel, then head out for lunch. From cute riverside cafés to upscale French bistros and modern English gastropubs, you'll be spoiled for choice with dining options.

In the afternoon, you'll visit the city's ancient Roman Baths complex, which gives the town its name. The hot springs here bubble up to a toasty 115°F (46°C), and on a tour of the site, you'll walk the original Roman pavements and see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva. Next, experience Bath's thermal waters for yourself with a two-hour visit to the Thermae Bath Spa. These are the only spring-fed pools in the city that are open to the public, and your entry includes time in the spectacular rooftop pool, complete with panoramic views across the city rooftops.

Day 6: Countryside Dairy & Distillery Tasting Day Trip

You're off to the countryside again today—this time joining a local driver-guide for a flavorful day trip into rural Somerset and Wiltshire. Start with a scenic hourlong drive south to one of Somerset's best artisan cheesemakers, established in 1890. Here you'll see the traditional cheesemaking process firsthand, from fresh, unpasteurized milk delivered warm from neighboring grass-fed cows to aging the wheels in a hillside cellar. Afterward, enjoy a guided tasting of signature cheeses—including a clothbound Cheddar, aged Caerphilly, and Somerset ricotta—all paired with the farm's own cured meats.

Next, you'll head to a traditional country inn for a leisurely lunch that showcases seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farms and artisan producers. In between courses, you'll learn more about the agricultural traditions that have shaped this part of southwest England, and see why Somerset has become such a hub for independent producers, small farmers, and the Slow Food movement.

The final stop of the day takes you just over the border into southwest Wiltshire, where you'll pull into the 9,000-acre Fonthill Estate for a visit to its craft distillery. See how a restored 17th-century barn now serves as the base of productions and indulge in a generous sampling of the distilleries' finest gins and vodkas, then put your feet up for the drive back to Bath.

Day 7: Transfer to Bristol, Fly to Edinburgh (Scotland), Tour Edinburgh Castle

Today, you'll switch countries while still remaining in the United Kingdom. You're off to Scotland, and after a private 1.5-hour transfer to Bristol Airport and a short flight, you'll arrive in Edinburgh. The captivating Scottish capital is known for its festivals, thriving art scene, and friendly locals. On arrival, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel. After a refresh, you'll set off to visit the city's most famous landmark, Edinburgh Castle, one of Europe's oldest fortified palaces.

Stroll through the cobbled streets, wynds, and alleyways of the Royal Mile until you reach the castle and spend a couple of hours touring the highlights. See the Great Hall of King James IV, which has borne witness to banquets and state events over the centuries. Then, learn about the castle's history through an immersive exhibition in the Argyle Tower, which details the Wars of Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries. Afterward, you'll sit down for an afternoon tea fit for royalty, feasting on three tiers of homemade cakes, finger sandwiches, savory bites, and scones topped with clotted cream and jam. 

Day 8: Transfer to Inverness via Pitlochry & Blair Athol Whisky Distillery

Your Scottish road trip begins this morning as you join your private driver for a scenic transfer to Inverness. The Highland capital lies 3.5 hours north of Edinburgh, but you'll slow down and take your time along the route, stopping at plenty of historic and scenic highlights along the way. Start with a visit to Scone Palace, one of Scotland's most important stately homes, with a history that dates back to the site of the country's first parliament in 906 CE. 

Back on the road, you'll continue your journey north, passing highlights like the Hermitage at Dunkeld, a mystical tract of Perthshire forest and an 18th-century park designed for the Dukes of Atholl, and the Queen's View, a famous vantage point just outside Pitlochry. Stop at the nearby Blair Athol Whisky Distillery for a behind-the-scenes tour and a tasting of several golden drams, then continue to Inverness, where your driver will drop you at your hotel in the late afternoon. 

Day 9: Culloden Battlefield Tour, Cruise Along Loch Ness

History buffs (and Outlander fans) will be delighted with this morning's guided visit to the Culloden Battlefield, located just outside of Inverness. The site of the last battle on British soil, this grassy plain marks the final, bloody conflict of the Jacobean Uprising led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. You'll start at the on-site multimedia center, where you can get acquainted with the history surrounding the doomed rebellion, then set off across the battlefield to see the Well of the Dead, the Main Cairn, and the Clan Graves, the burial sites of some 1,300 clansmen.

After a sobering and fascinating morning, it's time to head to the shores of Loch Ness, transferring 30 minutes west to Dochgarroch to board a scenic cruise along Scotland's most famous loch. Soak up the Highland views as you pass landmarks like Bona Lighthouse and the lochside ruins of Urquhart Castle, and listen as your guide shares stories of "Nessie" as you scan the deep, dark waters for a sighting of the elusive folk monster. 

Day 10: Transfer to the Isle of Skye via Eilean Donan

The final leg of your UK adventure begins when you pack your bags and head for the Isle of Skye, enjoying the views as your driver takes you along the shores of Loch Ness and across the West Highlands. In just under two hours, you'll reach the unofficial gateway to the island: Eilean Donan Castle. This 13th-century fortress rises from a tidal island at the confluence of three sea lochs; take a stroll across its long stone bridge and grab some photos before getting back on the road for the 10-minute drive to the Skye Bridge. 

The largest island in the Inner Hebrides (and the second-largest in Scotland), Skye is a place of otherworldly landscapes and rich folklore, and you could spend a week exploring its jagged mountains, wild moorland, and colorful coastal villages. Today you'll focus on the highlights as you pass the Red Cuillin mountains and pause in Sligachan, where legend says anyone brave enough to dip their face in the ice-cold river will be blessed with eternal beauty.

Pull into the island capital of Portree in time for lunch, and refuel with some fish and chips before taking a stroll past the harbor's bobbing fishing boats and pastel houses. Venture up to the northernmost Trotternish Peninsula to see the soaring sea cliffs at Kilt Rock and follow a winding, single-lane road across the ancient landforms of the Quiraing, then loop back south to check into your island hotel and pick a cozy pub for dinner.

Day 11: Isle of Rona Seafood Cruise from Portree, Transfer to Inverness

Stroll down to Portree's harbor this morning to meet your local skipper and step aboard a luxury 40-foot (12 m) catamaran motor yacht. You're bound for the neighboring Isle of Rona, a remote, wild place that's uninhabited save for a lone caretaker (and a few roaming herds of red deer). Take in views of Skye's coastline as you cruise, listening to stories about the Hebrides' traditional culture, and keep an eye out for abundant wildlife, including seals, dolphins, puffins, and white-tailed sea eagles.

When you reach the sheltered Acarsaid Mhor (Rona Harbour), it's time to drop anchor and sit down to a simple lunch of seafood caught fresh that morning—enjoyed either on deck or in the cozy wheelhouse. Afterward, you'll have the rare opportunity to step ashore for two hours, exploring the island's hidden beaches, abandoned crofters' villages, and tiny museum at your own pace. Cruise back to Portree in the afternoon, then grab your luggage and meet your driver for the 2.5-hour transfer to Inverness. 

Day 12: Depart Inverness

Your highlights tour of England and Scotland has come to an end. After one last hearty Scottish breakfast, say farewell to Inverness and meet your driver for your transfer to the airport or your onward connection. Safe travels!

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