2026 United Kingdom Tour with British Isles, France & Belfast Cruise

Time this morning for connecting flights before the early afternoon flight to Singapore.  On arrival into Singapore late evening, we are met and transferred to our hotel for our two night stay.

After a leisurely morning, we begin our tour of Singapore, starting with an aerial view from the world’s largest giant observation wheel – the Singapore Flyer. Standing at a stunning 165m from the ground, the Flyer offers you breath-taking, panoramic views of Marina Bay, towering skyscrapers, tropical greenery and even the hills of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia in the 30-minute “flight”. Afterwards, we visit Singapore’s latest National Garden – Gardens by the Bay. Visit the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest cooled conservatories; the vertical gardens of our Supertrees and relax and wander around the outdoor themed gardens. The afternoon is at leisure until we meet for dinner this evening.

Early this morning, we transfer back to Singapore Airport in time to report for our daylight flight to London. On arrival into Heathrow Airport mid-afternoon (local time), we are met and transferred to our hotel for a 2-night stay. This evening, we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

You may have been to London before, but let’s refresh your memory with a full day sightseeing around the ‘grand old lady’.  We view many of the sights for which London is famous – Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square to name but a few. And to break the day we enjoy a luncheon cruise on the River Thames where we see a different view of the city from the water.

This morning, we depart London for a delightful 9 days of touring through the south and west of England and travel to the Salisbury Plains. We visit Salisbury Cathedral dating back to the 13^th century. For over 700 years, this majestic and awe-inspiring edifice built in stone and glass to reflect the glory of God has been a setting for magnificent occasions and processions. We then skirt the edge of Dartmoor National Park as we drive to Falmouth, a delightful town on the south coast of Cornwall for a 3-night stay.

From Falmouth, we explore the Cornish Peninsula enjoying stunning coastal views on a scenic drive to Penzance where we view St Michael’s Mount. Down to Land’s End, one of England’s most famous landmarks and a place of stunning natural beauty, before we reach the picturesque village and artist colony of St Ives on the Atlantic Coast. We return to Falmouth later this afternoon.

Our first visit today is to the Eden Project located near the village of St Austell. Its giant biomes – the largest greenhouses in the world – have become one of Cornwall’s most celebrated landmarks. Tropical, temperate and desert environments have been recreated inside the biomes, so a single visit can carry you from the steaming rainforests of South America to the dry deserts of Northern Africa. Afterwards, our next visit is to the olde world fishing port of Padstow on the North Cornish coast. Here, we enjoy a very special luncheon at Rick Stein’s original and signature restaurant, “The Seafood Restaurant” established way back in 1975. NB: We are unable to confirm the restaurant booking until late December so if The Seafood Restaurant is unavailable, a suitable alternative will be booked.

Leaving Falmouth, we travel across Dartmoor National Park to Princetown, home to the infamous prison originally built to house the captives from the Napoleonic wars. Then to Glastonbury with a history all of its own but more recently famous for its 5 day music festival. Next up is the “city” of Wells with its magnificent cathedral and moated Bishop’s palace. Medieval buildings and cobbled streets radiate out to the main marketplace which has been the bustling heart of the city for nine centuries. And finally to our overnight stay at the Roman city of Bath

Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage site and certainly one of the most interesting cities in the UK with a history dating back to Roman times.  We spend the morning exploring the city and visit the restored Roman baths and the 15^th century Abbey. Other highlights include the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge. This afternoon, we drive north through the gentle rolling hill country of the Cotswold region. We pass through the market town of Cirencester and places with such interesting names as Bourton-On-Water, Stow-On-Wold and Moreton-On-Marsh. It is a beautiful part of England. Our destination today is Stratford-Upon-Avon where we stay for 2 nights.

The town is known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, perhaps the world’s greatest ever playwright. During our morning tour we will visit many of the places of interest including Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Halls Croft, Holy Trinity Church where the “bard” is buried along with his wife, and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage where Anne was raised as a child. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the town.  Maybe later, you may wish to enjoy some Shakespearean Theatre at the RSC.

Leaving Stratford, we travel to the town of Woodstock for a visit to one of the most impressive of all English palaces and estates, Blenheim Palace, home to the 12^th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and birthplace of Winston Churchill. It is a truly remarkable masterpiece of 18^th century Baroque architecture and sits among more than 2000 acres of extraordinary, landscaped parkland and formal gardens designed by “Capability Brown”. Keeping with today’s aristocratic theme, we will also try to schedule a stop at the town of Bampton where many of the outdoor scenes of “Downtown Abbey” were filmed.  Our home for the next 2 nights is the ancient university city of Oxford.

Oxford University has a history of teaching that dates back to the 11^th century making it the oldest university in the English speaking world. This morning, we enjoy a walking tour of the university area during which we learn about the collegiate system which is unique to Oxford and Cambridge. We visit Christ Church College, affectionately known as “the house” and originally founded by Cardinal Wolsey in 1529. Even today, its operation is a combination of church and college and boasts an internationally renowned cathedral choir as well as an important collection of Old Masters paintings. The remainder of the day is free. Maybe stroll the streets and lanes which have been brought to life in our living rooms through the television series of “Morse” and “Lewis”.

