4-Week England, Ireland and Scotland Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 4-week England, Ireland And Scotland itineraries

Compiled by

NadineEngland, Ireland and Scotland travel expert at TourRadar

• 24 Day Britain & Ireland Itinerary, incl. London and Edinburgh

  A 24-day grand tour through England, Ireland, and Scotland takes you to 30+ destinations. Walk the halls of Westminster Abbey, Trinity College Dublin, and Edinburgh Castle. Luxuriate at premium hotels including Park Plaza Westminster and Principal Edinburgh George. Daily breakfast and 8 regional dinners included.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    London, England

    Start your trip in London. Get to Westminster Abbey by 8:30 AM to avoid crowds. Plan 2-3 hours for St. Paul's Cathedral including the dome climb which needs good physical fitness. "The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben tour was incredible, but book weeks ahead as spots fill quickly."

    
  • Days 3-5

    Southwest England

    Visit Stonehenge before 10 AM to beat the crowds. Move on to Plymouth and take a harbor cruise to see the Mayflower Steps. Stay in the Barbican district for easy access to the waterfront. Spend time in Cornwall exploring the coast and St. Ives. "The coastal walk from St. Ives offered breathtaking views - pack windproof layers as it gets quite blustery."

    
  • Days 6-9

    Ireland's South

    Take the 3.5-hour ferry to Waterford and visit the crystal factory. Get to Blarney Castle early if you want to kiss the stone. Drive the Ring of Kerry and sit on the right side for the best views. Stay in Killarney where you can enjoy traditional music at places like O'Connor's. "The live music session at Killarney's Danny Mann pub was a highlight - arrive by 7 PM to get seats."

    
  • Days 10-11

    Western Ireland

    Visit the Cliffs of Moher but bring rain gear since the weather changes fast. Explore Galway's Latin Quarter and historic Sligo. "Walking the cliff path requires decent fitness and grippy shoes."

    
  • Days 12-13

    Northern Ireland

    Walk Derry's walls and see the Giant's Causeway. Give yourself at least 2-3 hours for Belfast's Titanic Experience. "Book Titanic tickets online to skip long entry queues."

    
  • Days 14-15

    Dublin & North Wales

    Spend two nights in Dublin visiting Trinity College and Temple Bar. Take the 3-hour ferry to Wales to see Snowdonia. "The Book of Kells queue at Trinity College can be 1+ hour - go at opening time."

    
  • Days 16-18

    Scottish Highlands

    Travel through Glasgow to the Isle of Skye stopping at Loch Lomond. Stay in Inverness to visit Loch Ness and Culloden battlefield. "The Inverness Castle viewpoint offers great city views but involves steep steps."

    
  • Days 19-20

    Edinburgh

    Take two full days for Edinburgh Castle Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace. Book accommodation well ahead for August Festival season. "The castle gets packed - enter right at 9:30 AM opening."

    
  • Days 21-24

    York & Return to London

    See York's medieval Shambles and Minster. Visit Stratford-upon-Avon on your way back to London. "York's city walls walk takes about 2 hours - start early before tourist crowds."

    

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• 23 Days in British Isles, incl. London and Edinburgh

  This 23-day British Isles tour features Edinburgh Castle, Ring of Kerry, and Giant's Causeway. Spend two nights each in Edinburgh, Dublin, and Killarney. Wander through Oxford colleges, York's Shambles, and Bath's Roman ruins. Daily breakfast plus 7 regional dinners included.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    London

    Begin your journey in London while adjusting to the time zone. "Get to Westminster Abbey right when it opens at 9:30 AM to avoid the crowds." Use the Tube from your hotel instead of fighting London traffic, especially during rush hour.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Northern England

    Drive north to Oxford (2 hours) where you'll need good walking shoes for the cobblestones. Continue to York and try to arrive by 3 PM for the final guided walk of the Shambles, York's medieval shopping street. "York Minster was incredible, but book your tower climb ticket online to avoid disappointment."

    
  • Days 5-6

    Edinburgh

    Stop for photos at Hadrian's Wall on your way into Scotland. Visit the Royal Mile early before the crowds fill the streets. "For the best castle views without the crowds, head to Calton Hill at sunset rather than the more touristy Arthur's Seat."

    
  • Days 7-9

    Scottish Highlands

    Drive 3 hours to Inverness. Bring motion sickness pills for the winding Highland roads. Book your Loch Ness boat trip for early morning when the water is calm. "The Culloden Battlefield visitor center gets busy - arrive before 10 AM and dress warmly as the site is quite exposed."

