British Isles – Castles, Countrysides and Capitals 2024
Tour Operator:
Tour Code:
948
Start City:
Edinburgh
End City:
Dublin
Tour Style:
Tour Quality:
First Class
Tour Length:
12 days
Dates & Prices
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Mar 07, 2024 | Monday, Mar 18, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Thursday, Apr 04, 2024 | Monday, Apr 15, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Thursday, Sep 05, 2024 | Monday, Sep 16, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 | Monday, Oct 07, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote |
Promotions
Save 5% Off this Tour - Guaranteed!
First Time Traveler Savings of up to $50
First Time Traveler Savings of up to $50
Promotion Details
Offer valid on for new bookings only. Additional restrictions may apply.
Save 5% on all Mayflower Vacations
Save 5% on all Mayflower Vacations
Promotion Details
Offer applies to new bookings only and is dependent upon availability. This offer may not be combinable with all offers, contact your Travel Consultant for full details. Other restrictions may apply.
Referral Rewards Program
Referral Rewards Program
Promotion Details
Offer valid to new bookings only. Applicable on tours of 5 days or longer. Additional restrictions may apply.
Tour Itinerary
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Day 1
Depart the USA:Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Edinburgh, Scotland, where centuries of history meet a vibrant, cosmopolitan city.
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Day 2
Edinburgh, Scotland:
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Day 3
Edinburgh:The day begins with an included tour of this capital city. See the delightful contrast of the city between the 18th-century Georgian "New Town" and the medieval "Old Town". The famed Royal Mile, backbone of the Old Quarter, runs from the Palace of Holyrood House to Edinburgh Castle. See the iconic sites of St. Giles Cathedral, Parliament Square and John Knox House. During the visit of Edinburgh Castle see the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure. This evening, join your Tour Manager and traveling companions for an evening of entertainment with an included dinner and show. Meals: B, D
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 4
Edinburgh – Chester, England via the Lake District:Today's adventure begins with the motorcoach journey through the rolling hills of the Scottish countryside en-route to England. Enjoy the scenic wonders of northern England with a visit to the Lake District. In the picture-postcard village of Grasmere, see some historical sites of Woodsworth, and learn about the history of the famed Grasmere Gingerbread. The journey continues as you travel through the British countryside arriving in Chester this evening. Meal: B
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 5
Chester:A walking tour of this picturesque city with its Tudor-style buildings, ancient ruins and a complete city wall starts your day. Discover the history of the city's former occupations by the Romans, Vikings, Danes, Saxons, Scots and Normans, while viewing the medieval half-timbered houses (some dating back to the 13th century), the Eastgate Clock (the 2nd most photographed clock in the UK, behind Big Ben), the Chester Cathedral and the 'Rows' - the highlight of the city center. The remainder of the day and evening is at your leisure to experience the charms of Chester. Meal: B
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 6
Stratford-upon-Avon – Cotswolds – Cardiff, Wales:Departing Chester, continue to another capital city, Cardiff, Wales. En-route, a stop is made in the traditional English town of Stratford-upon-Avon with its typical oak-beamed, gable-roofed houses. Visit the most famous house in town, the birthplace and childhood home of the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. You'll also see the school where he received his education, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, erected in his memory. Continuing on, experience the beauty of the Cotswolds - rolling hills ("wolds"), river valleys, and sleepy villages where houses made from the Cotswold Stone and cozy shops line the meandering streets. Experience the British tradition of 'tea and scones' at a local village in the Cotswolds before arriving in Cardiff early this evening for an included dinner. Meals: B, D
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 7
Cardiff:The day begins with a guided tour of Cardiff, the largest city in Wales. During the panoramic portion, your local guide will point out architectural sites that range from historic to modern, as well as provide history of the city. On the included visit to Cardiff Castle, whose walls conceal 2,000 years of history, you'll discover stories from the times of the Romans, Normans, Vikings, Victorian Era and even WWII. After the excursion, return to the hotel where the rest of the day is free of planned activities for your independent exploration of this capital city. Meal: B
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 8
Cardiff – Waterford, Ireland:A late morning departure from the hotel takes you to the port for embarkation of the ferry and the journey across the Irish Sea to Rosslare, Ireland. Upon arrival, continue by coach to the Waterford area for two nights' accommodation. Meal: B
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 9
Waterford / Blarney:Today's excursion discovers the sites of Waterford and Blarney. On a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal, witness the master craftsmen at work as you watch the process of transforming a ball of red-hot molten crystal into an elegantly crafted piece of art. Continue on to Blarney where there is time for lunch on your own before visiting the famed Castle known the world over as home to the "Stone of Eloquence" or the Blarney Stone. Legend has it, if you climb to the top of the castle and kiss the stone, you will never be lost for words and will receive the "gift of gab". The grounds of the castle are a curious place of ancient trees and stones, by legend a garden of Druid origin. The park has an aura of magic and mystique with Wishing Steps, Witch's Kitchen, Druid's Cave and many other delights, telling a story of centuries past. Return to Waterford for an included dinner. Meals: B, D
