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.