Celebrating 70 Years
Of Great Vacations

ESCORTED COACH TOURS - IRELAND & BRITAIN

From $2,375
(Including Land & Air)

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Scottish Cabaret & Dinner
• Ruthin Castle Banquet
• Jurys Irish Cabaret
• London Theater Evening
• York, Chester & Waterford Walks
• Edinburgh Castle
• Moffat Woollen Mills
• Japanese Gardens & Irish National Stud
• Cardiff Castle

Click on the phrases below for full details:

• Your Day-by-Day Itinerary
• What Your Tour Includes
• Your Hotels
• Departure Dates & Rates
• 55 & Smiling Discounts
• General Conditions for All Tours

"Our travel agent recommended CIE Tours and we would like to compliment you on the British and Irish Grandeur Tour. The sights, hotels, meals and evening dinner shows were fantastic — and all the costs were included! Both of us have wonderful memories that we will cherish forever."
~ John & Anne P., Cleveland OH

Day 1 - Sat: Depart U.S. for London
Depart U.S. on your overnight flight to London. Dinner and continental breakfast are served on board.

Day 2 - Sun: London at Leisure
Welcome to London! After immigration and baggage claim, take an independent coach transfer to your city center hotel. For the balance of the day you are free to rest or to explore London on your own. There is a great variety of attractions - the Victoria & Albert Museum, some cozy London pubs, browse along nearby Kensington High Street or famous Oxford Street. In the evening meet your guide and fellow travelers over a welcoming drink.

Day 3 - Mon: London & Theater Evening
This morning take a guided tour of London's prominent landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Visit St. Paul's Cathedral, built in 1675 - 1710 by Sir Christopher Wren. See the huge dome and the extensive crypt where many prominent people are buried. Spend the afternoon on your own to relax, sightsee independently or shop. In the evening join your group and head to one of London's popular shows in the West End. (CB)

Day 4 - Tue: Oxford & Stratford-upon-Avon
Leave London and drive into the countryside to Oxford. This charming university town embraces more than forty colleges, founded over the past eight centuries in differing architectural styles. Stop to look around the town before driving through the Cotswolds to Stratford-upon-Avon, home of William Shakespeare. Visit his wife's home, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, an Elizabethan farmhouse with 16th century furnishings. Then drive north to York for your overnight stay. (CB, D)

Day 5 - Wed: York & Abbotsford House
Take a walking tour through the medieval center of York where narrow streets and ancient houses contain centuries of history. Visit the imposing York Minster to see its towers and stained glass. See a portion of Hadrian's Wall, built by the Romans to restrict the Scots. Journey through the gentle Scottish Borders scenery to visit Sir Walter Scott's home at Abbotsford where most of his novels took shape. Drive to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, where a special cabaret right in your hotel will introduce you to Scottish food and culture. (B, D)

Day 6 - Thu: Edinburgh Highlights
Discover Scotland's capital on a tour around the city center. See Princes Street, the main shopping thoroughfare which divides the elegant Georgian "New Town" from the crowded medieval city. Pass the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the Queen. Visit Edinburgh Castle to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. Also enjoy splendid views of central Edinburgh. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing or shopping. On departures from August 03 to 17 experience the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. (B)

Day 7 - Fri: Lake District & Ruthin Castle
Journey through the Southern Uplands and stop at Moffat Woollen Mills with its wide array of Scottish goods before continuing south across the border into England. Travel through the hills and valleys of the Lake District and stop to explore one of the delightful towns. Continue to Chester where a walking tour will include "The Rows," picturesque arcaded shops in black and white half-timbered style and see the original medieval walls. Cross into Wales and check into Ruthin Castle where a jolly medieval banquet is held this evening. (B, D)

Day 8 - Sat: North Wales & Dublin
This morning see the charming Welsh countryside as you drive through farmlands and the picturesque villages of Corwyn and Betws-y-Coed. Traverse a portion of the Snowdonia National Park where the highest mountains in Wales are assembled. Enjoy views of majestic peaks and cross to Anglesey Island en route to Holyhead. Take an afternoon ferry across the Irish Sea to Dublin and transfer to your hotel. The evening is at leisure. (B)

Day 9 - Sun: Dublin & Jurys Cabaret
Take a morning tour around central Dublin, with its spacious Georgian squares and streets, landmark public buildings, and rows of graceful townhouses. Visit St. Patrick's Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift was once Dean. Tour Dublin Castle to see the elegantly furnished State Apartments used for official functions. The afternoon is free for browsing or further sightseeing on your own. In the evening enjoy dinner at Jurys Irish Cabaret followed by a lighthearted show of storytelling, song and dance. (B, D)

