The Great Tours: England, Scotland, and Wales

By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt

Whether you are searching for the past or want to better understand the world as it is today, travel - even virtually, from the comfort of home - offers a unique opportunity to see the world in new ways.

Wander the streets of cosmopolitan London, roam the 1,000-year-old campuses of Oxford and Cambridge, or tour world-famous museums like the Tate Modern and the National Railway Museum. Or maybe you are aiming for a more pastoral adventure, like an expedition across the romantic wilds of the Scottish Highlands or a journey to see the breathtaking vistas of the Jurassic coast. No matter what experience you are hoping to find, a tour of England, Scotland, and Wales rewards visitors with an astonishing array of historical, cultural, and scenic pleasures and reveals the heritage of a region that has influenced the world immeasurably.

But where should a would-be tourist start? Which are the truly must-see places? And where are the hidden gems that your average guidebook might omit? In other words, how do you get the most out of a tour through this magnificent island?

The Great Tours: England, Scotland, and Wales is just the source you need! Taught by acclaimed Professor Patrick Allitt, a British-born scholar who teaches at Emory University, these 36 splendid lectures give you an insider’s take on traveling through Great Britain. Whether you are planning a week-long vacation, a month-long grand tour, or just want to experience England, Scotland, and Wales from afar, this immersive course takes you on a voyage through not only the most popular tourist sites but also a trove of “hidden gems” overlooked by the traditional guidebooks.

Visually dazzling to help you see - and hear - the cosmopolitan cities and the breathtaking countryside, The Great Tours: England, Scotland, and Wales packs a punch for the insight it offers into this small island that has had an outsized influence on the world’s stage.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 The Great Courses (P)2018 The Teaching Company, LLC

Very well presented.

Great speaker. Interesting info. Enough new so it wasn’t just same old thing. Refreshing! Wish great courses would eliminate the fanfare between chapters.

Excellent. Delightful content and narration.

Having been to the UK about 20x, I'm just now reading these fantastic lectures AND NEED TO RETURN. I've got so much yet to see and do! Highly appreciated. Highly recommended.

Excellent all round.

Would have been nice to add a lecture on musical tradition in Britain.

Great Presentation and Style

My own recollection of London was arriving there from South Africa on the morning of the terrorist attacks in 2005. My Scottish Companion and I were on the underground, and a holiday quite a few years in planning took on a very different character to what we expected, the beauty of the Isle was not diminished to us and Patrick's suggestion that seeing London by walking and the enormity of the British Museum were just two aspects we could relate to with tired feet and general exhaustion back at our hotel. Now we are in a global pandemic and the prospect of tourism again takes on a very different character. I have lost contact with my Scottish companion and worry about her, there were many plans we made that did not materialize, including scenic walks (hiking across Britain) I at first wavered before listening to Patrick's presentation, thinking it may intensify sadness of lost opportunities, but quite the opposite, his marvelously engaging presentation style and deep knowledge of his subject has more than compensated, leaving me a satisfied armchair traveler, eager to explore more. Thank you Patrick

Outstanding narration

Great content perfectly read. I’m now filling out the 15 word minimum. Really. At least 15 words I’m now generating.

Going to England? This is a must read.

If you are a fan of English history and wanted to visit, you need this book. Professor Allitt, a native Brit, knows how tell the story of England, Scotland and Wales.

Your first book should be Professor Allitt's book on the Industrial Revolution. You don't want to be the bloke asking about the canals and all.

Professor Allitt usually has a few chapters, in his books, on art. Music, sculpture, architecture, fine arts and such. It is good that he includes this, but, I'm not too "artsy". I am addressing mostly Americans on this topic. Until several years ago I never noticed how much English history is written into their pop and rock music. American music covers American history, mostly in folk and country genres, rarely in top 40 or rock and roll.

The first example is from The Rolling Stones, "Sympathy For The Devil".
"I rode a tank, Held a general's rank, When the blitzkrieg raged, And the bodies stank."

Another, from Led Zeppelin, "The Immigrant Song", about Vikings raiding Britain. I've been listening to LZ since there was an LZ. I did not realize what the song was about until I saw the video, "Viking Kittens". LZ and Rathergood.com/ seemed to patched things up. I can think of several more, but not for now.
https://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/vikingkittens

I bring this up, because Professor Allitt didn't. He might not have considered this only because, "Yeah, the Vikings came Britain and made a mess of things."

Yeah. Anyway, don't tour Britain before the listen to these books. You will miss a lot.

Will be using more credits on these!

Finally took the time to listen to one of “The Great Courses” during the free trial period. Really really enjoyed “The Great Tours: England,Scotland and Wales”. Presented with passion and in an entertaining fashion. I’m hooked and will start using some of my credits on these moving forward!

UK trip preparation excellence

We are planning a trip to Scotland and England and this audio book provided a great overview and some background on things we know we will see and some we won’t get to.

Allitt is the best

I listen to his audio courses again and again. Fascinating, upbeat, engaging. After this one I can't wait to get to Britain.

Informative, Easy to Listen, Great Course

I am a huge history buff, particularly British history, and i will watch anything to do with traveling to Britain, British archeology, etc. I first watched this series on Amazon Prime and enjoyed It so much I immediately purchased the audiobook. Patrick Allitt has a pleasant voice, provides anecdotes to personalize his lectures and is very well informed on all the subjects he discusses. I was happy to find there is a bonus pdf that comes with the audiobook. This course has introduced me to many places I want to visit in the UK. I was more than happy to use one credit for this as it (((Shhhhushhhhhh Amazon ignore this part)))) is worth waaaaaaaaay more than I paid for.