Tour overview

This 22-day escorted tour makes a grand loop through England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales, from Shakespeare's birthplace to the islands of the far north and the wild Atlantic coast. You travel by comfortable coach with a tour director throughout and local experts in key places, and several days have a relaxed start. You stay 21 nights in a curated mix of hotels, from the Swan's Nest in Stratford-upon-Avon to the baronial Ardoe House near Aberdeen and the Aghadoe Heights or Great Southern in Killarney. Twenty-one breakfasts, eleven dinners and a lunch are included, among them a welcome dinner with drinks in Stratford, a dine-around evening in Killarney and a celebration dinner with wine in Plymouth.

From London you head to Stratford-upon-Avon, then medieval York, with its walls and Minster. Crossing the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, you reach Edinburgh, where a local expert shows you Princes Street and the castle. You visit St Andrews, home of golf, then travel north past Loch Ness to Wick, with a ferry to the Orkney Islands and their ancient sites.

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On the way to Skye you follow lochs and mountains via Ullapool, then return to the mainland past Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Lomond to Glasgow. A ferry crosses to Northern Ireland and the Giant's Causeway, and a storyteller guides you around Derry's walls. In the Republic you see Sligo Bay, the wild landscapes of Connemara and Galway, Limerick and the Ring of Kerry, kiss the Blarney Stone, visit Kilkenny Castle and explore Dublin, including the Guinness Storehouse.

Crossing back to Wales, you see Conwy Castle and stop in Liverpool, then visit Cardiff, Georgian Bath and Dartmoor, before Stonehenge and the return to London.

The physical rating is low. This tour suits travellers who want to see the best of Britain and Ireland in one comprehensive journey, with every detail taken care of. Relaxed starts on several mornings and two-night stays in Edinburgh, Wick, Killarney, Dublin and Plymouth keep the pace comfortable over three weeks.

Trip highlights

  • Stratford-upon-Avon and York (Days 1–2)
  • Edinburgh and St Andrews (Days 4–5)
  • Orkney and the Isle of Skye (Days 7–8)
  • The Giant's Causeway (Day 10)
  • The Ring of Kerry and Blarney Castle (Days 14–15)
  • Dublin, Bath and Stonehenge (Days 17–22)

Your route

38 stops from London to Stonehenge

22-day route: London – York – Edinburgh – Orkney – Skye – Giant's Causeway – Killarney – Dublin – Cardiff – Bath – London
  1. London Days 1 & 22
  2. Oxford Day 1
  3. Stratford-upon-Avon Day 1
  4. York Day 2
  5. Grasmere Day 3
  6. Gretna Green Day 3
  7. Edinburgh Days 3–4
  8. St Andrews Day 5
  9. Aberdeen Day 5
  10. Loch Ness Day 6
  11. Wick Days 6–7
  12. Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) Day 7
  13. Ullapool Day 8
  14. Broadford (Isle of Skye) Day 8
  15. Eilean Donan Castle Day 9
  16. Glencoe Day 9
  17. Loch Lomond Day 9
  18. Glasgow Day 9
  19. Giant's Causeway Day 10
  20. Londonderry Day 10
  21. Donegal Day 11
  22. Belleek Day 11
  23. Sligo Day 11
  24. Galway Day 12
  25. Limerick Day 12
  26. Adare Day 13
  27. Killarney Days 13–14
  28. Blarney Castle Day 15
  29. Cork Day 15
  30. Kilkenny Day 16
  31. Dublin Days 16–17
  32. Conwy Castle Day 18
  33. Liverpool Day 18
  34. Cardiff Day 19
  35. Bath Day 20
  36. Wells Cathedral Day 20
  37. Plymouth Days 20–21
  38. Stonehenge Day 22

Why choose this tour

Five nations of Britain and Ireland in one journey, including Orkney and Skye. Distinctive hotels and eleven dinners, with relaxed starts.

Best suited to

  • Overseas visitors and UK travellers wanting a grand tour
  • Travellers who prefer coach touring
  • History and literature lovers
  • Couples and friends
The basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Day-by-day itinerary

22 days from London, England to London, England

  1. Day 1 · London, Stratford-upon-Avon London to Stratford-upon-Avon

    Meet your tour director and travel to Stratford for a welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    Swan's Nest or similar
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · York York

    Explore medieval York.

    Hotel
    Hilton York or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, Edinburgh Lake District to Edinburgh

    Cross the Dales and Lakes to Edinburgh.

    Hotel
    Edinburgh Marriott Holyrood or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Edinburgh

    A guided tour of Scotland's capital.

    Hotel
    Edinburgh Marriott Holyrood or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · St Andrews, Aberdeen St Andrews to Aberdeen

    Visit St Andrews, then stay in a baronial mansion.

    Hotel
    Ardoe House Hotel and Spa or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Loch Ness, Wick Loch Ness to Wick

    Travel through whisky country and past Loch Ness.

    Hotel
    The Norseman or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Orkney Orkney Islands

    A ferry to the Orkney Islands.

