Enjoy a rare glimpse into classic literature settings, along with the landscapes and villages that inspired magnificent authors and poets, like Robert Burns, William Shakespeare, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Dylan Thomas, Jane Austen, TS Eliot and Bram Stroker—just to name a few.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - London
Your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to London aboard an internationally recognized airline.
Day 2 - London
After clearing customs and collecting your bags, transfer to your hotel by bus. They will be providing your transfer to your hotel. If you took our pre-tour extension in London, join the rest of your tour today. This afternoon is free to explore London on your own or relax in your hotel room. Meet your fellow travelers at an included dinner this evening.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner
Day 3 - London
On your first full day, an expert local guide leads this morning’s comprehensive sightseeing of London. Highlights include Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the Big Ben clock tower, the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus and a stop outside St. James’s Palace, where you might glimpse the ceremonial Changing of the Guard (seasonal and weather dependent).
This afternoon, join an optional walking tour to experience the literary side of London. Walk down Baker Street, most famous for its fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, who lived at 221B Baker Street—an address that does not actually exist. See London sites that conjure up the presence of William Shakespeare during his London years. You’ll follow the “Shakespeare trail” and visit major sites associated with the renowned playwright, including the Tower of London; George Tavern, a venue for outdoor plays; Southwark Cathedral, where his brother Edmund Shakespeare is buried; and the London Globe Theatre site, which is a rendition of the first, because the originial—built on the very site by Shakespeare’s company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men—was destroyed in a fire in 1613.
Included meals: breakfast
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$49 CAD |
Literary London
Experience the literary side of London. Walk down Baker Street, most famous for its fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, who lived at 221B Baker Street—an address that does not actually exist. See London sites that conjure up the presence of William Shakespeare during his London years.
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Day 4 - London
Enjoy a free day to uncover London’s attractions and treasures at your own pace. You might wish to conduct your very own garden tour, taking in the lovely Kensington, Kew and Covent gardens, with side trips to the local markets. Alternatively, you might join a full-day optional excursion to Oxford and Stratford, two world famous English towns. The latter is Shakespeare’s birthplace, though the exact date of his birth is unknown.
Included meals: breakfast
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$99 CAD |
Oxford & Stratford
Oxford is not only the home of Britain’s oldest university, it is also one of England’s most interesting cities. Then continue through the rolling English countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon. Here, you’ll visit Shakespeare’s birthplace.
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Day 5 - Edinburgh
Journey by train through the English countryside to the romantic lochs and hills of Scotland. As you approach the Scottish capital, you’ll pass under the dramatic Edinburgh castle; its foundation dates back to 850 B.C. Please note that train portage is not included. After hotel check-in, enjoy an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 6 - Edinburgh
Today, an expert local guide leads a sightseeing tour of Scotland’s literary hub. You’ll visit Edinburgh Castle, a must-see for the history buff, with great highland views and a deep wealth of Scottish history, including the crown jewels. Next, you’ll visit the Writers’ Museum. Located within the 17th century Lady Stair’s House, it’s dedicated to the lives and work of Scotland’s great literary figures. This afternoon, explore Edinburgh on your own or join an optional excursion to Abbotsford House and the ruins of Melrose Abbey.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Edinburgh Castle, Writers’ Museum
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$69 CAD |
Abbotsford House & Melrose Abbey
Travel through the Borders region to Abbotsford House, the 19th-century estate of Sir Walter Scott.The excursion then continues with a visit to the ruins of Melrose Abbey, one of the most impressive of the four Borders abbeys.
Please note: Access to Abbotsford House involves a short but steep walk.
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Day 7 - Edinburgh
Spend a day in Edinburgh to explore the sites on your own, including the many museums and shops of the Royal Mile. For a trip back to your youth, try the Museum of Childhood, located along the Mile after the descent down from the Castle. Or join an optional excursion to visit Robert Burns’ birthplace of Alloway, Ayrshire, in southwest Scotland. It’s where Burns set his poem “Tam o’ Shanter.” Here, you’ll enjoy a poetry reading and have the opportunity to sample Scotch whisky, which is divided into four distinct categories: single malt, vatted malt (also called “pure malt”), blended and single grain.
Included meals: breakfast
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$95 CAD |
Robert Burns
Visit Robert Burns’ birthplace of Alloway, Ayrshire, in southwest Scotland. It’s where Burns set his poem "Tam o' Shanter.” Here, you’ll enjoy a poetry reading and have the opportunity to sample Scotch whisky.
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Day 8 - Dublin
Fly to Dublin, the Irish capital. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in. The afternoon is free to begin your own exploration. Later, join an optional excursion to Davy Byrne’s Pub Dinner. The pub was made famous by James Joyce. A regular visitor to the premises, Joyce developed a special relationship with the warm but abstemious proprietor. Joyce’s Dubliners has mention of Davy Byrnes, but the Joycean character with which the premises are most associated is Leopold Bloom, of Ulysses.
Included meals: breakfast
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$99 CAD |
Davy Byrne’s Pub Dinner
Venture to Davy Byrne’s Pub for dinner. The pub was made famous by Jame Joyce. A regular visitor to the premises, Joyce developed a special relationship with the warm but abstemious proprietor. Anyone who is familiar with Dublin pub food will be aware of Davy Byrne's food reputation, in which seafood is the specialty—a succulent option for your dinner.
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Day 9 - Dublin
Today, explore the rich literary landscapes of Dublin during a guided sightseeing tour. Start at St. Patrick’s Catheral, the larger of Dublin’s two Church of Ireland cathedrals and the largest church in Ireland. Known for penning Gulliver’s Travels, Johnathan Swift was perhaps the most famous of the catherdral’s Deans. You’ll continue your tour with a visit to Merrion Square, once the home of Oscar Wilde’s parents and William Butler Yeats; Grand Canal, where Patrick Kavanagh rediscovered his poetic vision; Raglan Road, which inspired Kavanagh’s “On Raglan Road”; and Sandymount Greens, birthplace of William Butler Yeats. Later, venture to the Dublin Writers Museum in Parnell Square.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Writers Museum
Day 10 - Dublin
With a free day in Dublin, shop along Grafton Street, visit Ireland’s national museums or stroll through Phoenix Park. Alternatively, you may join a one-of-a-kind optional excursion for a James Joyce Experience, including Sandymount Strand, the most famous beach in Irish fiction that appeared in Joyce’s Ulysses.
Included meals: breakfast
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$35 CAD |
James Joyce Experience
Join a one-of-a-kind optional excursion for a James Joyce Experience, including Sandymount Strand, the most famous beach in Irish fiction that appeared in Joyce’s Ulysses.
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Day 11 - Dublin
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Included meals: breakfast
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be provided.)
Extend Your Stay
Add 4 nights in London for only $279 CAD (Single room: add $130 CAD)
A city that loves to be explored, London beckons with world-class (and often free) museums and galleries, quirky shops, outstanding restaurants, royal pageantry, charming neighborhoods, and an unconquered heritage of more than 2,000 years of history.