Family Vacation Tour to England & Scotland

London city view from the London Eye pod in England

What to expect on this itinerary

Nothing is more enrapturing than a story filled with kings and queens, knights and battles, as you will experience on this 11-day England and Scotland family tour. Castles stand against imposing cliffs and look out to the sea. Palaces are filled with unimaginable luxuries, from crystal chandeliers to gold-trimmed windows. From the myths of Stonehenge to the fictions of Edinburgh, your family will be enchanted by an endless.

Countries Visited

England, Scotland

Places Visited

London, Edinburgh, Perthshire, Fort William, Loch Ness, Great Glen, Glen Coe, Stonehenge

Suggested Duration

11 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

London – Monumental Arrivals

London is an international city with roots that predate the Roman occupation. The city streets hum with the stories of Peter Pan and legends of knights. The skyline lights up with Big Ben and the rotating colors of the London Eye. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and escorts the family to your fabulous accommodation in the heart of the city. London has a particularly infectious energy that overtakes the family. The British Museum hums with remnants of England’s imperial past and vibrant history. Kensington Gardens has graceful trimmed hedges, blossoming white roses, and a pristine teahouse.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

London – London’s Allure

Day 3

London – Continuous Marvels

Day 4

Windsor – Into the Countryside

Day 5

Edinburgh – Before the Highlands

Day 6

Edinburgh – Lanes and Vistas

Day 7

Edinburgh – The Depths of the Highlands

Day 8

Inverness – In Search of Legend

Day 9

Perthshire – Scottish Variety

Day 10

St. Andrews – Small Place, Big Name

Day 11

Edinburgh – Return to the Castle

Trip Highlights

  • Experience the history and lavish décor of castles that once, and continue to, house royalty
  • Wander the impressive stones and hear the mystical folklore when visiting Stonehenge
  • Traverse the legendary lake known as Loch Ness in search of the fantastical monster who stalks the waters
  • Enjoy private guided tours that will take you through historic ruins, opulent manors, and around exceptional landscapes
  • Spend time in picture-perfect villages that dot the Scottish Highlands
  • Explore the history and legends of London Tower to see the treasured Crown Jewels
  • Venture through the sensational gorges and forests filled with fairytales
  • Indulge in a seamless travel experience with that family that allows you to enjoy every moment

Starting Price

$5,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 750 reviews

Allison S.
Ireland Tour Review: County Clare, Private Driver, 8 Nights

Zicasso’s travel specialist and team were fantastic to work with. They were extremely responsive and ensured all details were taken care of for our trip.

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Debra+ G.
Scotland, Ireland Trip Review: Edinburgh, Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, History, Art, 2 Weeks

We just spent two weeks in Scotland and Ireland, arranged for us by Zicasso’s travel specialists. What a five-star experience! Both of them have traveled extensively in the UK and Ireland, with one having grown up in the UK. They always seemed to know where we wanted to be.

This trip was a bit more challenging due to unexpected spine surgery a mere eight weeks prior to the trip. Between the perfect selection of lovely hotels at all the right locations and the nice people of these two countries, everything was accessible, despite using a walker. We could not have asked for more beautiful vistas, castles, and cultural amenities, ranging from lively Irish pubs to the finest museums (we’re art buffs). We also ate at spectacular restaurants selected by the travel company, in addition to terrific tours tailored to our specific interests.

Not only was the planning for the trip exceptional, but the travel specialists were there for us at a moment’s notice when things went awry. All trains in Scotland were canceled for a day due to 100mph winds from Storm Amy. We were pinned down in Edinburgh (a great place to be trapped) and took in additional sites, while the travel company saw to it that we had a lovely hotel room to spend our extra night in Edinburgh. Many people wound up sleeping in the train station. Our train was rescheduled strategically for the next day by the travel specialists, while we enjoyed Scotland’s National Art Gallery and our vacation continued seamlessly.

The transition from Scotland to Ireland was delightfully easy and our time in Ireland was spent exactly as planned. As I’m unable to drive and did not want my wife to be unable to sightsee while we traveled, the travel company got us (per our request) to far western Ireland and the Aran Islands, where Gaelic languages are still spoken and centuries-old Irish traditions are still maintained. We traveled by train so we could both sit back and take in the beautiful countryside.

There, we used our castle hotel in County Clare as a base for travel by car and enjoyed several days pursuing our own agenda and taking in the splendor of castle living. This was amazing, likely the most elegant place my wife and I have ever stayed, yet the venue had a comfortably casual vibe and an incredibly helpful staff that made accessibility problem-free. We would definitely block out a day just to stay on the castle grounds and enjoy the property and activities if we are able to return.

The Cliffs of Moher were spectacular, as were the Aran Islands, right down to a rainbow which vanished before we could find the “pot of gold” at the end. That being said, we think “the pot of gold” is Ireland itself... the sites, the people, the music, the food… the list is endless. We cleared US Customs in Shannon so we were able to fly to the US with no TSA or customs issues.

We returned to find an itinerary summary prepared by the travel specialists for submission to our travel insurance company for any storm-related refunds that the travel company had not already arranged for us. Simply a wonderful, stress-free trip, with the travel company at work continuously to assure that the experience was optimal, and it was five-star from start to finish. We can’t extend a higher recommendation to Zicasso’s travel specialists for a wonderful, intimate tour of the UK and Ireland.      

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Heather M.
Scotland Vacation Review: Edinburgh, Linlithgow Palace, Castles, History, 1 Week

To start off, if you’re considering Scotland, consider no more, book it! This was one of the best vacations of my life. Flying into Edinburgh was a rush! Thick cloud coverage kept the city and surrounding area a secret until the plane’s wheels practically touched down. From that point on, Zicasso's travel specialist and his team had us on the move.

After getting our rental car from the airport car rental (fantastic service, by the way), we headed to our first historical site of many, Linlithgow Palace. When I say it takes your breath away, I mean it! It was everything I hoped for and more.

I won’t go into all the details of where we went because we went all over. Instead, I’ll say this: the tour operator had us staying at the best, most unique, and charming accommodations, took care of all our palace, castle, tour, and attraction tickets, handled restaurant reservations, and set us up with the best tour guide for Edinburgh I’ve ever had. Our guide was fabulous! I could’ve spent a week listening to her teach us about Scotland’s deep, rich, immense history and culture. I cannot wait to return to this gorgeous country and will absolutely use the tour operator’s service again. Highly recommended!

Slàinte mhath! 

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Jill P.
Ireland, Scotland Travel Review: 23 Nights

Zicasso's travel specialist did a fabulous job at putting together an itinerary that took into account all of our requests, from places to visit, keeping costs in check, and giving us a mix of private and group tours. She hit it out of the park! We had a fabulous time and everything went off without a hitch. Our hotels were great, our guides were top-notch, and our transportation between destinations (plane, train, auto) was comfortable and seamless. My husband, Steve, and I highly recommend this agency.

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Mary D.
Scotland Travel Review: Private Tour, 1 Week

Zicasso’s tour operator was able to put together a last-minute trip to Scotland for us! The trip was wonderful! Everything was seamless and so well planned!

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DAN M.
Scotland Tour Review: Castles, Farmhouse, 13-Day Trip

It was by far the most amazing trip we have ever taken. Zicasso’s tour company took care of everything, down to the smallest detail. It was absolutely awesome!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

29,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews