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Britain and Ireland Experience route map

Arrive in London and check in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore independently.

Enjoy a full free day to explore London at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Meet your Travel Director and travel from London to Windsor, then continue to Bath to admire its Georgian architecture and Roman Baths. Cross the Severn Estuary into Wales and continue to Cardiff.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Take a Cardiff orientation tour, seeing the University of Wales, Principality Stadium, City Hall and National Museum. Cardiff Castle is an optional visit. Travel via Carmarthen to Pembroke, see Pembroke Castle, then take the ferry across the Irish Sea to Ireland and continue to Waterford.

Meals: Breakfast

Visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom, then travel to Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone. Continue past the Cork and Kerry Mountains and Killarney, where an optional jaunting-car ride is available, to Tralee.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Drive through the Dingle Peninsula, passing villages, fishing harbors, beaches and green countryside, and reach Ireland’s most westerly point. Continue to Adare, then travel via Limerick to Shannon, where dinner is included at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

A visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is optional. Drive through County Clare to Galway and see its cathedral, then continue to Dublin. An Irish show and dinner are optional.

Meals: Breakfast

Take a city tour with a Local Specialist, seeing Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle. Spend the afternoon at leisure or take an optional visit to Glendalough.

Meals: Breakfast

Take the ferry across the Irish Sea to Holyhead on Anglesey and view the station with one of the world’s longest names at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. Travel through North Wales to Liverpool, then continue to Haydock in St. Helens.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel through the Lake District. An optional cruise on Lake Windermere passes its northern coastline, islands and Wray Castle. Continue to Gretna Green, then cross the Scottish border to North Queensferry. A traditional dinner at a local restaurant is optional.

Meals: Breakfast

Explore Edinburgh with a Local Specialist, passing the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle and visiting the Royal Mile and New Town. The rest of the day is free, with optional visits to Rosslyn Chapel or Edinburgh Castle. An evening meal and entertainment are optional; tickets to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included on certain departures.

Meals: Breakfast

Cross the border into England and travel to Alnwick. Visiting Alnwick Castle and Gardens is optional. Continue to Heddon to see Hadrian’s Wall, then travel to Barnsley.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel to York for an orientation tour of the Shambles, city walls and York Minster. The rest of the day includes time to explore and two Choice Experiences. Dinner in York is included.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon and explore the historic streets and squares of Shakespeare’s hometown. Continue to London and say farewell to your Travel Director and travel companions.

Meals: Breakfast

Depart from London and begin your return journey home.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s included

14 breakfasts and 4 dinners included, as per the daily itinerary.
3-star stays in cherry-picked, tried-and-trusted hotels; on occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be used.
Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries, plus Irish Sea ferry crossings between Wales and Ireland as per the itinerary.
Audio headsets provided for included sightseeing experiences.
Expert Travel Director and professional Driver throughout the tour; Costsaver Local Host support if you stay at the recommended London hotel.
Guided city sightseeing with Local Specialists in Dublin and Edinburgh, and city orientation tours including Cardiff and York; visit to the House of Waterford Crystal workshop and Gretna Green included as listed.

What’s not included

International flights to and from London are not included.
Visas for the United Kingdom and Ireland (if required) are the traveller’s responsibility.
Travel insurance is not included and should be arranged by the traveller.
Meals not specified in the itinerary (e.g., lunches and dinners beyond the 4 included).
Optional experiences and excursions (Choice Experiences) and any entrance fees not explicitly listed as included.
Personal expenses such as drinks, snacks, laundry, souvenirs, phone calls, and gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff unless otherwise stated.

Additional information

Discover UNESCO-listed Bath, where creamy Bath stone glows across elegant terraces like the Royal Crescent and The Circus. Walk the compact historic core to view the Roman Baths complex and the spired Abbey tapering above the skyline, with Pulteney Bridge arching over the River Avon.

Absorb the city’s dual heritage—from sacred Roman spa to 18th-century social salon—while your orientation highlights the Georgian streetscapes that inspired Jane Austen. This refined setting blends classical symmetry, warm stonework and a convivial café culture.

See Wales’s dynamic capital on a guided orientation, taking in the grand civic ensemble around Cardiff City Hall, the National Museum and the tree-lined avenues of Cathays Park. Glimpse the modern lines of the Principality Stadium set amid Victorian arcades and lively streets.

View the storied silhouette of Cardiff Castle from the outside, a fortress whose medieval keep and neo-Gothic fantasy interiors reflect centuries of power and patronage. This compact circuit blends culture, sport and history at the gateway to Wales.

Cruise the Irish Sea aboard a comfortable ferry as you cross between Wales and Ireland. Step on deck to feel the salt air and watch the hull cut through the water, tracing a white wake toward distant headlands and lighthouse-studded shores.

Enjoy wide views as Angelsey and Dublin Bay come into focus and the rhythms of travel slow to the ocean’s tempo. This seafaring link between Celtic lands adds a textured, maritime chapter to the journey.

