Sober Curious: England in a Week
Experience Overview
Charming castles, historic streets, lively cities, fresh food, and jaw-dropping natural beauty - come discover England (without ever having to step into a pub) on this 6-day trip specially crafted for the sober curious. Live out your period drama dreams in Bath, Oxford and Windsor. Dive into the magic of Bristol & Liverpool. And even take part in a Great British Baking class. You’ll be leaving feeling high on life and a pocket full of unforgettable memories
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 2 Dinner (D)
- 5 Breakfast (B)
FAQs
- London: Travelling to (and through) the UK & Northern Ireland? You’ll need Essential Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)From January 8, 2025, UK law means that if you’re entering/transiting through border control in the United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Ireland you’ll need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before you travel. Confused? Don’t be – just read on here.
- London: What does a modular trip mean? A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
- London: What does sober curious mean? Sober curious travel means you’re interested in trialling a trip that doesn’t involve alcohol. (AKA travel without the hangover). Instead of spending evenings drinking in the pub, you’ll take part in whole range of other activities with your crew.
- London: Do I have to be completely sober to join this trip? Nope, this trip is for people who are interested in drinking less alcohol & want to travel with like-minded people. You don’t have to live a completely sober lifestyle to join in.
- London: How will we fill our time? This trip offers most of the same Included Activities and Free Time Add-ons as our classic trips to Great Britain and Ireland - but you’ll swap those that revolve around alcohol for some extra special experiences (exclusive to our Sober Curious trips!) - all without stepping foot in a bar.
Included Experience
- Windsor: Walk the iconic tree-lined 'Long Walk' and take in the fantastic views of Windsor Castle. Keep your eyes peeled! You might even spot a royal if you're lucky.
- Bath: Live out your Bridgerton dreams as you wander around Bath's historic and regal architecture.
- Bristol: Think magic shows are only for kids? This show will change your opinion. Nothing will prepare you for the mind-bending tricks you'll witness by this pro magician.
- Oxford: Wander around the quaint canals and streets of Oxford. And also the grounds of one of the most famous universities in the world!
- Stratford-upon-Avon: Explore the town that this legendary literature writer once called home. From Shakespeare's birthplace to where we he was buried - you'll find clues about his life scattered everywhere in this town.
- Birmingham: Chef hats on! Get ready to rustle up the yummiest baked goodies at this Great British Baking Class. The head chef will show us how to whip up a storm, all inspired by the popular show. Yum. Yum. Yum.
- Liverpool: One for fans of The Beatles. Walk in the footsteps of the Fab Four and see all the iconic landmarks on this jaunt around Liverpool.
- Manchester: Time for a wholesome 5-course dinner at Groobarbs Field Kitchen! Every ingredient in your food is locally sourced (and seasonal too!) - straight from the farm to your table. After dinner, you'll be able to explore the farm where your food just came from. It doesn't get any fresher than this!
- York Minster: Explore this historic city and get to know its Viking and Roman roots. Check out highlights such as Clifford's Tower and York Minster.
Trip Details
Product Code: 34800
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Contiki (CA)
Supplier Code: 711.2384A
Starts: London, United Kingdom
Finishes: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Duration: 6 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1,540 ($257 /day)
Itinerary
Good morning dear Londonites! Meet your new sober curious crew and hop onto our coach. It’s time to make some moves. Hello Windsor, at the top of our agenda today is obviously, getting a magnificent view of the royal Windsor Castle! Afterwards, you’ve got some free time. So why not strut like a royal around this beautiful town studded with gardens and riverside views. And then it’s back on the coach to our next destination. Ready? We’re going back in time. Because you’ve got some free time to explore this historical town. Visit the Royal Crescent, Roman Baths, the Jane Austen museum or maybe do a canal cruise! (Go on, live your period drama dreams.) Welcome to the wonderful city of Bristol. Colourful buildings, charming streets, beautiful bridges - you’re in for a treat. Speaking of treats…dinner’s on us today! So, drop your bags off at our hotel and join us. What next? We’ve got one last trick up our sleeve. It’s time for a magic show!
Accommodation: Ibis Bristol Centre Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Dinner
Time to wake up! We’ve got some more exploration to do. And you’ve got a delicious breakfast waiting for you. Today, you can choose to check out Bristol’s street art with a local guide before we make our way into Oxford! You’ve been dreaming about this. Haven’t you? We’re finally in THE Oxford - with its world-famous museums, libraries, churches and of course, University. You can even choose to roam around the river on a Punt. There's so much to be discovered here. So, it's a good thing you've got some free time in this quaint little town (that's also the home of Shakespeare!). In the evening, we'll head to our stop for the night - Birmingham. Hungry? We’ll grab a quick bite in town. Then, it’s time to make our very own treat at a great British baking class! (You know, the iconic white tent and all.)
Accommodation: Ibis Birmingham New Street Station (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Birmingham, you’ve been grand. But we’ve got places to be. Grab some breakfast before we hop onto our coach once more. Welcome to Liverpool. Chat all things Beatlemania & football in your best Scouse accent as we take a guided walking tour of the cities best hotspots. Tonight’s dinner is a 5-course local farm-to-fork meal, followed by a stroll around the farm to see where the food you just ate was grown. Hope you brought a big appetite!
Accommodation: ibis Manchester Centre Princess Street (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
You’ve got the morning to spend exploring the red-bricked streets of this city. Need a caffeine boost? The local coffee shops here have just what you need. 2,000 years of history will unfold upon us as we amble down narrow lanes of York, exploring the Minster, the Shambles and Clifford’s Tower. For fans of folklore, sign up to a night of ghostly horrors and dark alleyways & prepare to be spooked.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Wakefield (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Even if the ghosts of York kept you awake all night, you're going to need to rise & shine and wave goodbye to the Harry Potter like setting of this ancient city. (Sorry). Obstacles aren’t really our thing. But when they’re all natural? Like rocky chutes, clear pools of water and even the occasional mini waterfall - all in the oh-so-stunning Lake District? Who can say no? And today, you have the option to explore it all. We’ll end the day in quaint and charming Carlisle, England's northern-most town (right on the border of England & Scotland)! Nothing like the northern air to cosy up and wake as fresh as a daisy the next morning for all our activities.
Accommodation: Ibis Carlisle City Centre Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Today we are in for some border hopping along the English/Scottish border to see the sights on our way to Edinburgh! We'll take a spectacular drive to the Roman Empire’s impressive Hadrian’s Wall as well as English country charm in abundance. Back in the 21st Century, we'll find ourselves in Edinburgh as our trip comes to an end. Don't forget to exchange those deets! We'll meet again for another soulful journey in a different destination.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Contiki (CA)
Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.[1] It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation. Its tours historically had a reputation for partying;[2][3] however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive experiences that focus less on alcohol, which are more popular with Generation Z.[4] The company owns lodging facilities in Europe, including the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th century castle in the Beaujolais wine region, and the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol. The name "Contiki" comes from the portmanteau 'Con' from the word 'Continent' and 'Tiki'; from the Māori referring to the first man, often symbolised as a pendant known as hei-tiki. It can also be attributed to the New Zealand slang 'Tiki-tour' describing taking a longer route to a destination in order to explore.[5]
In Business Since 1931
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