England, Scotland & Ireland: Plus

Itinerary

• Day 1: Overnight Flight

  Board your overnight flight bound for London. Your adventure begins tomorrow, so sit back, shut your eyes, and do as the English do and try and catch some “zeds.”

• Day 2: Arrive in London + Welcome Dinner

  Welcome to London. Home of the royal fam, tea, a wonderfully different form of the English language, and the largest city in Western Europe. Brimming with history and unique architecture, you’ll soon understand why it’s one of the most visited cities in the world.

  In the evening, it’s time for your Welcome Dinner. Enjoy local cuisine and drinks with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot. Then it’s on to wherever your new friends and the party takes you.

  Today's highlights:

  • Land at the airport and meet a waiting EF representative.
  • Transfer to your hotel to check in and check out your room.
  • Get familiar with the area around your hotel with an introductory walk with your Tour Director including the River Thames, Trafalgar & Leicester Squares, and Covent Garden.
• Day 3: Explore London + Optional London Eye & Tea

  Go big and go British today as a local guide takes you all around town for the inside scoop on London’s iconic palaces, churches, castles, and yes, even a big old clock.

  Today's highlights:

  • Dive into thousands of years of London’s secrets with a local guide.
  • Immerse yourself in London’s rich history at gorgeous landmarks from the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
  • Experience a royal ritual during the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.
  • Wave hello to Big Ben, the bell inside the famous clock tower.

  London Eye & Tea (extra cost)

  Ride Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel for panoramic views before enjoying a traditional English tea.
  
  This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than fourteen days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

• Day 4: Free Day in London

  Use this free day to check out and check off anything you may have missed in one of the world’s greatest cities. Dive in and act like you belong with some local slang, try some famous fare (looking at you fish and chips), and explore until you’re too knackered (tired) to continue.

  Free time suggestions

  The British Museum: Discover over 2 million years of human history at this free museum. With over 8 million objects and counting, it is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in existence—so don’t expect to see it all.
  Westminster Abbey: This historic, royal church is the traditional place of coronation and burial for British monarchs. The mainly Gothic façade leads to a gorgeous array of paintings, stained glass, and artifacts. Get yourself a ticket and you’ll be treated to more than just a house of worship.

• Day 5: Travel to Liverpool via Stratford-upon-Avon

  Board your private coach to Liverpool, home of the Beatles, Liverpool Football Club and waterfront nightlife. En route, make a stop in William Shakespeare’s hometown for lunch.

  Today's highlights:

  • Make your way to Liverpool via private coach.
  • Stop in the little town of Stratford-upon-Avon to tour the house and birthplace of William Shakespeare.
  • Arrive in Liverpool and explore the area with your tour director.

  Free time suggestions

  • The Beatles: Cue up your Beatles playlist and see the band members’ childhood homes and some of the places that inspired their music, like Strawberry Field.
• Day 6: Free Day in Liverpool or Optional North Wales Adventure

  For being a center of innovation and invention for centuries, Liverpool sure is humble. They only invented the first lifeboat station, the first School for the Blind, and the first High School for Girls after all. (And too many more to type.) Today’s your chance to explore this city on your own and go beyond the Beatles.

  Free time suggestions

  English Breakfast: Start your morning strong with a full fry-up: eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms, toast, black pudding, and a cup of tea or coffee. Good luck eating it all!

  Albert Dock: Hang out during your free day at Albert Dock, a complex of dock buildings and warehouses with cool museums, restaurants, and bars.

  North Wales Adventure (extra cost)

  Wales is a hidden gem of a country. This full day trip whisks you to the seaside town of Conwy, the rolling green Snowdonia National Park, and finally, to Betws-Y-Coed to grab a quaint pint and some pub food.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 7: Travel to Edinburgh via Lake District National Park + Included Dinner

  Board your morning bus, it’s Scotland time! Built on two extinct volcanoes, the capital, Edinburgh, is an enchanting labyrinth of narrow alleyways, cozy pubs, and storybook castles. Feel free to nap, but be sure to peep the English countryside out your window as you pass through the stunning Lake District National Park.

