Highlights Of Britain And Ireland

2012 Season
Departs From: London

From 1,815EUR

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

Overview

Journey through the lands of kings, queens, and leprechauns! Begin in London with two overnights and guided sightseeing that features Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and visits to St. Paul�s Cathedral and the Changing of the Guard, if held. Depart the city to admire the breathtaking gardens at Henry VIII�s Hampton Court Palace, then venture on to prehistoric Stonehenge, picturesque Salisbury, and the Roman excavations at Bath. Cross into Wales and spend the night in Newport, then to the Welsh capital of Cardiff before ferrying across the Irish Sea to the Emerald Isle. Highlights are a guided visit of the House of Waterford Crystal, Blarney, the resort town of Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Limerick, the Irish National Stud in Kildare, and an orientation drive in Dublin that includes St. Patrick�s Cathedral and Trinity College.

Return across the Irish Sea and through scenic North Wales into England�s Lake District. Enjoy a cruise on Lake Windermere before heading to the Scottish Lowlands and Edinburgh for visits to Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. On your way back to England, see Alnwick. Stop to admire the impressive gothic York Minster, explore Shakespeare�s Stratford-upon-Avon, and visit beautiful Blenheim Palace before returning to London for the end of your adventure.

Special Departures:
Tickets for the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included for select departures.

Duration:  15 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
10 April, 2012	24 April, 2012
17 April, 2012	01 May, 2012
24 April, 2012	08 May, 2012
01 May, 2012	15 May, 2012
08 May, 2012	22 May, 2012
13 May, 2012	27 May, 2012
15 May, 2012	29 May, 2012
20 May, 2012	03 June, 2012
22 May, 2012	05 June, 2012
27 May, 2012	10 June, 2012
29 May, 2012	12 June, 2012
03 June, 2012	17 June, 2012
05 June, 2012	19 June, 2012
10 June, 2012	24 June, 2012
12 June, 2012	26 June, 2012
17 June, 2012	01 July, 2012
19 June, 2012	03 July, 2012
24 June, 2012	08 July, 2012
26 June, 2012	10 July, 2012
01 July, 2012	15 July, 2012
03 July, 2012	17 July, 2012
08 July, 2012	22 July, 2012
10 July, 2012	24 July, 2012
15 July, 2012	29 July, 2012
17 July, 2012	31 July, 2012
22 July, 2012	05 August, 2012
24 July, 2012	07 August, 2012
29 July, 2012	12 August, 2012
31 July, 2012	14 August, 2012
05 August, 2012	19 August, 2012
07 August, 2012	21 August, 2012
12 August, 2012	26 August, 2012
14 August, 2012	28 August, 2012
19 August, 2012	02 September, 2012
21 August, 2012	04 September, 2012
26 August, 2012	09 September, 2012
28 August, 2012	11 September, 2012
04 September, 2012	18 September, 2012
09 September, 2012	23 September, 2012
11 September, 2012	25 September, 2012
16 September, 2012	30 September, 2012
18 September, 2012	02 October, 2012
23 September, 2012	07 October, 2012
25 September, 2012	09 October, 2012
02 October, 2012	16 October, 2012
09 October, 2012	23 October, 2012

City Highlights

London
Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul�s Cathedral & see the Changing of the Guard, if held

Hampton Court
A special walking tour through the palace�s ornamental gardens

Stonehenge
Visit the prehistoric monument

Bath
Visit the Roman relics

Newport
Welcome dinner

Cardiff
Orientation drive

Fishguard-Rosslare
Cross St. George�s Channel by ferry

Waterford
Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal

Blarney
Visit the famous village

Killarney
Visit the popular resort town

Ring of Kerry
Scenic peninsula drive

Adare
Admire the thatched cottages

Limerick
Orientation drive

Kildare
Guided tour of the Irish National Stud

Dublin
Orientation drive, visit Trinity College

Dublin-Holyhead
Cross the Irish Sea by ferry

Chester
Walking tour

Lake Windermere
Historic steamship cruise

Grasmere
Visit Wordsworth�s village

Edinburgh
Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace

York
Walking tour, visit York Minster

Stratford-Upon-Avon
Take pictures of Anne Hathaway�s Cottage, visit Shakespeare�s birthplace

Blenheim
Guided tour of the palace

Note:

