Great Britain and Ireland

Europe United Kingdom
OVERVIEW
From London, Bristol, Oxford to York, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin - this 18-day tour of Britain and Ireland includes entrance into awe-inspiring attractions aplenty, including puckering up for the Blarney stone, cruising across Loch Ness, and enjoying city tours of both Liverpool and Belfast. Cross the Irish sea, explore historic cities shrouded in folklore and mystery, gawp at Ireland's breathtaking landscapes and appreciate a culture of cool from as far back as the Beatles. It'll be love at first London site.
EXPERIENCES
Bath: Live out your Bridgerton dreams as you wander around Bath's historic and regal architecture.

Belfast: Hang with a local guide to see all the landmarks and learn about the city’s checkered history.

Blarney Castle: Your chance to kiss the Blarney Stone and get the ‘gift of the gab’. And to visit the medieval Irish castle.

Cliffs of Moher: These rugged, photogenic cliffs have been the star of many films, including a Harry Potter one.

Derry/Londonderry: One for the history fans. Take a look around Ireland’s only walled city, built in the 17th Century.

Edinburgh: Holyrood Palace. The Royal Mile. Edinburgh Castle. They’re all here to fill up your memory and Insta feed.

Galway: Tread the cobbles of this well-loved Irish city with your new Contiki crew. See Lynch’s Castle, Eyre Square and all the best pubs.

Giant's Causeway: Sure, rock formations may sound a bit dull on paper, but this quirky natural wonder has to be seen to be believed.

Liverpool: One for fans of The Beatles. Walk in the footsteps of the Fab Four and see all the iconic landmarks on this jaunt around Liverpool.

Loch Ness: Sit back, relax and cruise along the loch with your Contiki crew. But keep your eyes peeled and camera ready for mythical ‘Nessie’.

Mallaig: We'll visit Helix Park, home to The Kelpies (horse statues, standing at 100ft tall & weighing more than 300 tonnes each). It's a wonder to behold. Plus, there's also an adventure play park with woodlands and boardwalks for some added fun.

Oxford: Wander around the quaint canals and streets of Oxford. And also the grounds of one of the most famous universities in the world!

Scottish Highlands: Ever wondered how native animal species - like the Scottish Red Squirrel, Lynx and Beavers - are reintroduced into the wild? Come learn about it all from an expert (who'll also tell you how the Caledonian pine forest is being reforested too!). Every penny you spend here will directly support Trees for Life, a TreadRight supported project.

St. Andrews: If you like golf, you’ll love St Andrews. But if you think it spoils a nice walk in the park, there’s also Swilcan Bridge.

Stirling: Explore the sights of Stirling and get a selfie with the memorial to the iconic Scottish knight.

Stratford-upon-Avon: Explore the town that this legendary literature writer once called home. From Shakespeare's birthplace to where we he was buried - you'll find clues about his life scattered everywhere in this town.

Windsor: Walk the iconic tree-lined 'Long Walk' and take in the fantastic views of Windsor Castle. Keep your eyes peeled! You might even spot a royal if you're lucky.

York Minster: Explore this historic city and get to know its Viking and Roman roots. Check out highlights such as Clifford's Tower and York Minster.
DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES
Tour
Departs		 Tour
Returns		 Starting From
(price per person)		 Definite Departure
What's this?		 Book Now!
11/06/2025 28/06/2025 £2,852 Book
15/06/2025 02/07/2025 £2,735 Book
18/06/2025 05/07/2025 £2,735 Book
25/06/2025 12/07/2025 £3,077 Book
02/07/2025 19/07/2025 £3,077 Book
09/07/2025 26/07/2025 £3,419 Book
16/07/2025 02/08/2025 £3,077 Book
27/07/2025 13/08/2025 £3,248 Book
03/08/2025 20/08/2025 £3,248 Book
13/08/2025 30/08/2025 £3,248 Book
17/08/2025 03/09/2025 £2,924 Book
27/08/2025 13/09/2025 £2,924 Book
07/09/2025 24/09/2025 £2,762 Book
14/09/2025 01/10/2025 £2,599 Book
24/09/2025 11/10/2025 £2,924 Book
01/10/2025 18/10/2025 £2,924 Book
25/03/2026 11/04/2026 £2,703 Book
08/04/2026 25/04/2026 £2,703 Book
22/04/2026 09/05/2026 £2,703 Book
06/05/2026 23/05/2026 £2,767 Book
20/05/2026 06/06/2026 £2,767 Book
03/06/2026 20/06/2026 £2,767 Book
14/06/2026 01/07/2026 £2,767 Book
24/06/2026 11/07/2026 £2,815 Book
01/07/2026 18/07/2026 £2,991 Book
12/08/2026 29/08/2026 £2,815 Book
26/08/2026 12/09/2026 £2,679 Book
09/09/2026 26/09/2026 £2,679 Book
23/09/2026 10/10/2026 £2,679 Book
30/09/2026 17/10/2026 £2,679 Book
ACCOMMODATION
DAY 1: Ibis Bristol Centre Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Dinner
DAY 10: Ibis Budget Glasgow (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 11: Travelodge Plus Dublin City Centre (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12: Talbot Hotel Clonmel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 13: Travelodge Galway City Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 14: Travelodge Galway City Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 15: Holiday Inn Express Derry (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 16: Ramada by Wyndham Belfast City Centre (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 17: Travelodge Plus Dublin City Centre (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 2: Ibis Birmingham New Street Station (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3: Ibis Liverpool Albert Dock (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4: Holiday Inn Express Wakefield (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5: Ibis Carlisle City Centre Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6: Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8: Loch Ness Lodge Hotel Drumnadrochit (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9: Ibis Budget Glasgow (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
ITINERARY

Good morning dear Londonites! Meet your new crew and hop onto our coach. It’s time to make some moves.Hello Windsor, at the top of our agenda today is obviously, getting a magnificent view of the royal Windsor Castle! Afterwards, you’ve got some free time. So why not strut like a royal around this beautiful town studded with gardens and riverside views. And then it’s back on the coach to our next destination.Ready? We’re going back in time. Because you’ve got some free time to explore this historical town. Visit the Royal Crescent, Roman Baths, the Jane Austen museum or maybe do a canal cruise! (Go on, live your period drama dreams.)Welcome to the sea-side wonder of Bristol. Colourful buildings, crazy cliffs, beautiful bridges - you’re in for a treat. Speaking of treats…you can drop your bags off at our hotel before we feast on some well-deserved dinner. Afterwards, you’re free to roam the streets for a night out with your newly-made friends.

Time to wake up! We’ve got some more exploration to do. And you’ve got a delicious breakfast waiting for you. Today, you can choose to check out Bristol’s street art with a local guide before we make our way into Oxford!You’ve been dreaming about this. Haven’t you? We’re finally in THE Oxford - with its world-famous museums, libraries, churches and of course, University. You can even choose to roam around the river on a Punt. There's so much to be discovered here. So, it's a good thing you've got some free time in this quaint little town (that's also the home of Shakespeare!). In the evening, we'll head to our stop for the night - Birmingham.Hungry? We'll drop our bags off at the hotel and stroll around in the streets and grab a bite on the way. Get a good night's sleep because tomorrow, we're heading up North!

Birmingham, you’ve been grand. But we’ve got places to be. Grab some breakfast before we hop onto our coach once more.Welcome to Liverpool. Chat all things Beatlemania & football in your best Scouse accent as we take a guided city tour. Afterwards, we’ll check into our cosy hotel, and then you’re free to do whatever you like. Heads up! Some departures will stay overnight in Manchester instead of Liverpool. Don't worry, you'll still have plenty of time to check out the city on a guided tour. Want more info? This will be confirmed in your travel documents closer to departure.

Lap up your last dose of Liverpool before we go back to the time of the Vikings... in the traditional walled city of York. 2,000 years of history will unfold upon us as we amble down narrow lanes of York, exploring the Minster, the Shambles and Clifford’s Tower. For fans of folklore, sign up to a night of ghostly horrors and dark alleyways & prepare to be spooked.

Even if the ghosts of York kept you awake all night, you're going to need to rise & shine and wave goodbye to the Harry Potter like setting of this ancient city. (Sorry).  Obstacles aren’t really our thing. But when they’re all natural? Like rocky chutes, clear pools of water and even the occasional mini waterfall - all in the oh-so-stunning Lake District? Who can say no? And today, you have the option to explore it all.  We’ll end the day in quaint and charming Carlisle, England's northern-most town (right on the border of England & Scotland)! Nothing like the northern air to cosy up and wake as fresh as a daisy the next morning for all our activities.

Today we are in for some border hopping along the English/Scottish border to see the sights on our way to Edinburgh! We'll take a spectacular drive to the Roman Empire’s impressive Hadrian’s Wall as well as English country charm in abundance. Back in the 21st Century, we'll find ourselves in Edinburgh, a city that, although still simmering in ancient history, comes alive with music festivals, a rousing creative scene & fun bars. We'll kick off the evening with the option to indulge in a whisky tasting experience.

Today is yours to roam free - but if you want to get the low down on the history of this city why not join our local guide for an optional tour of Edinburgh Castle (which is resting on an extinct volcano!!) to kickstart your love affair with this city. Or maybe you'll do a spot of tartan shopping on Princes Street.

It's time to blaze a trail out of Edinburgh & head for the Scottish Highlands. On the way to the main affair of the day we'll stop by St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf, would you believe? As well as Scotland’s oldest university town. Already blown away by the beauty of the rugged mountain scenery en route, we'll arrive in the Scottish Highlands amped up for mystical tales and a chance to compete in some optional traditional Highland games.

