Highlights of Britain & Ireland
Highlights of Britain & Ireland
Highlights of Britain & Ireland
15 Days Starting in London and ending in London, UK
Visiting: Arrive In London, England, London, Stonehenge, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Wales, Waterford, Ireland, Blarney, Kinsale, Rosscarbery, Kenmare, Killarney, Limerick, Cashel, Kildare, Dublin, Carlingford, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Edinburgh, Scotland, Alnwick, York, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Europe
Tour operator:
Tour code:
GK-2024
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
15 - 36
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
On this Britain and Ireland tour, you’ll see Britain and Ireland’s highlights, from the bustling cities to the small towns and from the magnificent palaces and castles to the ancient ruins. Travel through the lands of queens, kings, and leprechauns, you’ll begin and end in London and pass through Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. You’ll visit some of the splendid castles and palaces for which Britain and Ireland are famous. In Edinburgh visit Edinburgh Castle, where you’ll marvel at the Scottish Crown Jewels. In Woodstock, Oxfordshire enjoy a visit to majestic Blenheim Palace, built in the early 18th century and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.On this tour through Britain and Ireland, you’ll enjoy guided sightseeing in many of the cities with Local Guides — experts from the area who will give you in-depth, insider knowledge of the cities and their attractions. In London, your sightseeing includes a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral; and in Edinburgh you will see both the “New Town” and “Old Town.” Additionally, at the National Irish Stud in Kildare, you’ll be shown some of the most magnificent horses in the British Isles, and you'll hear about Shakespeare’s life and times in Stratford-upon-Avon.You will also learn how to make a traditional Irish coffee, and ride on board a horse-drawn jaunting car to take a tour of beautiful Killarney National Park. All of this and much more, including a visit to prehistoric Stonehenge and medieval York Minster, included on this fabulous Britain and Ireland tour.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In London,England
Location: Arrive In London, England
Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Free time this afternoon.
ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND Welcome to London! Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Free time this afternoon.LONDON-TOWER-BRIDGE.jpg
Day 2: London
Location: London
Meals Included: Breakfast
LONDON The Royal Treatment LONDON Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes sights of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Free time this afternoon. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SPOTS England’s national treasure of St. Paul’s Cathedral is home to a spectacular array of art from delicate carvings to gilded dome murals and modern works of art. As the seat of the Bishop of London, the cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London, where notable remembrances have been served here, including Queen Victoria’s jubilee, birthdays of Queen Elizabeth II, and funerals of luminaries like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.LONDON-BIG-BEN.jpg
Day 3: London,Stonehenge,Bath,Bristol
Location: London, Stonehenge, Bath, Bristol
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
LONDON–STONEHENGE–BATH–BRISTOL Mysterious Stones and Spa Days LONDON Meet your Tour Director and travel companions at 8 am and drive to Stonehenge.STONEHENGE Visit the prehistoric monument.BATH Visit the excavations of the Roman Baths. 141 mi / 227 km (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURAL GEMS The traditions of one ancient Roman ritual are in full flow in Bath. Amid the remarkable Roman and Georgian architecture and the best-preserved Roman Baths of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a good spa day is never hard to find in one of the “Best Spa Towns in Europe.” The city of Bath sits above geothermal springs that bubble up from the limestone below. Bath also turns up the heat with some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings, a mecca for elite 18th-century society.STONEHENGE.jpg
Day 4: Bristol,Cardiff,Wales,Waterford,Ireland
Location: Bristol, Cardiff, Wales, Waterford, Ireland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
BRISTOL–CARDIFF, WALES–WATERFORD, IRELAND Welsh Dragons, Daffodils & Castles CARDIFF Morning orientation drive features Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, and the stately civic buildings.PEMBROKE Ferry crossing across St. George’s Channel to Rosslare.188 mi / 303 km (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCAPITAL CITY Explore the Welsh capital, see many historic buildings and discover its 2,000-year history of invasions, abductions and conflicts from 1st century AD when the Romans built the first series of forts.CARDIFF-BAY.jpg
Day 5: Waterford,Blarney,Kinsale,Rosscarbery
Location: Waterford, Blarney, Kinsale, Rosscarbery
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
WATERFORD–BLARNEY–KINSALE–ROSSCARBERY County Cork Characters BLARNEY Visit the town known for its magical Kissing Stone. KINSALE Stop in the historic town famous for its multi-hued streets.ROSSCARBERY Free time.134 mi / 215 km (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTPICTURE PERFECT Brighten your world with a visit to Kinsale, Ireland’s vibrant town where the Wild Atlantic Way begins. Stroll the brightly painted storefronts and winding streets beside the sweeping hues of blue and green in this Irish seaside town. KINSALE.jpg
Day 6: Rosscarbery,Kenmare,Killarney,Limerick
Location: Rosscarbery, Kenmare, Killarney, Limerick
Meals Included: Breakfast
ROSSCARBERY–KENMARE–KILLARNEY–LIMERICK Irish Eyes & Cheeky Rhymes RING OF KERRY Panoramic drive around part of Ireland’s southwestern peninsula.KILLARNEY [LF] Take a horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney National ParkLIMERICK Free time this evening. 164 mi / 264 km (B)LOCAL FAVORITENATURAL WONDERS County Kerry is home to the exquisite natural beauty of a rugged and mountainous expanse in Killarney National Park. A horse-drawn jaunting-car ride is a great way to experience this natural wonderland, including the 1,000-foot McGillycuddy’s Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland. Nestled at the foot of these mountains, the Lakes of Killarney’s shores and woodlands share this magical place with waterfalls and dramatic skies above Ross Castle.KILLARNEY-JAUNTING-RIDE.jpg
Day 7: Limerick,Cashel,Kildare,Dublin
Location: Limerick, Cashel, Kildare, Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMERICK–CASHEL–KILDARE–DUBLIN The Winner’s Circle CASHEL See the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached.KILDARE [LF] Visit the Irish National Stud. DUBLIN Free time this evening. 155 mi / 249 km (B)LOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & TRADITION The Irish National Stud is home to the long tradition of Ireland’s love of horses. This horse breeding facility in County Kildare, considered the beating heart of Ireland's thoroughbred industry, continues to inspire all who visit, including Queen Elizabeth II. Hear about some of the world’s most magnificent champion stallions that have made history since the turn of the 20th century.KILDARE-NATIONAL-STUD.jpg
