Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland 2026 - 18 Day Tour from London to London

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Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland 2026

18 Day Tour from London to London



Tour Description:

Experience the best of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales on this in-depth exploration tour of the British Isles. In between time in the major cities—London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Cardiff—visit some of the historic towns and witness some of the breathtaking scenery.

On any tour through Britain and Ireland, you’d expect to visit ancient ruins, majestic castles, and historic sights. That’s why Cosmos has included visits to prehistoric Stonehenge; Bath, known for its Roman ruins and baths; Edinburgh Castle, dating to the 12th century, where you’ll admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels; Hadrian’s Wall, the remains of the fortifications built by the Romans 2,000 years ago to defend against marauding northern tribes; the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked in 1620; the battlefield of Culloden Moor, where in 1746, the last battle was fought on British soil; and more.

You’d also expect to see stunning scenery and lush landscapes on a Britain and Ireland tour. That’s why Cosmos has included a drive around the Dingle Peninsula, a dramatic drive passing seaside villages, ancient monuments, and views of the Blasket Islands; a drive on the 100-mile Ring of Kerry, with its rugged and magnificent landscapes; the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher, where rugged cliffs drop into the ocean; a scenic drive along North Wales coast to England’s tranquil Lake District, recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status; and drives through rich dairy farmland. In the Scottish Highlands, drive through the rolling terrain interspersed with lochs (lakes), picturesque towns, and the sparkling coastline. Watch for Nessie at Loch Ness, Scotland’s largest lake.

Bustling cities, smaller towns, historic sights, breathtaking landscapes, and much more are offered on this incredible Britain and Ireland tour.

Map for Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland 2026 - 18 Day Tour from London to London
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Dates & Pricing

Friday 24 Apr 26 — Tuesday 12 May 26Starting at $4,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 01 May 26 — Tuesday 19 May 26Starting at $4,399Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 08 May 26 — Tuesday 26 May 26Starting at $4,569Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 15 May 26 — Tuesday 02 Jun 26Starting at $4,569Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 22 May 26 — Tuesday 09 Jun 26Starting at $4,569Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 29 May 26 — Tuesday 16 Jun 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 05 Jun 26 — Tuesday 23 Jun 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 12 Jun 26 — Tuesday 30 Jun 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 19 Jun 26 — Tuesday 07 Jul 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 26 Jun 26 — Tuesday 14 Jul 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 03 Jul 26 — Tuesday 21 Jul 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 10 Jul 26 — Tuesday 28 Jul 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 17 Jul 26 — Tuesday 04 Aug 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 24 Jul 26 — Tuesday 11 Aug 26Starting at $4,849Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 31 Jul 26 — Tuesday 18 Aug 26Starting at $4,849Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 07 Aug 26 — Tuesday 25 Aug 26Starting at $4,849Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 14 Aug 26 — Tuesday 01 Sep 26Starting at $4,849Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 21 Aug 26 — Tuesday 08 Sep 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 28 Aug 26 — Tuesday 15 Sep 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 04 Sep 26 — Tuesday 22 Sep 26Starting at $4,579Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 11 Sep 26 — Tuesday 29 Sep 26Starting at $4,499Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations and a return Irish Sea crossing—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and a private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Special departures: Departures July 25, August 1, 8 and 15 include the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Notes:
This tour requires some uphill walking on rough terraine at Edinburgh Castle which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.

Headsets available on tour except for London

ITINERARY

Day 1
Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, there is time to rest or to start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay

Day 2
What’s your pleasure? Today is devoted to exploring on your own or enjoying our exciting program of optional activities. You may choose to join a Local Guide for an optional morning sightseeing tour of the city’s famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. Later, maybe visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with its spectacular Crown Jewels. Tonight, we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with dinner, followed by a guided illumination cruise on the River Thames

Day 3
Meet your Tour Director and travel companions to depart at 8 am for the West Country. Cross the chalky terrain of Wiltshire and visit Stonehenge, one of England’s most intriguing mysteries. Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then admire the magnificence of the monument from up close. In the heart of Dartmoor National Park, ghostly setting for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles, visit quaint Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Later, in Plymouth, hear about Sir Francis Drake and see the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked in 1620. Today’s Distance: 222 mi/ 356 km

Day 4
Via Glastonbury and its legends of King Arthur to the elegant city of Bath, famed for its amazing Roman relics and Georgian buildings. Cross the spectacular Severn Bridge into Wales and head for the capital, Cardiff. Here, an orientation drive introduces you to all the major attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, Millennium Stadium, and the stately civic buildings. Tonight, experience Welsh culture at its finest during this memorable optional excursion featuring a dinner of local specialties, wine, and spirited folkloric entertainment. Today’s Distance: 188 mi / 303 km

