A Foodie's Dream Tour of British Isles - Best Way To Travel Europe

Day 1: Arrival in London

On reaching London, you will meet your private guide at the airport, who'll take you into the city to your centrally situated hotel. Later in the afternoon, head out to the celebrated Borough Market. You will get an opportunity to meet a food writer Celia Brooks, who is the only licensed tour guide in the market, for chocolate and coffee, followed by a tropical culinary tour exhibiting her favorite stalls and the ones she hand-picks as per your tastes.

Day 2: Exploring London

Today morning, reach the train station for a day tour to the scenic Cotswolds district. This picturesque train journey will take just over an hour. You can join a group for a "secret cottages" tour in a sheltered Cotswold village. Spend your day relishing delicious homemade treats in the host's own cottage home, and also exploring the other cottages of the village. Wind up the day at the host's house with a cup of tea and some freshly-baked desserts. At the end of the day, return back to London by train, and spend a final evening in the city.

Day 3: Heading to Grasmere

Today, head out to the train again, bidding farewell to London and embark toward the Lake District. Your train journey to the Lake District will take about two and a half hours. On reaching, a private guide escorts you from the station to your hotel, a drive of about 40 minutes. You will be staying in a hotel which is just a five-minute walk from the village of Grasmere, popular for its amazing gingerbread. This hotel is a foodie's dream, having a full wine cellar and a Michelin starred restaurant which serves food grown on premises or searched in the immediate vicinity.

Day 4: Another Day in Grasmere

Your private guide takes you today from your hotel on a tour of the farms in the area, offering you a sneak-peek at the hard work that goes into the fresh food which is supplied by the district. This tour is customized as per your specific preferences and interests. The guide later takes you toward the southern part of the Lake District, on a picturesque drive that displays the natural beauty and laid-back towns dotting the region. Witness landmarks that are connected to Beatrix Potter, the most loved children's author who is associated closely with the Lakes. Join Mandy, the recent caretaker of Potter's home, for a light lunch. At the end of the day, your guide returns back you to Grasmere in time for dinner.

Day 5: Visiting Edinburgh

Today, you’ll return back to the train station with your guide, and depart for the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. On reaching Edinburgh, head out to the hotel which is a boutique spot in the New Town district. Award-winning breakfasts are the specialty of this hotel, however, the surrounding streets also contain some of Edinburgh's finest dining spots. Later in the afternoon, you’ll meet a local food guide for a culinary delights tour of Edinburgh's quaint and slightly bohemian Stockbridge. As you explore the area, your guide explains the rich food history of the city, and there are plenty of stops along the way to taste for yourself.

Day 6: More Exploration of Edinburgh

After breakfast, get ready for a tour of Edinburgh's Old and New towns accompanied by your guide. Wander the cobbled streets of this amazing city as your guide explains you the history as well as some secrets lying down the famous "closes" (alleys) and underpasses. Find out the striking contrast between the classical Old Town and the modern New Town, and steal some spectacular views from Arthur's Seat, which is a hill overlooking the entire surrounding area. After your tour, the entire evening is yours to explore as you desire.

Day 7: A Day Tour of Grantown-on-Spey

This morning, traverse north with your private guide to the mountainous Cairngorms region of Scotland. En route, you have an opportunity to stop at one of Scotland's most popular distilleries, Dalwhinnie, for some tasting accompanied by gourmet chocolates. After you check in to your hotel, have enough time to relax and relish the natural beauty and scenery of the region.

Later, you’ll be taken by a private guide to the Rothiemurchus Estate, a stunning woodlands area which is rife with opportunity for outdoor activities such as a Land Rover tour exploring the ancient Caledonian forests and glens.

Day 8: Traversing to Belfast

Your private guide brings you today to Inverness Airport for your flight to Belfast. On reaching Ireland, you'll meet your private guide at the airport who’ll escort you into the history-rich city of Belfast and to your hotel, located in the heart of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Belfast is famous for its unsettled past, and a black cab political tour. Your guide picks you up from the hotel to show you around the western part of the town, where you can witness the remnants of the religious conflict that once divided the city in two. Witness the Peace Wall which stands as a message of unity and hope. Your guide will then return you back to the hotel.

Day 9: More Time in Belfast

Today, make your way out of town for a distinctive culinary adventure showcasing food specialties of the Belfast area. Your private guide brings you to a small coastal village which is located about an hour outside of town, for a meeting with Patrice, a French-born oyster farmer. You will be shown around of his farm in order to learn what goes into the delicacies. Later, join Patrice for a treat of fresh seafood and wine or Guinness that overlook the ocean. Later in the afternoon, you’ll be driven to a short distance along the coast to a local breadmaker's farmhouse. Spend some time learning how to make bread making use of traditional Irish recipes, and sample your work once you are done. You will be then driven back to your hotel in Belfast where you will have one more night to enjoy the city.