14 Day British &
Irish Grandeur Tour 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 may schedule your London sightseeing
when you take an open-top bus tour around the many famous landmarks. There are a
number of different bus routes as well as 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. 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 : Floors Castle & 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 Kelso to visit
Floors Castle, built in 1721 and home to the 10th Duke of Roxburghe, to see
stunning interiors with tapestries, silver and family portraits. Travel to
Edinburgh and experience lively entertainment at a Scottish cabaret. (B, D)
Day 5 : Edinburgh Castle & Guided City Tour
Discover Edinburgh's highlights on a city tour.
See the elegant Georgian “New Town” with spacious streets and the compact
medieval city along the Royal Mile. Tour Edinburgh Castle to view the Crown
Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. Also enjoy splendid views of
central Edinburgh. The rest of the day is free for independent activities. On
August 5 to 19 departures, experience the world-famous 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 American Folk Park & Taylor's
Three Rock Pub
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. Enjoy dinner at Taylor's Three Rock Pub followed by an upbeat
show with Irish music and dance (B, D)
Day 8 : Dublin Tour & Book of Kells
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 and evening are free for independent sightseeing and dinning.
(B)
Day 9 : Rock of Cashel & Killarney
Depart Dublin and drive south through pleasant
farming country. Visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King of
Munster in 977. See the 12th century highly-decorated Cormac's Chapel, the large
cruciform cathedral and a round tower. Continue to the famous town of Killarney
and check in to your hotel with state-of-the-art pool and spa facilities. (B, D)
Day 10 : Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience
Embark on the Ring of Kerry tour for
constantly-changing vistas of mountains, open Atlantic Ocean, beaches and
cliffs. There will be plenty of stops to admire the scenery. Visit the Skellig
Experience to learn about early Christian monks who lived on the rocky offshore
islands and about prolific bird life today. Stop at Moll's Gap for panoramic
views before returning to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 11 : Blarney Castle & Waterford Crystal
Visit the famous Blarney Castle this morning to
kiss the “Stone of Eloquence.” Travel through the outskirts of Cork city and
along the south coast to the city of Waterford. Visit the House of Waterford
Crystal to see how glass is blown and cut by master craftspeople and view a
collection of amazing trophies. Check in to your hotel, located on the dockside
of this port city. (B, D)
Day 12 : South Wales & Cardiff
Banquet
Depart Waterford early this morning
to catch the ferry from Rosslare to South Wales. Journey through South Wales
where coal used to be mined to Cardiff and take a brief tour of the city. Head
to Cardiff Castle, developed in Roman times and transformed into an elaborate
Gothic-style residence in the 19th century. A tour of the Castle is
followed by a fun Welsh banquet in the undercroft. (B, D)
Day 13 : Roman Baths & Stonehenge
This morning explore Bath, popular for its
natural hot springs with the Romans 2,000 years ago and again in fashion in the
18th century Regency period. Tour the Roman Baths and Pump Room, wonderfully
preserved after two millennia and see the stately mansions of the Royal
Crescent and Queen's Square. Drive to Salisbury Plain to view the prehistoric
circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge. Continue into London and check in to
your hotel once again. (B)
Day 14 : Tour Ends Heathrow Airport
Travel to Heathrow Airport by group coach
transfer, to arrive by 9:00 am. Transfers to Gatwick Airport can be arranged at
an additional cost. (B)
B: Breakfast; D: Dinner