    Hotel
    The Norseman or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Ullapool, Isle of Skye To Skye

    Travel via Ullapool to the Isle of Skye.

    Hotel
    The Dunollie, Broadford, or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Lomond, Glasgow Eilean Donan to Glasgow

    See Eilean Donan and Loch Lomond.

    Hotel
    Radisson Blu Glasgow or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Giant's Causeway, Derry/Londonderry Giant's Causeway to Derry

    Cross to Northern Ireland and visit the Giant's Causeway.

    Hotel
    Da Vinci's or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Derry/Londonderry, Belleek, Sligo Derry to Sligo

    Walk Derry's walls with a storyteller, then travel to Sligo.

    Hotel
    Clayton Sligo or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  12. Day 12 · Connemara, Galway, Limerick Connemara and Galway

    Cross Connemara to Galway and Limerick.

    Hotel
    The George or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Limerick, Adare, Killarney Adare to Killarney

    Explore Limerick and Adare, then a dine-around in Killarney.

    Hotel
    Aghadoe Heights or Great Southern, or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Ring of Kerry Ring of Kerry

    A scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry.

    Hotel
    Aghadoe Heights or Great Southern, or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Blarney Castle, Cork Blarney to Cork

    Visit Blarney Castle, then Cork.

    Hotel
    Maldron South Mall or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Kilkenny Castle, Dublin Kilkenny to Dublin

    Visit Kilkenny Castle on the way to Dublin.

    Hotel
    Trinity City or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Dublin, Guinness Storehouse Dublin

    Explore Dublin and visit the Guinness Storehouse.

    Hotel
    Trinity City or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  18. Day 18 · Conwy Castle, Liverpool Conwy to Liverpool

    Cross to Wales, see Conwy Castle and continue to Liverpool.

    Hotel
    Maldron Liverpool or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  19. Day 19 · Cardiff Cardiff

    Travel through the Welsh Marches to Cardiff.

    Hotel
    Clayton Cardiff or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  20. Day 20 · Bath, Plymouth Bath to Plymouth

    Explore Georgian Bath, then continue to Plymouth.

    Hotel
    Crowne Plaza or Copthorne, or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  21. Day 21 · Dartmoor, Plymouth Dartmoor

    Explore Dartmoor or cruise Plymouth Sound, then a celebration dinner.

    Hotel
    Crowne Plaza or Copthorne, or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  22. Day 22 · Stonehenge, London Stonehenge to London

    Visit Stonehenge on the way back to London.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Edinburgh Castle on its rock

Where you stay

  • Stratford-upon-Avon (1 night) Swan's Nest or similar
  • York (1 night) Hilton York or similar
  • Edinburgh (2 nights) Edinburgh Marriott Holyrood or similar
  • Aberdeen (1 night) Ardoe House Hotel and Spa or similar
  • Wick (2 nights) The Norseman or similar
  • Isle of Skye (1 night) The Dunollie, Broadford, or similar
  • Glasgow (1 night) Radisson Blu Glasgow or similar
  • Derry/Londonderry (1 night) Da Vinci's or similar
  • Sligo (1 night) Clayton Sligo or similar
  • Limerick (1 night) The George or similar
  • Killarney (2 nights) Aghadoe Heights or Great Southern, or similar
  • Cork (1 night) Maldron South Mall or similar
  • Dublin (2 nights) Trinity City or similar
  • Liverpool (1 night) Maldron Liverpool or similar
  • Cardiff (1 night) Clayton Cardiff or similar
  • Plymouth (2 nights) Crowne Plaza or Copthorne, or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 21 nights in hotels
  • Meals 21 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 11 dinners
  • Coach travel and ferries throughout
  • Edinburgh, Derry and Dublin with local experts
  • Orkney Islands, the Giant's Causeway and the Ring of Kerry
  • Blarney Castle, Kilkenny Castle and the Guinness Storehouse
  • Stonehenge
  • Tour director throughout

Not included

  • Flights to and from London
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not included 19 lunches and 10 dinners
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Eilean Donan Castle

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a short trip — this tour lasts 22 days
  • You want a small group — coach groups can be large
  • You dislike frequent hotel changes — you move most days
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–22 · Lunch: Day 13 · Dinner: Days 1–2, 5–8, 10–11, 13, 18 and 21
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Ireland
Lakes and mountains in County Kerry

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £6,116 per person, twin share, tour only. 36 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £7,656 (single supplement from £1,500).

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Which countries do we visit?

England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales.

Where does the tour start?

At a London hotel at 8am on Day 1, returning to London on Day 22.

Are ferries included?

Yes, including crossings to Orkney, Northern Ireland and back to Wales.

Which meals are included?

Twenty-one breakfasts, eleven dinners and one lunch.

How much walking is there?

Moderate walking in towns and at sites, with uneven ground at the Giant's Causeway.

Do UK travellers need passports?

No passport is needed for travel between Great Britain and Ireland for British citizens, but photo ID is required by ferry companies. A passport is recommended.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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