What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Itinerary
Royal Mint, Brecon Mountain Rail & Bristol Harbour Cruise
From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to our hotel.
Royal Mint, Brecon Mountain Rail & Bristol Harbour Cruise
We start the day with a visit to the Royal Mint Experience on the outskirts of Cardiff, an interactive exhibition about how coin production works. We watch workers mint coins and discover fascinating facts about the coins in our pockets, giving us a wonderful insight into one of the UK’s oldest institutions.
In the afternoon, we enjoy some free time in the bustling Welsh capital of Cardiff, with its beautiful Victorian shopping centres and quirky markets. Don’t miss Cardiff Castle, right in the heart of the city and offers a truly remarkable site with a history that spans over 2,000 years (entrance not included).
Full Day
Royal Mint, Brecon Mountain Rail & Bristol Harbour Cruise
We head to Pant, a small village near the Welsh border, where we board our vintage train and take a trip on the Brecon Mountain Railway, which follows part of the original route of the 1859-built Brecon & Merthyr Railway. We travel through beautiful Brecons scenery and along the full length of the sparkling Taf Fechan Reservoir before climbing to Torpantau, the summit of the original line. We descend the mountain, making a short stop in Pontsticill for refreshments before returning to Pant via stunning Abergavenny.
On the way back to the hotel we enjoy a scenic coach drive through the Brecon Beacons National Park, allowing us to admire the spectacular landscapes from a different perspective. Shaped by the Ice Age, there is no shortage of dramatic scenery in this stunning National Park.
Full Day
Royal Mint, Brecon Mountain Rail & Bristol Harbour Cruise
We sit back and relax on a cruise around Bristol Harbour. Once a bustling dock where sailors and merchants would trade goods and set sail for voyages, Bristol Harbourside is now a world-class attraction, complete with many restaurants and bars. We discover its fascinating history and contemporary culture on our leisurely cruise, with onboard commentary and then enjoy some free time in lively Bristol.
Royal Mint, Brecon Mountain Rail & Bristol Harbour Cruise
After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board the coach for the journey home.
Brecon Mountain Railway & Brecon Beacons Scenic Drive
Ride a steam-hauled heritage train on the Brecon Mountain Railway from Pant toward Torpantau, skirting the Taf Fechan Reservoir and upland farms. Settle into vintage carriages as views open to ridgelines, stone walls and mirror-bright water.
The route through Brecon Beacons National Park reveals glaciated valleys, heather moorland and the slopes of Pen y Fan and Corn Du, with opportunities for photos where space allows. Scenic variety and fresh upland air make this a relaxed, camera-ready day.
Bristol Floating Harbour Cruise
Cruise the Bristol Floating Harbour with live commentary, gliding past the M Shed, historic dockside cranes and the creative hub around the Arnolfini. Colourful terraces and waterside warehouses frame the route as the city’s maritime character comes into view.
Hear how the harbour’s 1809 engineering tamed the River Avon’s tides and fuelled global trade. Enjoy close-up views of Brunel’s pioneering SS Great Britain and the working Underfall Yard. This guided cruise is included.
Cardiff Castle Interior & Norman Keep (Optional)
Visit Cardiff Castle to explore the lavish Victorian Gothic apartments created for the Marquess of Bute, then climb the Norman keep for sweeping views over Bute Park. Intricate rooms like the gilded Arab Room reveal extraordinary craftsmanship.
Trace 2,000 years from a Roman fort to wartime shelters inside the walls. This visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour during your free time in Cardiff.
Strike Your Own Coin at The Royal Mint (Optional)
Step up to the press and strike your own coin at The Royal Mint, creating a limited-edition keepsake to take home. Friendly staff guide the process and explain the design you’ll imprint.
This add-on is subject to availability, carries an extra fee, and is bookable on tour during your Royal Mint visit.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain Museum Ship (Optional)
Step aboard Brunel’s SS Great Britain to explore the Victorian dockyard, dry dock and recreated cabins, with evocative sounds and scents bringing ocean voyages to life.
Launched in 1843 as a groundbreaking iron-hulled, screw-propelled ocean liner, the ship linked Bristol with New York and later Australia. Entry is at additional cost and bookable on tour during your time in Bristol.
The Royal Mint Experience: Guided Visit
Discover the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant on a behind-the-scenes visit. Join a guided tour to view the circulating coin production line from an elevated gallery and watch coining presses turn blanks into legal tender. Interactive displays trace each stage from design to striking.
Explore over 1,100 years of British coinage and why the Mint moved from Tower Hill to South Wales in the 1960s. See rare issues and innovations in security. This hosted experience is included with your tour.
