Great Britain New Year
Great Britain New Year
$1510
Great Britain New Year
7 Days Starting and ending in Hotel lobby at Holiday Inn Express London - Greenwich
Visiting: England, Scotland, Wales, United Kingdom
Tour operator:
Tour code:
GBNY
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a New Year's Eve tour unlike any other! Discover the best of Great Britain over 7 days during the New Year's Eve period. Traverse the spectacular landscapes, experience unmissable attractions and uncover the area's fascinating history. See the iconic sights of Hadrian's Wall and Glencoe, plus enjoy the opportunity to visit the enigmatic Stonehenge! Travel through the Scottish Highlands, English Lake District and Loch Ness. Visit Cambridge and York and discover their rich heritage. Tuck into authentic pub fare and savour a sip of whisky with locals. Finally, welcome the New Year in style at Hogmanay in Edinburgh with a spectacular street festival!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In London - Cambridge - York
Meals Included: Dinner
Today, this unforgettable 7-day tour of Great Britain begins! Travel to the English countryside and savour the fresh air and picturesque landscapes. Upon arrival in Cambridge, set out on a punting trip down the river in an authentic riverboat. Enjoy taking in the spectacular scenery and impressive buildings in a peaceful manner. Then, head to today's first stop - York, a historical, architectural and cultural Mecca. After arriving, embark on an orientation walking tour to learn interesting perspectives on the city's history and culture. Sit down for a delicious group dinner this evening and savour the first night on tour!
Go punting down the River Cam in Cambridge
Stroll through the historic streets of York
Enjoy a group dinner in York
Day 2: York - Gretna Green - Glasgow - Highlands
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Continue the journey north today as the tour makes its way to the sensational Scottish Highlands. Enjoy a stop at the renowned Angel of the North statue on the way. Then, head to Hadrian's Wall, a defensive structure built during the final frontier of the Roman Empire by emperor Hadrian. Next, continue on to the striking historic village of Gretna Green in southern Scotland. It's one of the most popular wedding destinations in the world! Later, stop in Glasgow, the famed Scottish city, for Christmas markets and festive season merriment. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner after arriving at the hotel in the Scottish Highlands.
Visit the Angel of the North statue
Photo stop at Hadrian’s Wall
Visit world-famous wedding destination Gretna Green
Shop at Glasgow’s Christmas markets
Spend a night in the Scottish Highlands
Day 3: Glencoe - Loch Ness - Edinburgh (New Year’S Eve)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Be on the lookout for Ben Nevis today! If the weather is good, Britain's highest peak can be seen on the journey to Glencoe. Once there, learn more about this striking valley that was the setting of a mournful massacre hundreds of years ago. Then, journey on towards the legendary Loch Ness. Embark on the optional cruise for the chance to try and spot the mythical lake Monster, 'Nessie' with an included drink, the best way to start the New Year’s celebrations! Upon arrival in Edinburgh, check into the hotel and enjoy an included dinner before tonight's Hogmanay festivities. Welcome the New Year the Scottish way.
Drive through the Highlands and spot Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak
Marvel at the beauty of the Highlands in Glen Coe
Glimpse the beauty of Loch Ness
Spend New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh
Experience Scottish Hogmanay celebrations
Day 4: Edinburgh: Free Day (New Year’S Day)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, Edinburgh offers an array of New Year's Day delights! Spend this year's first day exploring the city at leisure. Explore the Old Town and New Town, meander along the cobbled roads of the Royal Mile and visit the Grassmarket. Marvel at the art galleries, statues, monuments and striking Gothic architecture as well as the majesty of Edinburgh Castle. This afternoon, choose to join today's optional excursion for an exploration of some of Edinburgh’s top attractions including Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle! Tonight, choose to continue the celebrations with a New Year’s Day dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 5: Edinburgh - Lake District - Liverpool
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, cross the border and travel back to England as the journey continues to Liverpool. On the way, enjoy stops at the historic cathedral city of Carlisle and the gorgeous town of Bowness-on-Windermere in the scenic Lake District. While here, choose to embark on the Winter at Windermere optional excursion to enjoy lunch and a spectacular Lake Windermere cruise. Upon arrival in Liverpool later this afternoon, head out for an orientation drive before hotel check-in. Learn all about the city that was home to The Beatles and boasts two legendary football clubs! Tonight, enjoy the local life with some free time. Consider visiting the Cavern Club, where The Beatles famously played hundreds of gigs.
