adeo Travel · Independent Rail Tour

Great Britain by Rail

18-day self-guided rail circuit through England, Wales and Scotland

Great Britain by Rail, a rail journey with adeo Travel

adeo Travel runs this 18-day self-guided rail tour across England, Scotland and Wales, using a BritRail Flexi Pass for 15 days of rail travel between Bath, Cardiff, Birmingham, the Lake District, Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, York and London. The tour opens in Bath at the Roman Baths, then heads by train into Wales for two nights each in Cardiff and Birmingham, with day trips to Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford. From the Lake District, the train continues north through the Scottish Lowlands to Glasgow, then across the Cairngorm mountains to Inverness, where a small-group excursion reaches the Isle of Skye by way of Loch Ness. The route finishes with Edinburgh Castle, York Minster and the Flying Scotsman at York's National Railway Museum, before two final nights in London. With small-group day tours handling the more remote excursions and the rest of the days self-guided, this suits travelers who want one long rail circuit covering all three nations rather than several shorter trips.

What to know before you look closer

  • All nine hotels are listed as "(or similar)", so exact properties may change.
  • Stonehenge admission is not included in the Stonehenge and Cotswolds tour from Bath and must be paid locally, and BritRail Passes do not cover the London Underground or the Glasgow Subway.
  • Four of the eighteen days, the Stonehenge and Cotswolds excursion, the Lake District day, the Isle of Skye excursion and the second London day, do not involve a scheduled train journey.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Bath

    Bath City and Roman Baths

    Arriving in London Heathrow or Gatwick Airports, validate your BritRail Passes and join the Britain rail network. Glide through the English countryside to Bath, home to the Elizabethan Abbey, the Jane Austen Centre, Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent and the Roman Baths and Pump Room.

  2. Day 2overnight: Bath

    Stonehenge and Cotswolds Villages Excursion

    Join a local driver on a small-group day tour through the villages and countryside of Wiltshire, visiting Castle Combe, Avebury village, Silbury Hill, Stonehenge and Lacock Village.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Cardiff

    Cardiff Castle and Cardiff Bay

    A short train ride west takes you from Bath beneath the Severn Estuary and over the Welsh border to Cardiff. Wander Cathays Park, the Victorian market and shopping arcades, and visit Cardiff Castle.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Cardiff

    Cardiff Bay and Caerphilly Castle

    A short train ride from the centre is Cardiff Bay, home to the seat of Welsh government, the Millennium Centre, the Pierhead building and Norwegian Church. Visit St Fagans open-air museum or take a short train ride to Caerphilly Castle.

  5. Day 5overnight: Birmingham (Central England Rail Hub)

    Shakespeare's Stratford and Warwick Castle

    Take the rails through the Welsh border Marches into the heart of England to Birmingham. From here visit the medieval market town of Warwick and its imposing castle, or Stratford-upon-Avon, home to William Shakespeare.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Birmingham (Central England Rail Hub)

    Oxford and Oxford University

    Dedicate today to visiting Oxford, just over an hour by rail from your central England base. Soak up the academic ambience and explore Oxford University's lawns, quads and spires.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Bowness-on-Windermere

    Rail to Lake Windermere

    Board the train for a journey to the North of England and Cumbria, arriving in the market town of Windermere. Wander local boutiques, visit The World of Beatrix Potter exhibition, or take a boat cruise on Lake Windermere.

  8. Day 8overnight: Bowness-on-Windermere

    Lake District Excursion

    Today is dedicated to exploring the rugged landscapes of the Lake District with a local guide, stopping at towns such as Grasmere or Keswick and taking in Borrowdale Valley, Thirlmere and Castlerigg Stone Circle, with an included boat trip.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Glasgow

    Glasgow City

    Board the train once more and head north through the Scottish Lowlands to Glasgow. Explore the Victorian monuments of George Square, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis, and Kelvingrove Park and Museum.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Inverness

    Rail to Inverness, Capital of the Highlands

    Today's rail journey takes you through the heart of Scotland and the Cairngorm mountains to Inverness. Explore this Highland town from the cobbled Mercat Cross and St Andrews Cathedral to the hill-top castle and museum.

