7 days · United Kingdom
Great Britain New Year
From AED 8,195per person, twin share
Great Britain over Hogmanay, as the Scots call New Year’s Eve, with celebrations in Edinburgh.
- Duration
- 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in London
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A fast coach tour with a new hotel most nights and guided walking tours of up to three hours; the Hogmanay night in Edinburgh adds a late finish
- Accommodation
- 6 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels across Yorkshire, the Highlands, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cardiff
- Meals
- 6 breakfasts and 4 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 53
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs over New Year in late December, including Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations: cold weather, short daylight hours and some snow, especially in the Highlands
Tour overview
Seven days in Great Britain over the New Year’s Eve festivities, starting with Cambridge and York and heading into the Scottish Highlands. You see the New Year in at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, then the route turns south through the English Lake District to Cardiff. Along the way there is pub fare and a taste of Scotch whisky.
Highlights
- Punting on the River Cam in Cambridge
- The historic streets of York
- A group dinner in York
- The Angel of the North statue
- A photo at Hadrian’s Wall
- Gretna Green, the well-known wedding destination
- Shopping at Glasgow’s Christmas markets
- A night in the Scottish Highlands
Show all 20 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- A Highlands drive with a view of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak
- Glencoe and the beauty of the Highlands
- The beauty of Loch Ness
- Hogmanay in Edinburgh
- Carlisle, a historic city
- The English Lake District and its scenery
- A driving tour of Liverpool with your tour leader
- Liverpool spots connected to The Beatles
- Stratford-upon-Avon, home of Shakespeare
- Photo stop at a medieval castle in Wales
- A driving tour of Cardiff
- An orientation walking tour of Bath
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
London
Day 1 · start
Cambridge
Day 1 · on the way
York
1 night · Day 1
ibis York Centre
Gretna Green
Day 2 · on the way
Glasgow
Day 2 · on the way
Scottish Highlands
1 night · Day 2
Hotel Arrochar
Glencoe
Day 3 · on the way
Loch Ness
Day 3 · on the way
Show all 16 stopsShow fewer stops
Edinburgh
2 nights · Days 3–4
DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh - Queensferry Crossing
Lake District
Day 5 · on the way
Liverpool
1 night · Day 5
ibis Liverpool Centre Albert Dock
Stratford-upon-Avon
Day 6 · on the way
Cardiff
1 night · Day 6
Clayton Hotel Cardiff
Bath
Day 7 · on the way
Stonehenge
Day 7 · on the way
London
Day 7 · end
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in London – Cambridge – York
Dinner included
This 7-day tour of Great Britain starts with a drive into the English countryside. The first stop is Cambridge for a punting trip along the river, and the day continues on to York, a city that draws history buffs along with lovers of fine architecture and culture. In the evening, the group has dinner together at a local restaurant.
Included
- Punting trip along the River Cam in Cambridge
- Guided walk through York’s historic streets and city walls
- Group dinner in York
- Travel
- London → Cambridge → York by coach
- Overnight
- York
- Hotel
- ibis York Centre
Day 2
York – Gretna Green – Glasgow – Highlands
Breakfast and dinner includedThe day opens with the Angel of the North statue, followed by Hadrian’s Wall, a defensive fortification. From there, the route passes through Gretna Green, a village many couples choose for weddings, before continuing to Glasgow, where there is time to take in the festive atmosphere of the Christmas markets. The night’s hotel is in the Scottish Highlands, with dinner included.
Included
- Photo stop at the Angel of the North
- Visit to Hadrian’s Wall, a Roman fortification
- Stop at Gretna Green
- Free time at Glasgow’s Christmas markets
- Travel
- York → Gretna Green → Glasgow → the Highlands by coach
- Overnight
- Scottish Highlands
- Hotel
- Hotel Arrochar
Day 3
Highlands – Glencoe – Loch Ness – Edinburgh (New Year’s Eve)
Breakfast and dinner included
The drive passes Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak, on the way to the Glencoe valley. There is a stop at Loch Ness, where you can join an optional cruise to look for Nessie, before the route carries on to Edinburgh for dinner. The evening is given over to Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year celebration, held in the heart of the city: a fitting start to New Year’s Eve.
Included
- Views of the Glencoe valley
- Stop at Loch Ness
- Included ticket to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations
Optional extras
- Loch Ness Cruise · AED 125 per person
- Travel
- The Highlands → Glencoe → Loch Ness → Edinburgh by coach
- Overnight
- Edinburgh
- Hotel
- DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh - Queensferry Crossing
Day 4
Edinburgh: Free Day (New Year’s Day)
Breakfast includedNew Year’s Day is spent exploring Edinburgh. You can see the city at your own pace or join the day’s excursion, which takes in Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle. In the evening, those who want to keep celebrating can book an optional festive three-course dinner, served in the heart of the New Town.
Included
- Free day in Edinburgh on New Year’s Day
Optional extras
- Edinburgh Highlights · AED 225 per person
- Savour the New Year: Edinburgh · AED 290 per person
- Overnight
- Edinburgh
- Hotel
- DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh - Queensferry Crossing
Day 5
Edinburgh – Lake District – Liverpool
Breakfast included
Today’s drive heads back into England, with a stop in Carlisle, a historic cathedral city, and in the pretty town of Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District. There, you can join the optional Winter at Windermere excursion, which includes a local lunch and a cruise on Lake Windermere. Liverpool is reached in the late afternoon for a driving tour, followed by a free evening.
