Family Vacation Tour to England & Scotland

London is an international city with roots that predate the Roman occupation. The city streets hum with the stories of Peter Pan and legends of knights. The skyline lights up with Big Ben and the rotating colors of the London Eye. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and escorts the family to your fabulous accommodation in the heart of the city. London has a particularly infectious energy that overtakes the family. The British Museum hums with remnants of England’s imperial past and vibrant history. Kensington Gardens has graceful trimmed hedges, blossoming white roses, and a pristine teahouse.

Your private guide will meet you at your hotel ready to show you the continuous wonders of the city. London Tower Bridge stands as an image of the city, almost as famous as Big Ben. The bridge was constructed in the 19th century. Two towers stand 213 feet tall and are connected by an upper walkway. The architectural splendor of the city ranges from the elegance of historic creation, such as West Minster Abbey, to the sheen of modern design, like the Gherkin. At the Tower of London, the children will see the celebrated Beefeaters, also called Yeoman Guards.

The streets are filled with energy and King’s Cross Railway Station is filled with people entering the city for work and a line of visitors wanting to photograph the marked platform of 9 ¾ from the world-renowned Harry Potter Series. Your private guide will meet you at the hotel once more for your half-day tour of the city. Buckingham Palace has a stately appearance. 19 staterooms are used to entertain heads of state with ornate banquets. The air may contain a floral essence. It may be the exact image of elegant royalty that you imagined.

The day will begin early as the family is whisked into the countryside to begin your full day of an English historical tour. Stonehenge is located on the verdant grasslands of the Salisbury Plain. It is an iconic image of Britain and a reminder of the mystical history that dates back at least 5,000 years. Certain stones are meant to be touched. The contrast of the towering stones to the surrounding flatlands is palpable. After your visit, you continue to Windsor Castle to view the ornamental and historical flourishes of royal residence.

After breakfast, the family will have a private transfer to the airport for your flight to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Narrow lanes wind through the cityscape and add to the old mystique. Small hills rise and fall, opening up to revealing panoramas of green hillsides, red bluffs, and the glowing blue sea. The city is a combination of the elements that inspired Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with modern shops and world-class restaurants, all situated beneath the gaze of the 11th-century Edinburgh Castle. The city is both charming and powerful easily inspiring your family to explore.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel and tour you through the historic cobblestone streets. The kids are ready to visit Edinburgh Castle. The military stronghold gave the military a view over the lowlands and stronghold against invaders on the cliff of Castle Rock. Two statues decorate the sides of the entry gates. One statue depicts Robert the Bruce and the other depicts William Wallace. You will have an expansive view of New Town. A strongroom in the Royal Palace houses the Scottish Crown Jewels that were once forgotten but remain the oldest crown jewels on the continent.

The country outside of Edinburgh is unique in its landscape. Its people are emblematic of Scotland’s history, friendly and strong, shaped by legend and the natural elements. Venture through the countryside and into Scotland’s most famous valley, known as Glen Coe. The area is surrounded by the breathtaking power of the landscape. A natural pyramid-shaped rock known as the Great Shepherd of Etive leads into the narrow upper valley. Three mountain peaks tower over the roadway and dominate the sky border the south. The 14th-century Stirling Castle watches over the lowlands with grace decorated with an inspiring edifice.

Everyone knows the myth of the Loch Ness Monster, known to the locals as Nessie. Today your family has a chance to search the waters of the deep and narrow loch. You can feel the palpable excitement that emanates from the children and yourself. Stories of sightings have been passed down by locals, enhanced in tabloids, and polished in children’s books. For an exceptional, endless view of the waterway, your guide may take you counter-clockwise along the route. Even though you may not spot the Loch Ness monster, the chance to explore the celebrated countryside is equally as magnificent.

Your private transfer will meet you in the morning and take you to the inspiring town of Perthshire. The landscape varies from moor to meandering loch, from picture-perfect villages to transcendent forest. Glen Lyon is a 34-mile long gorge of indisputable beauty in a rarely visited area. Cattle graze on the lush grass. Thatched cottages decorate the village of Fortingall. Scone Palace towers over the manicured landscape. In the autumn, the decorative vines that climb up the towers turn red and orange. The image of the palace offers insight into the intrinsic beauty of the highlands and Scotland.

St. Andrews is home to the oldest university in Scotland and also holds the title of the birthplace of golf. People arrive from all over the world with golf clubs at the ready. The town is quaint and beautiful with opulent facades of the newer palaces and the historic ruins of the older edifices. A network of tunnels was dug during a siege in the 16th century that is open to visitors. Parts of the old ramparts cling to the cliffs along the sea. The medieval cathedral watches over the coastline in ruin.

The inherent beauty of Scotland will reveal itself to you family, filled with captivating scenery, vibrant history, and mesmerizing legend. After breakfast, your private transfer will escort you back to Edinburgh for your flight home. You have traversed the highlands and encircled Loch Ness, found castles on lavish display and others in opulent ruin. The children may have been enchanted every step of the way and will always have a special place in their hearts for the sites of London and the beauty of Scotland.