Duration: 15 Days
On this Britain and Ireland tour, you’ll see Britain and Ireland’s highlights, from the bustling cities to the small towns and from the magnificent palaces and castles to the ancient ruins. Travel through the lands of queens, kings, and leprechauns, you’ll begin and end in London and pass through Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. You’ll visit some of the splendid castles and palaces for which Britain and Ireland are famous. In Edinburgh visit Edinburgh Castle, where you’ll marvel at the Scottish Crown Jewels. In Woodstock, Oxfordshire enjoy a visit to majestic Blenheim Palace, built in the early 18th century and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
On this tour through Britain and Ireland, you’ll enjoy guided sightseeing in many of the cities with Local Guides — experts from the area who will give you in-depth, insider knowledge of the cities and their attractions. In London, your sightseeing includes a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral; and in Edinburgh you will see both the “New Town” and “Old Town.” Additionally, at the National Irish Stud in Kildare, you’ll be shown some of the most magnificent horses in the British Isles, and you’ll hear about Shakespeare’s life and times in Stratford-upon-Avon.
You will also learn how to make a traditional Irish coffee, and ride on board a horse-drawn jaunting car to take a tour of beautiful Killarney National Park. All of this and much more, including a visit to prehistoric Stonehenge and medieval York Minster, included on this fabulous Britain and Ireland tour.
Traveller Notes
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday, from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; Irish Sea ferry.
Welcome to London!
Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Free time this afternoon.
The Royal Treatment
LONDON Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes sights of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Prime Minister's Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOTS England's national treasure of St. Paul's Cathedral is home to a spectacular array of art from delicate carvings to gilded dome murals and modern works of art. As the seat of the Bishop of London, the cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London, where notable remembrances have been served here, including Queen Victoria's jubilee, birthdays of Queen Elizabeth II, and funerals of luminaries like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
Mysterious Stones and Spa Days
LONDON Meet your Tour Director and travel companions at 8 am and drive to Stonehenge.
STONEHENGE Take a guided visit. BATH Visit the excavations of the Roman Baths. 141 mi / 227 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS The traditions of one ancient Roman ritual are in full flow in Bath. Amid the remarkable Roman and Georgian architecture and the best-preserved Roman Baths of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a good spa day is never hard to find in one of the "Best Spa Towns in Europe." The city of Bath sits above geothermal springs that bubble up from the limestone below. Bath also turns up the heat with some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings, a mecca for elite 18th-century society.
Cardiff Dreams & Coffee with Cream
CARDIFF Morning orientation drive features Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, and the stately civic buildings.
FISHGUARD Ferry crossing across St. George's Channel to Rosslare.
WATERFORD [LF] An Irish coffee demonstration after dinner. 270 mi / 434 km (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
LOCAL TASTES It's crystal clear why we get a warm feeling in Waterford with traditional Irish Coffee - as much a warm welcome now as it was for stranded travellers in 1943. It was a wintry night in Limerick when Foynes Port chef Joe Sheridan concocted this soothing elixir of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and whipped cream to make their cancelled flight a little more palatable. Raise a toddy glass of Caife Gaelach with a hearty "slainte!"
County Cork Characters
BLARNEY Visit the town known for its magical Kissing Stone.
KINSALE Stop in the historic town famous for its multi-hued streets.
ROSSCARBERY Free time. 134 mi / 215 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Brighten your world with a visit to Kinsale, Ireland's vibrant town where the Wild Atlantic Way begins. Stroll the brightly painted storefronts and winding streets beside the sweeping hues of blue and green in this Irish seaside town.
Irish Eyes & Cheeky Rhymes
RING OF KERRY Panoramic drive around part of Ireland's southwestern peninsula.
KILLARNEY [LF] Take a horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney National Park.
LIMERICK Free time this evening. 144 mi / 232 km (B)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
NATURAL WONDERS County Kerry is home to the exquisite natural beauty of a rugged and mountainous expanse in Killarney National Park. A horse-drawn jaunting-car ride is a great way to experience this natural wonderland, including the 1,000-foot McGillycuddy's Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland. Nestled at the foot of these mountains, the Lakes of Killarney's shores and woodlands share this magical place with waterfalls and dramatic skies above Ross Castle.
The Winner's Circle
CASHEL See the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached.
KILDARE [LF] Visit the Irish National Stud. DUBLIN Free time this evening. 141 mi / 227 km (B)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
CULTURE & TRADITION The Irish National Stud is home to the long tradition of Ireland's love of horses. This horse breeding facility in County Kildare, considered the beating heart of Ireland's thoroughbred industry, continues to inspire all who visit, including Queen Elizabeth II. Hear about some of the world's most magnificent champion stallions that have made history since the turn of the 20th century.
Ireland's Capital City
DUBLIN Morning orientation drive to see O'Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Trinity College. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS "In Dublin's fair city where girls are so pretty," you'll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick's Cathedral, and legendary library of Trinity College.
A Grand Ship & Seaside Charm
CARLINGFORD Stop at the charming seaside town on the Cooley Peninsula.
BELFAST An orientation drive includes City Hall, the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, and Queen's University; visit Titanic Belfast Experience. 174 mi / 281 km (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Explore the fascinating Titanic Belfast Experience for an in-depth look at the history and mystery of the legendary ocean liner. See artifacts and amazing accounts of Belfast's boom in shipping and those who built her. Learn about the courage and loss of all involved on a fateful night in April 1912. Get an immersive look at the launch, sinking, and final resting place of the doomed ship, with myths and reality revealed.
Strait Ahead to Scotland
BELFAST Ferry crossing on the North Channel strait to Scotland's Cairnryan. 234 mi / 376 km (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean's Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including its floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Crown Jewels & Castle Views
EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, the Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland's Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Attend the world-renowned Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performance. (Departures July 30 through August 13 only). (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-year history as "the most besieged place in Great Britain." Here, you'll find the royal regalia and Scotland's Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.
High Praise & Market Days
ALNWICK Stop at a market town voted the "best place to live in Britain."
YORK Visit York Minster on a guided walk through the best-preserved medieval shopping streets called The Shambles. 198 mi / 318 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT York Minster is hailed as one of the world's most magnificent cathedrals, and the centre of Christian faith in Northern England. From its exquisite, handcrafted stone to its incomparable collection of medieval stained glass, you'll discover why York Minster has drawn visitors from around the world for over 1,000 years.
Mr. & Mrs. Shakespeare
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON See Anne Hathaway's Cottage and visit Shakespeare's Birthplace. 260 mi / 418 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
A LEGEND SLEPT HERE Ah, love! Even more true as young Shakespeare's fiancee was eight years his senior. See Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the family home where the bard's wife-to-be was born and courted by young Will. Built more than 500 years ago, much of the original structure remains. Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace and family home in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales of his family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Churchill's Beginnings
WOODSTOCK Visit Blenheim Palace, Sir Winston Churchill's birthplace.
LONDON Free time this afternoon. 98 mi / 159 km (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enjoys a fascinating history. Built as a gift in 1704 from Queen Anne to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, this massive and magnificent masterpiece of English Baroque architecture is also home to exquisite artwork and gardens.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
