A Romantic Getaway Tour to London & Edinburgh

The sunshine spreads through the historic streets of London and sets the cobblestones alight. The city bursts with energy in the morning. The aroma of a full English breakfast drifts over the streets. People sip artisan coffee but there is no mistaking the treasured image of teapots decorating tables and fresh brewed leaves giving a touch of aromatics to the room. After breakfast, you will embark on a luxurious private half-day tour of the city.

One of the most iconic and stunning sites in London is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. When you arrive at the palace you see the two guardsmen with their rifles resting on their shoulders. Their hats are tall, furry, and black. Their coats have a pristine air, emanating red with gold buttons running down the center with white trim. The large lamps next to them resemble gas lamps of a bygone different era. The ornate palace is embellished with a lavish garden. A large wrought iron fence stands between visitors and the guards. Music plays, drums strike, and the Royal band marches down the wide street signaling their arrival.

They enter the gates and march in rhythm and in line. The music strikes stops and the guards march in practiced control throughout the plaza. When the guards depart they leave more than a new guard behind, they leave an uncanny impression on you. You have witness a stunning display of grandeur and created an unforgettable moment with your loved one. In the evening, you will share a passionate dinner as you cruise along the Thames. The city twinkles beneath the night sky with beautiful, historic imagery.

The countryside outside of London brims with lush hillsides and vast green fields. After breakfast, you make your way on a tour that will take you through the charming city of Bath, home to Jane Austen, the mystical boulders of Stonehenge, and the grace of Windsor Castle. Bath is a wondrous city that feels like a village. Georgian architecture, named after King George I, built in the 18th century borders the streets. The city was founded atop natural hot springs and has settlers from as far back as the Roman times.

The city exudes sophistication and charm. The Royal Crescent is a collection of fabulous townhouses arranged in a semicircular terrace. The homes overlook the sensual grounds of Royal Victoria Park. East of Royal Crescents is the Circus, a collection of 33 houses divided into semicircular terraces. You can find plaques decorating certain houses to commemorate famous past residences. The city is scented with aromatics and smiling faces that provide an air of amorousness. You continue to Stonehenge and find the allure of the legendary stones.

The morning sounds of the city are dreamy. Your time in London so far has felt more like a fantasy, filled with historic beauty, exciting experiences, and shared with your partner. Your private transfer escorts you to the train station for your first-class luxury-car ride to Edinburgh to start your tour of Scotland. When the train leaves the station you think of classic movies and the picturesque scenes that have taken place in both train stations and along the journey. Outside of London the panorama opens to quintessential pastoral England. The verdant fields sweep to the horizon and roll in every direction. Ferns and sycamores sprout in sections. Intermittent church spires rise out of the treetops.

Your meal on the train is prepared fresh and served to you as you continue to enjoy your untainted view of the English countryside. Arrive in Edinburgh and your private transfer will escort you to a remarkable hotel situated in the historic neighborhood of Old Town. Edinburgh is a truly charming city that quickly enraptures you and your partner. The streets are cobbled and Edinburgh Castle stands proudly over the cityscape atop the durable Castle Rock. Spires create the antique skyline. The city hums with cosmopolitan life in the historic façade. The pubs are cozy, the shops are forward thinking, and the restaurants are award-winning.

Edinburgh is home to thousands of years of history and unlimited amounts of charm. Every step you take with your partner brims with romance that emanates from the unique beauty of the city and its surroundings. Bronze Age and Roman ruins are situated near the mouth of the River Almond. Your guide meets you at the hotel for your private half-day tour of this remarkable city. You step onto the Royal Mile, which is a network of streets that lead from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle in over 320 feet of cobblestone line streets.

You come to the castle gate and find the stone edifice more imposing than you had imagined. You feel as though you have stepped into a storybook and have come face to face with a real, tangible castle. You hold your partner close as you enter the grounds. The original castle was constructed in the 2nd century but in its current form was erected in 12th century. The Portcullis Gate was constructed with stone and mortar. A lion shield adorns the entryway.

You make your way into the edifice and closer to the Scottish Crown Jewels, which date back to the 15th century. The crown is a rich red adorned with precious stones and pearls. The opulent jewels add to the air of legend that sweeps through the castle grounds. You think of romances of King Arthur. From Castle Rock you can see the nearby peak called Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano that sits at the border of the city that locals have tamed by hiking it. The majesty of Edinburgh is endless.

Leave behind the city for the day to discover the irresistible landscape of the famous Highlands. Outside of the city you see Forth Bridge. The bridge was constructed in the 19th century and has a total length of almost 8,300 feet. The suspension bridge traverses the firth and connects the distant shores. Then enter the unique wilderness at Cairngorms National Park and find the largest national park in the British Isles covering an area of almost 1,750 square miles. A stone arch bridge crosses over the River Dee as it shapes into a trundling waterfall. The sound of rushing water is soothing.

The trees tower above with iridescent greenery. The mountains slope into a horseshoe glen. At the mountains’ highest point the grass recedes and the craggy, black rock reveals itself. There is passion in the powerful scenery that continues with your visit to Loch Ness. You can take a cruise onto the famous lake in search of Nessie or you could take your time on a charming stroll around the water’s banks. There is romance in the castle ruins at Urquhart. The stone tower stands atop the hillside and overlooks the water. The sunlight washes over the gray-blue lake. The hills undulate around you. It is hard not to love the handsome landscape as you wander around with your partner.

Once again you make your way outside of Edinburgh for the endless beauty around the countryside. You see the magnificent poised stature of Stirling Castle from a distance. The cliff towers over the lowlands. Trees climb up the rock face. The bluff on which the castle stands is the tallest hillside around. The surrounding landscape rolls quietly and softly along. The earliest portions of the castle were constructed in the 12th century. Cannons line the outer walls and encircle the edifice’s vulnerable sections. Throughout history people stated that to overtake Scotland, first you would have to hold Stirling Castle.

The gatehouse was completed around the early 16th century. Two thick and powerful towers flank the arched opening. James V ordered six rooms constructed and designed under his reign, providing three for himself and three for his queen. The rooms continue to erupt with colorful murals draped across the walls and ceilings, including a single mural that depicts a hunting party in search of a unicorn. The splendor of the castle creates a fairytale-like atmosphere that you and your partner embrace. You return to Edinburgh in the afternoon and have the remainder of the day to enjoy each other’s company in the combination of history and modernity that emanates from the city streets.

One of the most staggering ships moored at the Ocean Terminal is the lavish Royal Yacht Britannia. The ship was the British royal family’s private floating home from the 1950s until the late 1990s. The sun casts its light over the ship and also on the opulent everyday lives of the royal family. The interior showcases a 1950s décor and Her Majesty’s preferred simple style. Back at the hotel you enjoy a final breakfast before departing for the airport by private transfer. You and your partner have experienced luxury and a storybook romance in the Highlands. When the plane soars over the city you look back for one last view of Edinburgh Castle standing strong and fervently above the cityscape.