Essential Britain & Ireland

Welcome to London! Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. Enjoy free time this afternoon.

Ancient Stones & Spa Days Meet your Tour Director and travel companions to depart London at 8 am for a memorable day’s sightseeing. Try to unravel the mystery of prehistoric Stonehenge and explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then view the monument up close. At the elegant Georgian city of Bath, see the amazing excavations of the Roman Baths. Then, cross the Severn River for a late-afternoon arrival in Wales. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT The traditions of one ancient Roman ritual are in full flow in Bath, amid the remarkable Roman and Georgian architecture and the best-preserved Roman Baths of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city of Bath sits above geothermal springs that bubble up from the limestone below. Bath also turns up the heat with some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings, a mecca for elite 18th-century society.

Welsh Dragons, Daffodils & Castles This morning, enjoy a visit to Cardiff Castle, one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions. The castlestands on the site of a Roman fort, revealing nearly 2,000 years of history. Continue along the South Wales coast to Pembroke, where your ferry awaits. Cross St. George’s Channel to Rosslare on the Emerald Isle, proceeding to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Explore the Welsh capital, see many historic buildings and discover its 2,000-year history of invasions, abductions, and conflicts from the 1st-century AD when the Romans built the first series of forts.

Spend Your Day Your Way in Waterford This morning, explore more of Waterford with your choice of an included Globus Choice excursion. THE VIKING TRIANGLE Join a Local Guide in Waterford for a walk through Ireland's oldest city where two cathedrals, four national monuments, and eleven centuries of rogues and rascals add up to a trifecta of tales in the Viking Triangle. Hear engaging stories of extraordinary characters, delivered in witty, entertaining style by a master storyteller. CRYSTAL CLEAR The city of Waterford is synonymous with the luxury crystal manufacture that bears its name. Visit the House of Waterford Crystal for a fascinating tour featuring the molding room, and glass-blowing, cutting, and engraving departments to witness the highly skilled master craftsmen creating exquisite Waterford Crystal. Continue to the “Marble City” of Kilkenny, one of Ireland’s prettiest towns. The city’s main thoroughfare is lined with medieval landmarks, quaint shops, and charming pubs. Continue on to Dublin, Ireland’s capital city. (B)