Day 8: Dublin
Location: Dublin
Meals Included: Breakfast
DUBLIN Ireland’s Capital City DUBLIN Morning orientation drive to see O’Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Free time this afternoon. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCITY SIGHTS “In Dublin’s fair city where girls are so pretty,” you’ll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and legendary library of Trinity College.DUBLIN-STREET.jpg
Day 9: Dublin,Carlingford,Belfast,Northern Ireland
Location: Dublin, Carlingford, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Meals Included: Breakfast
DUBLIN–CARLINGFORD–BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND Coffee With Cream & Maritime Theme CARLINGFORD Stop at the charming seaside town on the Cooley Peninsula and enjoy [LF] an Irish coffee.BELFAST An orientation drive includes City Hall, the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, and Queen’s University; visit Titanic Belfast Experience. 122 mi / 197 km (B)LOCAL FAVORITELOCAL TASTES It’s clear why we get a warm feeling with traditional Irish Coffee – as much a warm welcome now as it was for stranded travelers in 1943. It was a wintry night in Limerick when Foynes Port chef Joe Sheridan concocted this soothing elixir of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and whipped cream to make their cancelled flight a little more palatable. Raise a toddy glass of Caife Gaelach with a hearty “slainte!”IRISH-COFFEE.jpg
Day 10: Belfast,Edinburgh,Scotland
Location: Belfast, Edinburgh, Scotland
Meals Included: Breakfast
BELFAST–EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND Strait Ahead to Scotland BELFAST Ferry crossing on the North Channel strait to Scotland’s Cairnryan. 234 mi / 376 km (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHTEPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean’s Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including its floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.EDINBURGH-CASTLE.jpg
Day 11: Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
EDINBURGH Crown Jewels & Castle Views EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, the Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon.THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Attend the world-renowned Tattoo performance. (Departures July 28 through August 11 only). (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTMUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with a 1,100-year history as "the most besieged place in Great Britain." Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.EDINBURGH-BAGPIPER.jpg
Day 12: Edinburgh,Alnwick,England,York
Location: Edinburgh, Alnwick, England, York
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
EDINBURGH–ALNWICK, ENGLAND–YORK High Praise & Market Days ALNWICK Stop at a market town voted the “best place to live in Britain.”YORK Visit York Minster on a guided walk through the best-preserved medieval shopping streets called The Shambles. 220 mi / 354 km (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SPOT York Minster is hailed as one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals, and the center of Christian faith in Northern England. From its exquisite, handcrafted stone to its incomparable collection of medieval stained glass, you’ll discover why York Minster has drawn visitors from around the world for over 1,000 years. YORK-SHAMBLES.jpg
Day 13: York,Stratford-Upon-Avon
Location: York, Stratford-Upon-Avon
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
YORK–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Mr. & Mrs. Shakespeare STRATFORD-UPON-AVON See Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace. 155 mi / 249 km (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTA LEGEND SLEPT HERE Ah, love! Even more true as young Shakespeare’s fiancée was eight years his senior. See Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the family home where the bard’s wife-to-be was born and courted by young Will. Built more than 500 years ago, much of the original structure remains. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and family home in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales of his family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.STRATFORD-UPON-AVON-SHAKESPEARS-BIRTHPLACE.jpg
Day 14: Stratford-Upon-Avon,London
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon, London
Meals Included: Breakfast
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LONDON Churchill’s Beginnings WOODSTOCK Visit Blenheim Palace, Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace.LONDON Free time this afternoon.98 mi / 159 km (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTART & ARCHITECTURE Home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enjoys a fascinating history. Built as a gift in 1704 from Queen Anne to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, this massive and magnificent masterpiece of English Baroque architecture is also home to exquisite artwork and gardens.LONDON-PUB.jpg
Day 15: London
Location: London
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
LONDON Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)LONDON-PHONE-BOOTH.jpg
What's Included
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Accommodation
As detailed in the itinerary
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Fully Guided
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Meals
As detailed in the itinerary
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Transport
Private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi
What's Not Included
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Insurance
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International Travel
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus Europe escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized European tour—without the crowds.
UNESCO Sites
Blenheim Palace|City of Bath|Old and New Towns of Edinburgh|Stonehenge|The great Spa Towns of Europe - Bath|Westminster Palace (Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret?s Church) Only See
Meals
Full buffet breakfast daily; 5 three-course dinners
Accommodation
London:Park Plaza WaterlooLondon:Park Plaza Westminster BridgeBristol:Clayton Hotel Bristol CityWaterford:Granville HotelRosscarbery:Celtic Ross HotelLimerick:Clayton Hotel LimerickDublin:The GibsonBelfast:EuropaEdinburgh:Mercure Edinburgh Princes StreetYork:Mercure York Fairfield ManorStratford - upon - Avon:Crowne Plaza Stratford Upon Avon
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes, 5 years or above
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Yes
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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What is the maximum group size?
Usually max 43 people
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
Why book with Barrhead?
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We know because we go – our Touring & Adventure specialists have travelled to over 55 countries.
Reliable & unbiased advice from our trusted travel experts.
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