  Today's highlights:

  • Wind through the hilly lake-studded expanse of Northern England’s Lake District National Park.
  • Make a pit stop for lunch on your own in Windermere—a cute little town that’s home to England’s largest lake.
  • Arrive in Edinburgh and stretch your legs with a little walk around town with your Tour Director.
  • Enjoy an included dinner in Edinburgh.
• Day 8: Explore Edinburgh + Optional Scottish Bagpipe Lesson & Dinner

  Get an in-depth look at Scottish history and modern day life with a guided sightseeing tour of Edinburgh.

  Today's highlights:

  • View the Scottish Crown Jewels in Edinburgh Castle.
  • Walk the Great Hall and see the armor, swords and medieval decor that line the walls.
  • Visit the Elephant House Cafe, where the first Harry Potter book was written.

  Scottish Bagpipe Lesson & Dinner (extra cost)

  Only one thing really sounds like Scotland: bagpipes. Today you’ll learn how to play one yourself. Watch a demonstration by a world-class piper, take a lesson, and let ‘er rip over a three-course dinner and drinks.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 9: Free Day in Edinburgh

  Take a day to explore Edinburgh your way. Get your Gothic architecture on, hit the pubs, or try and figure out what exactly haggis is (let us know if you get an answer on that one).

  Free time suggestions

  Brew Lab: This specialty shop serves up delicious artisanal coffee. It’s also the perfect place to sample the wares of some other indie Edinburgh icons, including soup from Union of Genius and cakes from Lovecrumbs.
  Arthur’s Seat: Visible from pretty much everywhere in the city, this extinct volcanic peak is a relatively easy hike with a killer view.
  Old Town: Walk the winding streets lined with everything from candy-colored shops to local pubs to souvenir shops.

• Day 10: Travel to Glasgow via Scottish Highlands + Explore Glasgow

  Next stop: Glasgow, Scotland. Edinburgh may be the capital, but Glasgow is the biggest city in the country. You know what they say: the bigger the Scottish city, the thicker the Scottish accent. The best part: you’re getting there in the most kilt-tastic way possible—with a hike through the Scottish Highlands and a stop in a castle on the way. Prepare your eyes for lovely Glaswegian Victorian architecture, and prepare your ears for that delightful accent.

  Today's highlights:

  • Hike through the Scottish Highlands—a mountainous region that’s so beautiful it should be on display in a giant museum or something.
  • Open the gate and enter Doune Castle to see the phenomenally preserved fortress built in the 1300s, and (much, much) later used as the set for Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
  • Arrive in Glasgow and see what all the fuss is about.
  • Tour Glasgow’s cultural touchpoints that range from “supremely old” to “OMG that is sooo old,” including Kelvingrove Art Gallery, George Square, and Glasgow Cathedral.
• Day 11: Travel to Northern Ireland + Explore Belfast + Included Dinner

  You’ve had some good times in Great Britain (we hope you now see why they don’t just call it Britain), because now you’re off to a different British Isle: Ireland. Specifically, the green and welcoming country of Northern Ireland. A ferry will take all you wee lads and lasses across the Irish Sea and then it’s onwards to explore the capital city of Belfast.

  Today's highlights:

  • Jig on over to Northern Ireland via ferry and bus.
  • Learn about Belfast’s long struggles caught between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom in a guided tour of the city’s must-see sights.
  • Pass by the infamous dockyards where the Titanic was built over one hundred years ago, and get inside the Titanic Museum to view its very cool exhibits and learn more about the doomed ship.
  • Enjoy an included dinner in Belfast.
• Day 12: Explore Giant’s Causeway

  It’s time to go big—really big. Like Giant’s Causeway big. Some (scientists) say this unique geological formation is result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption, others (everyone else) believe that an Irish giant by the name of Finn MacCool built it—so he could fight a Scottish giant. Either way, it’s a stunningly beautiful spot to watch the crashing sea.

