England & Scotland · A five-star luxury journey
The Grand
British Escape
Britain at its finest. Exceptional stays, private guides and special access, from London’s royal landmarks to the villages, lakes and glens beyond.
Ask about your British escapeMore than a tour of Britain
The doors that open.
The details you remember.
Walk through Hampton Court before it opens to the public. Bake in a Cotswold kitchen. Finish a day in Edinburgh at The Balmoral.
This is a journey for travellers who want Britain’s great sights with something more personal alongside them. Local guides bring the stories to life, private transfers connect the journey, and first-class trains let you enjoy the countryside in comfort.
With three nights in each of the first four destinations and two in Highland Perthshire, there’s time to settle in, enjoy the surroundings and make each stop part of the holiday.
The difference is in the experience
A remarkable way to see Britain
Royal access without the bustle
Explore Hampton Court Palace before public opening, then discover the Tower of London and Scotland’s great castles with expert insight.
Britain through its flavours
Taste your way around Borough Market, bake afternoon tea in the Cotswolds, make Scottish shortbread and sample whisky at Dewar’s Aberfeldy.
Your own local perspective
Private walking tours and driver-guides give you a richer sense of each destination, with a Cotswold morning planned around your interests.
Hotels worth travelling for
The Goring and The Balmoral bookend your city experiences, with village, lakeside and Highland stays adding their own character.
First-class travel between regions
Travel north by first-class rail from London to the Lake District and onwards to Edinburgh, with private station transfers as listed.
A little of Britain to take home
Create a Harris Tweed bag, meet Herdwick sheep and follow the worlds of Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, Bridgerton and Outlander.
A sense of place, every night
Five exceptional stays
The Goring
Begin with three nights at The Goring, your London base for royal history, market tastings and a West End evening.
The Swan, Bibury
A 17th-century former coaching inn beside the River Coln. Village charm, individually decorated rooms and a welcoming retreat after days exploring the Cotswolds.
Explore this hotel ↗Langdale Chase
Three nights at Langdale Chase, with time to unwind between lake cruising, a steam railway journey and private days in the surrounding countryside.
The Balmoral
An Edinburgh landmark in its own right. This five-star hotel on Princes Street puts the Scottish capital’s history and elegant streets close at hand.
Explore this hotel ↗The Old Manse of Blair
A historic Highland estate with individually designed rooms, contemporary interiors and warm hospitality, surrounded by Perthshire scenery.
Explore this hotel ↗The supplier presents this as a five-star luxury journey. The accommodation selection includes four five-star hotels and The Swan, Bibury, rated four-star in the itinerary. Hotels and experiences are subject to availability.
London to the Scottish Highlands
Your 15-day journey
Open any day for a closer look.
Day 1 Arrive in London
Your personal airport meet-and-greet assistant welcomes you at Heathrow and escorts you to your private transfer. Settle into The Goring, then rest or enjoy London at your own pace.
Overnight: London
Day 2 London’s icons and a West End evening
A half-day private walking tour brings London’s stories to life, including entry to the Tower of London. Enjoy a free afternoon, perhaps at the British Museum, before a West End performance with private return theatre transfers.
Overnight: London
Day 3 Hampton Court before the crowds
Visit Hampton Court Palace on an exclusive tour before public opening, with a private driver-guide for the day. Later, a private Borough Market food tour introduces you to more than ten tastings.
Overnight: London
Day 4 Oxford, Downton Abbey country and Blenheim
Travel with your private driver-guide through Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. A private one-hour Oxford walk is followed by Bampton, the village seen in Downton Abbey, Blenheim Palace and Churchill’s gravesite at Bladon.
Overnight: Cotswolds
Day 5 Village exploring and a Cotswold kitchen
Spend the morning exploring villages and historic sites with your private driver-guide, choosing stops around your interests. In the afternoon, join a local baker at home to make scones, Victoria sponge and shortbread, then enjoy your creations over afternoon tea.
Overnight: Cotswolds
Day 6 Bath, Bridgerton and the Roman Baths
A private driver-guide takes you to Bath for Regency architecture and Bridgerton filming locations, including the Royal Crescent and Bath Street. Explore the city’s history, with Roman Baths entry included.
