ATTENTION: Our system has identified that the title of this tour refers to a different length than the correct tour length. This is likely a discrepancy coming over to us from the tour company. Please see the "LENGTH" value listed below as well as the details in the "Tour Itinerary" tab below for the correct length.
Length
10 Days
Quality
This indicates the overall quality of the tour operator's products. A low rating does not mean it is not good - it just means that it does not include as much, or perhaps is of a more standard quality than the higher quality tours. For example, a 3 star quality rating means that it is a more standard/economical tour, while 5 stars is a very luxurious tour that often includes a lot of amenities.
Starts in
London (England)
Ends in
London (England)
Available Tour Start Dates
INFO COMING SOON
Activity Level
No Rating Provided These are tours that the vendor has not electronically communicated an activity level for. Contact us if you would like to know the activity level for any of these tours.
Language
English
Special Interest(s)
Overview
Short on travel time but want to see all the Britain and Ireland highlights? This trip delivers the genius of Shakespeare, Waterford crystal creations in Ireland and a hearty Welsh dinner at a local vineyard, with a side of ancient history, in just over one week.
PLEASE NOTE: Brendan Vacations is not electronically advising us what starting and ending date(s) apply for this tour, other than this tour is available during 2024-10-18.This usually occurs when it is a custom private tour, where you can request the start date of your preference (unless it's a cruise or rail tour, in which case there is most likely a limited selection of available start dates). Please contact us for details, or request a quote below.
Tour Itinerary
Note: The version of the tour that is currently selected (via the "Select Season" options above) will be in the reverse order of what is listed below. Please select a different version of this tour above (that doesn't indicate "Reverse") if you'd prefer the tour in the order listed below.
London bids you a warm welcome to its regal traditions and centuries-old heritage. Stroll through its Royal Parks to relax after your journey, or take to its streets to admire elegant façades merged with the modern verve of a global capital that marches to its own multi-cultural tune.
Accommodations:Park Plaza London Riverbank
Day 2
Stratford-upon-Avon, York and on to Harrogate
Join your Travel Director today and delve into centuries of history - tales of star-crossed lovers, tragic kings and Roman emperors are brought to life as we visit Stratford-upon-Avon and follow in the footsteps of Shakespeare. Visit his Birthplace and the Visitor Center, before embarking on your drive north to the Viking city of York, where we'll enjoy an orientation walk around its historic streets. View the cobbled Shambles, see the ancient city walls and the magnificent York Minster. This evening, we indulge in traditional pub grub at a Welcome Dinner in the Victorian spa town of Harrogate, our home for tonight.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Dinner
Accommodations:Crowne Plaza Harrogate
Day 3
Through the Scenic Lake District to Glasgow
We journey through the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the beautiful Lake District, which has inspired poets and writers for centuries. A highlight on our journey is England's pretty Lake Windermere, which we’ll pass as we continue through countryside made famous by the poet William Wordsworth. We'll cross the border, into Scotland, to the runaway wedding capital of Gretna Green. Here eloping couples would tie the knot over the Marriage Anvil. We drive through the Southern Uplands to vibrant Glasgow where our orientation will take us past Glasgow Cathedral and George Square. Tonight, consider joining an Optional Experience featuring a fabulous dinner and Scottish entertainment.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Accommodations:Novotel Glasgow Center
Day 4
Explore Enchanting Edinburgh
From the cultural capital of Glasgow to enchanting Edinburgh, with its exquisite medieval façades, our encounter with Scotland will see us join a Local Specialist for a memorable sightseeing tour. We’ll visit Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock overlooking the city, and see the Royal Mile, the elegant Palace of Holyroodhouse and the new Scottish Parliament. Admire the elegant Georgian architecture in the New Town and amble through the secret lanes of Auld Reekie before returning to Glasgow this evening for a delicious meal at a local restaurant.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Dinner
Accommodations:Novotel Glasgow Center
Day 5
Cross the Irish Sea to Belfast and Dublin
Follow the rugged Ayrshire coast, past the island of Ailsa Craig, the stepping stone from Ireland to Scotland. Board the ferry to Northern Ireland, then join a Local Specialist to explore the crossroads of British and Irish culture in Belfast. We’ll view City Hall and the dock where the Titanic was built. This evening, we arrive in the vibrant capital of Ireland where we'll spend the next two nights.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Accommodations:Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge, The Address Hotel Connolly
Day 6
Discover Diverse Dublin
Dive Into Culture and discover the fascinating 250-year-old story of Guinness at its original home, the Guinness Storehouse. Top it off with a taste in their Gravity Bar while you enjoy the panoramic views of Dublin. Drive through the pretty streets of Dublin with a Local Specialist to admire the stately Georgian Squares, Trinity College and St. Patrick's Cathedral, the tallest church in Ireland, before spending the rest of the day exploring the sights alone. Ramble through Temple Bar or Grafton Street, famous for its colorful street performers. This evening, consider joining an Optional Experience to a rousing Irish cabaret performance.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Accommodations:Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge, The Address Hotel Connolly
