GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

London:

• Good morning dear Londonites! Meet your new crew and hop onto our coach. It’s time to make some moves.

Windsor:

• Hello Windsor, at the top of our agenda today is obviously, getting a magnificent view of the royal Windsor Castle!
• Afterwards, you’ve got some free time. So why not strut like a royal around this beautiful town studded with gardens and riverside views.
• And then it’s back on the coach to our next destination.

Bath:

• Ready? We’re going back in time. Because you’ve got some free time to explore this historical town. Visit the Royal Crescent, Roman Baths, the Jane Austen museum or maybe do a canal cruise! (Go on, live your period drama dreams.)

Bristol:

• Welcome to the sea-side wonder of Bristol. Colourful buildings, crazy cliffs, beautiful bridges – you’re in for a treat. Speaking of treats…you can drop your bags off at our hotel before we feast on some well-deserved dinner.
• Afterwards, you’re free to roam the streets for a night out with your newly-made friends.

Included Experience:

• See Windsor Castle
• Explore the City of Bath

Bristol:

• Time to wake up! We’ve got some more exploration to do. And you’ve got a delicious breakfast waiting for you.
• Today, you can choose to check out Bristol’s street art with a local guide before we make our way into Oxford!

Oxford:

• You’ve been dreaming about this. Haven’t you? We’re finally in THE Oxford – with its world-famous museums, libraries, churches and of course, University.
• You can even choose to roam around the river on a Punt.

Stratford-upon-Avon:

• We’ll make a quick stop in this charming little town, also known as Shakespeare’s birthplace.
• Then we’re back on the road and heading to Birmingham for the night.

Birmingham:

• Hungry? We’ll drop our bags off at the hotel and stroll around in the streets and grab a bite on the way.
• Get a good night’s sleep because tomorrow, we’re heading up North!

Included Experience:

• Explore Oxford on Foot
• Discover Shakespeare’s Hometown

Optional Experience:

• Take a Street Art Walking Tour in Banksy’s Hometown
• Float around Town on a Punt

Birmingham:

• Birmingham, you’ve been grand.
• But we’ve got places to be. Grab some breakfast before we hop onto our coach once more.

Liverpool:

• Welcome to Liverpool. Chat all things Beatlemania & football in your best Scouse accent as we take a guided city tour.

Manchester:

• Tonight we’ll bed down in Manchester – Liverpool’s neighbouring city and fellow home of musical royalty that you’re free to explore. Just remember that toniiiiiight, you’re a rock and roll star.

Heads up! Some departures will include an overnight stay in Liverpool rather than Manchester. Details about this will be shared in your travel documents closer to departure.

Included Experience:

• Take a ‘Liverpool City Tour’

Manchester:

• Lap up your last dose of Manchester before we go back to the time of the Vikings

York:

• 2,000 years of history will unfold upon us as we amble down narrow lanes of York, exploring the Minster, the Shambles and Clifford’s Tower.
• For fans of folklore, sign up to a night of ghostly horrors and dark alleyways & prepare to be spooked.

Included Experience:

• Tour York on foot

Optional Experience:

• Ghost Walk

York:

• Even if the ghosts of York kept you awake all night, you’re going to need to rise & shine and wave goodbye to the Harry Potter like setting of this ancient city. (Sorry).

Lake District National Park:

• Obstacles aren’t really our thing. But when they’re all natural? Like rocky chutes, clear pools of water and even the occasional mini waterfall – all in the oh-so-stunning Lake District? Who can say no? And today, you have the option to explore it all.

Carlisle:

• We’ll end the day in quaint and charming Carlisle, England’s northern-most town (right on the border of England & Scotland)! Nothing like the northern air to cosy up and wake as fresh as a daisy the next morning for all our activities.

Optional Experience:

• Go Ghyll Scrambling in the Lake District

Carlisle:

• Today we are in for some border hopping along the English/Scottish border to see the sights on our way to Edinburgh!

Hadrian’s Wall:

• We’ll take a spectacular drive to the Roman Empire’s impressive Hadrian’s Wall as well as English country charm in abundance.

