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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Tales of England: London, Stonehenge & Shakespeare

English cultural loop from London via Stonehenge, Oxford, and Shakespeare's Stratford

Illustration of Tales of England: London, Stonehenge & Shakespeare

Vacations By Rail operates this 8-day escorted tour of England, beginning and ending in London with stops in Salisbury, Oxford, and Stratford-upon-Avon. A Tour Manager leads the group throughout, organizing guided tours, coach transfers, and most meals. Day 1 arrives in central London with free time before a group dinner. Day 2 features a guided coach tour of Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. Day 3 takes First Class rail to Salisbury, then visits Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain and Salisbury Cathedral before overnight. Days 4 and 5 center on Oxford's Bodleian Library and Bridge of Sighs, followed by Shakespeare's birthplace and Globe Theatre. Day 6 returns to London via coach. Day 7 includes an early private tour of Kensington Palace and an afternoon at Kew Gardens with a final prosecco dinner. This suits history-lovers drawn to English heritage, couples seeking organized comfort, and travellers who prefer guided structure with some free time built in.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of 3,299 USD covers the package and rail; flights and airport transfers are not included
  • Only one First Class rail journey is featured (London Waterloo to Salisbury on Day 3); most travel is by coach
  • Most days include unguided free time after morning activities, so this is not fully escorted sightseeing

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: London

    Arrival in London

    Arrive in London and make your own way to the centrally located hotel near Regent's Park and Warren Street Underground station. Free time to explore before meeting the Tour Manager and group for the first dinner together.

  2. Day 2overnight: London

    Getting to know London's history and culture

    A guided coach tour of London's iconic landmarks including Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, wrapping up around midday with the rest of the day at leisure.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Salisbury

    Exploring the mystical Neolithic site of Stonehenge

    Transfer to London Waterloo for First Class seats on a train to Salisbury, then continue by coach to Stonehenge. Afterwards tour Salisbury Cathedral, home to Britain's tallest spire and a preserved Magna Carta, before checking into the 17th-century Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel.

  4. Day 4overnight: Stratford-upon-Avon

    The 'Dreaming Spires' of Oxford

    Travel onward to Oxford for a guided tour beginning at the Ashmolean Museum, taking in the Bodleian Library and the Bridge of Sighs, before continuing to Stratford-upon-Avon for a feasting banquet dinner in the hotel's Woodsman restaurant.

  5. Day 5overnight: Stratford-upon-Avon

    The stories of William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon

    A private guided tour of Shakespeare's birthplace before public opening hours, followed by a guided town tour visiting Anne Hathaway's cottage, his schoolroom and Holy Trinity Church where he is buried.

  6. Day 6overnight: London

    Exploring Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

    Travel by coach from Stratford-upon-Avon back to London, visiting Shakespeare's Globe Theatre with a guided tour of its history and features before returning to the original hotel.

  7. Day 7overnight: London

    London's royal side

    An early private tour of Kensington Palace an hour before public opening, followed by an afternoon at the UNESCO-listed Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Final dinner with prosecco in the hotel's steakhouse.

  8. Day 8

    Traveling home

    Breakfast at the hotel before checking out and beginning travels home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3First Class train from London Waterloo to Salisbury, then coach to Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain before touring the cathedral with its 123-meter spire and preserved Magna Carta
  • Day 4Guided tour of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, Bodleian Library, and Bridge of Sighs, followed by a feasting banquet dinner in Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Day 5Private guided tour of Shakespeare's birthplace before public opening hours, then a guided town walk visiting Anne Hathaway's cottage, his schoolroom, and Holy Trinity Church where he is buried
  • Day 7Early private tour of Kensington Palace an hour before public opening, then an afternoon at the UNESCO-listed Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, with final dinner featuring prosecco

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • First Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 4 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from London to Salisbury
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. First Class rail from London Waterloo to Salisbury is included. Most other travel between destinations is by coach.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Escorted. A Tour Manager from Vacations By Rail accompanies the group throughout. All guided tours, dinners, and coach transfers are organized.
What hotels are used?
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Euston Square (4 nights), Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel (1 night), and Hotel Indigo in Stratford-upon-Avon (2 nights). All are 4-star.
What meals are included?
Breakfast each day and four dinners: welcome dinner in London, feasting banquet in Stratford, and final dinner with prosecco in London.
How much walking is involved?
Mobility Rating 2. Expect guided walking tours of cities, museums, and historic sites, with standard stair and distance access.
When does the tour run?
Vacations By Rail publishes no departure calendar in this listing. Contact the operator to confirm available dates.

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