UK- BRITIAN & IRELAND

DAY 01 : LONDON 
ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND.
CHECK INTO YOUR HOTEL. IN THE AFTERNOON THERE’S TIME TO REST OR TO START EXPLORING THE LIVELY BRITISH CAPITAL; UNIFORMED HOSTS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STAY.

DAY 02 : LONDON
A FULL DAY TO ENJOY OUR EXCITING PROGRAM OF OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES. MORNING SIGHTSEEING FEATURES ALL THE FAMOUS LANDMARKS: ROYAL ALBERT HALL, KENSINGTON’S SPLENDID MUSEUMS, KNIGHTSBRIDGE WITH HARRODS, THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AND BIG BEN BESIDE THE RIVER THAMES. HIGHLIGHTS ARE A VISIT TO ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL AND THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, IF HELD.
THIS AFTERNOON YOU MAY WANT TO VISIT WINDSOR CASTLE OR THE TOWER WITH ITS SPECTACULAR CROWN JEWELS, AND TONIGHT A LEISURELY CRUISE ON THE RIVER THAMES WOULD BE FUN. (B)

DAY 03 : LONDON-STRATFORD-COVENTRY.
MEET YOUR TOUR DIRECTOR AND TRAVELING COMPANIONS AND DEPART AT 8 A.M. FOR A MEMORABLE DAY’S SIGHTSEEING: THE ORNAMENTAL GARDENS OF HAMPTON COURT PALACE; RUNNYMEDE, WHERE KING JOHN SEALED THE MAGNA CARTA; OXFORD WHERE A WALKING TOUR TAKES IN THE COLLEGES WHERE BRITAIN’S ELITE RECEIVE THEIR OUTSTANDING EDUCATION; BLADON, WHERE SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL LIES BURIED WITHIN SIGHT OF HIS BIRTHPLACE, BLENHEIM PALACE; THROUGH THE LOVELY COTSWOLD HILLS. AT SHAKESPEARE’S STRATFORD-UPON-AVON TAKE YOUR PICTURES OF ANNE HATHAWAY’S COTTAGE AND EXPLORE THE TOWN AT YOUR OWN PACE. FINALLY AT COVENTRY, WHOSE CENTER HAD TO BE REBUILT AFTER THE DEVASTATION OF WORLD WAR II BOMBINGS, HEAR THE TALE OF LADY GODIVA AND PEEPING TOM, AND ADMIRE THE SPLENDID MODERN CATHEDRAL. (B,D)

DAY 04 : COVENTRY-YORK-SCOTCH CORNER.
LEAVE THE MIDLANDS PASSING THE ONCE-MIGHTY SHERWOOD FOREST, HOME OF THE LEGENDARY ROBIN HOOD, AND HEAD NORTH TO YORK, ENGLAND’S MOST COMPLETE MEDIEVAL CITY. STAND IN FRONT OF THE GREAT STRUCTURE OF YORK MINSTER, THEN FOLLOW YOUR TOUR DIRECTOR THROUGH A MAZE OF QUAINT STREETS, INCLUDING THE NARROW SHAMBLES. STOP FOR THE NIGHT NEAR RICHMOND, GATEWAY TO THE YORKSHIRE DALES MADE FAMOUS BY JAMES HERRIOT’S ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. (FB,D)

DAY 05 : SCOTCH CORNER-EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.
INSPECT A SECTION OF HADRIAN’S WALL, THE ROMAN COAST-TO-COAST DEFENSE AGAINST MARAUDING NORTHERN TRIBES, THEN MOTOR THROUGH WILD NORTHUMBERLAND NATIONAL PARK TO THE SCOTTISH BORDER. STOP FOR PHOTOS AT JEDBURGH, WITH GLIMPSES OF THE HOUSE OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, AND THEN MELROSE WITH ITS 12TH-CENTURY ABBEY RUINS AND CONNECTIONS WITH ROBERT THE BRUCE. AFTERNOON ARRIVAL AT EDINBURGH; YOUR TOUR DIRECTOR WILL HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS EVENING. (FB)

DAY 06 : EDINBURGH.
A FULL DAY TO ENJOY THIS “PRINCE OF CITIES”. MORNING SIGHTSEEING WITH A LOCAL EXPERT STARTS WITH AN ORIENTATION DRIVE ALONG PRINCES STREET AND THE ROYAL MILE, WITH TALES OF SOME TRULY INTRIGUING CHARACTERS: DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, AND GREYFRIARS BOBBY.
HISTORY COMES ALIVE AS YOU TOUR MIGHTY EDINBURGH CASTLE. AFTERNOON AT LEISURE. A SUGGESTION FOR THIS EVENING: A TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH NIGHT OUT WITH HIGHLAND DANCERS, BAGPIPERS, AND OF COURSE THE CEREMONY OF THE HAGGIS. (FB)

DAY 07 : EDINBURGH-LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.
SOUTH THROUGH THE HISTORY-STEEPED LOWLAND HILLS AND A VISIT TO GRETNA GREEN, WHERE THE BLACKSMITH USED TO WED RUNAWAY COUPLES. DRIVE THROUGH BEAUTIFUL SCENERY IN THE LAKE DISTRICT, CONSIDERED TO BE THE FINEST OF ENGLAND’S NATIONAL PARKS.
VISIT WORDSWORTH’S GRASMERE, THEN FOLLOW THE SHORES OF LAKE WINDERMERE. END THE DAY IN LIVERPOOL OF BEATLES FAME, ONCE THE DEPARTURE PORT OF THE GREAT TRANSATLANTIC LINERS. (FB,D)

