Great Trips... Made Better With Beer!
Real England & The Great British Beer Festival
July 25 - August 4, 2024
Departs every year in July/August
Discover Real England while discovering some of the UK's best Real Ales with the Great British Beer Festival!
Start in York, after an easy rail trip from London or Manchester, to explore classic pubs and meet many friendly locals in this walled city. Next we head further north to Masham and and the Yorkshire Dales, for a couple breweries and scenery, before making our way south towards the GBBF. Along the way we'll stop in Burton-upon-Trent and the Cotswolds to see breweries large and small and take in a few great pubs, spectacular countryside, rich history, castles, and some special beer meals. And all this before we even hit London for the Great British Beer Festival, centuries-old pubs, birth place of all things British. Riverside diversions, green parks, old churches, amany museums, and pubs of all types -- the true national treasure!! Not to mention a few noteworthy breweries, markets, and famous squares.
Beer Highlights & Brewery Visits
York: A city of historical treasures and a lot of good, old pubs, situated amongst the castles and abbeys of rugged northern England
London: The Real Ale capital of the world and one of the world's great cities: packed with history, architectural splendor and countless beer engines.
Cotswolds: Fairy tale landscapes, unique villages, local history and country pubs make it one of England's classic regions
Beer, Breweries, Beer Cuisine: Cask Conditioned Ales, beer engines, museums, city pubs, country pubs, visits to cool breweries old and new and the GBBF!
Fine Hotels: Hand selected from our assortment of quality, well-located hotels, all in the 3- to 4-star category.
The Beer Bus: A traveling tasting room of local products of all types and good folks to travel with and share the adventure!
Trip Price (Land-only, Based on double occupancy)
$3,399 per person | Single Room add extra $685
Beer Highlights & Brewery Visits
York | London | Cotswolds | Beer, Breweries, Beer Cuisine | Fine Hotels | The Beer Bus
Included Tours
Escorted Pub Crawls | Guided City Tours | Train and Private Coach Transportation
Include Meals
Breakfasts Daily/4 Beer Dinners and 3 Beer Lunches
Arrival & Departure
Trip Begins in York, England | Trip Ends in London, England
Daily Itinerary*
Day 1 - Thursday, July 25
Fly to the United Kingdom
Depart the US, bound for the UK - we'll start in York, after an easy rail trip from London or another airport, to explore classic pubs and meet many friendly locals in this walled city.
Overnight on a plane.
Day 2 - Friday, July 26
Arrive York, Walking/Pub Tour, Welcome Dinner Pies and Ales
Arrive in York and transfer to our well-located hotel, an easy walk from the train station. Meet the group this afternoon ready to explore historic York on foot, with two beer stops along the way for a bit of banter and history. Tonight we'll enjoy Pies and Ales in one of York's many lauded pubs.
Overnight in York
Day 3 - Saturday, July 27
Free Day in York, Late PM York brewery tasting session
Today is totally free to explore York's museums, historic pubs, movie-set streets, andwalk the city ramparts. Meet at the York Brewery this afternoon for an informal tasting session. This evening is free to visit a "famous" pub or two.
Overnight in York
Day 4 - Sunday, July 28
Yorkshire Dales, Richmond Castle, Tan Hill Pub Lunch, Theakston's Tour
This morning we head north for a busy day. Our first stop will be the beautiful ruins, castle grounds and fortified keep at Richmond Castle, a huge 13th century Norman stronghold set on a riverside cliff. After time to explore and contemplate, we will drive through a bit of the Yorkshire Dales National Park on our way to the highest (and possibly most isolated) pub in England, the Tan Hill Inn. Sunday Roast will be on, as well as other menu items, and several real ales. We won't linger too long as we need to depart for Masham and head directly to Theakston's Brewery for a tour and tasting of their beers in optimum at-the-brewery condition. The remainder of the evening is free to explore and dine and drink as you wish. The hotel has a nice pub and dinners.
Overnight Masham (pronounced Massum).
Day 5 - Monday, July 29
Black Sheep Brewery Tour w/lunch and beers, Travel South, Pub Dinner
Explore or sleep in this morning until our brewery tour and lunch at Black Sheep. We'll tour the brewery and have lunch in their brewery bistro. After lunch, we will travel south to Derbyshire, in proximity to the 2 famous breweries in Burton-upon-Trent. Excellent beer dinner tonight in the hotel pub.
Overnight in Tutbury.