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 10
Waterford – Dublin:Leaving Waterford, travel to Dublin, the last capital city to be experienced on your journey through the British Isles. On the guided panoramic tour of this historic city, travel along O'Connell Street with its monument to Daniel O'Connell and other figures from Irish History. See the General Post Office, one of Ireland's most famous buildings, that was the rebel headquarters in the 1916 Easter Rising. Cross over the River Liffey which flows through the center of the city and catch a glimpse of the Temple Bar area. Visit Trinity College and see the Book of Kells, the famous 8th-century hand-illuminated gospel manuscript. See Grafton Street, one of the main pedestrian-zoned shopping streets and drive through Georgian Dublin, with the beautiful 18th-century houses and squares. Pass the National Museum, Parliament Building, St. Stephen's Green and visit St. Patrick's Cathedral before returning to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure. A special treat is in store tonight with an included dinner and evening entertainment. Music, song, and traditional Irish dancers take the stage during a show you're sure to enjoy! Meals: B, D
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 11
Dublin:Your final day is left free of planned activities to enjoy as you please…continue sightseeing, finish any last-minute shopping, or just relax at a pub and mingle with the locals. Meal: B
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 12
Dublin / USA:It's time to bid "cheerio" to the British Isles as you depart for the Dublin Airport with warm memories of the castles, countryside, and capital cities of your journey through these amazing countries. Meal: B
Meals: Breakfast
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Health and Safety Protocols for Mayflower Tours
For over 40 years, Mayflower Cruises & Tours has been committed to the safety, health, and well-being of our travelers. While things have changed in our world, our commitment to our travelers remains as solid as ever.
To ensure your health, safety and peace-of-mind while traveling with us, we have established a “Travel with Confidence” program, with enhanced safety measures and procedures throughout our tours, from start to finish.
The following three areas address our commitment to exceed industry and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) standards, providing a safe and clean environment for all.
Enhanced Screening
We are implementing new tour check-in procedures and pre-trip health screenings to ensure travelers a safe start to their tour. Travelers will be asked to sign off on a few basic Covid-19 related health questions before joining the tour. We will conduct touchless temperature checks for both travelers and staff at the start of the tour, as well as monitoring throughout the tour.
Responsible Social Distancing
We will endeavor to practice safe distancing for our guests throughout the journey, on coaches and during excursions. Travelers are encouraged to bring their own washable face masks; however additional face masks and hand sanitizer will be made available. Masks will be used by travelers and staff alike at any time where social proximity could be an issue. We will also reduce group sizes to abide by social distancing guidelines. And wireless listening technology for many of our tours will help enable safe distances between travelers on excursions.
Commitment to Clean
As a part of our commitment to clean, we are requiring enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures from our hotel partners and motor coach companies. Additionally, we are reassured with the knowledge that our airline partners are taking very stringent measures for passenger safety.
Tour Directors will be trained in new and enhanced hygiene procedures and they will be in constant contact with Mayflower’s Operations support team for added reassurance. The disinfecting and hand sanitizing procedures that we and our travel partners are implementing meet or exceed those recommended by the CDC.
In order to maintain cleanliness during the tour, we are minimizing the amount of contact points for our travelers by revising the ways meals, coach seating, hotel check-in and other activities are carried out. We will also have hand sanitizer available throughout the tour.
We Look Forward to Welcoming You Back Soon
We have always been committed to the health and safety of our travelers and team members, but we are raising the bar to an even higher level to ensure they are able to continue to enjoy the freedom to experience the wonder and joy of travel.
Mayflower will continue to review and update our safety protocols, following the standards set forth by travel and health agencies across the globe, including the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).
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Question: How many suitcases can I take with me on my trip?
Question: Is Airfare Included in the Price?
First time with Mayflower Tours, it was great. We will travel with them again. The tour guide added optional attractions not listed on the tour itenerary which was a plus to us. Affordable Tours agent, Brendan, was great to deal with too. All and all a good experience.
This trip was amazing. It was exciting, interesting, and I appreciated the free time and flexibility to explore on my own. Elisabetta was an excellent tour specialist. I would travel with her again.
Great trip--lots to see and do.
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Our Tour Manager, Jolie, was outstanding. We were totally impressed with her professionalism, courtesy, empathy, and kindness. She is also informative and a lot of fun. She treated all of us with dignity and warmth. She kept us informed about departure times, meal times,and opportunities for self-touring. We appreciated her cheerful and fun-loving attitude. Our bus driver, Mike was terrific. Great driver, very professional, and personable. He went out of his way to transport us to different destinations and provided great service. The pick up service drivers, Steve and Ken were on-time, courteous and friendly.