A Royal English Christmas

• Spend 7 nights immersed in the merry holiday magic of England with included excursions every day and first-class hotel accommodations in Bath and London.
• Private holiday tour of the No. 1 Royal Crescent townhouse museum, fashionably decorated in late 18th-century Georgian style.
• Specially arranged Dickensian Christmas walking tour with a traditional pub lunch at the 17th-century Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.
• Traveler’s Choice: Prepare a delicious lunch at a Christmas Cooking Class or visit vibrant Covent Garden, a London favorite.
• Three UNESCO World Heritage sites: The City of Bath, an ancient Roman city filled with stately Georgian architecture; the Tower of London; and the Palace of Westminster & Westminster Abbey.
• Included meals | 2 receptions, 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 1 dinner.

Depart for London, England

Arrive in London, England and proceed through the immigration checkpoint and baggage claim area.

Transfer to Bath and check in to The Francis Hotel. Unpack and settle in this afternoon. Make your own plans for lunch, and start exploring the area if you wish.

During the festive season, the streets are aglow with twinkle lights. With more than 200 chalets selling local foods and gifts, plus carol singers galore, the Georgian-styled Bath Christmas Market is especially fun. Head out to explore and get your first taste of an English Christmas!

This evening, join your fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception at the hotel. After the reception, make your own plans for dinner. The Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk stands ready with dining and itinerary suggestions. Typical British dishes include fish and chips, meat pies, bangers and mash and spaghetti Bolognese.

Begin each day at the hotel with a scrumptious English breakfast to fuel your adventures.

Trace rich history as you walk through the well-preserved city of Bath, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site nestled along the River Avon. Bath was built around the only natural hot spring in Great Britain, and the city was originally an exclusive spa getaway for European aristocrats. Visit the Roman Baths, see artifacts offered to Sulis, the healing goddess, and remnants of an ancient heating system. Admire the stunning architecture of Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge and the 18th-century Georgian Royal Crescent, a row of 30 terraced houses with Georgian façades and Romanesque columns. Enjoy a private tour of the Royal Crescent. (Active)

A decadence of yesteryear awaits. Delight in a Christmas-themed Afternoon Tea. Enjoy a selection of indulgent finger sandwiches, exquisite cakes and pastries, and handmade scones served with clotted cream and preserves. To accompany your treats, choose fine loose tea or coffee.

Enjoy time at leisure to make your own discoveries in this sophisticated city. You may wish to relax at the Thermae Bath Spa or visit Bath’s Fashion Museum, which houses a collection of archaic costumes.

Make your own plans for dinner at a local restaurant.

Delight in breathtaking rural England during an outing to the charming Cotswolds. At Christmastime, the region is awash with twinkle lights and gingerbread-esque cottages. Begin at the quaint village of Lacock, which is managed by the National Trust. Many films and TV shows have been filmed in this impressive setting, including “Downton Abbey,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Harry Potter” and the “Games of Thrones” series. After a stroll through Lacock’s high street, passing timber-framed buildings and Harry Potter’s parent’s house, visit Lacock Abbey, which dates back to 1232 and is built on the foundations of an Augustinian nunnery. Walk in the footsteps of monastic life and listen to stories of William Henry Fox Talbot, a British scientist who lived here. (Moderate)

Enjoy lunch at the White Hart, a traditional English pub located in the hamlet of Ford near Chippenham. The historic pub dates to Tudor times and has a lovely garden.

En route back to Bath, visit the National Trust Dyrham Park, a 270-acre deer park with a beautiful and elegant country house. Created by William Blathwayt in the late 17th century, the house has been recently restored and reimagined. Enjoy Christmas through the ages in rooms that are decorated with greenery, lights and more. Outside, enjoy an outdoor reindeer trail and a giant wreath, perfect for Christmas-themed photos. (Moderate)

Dinner is at leisure tonight. Find traditional holiday meals, including roast turkey with all the trimmings, Yorkshire puddings, roasted vegetables and mince pies.

