Ancient Isles: Ireland and England

Day 1 – Air

Fly to the ancient isle of Ireland.

Day 2 – Dublin

Welcome to Dublin! Your private bus and driver will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. This evening, get to know the capital on a Walking Tour around scenic St. Stephen’s Green, located in the heart of the city.

Day 3 – Dublin

On your guided Dublin City Tour see St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, Merrion Square Park, and visit Dublin Castle to see the magnificent state apartments. Travel a short distance south to Dun Laoghaire on “Dublin’s Riviera.” The seaport’s origin dates back to the year 498, making it Ireland’s oldest town—1500 years old! The town is named after its founder, Laoghaire, ancient High King of Ireland before the Vikings arrived. Visit the Maritime Museum, which holds many maritime artifacts from Viking times up to the present day. See the 18th century Martello Tower at Sandycove, where Irish writer James Joyce once lived. The tower is the setting for the first chapter of his famous novel Ulysses. Then on to Dalkey Village, once a walled town with seven fortified buildings. See the Goat Castle, now part of the Town Hall, and the ruins of 9th century St. Begnet’s Church.

Day 4 – Bath

Cross the Irish Sea to England by ferry. See glorious Gloucester Cathedral, one of the sites used in filming the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Arrive in Bath, a beautiful city which stands on the River Avon among the hills of England’s West Country.

Day 5 – Bath

Today’s Bath City Tour introduces you to a celebrated spa since Roman times, famous for its mineral baths and hot springs. It also has elegant architecture, history, beautiful scenery and grand terraces of mellow stone houses. Tour the Roman Baths and the ancient Pump House. Also worth exploring are Bath’s myriad of quaint antique shops and the Guildhall Market, which has been trading since 1289.

Day 6 – London

Journey to the magical past with a tour of 5000 year-old Stonehenge, the most important prehistoric and enigmatic monument in Britain. The monoliths are thought to be a site of Druid worship and astronomical observation. Also see Winchester, an ancient cathedral city that was capital of England from the early 9th century to about 100 years after the Norman conquest, and Salisbury, site of Old Sarum, an Iron Age hillfort. Arrive in London, a city whose known origins go back to the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Day 7 – London

Ancient Bretons gave London its name Llyn-Din, Celtic for “lake stronghold.” But it was the Romans who really created London, Londinium, in the first century A.D. On today’s guided London City Tour see Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Big Ben and other highlights. Tour glorious Westminster Abbey, scene of numerous royal weddings and coronations. Enjoy a theatre performance in London’s West End this evening.

Day 8 – London

Visit Windsor Castle, the country home of the Queen. William the Conqueror chose the site, high above the River Thames and on the edge of a Saxon hunting ground. See Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, The Gallery, The State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel and the Albert Memorial Chapel. Return to London for a free afternoon. Option: Attend another theatre performance tonight in this city where “the play’s the thing.”

Day 9 – Depart

Return home with new knowledge of, and appreciation for, the ancient isles of Ireland and England.