2025
Britain's Best
with Fr. Austin!
A look at Edinburgh and Glosgow, Thanks to Rick Steves.
Double click to enlarge!
Day 7- Thursday, September 11th After a great English breakfast, we have a full day to explore and dine in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. But first, we will visit Rosslyn Chapel, just south of the city. This chapel was featured in the movie, “The Da Vinci Code” and still intrigues visitors today with its enigmatic carvings and history.
Afterwards, we have a short drive to Edinburgh, We will tour the Royal Mile and then first visit Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile. Cut and paste for a visitor’s map of famous sites along the Royal Mile https://www.visitacity.com/en/edinburgh/attractions-map When you leave the Castle, you will have to time to casually walk down the Royal Mile at your own pace to shop, stop for lunch or pub hop. Be sure to stop in St. Giles Cathedral to say a prayer or two.
At the end of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyrood House. The admission ticket allows for a self guided tour of the official residence for every British monarch when they are in Edinburgh. Just like Buckingham Palace in London, Holyrood continues as the royal residence for the now, current king, Charles III. Dinner tonight at Brown’s Brasserie & Bar in the Old Town, Edinburgh 5:30pm.
Day 8 –Friday, September 12 th After a well-needed rest, enjoy a hearty, full English breakfast at your leisure. We’ll leave in the morning for a short ride to Stirling Castle, and a guided tour of one of the British Isles most significant, historic castles and royal residences. It was the early home to Henry VIII’s first daughter, Mary Queen of Scots. Mary was one of many Scottish kings and queens who were crowned at Sterling castle. The tour includes tales of ghostly apparitions, as well as the more tangible displays as seen in the Museum of the Argyll and Highlander’s regiments, The Palace, The Chapel Royal, the Great Hall completed in 1503, Queen Anne Garden and Castle Exhibition and an unusual inclusion, the Great Kitchens of the castle all housed within the castle’s walls! There is also a café and gift shop featuring unique gifts.
Day 1 - Friday, September 5th You will fly non-stop, overnight from BWI to Heathrow Airport, England unless you’ve selected another airline. If you are booking your own Airfare, we will coordinate where you will meet the group on Saturday morning.
Day 2 - Saturday, September 6th We will arrive Heathrow International Airport about 10am. After collecting our luggage and clearing customs. We will then make our way to meet our coach driver, Kenny. You will join your guide onboard your luxury coach for ride to historic York City, the cultural center of England. We will enjoy all the charm of York for the four nights at the Radisson Blu Hotel, City Center. Before we check in at our hotel, we will do a short guided drive through the Heart of York to acquaint you with the Old Town section of the city which includes, some of the existing stone gatehouses, known as “Bars” like Monk’s Bar and Bootham Bar that are part of the Medieval wall and still mark entrance to the medieval city, the imposing Gothic Cathedral and Metropolitcal Church of St. Peter best known as York Minster, “The Shambles” a very narrow, medieval street filled with fascinating 14th century shops said to be the inspiration for “Diagon Alley” in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. Dinner tonight will be in the hotel at 6pm
ITINERARY:
Please excuse the production on the next video. I couldn't cleaan the first few seconds.
Day 3 - Sunday, September 7th - Enjoy a well-needed rest and a full English breakfast at your leisure. But first for those who would like to attend mass, please join Fr. Austin who will celebrate mass at 10:30 at St. Georges Roman Catholic Church. Our coach will take you to and from the church. After Mass we’ll for a short ride and admission to The National Railway Museum - it’s more than just trains. Your guide will provide a list of interesting shops, ancient churches and pubs to visit.We will be checking into The Radisson Hotel for four nights.Dinner tonight will be at the The Royal Oak, A great pub with good food and great, cozy atmosphere for a traditional, “Sunday Roast” at 6pm.
