Globus - The Best of the British Isles

London roundtrip

From the lively cities to the breath-taking scenery, discover the very best of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland on this British Isles tour. You’ll have 2-night stays in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Limerick and Exeter as well as an overnight in Warwick, York, Inverness, Glasgow, Liverpool, Killarney, Waterford and Cardiff. You’ll visit some of Britain’s famous castles and palaces, including Warwick Castle, with a history dating back almost 11 centuries and where you’ll have a special pre-public-opening guided tour; Edinburgh Castle, home of the Scottish Crown Jewels; and Holyrood Palace (when available), The Queen’s official Scottish residence.

You’ll also witness spectacular scenery on this British Isles tour! You’ll cruise on Scotland’s Loch Lomond, mainland Britain’s largest body of fresh water; pass through England’s beautiful Lake District; visit the 668-foot Cliffs of Moher, with its breath-taking views of rugged cliffs dropping into the ocean; join the Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile panoramic drive through rugged and magnificent landscapes; drive through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park in Wales; cruise on Plymouth Sound, one of the world’s great natural harbors; and more. Plus, you’ll also experience some charming British towns, such as Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare; Pitlochry, the Victorian mountain resort; Looe, a small Cornish fishing village; Bath, where you’ll visit the Roman ruins; and much more.

Throughout this British Isles tour, Globus also has included unique experiences for you, such as afternoon tea at a 150-year-old farmhouse in Ireland and a tasty dinner at a local pub in Dartmoor. All of this and much more await you on this fabulous British Isles holiday!

Map

 

 

Itinerary

DAY 1:   ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND.

Welcome to London! Uniformed Globus Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

DAY 2:   LONDON.

Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the Thames River, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister's Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. The highlight is a visit to ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708. This afternoon, why not join an optional excursion to Windsor Castle or the Tower of London, and later, maybe an optional dinner, followed by a cruise on the Thames River? (B)

DAY 3:   LONDON-OXFORD-STRATFORD-UPON-AVON-WARWICK.

Meet your Tour Director and travelling companions and depart London at 8 am for a lovely day of sightseeing. Drive to Oxford and enjoy a walking tour through the "City of Dreaming Spires" to see the colleges where Britain's elite receives its outstanding education. At Stratford-upon- Avon, visit SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHPLACE and take pictures of Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (B,D) Today's Distance: 124 mi / 199 km

DAY 4:   WARWICK-YORK.

A spectacular start to the day with a special, pre-public-opening guided tour of magnificent WARWICK CASTLE. Marvel at the opulent Great Hall and State Rooms, and visit the former private apartments. Later, in York, stand in awe in front of the great Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (B,D) Today's Distance: 145 mi / 233 km

DAY 5:   YORK-JEDBURGH, SCOTLAND-ABBOTSFORD-EDINBURGH.

See a section of Hadrian's Wall, and take pictures of the abbey ruins in Jedburgh. Then, take a guided tour of Sir Walter Scott's ABBOTSFORD HOUSE, with its impressive collection of historic relics, weapons, and armor. Spend the next two nights in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. Tonight, consider an optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. For departure numbers 0804 through 0825, tickets are included for tonight's performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO. (B) Today's Distance: 200 mi / 321 km

DAY 6:   EDINBURGH.

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, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (when available, excluding August and other occasional dates). Afternoon at leisure. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. (B)

DAY 7:   EDINBURGH-ST. ANDREWS-PITLOCHRY-CULLODEN- INVERNESS.

Drive over the elegant Forth Road Bridge and through Fife to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club has given us the rules of golfing. Then, through Dundee and the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry to the CULLODEN VISITOR CENTRE, where you hear the story of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie's Scottish clans. Overnight at Inverness, the Highland capital. (B,D) Today's Distance: 199 mi / 320 km

DAY 8:   INVERNESS-FORT WILLIAM-GLASGOW.

A day of glorious Highland scenery begins with a drive along the shores of Loch Ness, looking out for its mysterious monster. Then, at BEN NEVIS WHISKY DISTILLERY, discover the art of converting barley, water, and yeast into a heart-warming liquor. Along Loch Linnhe, over haunting Glen Coe, and across wild Rannoch Moor, you reach the "Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond for a CRUISE on the loch before heading south to Glasgow. (B,D) Today's Distance: 174 mi / 279 km

DAY 9:   GLASGOW-GRETNA GREEN-LAKE DISTRICT, ENGLAND- LIVERPOOL.

