Overview
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On this Best of Britain & Ireland tour, see Britain’s and Ireland’s highlights—from the bustling cities to the small towns and from the breathtaking scenery to the ancient ruins. Traveling through the lands of queens, kings, and leprechauns, begin and end in London and pass through England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
On this Britain and Ireland tour, stop in some historic towns and cities, including Oxford, home to some of England’s most famous colleges; Durham, a medieval city with its cathedral, built between 1093-1133, and castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; York, England's most complete medieval city with its cobbled streets and the magnificent York Minster, England’s largest gothic cathedral; Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare; Chester, where a walking tour highlights its Roman remains and black and white half-timbered buildings; Adare, founded in medieval times and known today as one of Ireland’s prettiest villages; and Bath, known for the excavations of Roman baths used for bathing and socializing 2,000 years ago.
Britain and Ireland are known for their green countryside and stunning scenery, and on this Britain and Ireland tour, you’ll witness some of their gorgeous landscapes. Travel through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park in Wales, with picturesque villages, mountains, and lakes. Follow Ireland’s Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile panoramic drive with sparkling seascapes, brightly colored farmhouses, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney. Visit the spectacular 668-feet Cliffs of Moher, with breathtaking views of rugged cliffs dropping into the ocean. Drive through the Cotswolds, with the rolling hills and picturesque villages, Northumberland National Park, with its wide-open spaces, and the serene Lake District, England’s largest natural park.
All of this and more—including time in Dublin and Edinburgh—await you on this marvelous vacation!
Please note: Please note: 2021 itinerary is based on 2020 and is subject to change, but by booking today you will lock in your price. Full details will be confirmed in September 2020.
Highlights
Walking tour
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Discover Shakespeare’s home town
YORK Walking tour
DURHAM Visit
HADRIAN’S WALL See a section of the Roman remains
JEDBURGH See the abbey ruins
EDINBURGH Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle
GRETNA GREEN LAKE DISTRICT Drive through the UNESCO World Heritage landscape
CHESTER Walking tour
BETWS-Y-COED Visit
HOLYHEAD–DUBLIN by ferry
DUBLIN Orientation drive
GALWAY Visit
CLIFFS OF MOHER Savor the spectacular views
ADAREAdmire the thatched cottages
RING OF KERRY Scenic peninsula drive
KILLARNEY Visit
BLARNEY Visit
ROSSLARE-PEMBROKE by ferry
CARDIFF Orientation drive
BATH Visit
STONEHENGE Visit the prehistoric monument
2021 Tour itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Total meals included:
- 14 breakfasts, 4 dinners
ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND
Day1
Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, there’s time to rest or start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
LONDON.
Day2
Today is free for exploring on your own or enjoying our exciting program of optional activities. You may choose to join a Local Guide for an optional morning sightseeing tour of the city’s famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. The highlight is a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708. Later, maybe visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with its spectacular Crown Jewels. Tonight, we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with dinner, followed by a guided illumination cruise on the Thames River.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
LONDON–OXFORD–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LEEDS
Day3
Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for Oxford. A walking tour takes in the colleges where Britain’s elite receive their outstanding education. Then, travel through the lovely Cotswold Hills to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. Take photos of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and explore the town at your own pace. Your overnight destination is Leeds.
Today’s Distance: 263 mi/ 423 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
LEEDS–YORK–DURHAM–NEWCASTLE
Day4
This morning, head north to York. Stand in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. Next, visit Durham, a captivating city with its dramatic cathedral and castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stop for the night in Newcastle.
Today’s Distance: 118 mi/ 186 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
NEWCASTLE–JEDBURGH, SCOTLAND–EDINBURGH.
Day5
See a section of Hadrian’s Wall, then motor through wild Northumberland National Park to the Scottish border. Stop for photos at Jedburgh before arriving in Edinburgh. Here, sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town.” In the “Old Town,” visit EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. A suggestion for this evening: a traditional Scottish night out with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis.
Today’s Distance: 117 mi/ 188 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
EDINBURGH
Day6
Your choice today: an optional morning excursion to Rosslyn Chapel, made world-famous by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, and also one of Scotland’s most remarkable buildings. You will have ample time to visit the 15th-century medieval chapel and the visitor center, and to take photographs of the ruins of Rosslyn Castle. Later, another unique optional opportunity: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, which was once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Tour five decks and see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For departure numbers 0802 through 0823, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
EDINBURGH–GRETNA GREEN–LAKE DISTRICT, ENGLAND–CHESTER–WREXHAM, WALES.
Day7
South through the history-steeped Lowland Hills and a visit to Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Drive through beautiful scenery in the Lake District, considered to be the finest of England’s national parks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Chester, the historic county town on the Dee River, your walking tour takes in the Roman remains, black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered shopping arcades called the “Rows".
Today’s Distance: 268 mi/ 431 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
WREXHAM–BETWS-Y-COED–DUBLIN, IRELAND.
