9 Day Britain and Ireland Delights Tour

Tour Highlights

• Scottish Cabaret Dinner Show
• Taylor’s Three Rock Pub
• York Minster
• Edinburgh Castle
• Giant’s Causeway
• Medieval Derry’s Walls

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Park Plaza Hotel, London (2 nights)
• Marriott Hotel, York (1 night)
• Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh (2 nights)
• Everglades Hotel, Derry (1 night)
• Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (2 nights)

Tour Includes

• Group transfers at start and end of tour
• Sightseeing by luxury coach
• Professional tour director
• 8 nights in hotels listed above
• Full breakfast daily except on day 1 (B)
• 5 dinners (D) including:
• Welcome dinner in London
• Edinburgh Nights Cabaret
• Dinner and traditional entertainment at Taylor’s Three Rock Pub
• 2 table d’hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Sightseeing tours of London, Edinburgh and Dublin
• London open-top bus tour
• Walking tours of York and Derry
• Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 5 to 19 departures
• Ferry from Scotland to Ireland
• Visits and admissions to Tower of London, York Minster, Abbotsford House, Edinburgh Castle, Giant’s Causeway, Ulster American Folk Park and Book of Kells at Trinity College
• Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Itinerary

Day 1: London Arrival & Tour

Start your trip at Heathrow Airport with an independent transfer to your hotel. At 2:30 pm take a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Nelson’s Column and lions of Trafalgar Square, Big Ben towering over the Houses of Parliament and Hyde Park. In the evening meet your tour director for a welcome drink before dinner in your hotel. (D)

Day 2: Tower of London & City Sights

Today you are free to schedule your London sightseeing as you wish when you take an open-top bus tour around the many famous landmarks. There are a number of different bus routes so that you can choose the part of London that you’d like to focus on. Your voucher also includes a walking tour and a cruise on the River Thames. Visit the Tower of London to view the magnificent Crown Jewels, guarded by Beefeaters in distinctive Tudor uniforms and the many towers of this huge fortress. You are free to choose a restaurant to dine independently. (B)

Day 3: Cambridge & York Walking Tour

Visit Cambridge to see some of the famous university colleges, including King’s College, and the Mathematical Bridge over the River Cam. Head north to York for a walking tour to appreciate narrow streets and medieval houses, which contain centuries of history. The stately York Minster, with towers and stained glass, is the highlight of the walk. Check in to your hotel and relax before dinner. (B, D)

Day 4: Abbotsford House & Cabaret Evening

Pass Heddon-on-the-Wall to view a portion of Hadrian’s Wall and travel through the scenic Northumberland National Park. Cross into Scotland at Carter Bar. Drive through the scenic Borders to visit Abbotsford House, Sir Walter Scott’s home. View an impressive collection of memorabilia and a library with over 9,000 rare volumes, where he wrote most of his novels. Drive to Edinburgh in time for dinner at the Edinburgh Nights Cabaret where you will experience lively Scottish entertainment. (B, D)

Day 5: Edinburgh Castle & Guided City Tour

This morning explore Edinburgh on a sightseeing tour. Compare and contrast the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” with the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. See Princes Street, the main shopping thoroughfare that separates the two areas. Learn about many prominent Scottish inventors, doctors and writers. Finish your tour at the imposing Edinburgh Castle where you can see historic buildings and enjoy splendid views of Edinburgh. The balance of the day is free for independent exploring, shopping and dining. On August 5 to 19 departures, experience the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

Day 6: Giant’s Causeway & Derry

This morning will be an early start as you drive to Cairnryan for a short ferry ride to Larne. Travel along the “Nine Glens of Antrim” with views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Visit the Giant’s Causeway, hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. The enormous rocks have spawned legends about the mythical giant, Finn McCool. Continue to Derry for your overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 7: Ulster Folk Park & Dublin

This morning join a local guide for a short walking tour around Derry, surrounded by medieval city walls. Near Omagh visit the Ulster American Folk Park to see many cottages and traditional crafts. The Park traces the story of Ulster emigrants and shows rural lifestyles in both Ireland and America in Colonial times. Travel south to Dun Laoghaire, where your Victorian hotel is located on Dublin Bay, a few miles from the city. (B)

Day 8: Book of Kells & Taylor’s Three Rock Pub

Take a tour around central Dublin, with spacious Georgian squares and streets, landmark public buildings and graceful townhouses. Visit Trinity College to see the campus and view the Book of Kells in the Old Library. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing or shopping. Enjoy dinner at Taylor’s Three Rock Pub followed by an upbeat show with Irish music and dance. (B, D)

Day 9: Tour Ends Dublin Airport

Take a group transfers to Dublin Airport to check in for return flights. (B)

B: Breakfast; D: Dinner

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