2020 British & Irish Grandeur 14 Days / 13 Nights / 21 meals
Day 1: London Arrival & TourTour begins at 2:00 PM at your London hotel. Take a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group.
Day 2: Hampton Court Palace & Free Time in London
Discover magnificent Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII's royal residence. The afternoon and evening are free; you may use your included Oyster card to explore London by public transport.
(B)
Day 3: Cambridge & York Minster
Take a stroll around Cambridge to view some of the famous university colleges and the Mathematical Bridge over the River Cam. Travel to York to tour stately York Minster, with its towers and colorful stained glass. Explore the narrow streets and medieval houses during a guided walk with your tour director.
(B)
Day 4: Alnwick Castle & Edinburgh Evening
Visit Alnwick Castle, the second largest inhabited castle in England. View the stunning artifacts and then take a stroll through teh gardens. Travel through Northumberland and the Scottish Borders to your hotel near Edinburgh. Experience a Scottish evening with bagpipes and music following a traditional dinner.
(B, D)
Day 5: Edinburgh Castle & Guided City Tour
Discover Edinburgh’s highlights and see the elegant Georgian “New Town” with spacious streets and the compact medieval city along the Royal Mile. Visit Edinburgh Castle to view the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is free to explore and dine on your own. August 9 – 23 departures view the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.
(B)
Day 6: Ferry to Belfast & Crumlin Road Gaol
Head to Cairnryan for a short ferry ride to Belfast. On arriving, tour the city to see Victorian buildings, the impressive City Hall, and the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built. Step back in time at the Crumlin Road Gaol, the only Victorian-era prison in Northern Ireland. Enjoy dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)
Day 7: Giant’s Causeway & Dublin
Travel through part of the scenic Glens of Antrim to the Giant's Causeway, a unique area of hexagonal basalt columns formed over 60 million years. Head to your Dublin city center hotel and enjoy free time to explore and dine on your own.
(B)
Day 8: Dublin Tour & Taylors Three Rock Pub
Tour central Dublin to see spacious Georgian squares and streets, landmark public buildings, and graceful townhouses. Take a guided walking tour of Trinity College and view the priceless Book of Kells. The afternoon is free to sightsee independently. In the evening, enjoy dinner at Taylors Three Rock Pub followed by a festive evening of Irish music and dance.
(B, D)
Day 9: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the “Stone of Eloquence” or stroll the gardens. Continue to the scenic town of Killarney.
(B, D)
Day 10: Ring of Kerry & Sheep Herding
Travel along part of the Ring of Kerry to view spectacular scenery at Moll’s Gap and Ladies View. Head to Kenmare to browse around and have lunch. Immerse yourself in farm life and see a demonstration of dogs herding sheep before returning to Killarney for a free evening
(B, L)
Day 11: Jameson Whiskey & Waterford Crystal
In Midleton, tour the Jameson Experience for the story and making of Irish whiskey and enjoy a sample dram. At the House of Waterford Crystal, see how glass is blown and cut by master craftspeople. Take a gentle walking tour with a local guide to discover the history of the old port city of Waterford.
(B, D)
Day 12: South Wales & Cardiff Castle Banquet
Catch the ferry from Rosslare to Pembroke Dock. Take a panoramic tour around the principal streets of Cardiff. In the evening, head to Cardiff Castle for a tour of its Gothic-style residence followed by an unforgettable Welsh evening of dinner with local music and entertainment.
(B, D)
Day 13: Roman Baths & Stonehenge
Explore the mineral-rich hot springs at Bath. Tour the Roman Baths, built by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Drive to Salisbury Plain to view the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge. Continue to London for a farewell dinner at your hotel.
(B,D)
Day 14: 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 9 – 23 departures
- Step back in time and discover Northern Ireland’s only Victorian-era prison, the Crumlin Road Gaol.
- Visit the world of the Tudor court as you tour the art-filled splendor of Hampton Court Palace, the home of Henry VIII and his many wives.
