British Isles London to Dublin Adventure - 9 Days

Welcome to London – on arrival we’ll arrange your transfer to the hotel, after which you’ll have free time to relax or explore nearby at your own pace. In the afternoon, please check the information boards at hotel reception for details of the tour start time and meeting point. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

This morning we explore London on a guided city tour, taking in Westminster, the Parliament, the City and the River Thames. In the afternoon you’ll have free time – you can join an optional excursion to the Thames Valley to visit Windsor, home to the castle that overlooks the town. In the evening we meet at Piccadilly for a guided walk through Leicester Square, Chinatown and Soho, areas known for their theatres and lively atmosphere. This evening programme may occasionally run on the previous day depending on arrival times. We then return to the hotel by coach.

London – enjoy a full free day to explore at your own pace. With no scheduled activities, you can revisit highlights from yesterday’s city tour or discover different corners of the city as you wish. Take your time, linger where it suits you and make the most of the day before we continue the journey tomorrow.

We leave London this morning and head north to Cambridge to admire its renowned colleges. After lunch we continue to York to see its impressive cathedral, Roman walls and lively shopping streets – you’ll have free time to explore the historic centre. Later, we travel on to Durham, a vibrant medieval city where the magnificent cathedral stands opposite the castle.

We travel north into Scotland, pausing in Alnwick, a picturesque town known for its beautiful gardens and large medieval castle – a filming location for the Harry Potter films. We then continue to Edinburgh, arriving around midday. Scotland’s capital is one of Northern Europe’s most vibrant cities and its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the castle overlooking the city’s steep streets and parks. We enjoy a panoramic tour with a local guide.

We set off from Edinburgh for a full day in the Scottish Highlands. Our first stop is Pitlochry for coffee and a short stroll. We then continue via Inverness towards Loch Ness, where we visit Urquhart Castle – admission included – before embarking on a boat ride on the loch’s dark waters. The route then leads past Fort Augustus, known for its series of locks, and on to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest summit in the United Kingdom. Heading south, we cross high plateaus where snow is often visible and follow the scenic shores of Loch Lomond, reaching Glasgow at the end of the day.

Important note: For departures arriving in Edinburgh from 15 November to the end of February, shorter days and frequent snow mean we follow an adjusted itinerary. We depart at 08:00 a.m. for Pitlochry (09:45 a.m.–11:15 a.m.), where we visit a traditional whisky distillery – admission included. We then continue to Stirling (12:30 p.m.–03:30 p.m.) to visit the historic castle – tickets included – with time for lunch. After a photo stop at The Kelpies, we drive on to Glasgow, arriving at around 05:00 p.m., when you’ll have time to stroll through the city centre.

We leave Glasgow and travel south through Scotland to Cairnryan to board the ferry to Northern Ireland. On arrival we reach Belfast – the capital – a monumental city emerging from its historical religious conflicts. We then continue into the Republic of Ireland, arriving in Dublin by the end of the day.

This morning we’ll take a panoramic tour of Dublin – Ireland’s peaceful capital – following the River Liffey and taking in its parks, historic university and lively city centre. We’ll view Trinity College from the outside. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure. Note – depending on our arrival time in Dublin and daylight hours, this tour may run the previous afternoon.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Dublin – tour services end here. We hope you leave with wonderful memories of your trip.