|
 England Scotland Harry Potter 10 Day Vacation Special Family Escorted Tour SMALL GROUP LIMITED TO 15 PERSONS Nothing is more important to us than family, yet this helter-skelter world places enormous strains on togetherness. There is a solution: Take a trip. A trip already planned and organized for you. Enjoy our guided tour to Harry Potter film locations, historic sites, gardens and more Family Tour Great Britain Begins in London on Monday, ends in Edinburgh on Friday  Sunday Depart from home. Monday Harry Potter Tour of London -Your tour commences at 1PM in Britain's famous capital city and at the beginning of book 1- London. Visit London Zoo, which transformed into Little Whinging Zoo in the book. The scene of Harry's conversation with the snake took place in the reptile house of London Zoo. Visit Kings Cross Station to see platform 9 ¾ where Harry starts his journey to Hogwarts School of Wizardry. Don’t forget that the platform is not visable to Muggles! Take turns holding the handle of a baggage cart that British Rail has kindly cut in half and affixed to the wall — all the better to give the impression that it's disappearing into the magical alternative world where trains go to wizard school. Carry on to Australia House on the Strand, home of the Australian High Commission, which was transformed into Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Take a stroll down Charing Cross Road which came to life as Diagon Alley where all the Wizard shops are. Stay overnight in London. Tuesday On your own: Spend the day viewing the Harry Potter sights of London. Take advantage of the fact that you are in one of the most famous capital cities and enjoy many of the other attractions such as the spine chilling London Dungeons, Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussaud's or perhaps enjoy a hop on, hop off sightseeing bus tour encompassing all of the sights! In the evening, join a Murder Trail and walk in the footsteps of the notorious "Jack the Ripper". Stay overnight in London. (CB) Wednesday Harry Potter Tour to Oxford Travel to the ancient university city of Oxford for your next Harry Potter sights. Visit Christ Church College, Oxfords largest college, which was used to stage a number of Hogwarts interior scenes and whose Great Hall was used to accommodate the great feasts at the school. See the famous Bodleian Library, where Harry creeps at night under his invisible cloak. The Duke Humphrey's Library featured as Hogwarts Library in the film and the Divinity School became the Hospital wing. Many of the Hogwart's scenes were filmed at Oxford University - including the staircase where Mrs McGonagall greets the schoolchildren, and Hogwart's hospital. From Oxford, drive up through the Cotswolds, past Blenheim Palace - birthplace of Winston Churchill, to Stratford-upon-Avon. Stay overnight in Stratford-upon-Avon. (CB) Thursday Harry Potter Tour To Gloucester Visit Warwick Castle - Britain's finest complete medieval fortress - and see castle life re-enacted. The dungeons and torture chambers are a great attraction. Drive through the pretty villages to the Cathedral City of Gloucester. The Cathedral, famous for it's Gothic architecture, was the perfect setting for many of the Hogwarts interior scenes, including Gryffindor’s dorm. Here the Fat Lady guarded the entrance Pupils from the Kings School, which adjoins the Cathedral, were used as film extras! The ghost scenes and talking pictures were set here. The Cathedral is featured again in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' including the scene with the ghost Moaning Myrtle, and the mysterious red writing on the wall. While in Gloucester, visit the famous Docks, which is surrounded by Victorian Warehouses and enjoy the museums - The National Waterways and The Regimental Museums. Stay overnight in Gloucester area. (B) FridayHarry Potter Tour to Gordric's Hollow Begin your journey with a visit to the medieval village of Lacock. This village inspired the image of Gordric's Hollow - where Harry lived with his parents. Lacock Abbey was also used in various Hogwarts School scenes, including Professor Snape’s Dungeon classroom. The beautiful village of Lacock will evoke memories in the minds of avid film buffs - it was also used in the period dramas Emma and Pride and Prejudice. Continue your journey to the ancient village of Avebury to see the mysterious circle of standing stones. Return to London for overnight. (B) Saturday – LONDON TO EDINBURGH BY TRAINEnjoy the train ride from London to Edinburgh - just 4 1/2 hours . Once there, visit the royal ship Britannia. (Suggested sightseeing, time allowing) For over forty years Britannia served the Royal Family, travelling over one million miles. Discover the fascinating past of the most famous ship in the world. (CB)  Sunday - EDINBURGH Take a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour of
Edinburgh. Tour highlights include Edinburgh Castle, St. Gile’s Cathedral,
Burns Monument, National Gallery, and the Palace of Holyrood House. (B)
 Monday – ALNWICK CASTLE &
GARDENS - Quiddich gamesAn early morning departure for an all-day
excursion to Alnwick Castle, the family home of the Duke and Duchess of
Northumberland. Set in a stunning landscape, designed by Capability Brown,
Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England (after Windsor
Castle). Alnwick Castle was extensively used for external locations including
the broomstick flying and Quiddich games in the
Harry Potter films. Return to Edinburgh. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Scottish
Music Show. (B,D)Tuesday – INVERNESS/LOCH NESS MONSTER Travel to Inverness, capital of the Highlands. Today’s adventure: Driving alongside Loch Ness, where we enjoy monster hunting at the ruined Urquhart Castle. Nearby, the native Caledonian Pine Forest landscape will take you back in time to how Scotland would have looked 500 years ago. This location was used in the film, “Last of the Mohicans”. Overnight in a bed and breakfast. (CB)  Wednesday – RIDE THE
POTTER RAILWAY/ISLE OF SKYE Ride the Jacobite
“Hogwarts Express” (The West Coast Railway Company) steam
locomotives. We head by ferry to Skye, and up to Portree, where pastel
houses line the harbor. Skye has ruined castles, awesome scenery, Viking
fortresses and is home to legendary clans, immersed in Celtic myths &
legends. Stand on the battlements of timeless castles. We stop to visit the
famous Eilean Donan Castle, used in the film “Highlander” and a James
Bond movie, set at the junction of three lochs as protection against Viking
raiders. (B)  Thursday – GLEN
COE/EDINBURGH Enjoy the mystical mountains of Glencoe. In the battle
here in 1692, 40 of the MacDonald clan were massacred in cold blood by the
Campbells for not forswearing the Jacobite cause. They say you can still hear
their cries! Our overnight accommodations are at an authentic 13th century
Scottish castle hotel set within acres of wooded parkland on the picturesque
banks of the river Esk. (B) Friday – EDINBURGH/HOME Board your return flight. Return home with great memories of the new friends you’ve made. (B) English Scottish Family Vacation Includes: 
|
>
>