UK and Ireland Tour Holidays
Our UK and Ireland tour holidays include short city breaks in York, Durham, Cambridge and Chester and the scenic beauty of the Peak District National Park, Lake District and Northumberland. Explore Shakespeare country, the picture of quintessential England with Tudor thatched houses, or stroll along the rugged coastal paths in Devon and Cornwall. See the best of Scotland including Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands or explore the highlights of the Emerald Isle such as Dublin, Belfast and Cork.
Finding & Loading Tours
- 7 Nights - London and Back
- Tour Only from £1,255
Rugged landscapes and ancient kingdoms - the heritage of Scotland and England revealed on this jaunt past medieval cities, shimmering lochs and rugged Highland cliffs.
- 6 Nights - Jersey and Back
- Fly Tour from £1,379
Blending British and French influences, the largest Channel Island is as intriguing as it is relaxed. From our base in historic St Helier, we’ll discover the island’s best bits and enjoy its laid-back way of life.
- 6 Nights - Dublin and Back
- Tour Only from £1,395
Share a pint and some craic with new friends and you'll wish you'd stayed longer on the Emerald Isle. From cathedrals and castles to Waterford crystal, there's a lot to say sláinte about.
- 7 Nights - Dublin and Back
- Tour Only from £1,462
Centuries of Irish heritage and culture are revealed on this adventure across the windswept valleys of Ireland, from Dublin's Georgian Squares to the Anglo-Norman Kilkenny Castle on the Nore River.
- 7 Nights - Guernsey and Back
- Tour Only from £1,469
With an important literary heritage, gorgeous sandy beaches and a rich military history to discover, your week in Guernsey will simply fly by. Staying in the picturesque harbour town of St Peter Port, we’ll see where Victor Hugo wrote ‘Les Misérables’; discover the beautiful lakes, fish ponds and glorious island views of Candie Gardens; and explore the museums at Castle Cornet, which has been protecting the harbour for 800 years.
Kent: The Garden of England 2021
- 6 Nights - London and Back
- Tour Only from £1,639
Open a treasure box of storybook castles, secret tunnels and enchanting gardens as we dedicate six days to England's exquisite South East. On our travels we'll see why Whitstable has been dubbed the 'Pearl of Kent', wander the exquisite gardens of Kent's most famous castles and discover the tales that make Canterbury the jewel in the county's crown.
- 7 Nights - Belfast to Dublin
- Fly Tour from £1,649
Experience the highlights of the Emerald Isle, beginning and ending in its capital cities. Starting in Belfast, we’ll visit the Titanic exhibition and explore the incredible Giant’s Causeway - 40,000 basalt columns built by a giant, according to legend.
- 10 Nights - London and Back
- Tour Only from £1,687
Travel to the Scottish Highlands, exploring rugged Dartmoor, the idyllic Lake District, the Isle of Skye and Tudor Chester.
Corners of Southern Ireland 2021
- 7 Nights - Dublin and Back
- Tour Only from £1,729
Views of spellbinding scenery. Stories of maritime towns and picture-book villages.
- 9 Nights - Dublin and Back
- Tour Only from £1,777
From Dublin to Belfast and back, explore Northern Ireland's culture, landscapes and history, including colourful stories about pirate queens, Celtic chieftains and mythical giants.
Discover the UK and Ireland
England’s long and glorious heritage can be seen in the country’s wealth of stately homes, castles, palaces and monuments. Home to Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens and Jane Austen, amongst many others, the country’s literary heritage stretches back centuries. The golden rural past can still be found in the traditional village greens, winding country lanes and ancient woodlands, whilst seaside resorts hark back to the heyday of English holiday town and cities have historic sights standing side-by-side with contemporary landmarks.
Scotland is a land of contrasts, with hundreds of islands, magnificent mountains and beautiful lochs. This peaceful landscape belies the country’s turbulent past, and the abundance of ancient castles bears testament to the country’s gripping history. Glasgow and Edinburgh are centres of innovative art, design and music, with top-class museums and galleries. Scottish traditions include social ceilidhs, the Highland Games and of course the Highland Dress with kilt and sporran.
The ancient symbol of Wales, the red dragon, can be seen on flags flying all over the country as this is a nation fiercely proud of its heritage. And you can see why the Welsh are justly proud of their country with its dramatic mountains, grand castles and long stretches of golden sandy beaches. On the coast craggy cliffs tower over the turbulent seas, irresistible harbour towns nestle in sandy bays and the Wales Coast Path traces the entire Welsh coastline. Further inland magical waterfalls cascade in fairytale valleys, glacial lakes shimmer in the mountains and traditional market towns offer their own unique charm.
