Best of England in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Roy made this trip a success. I felt like an old friend showed me the neighborhood where he grew up. This was our sixth RS tour and the group coalesced well. I feel I really KNOW the UK now and learning has always been a vital element of the RS experience. I was a little anxious about British food but even that turned out to be OK.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Narrowing down to just one I cannot do. The two, however, were Vinolandia and the tomb of the unknown British Warrior at Westminster. An “after wow” moment was when we returned home and watched the coronation on tv. We kept saying, “Oh, oh look, we were there, we were there”."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful and had all the features of a Rick Steves' trip; comfortable accommodations in excellent locations, a good variety of sites from gorgeous landscapes to ancient ruins, spiced up with congenial fellow travelers, an outstanding guide who clearly loved his role and a super bus driver. King Charles III was riding in his golden coach while we had our own! Early morning starts got us to spots before the crowds and, amazingly, the sun was shining most of the time. Brilliant!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stone circle at Avebury was a "wow" for me who normally is taken with Gothic cathedrals. Our guide Roy's explanations made the mysteries of prehistory come alive."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So many interesting things to see and experience. Our guide was wonderful as well as very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the tour. I would definitely recommend this tour to others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey was one of my favorites. So much history there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 3rd RS Tour and just like the others this one was excellent. Tour was well balanced between activities and free time to explore. Not too much time on the bus! Hotels were clean, staffed with friendly helpful people. Hotel location was excellent. Roy, our guide was first rate, knowledgeable, personable, and always helpful. Great overview of England and Wales.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Wales - the people, scenery and the sites visited. Also, really loved the history of the Romans in Britain."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The selection of locations and sights to see was perfect. It's incredible how much we were able to experience in two short weeks. Our guide Roy's knowledge of British history added so much color to the tour. The hotel selections were excellent and the food was to die for. We were amazed by the skill of our bus driver negotiating narrow roads and passages in that large, comfortable coach. All in all, I would not change anything about this tour; it was perfect

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One "wow" moment is hard to pick, but I would have to say the folk musicians after the pub dinner was my stand out moment. They were talented, funny and very animated. I loved the music."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, he took time to make sure everyone had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheep dog working"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 15th tour with Rick Steves and they just keep getting better. I love the back door approach, seeing small villages, connecting with citizens and local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching sheep dog demonstrations on a farm in Wales and meeting the local farmer and his family."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, viewing the sights, learning about the Sceptered Isle, and meeting her people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gareth and sheepherding"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Much more and enjoyable than I imagined.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All was great"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and wonderful, engaged fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Wales. Gareth and his family were a highlight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was so fun, educational, and life changing. I loved every minute of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Lake District."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Couldn’t be more pleased with our experience. The hotels were great, the activities enlightening and our guide was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit with Garett at his farm and the beauty of the Lake District."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable tour. Hotels were comfy, food was delicious, good range of activities and balance between group activities and time for my own. Jeanie was a fabulous guide with great stories to make the places we visited come alive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don’t travel for wow moments, but a favorite day was our visit to Garth Wynn Jones’s farm. I am very interested in sustainable farming and I loved hearing him talk about how important it is to him. Making connections makes for great travel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An exceptional tour with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cathedrals!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing tour in England and Wales! The days were well-planned, with group activities and free time nicely timed. We loved our guide and enjoyed the hotels and meals. We learned so much and had fun while doing it. The history and architecture made the trip fascinating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That is so hard to say, as so many things we saw exceeded every expectation. The really old things—Glastonbury, Avebury, Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda were very exciting to visit. And, of course, being in London on Coronation weekend!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a total immersive experience. It felt as though Rick Steve took us by the hand and shared his favorite things.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many and each equally impressive because of the intimate nature of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was knowledgeable, funny and prompt!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the working sheep farm in Wales"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the itinerary and the touring of the various places in England. The group was good, the guide exceptional and I got a great appreciation for the natural beauty of the more rural parts of England.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My Wow moment was Conwy Wales and the surrounding area. It was stunning and picturesque, a wonderful mixture of seaside, countryside and castles and historic structures"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jeanie, our tour guide, was outstanding. Her knowledge and presentation made this a memorable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard for me to pick just one movement. Each day I looked forward to the next part of our tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful trip! Our tour guide, Jeanie, was informative, clear, and very responsive to each person on our tour. We felt fortunate to have such a terrific group to travel with on our first post-pandemic tour. The Best of England (and Wales!) was fantastic….we highly recommend it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Wales, especially the trip to Garett’s family sheep farm. The sense of continuity through hundreds of years, the connection to the Welsh land and culture…it was deeply moving and fun. Jeanie wowed us every day with her knowledge of history and appreciation for England and Wales. Bodnant Gardens, the working flour mill, just walking in the Cotswolds, being in London during such an historical time…what a gift!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 5th RS tour, thus we are quite familiar with tour routines. We enjoyed our guide Jeanie, especially that we did not have to play any silly "getting to know you" games. We appreciated the balance of seeing the major sights, along with the uniquie events, sheep shearing, renovated water mill, etc.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful. Our tour guide, Jeannie, was witty, knowledgable, and no nonsense. She was perfect. The local guides were also good, as were our bus drivers. We saw so much, did so much, and ate too much. England was full of history and fun. The trip would not have been as great without my wonderful tour mates, they all became friends. I also appreciated the RS Covid policy, with vaccinations being a requirement.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many. I loved Wales the most I believe. From Snowdonia to Gareth the sheep farmer, to the wonderful Castle Hotel and the lamb dinner, I just had to keep pinching myself that I was in Wales!! But really, it was all pretty much a fun and "wow" trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The best guide in Jeanie and a fantastic tour group. There were no grumps!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but the time in the Lake District was a highlight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint! Our guide, Jeannie, was fabulous! Witty, informative, and professional and kind! Our group of merry travelers were the especially enjoyable! Loved driving through the beautiful countryside!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! The sheep farm with Garth and the Mill at Stokesay Manor. York Minster, especially walking the ancient city wall and attending Evensong!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nice pace, great 'insiders' tours, wonderful tour leader (Bill).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"York Minster tour and Bodnant Gardens."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and fellow travelers. Bill was excellent.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour (our 7th RS tour). The people in the group were all interesting and bright - can curious about history and the world. Our local guides were fabulous. All of them were fascinating to listen to - very knowledgeable, articulate and with a sense of humor too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably going to Gareth Wyn Jone’s sheep farm in Wales. He was one of the most charismatic, passionate individuals we have met. Very committed to sustainability and constantly being innovative. We and his wife and our experience on his farm was my “wow” moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I am 69, 90% retired for 3 years, and have travelled through the US with my wife quite a few times. We are healthy and have looked forward to traveling together on longer, farther away trips. I was a history major in college and have countinued to read hisrically correct novels and time pieces, so going to England some day was always a plan. I enjoyed the tour, our first, and found the chance to link up historical locations with events and people of England quite enjoyable. I liked not nee

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked not needing to spend a lot of time working out driving and arranging rooms for each night. I liked being able to watch the country side as we road the bus. By the way, the large, modern bus was very comfortable and relaxing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Was better than I’d even imagined! Every detail was researched and arranged well. From the lodging, meals, local guides, and orientation to new cities and suggestions for our free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, it was the unexpected. For several stops, I had an idea of what we would see and do, but there were 2 stops that would not have necessarily been on my must see list. So glad I got my eyes opened and enjoyed every minute."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very positive. As advertized. Would do another Rick Steves Tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing York Minster tower over the town."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

