24 Day Britain & Ireland in Depth

Welcome to London!  
Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Enjoy free time this afternoon. 

 

The Royal Treatment  
Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes sights of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, the Prime Minister’s residence at Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. (B) 
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
See the legendary landmarks of England’s historic capital city. Walk where voices have rung out for centuries in Parliament Square and where chimes rise high above you with the ringing of Big Ben’s quarter bells. See Westminster Abbey, where royal coronations, weddings, and funerals have made history. 
 

Prehistoric Finds & Pub Food  
Meet your Tour Director and travel companions, to depart London at 8 am. Try to unravel the mystery of prehistoric Stonehenge. Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then take time to view the monument up close. Head to the quaint market town of Ilminster for a welcome lunch at a local pub. Round off the day with a [LF] cruise on Plymouth Sound, one of the world’s great natural harbors, and view the Mayflower Steps. (B,L)  
 

LOCAL FAVORITE  
Cruise the deep natural inlet of Plymouth Sound, the harbor from where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail on the Mayflower bound for the New World in 1620. The wealth of history to be found in the Sound includes Sir Francis Drake’s expeditions, Napoleon’s detention aboard HMS Bellerophon in 1815, and Charles Darwin’s 1831 embarkation on the HMS Beagle – to name a few! 
 

Legends of Land & Sea  
Poldark’s Cornwall is today’s highlight as a scenic drive takes you through the West Country. There’s time for a photo stop at St. Michael’s Mount before a visit to the popular seaside resort of St. Ives. Return to Plymouth and enjoy free time this evening. (B)  
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Breathtaking views of Cornwall, including the setting of Winston Graham's Poldark saga of Cornish life in the 18th and early 19th centuries, will leave you breathless on a scenic drive through the stunning West Country. 
 

Timeless Kings & Thermal Springs  
At Glastonbury, hear about the legend of King Arthur and the Holy Grail, and then head to the Georgian city of Bath to visit the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths with time to explore this fascinating city on your own. Stay the night in Cardiff, the Welsh capital. (B)  
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
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. 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. 
 

Strait to Ireland  
Your journey through South Wales takes you to Fishguard. Cross St. George’s Channel to Rosslare in Ireland and proceed to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, and Ireland’s oldest city. i. (B,D) 
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
St. George’s Channel connects the British territory of Wales in the east and the southeastern part of Ireland in the west. It is named in honor of St. George, England’s patron saint. 
 

Fine Crystal & The Gift of Gab  
Visit the House of Waterford Crystal for a fascinating tour and witness the highly skilled master craftsmen at work. At Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone, take the opportunity to walk up to the castle, or shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. Your overnight stay is in the historic town and fishing port of Kinsale, famous for its multi-hued streets. You will have time to explore this evening. (B,D)  
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT  
Cut the blarney and hear the history of how telling tales is forever linked to the 15th-century castle and the village below in Blarney. Blarney developed as an estate village in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to serve the castle and its estate. 
 

Beauties in County Kerry  
Breathtaking beauty awaits with a drive around part of the Ring of Kerry on the Iveragh Peninsula. Have your camera ready for photos of sparkling seascapes and mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses. Tonight enjoy a [LF] dinner with traditional Irish music in a local restaurant. (B, D)  
 

LOCAL FAVORITE  
Join the locals of Killarney for an Irish dinner of traditional and modern dishes with festive Gaelic tunes in the heart of this historic Irish town. 
 

Killarney Calling 
Enjoy a full day in Killarney to experience and explore this vibrant town. (B) 
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
County Kerry is home to the exquisite natural beauty of a rugged and mountainous expanse in Killarney National Park. Nestled at the foot of these mountains, the shores and woodlands of the Lakes of Killarney share this magical place with waterfalls and dramatic skies above Ross Castle. 
 

Irish Eyes & Cheeky Rhymes  
A drive around the Dingle Peninsula includes a stop at the Blasket Islands Centre. Learn about the way of life on the remote islands, evacuated by their inhabitants in 1953. Later, stop at the quaint village of Adare and admire its pretty thatched cottages before arriving in Limerick. (B)  
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
There once was a town called Adare, with charm that was beyond compare... Adare’s charming thatched-roof cottages create visual poetry, earning this village in County Limerick, the title, some say, of the prettiest village in Ireland. 
 

Notes Above High Sea  
At the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, rising over 700feet above the Atlantic Ocean, step on to the edge of the world to admire awe-inspiring views. Via the limestone plateau of The Burren, reach Galway, a popular seaside destination with a buzzing center of colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Spend the night in the coastal seaport of Sligo. (B,D)  
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Feast your eyes on a stunning spectacle of sea and sky at the Cliffs of Moher on the Wild Atlantic Way. Try to resist the inspiration that has moved artists, poets, and scientists throughout the ages as you stand on the edge of 320 million years of geologic perfection on the rugged coastline of County Clare. 
 

