Tour Itinerary
Day 1
- Home - Board the flight to London — Heathrow, United Kingdom
Day 2
- London, England - Arrive at London Heathrow Airport, board the tube, and check-in @ your hostel. Hop a double decker over to Westminster Abbey, where you can set your watch with Big Ben and catch the Changing of the Guard. Join your tour for a Welcome Dinner.
Day 3
- London, England - Try and get up bright ‘n early to walk the Millennium Mile (Monument, St. Dunstan-in-the-East, Tower of London, Tower and London Bridges, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Tate Modern) and make especially sure to ride the London Eye at sunset. Check out Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square for discounted tickets, and finish the day with a musical.
Day 4
- Edinburgh, Scotland - Scotland at last! After stopping by the hostel, wander around the Royal Mile with a camera in hand. Drop by Edinburgh Castle for the crown jewels and by Castle Hill for the view. Swing by Royal Mile Whiskies to wet your whistle. And at the George IV Bridge, discover the touching 'tail' of Greyfriars Bobby. Then after a day of sightseeing, prepare for McEwan's Edinburgh Literary Pub Crawl (optional excursion)!
Day 5
- Edinburgh, Scotland - Time to visit Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park for a spectacular view of the Highlands. If you're a 'Da Vinci Code' fan, take a daytrip over to Rosslyn Chapel. Or if you want to stay closer to home, the Walter Scott Monument has a great view of the city. If you’re feeling lucky, attempt the City of the Dead Tour (optional excursion), which promises an encounter with a poltergeist.
Day 6
- Glasgow, Scotland - Board the train to western Scotland. If you’re in the mood to be posh, try a 3-course high tea at the Willow Tea Rooms. Afterwards, take a daylong audio Walkabout Tour. Make sure to see the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis, as well as the St. Mungo Museum for Britain's first Zen garden. Fire up the Glasgow scene ‘til the wee hours at The Buff Club or The Garage.
Day 7
- Glasgow, Scotland - Check out the Glasgow Science Centre and have a picnic at the Botanic Gardens. Or instead, walk through Pollok Country Park and view the famous Burrell Collection (paintings, tapestries, china). In the evening, relax over a pint and some cheap tasty grub at Mojama.
Day 8
- Belfast, Northern Ireland - Adjust your ears to the Irish brogue of Northern Ireland. Go to Lagan Lookout and Lagan Weir for an almost full view of Belfast . Then learn about the peace line and study the Catholic and Protestant Murals in West Belfast. Or just head over to The Duke of York for Belfast's largest selection of Irish whiskeys. Keep it up with Bailey's Historical Pub Tour (optional excursion for those inclined towards Irish cream).
Day 9
- Dublin, Southern Ireland - South now, to the Republic of Ireland. Drop your bags off at your hostel in the middle of Temple Bar, the party center of Ireland. Fans of Bram Stoker should visit Merrion Square and St. Michan's Church. Everyone should make a long stop at the Guinness Storehouse. Then maybe head over to the Irish Film Institute or Abbey Theatre for some entertainment (optional). Dublin’s known for its surefire nightlife, so definitely check out a few places:
Day 10
- Dublin, Southern Ireland - Follow a self-guided Dublin Walking Tour created by 'Let's Go,' the backpacker's travel guide of choice. Stops include a café for breakfast, the Book of Kells, the Natural History Museum, the Unicorn Food Store for lunch, St. Stephen's Green, the Chester Beatty Library, a river walk, and a pub stop.
Day 11
- Cardiff, Wales - Wave goodbye to Ireland on the back of the ferry and enter Wales. With the exception of the peacock filled Cardiff Castle, it's the daytrips that make Cardiff worth visiting. Take one to the amazing Caerphilly Castle (optional excursion). Or catch a rugby match at the Millennium Stadium. Spend your night clubbing at The Toucan, voted 'Best Night Out in Cardiff Bar None.'
Day 12
- Cardiff, Wales - A full day's hike in the nearby Wye Valley might seem tiring after nearly two weeks of travel, but the view makes it completely worthwhile. Besides you can get the best rest of your life the next day in Bath.
Day 13
- Bath, England - A definite trip highlight is a visit to Bath's hot springs, or rather the Thermae Bath Spa (advanced booking required for spa treatments www.thermaebathspa.com). After your relaxing soak and/or pampering, stop by Bath's Sweet Shop, before catching the evening train to London. Exchange toasts and farewells on this final night of your trip.
Day 14
- London - Depart London