Day8
A scenic North Wales drive through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park brings you to lovely Betws-y-Coed. Then, head over spectacular Llanberis Pass and, finally, across Britannia Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey. Take your photos at tongue-twisting Llanfairpwllgwyngyll; and at Holyhead, board the ferry for the Irish Sea crossing to Dublin.
Today’s Distance: 162 mi/ 260 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
DUBLIN
Day9
A day in the “Fair City” starts off with an orientation drive through Eire’s capital and includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy Dublin at leisure. Why not join an optional dinner evening at the Guinness Storehouse?
Meals included:
- Breakfast
DUBLIN–GALWAY–CLIFFS OF MOHER–ENNIS.
Day10
Head for dairy-farm country in the center of the “Emerald Isle". Stop in Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Then, cross the limestone plateau of The Burren to visit the spectacular 668-foot CLIFFS OF MOHER before heading for Ennis, county town of Clare. Tonight’s optional opportunity: a medieval banquet at a historic castle.
Today’s Distance: 214 mi/ 344 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ENNIS–ADARE–RING OF KERRY–KILLARNEY
Day11
Stop for photos in Adare, a village known for its prize-winning thatched cottages and monastic ruins. In County Kerry, join the road known as the RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile coastal panoramic drive. Focus your camera on sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes, and views of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Later, in Killarney, discover why this is such a popular resort.
Today’s Distance: 189 mi/ 304 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
KILLARNEY–BLARNEY–DUNGARVAN–TRAMORE.
Day12
Cross the Kerry Mountains and through County Cork to Blarney, famous for its magical Stone of Eloquence. Time to see the castle, and shop for Irish crafts and handmade crystal. Drive past Cork, the country’s second-largest city, and via Dungarvan to Tramore. Why not join an optional pub tour before dinner at your hotel?
Today’s Distance: 131 mi/ 210 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
TRAMORE–CARDIFF, WALES
Day13
An early start for the short drive to Rosslare. In just under four hours, you cross St. George’s Channel by FERRY to South Wales. Continue through rich dairy farmland to Cardiff, where an orientation drive introduces you to the capital’s major attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, Millennium Stadium, and the stately civic buildings. Tonight, why not join an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner?
Today’s Distance: 242 mi/ 390 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
CARDIFF–BATH, ENGLAND–STONEHENGE–LONDON
Day14
A day packed with highlights begins as you cross the spectacular Severn Bridge into England. Stop in the elegant Georgian city of Bath, famous for its Roman relics, before visiting STONEHENGE, still an intriguing mystery. Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then admire the magnificence of the monument up close. After returning to London around 3:30 pm, how about celebrating the success of your tour with a night out on the town?
Today’s Distance: 171 mi/ 275 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
LONDON
Day15
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
Novotel London West
First-Class
Concrete and brick commercial hotel in modern nine-story complex located at Hammersmith, 1/4 mile from train station.
Location
1 Shortlands, London, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Concierge desk
- Gift Shop
- Parking/Valet
- Currency Exchange
- Fitness Room
- Laundry Available
Room Facilities
- Air Conditioning
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
- Room Service
- Television
- Voicemail
- Mini-bar
- In-Room Safe
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Coffee Maker
- Pay Movies
- Internet Access
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Desk
Holiday Inn London- Kensington High Street
First-Class
This elegant hotel boasts an ideal location near the renowned shops on High Street Kensington. The hotel includes 550 rooms equipped with ensuite shower or bath, satellite TV, coffee maker, and state-of-the-art in-room entertainment system. It also provides 24-hour in room dining and one-day laundry and dry cleaning service. The hotels Blue Smoke restaurant is an American-style steakhouse, and the Lions Sports Bar shows all the action and excitement of live sporting events from around the world.
Location
Wrights Lane, London, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Pool
- Concierge desk
- Luggage Storage
- Laundry Available
- Ice Machine
- Elevator
- Bar/Lounge
- Beauty Salon
- ATM
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Spa Services
- Currency Exchange
- Gift Shop
- Fitness Room
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Hair Dryer
- Phone
- Room Service
- Climate Control
- Wake-Up Calls
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Cable/Satellite
- In-Room Safe
- Window Opens
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Coffee Maker
- Desk
- Internet Access
- Mini-bar
- Alarm Clock
- Air Conditioning
- Television
- Pay Movies
Holiday Inn Leeds Garforth
First-Class
Set among fields, the Holiday Inn Leeds Garforth is situated just a short drive from Leeds city centre. The hotel features the Aioli Restaurant for breakfast and dinner and Aioli Bar and Lounge for light meals and snacks. The 144 rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with all modern amenities including hairdryer, iron and ironing board, complimentary toiletries and more. The hotel also boasts an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and spa. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout.
