"Chinese-speaking tour" 6-day tour highlighting the Lake District, Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, Whitby, Isle of Skye, and Oxford—departing from London; optional departures from London, Manchester, or Birmingham (departing Saturdays from May to October).

Reasons for recommendation

Route Overview

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Itinerary

Day 1: London ‣ Windsor  Oxford

Meet at 08:00 London Golders Green Underground Station and depart.
Proceed to Windsor (approximately 3 hours for sightseeing and lunch), the British Royal Family's backyard. This town boasts trendy boutiques, Michelin three-star restaurants, and is world-renowned for Windsor Castle, a favorite of the Queen. ( Note: Windsor Castle is extremely popular year-round; during peak summer season, queuing for tickets and security checks may take about an hour. The site may also be temporarily closed or have ticket sales suspended. Whether or not a visit will be included depends on the guide's arrangements. )

After the initial meeting, depart for Oxford (approximately 3 hours for sightseeing and dinner). Oxford is the cradle of British royalty and scholars, and the origin of the fairy tale "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Oxford University and the town of Oxford are seamlessly integrated; the university, without walls, features distinctive colleges that complement the town's streetscape. You can choose to explore at your own pace. Recommended attractions (exterior view only): the Ashmolean Museum with its rich collection; St. Mary's Cathedral, the nearly thousand-year-old main chapel of Oxford University; Trinity College, which has produced three British Prime Ministers; the Bridge of Sighs, connecting the two buildings of Hertford College; Calfax Tower, built in the 11th century and standing 23 meters tall; and Redcliffe Square, frequently featured on Oxford postcards.
We will depart Oxford in the evening and proceed to our hotel for rest. (Arrival time may be earlier or later depending on the hotel's location.)

Recommended Hotel: Holiday Inn Express (3-star) or equivalent brand hotel

Day 2: Depart from the hotel  ‣ Lake Windermere

After breakfast, meet at the hotel and depart.
10:00 Meet up with other members of the tour group at Birmingham Airport train station.
12:00 Arrive in Altrinchem, Manchester, to meet up with other members of the tour group and head to the Lake District.
In the afternoon, we will arrive at Lake Windermere, a very popular natural lake in the Lake District of England (tour time approximately 2.5 hours). You can stop by the lake to watch the royal swans playing leisurely in the water, stroll along the lakeside, walk onto the boardwalk to enjoy the scenery up close, and leisurely enjoy the tranquility and peace of the Lake District.

You can choose to explore on your own. We recommend (exterior view only): If you want to relive the joys of childhood, why not venture deeper into the town to find the Peter Rabbit Fairy Tale Museum, a well-known fairy tale paradise in England!
We will gather in the evening and depart from the lake area to head to the hotel. (Arrival time may be earlier or later depending on the hotel's location.)

Recommended Hotel: Three-Star Highland Boutique Hotel

Day 3: Hotel departure — Scottish Highlands & A82 (drive-by) — Glencoe — Glenfinnan Viaduct — Loch Ness

After breakfast, we will depart from the hotel, traveling along the A82 highway, a filming location for the James Bond movies and boasting stunning Scottish scenery. We will enjoy a scenic drive through the Scottish Highlands, with its ancient castles, rolling mountains, and free-roaming wildlife, fulfilling all your expectations of Scotland. We will then traverse Glencoe, a filming location for the movie *Braveheart*, a paradise for hiking enthusiasts, where we can see the serene beauty of Loch Tulla and the majestic Three Sisters mountains.
We'll stop at a service area for lunch (approximately 30 minutes). In the afternoon, we'll have a distant view of the Glenfinnan Viaduct (exterior view, approximately 30 minutes). The scene in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* where the Hogwarts Express and the flying blue Ford sedan traverse the West Highlands was filmed from this viaduct, a scenic view often seen on postcards. If you're lucky, you might even see a steam train passing over the viaduct!
Afterwards, we will arrive at Loch Ness (approximately 1 hour visit). Located in the Great Glen of the northern Scottish Highlands, the lake is 37 kilometers long and 2.4 kilometers at its widest point. While not large in area, it is deep, with an average depth of 200 meters and a maximum depth of 298 meters. The lake never freezes, with steep banks and dense forests, making it the third largest freshwater lake in the UK. Known as the "lake submerged in the sea," it is famous for its diverse marine life and the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. You can stroll along the shores of Loch Ness, or choose to take a Loch Ness sightseeing boat tour (subject to change depending on the season and schedule) and visit Urquhart Castle. Urquhart Castle is one of the most important historical sites in the Scottish Highlands, playing a crucial role in the Scottish Wars of Independence in the 14th century. From the castle, you can enjoy panoramic views of the mysterious Loch Ness landscape, now exuding a sense of solitude and mystery.
We will leave Loch Ness in the evening and head to our hotel for rest. (Arrival time may be earlier or later depending on the hotel's location.)

