Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to London.
Day 2 - Arrive London (2 nights) Time to relax after check-in to your Trafalgar hotel. Hotel: Jurys Inn Chelsea
Day 3 - London at leisure Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 4 - London – Shakespeare Country (Coventry) First stop today is the university city of Oxford. You’ll have time perhaps to visit one of the colleges. Then we drive through the rolling Cotswold Hills where we see thatched roofed cottages, until we reach Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. Then on to Coventry. (Continential breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Royal Court
Day 5 - Shakespeare Country ( Coventry) - Leeds We see Coventry's two cathedrals, learning of the horrific World War II bombing raids. Next we continue to York where we see the Minster and the Shambles. Then we head to our hotel in Leeds. (Full breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Jurys Inn
Day 6 - Leeds – Edinburgh (Falkirk) (2 nights) We travel to the city of Durham built on a peninsula on the River Wear. We’ll visit Palace Green where the ancient castle with its keep is located opposite the Romanesque cathedral. Then we continue through the Northumberland National Park and into Scotland, stopping to view the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey, en route to Airth Castle. (Full breakfast)Hotel: Airth Castle
Day 7 - Edinburgh sightseeing We drive to nearby Edinburgh where our sightseeing shows us Princes Street, the Royal Mile and views of the castle. Then free time to perhaps potter around the Grassmarket, visit Holyrood House, or visit the Rosslyn Chapel. Later, you have the option of a night out with Highland dancing, bagpipes and haggis. (Full breakfast)
Day 8 - Edinburgh (Falkirk) – Chester (Runcorn) Today, we drive through the Southern Uplands to Moffat Woollens en route back into England. Then we enjoy a scenic drive through the Lake District stopping in Grasmere. Along the shores of Windermere and through pastures, reminiscent of Wordsworth's great poetry, to Runcorn near Chester for dinner and overnight stay. (Full breakfast / Dinner)Hotel: Holiday Inn Runcorn
Day 9 - Chester area (Runcorn) – Dublin (2 nights) We're off to the centre of Roman Chester this morning, with a chance to admire its Tudor architecture and galleried shops known as the Rows. Time to walk the Roman walls and perhaps visit the cathedral or simply shop for souvenirs before we return to our coach. Then we skirt the Snowdonia National Park in Wales and drive to Holyhead where we board our ferry and cruise to Ireland. On arrival we take our coach and continue to the capital city of Dublin for our two-night stay. (Full breakfast) Hotel: Montrose
Day 10 - Dublin sightseeing This morning our guided sightseeing tour of this ‘fair city’ includes Trinity College, views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and historic Phoenix Park. Later there is time at leisure when you may wish to visit an Irish stately home or shop for fine linens and tweeds in O'Connell Street. (Full breakfast)
Day 11 - Dublin – Limerick Today we cross to the west side of the country across rich farmland to the city of Galway. Here we have time to see the cathedral before we continue to drive alongside Galway Bay, immortalized by the famous Irish song. From here we travel inland to Limerick. (Full breakfast / Dinner)Hotel: Jurys Inn
Day 12 - Limerick – Waterville This morning we enjoy a short orientation which shows us St. Mary's Cathedral and King John's Castle. Then there's time perhaps to visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park before we begin our drive via the prettiest village in Ireland, Adare, en route to Killarney. We drive around the Ring of Kerry with magnificent scenery including plunging cliffs, granite mountains and enthralling seascapes. Later on to Waterville for the night. (Full breakfast / Dinner)Hotel: Waterville Lake
Day 13 - Waterville – Cork – Waterford We travel into County Cork, stopping at Blarney Castle and have the chance to kiss the famous stone in order to acquire the ‘gift of the gab'. From here it's on to Cork, where we see the City Hall and St. Anne's Shandon Church. Finally on to Waterford, home of the world-renowned crystal, where we visit the showroom. Then on to our hotel in time for dinner. (Full breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Days
Day 14 - Waterford – Cardiff This morning we leave from our Waterford hotel early in order to reach the port of Rosslare in time to board our ferry to Fishguard in South Wales. Next we drive to our hotel in Cardiff. (Full breakfast) Hotel: Quality
Day 15 - Cardiff – Bath – London Orientation in the Welsh capital, Cardiff, shows us the Millennium Stadium and the historic castle. Then we cross the River Severn into England and admire the Georgian architecture of the city of Bath. Next we journey to see the mysterious stone circle, Stonehenge. Then we see Salisbury cathedral, which has the tallest spire in England, before returning to London at the end of our tour. (Full breakfast)Hotel: Jurys Inn Chelsea
Day 16 - London - USA Bid farewell to your new friends on your return flight to the USA. (Buffet breakfast)
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