From the Liffey to the Thames

Céad mile fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! Enjoy free time upon arrival before meeting your Tour Director and travel companions at 6 pm for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Ireland’s Capital City The morning’s orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this vibrant city. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT CITY SIGHTS “In Dublin’s fair city where girls are so pretty” you’ll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College.

The Winner’s Circle Hit your stride this morning with a trip to Ireland’s horse-racing country! Drive across the Curragh to visit the Irish National Stud at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. On the way to Killarney, pause to take photos at the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached. Free time this afternoon in Killarney. (B,D) 191 mi / 308 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION The Irish National Stud is home to the long tradition of Ireland’s love of horses. This horse breeding facility in County Kildare, considered the beating heart of Ireland's thoroughbred industry, continues to inspire all who visit. Hear about some of the world’s most magnificent champion stallions that have made racing history since the turn of the 20th century.

Irish Eyes & Cheeky Rhymes Follow the road known as the Ring of Kerry for a spectacular 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Have your camera ready for sparkling seascapes, brightly colored farmhouses, subtropical vegetation, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. In the afternoon, travel via quaint Adare to Limerick. (B) 167 mi / 268 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Explore the emerald tapestries of green fields and ocean views that make other coastlines green with envy. The Ring of Kerry begins and ends in Killarney, taking you on a trip along the southwest coast of Ireland. Discover a paradise of panoramic cliffs, lush landscapes, and breathtaking beaches of the Iveragh Peninsula.

Notes Above High Sea At the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, step on to the edge of the world to admire awe-inspiring views. Via the limestone plateau of The Burren, reach Galway, a popular seaside destination with a buzzing center of colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Then, spend the night in the coastal seaport of Sligo. (B,D) 167 mi / 270 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT PICTURE PERFECT Feast your eyes on a stunning spectacle of sea and sky on the Cliffs of Moher on the Wild Atlantic Way. Try to resist the inspiration that has moved artists, poets, and scientists throughout the ages as you stand on the edge of 320 million years of geologic perfection on the rugged coastline of County Clare.

Derry Girls & Daring Giants Your first highlight today is Derry, situated on the banks of the Foyle River, and a [LOCAL FAVORITE] walk on the Old Town walls in the company of a Local Guide. Then visit awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway, composed of thousands of strangely symmetrical basalt columns jutting out to sea. Stay in Belfast tonight, Northern Ireland’s seat of government. (B) 227 mi / 352 km LOCAL FAVORITE HISTORIC SPOT Derry is known as the only remaining completely walled medieval city in Ireland and one of the best-preserved walled cities in Europe. Walk around the 17th-century fortification masterpiece with 7 gates and 24 cannons while also discovering a city full of history, heritage, and culture.

Strait to Scotland This morning, visit the fascinating Titanic Experience and learn about the building of the largest passenger steam ship, its maiden voyage, and the tragic night of April 14, 1912. Board your ferry to cross the North Channel to Cairnryan, on the west coast of Scotland. Then on to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. (B) 132 mi / 212 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT EPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean’s Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including building sections of the floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Drummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Enjoy some free time this afternoon. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures August 5, 12 and 19. MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-year history as “the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.

Spend your day your way in Alnwick This morning, head to Alnwick Castle, ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, and more recently featured in the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey. Explore more of Alnwick with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions. CAPTURE THE CASTLE The second largest inhabited castle in England, Alnwick Castle has been home to the Duke of Northumberland¿s family, the Percys, for over 700 years. Explore the castle and its grounds, featured in historical films, Shakespeare productions, and Harry Potter movies. BLOOMING MARVELOUS See the vision of the Duchess of Northumberland blooming as a true 21st century experience full of imagination, inspiration and fun. Stroll the Alnwick Garden for an eye-popping experience in one of the world¿s most ambitious new gardens. Next, make your way to York, England’s most complete medieval city. Admire the great structure of the Minster and follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (B) 243 mi / 391 km

Plays & Pints Discover the beautiful hometown and final resting place of Stratford’s most famous son, William Shakespeare. Stop for photographs at Anne Hathway’s Cottage and visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace, where he grew up and lived the first years of his married life. Then enjoy a scenic drive through the beautiful Cotswolds followed by a [LOCAL FAVORITE] dinner at a local pub. (B,D) 179 mi / 288 km LOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES Quench your thirst with local ales and ciders while tasting traditional pub fayre prepared following century-old recipes. Nothing eases homesickness like hearty cooked food concocted with care and love like grandma used to make. Just like home away from home!

Mysterious Monuments Play the role of archaeologist today to unravel the mystery of prehistoric Stonehenge! Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, before admiring the monument close up. Then, continue on to the cosmopolitan city of London. 176 mi / 283 km (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORY & MYSTERY Ponder the who, what, why, and how of Stonehenge, one of the most impressive prehistoric megalithic monuments in the world. Its sheer size and sophisticated architectural design have earned it legendary reverence as the most famous prehistoric monument in the world. Although its original purpose is a mystery, the concentric monuments hold spiritual significance for people from around the world who gather at the massive stone circles to celebrate the summer solstice.

The Royal Treatment Say good day to London with a morning sightseeing tour with a Local Guide, featuring legendary sights of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, the Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. Enjoy free time for teatime on your own this afternoon. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SITES See the legendary landmarks of England’s historic capital city. Walk where voices have rung out for centuries in Parliament Square and where chimes rise high above you with the ringing of Big Ben’s quarter bells. See Westminster Abbey, where royal coronations, weddings, and funerals have made history.

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)