Day 5
Enjoy vistas of rich dairy farmland this morning on the way to the pretty seaside resort of Tenby. Then, on to Pembroke, departure point for the ferry across St. George’s Channel to Ireland. Arrive at Rosslare in just under four hours. Today’s Distance: 169 mi/ 272 km

Day 6
Today, discover why Ireland is called the “Emerald Isle.” Drive along the southern coast, passing Cork, the country’s second-largest city. Stop in Blarney, famous for its Stone of Eloquence, with time to see the castle, and shop for Irish crafts and handmade crystal. Continue to the popular resort of Killarney. Today’s Distance: 134 mi/ 216 km

Day 7
At Killorglin, join the road known as the Ring of Kerry for a 100-mile coastal panoramic drive featuring sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly painted farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and spectacular views of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Back in Killarney, climb aboard a delightful optional horse-drawn jaunting car ride through Killarney National Park to legendary Ross Castle on the shores of Lough Leane. Today’s Distance: 100 mi/ 160 km

Day 8
Breathtaking scenery this morning on the Dingle Peninsula, where the 32-mile Slea Head drive affords magnificent vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. See the Blasket Islands and hear about the way of life and unique literary achievements of its inhabitants prior to their evacuation in 1953. Then, travel via Adare, a village known for its prize-winning thatched cottages, to Shannon. Step back in time at an original Irish castle medieval banquet optional. Enjoy a 4-course feast with wine, then relax as your medieval hosts dazzle you with unforgettable music and storytelling. Today’s Distance: 154 mi/ 249 km

Day 9
Take a scenic route this morning via the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren on the way to the port city of Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan district with vibrant shops and a busy café and bar culture. Continue across the mighty Shannon before arriving in Dublin. Everyone’s Irish with a popular optional outing to the legendary Taylors Irish Cabaret, featuring a delicious dinner, drinks, and outstanding Irish music, dance, and comedy. Today’s Distance: 234 mi/ 377 km

Day 10
A day in the “Fair City” starts with an orientation drive through Eire’s capital, including statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The afternoon is at leisure. This evening, raise a glass on an optional excursion to learn about the history, traditions, and brewing techniques behind one of the world's most popular beers on this fascinating tour, tasting and dinner at Dublin's legendary Guinness Storehouse

Day 11
Take the ferry across the Irish Sea to Holyhead on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey with its tongue-twisting names. Explore North Wales on the way to Caernarfon where the castle saw the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales. Overnight in Liverpool, of Beatles fame and once the departure port of the great transatlantic liners. Today’s Distance: 130 mi/ 209 km

Day 12
Drive into the tranquil Lake District, often considered to be the finest of England’s national parks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, visit Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Travel through the history-steeped Lowland Hills to Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Today’s Distance: 237 mi/ 381 km

Day 13
Skirt the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond and head through wild Rannoch Moor into the Highlands. Pass through Glen Coe, where the MacDonald Clan was massacred in 1692, to Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. Then, the Great Glen for vistas of the Caledonian Canal, Loch Lochy, and Loch Oich. Follow the banks of Loch Ness, home of the timid and timeless Nessie. Continue via Inverness, the Highland capital and, on the way to tonight’s destination, stop at the battlefield of Culloden Moor with its memories of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Today’s Distance: 209 mi/ 336 km

Day 14
Drive through more spectacular Highland scenery for a stop in the pretty Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. Then, travel via Perth and Dundee before crossing the Tay Bridge to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754, has given us the rules of golfing. Continue through Fife and over the mighty Forth Road Bridge to spend the next two nights in Edinburgh. No trip to Scotland is complete without an authentic Scottish evening! Join an optional night out filled with traditional food, drinks, singers, dancers, bagpipes, and, of course, the unforgettable Ceremony of the Haggis! Today’s Distance: 169 mi/ 272 km

Day 15
A full day to enjoy the Scottish capital. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town,” home to famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Get the royal treatment this afternoon and discover what life was like on board Her Majesty's floating residence during an exciting visit of the Royal Yacht Britannia, followed by dinner with wine at an excellent local restaurant! For departures July 25, August 1, 8 and 15 tickets are included for tonight’s performance of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Day 16
At Jedburgh, see the abbey ruins before heading towards the Cheviot Hills and the English border. Travel through wild Northumberland National Park and, on the way, see a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes. In York, England’s most complete medieval city, stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. Overnight is in Leeds. Today’s Distance: 220 mi/ 355 km

Day 17
In Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, take photos of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and explore the town at your own pace. After returning to London around 4 pm, how about celebrating the success of your tour with an optional night on the town? Curtain’s up with an optional escorted evening in London's theater district, starting with a delicious dinner, followed by excellent seats at your chosen show. Today’s Distance: 237 mi/ 385 km

Day 18
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Accommodations

LondonPlymouthCardiffTramoreKillarneyShannonDublinLiverpoolGlasgowHighlandsEdinburghLeeds
Novotel London West
First-Class

Hotel as shown or similar



Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.