On the way through the Lowland Hills, stop at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith would wed runaway couples. Pause in the beautiful Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in Liverpool, visit THE BEATLES STORY, an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture, and music of the "Fab Four." (B) Today's Distance: 238 mi / 383 km

DAY 10:   LIVERPOOL-NORTH WALES-DUBLIN, IRELAND.

Cross the border into North Wales and drive to lovely Betws-y-Coed and through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park. After a stop at tongue-twisting Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, board your FERRY at Holyhead for the crossing to Dublin. For a first taste of Ireland, why not join an optional Irish cabaret evening, including dinner, dance, song, and laughter? (B) Today's Distance: 131 mi / 210 km

DAY 11:   DUBLIN.

An orientation drive in the Irish capital includes statue-lined O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde's Trinity College. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the vibrant city. Maybe take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse. (B)

DAY 12:   DUBLIN-KILDARE-CASHEL-LIMERICK.

Across the Curragh to see the magnificent thoroughbreds at the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare. On the way to Limerick, see the Rock of Cashel, Tipperary, and on arrival, an orientation drive acquaints you with St. Mary's Cathedral, King John's Castle, and the stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. Tonight, you might like to join an optional medieval banquet at an historic castle. (B) Today's Distance: 153 mi / 245 km

DAY 13:   LIMERICK. WEST COAST EXCURSION.

Take in the breathtaking view of the Clare coast from the 668-foot CLIFFS OF MOHER, then a drive across the limestone plateau of The Burren to the port city of Galway. Next, a special treat at RATHBAUN FARM: watch the farmer shear a sheep and manoeuvre a flock with the help of a sheep dog. Then, enjoy TRADITIONAL TEA in the 150-year-old farmhouse. (B) Today's Distance: 163 mi / 263 km

DAY 14:   LIMERICK-ADARE-RING OF KERRY-KILLARNEY.

Via quaint Adare with its pretty thatched cottages and Killorglin on Dingle Bay, join the spectacular RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island's southwestern tip. Later, you might like to take an optional jaunting-car ride through Killarney National Park, with glorious views of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (B,D) Today's Distance: 178 mi / 286 km

DAY 15:   KILLARNEY-BLARNEY-WATERFORD.

Morning visit to Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, where you join a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. (B,D) Today's Distance: 158 mi / 254 km

DAY 16:   WATERFORD-CARDIFF, WALES.

By FERRY from Rosslare, cross St. George's Channel to Pembroke and drive through South Wales. Why not join an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner tonight? (B) Today's Distance: 145 mi / 234 km

DAY 17:   CARDIFF-BATH, ENGLAND-DARTMOOR-EXETER.

First this morning, travel to the elegant Georgian city of Bath to see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS. You will also have time to explore the town further on your own. The next two nights are spent in Exeter. (B) Today's Distance: 191 mi / 308 km

DAY 18:   EXETER. CORNWALL EXCURSION.

Today's excursion takes you to Cornwall, of Poldark fame, and to the pretty fishing village and former smugglers' port of Looe. Then, follow in the footsteps of Drake, Raleigh, and the Pilgrim Fathers who boarded The Mayflower 400 years ago, with a CRUISE on Plymouth Sound, one of the world's great natural harbours. You will also have time at the historic Plymouth Barbican to see the Mayflower Steps before returning to Exeter. Then, head into wild and romantic Dartmoor for a tasty DINNER at a local pub. (B,D) Today's Distance: 137 mi / 221 km

DAY 19:   EXETER-STONEHENGE-LONDON.

For the finale of your journey, travel to prehistoric STONEHENGE and try to unravel its mystery. Explore the visitor centre with its imaginative exhibitions, then take the shuttle to the stone circle and admire the magnificence of the monument up close. Return to London around 4 pm. How about celebrating your holiday by taking in one of the London's great West End shows? (B) Today's Distance: 179 mi / 287 km

DAY 20:   LONDON.

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Please note: Prices shown are based on low season travel. (28/04/2020)

Travel Dates:
Specific travel dates apply

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