Encounter the charm, history and heritage of England on this four-day Quintessential England itinerary, created with England Originals, which explores the historic cities of Carlisle, Lancaster, Chester and Greenwich by car or train.

Imposing Carlisle Castle

Janet Redler Travel is proud to be a trade partner for England Originals, which is brought to you by England’s Historic Cities – a partnership of 12 historic cities in England. This inspirational tour reveals the timeless beauty and fascinating past of England with visits to four of the country’s most iconic historic destinations.

Carlisle

If you’re arriving by plane in London, it pays to hop on a direct train to arrive in Carlisle in around three and a half hours. Why not pick up a rental car when you get there to continue your tour by road? Fly to Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow or Edinburgh if you want to begin your tour closer to Carlisle.

Carlisle Castle © England Originals

First stop, without out a doubt, should be a visit to imposing Carlisle Castle which has dominated the city for nine centuries. It remains a working fortress and visitors can discover its turbulent history, see the medieval rooms and walk some of the castle walls. It is also home to Cumbria's Museum of Military Life which chronicles over 300 years of regimental history with its rich collection of artifacts brought to life through engaging audio-visual displays.

Carlisle Cathedral © England Originals

Stop for lunch at the café in Carlisle Cathedral and then enjoy discovering over 900 years of faith & history. Guided tours run daily – including a Bell Tower Tour for those brave enough to climb the 137 steps to the top. In the afternoon take a 2-3 hour guided tour for a unique experience walking along Hadrian’s Wall path, visiting Birdoswald Roman Fort and enjoying the Scottish borderlands.

Spend the night in Carlisle at one of the city centre hotels and then set off for Lancaster the next day. Rail takes an hour; road about fifteen minutes longer.

Lancaster

Lancaster Castle overlooks the city from a striking hilltop location and should not be missed. Owned by the Duchy of Lancaster (His Majesty King Charles III), the castle has witnessed many scenes of significant importance over its 1,000 year history. Pre-book private guided tours or join a daily public tour.

Lancaster Castle © VisitBritain

Whilst at the castle, don’t miss a visit to Lancashire Police Museum. Until 2011 Lancaster Castle was a fully functioning HM Prison. Visit the museum located in the old prison cells and learn about some of the pivotal moments across Lancashire Constabulary’s history and delve into some incredible historical cases and how they solved them. It is free to visit for both individuals or groups.

You are spoilt for choice for museums in Lancaster! Visit Lancaster City Museum, Lancaster Maritime Museum or the Judges' Lodgings Museum to witness life in Lancaster throughout history. Don’t miss the Ashton Memorial, which sits like a mini St Paul’s Cathedral, high up on a hill, dominating Lancaster’s skyline. 

Spectacular views from Ashton Memorial © England Originals

Boat lovers will enjoy a relaxed cruise on Lancaster Canal, while theatre lovers should check out what’s on at Lancaster Grand Theatre, which also offers pre-booked ‘behind the scenes’ group tours.

Chester

Next stop is Chester, which can be reached by train or car from Lancaster in just under two hours.

Take time to experience the archaeological treasure of Chester Cathedral, founded as a Benedictine Abbey in 1092 and a cathedral since 1541. It is now a vibrant centre of worship, music and culture, blending medieval and modern history for a quintessential English cultural experience. 

The Rows in Chester © England Originals

Chester is steeped in Roman history from the immersive galleries on military life and death at the Grosvenor Museum, to the interactive Deva Roman Experience, where live actors bring 2,000 years of history to life across seven engaging shows. The Deva Roman Experience lets you meet the Romans and discover what life was like in the fortress of Deva. Pre-booking is recommended for the full actor-led tour.

A Roman centurion in Chester © England Originals

To complete your day, you’ll find a selection of guided walking tours in Chester, from a Roman Soldier & Medieval Walking Tour, a Viking Chester Tour or a historic Welcome to Chester Walking Tour.

For a day at the races, visit Chester Racecourse, the world’s oldest operating racecourse, which hosts 15 fixtures from May to October, drawing over 300,000 visitors annually.

Greenwich

Hop on the train for the three and a quarter hour journey to London (four and a half hours by road). Travel east across the capital to reach Maritime Greenwich - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Greenwich is known the world over as the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian Line, which can be seen at the Royal Observatory.

The Prime Meridian in Greenwich © England Originals

Spend the day visiting Greenwich’s museums – explore Britain’s momentous naval history at the National Maritime Museum and visit Cutty Sark, the fastest ship of its time. Or visit the Old Royal Naval College, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and learn about its fascinating 600-year-old story, including the birthplace of Henry VIII. It is home to the magnificent Painted Hall, the neoclassical Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, and the Victorian Skittle Alley.

The Old Royal Naval College © England Originals

If time allows, don’t miss the opportunity to travel on the London Cable Car, where you can take to the clouds and soar 90m over the River Thames as you soak up the extraordinary views of the capital. Pre-book a Glass Floor Experience, Champagne Experience or fast track.

Check out what’s on at The O2 arena or pre-book Up at the O2 where visitors take an exhilarating outdoor climb over the roof to enjoy the incredible views of London. 

If you would like to extend your tour, why not consider visiting some of the other historic cities in England, as they offer many more quintessential English places to enjoy.

Please contact our friendly team and we will put together the perfect itinerary for you or your group, with the finest accommodation to meet all tastes and budgets and our recommendations for the best places to dine along the way. Find out more about our England Originals tours.