Essential Britain & Ireland

Day 1

ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND Welcome to London! Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Free time this afternoon.

Day 2

LONDON–STONEHENGE–BATH–NEWPORT, WALES Ancient Stones & Spa Days LONDON Meet your Tour Director and travel companions at 8 am and drive to Stonehenge.
STONEHENGE Join a guided visit.
BATH Visit the excavations of the Roman Baths.
164 mi / 264 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.

Day 3

NEWPORT–CARDIFF–WATERFORD, IRELAND Castle Dreams & Coffee with Cream CARDIFF Morning orientation drive features Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, and the stately civic buildings.
PEMBROKE Ferry crossing St. George’s Channel to Rosslare.
WATERFORD [LF] Enjoy an Irish coffee demonstration after dinner.
168 mi / 271 km (B,D)

LOCAL FAVORITE
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 travelers 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!”

Day 4

WATERFORD–KILKENNY–DUBLIN Cut Glass & Castle Gardens WATERFORD Take a guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal.
KILKENNY See one of Ireland’s most quaint towns with medieval cobblestones. Visit Kilkenny Castle and gardens.
115 mi / 195 km (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Discover over 800 years of Irish history at Kilkenny Castle, walk the halls of art and artifacts and browse the walls of tapestries and treasures in this unique landmark building that was home to the Butler family for centuries.

Day 5

DUBLIN Ireland’s Capital City DUBLIN Take a 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 the legendary library of Trinity College.

Day 6

DUBLIN–BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND–EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND Irish Crossings BELFAST Take an orientation drive before crossing the North Channel to Scotland’s Cairnryan.
234 mi / 376 km (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS Northern Ireland’s capital city of Belfast has seen its share of the ‘Troubles’ but its tenacity, tireless industry and timeless traditions are easy to see. Hear how shipbuilding ruled and Irish linen was king. In the port city where the Titanic was built, a bold rebirth of arts and architecture thrive amid historic castles and churches drawing visitors from around the globe.

Day 7

EDINBURGH Drummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels 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 20 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.

Day 8

EDINBURGH–JEDBURGH–YORK, ENGLAND Augustine’s Monks & Medieval Markets JEDBURGH Take photos at the Augustinian abbey ruins. Drive into Northumberland National Park and see a section of Hadrian’s Wall.
YORK See York Minster on a guided walk through The Shambles.
198 mi / 318 km (B,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT While strolling the cobblestones of York’s Shambles, it’s easy to imagine the medieval butchers' shops and boisterous crowds bartering for beef and bones outside the 14th-century timber-framed windows. The Shambles is one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe and said to have been the inspiration behind Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley – and today is a colorful gathering place with cheerful cafés and quirky boutiques brimming with the sweet aromas of chocolate, pastries, and pies.

Day 9

YORK–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LONDON Mr. & Mrs. Shakespeare STRATFORD-UPON-AVON See Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
260 mi / 418 km (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
A LEGEND SLEPT HERE Ah, young love! Even more true as Shakespeare’s fiancée 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 about his family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Day 10

LONDON Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)