England (and Wales) are as beautiful as one reads about or sees on Masterpiece Theater! We were so fortunate with our weather - only one day with measurable precipitation and a day that was cloudy. So much for rainy England! Enjoyed very much the historic aspects of the trip - especially the castles and ruins. Saw the must-see abbeys/cathedrals. Too bad London is tearing down and building-over many of its historical areas. Guide Robert was outstanding - especially enjoyed his bus commentaries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stokesay Castle (or fortified manor house more correctly) was a big highlight. What a view into castle/manor house life in 13th century through 17th century. So well preserved! Of course, Tower of London was great; Lakes District was beautiful. There really are hedgerows, stacked stone fences, sheep and cattle dotting the hills. The whole country is so beautiful and just what you would imagine England would look like!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

There was something to interest everyone on this tour — cathedrals, ruins, sheep dogs, live music, and great local dinners. All of it appealed to me. I always appreciate it when local guides join us for a tour. It’s engaging to see a sight from their perspective. As usual, the tour was well-organized even with the glitch of working around site closures for the queen’s funeral.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking among the standing stones at Avesbury. It was a glorious warm day with blue skies and views that stretched on forever."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide made good adjustments when everything was shut down for the queen's funeral.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Lake Country was beyond expectations. All travel scenery was outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was thoroughly enjoyable. We learned, laughed, and had some wonderful new experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the breathtaking view from the front porch of our hotel in Keswick - the Lake District is stunningly beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was terrific. The hotels were all clean and comfortable, the food was great, and the guide (Paul) was just terrific. He went over and above.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from. Since I am continuing to think about the cathedrals we visited in Bath, Wells, and York, I guess that would be one of the "wow" moments. These buildings are incredible! They are so massive that one wonders how they were built. And to realize that they are still centers of worship even amidst the crowds of tourists passing through. We were there in the days following the death and burial of Queen Elizabeth, and these cathedrals were an active part of all that."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was everything thing I expected and even better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sheep farm with Garth the hill farmer in Wales."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything I had hoped for. We went to most all of the promised destinations (Wales was a disappointment due to the funeral of the queen), and hotels were far and above what I would book for myself. Meals were excellent. Tour guide, Paul, was patient, knowledgeable, and energetic. Don't know how the tour could ever be improved.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Think that the Lake District was the best place to visit with its stunning scenery and great places to walk."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was exactly as I expected based on my experience with Rick's books, his recommendations and his programs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Queen's death! Also visiting Bodnant Gardens and Blenheim palace."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a carefully thought-out introduction to England and a bit of Wales. It was well organized and was very enjoyable. It was educational, fun and I had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but for me I think my favorite was the York Minster cathedral. Having a guide dedicated to York Minster enhanced the knowledge and the enjoyment of the tour. Attending Evensong was a great highlight of the true purpose of this great cathedral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of England tour coincided with the death of Queen Elizabeth. Paul managed to keep the Tour in outstanding rate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Roman Bath"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was well organized and our tour director was pro-active in meeting the challenges that were related to the queen's funeral.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My husband chose Minster, but for me to choose a "wow" moment would be like having to choose your favorite child."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experience with a great guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the water mill at Stanway House in action."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Buckingham Palace."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Like our first Rick Steves tour, 21-day Best of Europe, this tour was very satisfying. Our fellow travelers were interesting and fun folks and the selection of "base camps" was interesting and well-chosen. We saw and experienced some great stuff, both in-town and on the bus. Very enjoyable. We were disappointed in the lack of free time as our time was too scheduled. A couple of the excursions amounted to just standing and listening to historical details instead of letting experience stuff.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We peeled-off one of the group walks, turning it into our own free time, and made the arduous climb to a terrific lookout at the top of one of the hills outside of Keswisk in the Lakes region. Simply fantastic 360 degree views that won't be forgotten! We really enjoyed our free time in York as we hung-out in the old town and took it all in. The tour of the cathedral was fantastic. We went back to enjoy the evensong service and were reminded of the original purpose of cathedrals."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. We thoroughly enjoyed our guides, tour leader David, the sights, the meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The historicity of the buildings: the gorgeous old churches, the castles, the way people still use buildings that are a couple of centuries to a thousand years old, the beauty of evensong at York Minster and the thought that this had been happening for centuries."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was amazed by the massive churches found in almost every little town."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall experience with sites, hotels, and meals provided was good. Our only caveat would be masking on the bus while being bunched up together at tables in small rooms for dinner. One specific occasion was at the Salamander Pub where we had a Sunday roast. We were literally inches apart. Made no sense to then mask when there was plenty of space between us on the bus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We especially liked Keswick , Bodnant Garden and the Cotswolds."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great group and guide. Well-planned itinerary and true to what was advertised for most part.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can’t choose one."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a wonderful introduction to England and locales we visited. Activities varied and different locations were explored.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking in the Cotswolds and the Lake District."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour delivered as promised. A perfect balance of guided time to free time. City and village walks as well a country and nature walks. Our heads were filled with all things British: history, art, culture, custom, politics and language.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first bite of sticky toffee pudding on the first night following 24 hours of travel woke me right up!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

From the beginning our trip was everything we hoped it would be. Our guide, the amazing David, was full of humour, information for all the places we visited, and was able to make the whole adventure seemless. The hotels we stayed at and food we shared ranged from good to excellent and there were no surprises there. We anticipated a range of establishments and had no outstanding issues anywhere. The company was lovely and as one of only 3 Canadians we were warmly included by our American cousins.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many and hard to choose one so I will say touring the Roman Baths was a special treat. The history of Britain is amazing! The wonderful quaint villages and beautiful scenery was also special. Especially the Lake District"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour of England provided me with the depth and scope of experiences I had hoped it would. The history and experience of the British people is far greater than that of our country. The history was highlighted on a daily basis, it was wonderful. The cultural differences were notable: session drinking, low alcohol level so you could enjoy your friends company more often, no weekends required, it was a weekend night every night. Pubs are interwoven into the fabric of every day living. Fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery of Snowdonia was remarkable. The fences which take generations to build were amazing. Deer, sheep and cows were everywhere. I was surprised at how hard it was to find lamb on the menus. Slate roofs everywhere..think of the longevity! The age of the stone buildings there was remarkable. When you go, do so in a bus where you can see over the fences and enjoy the scenery. Would and will do it again!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was all I was hope it would be -- a great combination of history, architecture, music, countryside, and new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first look at Wells Cathedral. The view took my breath away!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group of travelers and a fantastic guide (David) who had a great sense of humor, timing, and was very knowledgeable. Our accommodations were great, the restaurants and hotel board was great, and the pace was just right. My only regret is that we couldn’t spend more time in each of the places we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hmmm, the scenery in the countryside and the quaintness of the towns were all “wows.”"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I'm not sure if it was just England, or tour content, but I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as the 3 weeks in Europe tour in 2018. Too many hedgerows while traveling via bus, and not much variety in scenery until we got to Wales & Lakes District. Time at Caernarfan Castle would have been better spent if we had known we would be standing, listening to guide for entire hour with no time to look around. Local guides at Blenheim & Stanway were knowledgable but too many names rattled off.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really didn't have a wow moment. Unfortunately."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide, David was knowledgeable and entertaining. The transportation on the coach was comfortable and well done. The hotels were fine and well placed in the towns for convenience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As we walked through the gate at Wells Cathedral and saw the majesty of that building all I could think was "Wow!" The York Minster evensong was a beautiful experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations. I learned so much about the history of England. Our tour guide, David, entertained and informed us. Because of the Queen’s death and funeral, there were a few Plan Bs, but we were well cared for. The hotels had lots of character and we’re well situated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gareth and the sheep farm, with the beauty of the Lake District coming a close second."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour provided a great exploration of northern England and a bit of Wales. I felt as if I not only saw “the sights” but that I was able to interact with the people who lived their and get their views on the history that we were seeing. I also liked the free hours/ days that we had to explore an area on our own. Ray, our guide, was terrific at giving us ideas as to what to do on these days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The outstanding moment of the tour for me was climbing the Cat Bells by Lake Derwentwater! I have never climbed something so high and the views were incredible all of the way up. Also, the people hiking the trail were all friendly and helpful and we helped each other over the rough parts and we laughed so much both on the way up and down. And, their was an ice cream truck waiting for us at the end of our climb!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We happened to be in London the day of the, Queen's funeral. it was amazing to hear the procession and the cannon salute, and see the throngs of people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really enjoyed this, my first group tour. Very historic sites, great food, extremely knowledgeable guide, nice hotels, comfortable coach with smooth driver. Bucolic views and cute sheep all over the countryside. We saw SO much! The incredible settings and history were fascinating. Many 'pinch me' moments!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Choose just one?? Seeing Big Ben from the Thames cruise boat maybe? The Crown Jewels exhibit? Walking in front of Buckingham Palace hours after Queen Elizabeths' funeral? The Monet & Picasso pieces at the V&A? The incredible design of the Wells Cathedral? I don't know-it was all so iconic I often couldn't believe my eyes!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Too many of the hotels had maintenance issues in our hotel rooms. Most were eventually fixed, but it shouldn't have been this hard. This was our seventh Rick Steves tour and I haven't seen this level of maintenance issues before. The tour guide was excellent, as always. Going forward I will pick tours with fewer churches and country houses. I should have paid more attention to itinerary ahead of time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two. The first was Hadrian’s wall and the Roman Army site and museum at Vandolando. The second was the “proscribed croissant rolls” at breakfast at the Castle Hotel in Conwy, Wales. I thought I was in the Seinfeld “Soup Nazi” episode."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My first time on a RS' tour so nothing to compare it with but I was pleased at the quality of the tour overall - what we saw, our guide, our group dinners, our accommodations. Roy is a gem and was faced with a changed s.landscape when the Queen died on the 2nd day of the Best of Britain. Logistically he had a lot to negotiate besides dealing with a huge moment of change for the UK, royalist or not. All in all, a great trip - full of memories and "I need to come back here" moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hmmm.....hard to narrow to just one. I think the day we did Glastonbury & Wells Cathedral was just WOW! Glastonbury is a just magical place even for a skeptic like me and Wells Cathedral is a gem. I've seen many cathedrals in Europe but I think Wells is my favorite. And our picnic on the grounds at Glastonbury was the perfect touch - Cornish pasties, cheeses, veg and tasty desserts while a little rain squall blew through."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded our exceptions

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing London"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, considering that the Queen of England died and our tour itinerary had to be changed at the last minute, we had a wonderful experience of the varied sites and historical places unique to England and Wales. While we could have spent days at each place, a taste of the highlights of the Best of England and Wales gave the tour enough so that we could go back home charmed by each of the sites. My biggest regret was that Roy never had us introduce ourselves to each other to learn our names.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching my granddaughter Molly help "The Hill Farmer" Gareth Wyn Jones herd sheep with his sheep dog in Wales. This was an experience Molly will never forget. I remembered to video the experience, as this was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill for Molly, who loves all animals. We each bought Mr. Jones's book and wonder how to watch his TV show from the States. I loved Alfred Hickling's fun tour of York. His historical knowledge was interesting but also great fun. At Wells, the guide Tom also was great"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was awesome! I loved Gareth and the sheep. Due to the Queen, things had to be changed around a bit but we were still able to see everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Blenheim Palace was a big wow for me. The place is huge and the grounds are enormous."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The Queen died, and nobody got COVID! A historic time to be in England, and all did well health-wise ... so overall a successful trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we returned to London at the end of the trip, and we were let loose to explore, with the hundreds of thousands of mourners, roads closed to autos and pedestrians, and amidst the mobs, no trouble or concerns .. an air of excitement in the air, and all were thrilled to be there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best tour guide imaginable, great bus driver. Except for the Queen dying necessitating some changes was well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The morning with the sheep herder"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A really great tour guide. Jeanie had so much information to share and went out of her way to be helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the British Museum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The England Wales tour was all we had hoped and dreamed. The people in our group were fun and friendly. Our wonderful guide Jeanie helped make the experience very memorable. She brought insight to the local places and made great suggestions of things to do and places to eat. Unfortunately, the Queen passed during our trip, this caused some unexpected site closures. Jeanie made adjustments look effortless. Suggestion...group dinners to NOT be served family style and restaurants to be airy, roomy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many WOW moments. Snowdonia National Park and the sheep farm. The farmer and his wife were friendly and informative. The view was SPECTACULAR. Bodnant Gardens in Wales was unbelievably beautiful. Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury, The Tor, all wonderful experiences. We can't wait to return to the Lake District and do some more hiking. I really enjoyed the boat rides, walks, and scenery. We wished we could have spent more time in the Lake District. Hadrians Wall and Avebury. I could go on.."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful and historic time to tour England.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"York, everything about it......I LOVED York."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour with a wonderful guide and fantastic travel mates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the sheep farm, Snowdonia National Park and Bodnant Gardens. (more than one "wow" moment!)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fourth Rick Steves tour and it was marvelous fun all around. We learned so much and had so many unique experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking on top of Hadrian’s Wall was quite a thrill...and a great learning experience about the extent of the Roman Empire."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized and well paced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Harrison's wall"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic. We were very interested in the history as well as the natural environment. We liked all the places we went to. Our guide Jeanie was excellent. Her knowledge was extensive, her humor was superb. We were there at a pivotal time the death of the Queen, a new King, and a new Prime Minister. Living history for sure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick! Maybe the stones at Avebury. Or the majesty of York cathedral. Or the stunning beauty of the Lakke District."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experiences, well paced, great preparation and explanations from our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Evensong at York Minster, with choir."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the highly rural feel of this tour. It was wonderful to spend so much of the trip outside of major metropolitan areas. We were able to really get a feel for the quintessential English countryside. I very much appreciated the scenery, castles, and gardens as well. Bath, Wales, Hadrian's Wall, and York were highlights. I delighted in so many hidden gems - and we got very lucky with glorious weather as well! Bonus!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having consumed so many British historical/regency movies, I fulfilled a major wish early on by exploring Bath. Seeing The Royal Crescent and The Circus were highlights for me that we checked off right away. But beyond that, there were many wow moments: I feel the peaceful and wild landscape views in Wales were outstanding, and standing atop Hadrian's wall gave me a powerful sense of connection with history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Paul, our guide and David, our driver were outstanding. They took us on many a side trip as possible to enhance our trip and understanding of the time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As we got to Bath on the coach from Heathrow, my sister remarked that she woke up in a Masterpiece theatre set. (She had never been to England or London before)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Although I had been to Bath and Wales before, I learned so much more about them on the tour. All the places we visited were so interesting!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hadrian’s Wall was my wow moment. I’ve always wanted to see it and we had such a good tour of the wall itself and Vindolandia too!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our best of England Tour was excellent! Sites on this tour are varied, educational, and beautiful. During the tour we were able to see the historic and cultural connections between locations. Our guide Paul worked with our driver, David, to provide little extras during the trip that really enhanced our experience. The Queen passed away during our trip and Paul handled all the schedule changes effortlessly. Overall, an incredible tour that mixed the cities and countryside very well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "Wow!" moment was the natural beauty of the Lake District. Everywhere you looked the views were incredible. We had marvelous weather for a walk to the Castlerigg Stone Circle, and the mountains, valleys, and clouds were so beautiful. It was an area where I felt like I could really relax and truly be on vacation with no responsibilities. I just needed to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the lakes and mountains."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Most excellent tour guide - David was fantastic. The bus was the low point of the tour - no WIFI and most electric outlets did not work.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Gareth the sheep farmer and his dogs."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good. We had done the 7 Days in London before but hadn't seen the more "rural" parts of England.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Westminster Hall when we learned the Queen's family had been called to her bedside and then experiencing first hand the people expressing their respect and love for their monarch."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great overview of England’s best ateas

