Luxury Guided Tours - Chester, Liverpool and Yorkshire Dales ULGB05

Personal Highlights:

• A privately guided tour of the walled city of Chester
• Visiting the boyhood homes of John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney
• Enjoying the warm hospitality of country inns in the Yorkshire Dales

Day 1 Depart USA

You board your Business Class flight for the overnight trip to Manchester and the beginning of your adventure.

Day 2 Arrival in Chester

You arrive in Manchester where your driver is waiting to take you on an orientation view of the city of Manchester before heading to the beautiful town of Chester. Upon arrival you have a chance to relax in your deluxe hotel located in the center of the town. Dinner tonight is in the hotel's justly famed restaurant

Day 3 The Many Histories of Chester

You start this day by walking the walls that surround the city. Parts were built by the Romans and others in medieval times. Chester is the only city in Britain that retains the full circle of its defensive walls. From the walls and watchtowers you can look down at the town and the River Dee. In the distance you can see the hills of Wales. Your next stop is Chester Cathedral. There has been a church on this site for over 1,000 years first as a Saxon Minster then a Benedictine Abbey and finally as a cathedral in 1541. The hand carved choir seats are over 800 years old and the cathedral houses one of the most complete medieval monastic complexes in Britain. Did we mention that Chester is reputed to be one of Britain's most haunted cities? After lunch you head to the Chester Rows which are black and white wooden buildings where the basements are actually open to the street. While located in old buildings, the shops are all up to date so we leave the rest of the afternoon for shopping.

Day 4 Liverpool, The Beatles and the Mersey Sound

While Liverpool has an impressive mercantile and commercial past and a number of heritage buildings second only to London, since the 1960's it has been The Beatles and the Mersey Sound with which the city is most associated. Today you will take a private and poignant trip to Liverpool of the fifties and sixties. You will visit Mendip, John's boyhood home and 20 Forthlin Road, Paul's. You'll stop at Strawberry Field and Penny Lane. Somewhere along the way, you will re-discover your youth and the importance of that music on our lives. After lunch you return to Chester where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Day 5 A Day in Herriot Country

After breakfast you depart Chester and head northeast to the Yorkshire countryside. James Herriot was a practicing vet in the town of Thirsk located in the Vale of York. In his books, including "All Creature Great and Small" he re-names Thirsk as Darrowby but it is in Thirsk where you will visit his home and surgery. This will also give you the opportunity to explore the Yorkshire Moors with images of "Wuthering Heights" and the stunning Yorkshire Dales with traditional market towns like Easingwold, Northallerrton, Stokesley and Bedale. You're sure to find a market taking place somewhere and we will make certain to take time for a fine country lunch at a friendly pub.

Day 6 Scenic Highlights of the Yorkshire Coast

Today you will head to the coast of Yorkshire to visit some beautiful, nefarious and sinister locations. Your first stop will be Scarborough which is a famous resort town today but whose roots go back to the 10th Century. You'll see the ruined Norman Castle perched 150 feet above the town. A drive up Oliver's Mount gives a 500 foot perspective of not only the city but the sea beyond. Your next visit will be to Robin Hood's Bay which has operated as a village under various aliases. Nothing connects it directly to Robin Hood, but it was once known as Bay Town, Robin Hood's Town and Robbyn Huddes Bay. Whatever its name it is a charming spot with every twist and turn bringing into view another picture postcard scene. Red pantiles decorate the roofs of stone cottages. A stream runs through a ravine in the middle of the village to the sea below. Shops, cafes, pubs and small cottages cling precariously to the sides of the cliff. It is no wonder that it also had a well-deserved reputation for smuggling. Your last visit of the day will be the town of Whitby which saw its heyday as a whaling port and the town where Captain Cook learned his seafaring skills. Of more sinister repute is the fact that Bram Stoker wrote Dracula in Whitby and the ruins of Whitby Abbey were the inspiration for Carfax Abbey in the novel. Escaping the town unscathed you return to your safe and secure hotel.

Day 7 Castle Howard and York Minster

After breakfast you depart and head through the Yorkshire countryside. Your first stop will be Castle Howard made famous as the home of Lord Marchmain in the TV series "Brideshead Revisited". You will spend some time viewing the interior of the house and its extensive grounds and statuary before heading off to nearby York. After lunch you will visit York Minster the largest Gothic Church in Northern Europe. After a tour of the church you explore the nearby pedestrian-only shopping areas of Stonegate and the Shambles which combine antiques, old books, high fashion and ancient buildings all in a manageable, walkable area. After a little "retail therapy", your driver will take you to your elegant hotel where your farewell dinner awaits.

Day 8 Return to USA

Your driver will be ready to drive you to the airport for your return flight to the US.

Services Included

• 1st Class rail travel as indicated on the itinerary
• Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)
• Private Transfers to and from the airport or rail station at destination
• All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.
• Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary
• Baggage handling at all hotels
• All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round