Map
Vacation Highlights INCLUDED FEATURES Stonehenge: Visit the prehistoric
monument Salisbury: Visit the cathedral city Bath: Visit the Roman relics
Cardiff: Orientation drive Pembroke-Rosslare: Cross St. George’s Channel
by ferry Waterford: Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factory Kilkenny: Take
a stroll in this pretty county town Kildare: Guided tour of the Irish National
Stud Dublin: Orientation drive, visit Trinity College Belfast: Orientation
Belfast-Stranraer: Cross the North Channel by Stena Line’s High Speed
Service Edinburgh: Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle Floors: Visit the
Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s stately home Jedburgh: Take pictures of
the abbey ruins York: Walking tour Stratford-upon-Avon: Take pictures of Anne
Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’s birthplace Note: Optional
London city tour and afternoon excurions to Windsor Castle or the Tower of
London are available if extra London nights are reserved Tickets for the
world-renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included for the following
departures: August 4 through August 18 INSIDE VISITS Inside visits and special
features are shown in the description, including admission charges when
applicable
Accommodations MEALS - (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner Full English
breakfast daily (B); 3 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including
a welcome dinner in Newport SUPERIOR HOTELS - London Hilton London Metropole
(SF), Newport Hilton (F), Waterford Granville (F), Dublin Clarion (SF),
Edinburgh Ramada Mount Royal (F), York Ramada (F), London Park Plaza
Westminster Bridge (SF)
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ESSENTIAL BRITAIN & IRELAND - 2010 11 days incl.
travel, or 10 days from London to London (GB)
Vacation Overview
 This comprehensive vacation gives you an
insight into all five countries of the British Isles. Start your trip in
England with visits to prehistoric Stonehenge, Salisbury with its famous
cathedral, and the extraordinary excavations of the Roman Baths in Bath. Then
travel to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, and through South Wales to board the
ferry for the crossing to Ireland. Watch the craftsmen at work at the Waterford
Crystal factory, admire the stallions at the Irish National Stud, and relax in
Dublin, Ireland’s capital, before heading north past the Mountains of
Mourne to vibrant Belfast. Another ferry crossing takes you to Scotland and its
capital city, Edinburgh, where a guided city tour includes a visit to Edinburgh
Castle. The final highlights of this vacation include the Duke and Duchess of
Roxburghe’s magnificent Floors Castle, a walking tour through York, and
last but not least, Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon.
You’ll arrive home with lots of stories and photos to share from your
vacation to the British Isles.
Itinerary Day 1 Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
.jpg) Day 2 Arrival in London The London
Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel , England Uniformed Globus Hosts will
be waiting to welcome you. After checking into your hotel and an afternoon at
leisure we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with dinner
followed by a guided illuminations cruise on the River Thames.
 Day 3 London–Stonehenge Story
aboutStonehenge "Built in several stages starting around 3,000 BC,
Stonehenge remains one of humankind’s biggest mysteries. While science is
still trying to determine the purpose behind this famous prehistoric monument,
it is generally assumed to be some sort of astronomical observatory that
reflects the changing trajectory of the sun through the sky and the
seasons" –Salisbury The Salisbury Cathedral in England
–Bath–Newport, Wales Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions
and depart London at 8 am for a memorable day’s sightseeing. Try to figure
out the riddle of STONEHENGE; take a stroll in picturesque Salisbury with its
vast cathedral, the ultimate in Early English Gothic; in the elegant Georgian
city of Bath see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS The Roman Baths
once served as a complex for public bathing . Cross the River Severn for a
late-afternoon arrival in Wales. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel.
(B,D)
 Day 4
Newport–Cardiff–Waterford, Ireland A morning orientation drive in
the Welsh capital features the major attractions: Cardiff Castle Cardiff Castle
is one of Wales’ leading attractions , Cathays Park, and the stately civic
buildings. Continue along the South Wales coast to Pembroke, where your FERRY
will be waiting. Sail across St. George’s Channel to Rosslare on the
Emerald Isle and proceed to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish
Vikings in 853. (B,D)
 Day 5 Waterford–Kilkenny–Kildare–Dublin
Dublin, the capital of Ireland This morning, look forward to a visit to the
world-famous WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY, then in Kilkenny, take a stroll in this
pretty county town. Later, horseracing country with a visit to the IRISH
NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the
racecourses of the world. Drive across the Curragh and on arrival in Dublin,
top the day with your Tour Director’s dining recommendation. (B)
 Day 6 Dublin An orientation drive in
Ireland’s capital city includes statue-lined O’Connell Street,
elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then visit Oscar
Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE Enjoy the beautiful campus of the renowned Trinity
College , famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old
Library. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, maybe take in an optional dinner outing
to the Guinness Storehouse. (B)
 Day 7Dublin–Belfast, Northern
Ireland–Edinburgh On your way to Northern Ireland, cross the River
Boyne, then skirt the Mountains of Mourne. In Belfast, where the Titanic was
built, take in the city’s vibrant history and view the impressive City
Hall. Next, board your fast FERRY to cross the North Channel to Stranraer on
Scotland’s southwest coast and continue through the Scottish Lowlands to
Edinburgh. (B)
Day 8 Edinburgh Morning city sightseeing with a local expert introduces
you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors,
and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal
 Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE The Edinburgh Castle
dominating the skyline of Edinburgh, Scotland to admire Scotland’s Crown
Jewels. The afternoon is free to enjoy this “Prince of Cities” at
your own pace or maybe join an optional excursion to Rosslyn Chapel, made
famous by The Da Vinci Code novel. Tonight, relax and enjoy our optional
Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the
Haggis. For departure numbers 0804, 0811, and 0818, tickets are included for
tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO Enjoy the
sounds of bagpipes and drums at the Military Tattoo performance , a vast
spectacle of massed Scottish pipe bands which takes place in an arena on the
esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. (B)
 Day 9Edinburgh–York, England
This morning, visit magnificent FLOORS CASTLE, the stately home of the Duke
and Duchess of Roxburghe. On past the abbey ruins at Jedburgh and the house of
Mary, Queen of Scots, into wild Northumberland National Park. Later, see a
section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against
marauding northern tribes. In York, England’s most complete medieval city,
stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your
Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets including the narrow Shambles.
(B,D)
 Day 10
York–Stratford-upon-Avon–London Skirt Robin Hood’s Sherwood
Forest on the way to Stratford-upon-Avon. Take your pictures of ANNE
HATHAWAY’S COTTAGE, visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE, and enjoy
lunchtime exploring this fascinating Elizabethan town at your own pace. On
return to London at about 3:30 pm, a Shownight Theater Evening would be the
best finale to your vacation; ask your Tour Director. (B)
Day 11 Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)
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