Dublin and Britain

Join a licensed guide to explore Dublin’s finest sights. Walk through Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest walled city park, home to red deer and the Phoenix Column. Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Ireland’s patron saint once baptized converts, and see O’Connell Street and Parnell Square. At Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, enter the Old Library’s Long Room to view the Book of Kells, an illuminated 9th-century manuscript of the four Gospels, famed for its intricate Celtic designs.

Be Irish for a day! Experience firsthand how Irish farmers tend to their land and animals. Learn all about traditional Ireland: speak their native language, dance a jig, bake your own bread, or play the bodhran, a traditional Irish drum made from goatskin.

An essential stop for fans of classic literature, Dove Cottage offers a rare glimpse inside the life of famed English poet, William Wordsworth. It was here, between 1799 and 1808, that Wordsworth wrote much of the poetry for which he is remembered today. The cottage remains mostly untouched from that time, with many of the Wordsworth’s household items still displayed. The adjacent Wordsworth Museum, The Jerwood Centre and the “half-wild” garden provide an even more detailed look at one of England’s true romanticists.

Set on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since 1492. You can't help but imagine yourself in "auld lang syne" (times gone by) as you wander the cobblestone streets, craggy coast, and lush green spaces of Scotland. Today's Edinburgh is a hub for banking, and also well-known for festivals and universities that bring the city both tourists and acclaim. Described as one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the world, the Old and New Towns in Edinburgh became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a city of steep streets, stone buildings, and dramatic views, all watched over by the imposing Edinburgh Castle. Follow your Tour Director along the Royal Mile, which runs from Holyrood Palace to the castle, passing St. Giles’ Cathedral, long a centre of learning and civic life in the city’s Old Town.

Explore Edinburgh, the historic and cultural heart of Scotland. Led by a licensed guide, walk the Royal Mile through the city’s Old Town, from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Admire the elegant Georgian New Town, known for its neoclassical design, and gaze up at the 200-foot Sir Walter Scott Monument in East Princes Street Gardens, a tribute to one of Scotland’s greatest literary figures—and his loyal dog, Maida, immortalized below.

Take a scenic drive along portions of Hadrian's Wall.

Visiting York is like walking thorough a living museum. Its medieval structures are impressively preserved in its timbered houses and winding, cobbled streets surrounded by the remains of the city walls. Founded by the Romans in 71 CE, York was, for a long time, a strategic point used by both Saxons and Vikings.

Charming York blends medieval intrigue with modern energy. Stroll cobblestone streets lined with Gothic buildings and lively shops, and walk along the city’s ancient walls that once guarded its heart. With your Tour Director, explore the birthplace of Guy Fawkes and uncover the stories that shaped this historic city.

See how the King relaxes on this tour of the royal weekend estate, originally built as a fortress in the 11th century under William the Conqueror. Visit the East Terrace Gardens, marvel at the Gothic St. George’s Chapel, or peek into Queen Mary’s dollhouse with its perfect miniature furnishings.

Join a licensed local guide for an in-depth tour of London. See Buckingham Palace, where you may catch the Changing of the Guard, and stroll through Hyde Park, home to the famous Speakers’ Corner. View Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, then step inside Westminster Abbey, the coronation site of English monarchs. Continue to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, and admire the iconic Tower Bridge spanning the Thames.

Soar 450 feet over London on the world’s highest Ferris wheel. The London Eye, the city’s fourth tallest structure, lifts visitors above the River Thames for spectacular views. Its futuristic glass capsules provide unobstructed 180-degree panoramas, and on a clear day you can see as far as Windsor Castle, 25 miles away.