Delve Deep: Britain & Ireland 2023

One minute you’re stuck in the daily grind of your home routine, next minute you’re in London Town meeting a bunch of people who are 100% different but 100% the same. Ready to uncover extraordinary? Us too. We’ll kick off the good times with our first included group dinner. Bonus points for the weirdest British facts (FYI it’s illegal to hold a salmon and look suspicious here – time to make new evening plans).

Up and at ‘em – it’s time to hit the road and get pumped for our first stop: Oxford. Get your real-life Harry Potter fix with a walking tour around the INCREDIBLE colleges. Soak up the views from Carfax Tower. And grab lunch at a local pub. Then: we’ll make tracks to Liverpool. Our in-the-know Trip Leader will show us around town before we head off solo to tick off the likes of the Tate Liverpool, Maritime Museum, Albert Docks and The Beatles museum (of course). Dinner’s up to you this eve – for full Liverpudlian vibes we rec you hunt down a scouse stew (so good they named their accent after it).

Wave 'ta ra’ to Liverpool, today we’re off to the medieval walled city of York. Centuries of history. A ‘holy sh*t’-worthy cathedral. And some pretty awesome pubs. We’ll get to know the who’s who of York on a walking tour – then the rest is up to you. Head up the tower of York Minster, visit the JORVIK Viking Centre or engage explorer mode and lose yourself along the Shambles and Snickelways. Tonight, track down The York Roast Co. and try the Yorkshire Roast wrap for dinner. It’s so wrong, it’s right.

No lies – today is a bit of a drive day. BUT we’ve got some awesome stops to make along the way. First: spread your wings under the Angel of the North. Then: take a peek at what Roman life was like back in the year 122 with a stop along Hadrian’s Wall. Wander the barrack blocks of Housesteads Roman Fort and soak up the 360-views from the fortress – before we roll onto Alnwick Castle. Potterheads will recognise this place first-go, but the home of the Dukes of Northumberland was used in Robin Hood and Downton Abbey too. You’ll have free time to wander inside or grab some lunch at the cafe before we cross the border into bonnie Scotland. Dinner in Edinburgh is on us, so line those stomachs with a hearty pub feast before seeing if the city’s bar scene lives up to the hype.

Kick things off today with a walking tour of this medieval capital – swing by Edinburgh Castle, stroll the Royal Mile, get all the feels from Greyfriars Bobby’s statue and be in awe of St Giles Cathedral. Then? The rest is 100% up to you! Check out the unique collection of Viking-age objects at the Museum of Scotland. Strap on the Nikes and take a hike up Arthur’s Seat. Step aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Explore the uber-cool Leith district. Or escape the crowds with a picnic in Princes Street Gardens. And tonight? There’s an opportunity to delve into Edinburgh’s dark-side on a ‘City of the Dead’ tour. You might need to pack a spare pair of underwear for this one.

Didn’t get to everything? DW we’ve got your back – here’s a free day we prepared earlier. Jump on a Potter-themed walking tour. Check out Liz’s official Scottish residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Explore the National and Portrait Galleries. Sip on Scotland’s national drink at The Scotch Whisky Experience. Or flash some plastic along George Street. If the weather is on your side, head up Carlton Hill for alllll the sunset views over the city. Tonight, gather the gang for a night on the Old Town – filled with quirky cocktail bars, cosy traditional pubs and craft beerhouses there’s something for everyone. Our fave? Hoot the Redeemer. Think: 1950s’ cocktail bar + arcade games = hours of entertainment!

Breathtaking landscapes. Mysterious legends. Culture-rich traditions. And a lot of attractive red-heads. We must be in the Scottish Highlands. Blast Snow Patrol as we weave past more glens, mountains and lochs than you can shake a sporran at. Once we arrive you’ll be free to explore or kick back and take it all in. Yep, you’re actually here. *Take note: the Scottish Highlands are BIG – and we’re unable to guarantee exact locations right now. So, sit tight and check your Trip Notes or Topdeck app for specific locations closer to take-off.

This is your day, your way. But we’ve got an included trip out to see ol’ Nessie if you’re keen. Hear alll the legends and see if you can spot the slippery sucker from an optional scenic cruise, before we head back to our accommodation. Rather do your own spontaneous-this-is-what-I-came-here-for thing? No worries! There’s plenty to explore around here. Trust us. After our included dinner, gather your trip mates and seek out a historic pub for a wee dram or two.

Fact: you can’t ‘do’ Scotland without whisky. So, we’ve organised an included distillery tour and tasting today. You can thank us later. Uncover the magic maturation process this liquid gold goes through – before having a sniff and swirl of the good stuff. Onwards to Glasgow! Our Trip Leader will show us around the Merchants Quarter, Buchanan Street and George Square on a walking tour – pointing out the must-visits for our free time tonight. Then the rest is 100% up to you. We suggest grabbing a bite in Merchant City though.

