The Best Of Britian And Ireland

2012 Season
Departs From: London

From 1,257EUR

Length:  15 days from London to London, or 16 days incl. travel

Overview

England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales—experience them all on this comprehensive vacation. Your adventure begins with a full day to enjoy exciting optional tours in London before heading out to Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace. In Oxford, a walking tour takes in the colleges where Britain’s elite receive their education, then experience the exquisite Cotswolds, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, and Lady Godiva’s Coventry. Continue to York, England’s most complete medieval city, for a walking tour. See a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes, and enter Scotland for two overnights in regal Edinburgh. Here, your sightseeing tour with a Local Guide includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels.

Travel south through the Lowlands to Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Continue through the Lake District, considered the finest of England’s national parks, visiting Wordsworth’s charming Grasmere and beautiful Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake. Enjoy a walking tour of 2,000-year-old Chester and drive into Wales through breathtaking Snowdonia National Park, Betws-y-Coed, and Llanberis Pass to the Isle of Anglesey. At Holyhead, board a ferry for Dublin, Ireland’s capital, where an orientation drive shows you the main attractions. Head west and via Galway to the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher. Take a break in Adare, known for its remarkable thatched cottages, then enjoy breathtaking views on your drive along the spectacular “Ring of Kerry.” After an overnight in the popular resort of Killarney, motor to Blarney, famous for its castle and “Blarney Stone.” Leave Ireland and take the ferry back to Wales for an orientation drive of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Then, return to England and stop in the Georgian city of Bath, famous for its Roman relics, and at enigmatic Stonehenge. Your tour ends back in London with free time—a memorable trip!

Special Departure:
Tickets for the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included for the July 28-August 18 departures.

Duration:  15 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
27 May, 2012	10 June, 2012
03 June, 2012	17 June, 2012
10 June, 2012	24 June, 2012
17 June, 2012	01 July, 2012
24 June, 2012	08 July, 2012
01 July, 2012	15 July, 2012
12 August, 2012	26 August, 2012
19 August, 2012	02 September, 2012
26 August, 2012	09 September, 2012
02 September, 2012	16 September, 2012
09 September, 2012	23 September, 2012
16 September, 2012	30 September, 2012
23 September, 2012	07 October, 2012
30 September, 2012	14 October, 2012
07 October, 2012	21 October, 2012
14 October, 2012	28 October, 2012
21 October, 2012	04 November, 2012
28 October, 2012	11 November, 2012

City Highlights

Visits to Hampton Court Palace Gardens, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Coventry, Hadrian’s Wall, Jedburgh, Edinburgh Castle, tickets for Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Departures July 28-August 18), Gretna Green, Grasmere, Llangollen, Betws-y-Coed, Llanfair, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Adare, Killarney, Blarney, Bath; orientation drives in Dublin, Cardiff; walking tours in Oxford, York, Chester

Scenic Highlights

Cotswold Hills, Northumberland National Park, Scottish Lowlands, Lake District National Park, North Wales and Snowdonia National Park, The Burren, Ring of Kerry and Lakes of Killarney, Stonehenge and Salisbury Plain

Day 1   Arrive in London, England. Check into your hotel. In the afternoon there’s time to rest or to start exploring the lively British capital; uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 2   London. A full day to enjoy our exciting program of optional activities. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. This afternoon you may want to visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with its spectacular Crown Jewels, and tonight a leisurely cruise on the River Thames would be fun. (B)

Day 3   London–Oxford–Stratford-upon-Avon–Coventry. Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for a memorable day of sightseeing: a photo opportunity at Hampton Court Palace; Runnymede, where King John sealed the Magna Carta; Oxford, where a walking tour takes in the colleges where Britain’s elite receive their outstanding education; and through the lovely Cotswold Hills. At Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and explore the town at your own pace. Finally, at Coventry, whose center had to be rebuilt after the devastation of World War II bombings, hear the tale of Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom. (B,D)

