'Rome' From Northumbria to Scotland new itinerary
Monday 29 March 2027 to Friday 02 April 2027
£715pp Single supplement £180
- Destination
- Itinerary
- Full inclusions
- Hotel
- Booking request
Why visit Northumbria? Home to over 70 castles, Northumbria could be straight out of a story book, only without the dragons! This beautiful, peaceful part of the country is a place where history comes alive, from Romans patrolling Hadrian's Wall to the Royal Court of 7th century Royalty to Mary Queen of Scots' final thoughts before her execution. Northumbria isn't just old, it's epic.
Why visit with us? In 2024 99% of our holiday customers said they would book again and 99% also said they would recommend us to a friend. In 2025 passengers rated our holidays 4.7/5 for value for money and we've earned the same 4.7/5 star rating on Google reviews. Shaws Coaches has a strong reputation for a dependable service, with a proven track record for punctuality and professionalism. Our friendly booking team and highly-rated tour drivers are ready to welcome you.
What do our customers say? • "Enjoyed all the outings, all very interesting" • "Roman Army Museum - lots to see, well organised" • "All outings good, wouldn't change anything" • "Just a brilliant mix of activities. Really great holiday" • "The holiday was just perfect, I loved the Copthorne" •
Holiday insurance. We always recommend taking out adequate holiday insurance, that's why we’ve partnered with Everywhen & David Oliver Associates who offer cover specifically designed for your coach holiday. To get a quote or purchase a travel insurance policy through David Oliver Associates, call 01371 705159 or click here.
Tour code: B3538
Monday
Begin your journey north, pausing in the delightful Yorkshire market town of Thirsk, on market day. As All Creatures Great And Small releases its seventh series it’s the perfect time to visit The World of James Herriot, a fascinating museum inside the original 1940s home of the real-life vet! Your entry includes access to the brand-new Heartbeat exhibition – you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into 1960s Aidensfield! Check in with tea/coffee at your riverside hotel and enjoy views of The Tyne from your bedroom window.
Tuesday
Experience the edge of the empire at The Roman Army Museum this morning. Soar like an eagle across Northumberland during an immersive HD film and uncover the life of a Roman Soldier across three impressive galleries. Continue to Roman Vindolanda Fort & Museum to see the real-life remains of everything you’ve just learnt about at this morning’s museum. Vindolanda is one of the best-preserved Roman forts and the home of one of Britain’s top treasures - The Vindolanda Writing Tablets - the oldest surviving handwritten documents Britain. The museum artefacts are constantly being updated as a result of ongoing excavations, so there’s always something new to see. Note: Hard standing path around the excavation site that is steep in places. Long, steep path between the excavation site and the museum, café and shop however the museum is fully accessible.
Wednesday
Be charmed by the famous Geordie spirit as you spend a day exploring everything Newcastle has to offer! We’ve included a two-hour Country Cruise on the newly refurbished Canny Lass, which sets sail just 500 yards from the hotel. Sail under nine iconic bridges and learn about the people, places and rich maritime heritage that have shaped this remarkable waterway. It’s free entry to the changing exhibitions in The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and to the Discovery Museum where you’ll find Turbinia, the first ship to be powered by steam turbines! Note – sailing time TBC and dependent on tide times.
Thursday
Take a scenic drive through Northumberland National Park into Scotland to discover the strategic border town of Jedburgh and its deep royal connections to Mary Queen of Scots. Visit the Mary Queen of Scots’ Visitor Centre which reveals the secrets of Scotland’s most tragic queen and the Castle Jail & Museum to find out if these lonely cell blocks really are “the most comfortable jail in Scotland”! From here, continue to Ad Gefrin where a passionate guide will give you an insight into the Golden Age of the Kingdom of Northumbria with a guided highlights tour of the Great Hall and Anglo Saxon Museum – bringing ancient royalty to life through immersive displays. As luck would have it, there’s an award-winning distillery here, and so we’ve arranged for you to finish your visit with a choice of tea/coffee and biscuit or a tasting of Flýte – Ad Gefrin’s delicious Whisky Cream Liqueur.
Friday
After checking out, enjoy some free time exploring Durham City which is simply oozing with walkable charm. The Cathedral and Castle combine to create a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting stunning architecture that you may well recognise from the Harry Potter films! Perhaps take a walk through Jubilee Park to Durham’s newest cultural venue – The Light. It’s free entry to the Durham Light Infantry Exhibition which opened in summer 2026 telling 200 years’ worth of personal stories from this courageous regiment.
- 4 night stay with breakfast
- 3 course dinner with tea/coffee each evening
- Entry to The World of James Herriot
- Entry to The Roman Army Museum
- Entry to Vindolanda
- Country Cruise on the Canny Lass
- Entry to Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum and Mary Queen of Scots House (donation made)
- Guided tour of Ad Gefrin Anglo Saxon Museum & Great Hall with refreshments
- Free time in Thirsk, Newcastle & Durham
- Welcome tea/coffee at the hotel
- Porterage
- All travel including home collection*
- International Passenger Protection
- Reserved coach seat
- 18kg suitcase pp
- Executive touring coach featuring a refreshment station, reclining seats, reading lights, curtains, foot and arm rests, toilet, safety belts, air suspension and individual air-flow control
- An experienced, friendly, highly-rated and professional tour driver
- Friendly booking team on hand to answer any questions you might have in the run up to your holiday
- HALF PRICE DEPOSITS! Just £25pp when you book by 30 Nov 2026 (balance due 8 weeks prior to departure)
- LOYALTY DISCOUNT! Book 3 holidays (in any calendar year) and save £15pp, book 4+ and save £20pp, just let us know in special requests that you'd like to redeem your discount
- SAVE £10pp by meeting the coach at Maxey, Stamford Bus Station or Peterborough Extra Services
- *Providing you live in Stamford, Peterborough, The Deepings, Bourne, Spalding, March, Uppingham, Whittlesey, Oakham, Guyhirn, Chatteris, Warboys, Wood Walton and most of the villages between them and Maxey (we're happy to collect from outside of our free pick-up area with a small additional charge)
- *We’re pleased to offer home collection from the Welwyn area following our successful partnership with Reg’s Coaches. Departures from Welwyn, Welwyn Garden City, Codicote, Woolmer Green, Knebworth, Hatfield, Stevenage and many of the nearby villages incur a small supplement of £30pp. We’re happy to pick up outside these areas, please enquire
Copthorne Hotel Newcastle 
- Contemporary hotel in Newcastle Quayside, in the vibrant heart of the city
- Bedrooms overlook the River Tyne
- Rated 4.6/5 by Shaws customers in 2024
- Winners of a Tripadvisor 2025 Travellers’ Choice Award
- Ensuite rooms featuring TV, ironing equipment, hairdryer, safe, free WiFi & complimentary tea/coffee tray
- Restaurant, bar and riverside terrace
- All singles are double for sole
- Lift
ACCESS: Steps to the outdoor terrace, steps at the river entrance but none at the roadside entrance, no walk-in showers
Please ask us about upgrade options which may be available at a supplement