Duration: approx. 4.5 hours

When you make your way through Scotland’s charming capital and down the Royal Mile, you would never suspect that some of its historic closes lie deep beneath the calm surface: “The Real Mary King’s Close: The Street That Time Forgot”. Opened to the public after meticulous restoration in 2003, “The Close” provides an accurate sketch of Edinburgh in the 17^th century. Your tour begins with a coach drive from the port into Edinburgh, whose location on a series of extinct volcanoes makes a fittingly dramatic setting for the Scottish capital. Then it’s down to the dimly lit Mary King’s Close, the most characterful and historically accurate of a whole network of streets beneath the City Chambers of the Royal Mile. These buried streets provide a first-hand feel for how both the rich and the poor lived in these crowded conditions all those years ago. As a winning mix of storytelling and multimedia, the Mary King’s Close experience is sure to entertain and inform in equal measure. Some free time to spend in the city then follows before you return to the port and your ship.

Leave the pier and prepare to immerse yourself in a day of mystery and antiquity. We are heading to the circle of Stonehenge, one of the most intriguing and ancient sites in the U.K. Situated on a vast plain, the site is truly impressive; shrouded in magic and mystery, many believe this sacred site emanates a special atmosphere. Radiocarbon dating reveals this incredible monument was built around 5,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period. The question of who built Stonehenge remains largely unanswered although many attribute the monument to the Druids. Our guide will escort us around the circle, providing explanations and enabling us to view the impressive stones close up. You can remain steeped in the spell of ancient times as we continue our historic tour and journey to the medieval town of Salisbury whose lofty Cathedral spire can be seen from many miles around. Salisbury Cathedral is one of the finest medieval churches in Britain and dates back to the XIII century.