  11. Day 11overnight: Inverness

    Isle of Skye Excursion from Inverness

    Join a local guide on a small-group adventure through the Highlands to the remote Isle of Skye, along the shores of Loch Ness and over the Northern Highlands to Eilean Donan Castle before crossing to Skye via Skye Bridge, taking in Portree and the Trotternish Peninsula. A shorter Loch Ness tour or Speyside whisky day-tour is available as an alternative.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Edinburgh

    Rail to Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle

    Return south by rail to Edinburgh. Explore the cobbled Old Town and Georgian New Town, stroll through Princes Street Gardens and climb the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Edinburgh

    Explore Edinburgh City and Stirling Castle

    Today explore Edinburgh in more depth, then take a short rail journey to the historic town of Stirling and its impressive castle, once the royal seat of Scotland. Alternatively, take an optional small group tour to St Andrews and the Fishing Villages of Fife.

  14. Day 14railovernight: York

    Rail to York and York Minster

    Hop on the train and head south through the Scottish Lowlands and Northumberland to York. Wander the famous Shambles and medieval city walls before exploring the Gothic masterpiece at York Minster.

  15. Day 15railovernight: York

    Explore York and Harrogate

    Discover York's Viking history at the Jorvik Center, visit Fairfax House or see the Flying Scotsman at the National Railway Museum. A short train ride away, visit Harrogate. Alternatively enjoy an optional small group day-tour to the Yorkshire Dales or Moors.

  16. Day 16railovernight: London

    Rail to London and Icons of London

    Whisked south to London on the high-speed line, your base for the final two nights. Explore Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral, or take a flight on the London Eye by evening.

  17. Day 17overnight: London

    London City and Museums

    Today explore London in more depth; museums and galleries including the Tate Modern, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Imperial War Museum, or Hyde Park, Kensington Palace and Covent Garden.

  18. Day 18rail

    Return Home

    Today bid farewell to the UK as you board the Heathrow or Gatwick Express rail links to take you back to your departure airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1The tour begins in Bath at the Roman Baths and Pump Room after a rail journey from London through the English countryside.
  • Day 2A small-group day tour from Bath visits Stonehenge, Avebury village, Silbury Hill and Castle Combe.
  • Day 10The rail journey to Inverness crosses the Cairngorm mountains.
  • Day 11A small-group excursion from Inverness reaches the Isle of Skye by way of Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle.
  • Day 15York's National Railway Museum displays the Flying Scotsman.

Included

  • 17 nights accommodation (suggested accommodations listed below)
  • Full cooked regional breakfast each morning
  • BritRail Flexi Passes (15 day) – 15 separate days of travel on the British National Rail Network within a one-month period, fully flexible and unlimited on each day of use, covering all outlined rail journeys including transit on the Heathrow or Gatwick Express rail links
  • Hand-picked small-group day-tour: Stonehenge and Cotswolds Villages Tour from Bath (excludes admission to Stonehenge – pay locally)
  • Hand-picked small-group day-tour: Ten Lakes Spectacular Tour from Windermere, Lake District
  • Hand-picked small-group day-tour: Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Tour from Inverness
  • Admission to Roman Baths in Bath
  • Admission to Cardiff Castle in Cardiff
  • Admission to Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Admission to Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh
  • London hop-on-hop-off bus tour to explore the city
  • Adeo travel documents pack and suggested rail schedule information for each point-to-point journey including journey durations, departure stations and travel departure times
  • Toll-free calls (from USA and Canada) to your Britain vacation specialist whilst planning your trip
  • Expert assistance during the planning of your trip and local out-of-hours number for use during travel

Not included

  • Travel on the London Underground and the Glasgow Subway rail networks (BritRail Passes not valid)
  • Admission to Stonehenge – pay locally
  • Taxis / transfers from train stations to your hotels
  • Trip Insurance
  • Flights / Airfare
  • Meals and/or sightseeing other than that outlined above

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, a BritRail Flexi Pass provides 15 separate days of rail travel within a one-month period, covering the outlined journeys including the Heathrow or Gatwick Express links.
Is it guided or independent?
Self-guided; local guides or drivers join the included small-group excursions from Bath, Windermere and Inverness.
What hotels are used?
Suggested hotels include The Bird Hotel in Bath, Lincoln House in Cardiff, the Macdonald Burlington in Birmingham, Lindeth Howe in Windermere, Hotel Indigo in Glasgow, Inverness Palace, the Bonham in Edinburgh, The Grand in York, and The Kensington in London, all "or similar".
What is not included?
Stonehenge admission, London Underground and Glasgow Subway travel, taxis from stations to hotels, trip insurance, flights, and meals or sightseeing beyond what's listed.
How much walking is involved?
The days in Bath, Cardiff, Oxford, York and Edinburgh are built around city walking tours, including the climb up Edinburgh's Royal Mile to the Castle.
What is the price?
The tour starts at 3,295 GBP (4,400 USD), about 244 USD per day.

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