Itinerary
- Day 1
London
You'll check into your hotel in London and have the afternoon free to do what you like. Take a walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park, browse shops in Knightsbridge, or head down toward Tower Bridge and the Tower of London along the Thames. It's a good chance to get oriented and shake off any travel fatigue.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park
- Window shop in Knightsbridge boutiques
- Stroll along the Thames to Tower Bridge
- Visit Tower of London
Landmarks/POIs Hyde Park Knightsbridge Tower Bridge Tower of London - Day 2
London to Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon
Meet your Travel Director this morning before heading to Oxford, the university town with those famous spires everywhere. You can spend time at the Ashmolean Museum or check out the local indoor market. Then you'll drive through the Cotswolds villages on the way to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Shakespeare's birthplace and all the memorabilia there. By evening you'll have a warm dinner with drinks at a local pub.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant with drinks)
Included Activities
- Visit Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon with memorabilia and artifacts
- See the spires and colleges of Oxford
- Dinner at a local pub in Stratford-upon-Avon with drinks
Optional Activities
- Visit the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford
- Browse the local indoor market in Oxford
Landmarks/POIs Ashmolean Museum Shakespeare's Birthplace - Day 3
Stratford-upon-Avon to Lincoln to York
You'll drive through Robin Hood Country toward Lincoln, then continue on to York, which was the Viking capital and is one of England's oldest cities. Walk along the Shambles to reach York Minster in this medieval city's heart. Your hotel sits right within the city walls with views of Clifford's Tower, so you're staying in a really historic location.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- See the York Minster during city orientation
- View the York city walls during orientation
- Explore the medieval Shambles during city orientation
Optional Activities
- Visit Lincoln
Landmarks/POIs York Minster Shambles Clifford's Tower - Day 4
York to Lake District to Scottish Border to Edinburgh
Drive through Lake District National Park and you'll see rugged mountains and tranquil lakes that inspired English poets. Stop in Grasmere, Wordsworth's village, to learn about the poet's life and see where he's buried in the churchyard. After that you'll cross into Scotland at Gretna Green, the place famous for runaway marriages, and head to Edinburgh.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Learn about the life of poet William Wordsworth and visit his grave in Grasmere
- Drive through Lake District National Park
Landmarks/POIs Lake District National Park Grasmere Gretna Green - Day 5
Edinburgh
Head down the Royal Mile to see the Palace of Holyroodhouse where the King stays when in Scotland. Then you'll cross to New Town and go inside Edinburgh Castle with a local guide to see the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, and Mons Meg, with great views over the city. The afternoon is yours to shop on Princes Street. Some departures will attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Edinburgh Castle with Local Expert to view Scottish Crown Jewels, Mons Meg and other artifacts
- See Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Explore the city with Local Specialist viewing Princes Street, Scott Memorial, New Town's neoclassical Adam facades
Optional Activities
- Attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (select departures)
Landmarks/POIs Edinburgh Castle Palace of Holyroodhouse Royal Mile Princes Street Scott Memorial - Day 6
Edinburgh to St. Andrews to Pitlochry
Cross the Firth of Forth into Fife and head to St. Andrews, home to the world's oldest golf course from the 15th century. You'll have free time to explore, maybe visit St. Andrews University where Kate Middleton and Prince William studied, or walk out to West Sands Beach where they filmed that Chariots of Fire scene. Later you'll continue to Pitlochry, a Victorian resort town known for its salmon run. Stop at Atholl Palace and Gardens for afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, shortbread and tablet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Afternoon Tea (Traditional afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, Scottish shortbread and Scottish tablet at Atholl Palace)
Included Activities
- Visit St. Andrews University town and see the golf course where golf was created
