2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

From the Shannon to the Thames (GU)

13 days from Limerick to London

2024 Tour Details

Beloved music, literature, and poetry; lively traditions, customs, and conversation; smooth Guinness, whisky, and ale—they all flow from the banks of one legendary river to another on this immersive tour of Ireland, Scotland, and England. From the ancient villages along the Shannon to the cathedrals and castles lining the Thames, this tour of Ireland and Britain invites you to splash about in four distinctive countries and cultures. Enjoy traditional tea at a 150-year-old Irish farmhouse, follow the sounds of haunting bagpipes in Edinburgh’s quirky quarters, and quote famous verse as you stroll around Shakespeare’s birthplace in the English countryside. With a compass pointed toward enlightenment and enchantment, this vacation to Ireland and Britain is overflowing with seaside scenery, Highland history, and cobblestone charisma.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus 2021 Europe tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus European tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect vacation, from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; Irish Sea ferry.

Save $400 per couple on select Globus 2024 Europe and North America Tours*
From the Shannon to the Thames map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Full buffet breakfast daily; 3 three-course dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN SHANNON, IRELAND–LIMERICK

Céad mile fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.

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DinnerDinner

Day 2 LIMERICK. EXCURSION TO CLIFFS OF MOHER & GALWAY

Seacliff Rocks & Sheep Flocks CLIFFS OF MOHER Visit the 668-foot-high cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean.
GALWAY Free time.
RATHBAUN Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Watch the farmer shear a sheep and maneuver a flock with a help of a sheep dog, and enjoy traditional tea at Rathbaun Farm.
171 mi / 275 km

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION The Irish legacy of sheep herding and wool shearing is alive and well just outside of Galway. Experience the long-time traditions of farming life in Ireland both past and present and talk to the farmers.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 LIMERICK–ADARE–RING OF KERRY–KILLARNEY

Beauties in County Kerry ADARE Stop at the quaint village to see its pretty thatched cottages.
RING OF KERRY Panoramic drive around part of Ireland’s spectacular southwestern peninsula.
KILLARNEY Free time.
157 mi / 253 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the emerald tapestries of green fields and ocean views that make other coastlines green with envy. The Ring of Kerry begins and ends in Killarney, taking you on a trip along the southwest coast of Ireland. Discover a paradise of panoramic cliffs, lush landscapes, and breathtaking beaches of the Iveragh Peninsula.


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Breakfast Breakfast
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Day 4 KILLARNEY–BLARNEY–CAHIR–DUBLIN

The Stone of Eloquence BLARNEY Visit the village renowned for its magical Kissing Stone.
CAHIR Photo stop.
DUBLIN Free time this afternoon.
225 mi / 360 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE Cut the blarney and hear the history of how telling tales is forever linked to the 15th-century castle and the village below in Blarney. One of the last estate villages that remain standing in Ireland, Blarney was built by an 18th-century landlord to house the castle workers there. It’s true!


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 DUBLIN

Ireland’s Capital City DUBLIN Take a morning orientation drive to see O’Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Free time this afternoon.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS “In Dublin’s fair city where girls are so pretty,” you’ll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the legendary library of Trinity College.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 DUBLIN–GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, NORTHERN IRELAND–BELFAST

A Grand Ship & Giant Steps GIANT’S CAUSEWAY See more than 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed millions of years ago.
BELFAST Visit the Titanic Belfast Experience.
232 mi / 373 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE Follow in the legendary footsteps of giants at the foot of the cliffs along the coast of Northern Ireland, where 40,000 massive black basalt columns jut out of the sea. Hear the legendary myth of two battling giants that caused the magnificent geological wonder of Giant’s Causeway, actually formed by volcanic activity 50–60 million years ago.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 BELFAST–EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Strait to Scotland BELFAST Ferry crossing on the North Channel strait to Cairnryan on Scotland’s southwest coast. Continue with a scenic drive through Scottish border country to Edinburgh.
132 mi / 212 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean’s Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including its floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 EDINBURGH

Drummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, the Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon.
THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Attend the world-renowned Tattoo performance. (Departures July 31 through August 14 only).

