Family-Friendly Tour of England, Ireland, & Scotland

Your family will meet your guide in the lobby for another fabulous exploration of London’s layered past. Lock & CO Hatters was founded in the 17th century and holds the title as the world’s oldest hat store. Your kids will enjoy trying on the different hats that range from classic caps to trilbies. The famous White Tower was the original keep of the medieval structure that reaches a height of 90 feet. Your kids stand in awe over the armory where weapons and armor used by knights, warriors, and kings in British history gleam in their displays. 

You set out into the British countryside away from the bustling streets of Central London. The mythology of Stonehenge will draw you closer to Britain’s most iconic archeological site. The ring of monolithic stones dates back approximately 5,000 years and retains a mystical, ethereal ambiance. Your family will continue on the road to Bath and arrive along the elegant streets lined with Georgian architecture. This city has inspired the setting for Jane Austen novels. With its tradition for contemporary arts and culture. The ancient history reaches out from the Roman baths sitting atop the city’s bubbling hot springs. 

Your family will wake early to catch the ferry that shepherds you from England across the Irish Sea to reach Waterford, home of the Waterford Crystal factory and headquarters. You can stop to admire the sophisticated beauty of the famous crystal-works before you reach the charming city of Kilkenny. Medieval Mile contains a network of narrow lanes strung with historic structures connecting the stunning cathedral on the banks of the River Norse to the dramatic castle. Kilkenny Castle was erected in the 12th century as a stronghold for an Anglo-Norman conqueror and eventually turned over to the powerful Butler family. 

Dublin is a city with layers of history that date back to the 9th century. The streets act as a living museum with elements of Viking settlements, Norman conquerors, and Celtic mythology. You venture out into the winding streets of Dublin for a family-friendly tour of what was once the British Empire’s Second City. The National Museum of Ireland hosts a stunning collection of artifacts from Celtic artisans during the Bronze and Iron Ages, as well as a gold collar that dates back to the 1st century BC. Your kids will become enamored with the Viking history of Ireland. 

Pass through the gorgeous greenery of the Irish countryside before reaching the historic city of Limerick. Georgian architecture offers a glitzy ambiance along the River Shannon. The renovated castle casts a striking image above the water with foundations that date back to the 13th century under the reign of King John. The Locke Bar is the city’s oldest pub, which was first opened in 1724 within a building erected in the 1600s. You will continue to the sensational coastline along the Cliffs of Moher, a wild reflection of Ireland’s natural wonders 720 feet above sea level at its highest point. 

Belfast has emerged from years of struggle like a brand-new city with a fascinating history that reaches deep into the past and shares contemporary issues of sectarian violence. The former shipyard community has gained new life with the opening of the exceptional Titanic Belfast museum. The fascinating multimedia gallery charts the genesis of the famous ocean liner built on the historic docks of Belfast. Your family will dive into the sights, sounds, and aromas of the shipyard with the rise of the 20th-century industrial power recreating an immersive soundtrack. Travel through the keel of the ship to the bridge.

Northern Ireland’s second-largest city is a cultural hub of artistry and design embodied in the striking waterfront along the edges of the river. The 17th-century walls remain standing and reach nearly 30 feet thick. Your kids will marvel at the natural wonders of the Giant’s Causeway that renews their belief in the fantastical through the fascinating mixture of hexagonal stone columns and splashing waves. The atmospheric landscape hosts 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that reach up to 39 feet tall. Legend states Finn MacCool disguised himself as a baby to hide from his foe. 

The capital city of Scotland will offer you a new perspective of the Old-World ambiance as it combines earthiness with sophistication. After your family ferries across Ireland to Scotland, your guide will escort you on a private walking tour of the city. Georgian architecture creates lavish street designs and museums highlight Victorian charms. Glasgow Cathedral represents the grandeur of history, which dates back to the 12th century. The Victorian city center hosts colorful flowers. The aroma of coffee and pastries drifts down the street from Merchant City district, a popular neighborhood with celebrated designer boutiques and ubiquitous cafes. 

Edinburgh is a city of history, elegance, and mythology crowned by the stunning stronghold that hovers above the streets on Castle Hill. You will travel to Edinburgh in the morning with plenty of time to settle into the comforts of your accommodations before your family begins their guided exploration. New Town’s Georgian architecture dates back to the 18th century with rows of stately terraces, while Old Town's narrow lanes and steep staircases shine a light on the medieval history connecting the Royal Mile. The road at the heart of the city connects Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The morning sunlight washes over the 13th-century façade of St. Giles Cathedral. The remarkable images of medieval and baroque Edinburgh remind the children of the majestic ambiance from the Harry Potter books and movies. You will have an immersive, imaginative experience akin to the wonders of Harry Potter during a ride on the Jacobite Steam Train, the historic inspiration for the Hogwarts Express. Your kids’ faces will fill with excitement when you board the train and find that the comforts of elegant seats and wide windows provide views to the Rannoch Moor wilderness as you pass over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

At breakfast, the aroma of black tea will fill the dining room. Your kids share their favorite moments of the trip, which range from the Jacobite Steam Train to the armory in London Tower. Your private transfer will greet your family in the hotel lobby and escort you to Edinburgh Airport for your flight home.