- Afternoon tea at Atholl Palace with sandwiches, scones, Scottish shortbread and Scottish tablet
Optional Activities
- Stroll to West Sands Beach where 'Chariots of Fire' was filmed
- Visit St. Andrews University
Landmarks/POIs St. Andrews St. Andrews University West Sands Beach Pitlochry Atholl Palace - Day 7
Inverness to Loch Ness to Eilean Donan to Isle of Skye
Take a Loch Ness cruise and soak in the scenery and historic monuments while learning about Nessie. After that you'll stop for a photo of Eilean Donan Castle on Loch Duich. Hear stories about Flora MacDonald and Bonnie Prince as you head over the sea to Skye.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Board cruise on Loch Ness through the Great Glen Fault
- View Eilean Donan Castle
Landmarks/POIs Loch Ness Aldourie Castle Eilean Donan Castle Loch Duich - Day 8
Isle of Skye to Fort William to Glencoe to Glasgow
You'll come back to the mainland and drive to the World War II Commando Memorial with Ben Nevis in the background. Pass through Fort William and into Glencoe, the Valley of the Weeping, where a massacre happened in 1692. Then take the scenic drive along Loch Lomond on the way to Glasgow, where your Travel Director will show you George Square, St. Mungo's Cathedral and other grand public buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View World War II Commando Memorial and Ben Nevis
- See Glasgow's grand public buildings including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Scenic drive through Glencoe
Landmarks/POIs World War II Commando Memorial Ben Nevis Glencoe Loch Lomond George Square St. Mungo's Cathedral - Day 9
Glasgow to Irish Sea to Belfast
Say goodbye to Scotland as you cross the Irish Sea to Belfast, Northern Ireland's capital. Meet a local guide for a tour that includes City Hall, Queen's University, the Parliament Building at Stormont, and murals that show the political feelings of local residents. You'll have the rest of the afternoon to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Belfast including City Hall, Queen's University, Parliament Building at Stormont, and murals indicating political sentiments
Landmarks/POIs Belfast City Hall Queen's University Belfast Parliament Building at Stormont - Day 10
Belfast to Dublin
Go to the Guinness Storehouse and learn about the history and traditions behind Ireland's most famous drink. The rest of the day is yours to shop, continue sightseeing, or take an optional drive to Glendalough, a ruined monastic site.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit the Guinness Storehouse to see how the world's most famous stout is created and enjoy a perfectly chilled pint of Guinness
Optional Activities
- Optional drive to the ruined monastic site of Glendalough
Landmarks/POIs Guinness Storehouse Glendalough - Day 11
Dublin
Travel along the Mountains of Mourne and cross through the Boyne Valley, where William of Orange defeated Catholic King James. Then you'll reach Dublin, Ireland's fair city. A local guide will show you O'Connell Street, Dublin Castle and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- See Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House with Local Expert
Landmarks/POIs Mountains of Mourne Boyne Valley O'Connell Street Dublin Castle St. Patrick's Cathedral Custom House - Day 12
Dublin to Galway to Cliffs of Moher to Limerick
Head west to Galway, known as the City of the Tribes. Your Travel Director will take you through the historic heart with stops at the Lynch Memorial Window, Church of St. Nicholas, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square. You'll have free time in this artsy, bohemian city. Then cross the limestone landscape of the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center for views of the Clare Coast. Continue to Limerick on the River Shannon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Orientation of Galway including Lynch Memorial Window, Church of St. Nicholas, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square
- Visit the Exhibition Center at the Cliffs of Moher for breathtaking vistas of the Clare Coast
Landmarks/POIs Galway Lynch Memorial Window Church of St. Nicholas Spanish Arch Eyre Square Burren Cliffs of Moher - Day 13
Limerick to Tralee to Dingle to Killarney
In the morning your Travel Director shows you St. Mary's Cathedral from the 12th century, King John's Castle and the Treaty Stone. Then you'll drive to Tralee and Dingle, going through the dramatic cliffs, wide skies and ocean views of the Dingle Peninsula on the way to Killarney. Dinner is a traditional Sunday roast with all the trimmings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Sunday roast with all the trimmings)
Included Activities