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with a 1,100-year history as “the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 EDINBURGH–ALNWICK, ENGLAND–YORK

Lights, Camera, Alnwick! ALNWICK Visit Alnwick Castle, setting for many film productions. Choose between a tour of the castle or taking a stroll through the magnificent Alnwick Gardens.
YORK See York Minster and browse the shops of The Shambles.
218 mi / 351 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT While strolling the cobblestones of York’s Shambles, it’s easy to imagine the medieval butcher shops and boisterous crowds bartering for beef and bones outside the 14th-century timber-framed windows. The Shambles is one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe and said to have been the inspiration behind Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, and today is a colorful gathering place with cheerful cafés and quirky boutiques brimming with the sweet aromas of chocolate, pastries, and pies.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 10 YORK–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–BATH

Sonnets & Springs STRATFORD-UPON-AVON See Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
BATH Visit the excavations of the Roman Baths.
238 mi / 383 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS The traditions of one ancient Roman ritual are in full flow in Bath. Amid the remarkable Roman and Georgian architecture and the best-preserved Roman Baths of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a good spa day is never hard to find in one of the “Best Spa Towns in Europe.” The city of Bath sits above geothermal springs that bubble up from the limestone below. Bath also turns up the heat with some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings, a mecca for elite 18th-century society.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 11 BATH–STONEHENGE–LONDON

Mysterious Monuments STONEHENGE Visit the prehistoric monument.
131 mi / 210 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & MYSTERY Ponder the who, what, why, and how of Stonehenge, one of the most impressive prehistoric megalithic monuments in the world. Its sheer size and sophisticated architectural design have earned it legendary reverence as the most famous prehistoric monument in the world. Although its original purpose is a mystery, the concentric monuments hold spiritual significance for people from around the world who gather at the massive stone circles to celebrate the summer solstice.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 12 LONDON

The Royal Treatment LONDON Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. Free time this afternoon.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITES See the legendary landmarks of England’s historic capital city. Walk where voices have rung out for centuries in Parliament Square and where chimes rise high above you with the ringing of Big Ben’s quarter bells. See Westminster Abbey, where royal coronations, weddings, and funerals have made history.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 13 LONDON

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JULIAN CLEARY

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

Why did King John build a castle on the Shannon? Why is St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin protestant? How did James Watt change the world? My greatest pleasure is to answer those questions! When you travel to my country, I have the duty to show it to you properly!

Tour Director - JULIAN CLEARY

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Limerick
Killarney
Dublin
Edinburgh
London

Limerick

Medieval Castle Banquet

Medieval Castle Banquet

Step back in time at an original Irish medieval banquet. Enjoy a 4-course feast with wine, then relax as your medieval hosts dazzle you with unforgettable music and storytelling.

Price Range: $$$

Killarney

Killarney Pub Evening

Killarney Pub Evening

Irish craic (fun) awaits on this enjoyable pre-dinner outing to a country pub, featuring live music, your choice of drinks, and time to rub elbows with the locals!

Price Range: $$

Dublin

Taylors Irish Cabaret

Taylors Irish Cabaret

You won't want to miss this popular outing to the legendary Taylors Irish Cabaret, featuring a delicious dinner, drinks, and outstanding Irish music, dance, and comedy.

Price Range: $$$

Guinness Storehouse Visit and Supper

Guinness Storehouse Visit and Supper

Discover the history, traditions, and brewing techniques behind one of the world's most popular beer on this fascinating tour, tasting and dinner at Dublin's legendary Guinness Storehouse.

Price Range: $$$

Edinburgh

Scottish Evening

Scottish Evening

No trip to Scotland is complete without an authentic Scottish evening filled with traditional food, drinks, singers, dancers, bagpipes, and, of course, the unforgettable Ceremony of the Haggis!

Price Range: $$$$

Royal Yacht Britannia and Dinner

Royal Yacht Britannia and Dinner

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!

Price Range: $$$

London

Shownight

Shownight

A wonderful escorted evening in London's theater district starts with a delicious dinner, followed by excellent seats at your chosen show.

Price Range: $$$$

A Taste of London

A Taste of London

A traditional dining experience followed by a nighttime cruise along the Thames River, viewing some of the capital's most beautiful illuminated sights.

Price Range: $$$$

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years and is today one of the official residences of His Majesty The King.

Price Range: $$$

 Private Touring

Private Touring: Globus European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Globus tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience.

For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party.

Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $4,380*
18 guests in a party: $939*

Contact Globus or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Globus Private Touring.

* Supplement pricing is per person (CA) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2020 and 2021 travel years. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.