Deluxe & Superior First Class Hotels - 14 Day Coach Tour
See the best of Britain and Ireland in just 14 days. Start in the vibrant metropolis of London and see other capital cities - Edinburgh and Dublin. Visit major scenic regions including the Giant's Causeway, the Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry. Shop along Oxford Street, explore medieval York and Chester and the Georgian squares of Dublin. Centrally located hotels provide excellent breakfasts and dinners. Enjoy special evenings with entertainment including a Scottish Cabaret Show.
Day 1: London Arrival & Tour
Start your trip at Heathrow Airport with an independent transfer to your hotel. At 2:30 pm take a panoramic tour of central London to see famous landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Nelson's Column and lions of Trafalgar Square, Big Ben towering over the Houses of Parliament and Hyde Park. In the evening meet your tour director for a welcome drink before dinner in your hotel. (D)
Day 2: Tower of London & City Sights
Today you may schedule your London sightseeing when you take an open-top bus tour around the many famous landmarks. There are a number of different bus routes as well as a walking tour and a cruise on the River Thames. Visit the Tower of London to view the magnificent Crown Jewels, guarded by Beefeaters in distinctive Tudor uniforms. You are free to choose a restaurant to dine independently. (B)
Day 3: Cambridge & York Walking Tour
Visit Cambridge to see some of the famous university colleges, including King's College, and the Mathematical Bridge over the River Cam. 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: Abbotsford House & Cabaret Evening
Pass Heddon-on-the-Wall to view a portion of Hadrian's Wall and travel through the scenic Northumberland National Park. Cross into Scotland at Carter Bar. Drive through the scenic Borders to visit Abbotsford House, Sir Walter Scott's home. View an impressive collection of memorabilia and a library with over 9,000 rare volumes, where he wrote most of his novels. Drive to Edinburgh in time for dinner at the Edinburgh Nights Cabaret where you will experience lively Scottish entertainment. (B, D)
Day 5: Edinburgh Castle & Guided City Tour
Discover Edinburgh's highlights on a city tour. See the elegant Georgian “New Town” with spacious streets and the compact medieval city along the Royal Mile. Tour Edinburgh Castle to view the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. Also enjoy splendid views of central Edinburgh. The rest of the day is free for independent activities. On August 5 to 19 departures, experience the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)
Day 6: Giant's Causeway & Derry
This morning will be an early start as you drive to Cairnryan for a short ferry ride to Larne. 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. (B, D)
Day 7: Ulster Folk Park & Dublin
This morning join a local guide for a short walking tour around Derry, surrounded by medieval city walls. Near Omagh visit the Ulster American Folk Park to see many cottages and traditional crafts. The Park traces the story of Ulster emigrants and shows rural lifestyles in both Ireland and America in Colonial times. Travel south to Dun Laoghaire, where your Victorian hotel is located on Dublin Bay, a few miles from the city. (B)
Day 8: Book of Kells & 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: Rock of Cashel & Killarney
Depart Dublin and drive south through pleasant farming country. Visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster in 977. See the 12th century highly-decorated Cormac's Chapel, the large cruciform cathedral and a round tower. Continue to the famous town of Killarney and check in to your hotel with state-of-the-art pool and spa facilities. (B, D)
Day 10: Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience
Embark on the Ring of Kerry tour for constantly-changing vistas of mountains, open Atlantic Ocean, beaches and cliffs. There will be plenty of stops to admire the scenery. Visit the Skellig Experience to learn about early Christian monks who lived on the rocky offshore islands and about prolific bird life today. Stop at Moll's Gap for panoramic views before returning to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 11: Blarney Castle & Waterford Crystal
Visit the famous Blarney Castle this morning to kiss the “Stone of Eloquence.” Travel through the outskirts of Cork city and along the south coast to the city of Waterford. Visit the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre to see how glass is blown and cut by master craftspeople and view a collection of amazing trophies. Check in to your hotel, located on the dockside of this port city. (B, D)
Day 12: Ferry to South Wales
Cardiff and take a brief tour of the city. Head to Cardiff Castle, developed in Roman times and transformed into an elaborate Gothic-style residence in the 19th century. A tour of the Castle is followed by a fun Welsh banquet in the undercroft. (B, D)
Day 13: Roman Baths & Stonehenge
This morning explore Bath, popular for its natural hot springs with the Romans 2,000 years ago and again in fashion in the 18th century Regency period. Tour the Roman Baths and Pump Room, wonderfully preserved after two millennia and see the stately mansions of the Royal Crescent and Queen's Square. Drive to Salisbury Plain to view the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge. Continue into London and check in to your hotel once again. (B)
Day 14: Depart from Heathrow Airport
Travel to Heathrow Airport by group coach transfer, to arrive by 9:00 am. Transfers to Gatwick Airport can be arranged at an additional cost. (B)
B=Breakfast, CB=Continental Breakfast, D=Dinner
Hotels on this tour:
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Park Plaza County Hall, London (2 nights)
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Marriott Hotel, York (1 night)
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Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh (2 nights)
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Everglades Hotel, Derry (1 night)
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Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (2 nights)
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Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
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Granville Hotel, Waterford (1 night)
- The Parc Hotel, Cardiff (1 night)
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Park Plaza County Hotel, London (1 night)
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