Dining Experiences:
- 13 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), and 7 dinners (D) including a lively Scottish evening in Edinburgh, Taylors Three Rock Pub dinner and show, and a traditional Welsh evening in Cardiff Castle
Trip Highlights:
- Alnwick Castle & Garden
- Trinity College Book of Kells
- Cardiff Castle
- Edinburgh Castle
- Giant's Causeway
- Hampton Court Palace
- Jameson Experience Midleton
- Roman Baths
- Stonehenge
Hotels:
GB-LON-PRB
London (2 nights)- Novotel York Centre, York (1 night)
- Courtyard Edinburgh West (2 nights)
NI-DOW-CUL
Belfast (1 night)- Gresham Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)
IE-KER-KPL
Killarney (2 nights)IE-WAT-GRH
Waterford (1 night)GB-CDI-MAL
Cardiff (1 night)GB-LON-PRB
London (1 night)
Itinerary
Day
1
Day London Arrival & Tour
Tour begins at 2:00 PM at your London hotel. Take a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group.
Day
2
Day Hampton Court Palace & Free Time in London
Discover magnificent Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII's royal residence. The afternoon and evening are free; you may use your included Oyster card to explore London by public transport. (B)
Day
3
Day Cambridge & York Minster
Take a stroll around Cambridge to view some of the famous university colleges and the Mathematical Bridge over the River Cam. Travel to York to tour stately York Minster, with its towers and colorful stained glass. Explore the narrow streets and medieval
Day
4
Day Alnwick Castle & Edinburgh Evening
Visit Alnwick Castle, the second largest inhabited castle in England. View the stunning artifacts and then take a stroll through teh gardens. Travel through Northumberland and the Scottish Borders to your hotel near Edinburgh. Experience a Scottish evenin
Day
5
Day Edinburgh Castle & Guided City Tour
Discover Edinburgh’s highlights and see the elegant Georgian “New Town” with spacious streets and the compact medieval city along the Royal Mile. Visit Edinburgh Castle to view the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is
Day
6
Day Ferry to Belfast & Crumlin Road Gaol
Head to Cairnryan for a short ferry ride to Belfast. On arriving, tour the city to see Victorian buildings, the impressive City Hall, and the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built. Step back in time at the Crumlin Road Gaol, the only Victorian-era prison
Day
7
Day Giant’s Causeway & Dublin
Travel through part of the scenic Glens of Antrim to the Giant's Causeway, a unique area of hexagonal basalt columns formed over 60 million years. Head to your Dublin city center hotel and enjoy free time to explore and dine on your own. (B)
Day
8
Day Dublin Tour & Taylors Three Rock Pub
Tour central Dublin to see spacious Georgian squares and streets, landmark public buildings, and graceful townhouses. Take a guided walking tour of Trinity College and view the priceless Book of Kells. The afternoon is free to sightsee independently. In t
Day
9
Day Blarney Castle & Killarney
Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the “Stone of Eloquence” or stroll the gardens. Continue to the scenic town of Killarney. (B, D)
Day
10
Day Ring of Kerry & Sheep Herding
Travel along part of the Ring of Kerry to view spectacular scenery at Moll’s Gap and Ladies View. Head to Kenmare to browse around and have lunch. Immerse yourself in farm life and see a demonstration of dogs herding sheep before returning to Killarney fo
Day
11
Day Jameson Whiskey & Waterford Crystal
In Midleton, tour the Jameson Experience for the story and making of Irish whiskey and enjoy a sample dram. At the House of Waterford Crystal, see how glass is blown and cut by master craftspeople. Take a gentle walking tour with a local guide to discover
Day
12
Day South Wales & Cardiff Castle Banquet
Catch the ferry from Rosslare to Pembroke Dock. Take a panoramic tour around the principal streets of Cardiff. In the evening, head to Cardiff Castle for a tour of its Gothic-style residence followed by an unforgettable Welsh evening of dinner with local
Day
13
Day Roman Baths & Stonehenge
Explore the mineral-rich hot springs at Bath. Tour the Roman Baths, built by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Drive to Salisbury Plain to view the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge. Continue to London for a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B,D)
Day
14
Day 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. >
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.