Included
- Comfort stop in Carlisle, a historic cathedral city
- Free time in the English Lake District
- Driving tour of Liverpool
Optional extras
- Winter at Windermere · AED 225 per person
- Travel
- Edinburgh → the Lake District → Liverpool by coach
- Overnight
- Liverpool
- Hotel
- ibis Liverpool Centre Albert Dock
Day 6
Liverpool – Stratford-upon-Avon – Cardiff
Breakfast and dinner includedThe morning is spent seeing Liverpool’s main sites linked to the Beatles. The group then continues on to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, for an orientation tour and some free time. His childhood home can also be visited on an optional excursion, with traditional afternoon tea afterwards at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. From there, the journey continues into Wales, with a stop at a medieval castle en route to Cardiff, where a driving tour precedes dinner.
Included
- Beatles-themed driving tour of Liverpool
- Free time in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace
- Photo stop at Raglan Castle
- Driving tour of Cardiff
- Farewell group dinner
Optional extras
- Shakespeare’s Birthplace & Afternoon Tea Experience · AED 245 per person
- Travel
- Liverpool → Stratford-upon-Avon → Cardiff by coach
- Overnight
- Cardiff
- Hotel
- Clayton Hotel Cardiff
Day 7
Cardiff – Bath – Stonehenge – London
Breakfast included
Bath is the first stop today: a historic UNESCO-listed city that is home to the Roman Baths, which you can visit on the optional excursion. From there, the route continues to Stonehenge, a landmark long wrapped in myth and legend, with its own optional excursion for a closer visit. The tour reaches London again in the early evening, where you say goodbye to your tour leader and the rest of the group.
Included
- Guided walk through Bath, including Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge
Optional extras
- Roman Baths · AED 155 per person
- Stonehenge · AED 150 per person
- Travel
- Cardiff → Bath → Stonehenge → London by coach
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
Tue 29 Dec 2026 – Mon 4 Jan 2027
Available
AED 8,195
Single room +AED 3,100
What’s included
Included
- 6 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
- A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
- 6 breakfasts and 4 dinners, with a vegetarian option at every meal on request
- A modern coach with air conditioning, reclining seats and a toilet
- Public transport the tour uses, except on free days
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Loch Ness Cruise
Day 3AED 125per personA one-hour cruise on Loch Ness with your tour leader, taking in the scenery and keeping an eye out for the loch’s famous resident. £25, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 3 in the itineraryEdinburgh Highlights
Day 4AED 225per personA tour of Edinburgh with your tour leader: panoramic views from Calton Hill, a visit to Holyrood Palace, a walk along the Royal Mile and free time at Edinburgh Castle, decorated for the festive season. £45, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 4 in the itinerarySavour the New Year: Edinburgh
Day 4AED 290per personA three-course New Year’s dinner at a restaurant in St Andrew Square, with a choice of starter, main and dessert and vegetarian options available. £58. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 4 in the itineraryWinter at Windermere
Day 5AED 225per personA fish and chips lunch at Bowness, followed by a winter cruise on Windermere to Lakeside Pier, with views over the lake and surrounding woodland. £45, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 5 in the itineraryShakespeare’s Birthplace & Afternoon Tea Experience
Day 6AED 245per personA visit to William Shakespeare’s birthplace, the house where he was born and grew up, followed by afternoon tea with scones, clotted cream and cucumber sandwiches at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. £49, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryRoman Baths
Day 7AED 155per personEntry to the Roman Baths in Bath, built around Britain’s only hot springs, with the remains of the temple and bathing complex and a museum of Roman artefacts. £31, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 7 in the itineraryStonehenge
Day 7AED 150per personA closer look at Stonehenge with your tour leader, the 5,000-year-old circle of standing stones whose purpose is still debated by historians. £30, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 7 in the itinerary
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Every stop on this tour is in the United Kingdom: England, Scotland and Wales. The UK is not part of the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa does not cover it.
UAE passport holders apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online before travelling; EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders use the same ETA. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a UK Standard Visitor visa, applied for in Dubai, with 15 to 20 working days to process after your appointment.
Our visa team handles the application: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from London aren’t included. Day 1 starts at 06:30 in south-east London, outside the Novotel London Greenwich, a hotel next to Greenwich train station. With a 06:30 start, fly in the day before: the Novotel and the Ibis Greenwich are both right at the pick-up point. Keep your tour leader’s contact details to hand in case you have trouble getting there.
The tour ends on day 7 back at the same hotel in Greenwich, in the early evening.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
Breakfast is included every day and dinner on four evenings, including New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh before Hogmanay. Lunch is on you, which leaves room to pick your own spot.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
The UK uses the pound sterling. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including on buses and at most small shops, so you need little cash day to day.
Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
Expect cold, often damp weather in late December, with short daylight hours: pack a warm coat, thermal layers, gloves and a rain jacket. Comfortable, broken-in shoes matter most for the Royal Mile and other cobbled streets, which can be icy underfoot.
Hogmanay in Edinburgh
Your tour includes a ticket to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party on New Year’s Eve, part of one of the world’s largest New Year celebrations. It takes place outdoors in the city centre, so dress in warm layers and wear shoes you can stand in for hours. New Year’s Day itself is free for you to spend as you choose.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
Check the visa for each country on the route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to London and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. Up to 53 people share this tour, and most know each other’s names within a few days.
What are the hotels like?
Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day. Others sell in advance and must be bought before the tour starts: to add one of those, mention it in your booking notes and we confirm it with your seats. Each extra in the Optional extras section says which way it is booked.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Great Britain New Year?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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