Welcome to London!
Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Free time this afternoon.
The Royal Treatment
LONDON Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes sights of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Prime Minister's Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOTS England's national treasure of St. Paul's Cathedral is home to a spectacular array of art from delicate carvings to gilded dome murals and modern works of art. As the seat of the Bishop of London, the cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London, where notable remembrances have been served here, including Queen Victoria's jubilee, birthdays of Queen Elizabeth II, and funerals of luminaries like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
Mysterious Stones and Spa Days
LONDON Meet your Tour Director and travel companions at 8 am and drive to Stonehenge.
STONEHENGE Visit the prehistoric monument.
BATH Visit the excavations of the Roman Baths. 141 mi / 227 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS The traditions of one ancient Roman ritual are in full flow in Bath. Amid the remarkable Roman and Georgian architecture and the best-preserved Roman Baths of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a good spa day is never hard to find in one of the "Best Spa Towns in Europe." The city of Bath sits above geothermal springs that bubble up from the limestone below. Bath also turns up the heat with some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings, a mecca for elite 18th-century society.
Welsh Dragons, Daffodils & Castles
CARDIFF Morning orientation drive features Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, and the stately civic buildings.
PEMBROKE Ferry crossing across St. George's Channel to Rosslare. 188 mi / 303 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CAPITAL CITY Explore the Welsh capital, see many historic buildings and discover its 2,000-year history of invasions, abductions and conflicts from 1st century AD when the Romans built the first series of forts.
County Cork Characters
BLARNEY Visit the town known for its magical Kissing Stone.
KINSALE Stop in the historic town famous for its multi-hued streets.
ROSSCARBERY Free time. 134 mi / 215 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Brighten your world with a visit to Kinsale, Ireland's vibrant town where the Wild Atlantic Way begins. Stroll the brightly painted storefronts and winding streets beside the sweeping hues of blue and green in this Irish seaside town.
Irish Eyes & Cheeky Rhymes
RING OF KERRY Panoramic drive around part of Ireland's southwestern peninsula.
KILLARNEY [LF] Take a horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney National Park.
LIMERICK Free time this evening. 164 mi / 264 km (B)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
NATURAL WONDERS County Kerry is home to the exquisite natural beauty of a rugged and mountainous expanse in Killarney National Park. A horse-drawn jaunting-car ride is a great way to experience this natural wonderland, including the 1,000-foot Mcgillycuddy's Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland. Nestled at the foot of these mountains, the Lakes of Killarney's shores and woodlands share this magical place with waterfalls and dramatic skies above Ross Castle.
The Winner's Circle
CASHEL See the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached.
KILDARE [LF] Visit the Irish National Stud. DUBLIN Free time this evening. 155 mi / 249 km (B)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
CULTURE & TRADITION The Irish National Stud is home to the long tradition of Ireland's love of horses. This horse breeding facility in County Kildare, considered the beating heart of Ireland's thoroughbred industry, continues to inspire all who visit, including Queen Elizabeth II. Hear about some of the world's most magnificent champion stallions that have made history since the turn of the 20th century.
Ireland's Capital City
DUBLIN Morning orientation drive to see O'Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Trinity College. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS "In Dublin's fair city where girls are so pretty," you'll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick's Cathedral, and legendary library of Trinity College.
Coffee with Cream & Maritime Theme
CARLINGFORD Stop at the charming seaside town on the Cooley Peninsula and enjoy [LF] an Irish coffee.
BELFAST An orientation drive includes City Hall, the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, and Queen's University; visit Titanic Belfast Experience. 122 mi / 197 km (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES It's clear why we get a warm feeling with traditional Irish Coffee - as much a warm welcome now as it was for stranded travellers in 1943. It was a wintry night in Limerick when Foynes Port chef Joe Sheridan concocted this soothing elixir of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and whipped cream to make their cancelled flight a little more palatable. Raise a toddy glass of Caife Gaelach with a hearty 'slainte!'
Strait Ahead to Scotland
BELFAST Ferry crossing on the North Channel strait to Scotland's Cairnryan. 234 mi / 376 km (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean's Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including its floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Crown Jewels & Castle Views
EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, the Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland's Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures July 27, August 3 and 10. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with a 1,100-year history as "the most besieged place in Great Britain." Here, you'll find the royal regalia and Scotland's Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.
High Praise & Market Days
ALNWICK Stop at a market town voted the "best place to live in Britain."
YORK Visit York Minster on a guided walk through the best-preserved medieval shopping streets called The Shambles. 220 mi / 354 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT York Minster is hailed as one of the world's most magnificent cathedrals, and the centre of Christian faith in Northern England. From its exquisite, handcrafted stone to its incomparable collection of medieval stained glass, you'll discover why York Minster has drawn visitors from around the world for over 1,000 years.
Mr. & Mrs. Shakespeare
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON See Anne Hathaway's Cottage and visit Shakespeare's Birthplace. 260 mi / 418 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
A LEGEND SLEPT HERE Ah, love! Even more true as young Shakespeare's fiancee was eight years his senior. See Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the family home where the bard's wife-to-be was born and courted by young Will. Built more than 500 years ago, much of the original structure remains. Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace and family home in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales of his family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Churchill's Beginnings
WOODSTOCK Visit Blenheim Palace, Sir Winston Churchill's birthplace.
LONDON Free time this afternoon. 98 mi / 159 km (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enjoys a fascinating history. Built as a gift in 1704 from Queen Anne to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, this massive and magnificent masterpiece of English Baroque architecture is also home to exquisite artwork and gardens.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)