Rise and shine! We’re leaving Scotland behind and setting sail for the Emerald Isle. First up? Belfast. More than just four-leafed clovers and pots of gold – Northern Ireland’s capital is THE place to start delving deeper into the rich history of this island-country. Get a local insight into The Troubles on an included walking tour – visiting significant Protestant and Catholic estates and the Belfast Peace Wall. Tonight: head to the Cathedral Quarter to check out the hip bar scene and sip on a pint of Irish stout.

Limber up for a giant game of hopscotch – today we’ll skip and jump our way across the famous Giant’s Causeway. Think these huge hexagonal columns were created by volcanic activity 60 million years ago? Wrong! They’re actually remnants of a GIANT-sized, testosterone-filled stand-off. True story, just ask your expert Trip Leader. Next up: (London)Derry. We’ll take a closer look at the Derry Murals and learn about the Battle of Bogside and Bloody Sunday on an orientation walk with our Trip Leader. Later, get the run around Galway with our on-road expert before taking the night off to explore. Tonight, dinner is up to you. But we hear the oysters here are bloody good.

You’ve got 24 hrs to embrace it all, so don’t waste a second. Need some suggestions? Set sail for the Aran Islands and rewind to a time of horse-drawn carts, ancient forts and locally spoken Gaelic. Hire a bike and head out to the prehistoric clifftop fort of Dún Aonghasa. Check out the ‘Worm Hole’. Or take a picnic to one of the pristine sandy beaches and soak up all the incredible views. This is livin’. Staying around town? Make sure you check out Wolfe Tone Bridge, the Spanish Arch, Lynch’s Castle and settle in for a shamrock tea at Cupán Tae. Then? It’s time for an included group dinner before you find your Galway girl/boy at O’Connor’s Pub.

Next: the cobblestone streets of Temple Bar and historic watering holes of the capital. But first, glue your nose to the coach window as we take the scenic route across the Burren to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher. You’re gonna want your camera charged for this one. We’ll stop in at Doolan (famous for surfing) and Lisdoonvarna (famous for matchmaking...) before rolling into Dublin. Home of saints, scholars and U2 – tonight is yours to take on the buzzing local nightlife or learn some new moves at a traditional dance show.

Slip on your Birks and down that cup of Joe – we’ll get our bearings around this historic city on a walking tour. Tick off Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin Castle, the General Post Office and Temple Bar. Then? It’s time to discover what’s so special about Ireland’s most iconic export at the Guinness Storehouse. With 7 floors, a sky-high Gravity Bar and a cold pint of the good stuff included – even the cider-drinkers will be impressed. Fact: you’ve got the rest of the afternoon to do whatever you want. Keep the buzz going and head to the Irish Whiskey Museum. Check out the Book of Kells at Trinity College. Take a tour of Kilmainham Gaol. Buy a claddagh ring for someone special along Drury Street. And don’t miss out on a cone of brown-bread ice cream at Murphy’s. Trust us.

Land ahoy! Today, we’re ferrying over to wild Wales – a country that has collectively rejected the letters K,Q,V and Z. Speaking of letters – we’ll make a photo stop at the place with the longest name in Europe. Work on your pronunciation for a bit, then we’ll roll through the scenic countryside to Llangollen. A cute lil’ Welsh town on the riverfront – you’ll have the afternoon to check out the 13th- century ruins of Castell Dinas Brân, jump aboard the steam train, or take a walk along the canal. Tonight: gather the gang to seek out a local pub for some live music and a hearty feed along the riverfront. *Take note: North Wales is a BIG place – and we’re unable to guarantee exact locations right now. So, sit tight and check your Trip Notes or Topdeck app for specific locations closer to take-off.

Today we’re gonna find out why so many English university students flock to study in Cardiff. Hint: it has something to do with the awesome bands that pass through. Check out the Castle on the Hill. Take a tour of Principality Stadium. Wander around Cardiff Bay. And tuck into a Welsh cake at Cardiff Central Market. At dinner tonight, we’re going to give this incredible adventure the send-off it deserves – make sure you catch a home-grown act at the Welsh Club or sample a quirky cocktail at the Dead Canary (their menu is as whacky as the name).

Quick maths: this is our last day. But we’re sure as hell not done yet! En route to London, we’ll stop by the gob-smackingly beautiful Bath to take in the Abbey, Royal Crescent and Roman Baths. You’ve got free time to take a tour of the Baths and sample the healing (read: disgusting) spa water. Or treat yourself to a classy lunch at the Pump Rooms. Get a Bath Bun (or two) takeaway before we make tracks to our next stop: the mystical stones of Stonehenge. One of the most iconic prehistoric sites in the world, take it alllllll in before piling back on the coach for the drive back to ol’ Blighty. Swap Insta handles and start planning that reunion trip – where to next?