2020 Essence of Britain & Ireland 11 day/10 night tour

2020 ESSENCE OF BRITAIN & IRELAND 11 DAYS / 10 NIGHTS/15 MEALS

Day 1: LONDON TOUR & WELCOME DRINK
Tour begins at 2:00 PM at your London hotel. Take a panoramic drive around central London to see many famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London. In the evening, enjoy a welcome drink with your group before a free evening of independent dining.


Day 2: STONEHENGE & ROMAN BATHS
Head to Salisbury Plain to view the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge. Continue to Bath for a tour of the Roman Baths, first built by the Romans 2,000 years ago around mineral-rich hot springs. In Cardiff, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 3: CARDIFF & FERRY TO WATERFORD
Visit Cardiff Castle – first inhabited in Roman times and transformed into an elaborate Gothic-style residence in the 19th century – where you will enjoy a traditional Welsh breakfast. Journey through the rolling, green countryside to the west coast. At Pembroke Dock, embark on an afternoon ferry crossing to Rosslare and on to Waterford.
(B, D)

Day 4: WATERFORD CRYSTAL & SHEEP HERDING
Start the day with a walking tour of historic Waterford. Witness the creation of crystal masterpieces at the House of Waterford Crystal Guided Factory Tour. At Jerpoint Park, enjoy a sheep herding demonstration and sample scones with tea. You’ll see the grave of St Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus, whose remains were moved there in the 12th century. Proceed on to Dublin. In the evening, enjoy some time on your own to dine at one of Dublin’s many fine pubs and restaurants.
(B)

Day 5: GLASNEVIN CEMETERY MUSEUM & DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING
Tour Dublin city to see the elegant Georgian squares, houses with brightly painted doorways, and the General Post Office where the 1916 Rebellion started. Visit Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Ireland’s national cemetery, a virtual who’s who of modern Irish history. The afternoon and evening are free to use your vouchers for an independent open-top bus tour and to visit to one of Dublin's top attractions: Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum or GPO Witness History. In the evening, enjoy a traditional dinner and a lively show at the Merry Ploughboy Pub.
(B,D)

Day 6: FERRY TO SCOTLAND & EDINBURGH
Head to Belfast where you’ll take a ferry to the Scottish port of Cairnryan and travel through green pasturelands to the central belt of Scotland. Stop en route for dinner before reaching your hotel in central Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city.
(B, D)

Day 7: EDINBURGH CASTLE & CITY TOUR
Drive around central Edinburgh to see the main points of interest, including the 200-year-old “New Town” with elegant Georgian houses and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Walk along the Royal Mile where medieval houses are clustered closely together. Tour the massive Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The afternoon is free to explore and dine on your own. August 7 – 21 departures will attend the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
(B)

Day 8: SCOTTISH BORDERS & YORK
Travel through the charming Borders region with many quaint towns, manor houses, and abbeys. Stop in Jedburgh to see the picturesque ruins of Jedburgh Abbey. Continue to York for a walking tour of streets so narrow the medieval houses almost touch. Tour the stately Gothic York Minster, which dates back to the 13th century and is noted for its magnificent medieval stained-glass windows.
(B, D)

Day 9: SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE & LONDON
In Stratford-upon-Avon, visit Shakespeare’s birthplace to see an exhibition about his life and work. Walk through the furnished house where he was born. Stroll around the town with its many charming black-and-white buildings. Drive through the picturesque Cotswolds to London for a free evening to explore and dine on your own.
(B)

Day 10: INDEPENDENT LONDON SIGHTSEEING
Enjoy a day of independent sightseeing in London on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus to tour the many famous landmarks. There are a number of different routes to choose from including a walking tour and a cruise on the River Thames. Visit either the Tower of London to view the magnificent Crown Jewels, or Kensington Palace, former home of Princess Diana.
(B)

Day 11: TOUR ENDS IN LONDON
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

All components of this tour (hotels, visits and attractions) for 2020 itineraries are subject to change until finalized in September 2019.

Authentic Local Experiences:

• Expect an unforgettable evening of music, ceremony, theater, and dance with reserved seats for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 7 - 21 departures.
• Experience 2,000 years of history as you tour the opulence of Cardiff Castle and enjoy breakfast there. The medieval castle was lavishly transformed in the Victorian era, with marble, gilding and elaborate wood carvings.

Trip Highlights:

• Cardiff Castle

  Cardiff Castle

  Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance. Located within beautiful parklands at the heart of the capital, Cardiff Castle’s walls and fairytale towers conceal 2,000 years of history.
• Edinburgh Castle

  Edinburgh Castle

  The rock on which today’s castle stands has been a stronghold for over 3000 years and Edinburgh Castle has dominated its surroundings for centuries. See the 12th century St. Margaret’s Chapel, the monumental great hall of James IV, opened in 1511, the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
• Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

  Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

  Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, both the guardian and storyteller for over 1.5 million people. From the ordinary to the truly extraordinary, these people helped shape the Ireland of today. We want to share their stories and times with you through tours of the cemetery, a visit to the museum or through a genealogy search for your family history.
• House of Waterford Crystal

  House of Waterford Crystal

  Tour this working factory to see all stages of production from craftspeople forming molten glass to the intricate cutting and polishing. At the end of the tour view magnificent trophies and the opulent retail store housing the largest collection of Waterford Crystal in the world.
• Roman Baths & Pump Room

  Roman Baths

  Around Britain’s only hot springs, the Romans built the finest religious spa in northern Europe. This great temple and bathing complex still flows with natural hot water. See extensive remains and a Roman museum of international significance as well as the 18th century Regency influence
• Shakespeare’s Birthplace

  Shakespeare’s Birthplace

  This carefully restored 16th century half-timbered house in Stratford-upon-Avon is where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and spent his childhood years. See an exhibition on Shakespeare and his times before walking through the house, now restored to look at it would have been in his day.
• Stonehenge

  Stonehenge

  Stonehenge is probably the most important prehistoric monument in Britain. The circle of vast monoliths date from about 3,100 B.C. and are built from bluestone, sarson and Welsh sandstone. It is aligned with the summer solstice and is believed to have been built for lunar and solar worship.
• York Minster

  York Minster

  This is the second largest Gothic cathedral of Northern Europe. Building began in about 1230 and completed in 1472. Its stained glass windows are magnificent, especially the 15th century Great East Window, which is the largest example of medieval stained glass in the world and the Rose Window.

Dining Experiences:

• 10 breakfasts (B) including one at Cardiff Castle on most departures and 5 dinners (D) including an evening of dining and entertainment at the Merry Ploughboy Pub.

Hotels:

• GB-LON-PIL | London (1)
• GB-CDI-MHH | Cardiff (1)
• IE-WAT-GRH | Waterford (1)
• IE-DUB-NST | Dublin (2)
• GB-EDI-HIN | Edinburgh (2)
• GB-YOR-YOM | York (1)
• GB-LON-REV | London (2)