Day 6 - Tuesday, July 30
National Brewery Centre Tour & Lunch , Marston's Tour, To the Cotswolds
Today, the short drive to Burton-on-Trent, home of the National Brewery Centre and former home to Bass Brewery. After a tour through the history of local, regional, and national brewing, we'll have lunch and sample some beers from their museum brewery, as well. Next we drive across the Trent River to Marston's for a 2:00 PM tour of the brewery and their unique Burton Union System, with a tasting of course. After the tour we drive to Bourton-on-the-Water, our home for the next two nights and a chance to slow down a bit before we hit the bustle of London. The evening is free to explore this charming Cotswold village.
Overnight in Burton-on-the-Water
Day 7 - Wednesday, July 31
Full Free Day in Burton-on-the-Water
Lot's to do and explore in and around this classic Cotswolds town. Lovely archicture, antiques, walking trails, shops, pubs, a maze, museums, a brewery, buses to other scenic spots, there are many choices! Enjoy!
Overnight in Burton-on-the-Water
Day 8 - Thursday, August 1
Hook Norton Brewery Tour, Sun Inn Lunch, To London, Evening Walking Tour
This morning we visit a truly classic Victorian tower brewery – Hook Norton. A tour and tasting to start, meet the horses, see brewing history first hand in this once very innovative gravity aided brewing system. We'll have lunch in a nearby pub. Continue to London, where we will check-in at our hotel, and re-gather in the hotel lobby for a guided walk / pub crawl with a local guide. Prepare to learn all sorts of silly historical stuff! The tour will end near food trucks or food pubs for a late-ish dinner. Late evening is free.
Overnight in London
Day 9 - Friday, August 2
Fuller's Tour, Great British Beer Festival, Evening Free
This morning we will Tube and walk to the Fuller's Griffin Brewery for a tour of the old brewery and a thorough tasting in their cool cellar. After the tour it will be time to travel to the Olympia for the Great British Beer Festival; and with any luck we will beat most of the evening crowds. Set a giant hall, the festival features a huge range of beers from all over the UK, and beyond. The rest of the evening is free to enjoy the festival or explore the never ending diversions of London.
Overnight in London
Day 10 - Saturday, August 3
Free Day in London, Farewell Beer Dinner
Today is totally free to explore the city until we meet in the hotel for the final celebratory dinner of our trip. London offers a huge array of museums, parks, public space and pubs to explore. And, of course the GBBF will be on its final day. The object tonight will be to discover some new beers, great food and special ambience. After dinner is free for a final crawl, or maybe a night cap near the hotel!
Overnight in London
Day 11 - Sunday, August 4
Airport Transfer, Fly Home
Many ways to get to the airport, ask us for more information
Overnight at your house.
Trip Deposit (per person)
$400.00
Number of person:
* The deposit is refundable less a $50 cancellation fee up to 60 days prior to departure. For cancellations made less than 60 days prior to departure, the full deposit will be forfeited. For cancellations made after final payment, refunds will be made (where possible) according to service contracts and supplier guidelines; these refunds will be based on recoverable expenses. See the full Terms and Conditions here.
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Air Travel is not included. Travelers are encouraged to use mileage awards, travel outside group dates, or visit other European cities while abroad to make the most out of the trip. Please confirm the trip's operation before purchasing air tickets.
Most Trips officially begin in the lobby of the first hotel. Meeting times, information about getting from the airport or train station to the hotel, the detailed itinerary, hotel addresses, and a trip roster will be included with your Final Trip Documents, which you'll receive 2 - 3 weeks before the trip.
How we travel on tour: All included excursions and visits include transportation. Within the cities, we rely on walking and private or public transportation (uber, taxis, busses, trams, etc.). Travel between cities is by private motor coach, luxury van, ferry, and/or rail.
REGARDING INCLUDED MEALS AND BEER:
We don't mess around when it comes to food and beer. Restaurants -- tried and true -- have been carefully selected, based on quality, local knowledge, and insider tips. On a Beer Trip, included meals mean you may order as you please - including beer, appetizers, dessert, etc. We are not stingy -- a lot of food and beer is included on every Beer Trip.
PLEASE NOTE:
A BeerTrips beer tour is best suited for somewhat adventurous, beer-loving travelers who want the camaraderie and structure of a tour, as well as the opportunity to explore independently. Planned events, brewery visits, locally guided tours, and some excursions are, of course, formally "guided". Travel days, on trains, public means, or the beer bus, as well some group walks, are blissfully unstructured, though travelers can always rely on the support and assistance of the trip leader.
THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
In rare cases, it may be necessary to alter the itinerary based on brewery or hotel availability, force majeur, acts of dieties, common sense, or bad weather, etc. Smaller breweries, as well as the Trappists, are often unable to commit to hosting groups until a couple of weeks before we arrive. Substitutions, when necessary, will be as good as what we replaced. And, don't worry, the beer is always good!