Edinburgh Military Tattoo ticket included for departures July 23 through August 13

Day 1   Arrive in London, England. Uniformed Globus hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 2   London. Your 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, why not join an optional excursion to the Tower of London or Windsor Castle, and later, maybe an optional dinner followed by a cruise on the River Thames? (B)

Day 3   London�Stonehenge�Salisbury�Bath�Newport, Wales. Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart London at 8 am for a memorable day of sightseeing: a special visit to admire the breathtaking ORNAMENTAL GARDENS of Henry VIII�s Hampton Court Palace; prehistoric STONEHENGE; picturesque Salisbury with its vast cathedral; and in the elegant Georgian city of Bath, the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS. Cross the River Severn into Wales, and tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

Day 4   Newport-Cardiff-Waterford, Ireland. An orientation in the Welsh capital features the major attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, and the stately civic buildings. Continue along the South Wales coast to Fishguard, where your FERRY is waiting. Sail across St. George�s Channel to Rosslare and proceed by coach to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. (B,D)

Day 5   Waterford-Blarney-Killarney. First of the day�s highlights is a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. Via the port city of Cork, motor to Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone, and then on to Killarney for a two-night stay. Later, join an entertaining optional evening in Tralee with dinner followed by tickets for Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre. (B)

Day 6   Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion. Follow the road known as the RING OF KERRY for a spectacular 100-mile panoramic drive around the island�s southwestern tip and take your photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. This afternoon, maybe an optional fun-filled horse-drawn jaunting car ride. (B)

Day 7   Killarney-Adare-Limerick-Kildare-Dublin. Drive to quaint Adare and in Limerick your orientation drive acquaints you with St. Mary�s Cathedral, King John�s Castle, and the stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. The Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached, is on the way to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare. Tonight, you may wish to enjoy an optional Irish cabaret evening including dinner, dance, song, and laughter. (B)

Day 8   Dublin. Get an overview of Ireland�s capital as you drive to statue-lined O�Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick�s Cathedral. Visit Oscar Wilde�s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Why not join an optional dinner evening at the Guinness Storehouse? (B)

Day 9   Dublin-North Wales�Chester, England. Back across the Irish Sea to the Welsh Isle of Anglesey. Take your photos at tongue-twisting Llanfair..., and then enjoy a scenic drive along the North Wales coast to Chester, where your walking tour takes in the Roman remains, the characteristic black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered arcades called the �Rows.� (B,D)

Day 10   Chester-Lake District-Edinburgh, Scotland. In the Lake District, considered the finest of England�s national parks, enjoy a CRUISE along Lake Windermere on an historic iron steamship. After a stop at Wordsworth�s beloved Grasmere, visit Gretna Green on your way to Edinburgh. Your optional Scottish evening features Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. (B)

Day 11   Edinburgh. Morning city 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, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (except when the Queen is in residence). Afternoon at leisure. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia to see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. For July 23 through August 13 departures, tickets are included for the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO. (B)

Day 12   Edinburgh-York, England. Relax and enjoy vistas of the beautiful North Sea coastline as you drive via Berwick-upon-Tweed to Alnwick, voted the �best place to live in Britain� in a national survey. In York, England�s most complete medieval city, visit YORK MINSTER, the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. Then, follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (B,D)

Day 13   York-Coventry-Stratford-Upon-Avon. In Coventry, view the splendid modern cathedral that rose from the rubble of severe World War II bombings, and in Stratford-upon-Avon, take your pictures of Anne Hathaway�s Cottage and visit SHAKESPEARE�S BIRTHPLACE. (B,D)

Day 14   Stratford-Upon-Avon-London. Today�s spectacular highlight is a guided tour of magnificent BLENHEIM PALACE, home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Depart after lunch and return to London at about 3:30 pm. How about celebrating the success of your vacation by taking in one of the great West End shows? (B)

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

Meals:  Full English breakfast (B); 5 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Newport

Hotel Information:  LONDON Hilton London Metropole (SF), NEWPORT Hilton (F), WATERFORD Granville (F), KILLARNEY Killarney Towers (SF), DUBLIN Hilton City (SF), CHESTER Ramada (F), EDINBURGH The King James Hotel (F), YORK Ramada Fairfield Manor (F), STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Holiday Inn (SF), LONDON Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (SF)


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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