South to North Discovery

Arrive into your London airport and pick up your hire car. Continue to the Windsor area to start exploring the Great West Way. If time allows, enjoy a hop on hop off sightseeing tour of Windsor and Eton or visit Windsor Castle, the home of the Royal Family, where Prince Harry married his Meghan, before checking into your hotel. Overnight: Windsor area

Continue your exploration of the Great West Way today. You may choose to visit prehistoric Stonehenge – part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site – before continuing to Bath. On the way why not stop into Salisbury, take a walk around this picturesque market town and stop by Salisbury Cathedral for a visit or for photos of the tallest cathedral in England. Overnight: Bath or area

Take a walk around Bath, one of the most beautiful and recognisable cities In England, and why not visit the historic Roman Baths before starting your drive north? Drive through the Cotswolds. Think of England and The Cotswolds may well spring to mind. This area of limestone hills is picture-postcard England at its most enchanting. Explore villages made of honey-coloured stone, sip pints in ancient pubs and see some of Britain’s most beautifully preserved medieval churches. It’s a favourite getaway for British celebrities so excellent food and luxury places to stay abound. Overnight: Stratford-Upon-Avon or area

Shakespeare fans will relish the chance to walk in the bard’s footsteps: visit the timbered home where he was born at Shakespeare’s Birthplace; explore the house where he courted his wife at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and pay your respects at his final resting place in the Holy Trinity Church. Overnight: Stratford-Upon-Avon or area

Experience more than 1,100 years of jaw-dropping history at Warwick Castle! Enjoy the beautiful grounds and gardens of Warwick Castle including the Mound which was first built in 1068 on the orders of William the Conqueror. The Mound formed the most important part of the Norman Castle’s defence system. The Peacock Garden, designed by the Victorian landscape gardener Robert Marnock includes topiary peacocks. Running gently down to the river is the Pageant Field, flanked on either side by trees, of which some, like the Cedars of Lebanon, are over 200 years old. The transformation from a fortress to a stately home created by one of Britain’s greatest landscape gardeners, Lancelot “Capability” Brown. It is believed that Warwick Castle was Brown’s first independent, castle commission and his achievements here during the 1750’s won him praise and national recognition. Overnight: Birmingham or area

This morning  discover Birmingham’s Canals and it’s Industrial Heritage as you enjoy a narrowboat cruise around the city. In the afternoon why not visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are open every day, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Being one of Birmingham’s best attractions, The Birmingham Botanical Gardens offers something for everyone, be it one of our four stunning glasshouses showing tropical rainforest to arid desert, playground, tearoom and garden gift shop all surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK. There are four glasshouses which range from our exotic Tropical House through to our Subtropical, Mediterranean and Arid Houses. There is a large lawn in front of the glasshouses with a range of beds and shrubberies around its perimeter. Overall, the character is that of a Victorian public park with a bandstand set in 15 acres (6.1 ha) of landscaped greenery. Overnight: Birmingham

Today drive to Liverpool, the city that gave us The Beatles, Liverpool has moved on from its industrial roots to become one of Britain’s most dynamic and vibrant cultural centres. You can spend an afternoon at The Beatles Story museum, see the houses where John Lennon and Paul McCartney grew up and enjoy a night out at the Cavern Club, where the band famously performed. Or explore some of Liverpool’s 7 free museums. You can ponder modern art at the Tate Liverpool or entertain the kids at the excellent World Museum Liverpool. Continue on to Manchester for your overnight stay. Overnight Manchester

If time allows it, enjoy a city alive with character, Manchester is rich in art and heritage, and as proud of its music scene as it is of its world-famous soccer teams. You can then take a flight from Manchester airport or a train to continue your journey through the UK.