Derry Girls & Daring Giants  
Visit Derry today, the second largest city in Northern Ireland and one of the finest examples of a walled city. Follow in the legendary footsteps of Finn McCool, as you admire the Giant’s Causeway, composed of 40,000 basalt columns formed millions of years ago. Stay in Belfast tonight, Northern Ireland’s seat of government.  (B,D)  
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Follow in the legendary footsteps of giants at the foot of the cliffs along the coast of Northern Ireland, where 40,000 massive black basalt columns jut out of the sea. Hear the legendary myth of two battling giants that caused the magnificent geological wonder of Giant’s Causeway, which actually evolved through volcanic activity 50–60 million years ago. 
 

An Unsinkable Legend  
This morning’s orientation drive includes City Hall, the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, and Queen’s University. Then complete your visit to Belfast with a fascinating visit to Titanic Belfast. Learn about the doomed ship’s maiden voyage, and the tragic events of April 14 -15, 1912. Cross back over the Irish border and visit Carlingford, a charming seaside town, situated on the Cooley Peninsula, before arriving in Dublin.  (B)  
 

TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Explore the fascinating Titanic Belfast Experience for an in-depth look at the history and mystery of the legendary ocean liner. See artifacts and amazing accounts of Belfast’s boom in shipping and those who built her. Learn about the courage and loss of all involved on a fateful night in April 1912. Get an immersive look at the launch, sinking, and final resting place of the doomed ship, with myths and reality revealed. 
 

Ireland’s Capital City  
Take a morning orientation drive to see O’Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this vibrant city. (B) 
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
“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 Trinity College. 

 

Welsh Word Challenge  
Board your ferry to North Wales. Stop for a photo in the tongue-twisting village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll before enjoying a scenic drive through north Wales to Liverpool. There’s free time this evening. (B)  
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
The village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll may be impossible to pronounce, but its English translation is no walk in the park, meaning “St. Mary's Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the red cave.” Nevertheless, this small Welsh village with the big name is a quaint coastal spot in North Wales. 
 

Songs, Sonnets, and Secret Vows  
Start the day with a visit to The Beatles Story for a fascinating journey into the life and music of the “Fab Four.” Take a scenic drive through the tranquil Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a break in Wordsworth’s beloved Grasmere and try original [LF] Grasmere Gingerbread. Head north to the Scottish border and stop at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith witnessed weddings for runaway young couples. (B,D)  
LOCAL FAVORITE  
Sweeten the day with classic gingerbread and hear about Sarah Nelson, a Victorian cook who invented it in 1854. 
 

Spectacular in Scotland  
Follow the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond, then proceed via Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe, and Fort William, and follow the “Road to the Isles” to Mallaig, where you board your ferry for the crossing to the Isle of Skye. Visit the Museum of the Isles. Return to the mainland and follow the shores of Loch Ness on the way to Inverness. (B,D)  
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Survey the shores of famed Loch Ness for the chance to catch a glimpse of its mysterious Nessie. Hear of the folklore and firm believers in the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, which is said to swim in the shimmering waters. 
 

The Bronze Age & Brave Battles  
Today’s excursion includes a visit to the Bronze-Age chamber tomb site of Clava Cairns, featured in the popular TV series Outlander. At Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre hear the story of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans. Return to Inverness for some free time in the Capital of the Highlands. (B)  
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Inverness boasts a rich history of historic sites including Inverness Castle and St Andrew's Cathedral yet today is a lively city with a range of restaurants, bars, and shops. Discover the covered Victorian Market where independent traders have been selling their wares since the 19th century. 
 

Mulligans & Military Music  
Start the day with a walk through the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. Visit St. Andrews, a famous university town whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club has given us the rules of golf before traveling over the elegant Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh. (B) 
TOUR HIGHLIGHT  
Unpack your plaid for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures August 3 and 10.  
See the fairways and greens at the birthplace of golf, where legendary players of the Scottish game made history in the university town of St. Andrews. 
 

Crown Jewels & Castle Views  
Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The afternoon is free to enjoy the Scottish capital at your own pace. (B) 
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
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. 

 

Castle Heirs & English Fare  
This morning, visit Floors Castle, the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s family home and the largest inhabited castle in Scotland. Make your way to York, England’s most complete medieval city. Admire the great structure of the Minster and follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (B)  
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
The Roxburghe Estate of Floors Castle has been the home of the Innes-Ker family since it was built for the 1st Duke of Roxburghe in 1721. Surrounded by fine Victorian gardens, this historic stately home is known as the gem of the Scottish borders spanning 52,000 acres that are also home to sheep, cattle, and Cheviot lamb. 
 

Spend Your Day Your Way in Stratford-upon-Avon 
Depart Yorkshire, setting of author James Herriot’s beloved “All Creatures Great and Small,” and head to Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. Take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and explore more of the town with your choice of an included Globus Choice excursion. Choose between a visit to Shakespeare’s Birthplace or a visit to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Stratford’s Guildhall. Later, enjoy a scenic drive through the beautiful Cotswolds followed by [LF] dinner at a local pub. (B,D) 
 

Churchill’s Beginnings  
Today’s highlight is the visit to magnificent Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. There’s also time to explore the beautifully landscaped parklands.  You will return to London at around 3.30 pm. (B) 
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
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. 

 

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)