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving into both Wales and the Lake District"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything we had hoped, including the guide, fellow travelers and the how much of England and Wales that we were able to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don't think we had one "wow" moment. We loved the overall beauty of the countryside of England and Wales and being able to visit the cathedrals and stone circles."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves' tours are extremely organized, stress free and a pleasure to join. Traveling in a smaller-size group is beneficial because you have flexibility, meet great people and get a chance to spend as much time getting to know them as you wish. Access to a guide while traveling is invaluable. Everything is of high quality to make the overall experience very positive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved visiting Wales and a working farm, a herding demonstration. I loved the boat ride in Keswick around the lake and I really looked forward to visiting Westminster Abbey."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I especially enjoyed exploring the countryside in the bus taking note of the differences between England, the USA, and Ireland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing the inside of the famous cathedrals."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 11th Rick Steves tour, and it reinforced why I keep coming back. One of Rick’s great strengths is hiring wonderful guides. Jamie was competent, knowledgeable, and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Well, this is going to sound petty, but I was really happy to get an amazing room when we got to Keswick. As a single traveler, I’ve been on tours where many of the rooms were a little … disappointing. So, to have a couple of nights with a really nice room made up for that. Also, I liked the sheep farm in Wales."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I liked the efficiency of staying in the heart of the cities and the variety of things we saw. I wish we would have started the tour in London rather than ending it there because by the time you get to that point of your trip, you are more tired and your clothes become tiresome too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the sheep farm and the hike we took in Ketrick. Also enjoyed the music at pub night. I thought there may be a way to rub shoulders with the locals but we were always in a separate upstairs room. I guess we needed to do that on our own when dinners were not included."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a glorious trip! Everything was well thought out. Our guide Jamie was wonderful! I never thought I would be saying this- but the food was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the farm and Snowdownia National Park in Wales. What a treat!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a phenomenal trip to a beautiful location. I love that Steves took us to some smaller towns - Glastonbury, Wells, Conwy, and more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Surprisingly small things: Hiking the fields & pastures in the Cottswalds and kissing my husband from either side of the kissing gates. Meeting off-duty police officers on the wharf in Conwy who chatted us up as the sun went down simply because they loved our accents. Hearing their story of solving a long bow murder. And perhaps best of all, standing in a field in the greener than green hills of Wales being amazed as a sheepdog herded a dozen sheep into a small pen just for us!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We could not have asked for a better experience. Well, we could in one small detail--one less day in Bath, one more day in London.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Lake District is a place I could go back to and spend a week. Although Wales was outstanding. The sheepdog demonstration and the garden was fantastically beautiful. You undersold that garden."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded our expectations in almost every way. Deborah, our tour guide and Sarah

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

it was our first RS tour and really liked the small group feel and introduction to all the small towns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the ancient city walls."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guides were amazing & informative! It was wonderful to experience the countryside of England & Wales

