New Year’s in Edinburgh: London & Scotland Escape

Itinerary

• Day 1: Overnight Flight

  Board your overnight flight, bound for Europe.

• Day 2: Arrive in London + Welcome Dinner

  Welcome to London! It’s huge, it’s cosmopolitan, and it’s brimming with famous sights, fun pubs, great music venues and endless things to do. Arrive at your accommodations to meet up with your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

  In the evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner of local cuisine and drinks with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot. Afterwards, you’re free to take the party elsewhere!

• Day 3: Sightseeing Tour of London + Optional London Eye & Tea

  Hit the highlights of London with an expert local guide giving you all the inside info. Most of the tour will be on a bus ride around the city—you'll see the famous sights like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. You'll also get a chance to walk around and explore on foot. If you're lucky you might even catch the Changing of the Guard, a classic London moment.

  Free time in London (night)
  Top 3 nightlife suggestions:
  1. Ministry of Sound – This club is an institution in London’s club scene, pumping out American house music on what’s been voted the World’s Best Sound System.
  2. Polo Bar – Open 24/7, Polo Bar is the place to get your breakfast on—morning or night. They’ve been serving fry-ups for almost 50 years.
  3. Hampstead Heath – The highest spot in central London, this park was founded in the 900s (no, that’s not a typo) and is one of the best places for stargazing.

  London Eye & Tea (extra cost)

  Ride Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel for panoramic views before enjoying a traditional English tea.
  
  This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than fourteen days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

• Day 4: Free Time in London

  Enjoy a free day in London.

  Free time suggestions

  Covent Garden: Seek out bargains at this bustling covered market; souvenirs, clothes, crafts and much more.
  Tower of London: Trace England’s bloody history and see the legendary Crown Jewels.
  Abbey Road: Probably the world's most famous crosswalk, this storied spot is a must-see for even the most casual Beatles fan.

• Day 5: Travel to Edinburgh

  Hop a train to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city where old meets new. Its bright green hills (two extinct volcanoes!) are home to medieval stone buildings and taverns. Get lost in this city that celebrates art, music, and comedy.

  Introduction to Edinburgh
  Your Tour Director will take you on a quick walk to get to know the area.

  Free time in Edinburgh (Night)
  Top 3 nightlife suggestions:
  1. Sandy Bell – A lively old world pub, Sandy Bell is a popular local spot for folk and traditional Celtic music where the whole bar is known to join in singing and playing.
  ***2. Whiski ***– Traditional and fully stocked, this whisky bar on the Royal Mile offers more than 300 whiskies for your tasting pleasure and music every night of the week.
  3. Electric Circus – Part club, part gig venue, part karaoke bar (with seven private rooms specifically for it), this place is in a league of its own. Who knew hen nights and hip-hop gigs could coexist?

• Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Edinburgh + New Year's Eve Celebration!

  Hit the highlights of Edinburgh with a licensed local guide giving you all the inside info. Take the cobblestoned Royal Mile and experience the mix of past and present walking through New and Old Towns. You’ll see the centuries-old Princes Street Gardens in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle (which you might recognize as the one-and-only Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter series).

  Edinburgh Castle
  It’s impossible to go to Edinburgh and not see Edinburgh Castle; the medieval castle sits high on Castle Rock and dominates the city’s skyline. Iron Age warriors feasted here, Mary Queen of Scots lived in the Royal Palace, and rulers were crowned on the Stone of Destiny only recently returned from England after a 700-year custody battle (it was last used in Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in the 1950s). Oh, and the hilltop view isn’t too shabby either.

  Today's highlights:

  • Enjoy New Year’s Eve with all the friends you’ve made along the way. Cheers!
• Day 7: Free Day in Edinburgh

  Free time suggestions

  Brew Lab: This specialty shop serves up delicious artisanal coffee. It’s also the perfect place to sample the wares of some other indie Edinburgh icons, including soup from Union of Genius and cakes from Lovecrumbs.
  Arthur’s Seat: Visible from pretty much everywhere in the city, this extinct volcanic peak is a relatively easy hike with a killer view.
  Old Town: Walk the winding streets lined with everything from candy-colored shops to local pubs to souvenir shops.

• Day 8: Fly Home

  Goodbye, friends!
  Your next destination awaits—home. Before you head to the airport, enjoy your last few moments together. Take one more group photo. Grab that final drink. (Fine, maybe a couple of drinks.) But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?

  –OR–

  EXTEND YOUR TRIP 2 WAYS

  1. Double the fun
  A lot of our trips line up back to back! Give us a call—we can help you add another and save big while you're at it.

  2. Go ahead or stay behind
  Extending your trip is easy! During checkout, you'll have the option to fly to (or from) the gateway of your choice for an additional fee. We'll adjust your flights accordingly, but you'll be responsible to take care of your transportation, hotels, and other logistics outside of tour.

  Note: Depending on your desired gateways, additional fees may apply.