DAY 08 : LIVERPOOL-CHESTER-DUBLIN, IRELAND.
IN CHESTER, THE HISTORIC COUNTY TOWN ON THE RIVER DEE, YOUR WALKING TOUR TAKES IN THE ROMAN REMAINS, BLACK AND WHITE HALF-TIMBERED BUILDINGS, AND THE TWO-TIERED SHOPPING ARCADES CALLED THE “ROWS”. CROSS THE BORDER INTO NORTH WALES AND FOLLOW THE COAST ROAD VIA CONWAY AND BRITANNIA BRIDGE TO THE ISLE OF ANGLESEY. TAKE YOUR PHOTOS AT TONGUE-TWISTING LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLL… AND AT HOLYHEAD BOARD THE FERRY FOR THE IRISH SEA CROSSING TO DUBLIN. (FB)

DAY 09 : DUBLIN
A DAY IN THE “FAIR CITY” STARTS OFF WITH AN ORIENTATION DRIVE THROUGH EIRE’S CAPITAL AND INCLUDES STATUE-LINED O’CONNELL STREET, ELEGANT GEORGIAN SQUARES, PHOENIX PARK, AND ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL. THE REST OF THE DAY IS FREE FOR YOU TO ENJOY DUBLIN AT LEISURE. CELEBRATE THE EVENING IN REAL STYLE AT AN OPTIONAL IRISH DINNER AND CABARET SHOW. (FB)

DAY 10 : DUBLIN-ENNIS.
HEAD FOR DAIRY FARM COUNTRY IN THE CENTER OF THE “EMERALD ISLE.” IN GALWAY, A VIBRANT CITY ON THE WEST COAST WITH A GREAT SEAFARING TRADITION, HEAR ABOUT THE INFAMOUS LYNCH STONE COMMEMORATING THE DAY MAYOR JAMES LYNCH FITZSTEPHEN HANGED HIS SON FOR MURDER.
CROSS THE LIMESTONE PLATEAU OF THE BURREN TO VISIT THE SPECTACULAR 668-FOOT CLIFFS OF MOHER BEFORE HEADING FOR ENNIS, COUNTY TOWN OF CLARE. TONIGHT’S OPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY: A TRADITIONAL IRISH CEILI. (FB)

DAY 11 : ENNIS-KILLARNEY.
STOP FOR PHOTOS IN ADARE, A VILLAGE KNOWN FOR ITS PRIZE-WINNING THATCHED COTTAGES AND MONASTIC RUINS. IN COUNTY KERRY JOIN THE ROAD KNOWN AS THE “RING OF KERRY” FOR A 100-MILE COASTAL PANORAMIC DRIVE.
FOCUS YOUR CAMERA ON SPARKLING SEASCAPES, MOUNTAINS DOTTED WITH BRIGHTLY COLORED FARMHOUSES, WINDING LANES BORDERED WITH SUBTROPICAL VEGETATION, AND VIEWS OF THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY FROM LADIES VIEW. LATER IN KILLARNEY DISCOVER WHY THIS IS SUCH A POPULAR RESORT. (FB,D)

DAY 12 : KILLARNEY-TRAMORE.
ACROSS THE KERRY MOUNTAINS AND THROUGH COUNTY CORK TO BLARNEY, FAMOUS FOR ITS MAGICAL STONE OF ELOQUENCE. TIME TO SEE THE CASTLE AND SHOP FOR IRISH CRAFTS AND HANDMADE CRYSTAL. AFTER LUNCH DRIVE PAST CORK, THE COUNTRY’S SECOND-LARGEST CITY. FINALLY, YOUGHAL AND DUNGARVAN ON THE WAY TO THE SEASIDE RESORT OF TRAMORE. TONIGHT MAYBE AN OPTIONAL PUB TOUR BEFORE DINNER AT YOUR HOTEL. (FB,D)

DAY 13 : TRAMORE-CARDIFF, WALES.
VIA WATERFORD FOR THE SHORT DRIVE TO THE FERRY PORT AT ROSSLARE. IN JUST UNDER FOUR HOURS YOU CROSS ST. GEORGE’S CHANNEL TO SOUTH WALES. CONTINUE THROUGH RICH DAIRY FARMLAND TO CARDIFF, WHERE AN ORIENTATION DRIVE INTRODUCES YOU TO THE CAPITAL’S MAJOR ATTRACTIONS: CARDIFF CASTLE, CATHAYS PARK, MILLENNIUM STADIUM AND THE STATELY CIVIC BUILDINGS. YOUR TOUR DIRECTOR WILL HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EVENING OF WELSH ENTERTAINMENT. (FB)

DAY 14 : CARDIFF-BATH-LONDON, ENGLAND.
A DAY PACKED WITH HIGHLIGHTS BEGINS AS YOU CROSS THE SPECTACULAR SEVERN BRIDGE INTO ENGLAND. STOP IN THE ELEGANT GEORGIAN CITY OF BATH, FAMOUS FOR ITS ROMAN RELICS, BEFORE CONTINUING VIA STONEHENGE, STILL AN INTRIGUING MYSTERY, TO SALISBURY, THE “CITY OF THE SOARING SPIRE.” AFTER RETURNING TO LONDON AROUND 4 P.M., HOW ABOUT CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS OF YOUR TOUR WITH A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN? (FB)

DAY 15 : DEPARTURE FLIGHT