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Wales"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the best Rick Steves tour I've done so far, and the other tours were fantastic! Our tour guide Deborah really made a difference; she was wonderful! These tours are designed to be the trip of a lifetime and each one I have been on lives up to its reputation. There were so many "wow" moments on this trip, much of that due to Deborah. From meals to attractions to optional extras, it all added up to a perfect trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At our tour guide's suggestion, I had cream tea at the main pavilion at Bodnant Gardens. I enjoyed a view of the gardens while feasting on tea and scones. Halfway through, our lead tour guide stopped by and I invited her to join me. We had such a lovely chat. This was a "wow" moment for me. I'm a total anglophile and a chance to visit with a British citizen and hear her ideas and thoughts on various topics was a real treat; I learned more about this beautiful country. It made my trip!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Itinerary was awesome!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guides Deborah and Dina were outstanding and the tour was well planned, as usual. In addition, the tour group was the best ever!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wales working farm and the Snowdonia National Park."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour guide was wonderful, but the sites we visited were not interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sites in London."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide and her assistant were the best. Deborah was always working giving us real vent information or giving us extra experiences to partake of, ie: walking tour of a medieval wall etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wales. Visiting the sheep farm and participating in a sheep “roundup” was special as i grew up on a farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Deborah and Nina were wonderful guides who added so much joy to our trip. We had another fun and caring group of fellow travelers. This was our third Rick Steves trip for myself, husband Andy and our son Caleb and we are amazed once again how we enjoyed yet another well planned trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impossible to just have one !- We enjoyed the beautiful countryside, the amazing architecture and history. Caleb and Alex and Max, two other young men from our group were able to climb to the summit of Catbells in the Lake District. Our group celebrated their accomplishment when Deborah and Nina hosted a get together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves' tour and it will not be my last. I had the most amazing 2 weeks with a top notch guide and the best groups of people I've ever met. From the Hotels to the food - 5 Stars!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many - but I think the tour to the working Sheep Farm and meeting Gareth and learning his story was the biggest wow moment for me. That and the age of the Stained Glass windows in York Minster."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 3rd Rick Steves adventure and it was an absolutely delightful holiday! The bridle ways & walks (with "kissing" gates), elevenses, fells, pubs, pasties, chips, biscuits, circles & stones, Evensong in The Minster and even the Tube were all pukka! And to top it off, the weather was perfect and our guide was the BEST!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was our stay in Keswick (North Lake District). The resort town was lovely.... the beautiful flower gardens, the B&B (and staff), the boat cruise and lakeside hike around Derwentwater, the scenic views! We even were able to enjoy a live production at the Theatre by the Lake."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first RS trip. We had the best guide ever, according to folks that have been on previous RS tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A small stupid thing. We went on a walk suggested by our guide. Part of it went along a small canal in Bath UK where houseboats moored. To get to the river, there were a series of 3 do-it-yourself manual lock and dams. Fascinating to watch boats navigating them."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and as well as a wonderful fun tour group! Loved the diversity of places we visited. Group dinners were very good as well as majority of the hotels were good. Wonderful memories !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many but I loved the sheep farm in Wales, walking along Hadrians wall ,the Cotswolds and learning to play cricket!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The locations were great choices for a variety of experiences, from hiking to the cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can’t narrow my “wow” moments too just one or two. I enjoyed everything."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw so many beautiful and historic sites throughout England and Wales, with a fantastic group of energetic fellow travelers and a very knowledgeable guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Castlerigg stone circle in the Lake District. Amazing to stand looking at that panoramic view and wonder about all the other people who have stood there."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized and small enough group to get to know people. Exceptional weather for England. Enjoyed the smaller towns and walks/hiking. Tour guides were personable and informative. Group activities were enjoyable but enough time to explore on your own too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey was overwhelming! Loved the town of Conwy and the view of the sailboats at sunset over the Irish sea. Also loved walking the city walls in York. Felt like I was viewing Downton Abbey set."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were once again pleased to enjoy an itinerary curated with the eye, taste and experience of the icon of European travel, Rick Steves. Not only could we feel Rick's fingerprint on the hotel selections, menus, selected tour stops and guides, but also on the group of fellow travelers that Rick's tours attract. We came away with a much richer cultural appreciation for England and Wales compared to what we had only experienced earlier via media.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Evensong at the York Minster. What a privilege to enjoy a moment of reverence to an awesome God in a cathedral erected in His honor. The space, the choir, the cantor, the organ, and the congregation all contributed to a pinch-me moment that will be unforgettable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, Guide (Jamie) was terrific, food and hotels were good, group size was just right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To narrow down to a favorite 'Wow' is tough, but I'd have to say 'London' in all it's glory, packed with people, iconic buildings, sights and history, beautiful parks and international vibe, a sense that the city is as vibrant and important today as ever, it is just a wonderful experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, I loved the diversity of experiences that this tour had to offer. A good mix of both guided & free time to explore on my own. Also the interaction with great tour members who are eager to learn and grow. I had been to England several times before but wanted to experience Wales and several places I had not been before like the Lakes district & York. All was enjoyable but the hot weather in Bath. Jamie and Anne did a great job guiding us through England & Wales.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My solo hike along the banks of Lake Derwentwater through sheep fields, country roads, and a lovely wildflower paradise on a boardwalk nature trail. Also the sheep ranch in Wales was a wonderful surprise. I loved learning about new uses for sheeps wool from the shepherd."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We love touring the Rick Steves way. We got to experience the culture of England as well as it's rich and deep history as we traveled from big city, through sheep-speckled countryside. to charming villages. With well placed hotels, pre-scheduled tours of iconic attractions, and classic English meals arranged for our group, we couldn't help but have a memorable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In the evening, after a morning guided tour of York Minster, my husband and I returned for Evensong. We happened to have prime seats in intricately carved choir stalls, giving us the perfect view of the stained glass, lavishly decorated Quire, and the soaring vaulted ceiling. To complete the experience, the organ vibrated our seats as it majestically led the choir through the program. It was a privilege to be a part of this historic tradition."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, I really enjoyed the tour. Getting to stay in such, to me, iconic British towns was a wonderful way to experience places I have long read about and seen portrayed on the screen. Fortunately we had two tour guides and each was outstanding in their own way. Learned a lot about English history going back to the pre-Romans, and those history lessons were nicely summed up in our tour of Westminster Abbey with Gillian.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maybe getting to see the beauty of the Cotswolds, Wales, and the lake distric; maybe visiting Hadrian's Wall and Avebury and Wells, and admiring the strength and determination of our ancestors."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Magnificent vistas in the Cotswolds and lake district."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of England was incredible! Each day was planned perfectly- guided tours, meals and what I loved the most, the “down time”. Using Rick’s guidebook, we were able to plan our own adventures, sightseeing excursions and find hidden gems for truly unique dining. Our guide, Lorraine, guide in training, Debra and tour bus driver Ali, were friendly, knowledgeable and sensitive to our needs (due to the extreme heat when we were touring).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just one “wow” moment?!?? Bath, Glastonbury and Stow on the Wolds- the history, grandeur and beauty will live in my heart and mind forever."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing, the description of the tour on the website is exactly what we experienced. Especially when they mention the walking, take the day to day mileage seriously if basing you tour pick off of that. The trip itself was incredible and very well planned out, the mixture of tour group activities and alone time was perfect. All of the hotels were very accommodating especially when our tour was there for the worst heat wave they’ve had in years.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moments on tour would be Wells cathedral and the sheep dog farm, those moments were amazing and so informative in their own rights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, excellent tour guide, nice choice of restaurants, some of the hotels were pretty uncomfortable though because we were there during the heat wave - no air, no fans.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Castlerigg Stone Circle at sunset"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well-coordinated, I really felt safe and comfortable. We had a competent safe driver. I was not worried about mechanical failure or mishaps. He is kind and helpful. Our guide was great. We had 2 actually, they talked while on the bus about rich history and sites along the way. I really enjoyed the hikes in the evenings. I was pleased with each of my rooms, beautiful breakfasts, meals and good beer. We had free time and the tour was paced well getting to events early to beat the crowds.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was really absorbed with the rich history of England and Wales. The many structures still in use today. The architectural finds and those that are still going on presently. Really pleased this tour had such of a variety. We were able to tour both cities and the beautiful countryside of both England and Wales."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"York, Welsh sheep farm,"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was excellent, the other members of the tour convivial, and the choice of stops very good. There were places I would have liked to have spent more time exploring but these are places we'll go back to on our own on a future trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite was standing on Hadrian's wall. Trying to imagine what serving there almost 2000 years ago was mind blowing. In addition, it was one of the very few places we went that wasn't crowded with other tourists."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great Experience Bath

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Jeanie, was wonderful. She was knowledgeable, entertaining, helpful, and motherly when necessary. With few exceptions, the timing of stops and bus rides was good. The sites we visited were historic and/or aesthetic treasures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ruins at Vindolanda or the Wells cathedral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was magical, start to finish! Great people, sights, tour guide, food, accommodations -- fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bodnant Gardens, Minster at York, Castle Hotel in Wales, folk music, sheep farm, Hadrian's Wall..."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour (as with the other RS tours on which we have gone) was a great mix of historical and contemporary sites with a heavy dose of local culture, which we loved.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our "Wow" moments included Wales and visit to the working farm and its sheep, walking Hadrian's wall, the Lake District and Max the dog, and enjoying London theater at its best."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very good tour; well organized. This was our first Rick Steves tour so we weren't sure what to expect, but we were very happy with the tour itinerary and logistics. Our tour group was wonderful, as was the tour guide Jeanie. We would recommend this tour, but perhaps at a different time of year as the crowds (especially in London) were too much. Would also recommend that Rick Steves Tours reconsider the hotel in London as we had a terrible experience there and with our extra night booking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As many others have stated, it's hard to pick just one. Glastonbury and Wells was amazing, Lake District and Snowdonia beautiful, Gareth and Rianna's farm and the puppies so fun!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, enjoyed the experiences and variety. Like the balance of planned group vs on our own. First RS Tour, great content, logistics and accommodations. Well Done

