England | Sep 21 - Sep 27, 2025

England’s Scenic North Featuring the Lake District and Liverpool

Join Our State on an exclusive tour covering thousands of years of history, culture, and architecture in the North of England.

Join Our State on an exclusive tour covering thousands of years of history, culture, and architecture in the North of England. Flying in to Glasgow, you will have an added bonus of a panoramic tour before we head over the border into the Lake District where we will be based for four nights. Not only will you get to see the very best of the Lake District, but you will also have an insight into Neolithic history as well as Roman history along Hadrian’s Wall and in York. Venturing further east, we will enjoy a memorable steam railway experience followed by a trip to the iconic Alnwick Castle. We will then end our tour with two nights just outside of Manchester and enjoy city tours of Manchester and Liverpool, which will of course heavily feature The Beatles! You will then depart Manchester to return to Raleigh.

The dates for this exclusive Our State tour are September 21st to September 27th, 2025, and places are limited to 30 people.

 

Itinerary Highlights:

  • Enjoy a panoramic tour of Glasgow upon arrival
  • Take in the breathtaking sights and views in England’s Lake District, including a journey on board a steamer
  • Dive into Roman history by exploring Hadrian’s Wall
  • Enjoy the best of Northumbria including a trip to Alnwick Castle
  • Alight a steam railway journey through Yorkshire
  • Enjoy the cities of York, Manchester, and Liverpool where we will learn about The Beatles and many other great music acts

 

Package Includes:

  • Four-star accommodation
  • All breakfasts
  • Meet at the airport with transfer to and from the hotel and enjoy a three-course welcome dinner on the first night
  • Expert guide
  • Our State Host to be with you every step of the way
  • Comfortable touring vehicle
  • Local knowledge, recommendations, and help with any bookings you want to make
  • Three dinners – a welcome dinner, a pub dinner, and a farewell dinner on the last night
  • Flights in and out of the UK from Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Entrances and tours of all attractions on the itinerary

 

Not Included:

  • Lunches and dinners unless specified – we like our guests to be able to choose their own dining options, however local recommendations will be provided
  • Tips/Gratuities – minimum suggested per person per day is $20
  • Any visa requirement costs

 

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Sunday, September 21st

Meet and greet at Glasgow Airport. Depart for a sightseeing coach tour of the city to learn about the rich history and culture here. We then head south to the Lake District via a stop off at Gretna Green for some free time. There is an exhibition here which people are more than welcome to visit, a bar and restaurant for those looking for a bite to eat, or maybe just a cup of coffee. There are also many stores providing an excellent range of gifts and souvenirs, including some very high-end fashion. The site is iconic because of the weddings of young couples who wanted to marry without the approval of parents, which was illegal in the 18th century in England, so they came across the border. Think of it as a very old-fashioned Las Vegas!

We then arrive at the hotel for check-in where we will be based for four nights.

In the evening, we will have a three course dinner at the hotel where we will get to know one another and look forward to our stay in the North of England.

Accommodation: North Lakes Hotel & Spa

 

Day 2: Monday, September 22nd

After breakfast, we depart into the heart of the Lake District. We will make a stop at the Beatrix Potter farmhouse retreat to learn more about the famous author and illustrator (don’t forget the Beatrix Potter gift shop!) before heading to Windermere for some free time in the town and the chance to enjoy some spectacular views over Lake Windermere. There will be an opportunity to enjoy some lunch here and potentially stop in Grasmere to pick up some gingerbread. We then head back up to Ullswater and take a steamer on one of the country’s most scenic lakes. We then return to the hotel via a brief stop at the Castlerigg Stone Circle, which is approximately 5,000 years old and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and mountains.

Dinner at leisure (recommendations provided)

Accommodation: North Lakes Hotel & Spa

 

Day 3: Tuesday, September 23rd

We depart after breakfast for Hadrian’s Wall, stopping off at Housesteads Roman Fort with plenty of scenic photo opportunities along the way of this iconic route. The wall itself, which is a UNESCO site, was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to signal the border between Roman Britain and Caledonia (unconquered) and was essential in Roman history as it linked key forts and river crossings. Then we proceed to Durham where we will learn more about this historic university town and visit the cathedral here. There’ll be plenty of options for lunch before we head north to Alnwick Castle in the heart of Northumberland, which has been featured in the Harry Potter series and Downton Abbey and is the second largest inhabited castle in England. We then return to the hotel for dinner at leisure.

