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Discover many wonders on this fabulous affordable 15-day Best of Britain & Ireland tour that shows you the best of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Departing and returning from London, visit England’s Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Leeds, York and Newcastle. Stops in Scotland include the abbey ruins in Jedburgh, Gretna Green and the legendary city of Edinburgh. While in Wales, visit Wrexham and Cardiff and see the landscapes of Snowdonia National Park. Spotlighted in Ireland, is Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Ennia, the Ring of Kerry, Killarney, Blarney and Tramore.
Highlights include historic towns, quaint villages, medieval cities and dramatic landscapes. Feel welcome by the warm and friendly people of Britain and Ireland. Immerse yourself in the region as Celtic history, culture and legends come alive. Tour the famous Edinburgh Castle, enjoy a visit on the elegant Royal Yacht Britannia, the Gretna Green Lake District, the scenic Ring of Kerry, delightful Bath, prehistoric Stonehenge and more. Experience this delightful economic tour to some of the world’s most historic places.
15 Days • fr. $2,869
Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, there’s time to rest or start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Today is free for exploring on your own or enjoying our exciting program of optional activities. You may choose to join a Local Guide for an optional morning sightseeing tour of the city’s famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. The highlight is a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708. Later, maybe visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with its spectacular Crown Jewels. Tonight, we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with dinner, followed by a guided illumination cruise on the Thames River.
Breakfast
Novotel London West Hotel
Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for Oxford. A walking tour takes in the colleges where Britain’s elite receive their outstanding education. Then, travel through the lovely Cotswold Hills to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. Take photos of Anne Hathaway's Cottage and explore the town at your own pace.
Overnight in Leeds this evening. Today’s Distance: 263 mi/ 423 km
Breakfast, Dinner
Holiday Inn Leeds Garforth
This morning, head north to York. Stand in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles.
Next, visit Durham, a captivating city with its dramatic cathedral and castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stop for the night in Newcastle. Today’s Distance: 118 mi/ 186 km
Breakfast, Dinner
Jurys Inn Gateshead
See a section of Hadrian’s Wall, then motor through wild Northumberland National Park to the Scottish border. Stop for photos at Jedburgh before arriving in Edinburgh. Here, sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town.” In the “Old Town,” visit EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. A suggestion for this evening: a traditional Scottish night out with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis. Today’s Distance: 117 mi/ 188 km
Breakfast
Courtyard Edinburgh West Hotel
Your choice today: an optional morning excursion to Rosslyn Chapel, made world-famous by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, and also one of Scotland’s most remarkable buildings. You will have ample time to visit the 15th-century medieval chapel and the visitor center, and to take photographs of the ruins of Rosslyn Castle.
Later, another unique optional opportunity: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, which was once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Tour five decks and see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board.
Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For departure numbers 0802 through 0823, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned Military Tattoo.
Breakfast
Courtyard Edinburgh West Hotel
South through the history-steeped Lowland Hills and a visit to Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Drive through beautiful scenery in the Lake District, considered to be the finest of England’s national parks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Chester, the historic county town on the Dee River, your walking tour takes in the Roman remains, black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered shopping arcades called the “Rows". Overnight in Wrexham, Wales Today’s Distance: 268 mi/ 431 km
Breakfast, Dinner
Ramada Plaza Wrexham
A scenic North Wales drive through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park brings you to lovely Betws-y-Coed. Then, head over spectacular Llanberis Pass and, finally, across Britannia Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey. Take your photos at tongue-twisting Llanfairpwllgwyngyll;
Board the ferry at Holyhead and cross the Irish Sea. Overnight in Dublin.
Breakfast
The Bonnington Dublin Hotel
A day in the “Fair City” starts off with an orientation drive through Eire’s capital and includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy Dublin at leisure. Why not join an optional dinner evening at the Guinness Storehouse?
Breakfast
The Bonnington Dublin Hotel
Head for dairy-farm country in the center of the “Emerald Isle". Stop in Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture.
Next, cross the limestone plateau of The Burren to visit the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher.
Then head for Ennis, in county Clare. Tonight’s optional opportunity: a medieval banquet at a historic castle. Today’s Distance: 214 mi/ 344 km
Breakfast
Auburn Lodge Hotel
Stop for photos in Adare, a village known for its prize-winning thatched cottages and monastic ruins.
In County Kerry, join the road known as the Ring of Kerry for a 100-mile coastal panoramic drive. Focus your camera on sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes, and views of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Later, in Killarney, discover why this is such a popular resort.
Later, in Killarney, discover why this is such a popular resort. Today’s Distance: 189 mi/ 304 km
Breakfast, Dinner
Killarney Court Hotel
Cross the Kerry Mountains and through County Cork to Blarney, famous for its magical Stone of Eloquence. Time to see the castle, and shop for Irish crafts and handmade crystal.
Drive past Cork, the country’s second-largest city, and via Dungarvan to Tramore. Why not join an optional pub tour before dinner at your hotel? Today’s Distance: 131 mi/ 210 km
Breakfast, Dinner
Majestic Hotel
An early start for the short drive to Rosslare. In just under four hours, you cross St. George’s Channel by ferry to South Wales. Continue through rich dairy farmland to Cardiff, where an orientation drive introduces you to the capital’s major attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, Millennium Stadium, and the stately civic buildings. Tonight, why not join an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner? Today’s Distance: 242 mi/ 390 km
Breakfast
Novotel Cardiff Hotel
A day packed with highlights begins as you cross the spectacular Severn Bridge into England. Stop in the elegant Georgian city of Bath, famous for its Roman relics, before visiting Stonehenge, still an intriguing mystery. Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then admire the magnificence of the monument up close. After returning to London around 3:30 pm, how about celebrating the success of your tour with a night out on the town? Today’s Distance: 171 mi/ 275 km
Breakfast
Holiday Inn London-Kensington High Street
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
All rates listed are per person based on double occupancy and are subject to change without notice. Your land package pricing will be confirmed and guaranteed once your deposit is received and applied to the booking, except where price increases may result from increases in government taxes or fees. Room configurations are subject to availability. Guests added to your party after the booking are priced at the prevailing rate at the time they are added.