Visit the House of Waterford Crystal to witness master craftsmen at work—blowing, cutting and polishing the luminous pieces that made Waterford world-famous. Walk the production floor to see patterns take shape under diamond-tipped wheels.

Learn how a centuries-old tradition flourished here with designs that grace state banquets and mantelpieces around the world. The showroom’s glittering displays set a fitting stage to appreciate the clarity, weight and sparkle of fine Irish crystal.

Roam the romantic grounds of Blarney Castle, a 15th-century stronghold rising above gardens and quiet waterways. Those who wish can ascend the spiral steps to kiss the Blarney Stone, linked to the “gift of eloquence.”

Take in views over County Cork from the battlements and explore atmospheric corners like the Poison Garden. Legends mingle with limestone ramparts to create an experience that is both playful and steeped in Gaelic lore.

Journey along the wild edge of County Kerry where Atlantic headlands, fishing harbors and long beaches shape the storied Dingle Peninsula. Watch for views toward the Blasket Islands and patchwork fields hemmed by ancient stone walls.

Pause in Adare, famed for its thatched cottages and medieval ruins that lend a hushed, heritage air. The route balances raw ocean drama with village charm, offering plentiful moments to pause for photos and reflection in Ireland’s scenic west.

Experience Galway’s bohemian spirit with a short orientation of its waterfront and Latin Quarter, then view the city’s striking Galway Cathedral, a mid-20th-century landmark with a commanding dome.

Hear how this once-medieval port became a lively cultural hub where traditional music spills from pubs and markets cluster near the Corrib. The cathedral’s mix of Connemara marble and local limestone gives a tactile sense of place to Ireland’s west coast capital.

Soak up Cumbria’s classic scenery on a panoramic drive past drystone walls, oak woods and high fells, skirting the shores of Windermere. This is the landscape that stirred the words of William Wordsworth and the tales of Beatrix Potter.

Look for mirror-calm waters, isolated farmsteads and slate villages tucked into green folds. The rolling tableau invites quiet contemplation and photography as England’s celebrated lakelands unfold curve by curve.

Visit Gretna Green, the famed border village where runaway couples once wed under Scotland’s more lenient laws. Hear tales of youthful defiance and anvil weddings performed by the “blacksmith priest.”

Absorb the romance and intrigue behind this historic elopement haven, set just beyond the English line. The stories evoke a time when love matched wits with social convention amid the clang of the smithy.

Join a Local Specialist to explore the Royal Mile and the elegant avenues of New Town, taking in views of Edinburgh Castle from below and the official Scottish residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Trace layers of history from medieval closes to Georgian symmetry and Enlightenment ambition. The contrast between Old and New showcases Edinburgh’s literary heritage, civic grandeur and volcanic setting in unforgettable cityscapes.

Pause to view a surviving stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman Empire’s northern boundary. Walk beside the stone ramparts to sense the scale of this 2nd-century frontier that once bristled with milecastles and forts.

Consider the soldiers, traders and locals who lived along this engineered line through windswept country. The landscape frames a vivid lesson in imperial ambition and the meeting of cultures at the edge of Rome.

Explore York’s medieval core with an orientation that showcases the soaring Gothic of York Minster and the timber-framed charm of The Shambles. Follow the snaking lanes and encircling city walls that reveal centuries of mercantile wealth and ecclesiastical power.

Absorb the aromas of bakeries and the glow of crooked shopfronts while hearing how Vikings, Romans and Normans each left their mark. York distills English history into a walkable tapestry of stone, brick and stories.

Wander Stratford-upon-Avon’s historic heart, passing Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street and the timbered fronts of Tudor inns and guildhalls. Experience the gentle pace of the River Avon and gardens edging its banks.

See the thatched charm of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage from the outside and appreciate how this market town preserves the bard’s legacy. The streetscape blends literary heritage with a quintessentially English sense of place.

Step inside Cardiff Castle on a guided visit through a timeline of Roman walls, medieval keeps and fantastical Victorian interiors commissioned by the Marquess of Bute. Climb the Norman motte for views across the city’s green heart.

Marvel at gilded ceilings, themed apartments and rich woodwork that reflect 19th-century romanticism. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, offering deeper context to Wales’s capital landmark.

Clip-clop through Killarney’s parklands by traditional jaunting car, guided by a local jarvey sharing stories and craic. Pass lakeshore vistas, ancient trees and mountain backdrops as the horse draws you along quiet lanes.

Enjoy the fresh air and unhurried pace that suit this heritage mode of travel. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, adding a gentle, scenic interlude to your day in County Kerry.

Explore the 15th-century Bunratty Castle, a formidable tower house furnished to evoke medieval life, then wander the adjoining Folk Park with its thatched cottages, village street and working farms.

Step inside period interiors and hear how rural Ireland evolved through the 19th century. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, offering an engaging blend of fortified history and living heritage.