Edinburgh:

• Back in the 21st Century, we’ll find ourselves in Edinburgh, a city that, although still simmering in ancient history, comes alive with music festivals, a rousing creative scene & fun bars.
• We’ll kick off the evening with the option to indulge in a whisky tasting experience.

Included Experience:

• See the highlights of Edinburgh

Optional Experience:

• Hadrian’s Wall
• Whisky Tastes and Tales

Edinburgh:

• Today is yours to roam free – but if you want to get the low down on the history of this city why not join our local guide for an optional tour of Edinburgh Castle (which is resting on an extinct volcano!!) to kickstart your love affair with this city.
• Or maybe you’ll do a spot of tartan shopping on Princes Street.

Optional Experience:

• Edinburgh Castle Experience

Edinburgh:

• It’s time to blaze a trail out of Edinburgh & head for the Scottish Highlands.

St. Andrews:

• On the way to the main affair of the day we’ll stop by St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf, would you believe? As well as Scotland’s oldest university town.

Scottish Highlands:

• Already blown away by the beauty of the rugged mountain scenery en route, we’ll arrive in the Scottish Highlands amped up for mystical tales and a chance to compete in some optional traditional Highland games.

Included Experience:

• Visit St Andrews

Optional Experience:

• Highland Games with Lunch MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience

Scottish Highlands:

• We might be coming down from a high (geographically speaking) this morning, but as we seek out the stunning Loch Ness, the mood will only be rising.

Loch Ness:

• We’ll stop to see lovely Loch Ness and hop on board for a cruise of the most voluminous lake in the UK – containing more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined! It’s also rumoured to contain something else, something far more legendary which you’re sure to have heard of…

Dundreggan:

• Small pitstop! We’ll check out the lush, hilly rewilding centre here to learn about how Scotland’s native animal species are reintroduced into the wild.
• Plus, you have the option afterwards to canoe across the stunning southern end of Scotland’s most famous lake and see even more wildlife along the way.

Glasgow:

• We’ll arrive into Glasgow tonight, grab a bite to eat and then hit the hay ready for some more exploration in the am!

Included Experience:

• Spot the Loch Ness Monster
• Visit Dundreggan Rewilding Centre (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)

Optional Experience:

• Canoe across Loch Ness

Glasgow:

• Wakey wakey everyone. We’re up bright and early this morning. Next stop, Stirling!

Stirling:

• We’ll make a stop in Stirling, the town where William Wallace took on the English and yelled “Freeedom!” (and also known for its famous hill-top Castle).
• Today, we’ll also check out the epic engineering feat called the ‘The Kelpies’ in Helix Park.

Glasgow:

• Get involved with everything great about Glasgow. Live music on every corner, a gothic cathedral & plenty of quirky characters make this city unique.
• Plus, you’ve got the option to celebrate our final night in Scotland with a local meal accompanied by live, traditional music.

Included Experience:

• See the William Wallace Monument
• See the Largest Equine Sculptures in the World

Optional Experience:

• Enjoy a Scottish Evening

Glasgow:

• Scotland, you’ve been unreal. If Ireland puts on half the show you did, we have many happy days ahead of us.

Larne:

• We arrive in the port town of Larne, your first steps on Northern Irish soil, but not for long…

Dublin:

• So much more than the capital city, Dublin is a place of heritage, character, and more cute pubs than you could crawl in a week.
• First fill up on your included group dinner, then end the day with a lively night of festivities at the cobbled lanes of Temple Bar.

Optional Experience:

• Gooses T-Shirts

Dublin:

• That’s us done with Dublin…for now. But fear not Dub-lovers, we’ll get another taste of this fine place before our trip comes to an end.

Kilkenny:

• Wanna break up your coach hangs with some bicycle time? Then choose to join us for a bike ride in a city sure to leave you wanting Irish in your blood.
• Explore the castle, a cathedral and take in all of the medieval charm that Kilkenny has to offer before we hit the road again.