Accommodation: North Lakes Hotel & Spa

 

Day 4: Wednesday, September 24th

Today we head for York after breakfast (a two-hour drive) with a gentle walking tour of this extremely historic city, visiting the “Shambles”, York Minster, and the city walls. We will cover not just Roman history but also the Norman and Medieval eras, as well as York’s role in UK industry and World War II. Once we have finished in York, we head to Pickering for one of the trip highlights – the Steam Railway journey. This takes us from Pickering to Whitby, one of the most scenic parts of Britain’s coastline and home to some excellent fish and chips. We then return to the Penrith area for dinner where we will include a traditional pub dinner for you.

Accommodation: North Lakes Hotel & Spa

 

Day 5: Thursday, September 25th

Enjoy breakfast before checking out and heading to Liverpool (a two-hour drive) at 0800, a city awarded the European Capital of Culture in 2018. Taking the Beatles route into Liverpool (Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, etc.), we will then stop off at The Beatles Story, which is an award-winning exhibition showcasing their rise to fame. Widely regarded as the most influential band of all time, we will be at the heart of where it all began for John, Ringo, George, and Paul. After lunch we will proceed with a gentle walking tour of the city to learn more about what makes this place so special, including a visit to the iconic Royal Albert Dock. We will then end the afternoon with a visit to the Cavern Club for an opportunity to enjoy a drink before heading to our next hotel just outside of Manchester. Dinner is at your leisure.

Accommodation: Cottons Hotel & Spa

 

Day 6: Friday, September 26th

For our last full day, we head into Manchester, another city famed for its music scene (think of Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Take That, Joy Division, Simply Red, and much more!). Stopping off at the main historic sights on our walking tour such as the cathedral and John Rylands library (considered one of the most spectacular libraries in the world due to its neo-gothic architecture), we will get a great understanding of the significance of the city in Britain’s history. You will then have some free time for lunch and then time at leisure. There are numerous restaurants, museums, and shops we can recommend. We will then return to the hotel for a farewell dinner and reflect on our time in Northern England, covering the scenery and history of the Lake District, the character and quintessentially English experiences in Yorkshire and Northumberland, and the iconic cities of Liverpool and Manchester.

Accommodation: Cottons Hotel & Spa

 

Day 7: Saturday, September 27th

Enjoy breakfast, check-out, and transfer to Manchester Airport for your flight to RDU.

 

 

Tour Rates:

To secure your place on this trip at the exclusive rate of $4,400 per person on a shared basis or $4,950 on a solo occupancy basis, call Global Dream Travel at (347) 748-1516 or email us at info@globaldreamtravel.co.uk.

 

For reservations and more information:

For more details or to book, go to globaldreamtravel.co.uk or us at info@globaldreamtravel.co.uk or call Adam at (347) 748-1516 (USA phone number).

Book Now

 

Additional Information:

What to expect on an Our State trip:

Traveling with a group of Our State readers is an enriching, enjoyable, and safe way to experience new cultures, people, and places. In addition to the informative narration from the tour director and local guides, an Our State host will be available to assist in making your trip successful.

We usually fly to our destination, then travel by a comfortable motor coach with anywhere from 35 to 50 people who appreciate learning about new regions. Your entire trip will be guided, planned, and arranged for your upmost enjoyment. Many activities are things you can only do because you are traveling with Our State. There is some free time built in for you to explore on your own.

You can also choose not to attend an activity if you prefer something different. Please let your tour director know if you are not coming on a scheduled day.

Many meals are included. Where you have meals on your own, suggestions will be provided.

Most of the motor coaches have restrooms but every effort will be made to make regular rest stops.

One of the best parts of traveling with Our State is that you will meet new people, many of whom you will already have much in common with since most travelers read the magazine. Many guests often develop friendships that go on long after the tour is finished. Our State trips are generally filled with dynamic and friendly people.
 

Physical requirements:

Our tours are physically active but not meant to be strenuous.

Please be aware you will be on your feet, walking and standing for much of the day, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions and terrains. There will also be extended time on the motor coach when we travel from place to place. If there are any mobility issues you will need to have an able-bodied traveling companion to accompany and assist you.

Most days are moderately paced with approximately two to three total miles of walking, possibly including some hills and stairs.

We regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Trip Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

If you have additional questions, please call Our State’s Travel Director Amy Wood Pasquini at 336-286-0600, or email apasquini@ourstate.com.