We might be coming down from a high (geographically speaking) this morning, but as we seek out the stunning Loch Ness, the mood will only be rising. We'll stop to see lovely Loch Ness and hop on board for a cruise of the most voluminous lake in the UK - containing more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined! It's also rumoured to contain something else, something far more legendary which you're sure to have heard of... Small pitstop! We'll check out the lush, hilly rewilding centre here to learn about how Scotland's native animal species are reintroduced into the wild. Plus, you have the option afterwards to canoe across the stunning southern end of Scotland's most famous lake and see even more wildlife along the way. We'll arrive into Glasgow tonight, grab a bite to eat and then hit the hay ready for some more exploration in the am!

Wakey wakey everyone. We're up bright and early this morning. Next stop, Stirling! We'll make a stop in Stirling, the town where William Wallace took on the English and yelled "Freeedom!" (and also known for its famous hill-top Castle). Today, we'll also check out the epic engineering feat called the 'The Kelpies' in Helix Park. Get involved with everything great about Glasgow. Live music on every corner, a gothic cathedral & plenty of quirky characters make this city unique. Plus, you've got the option to celebrate our final night in Scotland with a local meal accompanied by a live, traditional music.

Scotland, you've been unreal. If Ireland puts on half the show you did, we have many happy days ahead of us. We arrive in the port town of Larne, your first steps on Northern Irish soil, but not for long... So much more than the capital city, Dublin is a place of heritage, character, and more cute pubs than you could crawl in a week. First fill up on your included group dinner, then end the day with a lively night of festivities at the cobbled lanes of Temple Bar.

That's us done with Dublin…for now. But fear not Dub-lovers, we'll get another taste of this fine place before our trip comes to an end. Wanna break up your coach hangs with some bicycle time? Then choose to join us for a bike ride in a city sure to leave you wanting Irish in your blood. Explore the castle, a cathedral and take in all of the medieval charm that Kilkenny has to offer before we hit the road again. Welcome to Clonmel! Opt to sample some of Ireland's famous whiskey at the Jameson's Distillery in Midleton. After we arrive in the evening, we'll tuck into an included dinner and then head off into town together to explore.

Clonmel, it's been fun, but we have to leave you now. Next up, we're off to an Irish city that was propelled into the pop culture stratosphere by none other than Ed Sheeran. Anyone wanna guess where? 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 paying her a visit! Whether heights are your cup of Irish Breakfast or not, these impressive cliff faces are not to be missed! From the moment we arrive in Galway, you'll understand why 2 nights were needed here. Everything you've dreamed Ireland to be is tucked into this small, atmospheric city. Step into a local pub and down Irish stew over live music and chats with locals. Outside will be just as lively, with buskers & colourful buildings lining the streets.

Try your tongue at some Gaelic and carry on exploring gorgeous Galway. Or, if you hear the call of the wild, you can sign yourself up to a ferry ride to Aran Islands (summer departures only) where you can dance around with horses and take a bike ride around the picturesque farms, or head up to Dún Aonghasa (the ruins of a prehistoric fortress) - make sure you take photos, this area is not for the faint-hearted! Irish life, you so sweet.

Goodbye Galway, hello more Irish eye-candy. This afternoon, we'll drive into Derry/Londonderry - a historical city with 17th century walls. Today, you can opt for an authentic rural Irish experience with sheepdogs, a local shepherd and some homemade lunch. Next, we'll head into town for a guided tour, and you even have the option to tour Bogside - a neighbourhood that used to be underwater! This day is as Irish as it gets.

Today we've got a one way ticket to Belfast and a whole lot more exploration to do. UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway - also known as those giant rock columns you've probably drooled over on Pinterest, needs to be seen to be believed. Get those hashtags ready, a snap with the group is essential on the mind-blowing natural formation. Next up - we'll arrive in Belfast. Concluding the day will be a driving tour and an optional trip to the Titanic museum where the world's most famous ship was built.

With one night left in Ireland and on tour, we're on the fast track to Dublin where our Irish fairytale first began. A promise is a promise. Here we are back in the city that started our Ireland infatuations. Use this second stint to do your missed critical activities such as visiting the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn how to pull a pint the Irish way. Tonight you can choose to end your week in Ireland at a Free Time Add-On farewell dinner.

We leave Ireland today with leprechauns in our hearts and memories in our souls. Enjoy the roll back to London town as it will be the last bout our crew has together. We've crossed the Irish Sea, motored through Wales, passed the town of try-to-say-it-out-loud Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, and now we are back in London. That's all folks! Pass the tissues, say your goodbyes, and make plans for your next adventure. Unless, of course, there's talk of a reunion tour. Greek Islands, anyone?
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