Clonmel:

• Welcome to Clonmel! But not before the chance to opt into sampling some of Ireland’s famous whiskey at the Jameson’s Distillery in Midleton.
• After we arrive in the evening, we’ll tuck into an included dinner and then head off into town together to explore.

Optional Experience:

• Kilkenny Bike Tour
• Jamesons Distillery Tour

Clonmel:

• Clonmel, it’s been fun, but we have to leave you now. Next up, we’re off to an Irish city that was propelled into the pop culture stratosphere by none other than Ed Sheeran. Anyone wanna guess where?

Blarney:

• Irish folklore tells us there’s a chunk of limestone built into a castle that grants its kissers the gift of the gab. Pucker up kids, we’re paying her a visit!

Cliffs of Moher:

• Whether heights are your cup of Irish Breakfast or not, these impressive cliff faces are not to be missed!

Galway:

• From the moment we arrive in Galway, you’ll understand why 2 nights were needed here.
• Everything you’ve dreamed Ireland to be is tucked into this small, atmospheric city.
• Step into a local pub and down Irish stew over live music and chats with locals.
• Outside will be just as lively, with buskers & colourful buildings lining the streets.

Included Experience:

• Visit Blarney Castle
• See the iconic Cliffs of Moher
• Get to Know Galway

Galway:

• Try your tongue at some Gaelic and carry on exploring gorgeous Galway.
• Or, if you hear the call of the wild, you can sign yourself up to a ferry ride to Aran Islands (summer departures only) where you can dance around with horses and take a bike ride around the picturesque farms, or head up to Dún Aonghasa (the ruins of a prehistoric fortress) – make sure you take photos, this area is not for the faint-hearted! Irish life, you so sweet.

Optional Experience:

• Aran Islands Excursion

Galway:

• Goodbye Galway, hello more Irish eye-candy.

Derry/Londonderry:

• This afternoon, we’ll drive into Derry/Londonderry – a historical city with 17th century walls.
• Today, you can opt for an authentic rural Irish experience with sheepdogs, a local shepherd and some homemade lunch.
• Next, we’ll head into town for an optional guided tour of the Bogside – a neighbourhood that used to be underwater! This day is as Irish as it gets.

Included Experience:

• See the City Walls

Optional Experience:

• Sheep Dog Experience MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
• Bogside Walking Tour

Derry/Londonderry:

• Today we’ve got a one way ticket to Belfast and a whole lot more exploration to do.

Giant’s Causeway:

• UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway – also known as those giant rock columns you’ve probably drooled over on Pinterest, needs to be seen to be believed.
• Get those hashtags ready, a snap with the group is essential on this mind-blowing natural formation.

Belfast:

• Next up – we’ll arrive in Belfast. Concluding the day will be a driving tour and an optional trip to the Titanic museum where the world’s most famous ship was built.

Included Experience:

• See Giant’s Causeway
• Tour Belfast

Optional Experience:

• Titanic Experience

Belfast:

• With one night left in Ireland and on tour, we’re on the fast track to Dublin where our Irish fairytale first began.

Dublin:

• A promise is a promise. Here we are back in the city that started our Ireland infatuations.
• Use this second stint to do your missed critical activities such as visiting the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn how to pull a pint the Irish way.
• Tonight you can choose to end your week in Ireland at a Free Time Add-On farewell dinner.

Optional Experience:

• Guinness Storehouse
• Irish Farewell Dinner

Dublin:

• We leave Ireland today with leprechauns in our hearts and memories in our souls.
• Enjoy the roll back to London town as it will be the last bout our crew has together.

Wales:

• Before we wave goodbye to our friends in jolly Old London, why not test your Welsh on a visit to a town boasting the longest name in Europe.

London:

• We’ve crossed the Irish Sea, motored through Wales, passed the town of try-to-say-it-out-loud Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, and now we are back in London.
• That’s all folks! Pass the tissues, say your goodbyes, and make plans for your next adventure.
• Unless, of course, there’s talk of a reunion tour. Greek Islands, anyone?