8 Day Essential Britain & Ireland

Tour Description

This comprehensive holiday gives you an insight into all five countries of the British Isles. Start with visits to prehistoric Stonehenge and the extraordinary excavations of the Roman Baths. Then travel via Cardiff and through South Wales to board the ferry for the crossing to Ireland. Watch the craftsmen at work at the Waterford Crystal factory, admire the stallions at the Irish National Stud, and relax in Dublin, before heading north past the Mountains of Mourne to vibrant Belfast. Another ferry crossing takes you to Scotland, and its capital city Edinburgh, where a guided city tour includes a visit to the castle. The Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s magnificent Floors Castle, a walking tour through York, and last but not least Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon are the final highlights of this journey.

Your Hotels

• Hilton London Metropole (SF)
• Hilton (F)
• Granville Hotel, Waterford  (F)
• Clarion Hotel, Dublin  (SF)
• Ramada Mount Royal (F)
• Ramada (F)
• Park Plaza Westminster Bridge , London (SF)

Deluxe (D), Moderate Deluxe (MD), Superior First Class (SF), First Class (F)

Tour Highlights

• STONEHENGE: Visit the prehistoric monument.
• SALISBURY: Visit the cathedral city.
• BATH: Visit the Roman relics.
• NEWPORT: Welcome dinner.
• CARDIFF: Orientation drive.
• PEMBROKE-ROSSLARE: Cross St. George’s Channel by ferry.
• WATERFORD: Guided walking tour.
• KILKENNY: Explore this pretty county town.
• KILDARE: Guided tour of the Irish National Stud.
• DUBLIN: Orientation drive, visit Trinity College.
• BELFAST: Orientation.
• BELFAST-STRANRAER: Cross the North Channel by Stena Line’s High Speed Service.
• EDINBURGH: Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle.
• FLOORS: Visit the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s stately home.
• JEDBURGH: Take pictures of the abbey ruins.
• YORK: Walking tour.
• STRATFORD-UPON-AVON: Take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’s birthplace.

Itinerary

Day 1: London – Stonehenge – Salisbury – Bath – Newport, Wales.

Meet your Tour Director and travelling companions and depart at 8 am from your London joining hotel (see your travel documents) for a memorable day’s sightseeing. Try to figure out the riddle of Stonehenge; take a stroll in picturesque Salisbury with its vast cathedral, the ultimate in Early English Gothic; and, in the elegant Georgian city of Bath, see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS. Cross the River Severn for a late-afternoon arrival in Wales. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 2: Newport – Cardiff – Waterford, Ireland.

A morning orientation drive in the Welsh capital features the major attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, and the stately civic buildings. Continue along the South Wales coast to Pembroke, where your FERRY will be waiting. Sail across St. George’s Channel to Rosslare on the Emerald Isle and proceed to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. (B/D)

Day 3: Waterford – Kilkenny – Kildare – Dublin.

This morning, join your Local Guide for an entertaining walk through Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, then in Kilkenny, spend time exploring this pretty county town. Later, horseracing country with a visit to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Drive across the Curragh and on arrival in Dublin, top the
Day with your Tour Director’s dining recommendation. (B)

Day 4: Dublin.

An orientation drive in Ireland’s capital city includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then, visit Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, maybe take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse. (B)

Day 5: Dublin – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Edinburgh, Scotland.

On your way to Northern Ireland, cross the River Boyne, then skirt the Mountains of Mourne. In Belfast, where the Titanic was built, take in the city’s vibrant history and view the impressive City Hall. Next, board your fast FERRY to cross the North Channel to Stranraer on Scotland’s southwest coast and continue through the Scottish Lowlands to Edinburgh. (B)

Day 6: Edinburgh.

Morning city sightseeing with a local expert 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. The afternoon is free to enjoy this “Prince of Cities” at your own pace or maybe join an optional excursion to Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by The Da Vinci Code novel. Tonight, relax and enjoy our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. For departure numbers 0804, 0811, and 0818 tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO, a vast spectacle of massed Scottish pipe bands which takes place in an arena on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. (B)

Day 7: Edinburgh – York, England.

This morning, visit magnificent FLOORS CASTLE, the stately home of the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe. On past the abbey ruins at Jedburgh and the house of Mary, Queen of Scots, into wild Northumberland National Park. Later, see a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defence against marauding northern tribes. In York, England’s most complete medieval city, stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets including the narrow Shambles. (B/D)

Day 8: York – Stratford-upon-avon – London.

Skirt Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest on the way to Stratford-upon-Avon. Take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE, and enjoy lunchtime exploring this fascinating Elizabethan town at your own pace. Return to London at about 3:30 pm, where the holiday ends. (B)

Full English breakfast (B); 3 three-course dinners (D) </p>with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Newport.

Dates and Prices for 2011

Dates and Prices for 2012

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Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist