Ireland (SCT003) - In-Depth Scotland with England Bonus: Memorable 9 Days 8 Nights

Welcome to London! After we pick you up at the airport, we set off for Stratford-upon-Avon, a distance of 162 kilometers, about 1 hour 45 minutes of travel. Visit the home of the great poet Shakespeare in the Birmingham area of central England, a town that has preserved a good number of its Tudor-era houses. We take you to see Shakespeare's Birthplace, stroll along the River Avon, take photos with Clopton Bridge, and enjoy the beautiful Bancroft Garden. We also visit Holy Trinity Church, a church a little over a kilometer from the old town center, where the great poet Shakespeare is buried. See the various attractions and buy souvenirs, as we walk you through the narrow streets.

Then we travel to York, a distance of 242 kilometers, about 2 hours 50 minutes of travel. It is a small town in the north of England whose buildings still keep their old style, with lanes and alleys full of shops that you can explore without ever getting bored. Climb the tower to enjoy the view over the city at York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. The climb is a spiral staircase of 275 steps.

After that, we travel to spend the night in Bradford, 67 kilometers away.

hotel Overnight Bradford, Midland Hotel ***

We set off for the Yorkshire Dales (97 kilometers) to see the beautiful Lake District. Then we travel along the shore of Windermere, the largest lake in England, and pass through the countryside that inspired the Romantic poets. If you wish, we can stop to see the grave of William Wordsworth, buried at St. Oswald's Church.

Next, we travel to the Scottish border to visit Gretna Green, a distance of 109 kilometers, and continue to Glasgow (139 kilometers). Glasgow is a city where prosperity meets modernity, neither too big nor too small. We take you to see Glasgow Cathedral, considered a landmark of the city and very large and impressive. Enjoy the Street Art on buildings scattered across the city, and stop by Glasgow Green, which is full of beautiful flowers in every season. Stroll and shop on Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, the liveliest streets in the city. Stop to take photos with the city's most famous statue, the Duke of Wellington. Walk in Kelvingrove Park, the city's large public park, see the magnificent Main Building of the University of Glasgow, and visit the Botanic Garden, where Westerners love to come and sunbathe.

hotel Overnight Glasgow, Hampton by Hilton Glasgow Central *** (first night)

We set off for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, a distance of 75 kilometers, about 1 hour of travel. Stroll through Edinburgh's old town and visit Edinburgh Castle, the castle that appears at the opening of the Harry Potter books. It was originally the residence of many kings, but at one time it became a prison for prisoners who lost wars. Today it is a tourist attraction. Stroll through Princes Street Gardens, a large public park where locals come to relax, and visit St. Giles Cathedral on The Royal Mile, a large church beautifully decorated inside in European style.

Visit the Scott Monument, a 61-meter-high memorial built in honor of Sir Walter Scott, a famous writer of Scotland, in Gothic style. Then climb Calton Hill to enjoy another beautiful viewpoint of the city, where you can see the whole city. See the Athens of the North, built to imitate the Parthenon in Greece. We take you to see Holyrood Palace, which is just as beautiful as Edinburgh Castle. Then climb Arthur's Seat; if you reach the highest point, you will see the whole city, which is very beautiful. The climb is a little tiring and steep, but the view at the top is well worth it. Come back down to explore the city center, see the University of Edinburgh, and stroll along Rose Street, which has many shops. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, then head south of the city to South Queensferry to take photos with the famous Forth Bridge, which has been standing for more than two hundred years. After that, we travel back to spend the night in Glasgow.

hotel Overnight Glasgow, Hampton by Hilton Glasgow Central *** (second night)

Today is a full day of travel. We set off along the Ayrshire coast, passing the island called Ailsa Craig, from Scotland towards Ireland. Then we take a ferry to Northern Ireland, to see City Hall, Queen's University and the harbor where the Titanic was built. We cross the River Boyne to Drogheda to enter Dublin, the capital of Ireland, arriving in Dublin in the evening.

hotel Overnight Dublin, Sycamore House B&B **** (first night)

Today we take you around Dublin for the full day. Dublin is a romantic city. We take you to see Trinity College, founded in 1592, the oldest university in Ireland, and St. Stephen’s Green, a public park where locals relax.

We also visit St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle, and Christ Church Cathedral, a medieval cathedral that is very old, built in 1038 and restored again, as well as the grand Georgian squares. Stroll across Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge, a pedestrian bridge over the River Liffey. Spend the rest of the day as you wish, exploring Temple Bar or Grafton Street, or choose to see an Irish cabaret.

hotel Overnight Dublin, Sycamore House B&B **** (second night)

Today we set off through the beautiful countryside of County Kildare to Kilkenny, a distance of 124 kilometers, about 1 hour 25 minutes of travel. See the impressive medieval Kilkenny Castle and stroll through the town of Kilkenny, which is not very large. Visit St. Mary's Pro Cathedral, The Black Abbey, and St. Canice's Cathedral & Round Tower, and stroll and shop at Market Cross Shopping Centre.

Then we travel to Waterford, a distance of 52 kilometers, about 40 minutes of travel. Enjoy a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal.

hotel Overnight Waterford, Waterford Marina Hotel ***

Today is a full day of travel. We take you across St. George's Channel to Wales and continue to Cardiff Bay to see the Millennium Centre and the National Assembly. Visit the ancient Cardiff Castle and see the Millennium Stadium before arriving at the hotel in the evening.

hotel Overnight Cardiff, Holiday Inn Cardiff City ****

We cross the Severn Estuary to England and visit the glorious city of Bath, with its magnificent Georgian architecture. We take you to see the Roman Baths, bathhouses built by the Romans 2,000 years ago, with several natural hot springs and an interconnected water system, surrounded by important buildings and temples. Everything has been very well preserved and arranged as walkways and a museum well worth visiting. Then we visit Bath Abbey (Abbey Church of St Peter and St Paul), nearby and an important church of the city. We see Pulteney Bridge, which crosses the River Avon, the city's main river. Both sides of the bridge are lined with shops, similar to the Ponte Vecchio in Italy.

See The Circus, a group of buildings built in a circle with large trees in the centre. Seen from above, it forms a continuous ring, which is very beautiful. We also see the Royal Crescent, a group of buildings built in a crescent shape similar to The Circus, mostly houses and hotels. Stop for a meal at Sally Lunn’s, a famous restaurant here.

Then we take you to Windsor, a distance of 152 kilometers, to see Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. After that, we travel to London, where you can enjoy a stroll along the River Thames or buy souvenirs.

hotel Overnight London, The Belgrave Hotel ****

This morning, we'll catch up on the highlights of London and see the key landmarks before heading to the airport. We'll drop you off at Heathrow Airport on schedule (we'll get you there 3 hours before check-in time.