Today depart from Auckland, *Wellington or *Christchurch for London, England. Fly with award winning airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Etihad Airways, Emirates or British Airways to name a few (subject to availability).

Upon arrival, be met by your Tour Leader and transferred to the hotel.

In the morning depart from the hotel for a panoramic tour of London. Take in famous sights such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Regent Street, Oxford Street, and more. See the Albert Memorial, Royal Albert Hall, Big Ben, Parliament House, and the London Eye Ferris wheel. Next travel past the Tower of London; a medieval fortress built in the year 1078 by William the Conqueror, before returning to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

In the morning take an excursion to Windsor Castle, fortress of English kings and queens since the 14th century. Travelling to the historic city of Windsor; pass through the Thames Valley and Runnymede, where you will find monuments of the Magna Carta and US President Kennedy. You can admire the castle, inhabited since the 12th century by royalty. From here, see the renowned College of Eton, founded by Enrique VI, one of the most exclusive schools in the country. Visit the beautiful Royal Chapel of St. George (except during special ceremonies), an example of Gothic perpendicular style; The Mausoleum of the Kings; and the Royal Apartments, splendidly restored after the fire of 1992. Return to London for an afternoon at leisure in the cosmopolitan city.

After breakfast depart for Cambridge. Upon arrival take part in a tour through this historic city, synonymous with its university. Afterwards continue to York and walk to see its ramparts, the Shambles, and the wonderful York Minster Cathedral. Few British cities possess the magic and charm of York, a result of its outstanding architecture and more than 2000 years of history.

Enjoy a free morning in York to explore the city on your own before departing to Durham, where an orientation tour will take in the market square and its pioneering Romanesque cathedral, which, together with the Norman castle, dominate the city. On the way to Edinburgh, admire Hadrian’s Wall, a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia, begun in 122AD in the reign of the emperor Hadrian. Edinburgh is traditionally said to have been built on seven hills, and sitting proudly atop one of these hills is the majestic Edinburgh Castle. Spacious and beautiful, Edinburgh is a city that knows how to combine the legacy of its medieval past with beautiful gardens, Georgian mansions and the modernity of its lively artistic life. Relax for the remainder of the day.

This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city, with a local guide. Visit Edinburgh Castle, which began construction in the 11th century, and Princes Street flanked by beautiful gardens and imposing Georgian buildings that separate the new city from the old. See the department store Jenners, the oldest in the city, followed by St. Giles Cathedral, founded in the 12th century. Following the tour, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

In the morning, depart for the Scottish Highlands, home to many historic castles, islands and lakes. Many of the symbols that make up the Scottish idiosyncrasy, such as the skirt, tartan plaid, bagpipes and feather cap, come from this mountainous region. Stop in the city of St. Andrews, to enjoy a brief tour to discover the ruins of what was the largest cathedral in the country. See the birthplace of golf at the Royal Ancient Golf Club. Afterwards continue to Dundee to see the Castle of Glamis, stopping to visit a traditional whiskey distillery factory on the way. Finally, continue towards Aviemore and check-in to your hotel for the night.

After breakfast depart for Inverness, where you will see the Clava Cairns, a prehistoric monument and Bronze Age cemetery. Pass by the Battlefield of Culloden, the site where the last battle was carried out on British soil. Travel onwards to the famous Loch Ness before travelling back to Aviemore for the afternoon at leisure.

After breakfast, depart for Glasgow down the Great Glen, passing through Fort Augustus and Fort William and the dramatic Glen Coe Valley. Afterwards see Stirling Castle; declared a National Monument. This famous castle is perched atop a hill and surrounded on three sides by cliffs. Most of the main buildings date back to the 15th and 16th centuries and the outer defences facing the city date to the early 18th century. In the evening continue onwards to Glasgow for the night.

This morning enjoy a sightseeing walking tour of the city with your tour leader. A vibrant and energetic city, Glasgow is known as the capital of style in Scotland, with its many art-deco restaurants, boutiques and cultural centres. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

This morning depart to Windermere in the heart of the Lake District, which offers fantastic views of the English countryside and surrounding mountains. Next depart for Liverpool, hometown of the Beatles. After London, Liverpool has the second most theatres, museums and galleries in the UK. The city has a fabulous architectural heritage. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel in Liverpool.

In the morning depart for Bath. Spend a day at leisure in the Georgian city. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts some of the most exquisite architectural and historical treasures in Europe including The Roman Baths, its 15th century abbey, and the impressive Royal Crescent. The popularity of Bath has increased thanks to the reopening of its thermal spa. They are the only natural thermal baths in Britain that offer the possibility of bathing in temperate waters, as the Roman and Celts did 2000 years ago.

After breakfast visit Stonehenge, the most important prehistoric site in England. Next continue on to Oxford; home to the University of Oxford, the oldest in the English-speaking world. It is known as “the city of dreams”, an expression coined by Matthew Arnold to describe the harmony in the architecture of university buildings. Upon arrival enjoy a panoramic tour of the city, including Christchurch College, Oxford’s largest and most popular. See the inner courtyards and the Cathedral, the smallest of the country.

After breakfast travel to Holyhead to board the ferry to Dublin (approx. 3 hours). Upon arrival, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in the Irish capital city.

This morning, enjoy a traditional Irish breakfast, before taking a half-day guided tour of St. Patrick’s Cathedral - the largest of the two cathedrals in Ireland. The Cathedral of St. Patrick was built next to a well in which, according to legend, St. Patrick baptised those who converted from paganism to Christianity. Look inside the ivy-covered stone buildings of Trinity College to see the Old Library’s vast rows of antiquarian books.

Afterwards pass Dublin Castles, before continuing to Galway via the monastic site of Clonmacnoise Abbey (entrance not included). With more than eight centuries since its foundation, Galway (in Gaillimh Gaelic: “rocky river”), owes its name to the bed of stones of the Corrib, the river that crosses it. See the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, founded in 1320 thanks to the famous Lynch family (one of the 14 tribes of Galway) in honour of St. Nicholas of Myra (patron saint of sailors). Next see the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Nicholas, the Lynch Castle, the Court of Justice, and the Old Town Hall.

Start the day early with a visit the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Cliffs of Moher, which towers 214 metres above the level of the Atlantic Ocean at its highest point. Enjoy a brief stop in Limerick, the third most populated city in the country, where the King John Castle, one of its main attractions, stands out. Continue onwards to Dublin for the night.

After breakfast, enjoy your last day free at leisure in Dublin. Take some time to enjoy the city’s sensational dining, music, and pub scenes.

After check out you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home back to New Zealand!
Please note: if your flight departs early, breakfast will be arranged for pick up from the hotel reception the night before.

Please note: some flights may arrive +1 day later.