- See St. Mary's Cathedral, King John's Castle and the Treaty Stone in Limerick
- Dinner of traditional Sunday roast with all the trimmings in Killarney
Landmarks/POIs St. Mary's Cathedral King John's Castle Treaty Stone Dingle Peninsula - Day 14
Killarney
Take a morning trip around the Ring of Kerry where mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend together. Pass through the MacGillicuddy Reeks, Ireland's highest mountains, and reach the three Lakes of Killarney. Meet John at his family-run seaweed farm to learn about sustainable farming that protects the Irish Atlantic coasts. The afternoon is free to relax, maybe ride a jaunting car around the lake or through the National Park. At night you'll have a dine-around evening at a hand-picked local restaurant with your group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dine-Around Evening with authentic and intimate dining at a hand-picked selection of fine local restaurants)
Included Activities
- Ring of Kerry scenic drive
- Seaweed farm visit at Atlantic Irish Seaweed with John to learn about sustainable farming practices
- City orientation of Killarney
Optional Activities
- Ride a jaunting car around the lake or through the National Park
Landmarks/POIs Ring of Kerry MacGillicuddy Reeks Lakes of Killarney Atlantic Irish Seaweed - Day 15
Killarney to Blarney to Waterford
Visit Blarney Castle, a ruined 15th century fortress. If you're game, you can hang upside down from the ramparts to kiss the stone and supposedly get a lifetime of eloquence. Then continue to Waterford, a walled city with Reginald's Tower from the 11th century. A guide will show you the House of Waterford Crystal where you'll meet an artisan and see their work.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone
- Explore Waterford city and see Reginald's Tower and the remains of the city walls
- Guided visit of the House of Waterford Crystal with artisan demonstration
Landmarks/POIs Blarney Castle Blarney Stone Waterford Reginald's Tower House of Waterford Crystal - Day 16
Waterford to Rosslare to Pembroke to Cardiff
Take the ferry from Rosslare across the Irish Sea to Pembroke, then drive through the rural scenery of Pembrokeshire. You'll pass through southern Wales valleys and reach Cardiff, Wales's capital, known for its castle and Principality Stadium. Get an orientation of this vibrant port city on the River Taff.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing from Rosslare to Pembroke
- Orientation of Cardiff with Travel Director including castle and Principality Stadium
Landmarks/POIs Rosslare Harbour Pembroke Pembrokeshire Cardiff Castle Principality Stadium - Day 17
Cardiff to Bath to Glastonbury to Torquay
Cross the Severn Bridge to Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your Travel Director will take you through the Georgian streets and crescents. Visit the Roman Baths, Britain's only thermal mineral springs. Then continue south to mystical Glastonbury, said to be the resting place of King Arthur and the Holy Grail. Later you'll reach Torquay, a seaside town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Orientation of Bath through Georgian streets and crescents with Travel Director
- Visit the Roman Baths, Britain's only thermal, mineral springs
Optional Activities
- Explore Glastonbury, rumored to be the resting place of King Arthur and the Holy Grail
Landmarks/POIs Bath Roman Baths Glastonbury - Day 18
Torquay
In Torquay you get to choose how to spend your day. Join Brendan for an exploration of Dartmoor National Park to learn about stone circles and indigenous traditions, or take a relaxing cruise of Plymouth harbor to see the Mayflower Steps, Barbican, Royal Citadel and Plymouth Hoe. Dinner offers a nice selection of local dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Fine selection of local dishes)
Included Activities
- Dartmoor National Park scenic exploration to learn about history of stone circles and indigenous traditions with Local Expert
- Plymouth harbor cruise to see Mayflower Steps, Barbican, Royal Citadel and Plymouth Hoe
- Dinner with a fine selection of local dishes
Landmarks/POIs Dartmoor National Park Plymouth Harbour Mayflower Steps Barbican Royal Citadel Plymouth Hoe - Day 19
Torquay to Stonehenge to London
Cross Salisbury Plain this morning and stop at Stonehenge, the famous prehistoric monument whose true meaning remains a mystery. Your escorted trip is wrapping up as you return to London with the evening to yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk around Stonehenge, the mysterious megaliths that have stood for approximately 5,000 years
Landmarks/POIs Stonehenge - Day 20
London
Your journey ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