Day 4   Coventry–York–Newcastle. Leave the Midlands, passing the once-mighty Sherwood Forest, home of the legendary Robin Hood, and head north to York, England’s most complete medieval city. 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. Stop for the night in Newcastle, once an important center for the wool trade and coal mining, now a vibrant modern city. (B,D)

Day 5   Newcastle–Jedburgh, Scotland–Edinburgh. See a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes, then motor through wild Northumberland National Park to the Scottish border. Stop for photos at Jedburgh, with glimpses of the house of Mary, Queen of Scots, and then Melrose with its 12th-century abbey ruins and connections with Robert the Bruce. Afternoon arrival at Edinburgh. A suggestion for this evening: a traditional Scottish night out with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B)

Day 6   Edinburgh. A full day to enjoy the Scottish capital. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Afternoon at leisure. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, which for the Queen 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 departures July 28-August 18, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned Military Tattoo. (B)

Day 7   Edinburgh–Gretna Green–Lake District, England–Chester–Wrexham, Wales. 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. Visit Wordsworth’s Grasmere, then follow the shores of Lake Windermere. In Chester, the historic county town on the River Dee, your walking tour takes in the Roman remains, black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered shopping arcades called the “Rows.” (B,D)

Day 8   Wrexham–Llangollen–Betws-y-Coed–Dublin, Ireland. A scenic North Wales drive via Llangollen, home of an annual national competition for poets and musicians, and through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park. Pause at lovely Betws-y-Coed before heading over spectacular Llanberis Pass and, finally, cross Britannia Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey. Take your photos at tongue-twisting Llanfair... and at Holyhead, board the ferry for the Irish Sea crossing to Dublin. (B)

Day 9   Dublin. 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? (B)

Day 10   Dublin–Galway–Cliffs of Moher–Ennis. Head for dairy farm country in the center of the “Emerald Isle.” In Galway, a vibrant city on the west coast with a great seafaring tradition, hear about the infamous Lynch Stone, commemorating the day Mayor James Lynch Fitzstephen hanged his son for murder. Cross the limestone plateau of The Burren to visit the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher before heading for Ennis, county town of Clare. Tonight’s optional opportunity: a traditional Irish evening in the setting of a village barn with dinner, wine, and entertainment. (B)

Day 11   Ennis–Adare–Ring of Kerry–Killarney. 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 bordered with subtropical vegetation, and views of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Later, in Killarney, discover why this is such a popular resort. (B,D)

Day 12   Killarney–Blarney–Tramore. Across 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. After lunch, drive past Cork, the country’s second-largest city, and via Dungarvan to Tramore. Tonight, maybe an optional pub tour before dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

Day 13   Tramore–Cardiff, Wales. An early start for the short drive to the ferry port at Rosslare. In just under four hours you cross St. George’s Channel 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’s optional excursion is to Cardiff Castle for an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner. (B)

Day 14   Cardiff–Bath, England–Stonehenge–London. 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 passing Stonehenge, still an intriguing mystery. After returning to London around 3 pm, how about celebrating the success of your tour with a night out on the town? (B)

Day 15   London. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Meals:  Full English breakfast (B); 5 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus

Hotel Information:  LONDON Kensington Close (ST), COVENTRY Ramada (F), NEWCASTLE Jurys Inn (F) at Gateshead, EDINBURGH Capital (F), WREXHAM Ramada Plaza (F), DUBLIN Jurys Inn Custom House (F), ENNIS Auburn Lodge (ST), KILLARNEY Killarney Court (F), TRAMORE Grand (ST), CARDIFF Park Inn (F)

Guides

Local Guide for city sightseeing in Edinburgh; Host service in London. Professional Tour Director while touring

Transportation

If transport to or from airport is required, please let us know. Private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Round-trip Irish Sea crossings by day ferry


Terms and Conditions

Note: Flights are NOT included with the Tour and unless otherwise stated above transfers are also NOT included.

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