Experience a lively evening of traditional music and dance paired with hearty Irish fare in Dublin. Talented performers bring ballads, reels and storytelling to life as you dine.

Clapping rhythms, quick-footed steps and warm hospitality create a festive atmosphere that captures the city’s spirit. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, and a joyful way to toast your time in the capital.

Visit the serene valley of Glendalough, where St. Kevin founded a monastic settlement in the 6th century. Explore the round tower, ancient churches and lakeshore paths set amid Wicklow’s wooded slopes.

Hear tales of scholarship and pilgrimage as you take in soft light on water and heather-clad hills. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, offering a contemplative counterpoint to Dublin’s urban energy.

Cruise England’s largest lake to admire wooded islands, fell-top panoramas and shorelines dotted with period villas like Wray Castle. Glide across reflective waters as the Lake District reveals new angles with each gentle turn.

Enjoy fresh breezes and a camera-friendly perspective on this storied landscape of poets and painters. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, and a serene complement to the panoramic drive.

Ascend the volcanic ridge to Edinburgh Castle and step through a thousand years of Scottish history. View the Honours of Scotland (Crown Jewels), the Stone of Destiny and the mighty cannon Mons Meg.

Gaze across rooftops to Arthur’s Seat and the Firth of Forth while learning how this fortress shaped a nation. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, perfect for those keen on deeper insight.

Discover the 15th-century Rosslyn Chapel, famed for its intricate stone carvings woven with symbolism and legend. Study the Apprentice Pillar and ornate vaulting that sparked centuries of speculation.

Set amid quiet woodland south of Edinburgh, the chapel’s craftsmanship and mystery invite close looking and reflection. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, appealing to lovers of art, history and myth.

Explore Alnwick Castle, a Norman fortress and stately home with grand staterooms and film credentials from Harry Potter to Downton Abbey. Outside, wander the contemporary Alnwick Garden, from the Grand Cascade to the intriguing Poison Garden.

Learn how the Percy family shaped Northumberland’s history while enjoying photogenic courtyards and landscaped vistas. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Experience massed pipes and drums, precision drill teams and international performers on the floodlit esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The Military Tattoo blends music, pageantry and fireworks against the city’s dramatic skyline.

This is a seasonal event during August. It is an Optional Experience at additional cost on many departures and included on select dates; availability and seating vary and can be arranged on tour subject to schedule.

Explore the royal market town of Windsor and admire the commanding silhouette of Windsor Castle, the world’s oldest and largest inhabited fortress. Stroll past the cobbled lanes and half-timbered houses that frame the approach to the castle and the Long Walk, soaking up the pageantry that surrounds the royal residence.

Hear stories of St. George’s Chapel and state occasions as you pause for photos and reflection outside the precincts. The combination of historic streetscapes and riverbank scenery captures a living timeline of British royalty in a compact, walkable setting.

  • 14 Breakfast (B)
  • 4 Dinner (D)
  • View the Royal Castle
  • Visit the Georgian spa town
  • See the University of Wales, Principality Stadium, City Hall, the National Museum, and view Cardiff Castle
  • Visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom
  • Kiss the Blarney Stone 
  • View the prettiest village in Ireland
  • See Galway Cathedral
  • See St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, the Georgian Squares and Trinity College with a Local Specialist
  • Visit the Beatles’ hometown
  • Visit this picturesque region
  • Visit this town, popular with eloping couples since 1754
  • With your Local Specialist, see Princes Street, the Royal Mile and the Castle
  • View the Jedburgh Abbey ruins
  • View the remains of the Roman wall
  • See Alnwick Castle
  • View York Minster and stroll along the Shambles
  • Visit the town of Shakespeare and see Anne Hathaway’s cottage
  • Enjoy the beautiful scenery
  • Deluxe coach travel
  • Selected hotel dinners, with optional meals to purchase
  • 3-star stays
  • Bath: Admire UNESCO-listed Bath, with its elegant Georgian facades and the bimillennial Roman Baths from which the city takes its name.
  • Cardiff: Learn more about Wales’ capital and cultural hub, Cardiff, as you enjoy an orientation of this vibrant city with your Travel Director.
  • Cross the Irish Sea by ferry from Wales to Ireland, feeling the low thrum of the engines through the deck as the hull cuts through the water, leaving a churn of white wake behind.
  • Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
  • On your scenic drive through the Dingle Peninsula, green slopes climb towards weathered sandstone peaks as glimpses of the Atlantic appear between the hills.
  • Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin’s elegant Georgian squares, O’Connell Street and the Custom House.
  • Cross the Irish Sea by ferry, watching Ireland recede as the coastline of South Wales comes into view.
  • Gretna Green: Visit the famous spot where runaway lovers were married.
  • Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Specialist as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
  • York: Your Travel Director will show you the York Minster, the city walls and the medieval Shambles during your orientation of the city.

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