Ireland or England? Enjoy the Festive Season Before Christmas

Why wait until Christmas to get into the holiday spirit? With a CIE Tours Private Driver, you can experience the joy of the holidays on a dream vacation.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Ireland and England are at their festive best. Historic cities sparkle with seasonal lights and decorations, Christmas markets fill grand squares and cathedral grounds, shops are stocked with gifts, and seasonal food and drink make every stop feel a little more special.

It is an ideal time for a getaway: you can enjoy the excitement of the festive season and maybe even get some shopping done for Christmas Day. With a CIE Tours Private Driver vacation, you can travel at your own pace while a knowledgeable driver/guide takes care of the roads and navigation. Your local expert can share history and lore while you relax and admire the view. CIE Tours can create personalized private driver vacations in Ireland and Britain for anyone - solo travelers, couples, family groups. It's the perfect solution for those traveling with young children, or elderly people or those with disabilities who might need a little more time to get around. 

Ireland and England offer distinctly different delights in late November and December, and we have suggested itineraries to help you see the very best of each.

Ireland or England: Which Festive Escape Is Right for You?

Choose Ireland for dramatic scenery, historic castles, lively pubs, warm hospitality, and a mix of city shopping and coastal drives.

Choose England for grand palaces, London’s festive energy, charming countryside villages, historic cities, and Christmas markets filled with artisan gifts and seasonal treats.

Both are wonderful choices for a pre-Christmas vacation. Let's dive a little deeper.

Choose Ireland for Castles, Scenic Drives and Cozy Pubs

A festive getaway in Ireland combines winter scenery, historic places, traditional pubs, and lively cities. It is an especially appealing choice for travelers who want Christmas markets and shopping alongside classic Irish culture, castles, and time in the countryside.

Start in Dublin, where the lead-up to Christmas brings plenty of opportunities for festive wandering. Stroll along Grafton Street, Dublin’s celebrated pedestrian shopping street, browse boutiques, and soak up the city’s lively atmosphere, with holiday lights and flower sellers offering holiday blooms. Between shopping stops, explore museums, visit one of the city's many famed pubs, or settle into a restaurant for a leisurely meal.

Then let your private driver take you beyond the capital.

Discover the Medieval Mile in Kilkenny, visit Blarney Castle, listen to music at a friendly pub in Killarney, and enjoy a scenic drive through West Cork, where winding country roads lead through charming towns and along the Atlantic coast. With a private driver, the journey itself becomes part of the vacation: you can pause for photographs, stop for coffee, or take time to explore places that catch your attention along the way.

In Galway, the Christmas Market in Eyre Square brings a festive buzz to the city center. The market offers wooden chalets selling holiday treats and gifts, seasonal food and drink, a large observation wheel, a carousel, and a German-style beer tent.

Ireland’s appeal before Christmas is not only about its markets. It is also about the classic experiences that feel particularly inviting in winter: historic castles, beautiful scenery, cozy traditional pubs, and delicious food.

For a memorable afternoon, enjoy traditional afternoon tea at Dromoland Castle, with finger sandwiches, warm scones, pastries, and carefully selected teas served in elegant surroundings.

For a taste of Irish tradition, stop at Sean’s Bar for an Irish coffee and a lively history talk about the pub and the origins of the classic drink.

Choose Ireland if your ideal pre-Christmas getaway includes:

• Spectacular coastal and countryside scenery
• Historic castles and heritage sites
• Dublin shopping and the Galway Christmas Market
• Traditional pubs, Irish coffee, and local food
• A relaxed itinerary shaped around your interests

Check out our suggested Private Driver itinerary for a holiday visit to Ireland. 

Choose England for Palaces, Villages and Christmas Markets

England offers a different kind of holiday magic in the run-up to Christmas. Think grand historic buildings, beautifully decorated city streets, country villages with independent shops, traditional tearooms, and Christmas markets filled with gifts, food, and festive drinks.

Begin in London, where Christmas in lively Covent Garden brings spectacular decorations, a towering Christmas tree, giant bells, boutiques, market stalls, and festive entertainment. It is a wonderful place to browse for gifts, enjoy a meal, or just take in the buzz of the city during the holiday season.

For more festive excitement, visit Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, with rides, activities, entertainment, and plenty of food and drink.

Then leave the capital city behind and head into the English countryside.

Explore Oxford, the "city of dreaming spires", where historic streets and classic college architecture create an atmospheric setting for winter sightseeing and seasonal shopping. Visit Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, where Christmas celebrations bring an added sense of occasion to one of England’s most magnificent historic estates.

For a quintessentially English pre-Christmas experience, explore the Cotswolds. Its honey-colored stone villages, independent shops, and cozy tearooms provide a slower-paced way to enjoy the season.

Wander through Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden, looking for gifts, enjoying a warm drink, or simply admiring the scenery. A private driver means you can enjoy these villages without having to manage rural routes, parking, or navigating between stops.

The festive markets continue in Bath and Winchester. Bath’s Christmas Market is known for its chalets selling gifts, food, drink, and seasonal treats around the city center. At the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, traditional German-inspired wooden chalets offer artisan products, gifts, and festive food in the historic cathedral grounds. 

Choose England if your ideal festive getaway includes:

• London shopping, lights, and holiday entertainment
• Grand palaces and historic estates
• Oxford’s historic streets and Blenheim Palace
• Cotswolds villages, independent shops, and tearooms
• Christmas markets in Bath and Winchester

• Seasonal food, mulled wine, and artisan gifts

   

Check out our suggested itinerary for a festive Private Driver trip to England. 

Make the Most of the Weeks Before Christmas

Enjoy the magic of the season at its height, from glittering city streets to cozy pubs and Christmas markets, and still be home for Christmas Day.

With a CIE Tours Private Driver vacation, you can focus on the experiences that matter most to you - at exactly the activity level you like. Linger at a Christmas market. Browse for the perfect gift. Pause for afternoon tea. Visit a castle or palace. Take the scenic route through the countryside.  Your knowledgeable driver/guide handles the practical details and filles you in on the local lore and inside info so you can just relax and enjoy the journey - with our expert specialists doing all the planning for you. 

To get started planning your own holiday visit, visit our Custom Private Driver Vacations page. 

And if you'd prefer a guided tour to enjoy the holiday spirit, Evergreen Ireland South, Evergreen Ireland North, and Irish Adventure offer departure dates in November and December.