Edinburgh Christmas Markets & More! - 29th November - 2nd December 2024 - ONLY 5 PLACES LEFT

Why not join us on this Edinburgh Christmas Markets & More tour, based at the Salutation Hotel, Perth, Scotland.

Friday: Travelling to The Salutation Hotel, Perth, Scotland with suitable stops along the way. After you've have checked-in there will be time at leisure before dinner.

Saturday - After breakfast we're off to Edinburgh to visit the Christmas markets. Edinburgh at Christmas time is truly magical. Practice your moves on the ice at the popular ice rink on George Street. 

Or spectate clutching a warm hot toddy from the comfort of the nearby cabin bar.  Nestled in the heart of the city, the traditional Christmas Market on Princes Street has a range of European and Scottish food & drinks, unique crafts, clothing, and gifts for the home and is a lovely place to browse for some special Christmas gifts.

East Princess Street Gardens: Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic city centre, with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument, and the city’s iconic skyline, East Princes Street Gardens hosts

the free to enter traditional Christmas Market. Featuring around 70 stalls with some of the best local and international producers selling everything from handmade gifts, bespoke products, to tasty treats and delicious drinks. East Princes Street Gardens will also be home to the Big Wheel, Scotland’s largest ferris-wheel standing at 46m tall, offering a unique perspective of the city.  West Princes Street Gardens Family Funfair

West Princes Street Gardens will be a free to enter family-friendly zone this year, complete with funfair rides and attractions, as well as festive food and drink stalls and numerous warming zones where you can cosy up with a delicious hot chocolate or seasonal mulled wine. You can also enjoy the Ross Bandstand which boasts a festive programme of family-friendly live events, including live choirs, ceilidhs, silent discos, Edinburgh Diwali: Festival of Light, Santa Paws and the Santa Fun Run. 

St Andrew Square Winter Garden: Santa Claus is back in town this Christmas! Santa and some very helpful elves will be tucked away in St Andrew Square ready to welcome the wee ones for a magical Christmas experience. Santa’s Stories is a magical storytelling experience where each child gets the opportunity to meet Santa, learn the importance of giving, as well as receiving a gift of their own. The spirit of

giving continues with Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness, with the 10m tall Tree and Gift Donation point, dedicated to spreading goodwill to those who need it most. 

George Street West & Castle Street will be home to the spectacular Edinburgh’s Christmas Ice Rink, a vital part of any Christmas visit. This year’s rink will be be

undercover, allowing visitors to enjoy the majestic Georgian skyline of Edinburgh’s New Town from the ice. Once you've skated your way around the rink, warm up with a hot drink or treat from food stalls in the George Street warming zone. Why not hop on one of the traditional fairground rides, including a double carousel, or wander through the Artisan Christmas Market, or get those last minute christmas gift from Edinburgh’s shopping scene. Returning late afternoon to Perth prior to Dinner.

Photo Credit : Seasider53 (Wikipedia)

Sunday: After breakfast we will leave the hotel travelling to Pitlochry. Pitlochry is one of Scotland’s most beautiful and vibrant places to visit. In the heart of Scotland with real hospitality, clear sparkling air, beautiful scenery rich clan history, fine food, plenty of space and lots to see and do.  Pitlochry has a great range of shops to choose from, located along the main street, Atholl Road, also West Moulin Road and Bonnethill Road.  

After lunch we return to The Salutation Hotel Perth for our Gingerbread & Gin themed Afternoon Tea, after which there will be time at leisure before Dinner.

Monday: After breakfast you will check-out of the hotel and make our way homewards with suitable stops before arriving back in Manchester early evening.

Hotel: Salutation Hotel is located in Perth Scotland. Reputed to be one of the oldest hotels in Scotland, the Salutation Hotel has been welcoming guests since 1699.  Situated in the heart of the historic City of Perth the hotel offers a warm welcome.  All of the en-suite bedrooms are individual in size and shape and are equipped with TV, hairdryer, direct-dial telephone and tea/coffee making facilities.  The hotel offers a restaurant, bar & lounge.  Lift. (https://strathmorehotels-thesalutation.com/) 

Price Per person: (Based on twin/double 2 adults sharing) -

• Member Plus (Members with Lottery Shares) - £289
• Members (No Lottery Shares) - £299
• Non-Member - £309
• Single Supplement £54
  

Look What's included: 

• 3 Nights Accommodation including Full Scotish Breakfast and 3-course, choice menu dinner with Tea/Coffee
• Porterage (if required)
• Executive Coach & Professional Tour Driver throughout the tour as per itinerary
• Full Day Edinburgh Markets Visit
• Gingerbread & Gin themed Afternoon Tea
• 1/2 Day Pitlochry Visit
  

What's NOT included:

• Meals and Entrance to attraction fees other than those stated in the itinerary
• Driver/Guide Gratuities
• Any Items of a personal nature such as drinks, souvenirs etc

For further details and bookings, you can either use the  or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please include your Name, Home Address, Contact Telephone Number, Membership Number and the Number Places Required (Member/Non-Member)

Pam at Ellen Smith tours has a group traveling to Wallonia in May and they are not quite where they need to be numbers-wise.  They have asked if any of our members  may wish to join them, details are listed below. Twins/doubles/singles available. 

Bookings to be made direct with Ellen Smith Tours and a deposit of £75.00 per person will be required at the time of booking.

This will be an amazing trip, lots included, and wonderful new experiences to be had. A good service is the pick up from home, details direct from Pam Wharton at Ellen Smith

Capital Weekend 2 - 26th - 29th July 2024 - FULL

Why not join us on this Capital Weekend 2 based at the The Bull Hotel, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.

