Tour overview

This 22-day small-group tour makes a grand circuit of Britain and Ireland, from the university spires of Oxford and the Highlands of Scotland to the wild west coast of Ireland and the Roman city of Bath. A tour director travels with you throughout, with local experts in Edinburgh and Dublin, and you travel by comfortable coach with ferry crossings to Orkney and across the Irish Sea. You stay twenty-one nights in named hotels, including a Victorian baronial mansion near Aberdeen and a country retreat on Sligo Bay. Breakfast is included daily, with eleven dinners and a farm-to-table lunch.

From London you travel through the Chiltern Hills to Oxford and the Cotswolds, reaching Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare's birthplace and enjoy a welcome dinner. York's Minster and the leaning houses of the Shambles come next, then the Lake District, where Wordsworth is buried at Grasmere, before you cross into Scotland. In Edinburgh you visit the castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, and on select August departures attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

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Heading north via St Andrews and a whisky distillery, you cruise on Loch Ness and continue to Wick, then take the ferry to Orkney to see the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Italian Chapel. The road to the Isle of Skye passes lochs and mountains, and the return south takes in Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe and Loch Lomond.

A ferry brings you to Northern Ireland and the Giant's Causeway, with its 40,000 basalt columns, then the walled city of Derry/Londonderry. In the Republic, you visit Belleek Pottery, stay on Sligo Bay, cross Connemara to Galway and travel around the Ring of Kerry. You kiss the Blarney Stone, explore Kilkenny Castle and visit the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Crossing back to Wales, you see Conwy Castle, Liverpool and Cardiff, then Bath's Roman Baths and Wells Cathedral, ending with Stonehenge on the way back to London.

The physical rating is low. This tour suits travellers who want to see the highlights of both islands in comfort, with everything organised.

Trip highlights

  • Edinburgh Castle (Day 4)
  • A Loch Ness cruise (Day 6)
  • Orkney's Skara Brae and Ring of Brodgar (Day 7)
  • The Giant's Causeway (Day 10)
  • The Ring of Kerry (Day 14)
  • Bath and Stonehenge (Days 20–22)

Your route

34 stops from London to Stonehenge

22-day route: London – York – Edinburgh – Orkney – Skye – Giant's Causeway – Galway – 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. Edinburgh Days 3–4
  7. St Andrews Day 5
  8. Aberdeen Day 5
  9. Loch Ness Day 6
  10. Wick Days 6–7
  11. Kirkwall Day 7
  12. Ullapool Day 8
  13. Broadford Day 8
  14. Eilean Donan Castle Day 9
  15. Glasgow Day 9
  16. Giant's Causeway Day 10
  17. Derry/Londonderry Day 10
  18. Donegal Day 11
  19. Sligo Day 11
  20. Galway Day 12
  21. Limerick Day 12
  22. Adare Day 13
  23. Killarney Days 13–14
  24. Blarney Day 15
  25. Cork Day 15
  26. Kilkenny Day 16
  27. Dublin Days 16–17
  28. Conwy Day 18
  29. Liverpool Day 18
  30. Cardiff Day 19
  31. Bath Day 20
  32. Wells Day 20
  33. Plymouth Days 20–21
  34. Stonehenge Day 22

Why choose this tour

England, Scotland, Wales and both sides of Ireland in one tour. A tour director, named hotels and eleven dinners included.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to Britain and Ireland
  • History and castle lovers
  • Travellers who value comfort
  • Couples and solo travellers
The basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Day-by-day itinerary

22 days from London, United Kingdom to London, United Kingdom

  1. Day 1 · Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon

    Oxford, the Cotswolds and Shakespeare.

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

    The Minster and the Shambles.

    Hotel
    Hilton York
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Lake District, Gretna Green, Edinburgh Edinburgh

    Via the lakes into Scotland.

    Hotel
    Edinburgh Marriott Holyrood
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh

    The castle with a local expert.

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

    The home of golf and a distillery.

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

    A cruise on Loch Ness.

    Hotel
    The Norseman
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Kirkwall, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar Orkney

    A day on the Orkney Islands.

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

    Over the sea to Skye.

    Hotel
    The Dunollie, Broadford
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Eilean Donan, Glencoe, Loch Lomond Glasgow

    Castles, glens and lochs.

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

    Across to Northern Ireland.

    Hotel
    Da Vinci's
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Belleek, Sligo Bay Sligo

    City walls and Belleek Pottery.

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

    Connemara and Galway.

    Hotel
    The George
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Adare, Killarney Killarney

    A farm-to-table lunch.

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

    One of the world's great drives.

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

    The Blarney Stone.

    Hotel
    Maldron South Mall
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Kilkenny, Dublin Dublin

    Kilkenny Castle and the capital.

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

    Guinness and Georgian Dublin.

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

    Wales and Liverpool.

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

    The Welsh capital.

    Hotel
    Clayton Cardiff
    Meals
    Breakfast
  20. Day 20 · Bath, Wells Plymouth

    The Roman Baths and Wells Cathedral.

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

    Dartmoor or a harbour cruise.

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

    Stonehenge on the way back.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Edinburgh Castle on its rock

Where you stay

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

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

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 21 nights in named hotels
  • Meals 21 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 11 dinners
  • Coach travel and ferries to Orkney and across the Irish Sea
  • Loch Ness cruise
  • Edinburgh Castle, Roman Baths, Stonehenge and Blarney Castle
  • Giant's Causeway, Kilkenny Castle and the Guinness Storehouse
  • Local experts in Edinburgh and Dublin
  • Tour director throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 19 lunches and 10 dinners
  • Optional experiences
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Eilean Donan Castle

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike long coach journeys
  • You want an active holiday
  • You want to stay longer in each place
  • 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
The Old Man of Storr on Skye

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £6,116 per person, twin share, tour only. 36 upcoming departures.

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 does the tour visit?

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

Is the Edinburgh Tattoo included?

Tickets are included on select August departures.

How do we cross to Ireland?

By ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland, returning by ferry from Ireland to Wales.

Do I need a visa?

UK citizens need no visa. Other nationalities should check entry rules for the UK and Ireland.

Can solo travellers share?

Yes, you can be matched with a room-mate or book a room of your own.

Who leads the tour?

A tour director travels with you, with local experts in Edinburgh and Dublin.

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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