Overnight: Cotswolds
Day 7 First-class rail to the Lake District
A private transfer takes you to London Euston for your first-class rail journey north. On arrival at Oxenholme, a private transfer brings you to Langdale Chase. The rest of the day is free to relax.
Overnight: Lake District
Day 8 Steam trains, Windermere and Beatrix Potter
With your private driver-guide, ride the Lakeside & Haverthwaite steam railway and cruise Lake Windermere. Visit the World of Beatrix Potter and enjoy time exploring Windermere before returning to your hotel.
Overnight: Lake District
Day 9 Herdwick sheep, Wordsworth and Grasmere
An exclusive Herdwick Experience at Yew Tree Farm introduces you to the Lake District’s distinctive sheep and their connection to Beatrix Potter. Continue with your private driver-guide to the Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere and Ambleside.
Overnight: Lake District
Day 10 First-class rail to Edinburgh
Transfer privately to Oxenholme for the first-class train to Edinburgh. A station meet-and-greet assistant welcomes you on arrival. Settle into The Balmoral, then enjoy the Taste of Scotland dinner at the Scotch Whisky Experience. Transfers to this dinner are not included.
Overnight: Edinburgh
Day 11 Edinburgh Castle and Harris Tweed
Your private walking tour explores the Royal Mile and Georgian New Town, with Edinburgh Castle entry included. After lunch at leisure, create your own Harris Tweed bag at a hands-on workshop, choosing cloth and finishing details.
Overnight: Edinburgh
Day 12 St Andrews and Outlander country
Explore the Kingdom of Fife with your private driver-guide. Discover St Andrews, its historic university streets, cathedral and castle ruins and the famous Old Course. Return via Falkland, familiar to Outlander fans.
Overnight: Edinburgh
Day 13 Stirling Castle and a family bakehouse
Travel past the Kelpies to Stirling Castle with your private driver-guide. Continue to Campbell’s Bakery in Crieff for a private shortbread class at a bakehouse run by seven generations of the same family. Then head into Highland Perthshire.
Overnight: Blair Atholl
Day 14 Blair Castle and a Highland dram
Explore Blair Castle and its gardens, then continue with your private driver-guide to Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery for a guided tour and whisky tasting. Return through Perthshire’s glens and countryside for your final evening.
Overnight: Blair Atholl
Day 15 Farewell to the Highlands
After breakfast, your private driver transfers you to Edinburgh Airport. Allow approximately two and a half hours for the scenic journey from Blair Atholl, with flight timing planned accordingly.
Journey ends at Edinburgh Airport
The journey, brought together
What’s included
- 14 nights in the five named hotels, with breakfast daily.
- Heathrow arrival meet-and-greet and private airport transfer; private Edinburgh Airport departure transfer.
- Private walking tours in London, Oxford and Edinburgh; private driver-guides on the touring days described.
- First-class rail from London to the Lake District and from the Lake District to Edinburgh, with the listed private station transfers and Edinburgh station assistance.
- Hampton Court pre-opening tour, Tower of London, Blenheim Palace, Roman Baths, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Blair Castle entry.
- West End theatre ticket with private return theatre transfers.
- Borough Market food tour, Cotswold tea baking experience, Taste of Scotland dinner, Harris Tweed workshop, private shortbread baking class and Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery tour.
- Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, Windermere cruise, World of Beatrix Potter, Wordsworth Museum and Herdwick Experience.
Your luxury journey
From NZ$36,889 per person
Based on twin or double occupancy.
From price is subject to availability. Your dates, room categories and final inclusions will be confirmed in a personal quote.
Price is in New Zealand dollars. Ask Bryce about flight options. International flights are not listed among the brochure’s inclusions.
Breakfast is included daily, alongside the specified food experiences and Taste of Scotland dinner. Other meals and personal expenses are additional. Transfers to the Taste of Scotland dinner are not included.
Request dates and pricingYour next great journey
Make Britain
something special.
Tell Bryce when you’d like to travel and who’s coming. Get a quote for this journey, with advice on flights, room choices and how it could fit with a longer UK or Ireland holiday.