Day 10 - Mon: Japanese Gardens & Killarney
Depart Dublin and visit the Japanese Gardens and National Stud in Kildare. The gardens represent the Life of Man from birth to death in oriental-style gardening. Learn about Ireland's exciting horsebreeding industry at the National Stud. See a variety of landscapes as you drive through rich farming lands and bustling market towns. Near Cashel stop at a sheep farm for tea and freshly baked scones and learn about farm life. Continue towards the mountainous country of Kerry and into Killarney. (B, D)

Day 11 - Tue: Ring of Kerry Tour
Today experience one of Ireland's most popular scenic drives, the Ring of Kerry. Your route winds around the Iveragh Peninsula with Ireland's highest mountains on one side and Atlantic coastline on the other. Travel through the villages of Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem with frequent stops to admire the views and take photos. Just outside Killarney tour the gracious 19th century Muckross House to learn about its U.S. connections and see richly crafted furnishings. (B, D)

Day 12 - Wed: Blarney & Waterford
Travel to Blarney to acquire the "gift of eloquence" by kissing the stone in the ramparts of fabled Blarney Castle. Drive through the outskirts of Cork and along the south coast of Ireland via Youghal. In Waterford visit the Waterford Crystal Factory to see skilled craftspeople create this famous crystal from molten glass. See the vast display of trophies and tableware in the showrooms. Check into your hotel in Waterford and, after dinner, join a local guide on a brief walk around the historic town center. (B, D)

Day 13 - Thu: Wales & Cardiff Castle
Depart Waterford early this morning for a short drive to Rosslare followed by a ferry ride to South Wales. Journey through Carmarthen and along the south coast of Wales to its capital city of Cardiff. Tour Cardiff Castle, the origins of which date back to Roman times. The castle was extensively remodeled and embellished in the 1860s and you will see elaborate decorations in various chambers. Check into your hotel in Cardiff in time for dinner. (B, D)

Day 14 - Fri: Bath & Stonehenge
Drive to Bath to tour this spa town, popular for its natural hot springs with the Romans 2,000 years ago and again in fashion in the 18th century Regency period. Visit the wonderful Roman Baths and Pump Room, still preserved after two millennia and drive around the stately mansions of the Royal Crescent and Queen's Square. Drive to Salisbury Plain to view the prehistoric circle of vast monoliths at Stonehenge. Continue into London for overnight. (B)

Day 15 - Sat: Depart for Home
As today is departure day, travel to Heathrow Airport by group coach transfer or to Gatwick Airport by independent coach transfer. Allow plenty of time for check in formalities. (CB)

What Your Tour Includes

15 days/13 nights/21 meals

• Round trip flights between U.S. & London
• Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
• Transfers to and from hotel in London
• Round trip ferry transportation between Wales & Ireland
• Services of a professional tour director
• Local guides in London, Edinburgh & Dublin
• Superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 13 nights
• 10 full breakfasts (B) and 3 continental breakfasts in London (CB)
• 8 dinners (D) including
  - Scottish cabaret and dinner in Edinburgh
  - Medieval Welsh banquet at Ruthin Castle
  - Jurys Irish Cabaret and dinner in Dublin
  - 5 table d'hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Tea & scones at an Irish sheep farm
• Theater performance in London's West End
• Walking tours of York, Chester & Waterford
• Reserved seats for Edinburgh Military Tattoo on departures from August 03 to 17
• Visits and admissions to St. Paul's Cathedral, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, York Minster, Hadrian's Wall, Abbotsford House, Edinburgh Castle, Moffat Woollen Mills, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Japanese Gardens & National Stud, Muckross House, Blarney Castle, Waterford Crystal Factory, Cardiff Castle, Roman Baths & Pump Room and Stonehenge
• Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Copthorne Tara Hotel, London (2 nights)
• Moat House Hotel, York (1 night)
• Roxburghe Hotel , Edinburgh (2 nights)
• Ruthin Castle Hotel, Ruthin (1 night)
• Hilton Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)
• Killarney Avenue Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Granville Hotel, Waterford (1 night)
• Jurys Hotel, Cardiff (1 night)
• Copthorne Tara Hotel, London (1 night)

Departure Dates & Rates

55 & Smiling Discounts

Save $75! All departure dates with a bullet in the chart above qualify for the 55 & Smiling discount.

General Conditions for All Tours