Recommended Hotel: Three-Star Highland Boutique Hotel

Day 4: Skye: Portry – Old Man Rock – Skirt Cliffs/Ritter Falls – Fort Erindonan (exterior view)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the Isle of Skye.
The views from the highlands reach their peak on the Isle of Skye, a place where Gaelic culture is best preserved, and a small minority still speak Gaelic. The island is dotted with rolling mountains and lakes, a truly beautiful natural landscape. Enjoy a distant view of the Isle of Skye Bridge. Optional excursion: a glass-bottomed boat tour (approximately 40 minutes, available only from April to mid-October). If the boat tour is unavailable due to weather or other reasons, the guide may extend the time spent at other attractions as needed. Please refer to the guide's arrangements for the day.
We arrived at Portree at noon (the tour takes about 1 hour in summer and about 1.5 hours in winter). The name means "King's Port". It is the capital of the Isle of Skye. The row of colorful houses on the sea is particularly eye-catching and is a scene that often appears on postcards.
In the afternoon, we will meet at the designated location and depart, enjoying a distant view of Old Man Rock (approximately 10 minutes). This massive, pointed rock formation north of Portry is named for its resemblance to the head of an old man facing the sea. It was a popular location for winning a British landscape photography competition. Next, we will visit Kilt Rock (approximately 20 minutes), a group of cliffs extending into the distance towards the vast Atlantic Ocean. It is named Kilt Rock because the rock formations resemble a Scottish kilt. A large waterfall, Mealt Falls, cascades down the cliff, offering a direct view of the seaside cliffs' allure. (If the Kilt Rock parking lot is closed or there are visitor restrictions, the time allotted for subsequent attractions will be extended, or the visit may be changed to a visit to Ridge Falls.)
On the way to the hotel, we will pass by Eileen Donan Castle (exterior view, approximately 30 minutes), one of Scotland's iconic buildings, known as Scotland's most beautiful castle. The castle is built at the confluence of three sea lakes, surrounded by water on three sides, and connected to the land by a stone arch bridge.
Arrive at the hotel overnight for rest. (Arrival time may be earlier or later depending on the hotel's location.)

Recommended Hotel: Three-star boutique hotel (high and low tiers)

Day 5: Half-day free time in Edinburgh

After breakfast, we will meet at the hotel and depart for Edinburgh in the morning (approximately 4 hours for sightseeing and lunch; including 10-20 minutes of driving through important attractions, with the rest of the time free for leisure activities). This is the last stop of the "Youth Over Flowers" tour in the UK. Overlooking the entire city from Edinburgh Castle is an unmissable experience when visiting Edinburgh. It became the royal castle of Scotland as early as the 6th century, long before many European castles.

Afterwards, you can choose to explore at your own pace. Here are some recommendations (exterior view only): Stroll along the Royal Mile, a paradise for Scottish souvenirs. The Elephant House, located at a street corner, is where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter. Princes Street, a bustling commercial street, divides Edinburgh into the New Town and Old Town, and is known as one of the world's most scenic streets. If interested, visit the National Gallery of Scotland; Princes Street Gardens is to the east. Enjoy a distant view of Calton Hill, with views of the azure Atlantic Ocean on one side and the entire Edinburgh Castle on the other. If time permits, you can visit Holyrood Palace, located a little further away, the Queen's summer residence.
We will meet and depart in the evening, arriving at the hotel overnight for rest. (Arrival time may be earlier or later depending on the hotel's location.)

Recommended Hotel: Holiday Inn Express (3-star) or equivalent brand hotel

Day 6: Whitby Self-Guided Tour ‣ Manchester ‣ Birmingham London

We will meet at the hotel after breakfast in the morning (departure time may be earlier or later depending on the hotel's location and itinerary management needs, and the tour time will be extended accordingly).

Arrive in Whitby, the vampire town, in the morning (approximately 3 hours for free time and lunch). This picturesque old fishing village is the birthplace of Dracula and the starting point of Captain Cook's voyages. It also hosts an annual Gothic Festival. Climb 199 steps to Whitby Abbey, perched on a cliff overlooking the layered town and the sea. This 1500-year-old heritage building is one of England's most important abbey sites and is said to be the inspiration for Dracula's creation.

If you have time, you can choose to explore on your own. We recommend (exterior view only): The Church of St. Mary, adjacent to the monastery, is filled with a strong Gothic atmosphere. The Whalebone Arch is formed by two intersecting bones, creating a picturesque scene of the town's red-roofed houses and the monastery ruins. Next to the arch stands a statue of Captain Cook. Alternatively, you can stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets and choose a fish and chips stall you like. Papa's Fish & Chips, recommended by the BBC, is a good option, as is The Magpie Cafe, which is said to have the best fish and chips. In the afternoon, we'll leave Whitby and head to the drop-off point.
17:00 Arrive at Sheffield Meadowhall train station and drop off passengers.
Arrive at Birmingham Airport Railway Station at 19:00.
21:30 Arrive at London Golders Green Underground Station for drop-off.

Eilean Donan Castle

A magnificent 13th-century Scottish castle that once defended against Viking invasions.

Glencoe

Moved by one of Scotland's most magnificent landscapes, by its sheer beauty and tragic story.

Quiraing Mountain Pass

This is a place that any photographer dreams of visiting, formed by a massive landslide that created towering cliffs, secluded plateaus, and rocky peaks. Skye Island is also known as "Wing Island" because of this.

The Old Man of Storr

It is part of the famous Trotternish Ridge on the Isle of Skye, and a stone pillar can be seen from afar standing on the mountain. Originally, the pillar was surrounded by rocks, but over the centuries, the waves have gradually eroded the surrounding rocks, leaving only this old man standing alone. As a result, it was often used as a landmark to guide the way by ancient navigators.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is a symbol of the spirit of Edinburgh and even Scotland, perched atop an extinct volcano, overlooking the city of Edinburgh.

Loch Ness

This lake has more freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. Go find the Loch Ness Monster for yourself!

Fee not included

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