Itinerary
- Day 1
London to Cardiff
Your first day takes you from London through the English countryside. After seeing the city's iconic sights, you'll head out to Windsor and then Bath, where the honey-coloured Georgian buildings are the main draw. By evening you'll cross into Wales and settle in Cardiff for the night.
Included Activities
- View the Royal Castle
- Visit the Georgian spa town
Landmarks/POIs Windsor Castle Bath - Day 2
Cardiff to Ireland
Start with an optional stop at Cardiff Castle if you're interested in medieval history. Then you'll drive through Wales, passing through Carmarthen on your way to Pembroke Castle, which dates back to the 11th century. After exploring the castle, you'll board a ferry across the Irish Sea to get to Ireland.
Included Activities
- View Cardiff Castle
- Kiss the Blarney Stone
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience to Cardiff Castle - medieval fortress tour
Landmarks/POIs Cardiff Castle Carmarthen Pembroke Castle - Day 3
Waterford to Tralee
This morning head to the Waterford Crystal Showroom to see the intricate work. Later you'll drive past Cork and Kerry Mountains, stopping at Blarney Castle where you can kiss the famous stone if you'd like. The route takes you through Killarney (where a jaunting car ride is optional) and continues to Tralee for the evening.
Included Activities
- Visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom
- Kiss the Blarney Stone
Optional Activities
- Optional Jaunting Car ride in Killarney
Landmarks/POIs Waterford Crystal Showroom Blarney Castle Killarney - Day 4
Dingle Peninsula to Shannon
Drive through the Dingle Peninsula, which features stone monuments, empty beaches, and small villages with colourful harbours. After that you'll head to Adare, then continue to Limerick to see St. Mary's Cathedral and King John's Castle before reaching Shannon for dinner at your hotel.
- Meals
- Dinner (Hotel dinner in Shannon)
Included Activities
- View the prettiest village in Ireland
- View King John's Castle and see St. Mary's Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Dingle Peninsula Adare St. Mary's Cathedral King John's Castle - Day 5
Shannon to Dublin
Start with an optional visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park if you want to learn about 19th-century Ireland. Then travel through County Clare to Galway, where you'll see the modern cathedral. Later this evening you'll head to Dublin, with an optional dinner and Irish show available.
Included Activities
- See Galway Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park - 15th-century castle and 19th-century folk park
- Optional dinner and Irish show in Dublin
Landmarks/POIs Bunratty Castle Bunratty Folk Park County Clare Galway Cathedral - Day 6
Dublin
A local specialist will share insights about Dublin this morning. You'll see Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Dublin Castle, a 13th-century Norman fortress now open as a museum. Spend your afternoon exploring on your own or join an optional trip to Glendalough, a significant monastic site in the Irish countryside.
Included Activities
- See St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, the Georgian Squares and Trinity College with a Local Guide
Optional Activities
- Optional visit to Glendalough - ancient monastic site with Local Specialist
- Self-guided exploration of Dublin
Landmarks/POIs Trinity College St. Patrick's Cathedral Christchurch Cathedral Dublin Castle Glendalough - Day 7
Dublin to Manchester
Cross back to Wales via ferry to Anglesey, where you can check out the famous train station with its notably long Welsh name. Head through north Wales to Chester to walk the 1st-century Roman walls and see the distinctive black and white half-timbered buildings. Continue to Liverpool and then Manchester for the evening.
Included Activities
- Visit the Beatles' hometown
- View the timbered buildings known as the 'Rows'
Landmarks/POIs Holyhead Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Station Chester Chester Walls Liverpool - Day 8
Manchester to Gretna Green
Take an optional cruise on Lake Windermere to see the northern coastline and landscape that inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. After that you'll cross into Scotland and head to Gretna Green, where couples have been getting married since 1754. An optional traditional dinner is available this evening at a local restaurant.
Included Activities
- Visit this picturesque region
- Visit this town, popular with eloping couples since 1754
Optional Activities
- Optional exclusive cruise on Lake Windermere
- Optional traditional dinner at a local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Lake Windermere Wray Castle Lake District Gretna Green - Day 9
Gretna Green to Edinburgh
This morning a local specialist guides you through Edinburgh, showing you the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle. You'll walk the medieval Royal Mile and explore the Georgian boulevards of New Town. Free time in the afternoon lets you explore independently or choose an optional visit to Rosslyn Chapel or Edinburgh Castle. Evening includes food, wine, and Highland dance performances.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Highland dance performances)
Included Activities
- With your Local Guide, see Princes Street, the Royal Mile and the Castle
Optional Activities
- Optional visit to Rosslyn Chapel
- Optional visit to Edinburgh Castle
- Self-guided exploration of Edinburgh
Landmarks/POIs Palace of Holyroodhouse Edinburgh Castle Royal Mile Princes Street New Town Rosslyn Chapel - Day 10
Edinburgh to Bradford
Travel south through the Debatable Lands and see the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey. You'll stop at Carter Bar to admire the Cheviot Hills and take a photo at the Anglo-Scottish border. Continue to Hadrian's Wall to see this significant Roman structure, then pass through Newcastle and head to York for an orientation tour. After seeing the medieval streets and Gothic Minster, you'll continue to Bradford for the night.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional dinner in a York pub)
Included Activities
- View the Jedburgh Abbey ruins
- View the remains of the Roman wall
- View York Minster and stroll along the Shambles
Landmarks/POIs Jedburgh Abbey Cheviot Hills Carter Bar Hadrian's Wall Northumberland National Park York Minster Shambles - Day 11
Bradford to Stratford-upon-Avon
Spend time in Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born and buried. The streets here look much as they did in his era. You'll have time to wander on your own or join an optional visit to nearby Warwick Castle, where you can see the firing of a medieval Trebuchet siege weapon.
Included Activities
- Visit the town of Shakespeare and see Anne Hathaway's cottage
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience to Warwick Castle - medieval castle with Trebuchet demonstration
Landmarks/POIs Stratford-upon-Avon Anne Hathaway's Cottage Warwick Castle - Day 12
Stratford-upon-Avon to London
Drive through the Cotswolds, passing through small thatched villages and rolling countryside. Stop in Bladon to see where Sir Winston Churchill is buried at St. Martin's Church. Then head to Oxford, England's oldest university city, to see several key landmarks before heading south to London to say goodbye to your travel director and fellow travellers.
Included Activities
- Visit this picturesque region
- View Sir Winston Churchill's grave
- View the Bodleian Library
Landmarks/POIs Cotswolds Bladon St. Martin's Church Oxford Bodleian Library
