British and Irish Delight

9 day tour (8 nights)

• Roundtrip Group transfers when you book our flights ($30 fee for transfers on Land-only bookings)
• Sightseeing by luxury coach
• Professional tour director
• 8 nights in hotels listed
• Full breakfast daily except on day 1 (B)
• 5 dinners (D) including:
  - Welcome dinner in London
  - Scottish Evening in Edinburgh
  - Taylor's Three Rock Pub dinner and traditional show
  - 2 table d'hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Sightseeing tours of London, Edinburgh and Belfast and Dublin
• London open-top bus tour with Tower of London or Kensington Palace visit
• Walking tours of York, Derry and Dublin's Trinity College
• Reserved seats for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 7 to 21 departures
• Ferry from Scotland to Ireland
• Visits and admissions to Shakespeare's Birthplace, Alnwick Castle & Garden, Edinburgh Castle, Titanic Belfast, Giant's Causeway and Book of Kells at Trinity College
• Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
• Free Wi-Fi on coaches and in hotel lobbies

Hotels on this tour

• Doubletree by Hilton London, Islington (2 nights) 
• Gisborough Hall Hotel, Guisborough, North Yorkshire (1 night) 
• Macdonald Houston House Hotel, Edinburgh (2 nights) 
• Ballybally Castle Hotel, Ballygally (1 night) 
• Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (2 nights)

Day1: London Sightseeing

Today your vacation starts at your London hotel at 2pm where you will meet your tour director. Today you are free to schedule your London sightseeing as you wish when you take an open-top bus tour around the many famous landmarks. There are a number of different bus routes so that you can choose the part of London that you'd like to focus on. Meet your tour director over a welcome drink followed by dinner. (D)

Day 2: Independent London Walking Tour

Today explore London as you wish. Take an open-top sightseeing bus tour where you will have a choice of routes in London to explore including a range of famous landmarks as well as a walking tour and a River Thames cruise. A visit to the Tower of London or Kensington Palace is also included (B)

Day 3: Shakespeare's Birthplace and York Walking Tour
This morning drive to Stratford upon Avon to visit Shakespeare's birthplace where you can view an exhibition about his life and work before walking through the house where he was born. 2016 commemorates 200 years since his death. Head north to York for a walking tour to appreciate narrow streets and medieval houses, which contain centuries of history. The stately York Minster, with towers and stained glass, is the highlight of the walk. Check in to your hotel and relax before dinner. (B, D)

Day 4: Alnwick Castle & Edinburgh Scottish Evenng
Today visit Alnwick Castle, which is the second larges inhabited castle in England where you can explore lavish state rooms and gardens. Travel through Northumberland National Park on route to the scenic city of Edinburgh. Dine at a Scottish evening with a lively show of bagpipes, dancing and music. (B, D)

Day 5: Edinburgh Castle & Guided City Tour
This morning explore Edinburgh on a sightseeing tour. Compare and contrast the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” with the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. See Princes Street, the main shopping thoroughfare that separates the two areas. Learn about many prominent Scottish inventors, doctors and writers. Finish your tour at the imposing Edinburgh Castle where you can see historic buildings and enjoy splendid views of Edinburgh. The balance of the day is free for independent exploring, shopping and dining. On August 5 to 23 departures, experience the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

Day 6: Titanic Belfast & Ballygally Castle Stay

Drive to Cairnryan where you will embark on a short ferry ride to Belfast. Tour the highlights of the City Hall and Victorian Buildings. Visit the Titanic Belfast to learn about its ill-fated journey across the Atlantic. For your overnight stay, continue to Ballygally Castle Hotel (B, D) 

Day 7: Giant's Causeway & Derry
This morning travel along the “Nine Glens of Antrim” with views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Visit the Giant's Causeway, hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. The enormous rocks have spawned legends about the mythical giant, Finn McCool. Continue to Derry for your overnight stay. The evening is free to dine as you wish (B)

Day 8: Dublin & Taylor's Three Rock Pub
Take a tour around central Dublin, with spacious Georgian squares and streets, landmark public buildings and graceful townhouses. Visit Trinity College to see the campus and view the Book of Kells in the Old Library. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing or shopping. Enjoy dinner at Taylor's Three Rock Pub followed by an upbeat show with Irish music and dance. (B, D)

Day 9 - Homeward bound from Dublin Airport
Take a group transfers to Dublin Airport to check in for return flights. (B)

B=Breakfast, CB=Continental Breakfast, D=Dinner, L= Lunch