Luxury Irish Castles & Hotels Tour (10 Night)

Tour begins 2:00 PM at your London hotel. Take a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dining independently.

Discover London’s attractions on your own with an open-top, Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour. Enjoy a choice of routes and walking tours. You might visit the Tower of London to view the Crown Jewels, or visit Kensington Palace, former home of Princess Diana. The evening is free to explore and dine on your own. (B)

Take a panoramic tour of Windsor before visiting Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and one of the Queen’s official residences to see the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel, the site of Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle. Enjoy some free time for lunch and then travel to Bath. Visit the Roman Baths for a tour to discover why these hot mineral-rich springs have been popular since Roman times. (B, D)

Take in the gentle hills of the Cotswolds, renowned for its pretty cottages and colorful gardens. Stop in a typical lovely old village in the region. Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon to see an exhibition about his life and work, before walking through the house where he was born. Travel on to Liverpool and spend the evening exploring its rich pop-music history with dinner on your own. (B)

Travel through the Lake District, a region that inspired Beatrix Potter’s children’s books. Embark on a cruise along Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake. Over the Scottish border, stop at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna Green before traveling towards Edinburgh. Enjoy a traditional dinner and ceilidh at your hotel in Edinburgh. (B,D)

Explore central Edinburgh, including the 200-year-old “New Town” with elegant Georgian houses and the Royal Mile where medieval houses are clustered closely together. Tour Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. The rest of the day is free to explore and dine on your own. On August 7 – 21 departures, experience the world famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

Travel to Glasgow for a city tour. Enjoy some free time in the city for lunch on your own. Proceed on to Cairnryan on Loch Ryan and take a short ferry ride to Ireland. (B, D)

Take some time this morning to explore central Belfast on your own. Then learn all about Belfast’s shipbuilding history and the ill-fated RMS Titanic at Titanic Belfast where you can experience the history of this ocean liner through interactive displays. In the evening, stop at The Glyde Inn for a drink and dinner with entertainment. (B, D)

Tour Dublin independently, on the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour. Use your voucher to visit your choice of one of Dublin’s top attractions: Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, or GPO Witness History. In the evening, dine at one of the many restaurants or pubs that Dublin has to offer. (B)

Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” then drive through Macroom and into the mountainous scenery of Killarney. After dinner at your hotel, you might want to find a “singing bar” for some entertainment. (B, D)

Visit the Dingle Peninsula, made famous by the movies “Ryan’s Daughter” and “Far & Away.” Take in spectacular views from Slea Head at the western tip. Enjoy some free time to explore Dingle on your own. Later, head to Kate Kearney’s Cottage for an Irish night featuring dinner and traditional entertainment. (B, D)

Visit Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which recalls the early days of air travel. Foynes is the home of Irish coffee, so you’ll learn how to make one and enjoy a sample. Ferry across the River Shannon Estuary to view the Cliffs of Moher. Later explore the village of Doolin for lunch on your own. Take a brief panoramic tour around Galway’s city center with a local guide. (B, D)

Begin the day with a gentle walking tour of all the important sights of Galway. Visit Rathbaun Farm to watch trained dogs herding sheep and enjoy tea and scones. Stroll around Dalkey, an elegant suburb of Dublin, home of such luminaries as Bono and the late writer Maeve Binchy. Spend the night in an elegant castle hotel in Dublin and enjoy a special farewell dinner. (B, D)

Your program ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner All components of this tour (hotels, visits and attractions) for 2020 itineraries are subject to change until finalized in September 2019.   >