Location
Wakefield Road, Leeds, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant On-Site
- Bar/Lounge
- Pool
- Fitness Room
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
- Parking/Valet
- Business Center
- Beauty Salon
- Free WiFi
- Spa Services
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Alarm Clock
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Phone
- Voicemail
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Wake-Up Calls
- Window Opens
- Air Conditioning
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Desk
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
- Room Service
- Coffee Maker
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
Jurys Inn Gateshead
First-Class
Situated south of the River Tyne, Jurys Inn Newcastle Quayside offers a fantastic city centre location with great views overlooking the water. With easy access to restaurants and bars via the iconic Millennium Bridge just a three minute walk from the hotel, and Newcastle Central Station is just a mile away. All 203 rooms are furnished with large soft beds and flat screen TVs with Freeview as well as free Wi-Fi throughout. The rooms also come with a hair dryer and plenty of work space and the spacious en-suite bathroom feature complimentary toiletries.
Location
South Shore Road, Gateshead, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant On-Site
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
- Laundry Available
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
Room Facilities
- Room Service
- Coffee Maker
- Hair Dryer
- Phone
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
- Air Conditioning
- Television
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Desk
Courtyard Edinburgh West
First-Class
The brand-new state-of-the art Courtyard Edinburgh West is located on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in the heart of the Heriot-Watt University's woodland campus. The fully air-conditioned hotel boast complimentary Wi-Fi throughout and the bedrooms combine comfort with modern functionality. At the Avenue you can relax in a casual, laid-back environment while enjoying inventive cuisine morning, afternoon and evening.
Location
2 Research Avenue South, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
- Fitness Room
- Laundry Available
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Parking/Valet
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Voicemail
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Wake-Up Calls
- Desk
- Coffee Maker
- Television
- Air Conditioning
- Climate Control
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Alarm Clock
- Pay Movies
- Phone
- In-Room Safe
- Cable/Satellite
- Internet Access
Ramada Plaza Wrexham
First-Class
Wrexham's premier four star hotel has been designed to offer luxurious accommodation with superb amenities and service with those extra touches to make your stay more pleasurable.
Location
Ellice Way, Wrexham, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Fitness Room
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Bar/Lounge
- Spa Services
- Laundry Available
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Room Service
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
- In-Room Safe
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Mini-bar
- Cable/Satellite
- Pay Movies
- Television
- Phone
- Voicemail
- Coffee Maker
- Internet Access
- Air Conditioning
The Bonnington Dublin Hotel
First-Class
Modern Business-oriented hotel comprising an 18th-century Manor House, located 3km north of Dublin City center.
Location
Swords Road, Dublin 9, Ireland
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Free WiFi
- Fitness Room
- Hot Tub
- Laundry Available
- Parking/Valet
- Business Center
- Spa Services
- Restaurant On-Site
- Concierge desk
- Pool
- Currency Exchange
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- In-Room Safe
- Television
- Internet Access
- Coffee Maker
- Air Conditioning
- Cable/Satellite
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
Auburn Lodge Hotel
Superior Tourist-Class
Gracious Stone Lodge situated amid landscaped gardens, 1 mile from town center.
Location
Galway Road, Ennis-Co.Clare, Ireland
Hotel Facilities
- Currency Exchange
- Elevator
- Hot Tub
- Business Center
- Bar/Lounge
- Pool
- Laundry Available
- Restaurant On-Site
- Concierge desk
- Luggage Storage
- Free WiFi
- Spa Services
- Fitness Room
- Ice Machine
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Desk
- Television
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
- Phone
- Coffee Maker
- Cable/Satellite
- Room Service
- In-Room Safe
- Internet Access
Killarney Court Hotel
First-Class
Bedrooms boast tasteful neo-gothic style decor w/modern facilities; friendly efficient svc; ideal venue for a conference/seminar.
Location
Tralee Road, Killarney-Co.Kerry, Ireland
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant On-Site
- Parking/Valet
- Currency Exchange
- Bar/Lounge
- Free WiFi
- Business Center
Room Facilities
- Coffee Maker
- Room Service
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Phone
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Cable/Satellite
Majestic Hotel
Superior Tourist-Class
Welcome to the award winning AA*** Majestic Hotel in the sunny South East of Ireland, overlooking Tramore Bay with its impressive 5km stretch of golden beach and sand dunes and less than 10km from the historical city of Waterford.
Location
Tramore, Tramore-Waterford, Ireland
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Parking/Valet
- Elevator
- Business Center
- Restaurant On-Site
Room Facilities
- Coffee Maker
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
- In-Room Safe
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Cable/Satellite
- Television
- Phone
Novotel Cardiff
First-Class
Redbrick Victorian-style Hotel located near Cardiff Bay & city center.
Location
Schooner Way, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Pool
- Bar/Lounge
- Concierge desk
- Spa Services
- Fitness Room
- Hot Tub
- Parking/Valet
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Laundry Available
- Currency Exchange
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Coffee Maker
- Cable/Satellite
- Pay Movies
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Phone
- In-Room Safe
- Internet Access
- Room Service
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Hair Dryer