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wells Cathedral was gorgeous"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

well organized with a variety of activities each day, supplemented by little extras our guide Paul added in. Our guide was well informed, personable, and organized. His assistant Nina was also friendly and offered practical help. The group was varied and mixed well. We enjoyed enjoying sights without having to plan all the details ourselves, and the group meals were well thought out. Our only regret was having to leave the tour early due to a positive COVID test.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I've noticed other reviewers often mention the sheep farm in Wales, and now that I've been there, I understand why. Gareth has a great sense of humor, explains well, and helped us see how resourceful farmers must be to keep their farms afloat. The dog Max was amazing, very focused on his task. It was great fun."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great guide, assistant, and driver. They really watched out for us and helped us make the most of our time on the tour. We also saw quite a bit during the half tour we managed to take. Hotels and sites of interest were well chosen, and we felt completely free to opt in or out of any activity.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was amazed by Glastonbury Abbey. Though in ruins, it's well outlined and has enough surviving pieces to get a good idea of its original form. Very sad to see it taken down by Henry VIII. This is a side of his story that is not as well known as it deserves to be."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour with a perfect mix of activities and enough free time. After you’ve been to London, this tour provides a look at the countryside and other Smaller cities such as York and Bath.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Westminster Abbey was pretty special but we all said WOW when we saw the serving platters of meats and vegetatat our welcome dinner and experienced the Traditional Sunday roast."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We originally booked the Best of England Tour for our 20th anniversary in 2020 and after it was canceled, waited patiently yet eagerly for tours to resume. Our 2022 tour was everything we hoped it would be - terrific guides, friendly co-travelers, breath-taking historical sites, beautiful countryside towns and even sunny days. Although five in our group had to depart early due to Covid, Paul and Nina kept our morale high and in the end we had a wonderful, memorable tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite “wow” moment was all of the sites in North Wales, but especially Bodnant Gardens. It was raining the whole time we were there but it didn’t dampen its beauty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our guide Paul and his assistant Nina

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake District"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I found this tour to be a rich mixture of cathedrals, castles, manor houses, history, and scenery. I learned much about English and Welsh history from Roman times onward that I had previously known nothing about. The variety of religious sites visited, from the abbey ruins at Glastonbury and York, to the sights at York Minster, Wells Cathedral, Bath Abbey, and Westminster Abbey was perfect. However, my favorite times were absorbing the scenery of the Lake District, Wales, and the Cotswolds.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A tough question, but if limited to one answer it would have to be the visit to Gareth and Rianne's sheep farm in Wales. It was so entertaining, and at the same time, educational about the challenges facing farmers. That said, there were many other Wow moments along the way such as the folk music during the group dinner in Stow-on-Wold, the picnic among the Abbey ruins at Glastonbury, the boat cruise/hike around Durwentwater, visiting Hadrian's Wall and Vinlandia, & the walking tour around York."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Paul did a great job of leading the tour. It is nice have a local on board to provide historical and social perspective