Friday: Travelling to The Bull Hotel at Gerrards Cross with suitable stops along the way. After you've have checked-in there will be time at leisure before dinner.

Saturday - After breakfast we travel in London for our visits to Buckingham Place and The Houses of Parliament.

Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the home of the monarch, the focus of national and royal celebrations, as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony.

Buckingham Palaceis one of the world's few remaining working royal palaces. It has been open to visitors during the summer months for more than 20 years. On the self-guided tour of the State Rooms you will discover the highlights listed below. The State Rooms -There are 775 rooms in Buckingham Palace including the 19 State Rooms and 78 bathrooms. The State Rooms are a suite of lavishly decorated public rooms in Buckingham Palace where the monarch receives, rewards and entertains their subjects and visiting dignitaries. Several of these rooms were used for the Royal Wedding reception for the Prince and Princess of Wales (William and Kate). These rooms are awash with sparkling candelabra, marble columns, sumptuous carpets, damask wallpaper, fine furniture, sculpture and works of art.

Buckingham Palace's Grand Staircase is a highlight of the tour. The magnificent bronze staircase was designed by the architect John Nash as part of his commission to remodel the palace for King George IV from 1825 to 1830. The impressive double balustrade features an intricate pattern of acanthus, oak and laurel leaves and represents some of the world's finest bronze casting work. The stairs are lit by an etched glass dome in the ceiling.  Some big names are on show at the palace. You can usually come across paintings by Van Dyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude as well as sculpture by Canova and Chantrey. The paintings in the State Rooms also include some wonderful portraits of past and present royals including Queen Victoria, George III and Queen Charlotte, William IV and his wife Queen Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth II and, of course, the current Royal Family. 

 The majestic Throne Room is a favourite with visitors. It contains the thrones that are used for investitures and ceremonial receptions such as at the jubilees of Queen Elizabeth II and also has doubled as a ballroom on occasion (on your guided tour, you'll also see the official Ballroom – the palace's largest multi-purpose room). You may recognise the Throne Room as the backdrop for some famous royal wedding photos including Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II) and  Phillip in 1947 and the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011.

Your State Room ends at the tranquil Garden Cafe on the West Terrace of Buckingham Palace. The cafe offers a range of light refreshments including tea, coffee, sandwiches and pastries. During the summer opening, the Garden Shop contains a delightful range of gifts and souvenirs exclusively created for the Royal Collection. You'll find homewares, china, clothing, jewellery and children's toys, books and postcards. Most of the products on sale are inspired by works of art in the Royal Collection.

The Houses of Parliament - The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central London. Through the video and audio stories on the multimedia device, discover the history, art, and architecture of the building, and what happens today at UK Parliament. You can set your own pace but should allow up to 90 minutes to make the most of your visit which includes the House of Commons Chamber, the House of Lords Chamber, Westminster Hall, and much more. 

Returning late afternoon to The Bull Hotel prior to Dinner.

Sunday: After breakfast we will leave the hotel travelling to Kew Gardens. day at leisure to explore the gardens. There’s an impressive 250 years (and counting) of history in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, but they’re also paving the way for the future with not one, but two national bases for research into botanical studies. While you’re strolling through the Victorian Palm House or seeking out the luscious flora (including the giant, stinking Titan Arum in the Princess of Wales Conservatory), scientists are working away in offices and laboratories behind the scenes. 

 Nowadays the Gardens stands at a huge 300 acres, but they started out a little more humbly in the back yard of what was once the royal palace – favoured most by George III. There’s lots to see here, whether you like green stuff or not. The grand Victorian glasshouses remain a favourite with visitors, one of which (Temperate House) holds the record for the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse. And if you want to explore elsewhere? Why not take a trip to the Treetop Walkway. At 18 metres high, this trek through the leaves offers fab views of the grounds. Once you’ve come back to earth, stroll down to the Chinese Pagoda, which was built in 1762 and towers over the southern end of the Gardens. And if the plants aren’t doing the trick, try seeking out the sculptures, which feature Henry Moore’s ‘Reclining Mother and Child’ in a stunning setting that changes with the light of each season. In fact, the art alone could take up your entire visit – see the Eduardo Paolozzi sculpture ‘A Maximis Ad Minima’ and visit the Marianne North Gallery and the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, all included in the ticket price.

Returning to the hotel late afternoon, prior to dinner at the hotel.

Monday: After breakfast you will check-out of the hotel and make our way homewards with suitable stops before arriving back in Manchester early evening.

Hotel: The Bull Hotel is located in Gerrards Cross, Bucks. Set in landscaped gardens in a conservation area of Buckinghamshire, The Bull retains the cosy spirit of an historic coaching inn, and its 4-star rooms and suites are ideal for today’s traveller. All rooms offer comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms and many feature modern artworks and views over landscaped gardens. (www.sarova-bullhotel.com)

Price Per person: (Based on twin/double 2 adults sharing) -

• Member Plus (Members with Lottery Shares) - £409
• Members (No Lottery Shares) - £419
• Non-Member - £429
• Single Supplement £93
  

Look What's included: 

• 3 Nights Accommodation including Full English Breakfast and 3-course, choice menu dinner
• Porterage (if required)
• Executive Coach & Professional Tour Driver throughout the tour as per itinerary
• Tour of Buckingham Palace 
• Multi-media tour of the Houses of Parliament
• Admission to Kew Gardens

What's NOT included:

• Meals and Entrance to attraction fees other than those stated in the itinerary
• Driver/Guide Gratuities
• Any Items of a personal nature such as drinks, souvenirs etc

For further details and bookings, you can either use the  or contactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please include your Name, Home Address, Contact Telephone Number, Membership Number and the Number Places Required (Member/Non-Member)