Northern Ireland is a country of dramatic rural scenery, pretty villages and cosmopolitan cities including Belfast with its thriving arts scene. Giant's Causeway is a geological wonder with 40,000 hexagonal basalt stone columns built by ancient warring giants according local legends. The Republic of Ireland is home to prehistoric Iron Age forts, ruined monasteries and ancient castles, whilst lively cities such as Cork and Dublin combine vibrant pub culture with everlasting Celtic traditions. The Wild Atlantic Way takes in the Ring of Kerry and Inishowen Penisula and showcases Ireland’s most stunning scenery.
Highlights of UK and Ireland
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London
London is one of the world's most visited cities, with instantly recognisable landmarks including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and The Shard. Top-class museums such as Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum and the V&A Museum attract millions of visitors a year. Follow in the footsteps of royalty at Buckingham Palace or relax in Hyde Park, a vast open space that was once used as a hunting ground by Henry VIII. London is a shopper’s paradise, from lively flea markets and vintage shops to the luxury collections in Harrods and Selfridges. To the west of London lie the mystical ancient monoliths of Stonehenge, Britain’s most iconic archaeological site.
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Lake District
The Lake District is the UK's most popular national park thanks to its dramatic mountains, glistening lakes and pretty stone-built villages such as Ambleside, Windermere and Bowness which all nestle on the shores of Lake Windermere. It’s a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors with ample opportunities for fell walking and watersports. Many writers have found inspiration here over the centuries including Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, Arthur Ransome and Beatrix Potter whose house at Hill Top is a time capsule of her life and work.
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Bath
One of the most beautiful cities in the UK, Bath’s wide range of architectural treasures has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Bath owes its name to the famous hot springs which have been revered for centuries, as can be seen in the well-preserved Roman bathhouses. Bath was most fashionable as a spa town in the 18th century and the city is home to elegant crescents, Regency townhouses and honey-coloured Georgian buildings including the Circus and iconic Royal Crescent. Jane Austen lived here in the early 1800s and used the city as a setting for her novels Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.
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Edinburgh
Perched on a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky hills overlooking the sea, Edinburgh is a cosmopolitan and cultured city with a beautiful medieval Old Town. Highlights include the fairytale Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat, the Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Edinburgh is famous for worldwide for its arts festival and has been named a World City of Literature by UNESCO due to its famous authors including J M Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson. The exciting National Museum of Scotland is home to over 20,000 of Scotland’s most fascinating artefacts, while the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art house some of Scotland’s finest collections of paintings.
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Scottish Highlands & Islands
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland offer untouched landscapes, secluded beaches, far-flung islands and heather-clad moorlands. Historic castles tower over lochs and glens, and mountain passes echo to the sound of ancient clan battles. Prehistoric standing stones and archaeological sites in the Orkney, Shetland and Hebridean Islands tell the story of over 6,000 years of human history on these remote archipelagos. Many tours feature trips to local distilleries to sample a wee dram and learn more about how whisky is produced.
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Wales
The lively capital of Wales, Cardiff, has many attractions, from the extravagant Cardiff Castle and superb National Museum, to the iconic Millennium Stadium and contemporary Millennium Centre. It is Wales’ stunning scenery that is the biggest draw for visitors, with the towering mountains of Snowdonia National Park, tumbling waterfalls and glittering lakes of the Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire’s dramatic coast and breathtaking beaches. Wales is often referred to as the Land of Castles, with hundreds of medieval castles dotted all over the country.
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Galway
Galway is Ireland at its wildest and most beautiful, particularly along the stunning Connemara Peninsula where the coastline is studded with islands, dazzling white sandy beaches and captivating villages and further inland, glassy lakes nestle between craggy mountains and isolated valleys. The windswept Aran Islands offer a glimpse into Irish life of centuries past with prehistoric clifftop forts and ancient Celtic churches. Energetic Galway City is one of Ireland’s most picturesque cities, with colourful buildings curving around Galway Bay. Galway is known as the City of Festivals, with an arts festival in July that attracts thousands of people to the city, and many literary and music events throughout the year.
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Cork
The enchanting county of Cork is a lush landscape scattered with pretty old fishing villages, magnificent islands and lovely Blue Flag beaches. Steeped in history, Cork City’s main attractions are the triple-spired French-gothic Cathedral, the Shandon Steeple and the imposing Cork City Gaol. No visit to Cork would be complete without a trip to Blarney Castle where tradition says those who kiss the Blarney Stone will receive the gift of eloquence.
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Dublin
Dublin is a living museum of history, packed full of medieval castles, handsome Georgian squares and historic buildings including the prestigious Trinity College. The National Gallery and National Museum are home to compelling works of Irish art and exhibits on Irish history, and the city has been named a UNESCO City of Literature in recognition of its literary excellence. Sample famous Irish hospitality at one of the traditional pubs in Temple Bar, or enjoy a drink and a tour at the Guinness Brewery and Jameson distillery, birthplace of Irish whiskey.
