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 farther 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.
September 21-27, 2025
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
- Take 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:
- Six nights of four-star accommodations
- All breakfasts
- Meet at the airport with transfer to and from the hotel
- Expert guide
- Our State host
- 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 U.K. from Raleigh-Durham International Airport
- Entrances and tours of all attractions on the itinerary
Accommodations:
- Four nights in Penrith: North Lakes Hotel & Spa
- Two nights in Knutsford: Cottons Hotel & Spa
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Glasgow • Gretna Green
Sunday, September 21, 2025
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 that 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, 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.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: North Lakes Hotel & Spa in Penrith
Day 2: Beatrix Potter Farmhouse • Lake Windermere • Castlerigg Stone Circle
Monday, September 22, 2025
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.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: North Lakes Hotel & Spa in Penrith
Day 3: Hadrian’s Wall • Durham • Alnwick Castle
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
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.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: North Lakes Hotel & Spa in Penrith
Day 4: York • Steam Railway
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
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 U.K. 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 a traditional pub dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: North Lakes Hotel & Spa in Penrith
Day 5: Liverpool • The Beatles Story
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Enjoy breakfast before checking out and heading to Liverpool (a two-hour drive), 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.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Cottons Hotel & Spa in Knutsford
Day 6: Manchester
Friday, September 26, 2025
For our last full day, we head into Manchester, another city famed for its music scene (think Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Take That, Joy Division, Simply Red, and much more). Stopping off at the main historic sites 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.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Cottons Hotel & Spa in Knutsford
Day 7: Departure
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Enjoy breakfast, check out, and transfer to Manchester Airport for your flight to RDU.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour Rates:
Regular rate: $4,400 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single rate: $4,950
For Reservations & More Information:
For more details or to book, go to globaldreamtravel.co.uk, email us at info@globaldreamtravel.co.uk, or call Adam Cornish at (347) 748-1516 (U.S. phone number).
For more information on physical requirements and what to expect on an Our State trip, click here.