Day 6 - Wednesday, September 10th After a full English breakfast we will check out of the Radisson in York and make our way through the lovely Yorkshire Dales, made famous as the setting for the BBC’s, “All Creatures” series based on James Herriott’s beloved books. We will stop for a lunch break and then on to the Grand Central Hotel in the heart of Glasgow. There will be time to check in and relax before dinner tonight. the MacSorley’s Tradional Scottish Pub at 6pmDay 6 - Wednesday, September 10th After a full English breakfast we will check out of the Radisson in York and make our way through the lovely Yorkshire Dales, made famous as the setting for the BBC’s, “All Creatures” series based on James Herriott’s beloved books. We will stop for a lunch break and then on to the Grand Central Hotel in the heart of Glasgow. There will be time to check in and relax before dinner tonight. the MacSorley’s Tradional Scottish Pub at 6pm
Day 4 - Monday, September 8th -After a full English breakfast, Our first adventure in the nearly 2,000 year old city of York will be a admission to York Minster for a guided tourhttps://yorkminster.org/visit/. It is the largest, Gothic Cathedral in Europe. As it now stands, it took 250 years to complete from 1230 to 1475AD and was and is the heart of York city. Beneath this massive building are the remains of the the Roman settlement for the city they named Eboracum in 71 AD. There will time to visit the Undercroft Museum below the exisiting cathedral.
You will be on your own for lunch. We are then scheduled for a walking tour with a local guide to discover the history snd whimsy of York like Snickelways. They are very narrow medieval alleyways with curious names that weave their way in and around the Old medieval town. Dinner tonight will be at the 17th century, Punch Bowl Pub at 5:30 pm.
Day 5 - Tuesday, September 9th After a full English breakfast at, you have free time to explore the Medieval town of York at your pace, but we’ll start with your guide taking you for a short walk along the last remaining section of the Medieval city walls with great views of the city. Then visit the spectacular, York Museum Gardens, A ten acre site that is free to the public in the center of York. It is so much more than just a garden. It is surrounded by historic buildings all housed on the grounds of the original St Mary’s Abbey. Please view the short “You Tube” video, “A guide to York in a Day” which is the best introduction to the splendors of this site. York Museum Gardens: St.Mary's Abbey & Yorkshire Museum| Things to do in York UK. Gardens are open 9am to 6pm.
There will be a break for you to enjoy lunch or a pint on your own and we will meet later for our sightseeing Cruise on the River Ousse accompanied by local history told by the captain. There is a bar and light fare available on board. Dinner tonight is in York at The Exhibition Tavern at 7pm.
Friday, September, 5th ~ Sunday September, 14th 2025
$3,880. Per Person Sharing, includes Airfare from most US East Cost Airports.
$2,975. Land Package save when you book your own flights!
$711.00 Single Supplement
Last call before returning to our hotel is a taste of what Scotland is best known for…single malt, Scotch whisky. We’ll have “a wee dram” and a tour of the distillery at Clydeside Distillers on the banks of the River Clyde, very near our hotel in Glasgow. Tonight you are free to enjoy dinner on your own and at a time and place of your choosing. Your guide is happy to offer suggestions from the hundreds of eateries within walking distance of our hotel.
Day 9 –Saturday, September 13th After a full English breakfast, you will have free time for some to do last minute shopping the famous Buchannan Street shops and additional sightseeing in Glasgow. Since we will be flying on Sunday, Those who wish to attend Sunday service can join us at Saint Ninians Catholic Church on Saturday. Our last time together will be a farewell to Scotland with dinner at the Grand Central Hotel at 6pm.
Day 10–Sunday, September 14th After a full English breakfast, we check out, say ‘”Goodbye” to Glasgow and to Scotland and depart from Edinburgh’s Airport for USA.
This Tour includes:
* Round Trip Airfare from BWI Airport, Airport, We will fly non-stop overnight to Heathrow Airport in England.
We'll meet 'Kenny' our driver at the airport. He will drive us to our first destination, "York, England"!
* Anne, a knowledgeable guide with insight into
ancient and current Scottish History.
* A full British Breakfast every morning except
the day of arrival.
* Dinner every evening (except one)
* Land transportation on a Luxury Coach by our
Professional Driver Kenny.
* Airport transfers in the Uk
*4 Nights in York at the Radisson blu Hotel.
* 4 Nights at THE GRAND CENTRAL HOTELM GLASGOW!
* Admission to York Minster (Cathedral)
* Admission to Railway Museum
* Guided Walking tours in York
* Sighting seeing cruise on the Ousse river (York)
* Admission to "Rosslyn Chapel"
* Admission to The Edinburgh Castle
* Admission to Stirling Castle
* Admission to Holyrood Palace
* Admissin to The Clydeside Distillery and a tour and wee Dram.
* Free Time in York and Edinburgh
* "The National Museum of Scotland".
* Dinner at Browns Brasserie & Bar in the New Town
* Farewell Dinner at Mama Roma’s
* All restaurant and Pub Tips with meals paid by guide
* 100,000 memories that will last a lifetime!