5 Day - Cathedral Tour of Chester, York, Ripon & Durham

Day One - Airport Transfer - Chester Cathedral - Chester
Arrive Manchester Airport and take the journey to the black and white Roman city of Chester for a visit to Chester Cathedral, which can be traced back to the time of the Saxon Minster, which in 907 housed the remains of St Werburgh. During the period from 1092 to 1540 the Benedictine Abbey of St Werburgh flourished on the same ground. The story continues with the foundation of a Cathedral for Chester Diocese by Henry VIII in 1541, and on to our own day. As a result, the present building contains materials belonging to every Christian century since the tenth. Check-in at your hotel followed by the rest of the day at leisure to relax after your journey with an opportunity to independently explore the famous walls.

Day Two - Open Top Bus Tour of York - York Minster - York
Depart Chester for the journey to the medieval city of York and on arrival enjoy an open top bus tour of the city to view the major sights. This will be followed by a visit to York Minster, one of the great Cathedrals of the world. It was built over two and a half centuries from the 1220's to the 1470's and renowned worldwide architectural masterpiece and a treasure house of stained glass. Check-in at your centrally located hotel for 2 nights.

Day Three - Castle Howard - York
Morning visit to Castle Howard, designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1699, Castle Howard took over 100 years to complete. Today its dramatic spaces are filled with magnificent collections gathered by successive generations of the Howard family. Return to York for the rest of the day at leisure for independent sightseeing.

Day Four - Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal - Ripon Cathedral - Durham
Depart York for the journey to Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal for a morning visit to Yorkshire's first World Heritage Site and it is a huge estate of beauty and contains the largest abbey ruins in the country. This will be followed by the short transfer to Ripon for a visit to the Cathedral, one the oldest and most beautiful Cathedrals in Britain. The Crypt of St Wilfrid (AD 672) is witness to over 1,300 years of continuous worship.

Day Five - Durham Cathedral - Manchester Airport
After breakfast enjoy a morning visit to Durham Cathedral, the greatest Norman building in England, perhaps even in . It is cherished not only for its architecture but also for its incomparable setting. Enjoy some free time to explore before taking the transfer to Manchester Airport for overnight.