Discover rich cultural heritage at Windsor Castle, the setting of two royal weddings, one of the official residences of His Majesty the King and a venue for ceremonial and state occasions. Christmas here is a festive season and you’ll enjoy breathtaking decorations in the royal residence, including garlands and twinkle lights. See the State Apartments, with its outstanding art collections, and admire the towering Nordmann Fir tree in St George's Chapel, topped with a special star that marks the 675th anniversary of the Order of the Garter. (Moderate)

Take advantage of time at leisure to find lunch on your own and explore Windsor.

Continue to London and check in to the St. James Court London. Then head out to find dinner on your own. London offers a true holiday experience as well as a buzzing food scene. Along with traditional British staples (like fish and chips), visitors will find an impressive array of international cuisines, fine-dining experiences offering elevated British cuisine and authentic pubs with tasty burgers and beer.

Delve deep into the life of world-famous author Charles Dickens on an enlightening walking tour of bygone London. Follow a storied path, from alleyways to gas-lit courtyards, old pubs to the Strand, plus other sites that Dickens knew intimately, visited and wrote about. Along the way, learn about the background behind different novels and interesting facts about Dickens’ life and works. Conclude at the Charles Dickens Museum and join a guide for a tour of the museum’s rare paintings, manuscripts and more. (Active)

Step into a portal of the past and sit down to a traditional English pub lunch at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. Rebuilt in 1667 following the Great Fire of London in 1666, this timeless tavern features dark wood paneling; walls with portraits of Oliver Goldsmith, Mark Twain and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; and a roaring fire (seasonal).

Designed by Sir Horace Jones (who also designed Billingsgate and Smithfield Markets), the eye-catching Leadenhall Market is a covered hall with a striking interior. During the festive season, the hall is adorned with tiny Christmas trees, giant swooping garlands and a massive Christmas tree. Spend some leisure time browsing the unique boutiques, high-end shops and food spaces. Find tasty, mulled wines, baked goods, sausages and a fun selection of gifts and wares. (Active)

Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own. You may wish to try Indian and Pakistani foods such as chicken tikka masala and spicy curries.

The famous Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) opened in 1857 as a project of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s consort. With a permanent collection of over 2 million objects in more than 140 galleries, the sprawling V&A has something for everyone, from fashion exhibits to medieval tombs, Persian silk carpets to centuries-old mosaics, shimmering ceramics to exceptional photographs. Prince Albert and Queen Victoria started many Christmas traditions, including popularizing the Christmas tree! (Moderate)

Return to the hotel and spend time at leisure this afternoon.

Ebenezer Scrooge and his three ghosts take center stage tonight during a wonderful performance of “A Christmas Carol” at London’s famous Old Vic theater. Enjoy Dickens’ most legendary ghost story and a holiday tradition during an evening of magic and merriment. Dinner is served prior to the performance. (Mild)

After a filling breakfast, proceed to your selected Traveler’s Choice excursion.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions. (Please make your selection on the Reservation Form that follows.)

• Christmas Cooking Class. What better way to celebrate the festive season than by cooking (and savoring) a holiday meal? Start your experience with some freshly baked treats and tea/coffee. Then cook your holiday meal accompanied by experienced teachers. Cap off the excursion by digging into the feast you cooked, accompanied by specially selected wines. (Moderate)
• Covent Garden & Lunch. A visit to this covered market is a feast for the senses and beloved Christmas destination in London. The chalet-style halls are decorated with sparkling balls, bells and thousands of twinkling lights. Stroll along the cobbled piazza as Christmas tunes and the aromas of festive treats drift through the air. Delight in the festive atmosphere, sip some mulled wine on your own and listen to street performers. Then, enjoy an included lunch at a market restaurant. (Moderate)

Your final excursion takes you through London on a classic open-top bus adorned with holiday décor. Pass by London’s major landmarks gloriously bathed in light, including the Tower of London, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Westminster Abbey. (Mild)

Farewell Champagne Toast: Raise a special toast to your London holiday adventure on the London Eye, the world's largest cantilevered observation wheel.

Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. Arrive in your home city.