Final-year school trip to London, York and Edinburgh: Westminster, the British Museum, Cambridge, York Minster, the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle (7 days)

Day 1: Departure from your school and arrival in London

• Departure from your school very early in the morning, at the agreed time.
• Daytime drive to Calais (about 2½ to 3½ hours depending on where your school is), then ferry crossing of the Channel to Dover (about 1½ hours); the UK is one hour behind Belgium.
• Our drivers drive for a maximum of 3 hours, then take a 30-minute break, day and night.
• Arrival in London in the early afternoon (local time) and a first look at the city at the foot of Tower Bridge.
• Check-in at the accommodation for two nights, dinner and supervised evening.

Day 2: Westminster, Buckingham and the British Museum

• Morning in Westminster: Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey (outside view).
• Walk through St James's Park to Buckingham Palace, with the Changing of the Guard on the days it takes place.
• Trafalgar Square, then free lunch in Covent Garden.
• Visit to the British Museum (free admission), then a walk along the South Bank and a ride on the London Eye (on request).
• Dinner and supervised evening.

Day 3: Cambridge and drive to York

• Rooms vacated after breakfast and drive to Cambridge (about 100 km, 1½ hours).
• Walk among the university colleges and along the Backs, beside the River Cam.
• Visit to King’s College Chapel and its fan vaulting (on request), then free lunch.
• Drive to York (about 250 km, 3 hours excluding breaks).
• Check-in at the accommodation in York for one night, dinner and supervised evening.

Day 4: York and drive to Edinburgh

• Walk along York’s medieval city walls (free access).
• Visit to York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe (on request).
• Stroll through the Shambles, a medieval street of overhanging houses, and free lunch.
• Drive to Scotland along the Northumberland coast (about 320 km, 4 hours excluding breaks).
• Arrival in Edinburgh in the early evening, check-in at the accommodation for two nights and dinner.

Day 5: Edinburgh, from the castle to Arthur’s Seat

• Visit to Edinburgh Castle and the Honours of Scotland, on its volcanic rock (on request).
• Walk down the Royal Mile, St Giles’ Cathedral and Victoria Street, then free lunch.
• Visit to the National Museum of Scotland (free admission).
• Climb up Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano overlooking the city, passing the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament.
• Dinner and supervised evening.

Day 6: Calton Hill, Durham and overnight stop in Yorkshire

• Rooms vacated after breakfast and climb up Calton Hill for the view over the city and the Firth of Forth.
• Drive to Durham (about 190 km, 2½ hours) and free lunch.
• Visit to Durham Cathedral and Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (free admission to the cathedral).
• Drive to the overnight stop in the York area (about 1½ hours).
• Dinner and quiet evening at the accommodation.

Day 7: Return to your school

• Early departure after breakfast and drive to Dover (about 430 km, 5 hours excluding breaks), with two drivers taking turns.
• Free lunch during a break on the way.
• Ferry crossing of the Channel to Calais; France is one hour ahead of the UK.
• Daytime drive back to Belgium and arrival at your school in the evening.