Glorious Yorkshire

Your holiday starts in York where you meet our welcoming Tour Manager at the city centre-based hotel. York is a historic city surrounded by ancient walls and filled with medieval alleys, traditional pubs, and local eateries. Its highlights include York Minster - which can be seen from almost everywhere in the city centre, and The Shambles - a narrow street with timber-framed buildings. The city also has a wealth of museums, including the Jorvik Viking Centre and the National Railway Museum. We gather with the group this evening for dinner at the hotel.

• Dinner

This morning, our coach takes us to RHS Harlow Carr after breakfast. These expertly designed gardens reflect the Yorkshire landscape with trails, a log maze and tea rooms. Spend time here meandering around the diverse landscapes and beautiful plant collections before we rejoin the coach to Harrogate. You have the afternoon at leisure in this Victorian spa town. Visit one of the town's many museums and galleries, or head to the famous Betty's Tea Rooms, which originated in Harrogate, for a Yorkshire afternoon tea. Later this afternoon, we return to the hotel with some time to freshen up before dinner at the hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Whitby is one of the county's most popular seaside resorts and you can discover it at leisure this morning. After breakfast and a coach journey to this coastal gem, visit the historic Benedictine Abbey that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. You'll find it at the top of 199 steps on the east cliff. For panoramic views, wander to St Mary's Church or stroll along the wide sandy beach and wooden pier.

Whitby is renowned for its excellent fish and chip restaurants, which you could enjoy before we join the nostalgic North Yorkshire Moors Railway*. Travel in style on the restored heritage train and relax as views of heather-strewn moorland pass by. The scenic route follows the course of the Esk Valley, chugging by stunning countryside, quaint villages, and the timeless landscapes of the North Yorkshire Moors.

Along the way, we pass through Goathland station, famous for its appearance as 'Hogsmeade Station' in the Harry Potter films. Our journey ends at Pickering where our coach transfers us back to our hotel. The rest of your evening is at leisure and you could dine at one of York's many restaurants or pubs.

*Some departures on this journey will be operated by diesel

• Breakfast

After breakfast, the coach takes us into the centre of York to visit the York Minster. One of the world's most magnificent cathedrals, we're shown this 13th-century masterpiece in stained glass and stone on a guided tour. Afterwards, there is time at leisure to get some lunch before our next taste of York - a city cruise. As we sail along the River Ouse through the city, learn more about its history from live, onboard commentary. The rest of your afternoon is free to discover more of York and dine independently. You could wander the medieval city walls, enjoy a peaceful walk by the River Ouse or visit the Museum Gardens. After dinner, you could join one of the city's famous ghost walks and learn why it is known as 'the most haunted city in Europe'.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we drive to Castle Howard after breakfast. One of England's most well-known stately homes, it is set in the Howardian Hills and we enjoy a guided tour of its iconic architecture and beautiful interiors. After the tour, you can explore the estate at your own pace. Visit the Walled Garden, Atlas Fountain and Temple of the Four Winds - which has fantastic views across the hilly landscape. You could also enjoy lunch in the tea rooms before our return to York. During our final dinner at the hotel, we toast to our five memorable days in glorious Yorkshire.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, it's time to say our goodbyes and check out of the hotel. As you head home, carry with you the memories of beautiful Yorkshire - from the gardens at Harlow Carr and a leisurely afternoon in Harrogate to coastal exploration in Whitby followed by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, historic discoveries in York, and a visit to the stately Castle Howard. Alternatively, you could continue exploring the county's countryside, historic towns, and villages independently.

• Breakfast