Late this morning, we transfer by coach to the port of Southampton where we join our floating home for the next 12 nights, the magnificent “Majestic Princess”. Our ship departs at 4.00pm.

A free day for you to enjoy the ship’s facilities

Founded in the 7th century by St. Fin Barre, Cork is your gateway to romantic Ireland. Stroll down narrow country lanes or see the Lakes of Killarney. The intrepid visitor may scale the narrow passages of Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. The region around Cork is also home to one of the densest concentration of prehistoric monuments in Western Europe. In a land where fable and fact blend to become folklore, it was near Cork that the great Tuatha De Danaan, a race with magical powers, was driven underground by the conquering Celts. Cobh where we dock was the single most important port of emigration from Ireland. Arrives 7.00am, Departs 5.00pm.

This great industrial port grew to prominence as a result of trade with the Americas. That tradition continued in the ’60s as the Beatles mounted the first wave of rock ‘n’ roll’s “British Invasion”. Liverpool is home to two of the finest neoclassical buildings in Europe. At nearby Port Sunlight, magnate William Lever built a model industrial village and created the Lady Lever Gallery. The museum is home to a superb collection of English paintings and furniture. Arrives 10.00am, Departs 8.00pm

The capital of Northern Ireland – part of the United Kingdom – Belfast has experienced a renaissance since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that promised an end to the decades-old “Troubles” between Catholics and Protestants. Stretching along both sides of the River Lagan, this graceful city of Victorian and Edwardian buildings has become a cosmopolitan tourist destination. Belfast was an industrial giant in the 19th century, famed for its linen and its shipyards. Explore this exuberant city, marvel at the Giant’s Causeway or shop for superb Irish linens. Arrives 7.30am, Departs 8.00pm

Glasgow was Scotland’s great industrial centre during the 19th century. Today, the city remains the commercial and cultural capital of the Lowlands. Lying on the banks of the River Clyde, Glasgow boasts some of the finest Victorian architecture in the entire United Kingdom, including the stately City Chambers. Elegant Princes Square offers excellent shopping, and among the host of museums and galleries, the Burrell Collection features a superb treasure trove of paintings and art objects. Arrives 7.00am, Departs 6.00pm

Just north of Scotland lies the Orkney Islands, a chain of 70 islands with dramatic landscapes. Vikings – Norsemen – ruled the Orkney Islands from the 9th to 13th centuries, leaving in their wake such monuments as St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. This hint of Scandinavian influence can be heard in the lilting accent with which Orcadians speak. Arrives 7.00am, Departs 6.00pm

Invergordon lies in a particularly beautiful part of the Highlands of Scotland. The village lies near the head of a Fjord on an arm of the North Sea and is surrounded by mountains and gentle rolling farmland.  Take in the local sights such as Cawdor or Dunrobin Castle, venture out to Glen Affric, an area in the Heart of the Highlands containing one of the largest ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Scotland, or simply wander and enjoy the outstanding beauty of the area. Arrives 7.00am, Departs 6.00pm

South Queensferry is the gateway to Edinburgh, the political, commercial and cultural heart of Scotland. Nestled between the Highlands and the Border Hills, Edinburgh is a gracious city noted for its superb skyline, its impressive collection of architecture and its beautiful parks. The streets of the elegant New Town are lined with graceful Georgian buildings, many designed by the great architect Robert Adam. Edinburgh has also exerted a tremendous cultural force on Europe and the English-speaking world. The International Festival has been one of the premier European cultural events for over half a century. Among those who have called the city home are the writers, Robert Burns, James Boswell, and Sir Walter Scott and the philosophers, Adam Smith and David Hume. To stroll the streets of Edinburgh is to experience one of the world’s great cities. Arrives 8.00am, Departs 8.00pm

Another day to rest up and relax on board.

Perhaps no other place in France holds more associations for English-speaking visitors than Normandy. The historic Allied landings on D-Day – 6 June, 1944 – live on in the memories of many. The port was nearly completely destroyed during the Normandy campaign. Today, Le Havre is France’s second largest port and the gateway to Paris, “City of Light,” the Norman countryside, and the historic landing beaches. Travelers usually head for the historic landing sites or to Paris. Le Havre was designated a World Heritage Site in 2005. The Musee des Beaux Arts Andre Malraux boasts one of the finest collections of Impressionist paintings in the world. Arrives 7.00am, Departs 8.00pm

Our wonderful cruise comes to an end this morning when we dock at Southampton.  We are transferred back to London’s Heathrow Airport in time to join our flight departing for Singapore in the evening. If you would like to stay on in Europe and return home later please let us know and we can assist with your travel plans.

We arrive into Singapore late afternoon. We have arranged rooms at the transit hotel, located inside the airport, so that you can get some rest or freshen up, prior to joining our late night flight connection through to Auckland.

The tour concludes with arrival home mid-morning.