This comprehensive vacation introduces you to all five countries that make up the British Isles. Start with an overnight in London, then head west to prehistoric Stonehenge and then to the extraordinary Roman excavations in Bath. Next, spend a night in Newport, Wales, and travel via Cardiff to Pembroke for a ferry crossing to Ireland, where you will be welcomed with a typical Irish coffee, a Local Favorite on this vacation. Enjoy a guided visit of the House of Waterford Crystal, see Ireland’s oldest handweaving mill at Avoca, and take a guided tour of St. Kevin’s 6th-century Centre of Irish Christianity in Glendalough. In Dublin, an orientation drive features O’Connell Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College with its Book of Kells. Cross into Northern Ireland, pass the Mountains of Mourne, and stop in vibrant Belfast before boarding a ferry bound for Scotland. In the capital city of Edinburgh, guided sightseeing includes a visit to the castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Return to England, where you’ll see a section of Hadrian’s Wall (dating back to the 2nd century) and stop in medieval York to marvel at gothic York Minster. At Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit the Bard’s birthplace, before returning to London for an overnight and the conclusion of your journey.
City Highlights
STONEHENGE Visit the prehistoric monumentBATH Visit the Roman relicsNEWPORT Welcome dinnerCARDIFF Orientation drive, guided tour of Cardiff CastlePEMBROKE–ROSSLARE Cross St. George’s Channel by ferryWATERFORD [LF] Enjoy a traditional Irish coffee; guided tour of the House of Waterford CrystalAVOCA [LF] Guided tour of the handweaving millGLENDALOUGH Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish ChristianityDUBLIN Orientation drive, visit Trinity CollegeBELFASTOrientationBELFAST–CAIRNRYAN Cross the North Channel by ferryEDINBURGH Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh CastleJEDBURGH Take pictures of the abbey ruinsYORK Walking tourSTRATFORD-UPON-AVON Take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’s birthplace and [LF] enjoy lunch
Hotels
LONDON Hilton London Metropole (SF)NEWPORT Hilton (F)WATERFORD Granville (F) or Tower (F)DUBLIN Clarion IFSC (SF) or Hilton Kilmainham (SF)EDINBURGH Holiday Inn (F)YORK Novotel (F) or Holiday Inn (F)LONDON Hilton London Metropole (SF) or Holiday Inn London – Kensington Forum (F)
Meals
Full English breakfast (B); 1 lunch (L); 3 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Newport
Notes
NOTE:Edinburgh MilitaryTattoo ticket included for departures July 27 through August 17.
Transportation
Motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; ferries Pembroke-Rosslare, Belfast-Cairnryan
PRODUCT_LINE: GLOBUS-GB-2014