Visit the castle in the Cathedral city of Carlisle
Experience the beauty of the English Lake District National Park
Driving tour of Liverpool with your tour leader
Day 6: Liverpool - Stratford-Upon-Avon - Cardiff
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, head out for a driving tour of Liverpool's most well-known attractions related to The Beatles! Then, travel to Stratford-upon-Avon to experience the birthplace of the world-renowned playwright, William Shakespeare. Uncover this village's rich history on an orientation tour and use the free time thereafter to explore at leisure or join the optional excursion to discover Shakespeare’s birthplace and indulge in an afternoon tea! Next, Wales awaits! Enjoy a quick photo stop at a medieval castle en route. Then, journey to this evening's stop in Cardiff. Get acquainted with the city on an orientation drive and check into this evening's hotel before enjoying an included dinner.
See Liverpool spots connected to The Beatles
Explore Stratford-Upon-Avon; home of Shakespeare
Enjoy a photo stop at a medieval Welsh Castle
Experience Cardiff on a driving tour
Day 7: Cardiff - Bath - Stonehenge - London
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy the last day of this Great Britain tour with plenty of exciting activities! The first stop of the day is Bath, a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to some of Europe’s most stunning architecture, including the iconic Roman Baths that are available to explore on an optional excursion. Embark on an informative orientation tour before journeying onwards to Stonehenge. Explore this iconic landmark and its surrounding mythology on the optional Stonehenge excursion. This evening, arrive in London and end off an exciting Great Britain vacation!
Orientation walking tour of Bath
What's Included
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Accommodation
6 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days) -
Meals
6 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners
*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request -
Tour Leader
Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details
What's Not Included
International flightsTravel to the start point and from the end point is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.Travel insuranceFor a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance.
Mode of Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Accommodation
6 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Experiences
Go punting down the River Cam in Cambridge
Stroll through the historic streets of York
Enjoy a group dinner in York
Visit the Angel of the North statue
Photo stop at Hadrian’s Wall
Visit world-famous wedding destination Gretna Green
Shop at Glasgow’s Christmas markets
Spend a night in the Scottish Highlands
Drive through the Highlands and spot Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak
Marvel at the beauty of the Highlands in Glen Coe
Glimpse the beauty of Loch Ness
Spend New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh
Experience Scottish Hogmanay celebrations
Visit the castle in the Cathedral city of Carlisle
Experience the beauty of the English Lake District National Park
Driving tour of Liverpool with your tour leader
See Liverpool spots connected to The Beatles
Explore Stratford-Upon-Avon; home of Shakespeare
Enjoy a photo stop at a medieval Welsh Castle
Experience Cardiff on a driving tour
Orientation walking tour of Bath
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting point for the first day of your tour. Please see the meeting point information for details on how to reach the meeting point.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No, entrance fees are not included.
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, visas are each traveler’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for. When applying for your visa, please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All our tours are conducted in English.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
We are committed to curating excellent travel experiences and to do so we need all of our travelers to feel safe.
In order to ensure the peace of mind and safety of our travelers and staff on board the coach, we are still requesting that all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, produce a negative Covid test. This test can be a PCR test -
Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Certain nationalities may require a visa(s) for this tour.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
All of the hotels on this tour offer Wi-Fi, which is available free of charge as part of your Expat Explore tour.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes, Full air-conditioning
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Due to weight and space limitations, you are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg, and one small soft bag for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 7kg. On all tours, you will have to carry your own luggage (e.g. into hotels and up to your room if hotels don’t have elevators). Please bear this in mind when you are deciding what to pack
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes, As detailed in the itinerary
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
All travellers are required to carry their own bags, get on and off the coach, and use public transport. Our city walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down lots of steps. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
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What is the maximum group size?
It depends on how many other people book! There could be up to 51 other passengers, so you will have the opportunity to make lots of friends!
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
We have searched and invested in excellent accommodation options, either located in cities or well placed with public transport connections. Clean linen, towels is always included. Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel etc) and hair dryers are not always included, so you may wish to bring these with you. Accommodation is provided in twin share en-suite rooms. We use a mix of mostly 2, 3 & 4-star hotels.
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What is the tipping policy?
Whilst we fully understand that some nationalities are not accustomed to tipping, this is a normal part of the culture in many of the countries we visit. Tipping has become an increasingly accepted practice in all areas of the service industry, but particularly in restaurants, bars and taxis worldwide. Expat Explore crew members
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
A full list of confirmed accommodation names and addresses for your particular departure will be emailed to you around 1 week before the tour starts.
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Our travelers come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Our tour leaders come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests. They are all confident and well-travelled with an in-depth knowledge of the destinations they are working in, and a passion for helping you make the most out of your Expat Explore tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
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Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 04, 2025Monday - Sunday
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 04, 2026Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 91 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.