Day 7
Journey to Kilkenny and on to Waterford
We Dive Into Culture this morning and gain insights into rearing world-class thoroughbreds at the Irish National Stud established in 1946. Enjoy a guided walk through the farm and take some time to stroll through its tranquil Japanese Gardens, regarded as the best in Europe. Admire the imposing medieval castle at Kilkenny before some free time for lunch. Our next stop sees us Dive Into Culture yet again to witness the delicate craft of Waterford Crystal. We'll watch master crafters at work during a tour of the workshop and see the exquisitely crafted pieces in the showroom.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Accommodations:Waterford Marina Hotel, The Fitzwilton Hotel Waterford
Day 8
Ferry Across to Cultural Cardiff
An early start to our sightseeing today sees us cross the Irish Sea to Wales by ferry and continue our journey to the Welsh capital of Cardiff to view the Wales Millennium Center, National Assembly and historic Cardiff Castle, in the heart of the city. This evening, we Connect With Locals in the idyllic Welsh countryside, joining a local family for a Farewell Dinner Be My Guest experience. Visit the oldest and largest vineyard in Wales, you’ll learn how the Norris family are using sustainable farming practices and get to meet some of the resident animals that roam the land freely. You’ll enjoy a homemade meal, enchanting stories of rural life in Wales and warm Welsh hospitality, leaving with the knowledge that your visit supports the family in their efforts to farm sustainably.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Dinner
Accommodations:Park Inn by Radisson Cardiff City Center
Day 9
Soak up Bath and Stonehenge then off to London
Traversing the Severn Estuary into England, we arrive in the glorious UNESCO-listed city of Bath, with its elegant Georgian façades and visit the world-famous Roman Baths from which the city derives its name. Journey across the scenic landscapes of Wiltshire, paying a visit to the mysterious monolithic stone circle at Stonehenge, then return to London.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Accommodations:Park Plaza London Riverbank
Day 10
Farewell London
Say farewell to your traveling companions at the end of your vacation, as you prepare to fly home with wonderful memories.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
More Details
Brendan Vacations is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Britain and Ireland Highlights tour:
Travelers Notes
* LONDON TRANSFERS: Book air with Brendan Vacations and you will receive Complimentary transfers from and to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on arrival and departure days of the itinerary or in conjunction with pre-trip or post-trip accommodation booked through Brendan Vacations. Guests who have made their own flight arrangements may purchase a transfer at our specially negotiated group transfer rates.* NOTE: This Trip falls under Tour Deposit Level 1. Please refer to the Deposit, Payment and Cancellations policies on our website.
Meals Included
Pricing and availability are subject to change and must be confirmed by one of our travel advisors, who can contact the vendor to do so. Intra-vacation air (also referred to as internal air) is usually based on economy class seating (do not assume otherwise, unless explicity noted otherwise) and may be 100% non-refundable at time of final payment. Air quotes (including intra-vacation airfare) may be subject to change until final payment has been received by the vendor. Flight confirmation may be based on availability. Air reservations may not be able to be confirmed until a passport copy is received by the vendor. The following charges are not included in the vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees, including the September 11th Security fee, passenger facility charges, Federal domestic flight segment fees, and U.S. and international arrival and departure and other government-imposed fees added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature. Itinerary details are provided by the vendor. Vendors may reserve the right to change itineraries, even on existing reservations. There may be instances where the name of a tour contains a tour length in it, but where there is a version of the tour that is a different number of days in length. You can check the true length of a tour by referring to the length value listed in association with that tour. Destination images displayed on this web page, some which are supplied by the related vendor and some which are not, are intended to simply give a general representation of the region of the world being visited during the tour. Such images are not necessarily of the exact areas being visited during the tour. Hotel details (including, but not limited to: rating/class, descriptions, images, amenities and addresses) are provided by Brendan Vacations. Hotel amenities may be communicated in shorthand by Brendan Vacations (for example, if "Laundry" is listed that may only mean that the hotel has an optional fee-based service that would allow for your laundry to be done by their staff). We reserve the right to correct errors.
Request Submitted
Thanks for submitting your request. One of our expert travel advisors will be contacting you soon.
Feel free to contact us at 001-732-970-9142 if you'd like to speak to someone immediately.