Great Britain & Ireland (Start London, end London)


Overview
Highlights
- See Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London & Westminster Abbey
- Follow in the footsteps of The Beatles on a locally guided Magical Mystery Tour
- Guided walking tour of York
- See York Minster and Clifford's Tower
- See Hadrian's Wall
- See Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Mile
- Entrance to Gretna Green Museum and take part in a historic wedding ceremony
- Visit St. Andrews, the home of golf
- Scenic drives including the Whisky Trail and Royal Deeside
- Visit Loch Ness & Loch Lomond
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Itinerary

Check-in to your hotel after 2pm and the remainder of the day is free to relax before meeting your fellow travellers for your Kickstart meeting this evening. Afterwards why not grab some dinner at one of the local restaurants or take a short walk to explore nearby Covent Garden
Meet up with your fellow travellers and Trip Manager and jump on the coach for a look at London’s iconic buildings and UNESCO World Heritage sites in our included tour. Start your tour by learning about the Royal Family’s place of residence (Buckingham Palace), the ho...
Spend more time exploring Liverpool this morning. Then, back on the coach, take in the wild countryside as we head to York. It’s soaked in history and English traditions. Your Trip Manager will wind back the clock and fill you in on York’s 2000-year-old history as you...
Back on the coach, we wind our way through the jaw-droppingly beautiful Lake District. The area has a reputation as England’s most scenic region and you’ll soon understand why. Filled with 16 major lakes, high peaks and cute, stone-built settlements, this region is al...
Northbound, we’ll drop by the 2000-year-old Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman Empire’s most impressive engineering feat, before traveling on through the English countryside. Afterwards, we say farewell England and cross the border into Scotland, where we visit the small v...
With a free day, decide how you want to shape your Edinburgh experience and explore this living time-line. Explore the scene-stealing Edinburgh Castle, perched high up above the city on an extinct volcano, where the Scottish crown jewels and famous Stone of Destiny ar...
Stop by St. Andrews, Scotland’s oldest university town and the “home of golf” where you’ll see the famous course of the same name that is used in major international tournaments. Then roll on through the Scottish Highlands, packed with wild mountain scenery, rugged gr...
This morning, we continue on past tiny villages, emerald green moors, lakes and seaside cliffs that the West Highlands are so famous for. On the stunning Isle of Skye, we visit the seaside town of Portree, known for its brightly coloured houses and charming fishing po...
We make our way to Glasgow this morning. Your Trip Manager will tell you all about this historic area and of the conflict and battles that took place here before we reach Scotland’s largest city. We arrive in Glasgow this afternoon. It’s pulsing with urban soul, pubs ...
Ferry across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland and travel through County Meath and Boyne Valley - former seat of power for ancient kings and the site of one of Ireland’s most bloody battles. Continue on to dynamic, down-to-earth Dublin. This bustling student town h...
En route for Cork we stop at charming Kilkenny for lunch & there is a chance for an optional bike ride if you feel like a different perspective on exploring the city. Discover Kilkenny’s medieval charm and its signature sites, Kilkenny Castle and St. Canice’s Cath...
Hopefully you exhausted all of your cork puns yesterday, as today we are moving on, sightseeing our way to 2-nights in Galway. Irish folklore tells us there's a chunk of limestone built into a castle that grants its kissers the gift of the gab. Pucker up kids, we're p...
Get out there and discover this quintessential Irish town where Gaelic is still spoken on the streets. If you feel like travelling a little further out, there's the option to jump on a ferry and cruise out to the stunning Aran Islands for a day away from it all. With ...
We head North today through Donegal, and onto Londonderry. On arrival get straight out to see the city’s famous 17th century walls. They’ve got a rep for a reason – standing at 8m high and 9m long, no enemy has ever succeeded in getting through them. Explore more of L...
Today you have the opportunity to be amazed by the natural wonder and UNESCO World Heritage site - the Giant’s Causeway. With approximately 40 000 rock columns packed together, reaching heights of 12m (36ft), this unbelievable rock formation will give you goose bumps ...
Back into buzzing Dublin, you’ve got time to explore more of this charismatic capital. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Guinness Storehouse and get the low down on Ireland’s national drink. Find out how the “black stuff” is made and how to pull a pint the Irish...
Ferry back across the Irish Sea to Wales. Travel past the unspoilt and rock-strewn Snowdonia National Park and show off your pronunciation skills when we pass by the town with the longest name in the UK, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. Then it’s back to London where the tour ends, so make sure you get your new friends’ email addresses.
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Contiki Reviews & Ratings
Other Contiki Reviews
Trusted Customer
Mar 2025
European Vistas
i think my trip manager went completely above and beyond. i felt so included and comfortable. all of the activities exceed my expectations. the hotels were all great...
Trusted Customer
Mar 2025
Southern Thai Highlights
Everything was amazing. It was truly such a beautiful and memorable experience.
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Logistics
Accommodation
- 16 nights twin-share hotel accommodation
- Modern, air-conditioned coach with electrical for charging
- Hotel tips, local taxes & service charges
- Ferry crossings
- An experienced & professional Trip Manager & Driver team
- Sightseeing tours of all major cities plus orientations in all other destinations
- 15 hot breakfasts
- 8 dinners
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