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I assisted Gareth with the sheep herding and shearing. Or maybe I got in way of Gareth doing the demonstration. It was a hoot in either circumstance."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Paul and Nina took us on an adventure through England and Wales that we'll never forget. The sites, hotels, meals and experiences were all amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impossible to pick one experience, but Stanway House and Fountain, Musicians in Stow-on0the-Wold, Llangollen and sampling tea with scones, jam, and clotted cream (which goes on top?!) certainly stamd out."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 6th Rick Steves tour, and it lived up to our expectations. The tour was well-planned with an excellent and diverse itinerary of included sights and time to explore on our own. The walking tours of several of the destinations and local guides add so much to introducing us to the local culture and history. Interesting small stops were added along the routes to include out-of-the-way things we would not have otherwise seen.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As always, I cannot say just one thing. How can I choose between Bodnant Gardens, the Tower of London, Derwent Water hiking and waterfalls, the sheep dog and sheering demo, hiking along Hadrian's Wall and the Roman ruins, the many abbeys, cathedrals, and castles, and the Sunday Roast dinner? They were all fantastic!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful countryside, the ability to really experience the Cotswolds and the Lake District through walking and hiking. A wonderful itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1.Talking with a local in Keswick who recommended a play at Theater by the Lake. We took the suggestion and walked 5 minutes from our hotel to the really beautiful theater to see an excellent play. We chatted with locals during the intermission just like we lived in Keswick. The entire experience cost 10 pounds- a bargain! 2. Hiking up to Castlerigg stone circle as dusk fell the evening before the summer solstice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide, perfect weather, travelers thrilled to be back on the road after Covid.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting on Hadrian’s wall and thinking about 2,000 years of unbroken history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, lovely trip. The Cotswolds' and the Lake District were beautiful. It was so wonderful to be out in the world after several years of isolation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hadrian's wall. It was a lifetime wish of mine to see it."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Typical Rick Steves tour full of wonderful sights and experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Castlerigg Stone Circle on the eve of summer solstice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent planning and execution. Our leader Lorraine was simply outstanding. The places visited were of interest although I got a bit "cathedraled out". Spending two nights at each location was a plus. The lodging, with one exception (The Sheep On Sheep Street Hotel, Stow on the Wold, see below) was fine. Breakfasts were outstanding. Down time was well planned. Whisperer apparatus was good. Nice group of folks. Felt comfortable. Length of tour was about right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the group of sheep dog puppies burst out of the bar. Climbing Cat Bells in Keswick. The mill tour. The beautiful English countryside, open green fields, mortar-less walls. Bus comfort and Kevin's excellent driving. The friendly English people. Understanding Roman history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves' tour and it was a wonderful experience. Our group of "merry travelers" was a fun group of interesting and congenial folks from all walks of life. Our tour guide, Lorraine, was absolutely the best I've ever had with any company. The careful planning and thought that went into creating the itinerary was evident throughout the trip. I look forward to our next Rick Steves' tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Reaching the summit of Cat Bells, a classic fell hike in the Lake District. As a long-time avid hiker I didn't expect that we'd have the opportunity to include an independent outing on a group trip. It wasn't a trek for everyone, but a few other joined in and reaching the summit was definitely my "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another wonderful Rick Steves tour experience. I am always impressed by the excellent organization of your tours, and thoughtful structure and selection of what and where to visit for a well rounded exposure to the history and culture of the countries visited. Excellent guides, destinations, and local accommodations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the English countryside. You always assume that beautiful backdrops in movies/tv productions are carefully chosen by filmmakers, but no! Everywhere we went in England was just strikingly beautiful. I had no idea the English countryside was so beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group on the England tour quickly became a little family unit. We Loved exploring beautiful England with Roy and Ellen at the helm. The combination of country towns and larger cities was well balanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While we loved the many unique experiences on this tour we particularly loved the town of Conwy in Wales. We walked the castle walls in the morning and walked the Bayview path in the evening. The town, situated on the bay with the castle in full view was magical. We also loved stopping at the stone circles of Castlerigg. This was a special experience that felt very spiritual and connected us to the history of England."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Highly experienced and personable Roy assisted by Ellen. Lots of time for personal interest side trips. Venues were well chosen and clean. Food choices for us vegetarians excellent. Adaptability and thoughtfulness in crises (lost phone, lost purse, loosing 9 of 25 people who tested positive for Covid. All handled in a professional & expedient manner. Selection of high points and history of various towns, battles, cathedrals and forts. Also loved Lake District.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moment was the Sheep farm experience in the highlands of Wales and meeting Gareth & his family and hearing their story."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour experience was great. It was well laid out and we got to see the influence of the Romans, the wonderful Abbeys and churches as well as London and its museums.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hadrian's wall and the fortress."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great, Roy was the perfect guide. Enjoyed having all the details and arrangements handled for us. Everyone on our tour was friendly and cared about making it a good experience for everyone else. Saw places we likely wouldn’t have gotten to on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many. Climbing the peak to Cat’s Bells in Keswick (Lake District). The views were gorgeous. Also: the Yorkshire Museum in York - amazing Anglian and Viking artifacts, remarkably well preserved due to the boggy soul - even hair, leather and paint."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Bittersweet, sad and upset are better response. I was told to leave the tour on the send day because I tested positive for Covid. As a result my wife and son also left the tour to be with me. Gratefully the tour refunded me fully but it was still very hard for all of us. The tour guide Roy was very helpful and gave us very good advices for us to tour around England by ourself. I was upset because my Covid symptoms were almost nonexistent and in fact I had way worse cold/flu.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"N/A"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Guides and driver were very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Piech Kitchen, Stow on the Wold, built in 947AD."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great to see so much of the country and see some of the regional differences. Makes me want to return again. Tour guide was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the sheep farm near Conwy. Loved the border collies and the hosts were very gracious."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the tour. There were so many surprises of things we did and saw that weren't on the itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" day was the visit to the sheep farm and meeting the family that owned the farm. We bought his book and enjoy it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The beyond beautiful English countryside, two terrific guides, comfortable accommodations, delicious local food, and enthusiastic fellow travelers—all parts of a most memorable tour experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We made a non-scheduled stop at St Margaret’s Church in Bodelwyddan, Wales. We saw the well-tended graves of many young WWI Canadian repatriated soldiers who had died of influenza. We also went inside the beautiful church and were warmly greeted by parishioners there for a Jubilee celebration. It was special to be able to speak with the local folks and hear about the history of the church as well as their heartfelt preparations for the Jubilee."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour! This is my fifth. Tour mates were an exceptionally helpful and welcoming. Loved the cities (London) and small places (sheep farm in Wales). Especially enjoyed meeting and talking with the people of England and Wales. So friendly and engaging!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can't pick one! Glastonbury and Bodnant Gardens for the peace and serenity, Wells Cathedral(?) for it's splendor, Gareth and his wife and the PUPPIES! and their beautiful farm. There is nothing I would have excluded."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour went smoothly with the local guided tours, hotel accommodations and check-ins, and group meals. Paul & William, our director and assistant director, and Ali, our driver, worked to seamlessly deal with issues involving alternative routes and plans based on any unexpected situations that arose. They were very friendly, caring and helpful in answering questions or providing suggestions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed a daily kaleidoscope of multiple "wows" in experiencing ancient stone circles, soaring cathedrals with magnificent stained glass, monuments like the Roman Baths, Glastonbury Abbey and Hadrian's wall, historic castles, medieval cities, famous buildings like the Royal Crescent and Tower of London, the solemn majesty of markers of "We Are Seven" & in Westminster, the laburnum arch at Bodnant Garden, and several peaceful hikes through "kissing gates" in the Cotswolds & Lake District."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent from beginning to end. Our guide was a great leader and teacher, as well as being a gracious hostess time after time. I appreciated the pace of the trip. We stayed two nights in most cities, and had time to explore at our own pace. We toured fascinating places that I never would have known about otherwise. Every day brought a sense of adventure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Glastonbury: Somehow I had not connected Henry VIII with the destruction and seizure of Catholic assets (leaving the population with no schools, medical help). We had an exquisite day to tour that immense ruin, then enjoyed wonderful pasties. From that point of the tour, British history and its rulers really began to make sense to me. The geography too! Seeing the pictograph of the horse, knowing that chalk was not just in Dover!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. This was our second Rick Steve's tour and it won't be our last. The pace, the history, the countryside all blended into a packed but relaxing trip. Our guide, our driver, and our group made the trip very pleasurable and memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide, Jeanie, has a wealth of historical and local knowledge. I appreciated her storytelling style to sharing the information as we drove or walked through the sites and countryside."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall wonderful, busy, active tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So nany wow moments! The Roman baths, the sheep farm, the cathedral in York and the "fly over" for the Queens Jubilee"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