  Today's highlights:

  • Journey to the end of Northern Ireland to see the Giant’s Causeway—on a clear day you can see Scotland from here.
  • Walk among the nearly 40,000 basalt rock columns of the Causeway.
• Day 13: Travel to Dublin + Explore Dublin & Guinness Storehouse

  Say goodbye to Ireland and hello to… also Ireland. Yep, you’re leaving behind Northern Ireland (and the UK) and headed to Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland (or, just Ireland, as we call it). Today, see the best Dublin has to offer with a local guide on a tour of the city. In the afternoon, tour the Guinness Brewery and order a “pint of Gat” (that’s how the cool kids order a Guinness).

  Today's highlights:

  • Board your morning bus from Belfast to Dublin.
  • Enter St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the 800-year-old church named after the famous saint.
  • Pass by Trinity College, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities, home to the storied library that inspired Hogwarts’ own.
  • Sample Dublin’s natural beauty and urban escape at Phoenix Park—the largest park in Europe.
  • Tour the pint-glass shaped Guinness Storehouse, learn how the famous stout became Ireland’s favorite beer, then enjoy an included one on the house.
• Day 14: Free Day in Dublin

  Today is a free day in Dublin to do as you please. Take a stroll to St. Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street, and Temple bar, where pub culture, literary history, and all-around charm await. Whatever you do, make sure to make friends with the locals—they’re so friendly and always happy to chat.

  Free time suggestions

  Book of Kells: Head back to Trinity College for a chance to see the Book of Kells—a pristine 1,200-year old illustrated collection of biblical stories—up-close.
  Jameson Distillery: Sick of stout? Switch things up in favor of the strong stuff with a guided tour and whiskey tasting at the Jameson Distillery Bow St.

• Day 15: Travel to Galway via Cliffs of Moher

  You’re off to Galway, a city famous for live music, street performers, and art shows. On the way, stop at the Cliffs of Moher for breathtaking views of the coastline.

  Today's highlights:

  • Gawk at the Cliffs of Moher—limestone walls of rock that dominate the coast for five miles and rise to staggering heights of 700 feet
  • Arrive in beautiful Galway and take it all in on a walk along the banks of the River Corrib, gaze at the picture perfect Galway Bay, then get stoked for a night out in a new town.

  Free time suggestions

  Quay Street: Quay Street is a pub-crawler’s heaven. Pick a starting point, have a pint, and see where it takes you.
  Buskers: Busking, or street performing, is basically Galway’s favorite pastime. Catch the best fiddle player you’ve ever seen on one corner, and a blazing banjoist on the next.

• Day 16: Free Day in Galway + Optional Aran Islands Excursion + Farewell Dinner

  Raise your glass, here’s to one more rowdy day in the British Isles! We know you’ll make it count. Before heading out for the day, take a moment to reflect on all the Guinness, rolling meadows, hearty food, and craic you’ve had. Ready? Go make some memories!

  Free time suggestions

  Eyre Square: The end of the rainbow in Galway leads to Eyre Square—a bustling center of shops, cafes, and art, though no known pot of gold sightings—yet.
  Irish Coffee: Vodka Red Bull’s Irish cousin packs a caffeinated punch of coffee, whiskey, and Bailey’s. Please enjoy responsibly.

  Farewell Dinner
  Share some last laughs and revisit the best moments of the trip at this included farewell dinner with the group.

  Afternoon on the Aran Islands (extra cost)

  Take a ferry ride to the Aran Islands, where old traditions and iconic Irish countryside are hanging on strong. Don't miss Dún Aengus, a 2,000-year-old fort with walls that go right to the edge of a cliff high above the sea.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 17: Fly Home

  Slán libh, a cháirde!
  Translation: Goodbye, friends. Before you head to the airport, make sure to take one more group photo and grab that final drink. But this isn’t goodbye because you can always get the gang back together for another trip soon. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, we have a couple ways to keep your vacation going.

  EXTEND YOUR TRIP 2 WAYS

  1. Double the fun
  A lot of our trips line up back to back! Give us a call—we can help you add another and save big while you're at it.

  2. Go ahead or stay behind
  Extending your trip is easy! During checkout, you'll have the option to fly to (or from) the gateway of your choice for an additional fee. We'll adjust your flights accordingly, but you'll be responsible to take care of your transportation, hotels, and other logistics outside of tour.

  Note: Depending on your desired gateways, additional fees may apply.