Taste of Britain & Ireland

Your tour begins at 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. Visit the historic Tower of London to view the Crown Jewels. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dining independently.

Discover London’s iconic attractions at your own speed, as you please, with your choice of routes on an open-top, Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour. Enjoy a choice of routes and walking tours. Your evening is free to continue exploring and dining independently. (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. See the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel, the site of Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle. Spend some free time there before traveling on to the beautiful city of Bath. Founded by the Romans and rich in elegant Georgian architecture, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour the Roman Baths to discover why these hot springs have been popular since ancient times. (B, D)

Take in the Cotswolds, a quintessentially English region with gently rolling hills, colorful gardens, and honey-colored stone buildings. Stop in one of its many charming old market towns or traditional villages. 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. Spend some free time in a traditional lakeland village. Pass through Gretna Green, just over the Scottish border. Enjoy a traditional Scottish evening with entertainment. August 5 – 19 departures enjoy an evening free to dine independently. (B,D*)

Explore central Edinburgh on a panoramic tour; discover the Royal Mile, with its closely clustered medieval houses, and the 200-year-old New Town, with its elegant Georgian homes. 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 5 – 19 departures, experience the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

Travel to Glasgow for a city tour, then take some free time to explore. Proceed to the harbor at Cairnryan for a short ferry ride to Ireland, and then to your Belfast hotel. (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: Teeling Distillery, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, or The GPO Museum. You are free to dine as you wish this evening. (B)

Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous stone. Then travel on to Macroom and into the mountainous scenery toward Killarney. After dinner at your hotel you might want to check out one of Killarney’s many pubs offering traditional music. (B, D)

Head to the beautiful Gap of Dunloe for a stop at Moriarty’s, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Proceed on to the spectacular beauty and charm of the Dingle Peninsula, famed as settings for “Ryan’s Daughter” and “Far and Away”. Take some free time to explore Dingle town. Later, go 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. Take a ferry across the River Shannon, and drive to visit the Cliffs of Moher. Admire the limestone landscape of the Burren as you travel to vibrant Galway, where you’ll take a panoramic tour of the city center before dinner at your hotel. (B, D)

Set out on a walking tour of Galway City with a local guide. Travel to a traditional farm to watch trained dogs herd sheep; enjoy tea and scones. Head east to Dublin; stroll around Dalkey, an exclusive seaside suburb home to such luminaries as singers Bono and Enya and the late writer Maeve Binchy. Enjoy a farewell dinner at your elegant castle hotel. (B, D)

Your program ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner * Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner. >