These tours attract good people; our group was extremely compatible. The towns included in the tour provided. good overview of England. The hotels were good values.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moments were visiting the sheep farm in Wales and the house tour & flour mill in Stanway, I think because they were "interactive" and provided an inside look at real people in real time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! I felt like we really experienced the different regions and smaller towns. Rich history, lovely people with whom we shared many great conversations, gorgeous scenery, and a great tour group of new friends. I really gained an appreciation of England's varied history, dating back to the Romans (and beyond, with the stone circles)!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We happened to be in London for the Queen's 70th Jubilee, and upon arrival our guide ad libbed and took us up to a rooftop across from St. Paul's Cathedral Dome that she knew would be in the flight path of the 70 plane flyover on their way to Buckingham Palace. We ate sandwiches we picked up on the way and had a front row view of the spectacle. WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A nice combination of country and larger city visits. A nice group of folks, but the group size hit 28 which is just too large. This is my 4th RS tour and was comparable to the trip to Scotland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the visit to the Hadrian Wall sites and the sheep herding farm. Talking with local folks in all the small villages (and getting to visit with their dogs) is always memorable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just great. Exceeded all my high expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing my first real cathedral. Our first trip overseas, Bath Abbey was nice, lots of ruins, but to round a stone wall in the little town of Wells and see this massive cathedral!! HOLY $H!T. Knew nothing about cathedrals, but by the end, on our tour of the Westminster "mausoleum" I was a little disappointed that we didn't see the Chapter House, which I had never heard of before!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several. Being amidst so much history, and such beautiful countryside."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great. The hotels and bus and train arrangements were right on time. Having the logistics arranged was worth the price of the trip all by itself. We had a good mix of scheduled and free time.Our tour group was very pleasant.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but my favorite was waking on the hiker rights of way through pastures with sheep. The rolling hills and the sheep just calmly looking on. A simple thing but something even an Iowan doesn't experience ever if at all. We enjoyed the flat, easy walked around lakes and through pastures."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great trip and the tour was a perfect blend of castles, cathedrals, ruins and palaces mixed with hikes, gardens, lakes, rivers and pubs. Jamie was a wonderful guide and so enriched each stop with his rich knowledge of history along with the current climate and was very helpful with suggestions for enjoying our free time. We really enjoyed all of the different local pubs and brews and it was such a pleasure meeting and spending time with our fun, interesting and easy-going tour mates!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While not a "moment," going from southern CA I so enjoyed the green beauty of the entire country and also the changes in stone color from creamy Bath to the browns and then grays as we made our way north to the green-gray stone of the Lake District. The trip to the sheep farm really made an impression as did the breathtaking Castlerigg Stone Circle and seeing London decked out for the Jubilee. Churchill War Rooms a must if extra time but I wouldn't cross a thing off of our tour experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Each day was better than the next.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the countryside that just kept on and on"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide. Great locations and experiences. Great tour members. Need I say more?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impossible to limit to just one. Holding a five-week old border collie puppy. Rambling through The Cotswold countryside through the sheep. Attending Evensong at York Minster. Contemplating the gorgeous abbies and appreciating the genius of rhe builders."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We found the tour superb. The guide Jeanie Carmichael was a real person. Knowledgeable, helpful, interesting and opinionated. All of these contributed to a fun and rewarding trip. It was quite nice to have a second guide (Paul Guest) who could add his perspective and help regularly with all manner of issues. We also got to know our bus driver Ali who added another dimension. The combination of organized tours and meals with sufficient free time to do and see things that we wanted was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I do not think that there was one wow moment, but several. Almost all the more unique aspects of a Rick Steves' tour were our favorites. We loved the visit to the Stanway house, we unexpectedly loved the visit to Wales (at night I enjoyed listening to the loud revelers leaving the bars outside our hotel), the Sheep Farm was outstanding, the musicians in the Cotswolds at dinner were great and the visit to Bodnant Garden was extraordinary. We also loved the interesting stories that Jeanie told"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded my expectations. Jeanie was an excellent guide and made the 14-day experience outstanding. She was able to weave history, humor and practical advice into all our excursions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Bodnant Gardens in beautiful weather was a Wow moment for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, amazing sites, great group, excellent guide. My favorite tour so far.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Glastonbury Abbey ruins: beautiful setting, beautiful ruins, fascinating history, King Arthur legend, picnic on the grounds."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first overseas adventure since the pandemic started. Wonderful guide, accommodations, and experiences!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we talked wistfully about something we weren't doing on the tour and our guide found a way for us to do it during our free time in a nearby city. Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, interesting, awesome fellow travelers and outstanding Guides (Jeanie & Paul) and Bus Driver (Ali)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is always the hard part, how do you pick one thing, but I am a sucker for the out doors, Day 8 - Bodnant Gardens was amazingly beautiful. When they said we had three hours I was wondering what I would do for that long around gardens but I really could have spent the day there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I had a wonderful tour to Britain. Our guide, Jeanie, was marvelously well-informed and knowledgeable, and prepared us thoroughly before each stop in order to get the most from it. She was resourceful in dealing with the inevitable glitches! Our group was a lot of fun, and we all collaborated in helping one another have a good experience. I can’t really think of a way in which things could have been better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had a chance to attend Evensong in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, sitting in the quire (it turns out that’s the right spelling: of ho knew?!). It was really fantastic! It gave us a better idea of what we’d like to achieve in our own church choir. There’s nothing like a 10 second reverberation in a church!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jeannie Carmichael was an amazing guide, so knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor. Paul Guest, the assistant guide was also funny and helpful. My fellow travelers made the trip even more enjoyable--it was like traveling with 22 friends. The lodging was exceptional. We had used Rick Steves' guidebooks for years when we were poorer and traveling with a young child. The lodging on those trips were memorable, quirky, but not luxurious. Not so with this trip ending at the Mayfair.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two favorite wow moments, the Welsh farmer and his wife and their trained sheepdogs and puppies. The second wow moment was touring the Bodnant Garden, also in Wales. The colors were magnificent and the weather perfect."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loads of places and experiences on this tour. Our guide Jeanie, was very knowledgeable about each location, filling in while traveling with humorous and interesting anecdotes.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each and every one of the cathedrals."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I love your tours- 14 and counting. On my own it would be hard if not impossible to experience the same local cultural connections and visit so many interesting sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How can you pick. The Bodnant Gardens were beautiful. Gareth and his sheepdogs, his passion for sustainable and responsible farming is inspiring. Wells and York Cathedrals were breathtaking. The Cotswolds' charming and the Lake District gorgeous. Throw in a few castles, a palace and ancient Roman sites. I cannot choose."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was a little skeptic about spending two weeks with complete strangers and frankly didn't know what to expect. It was with out a doubt the best two weeks ever! Some of our fellow travelers were 1st timers and some had been on many Rick Steves tours. Everyone was friendly and eager to experience different cultures. The whole trip was so well planned. We had great accommodations and the food was very good. I was so impressed with our guide, Jeanie Carmichael. She was excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick a favorite moment of the tour. I loved getting up each morning having breakfast with friends. The history of England was a real issue for me. Seeing all the places I have read about and studied was very meaningful. I love English history and Jeanie knew it well. She made history real, telling stories of the lives of kings and queens and what went on in centuries past. Seeing Cathedrals and Palaces, especially Westminster Abbey where so many bodies are buried."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The only reason my experience was not outstanding was due to the HUGE crowds everywhere. Understandably, after being locked down by Covid, locals and tourists alike are out in hordes. Tour Guides Jeannie and Paul used their "situation awareness" to make adjustments on they fly, specifically when we ran into unexpected college graduation ceremonies, a PirateFest, FoodFest, and a large group of traveling gypsies. I liked the mix of planned visits to sites and free time to explore. Well done!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"2 biggies: 1) Glastonbury Abbey where followers of Christ set up the first Christian Church in Britain. 2) The Churchill War Rooms due to its history. Surprised by the size of the operation and its efficiency. Plus, the logistics of fighting a war from underground."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very good in all respects.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Jeanie Carmichael, was fantastic!! With her years of experience she had every issue covered and really clever sayings and stories that kept us in laughter and good spirits. I found all the sites we visited worthwhile; beautiful castles & palaces, unusually neat and tidy country fields & roads in the Lake District, Cotswolds, and Yorkshire Dales. However, I was sorry we didn't take more time to see the scenery in Snowdonia National Park. I'd really looked forward to that in Wales.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Bodnant Gardens in North Wales was a double "Wow!!" I can't remember ever being so impressed with an arboretum or botanic garden ........ except the Keukenholf Gardens near Amsterdam in the middle of tulip time (while on another RSE tour with Rolinka Bloeming). This May 15th found us at the peak time for beautiful spring flowers, blooming shrubs and trees in North Wales. Another special time was the Wales sheepdog farm with the owner's stories about his land & dogs + holding the puppies!"

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

This tour needs to be re-thought/restructured. i took the tour to see/experience English history and towns, not hike through forests and gardens. Guide was a nice guy, but he didn't "read the group". People over 70 need loo breaks, time to eat lunch, and a slower pace. This was my 4th Rick tour, I have recommended Rick tours to others, I'm a fan. But I will begin to explore other tour groups in the future. Very disappointed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impressed with Roman engineering and planning."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We enjoyed the overall tour in terms of how smoothly all went throughout the trip. I would have given a higher rating if I cared more for several of the accommodations. I also thought the joint dinners were of vey average quality except for Conwy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I hiked up Cats Bells and that was a wow -- but not really part of tour. I also loved Wells cathedral and Hadrians Wall"

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

The tour itinerary needs some adjustment. No need for random hikes- such as in Snowdonia or wandering around the lake at Kenswick with no guide explanation. We wanted more time in Conway- never had time to climb the walls or explore the town. There were no scheduled times for lunch on multiple days

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Unfortunately, there wasn’t one??"