    
  • Days 10-11

    Northern Ireland

    Take the 2-hour ferry to Belfast. Drive 1.5 hours north to the Giant's Causeway and wear sturdy shoes on the slippery basalt columns. "Book your Titanic Belfast tickets online and try to visit on weekday afternoons when it's less crowded."

    
  • Days 12-14

    Western Ireland

    Enter the Republic of Ireland. Visit the Cliffs of Moher early to beat the crowds and check the weather since fog can block the views. For the Ring of Kerry, "Start from Killarney by 8 AM to avoid getting stuck behind tour coaches on the narrow roads."

    
  • Days 15-17

    Eastern Ireland

    Travel to Dublin through Blarney Castle. Visit the castle at 9 AM opening to avoid crowds. In Dublin, "Skip the long lines at Trinity College by booking Book of Kells tickets online for first entry at 9:30 AM."

    
  • Days 18-19

    Wales

    Take the 3-hour ferry to Wales. Plan extra time for driving the narrow Snowdonia roads. Join the first Cardiff Castle tour at 10 AM for the best photo lighting.

    
  • Days 20-23

    Southern England

    Visit Bath and Stonehenge on your way back to London. "At Stonehenge, the first and last hours of the day have the best light and smallest crowds." Finish in London and consider a theatre show. Get discounted same-day tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square before noon.

    

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• 24 Days in Britain & Ireland, incl. London and Dublin

  A 24-day adventure through England, Ireland, and Scotland leads to Edinburgh Castle, Guinness Storehouse, and Ring of Kerry. Indulge in 23 breakfasts, 11 dinners, and special moments like whisky tasting in Montrose and storytelling in Londonderry.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    London to Stratford-upon-Avon

    Start in London and spend the afternoon in Hyde Park and around Tower Bridge. Get to the Tower of London right when it opens to avoid crowds. "The Tower of London area gets extremely busy after 10 AM - arrive right at opening for the best experience." Leave London at 8 AM on Day 2 and drive to Oxford (2 hours). Visit the Ashmolean Museum in the afternoon when it's less crowded and free. Move on to Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford where you can join an evening walking tour for the best atmosphere.

    
  • Days 3-4

    York and Edinburgh

    Take a 4-hour drive to York to walk the medieval walls and visit York Minster. Get to The Shambles before 9 AM to beat the tour groups. Take the scenic Yorkshire Dales route to the Lake District and stop at Wordsworth's grave in Grasmere. Enter Scotland through Gretna Green and you'll reach Edinburgh by early evening.

    
  • Days 5-7

    Scottish Highlands

    Book 9 AM tickets for Edinburgh Castle to avoid crowds. Visit the Royal Mile and Holyroodhouse Palace after. Drive 90 minutes to see the iconic Old Course at St. Andrews. Head north through whisky country to Aberdeen. Stop at Culloden Battlefield near Inverness and take a Loch Ness cruise. Sit on the right side of the boat for the best views of the castle.

    
  • Days 8-10

    Islands and Glens

    Take the 45-minute morning ferry to the Orkney Islands and visit the 5,000-year-old Skara Brae. The next day drive to the Isle of Skye through Ullapool. "The drive through Glen Carron is breathtaking but bring motion sickness pills if you're sensitive to winding roads." Continue through Glencoe to Glasgow.

    
  • Days 11-13

    Northern Ireland to Western Ireland

    Take the 2-hour ferry to Northern Ireland to see the Giant's Causeway. Walk Derry's walls with local guides before entering the Republic of Ireland. Visit Donegal and Belleek Pottery on your way to Galway. Plan extra time for the drive through Connemara to Limerick since rural Irish roads are slower than expected.

    
  • Days 14-16

    Southern Ireland

    Stay in Killarney to explore the Ring of Kerry. Start early at 8 AM to avoid tour bus traffic at photo spots. Visit Blarney Castle on your way to Cork. Local tip: Blarney Stone lines are shortest in late afternoon. Continue to medieval Kilkenny for the castle.

    
  • Days 17-19

    Dublin to Liverpool

    Plan two full days in Dublin starting with the Guinness Storehouse (book the first morning slot). Take the 3-hour ferry back to Britain and explore North Wales including Conwy Castle. End in Liverpool to discover Beatles history.

    
  • Days 20-24

    Wales and Western England

    See Cardiff Castle then head to Bath's Roman ruins. One visitor suggested: "The Roman Baths get incredibly busy - book the 9 AM entry and start at the top floor working down." Visit Dartmoor and Plymouth before stopping at Stonehenge on your way back to London.

    

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