UK and Great Britain Small Group Tours
Britain and Ireland's UNESCO sites spread from English cities through Scottish Highlands to Irish countryside, ideal to explore in a small group. Visit London's glittering main sights, Edinburgh's Old Town, Lake District peaks, and Irish coastal villages. England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland - these small countries pack centuries of castles, cathedrals, and countryside into territories where history stacks on top of itself.
10 best UK And Great Britain small group tours
Compiled by
MelissaUK and Great Britain travel expert at TourRadar
- 2-day Outlander Tour (Small Group)
- Best of Scotland Small Group Tour
- Essence of Ireland Small Group Tour
- 10 Day Southern Nooks and Crannies - Small Group Coach Tour
- 5-Day Northern Ireland & Atlantic Coast Small-Group Tour from Dublin
- 14 Day Full Irish Tour - Small Group Coach Tour
- 8-Day Emerald Explorer Small Group Tour
- Wild Grande - Multi Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland
- 11 Day Full Irish Adventure Small Group Tour
- Wild North - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland
2-day Outlander Tour (Small Group)
40 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was fantastic, great commentary from Murray our driver, it was truly amazing!”
Marion, traveled in July
Sixteen passengers visit Great Britain's iconic Outlander locations. Close-up experiences at Midhope Castle and Culloden Battlefield come with personal attention from Highland Experience guides, rated 4.5/5.
Duration 2 days Destinations Edinburgh, Doune, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness, Culloden, Falkland, Culross Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator Highland Experience Tours From
- US$309
Best of Scotland Small Group Tour
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The locations visited were very good. Both the city guides and guide in the highlands were very good.”
Ann, traveled in September
Intimate gatherings enhance visits to Edinburgh's Old Town and castle grounds. Personal attention enriches experiences at Loch Ness and Isle of Skye, while fostering connections during Highland journeys and Glasgow's Clydeside Distillery tour and tasting.
Duration 8 days Destinations Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow Age Range Ages 12+ Group Size Max Group Size 14 Group Type Group Operator Firebird Tours From
- US$4,183
Essence of Ireland Small Group Tour
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“It was the right mix of structured time and free time. All tour guides were knowledgeable and extremely personable.”
Janet, traveled in May
Intimate tours of Dublin's Trinity College Library and Cork's English Market shine in this small-group setting. Quality time at Cliffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry allows lasting connections over Irish breakfasts.
Duration 7 days Destinations Dublin, Cork, Galway Age Range Ages 12+ Group Size Max Group Size 14 Group Type Group Operator Firebird Tours From
- US$3,678
10 Day Southern Nooks and Crannies - Small Group Coach Tour
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The itinerary was excellent and we enjoyed the small group aspect. Highly recommend.”
Karma, traveled in April
Duration 10 days Destinations Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Ring of Kerry, Doolin, Galway, Kildare Age Range Ages 25+ Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Irish Tours For You From
- US$4,170
5-Day Northern Ireland & Atlantic Coast Small-Group Tour from Dublin
26 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great trip. Covered a lot so not a significant amount of time anywhere but saw lots.”
Cara, traveled in June
A small group of 16 travelers, with an average age of 57, allows intimate visits to Belfast's Titanic Quarter and Giant's Causeway. The limited group size enables flexible scheduling and personal attention from expert guides, who maintain a perfect 5.0/5 rating.
Duration 5 days Destinations Dublin, Belfast, Ballycastle, Giants Causeway, Portrush, Londonderry, Glenveagh National Park, Donegal, Sligo, Achill IslandSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type Group Operator Rabbie’s Small Group Tours From $1,382
10% Off- US$1,244You save $138
Duration 14 days Destinations Dublin, Belfast, Portrush, Donegal, Galway, Ring of Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Co Meath Age Range Ages 25+ Group Size Max Group Size 14 Group Type Group Operator Irish Tours For You From
10% Off- US$5,559
8-Day Emerald Explorer Small Group Tour
62 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Good mix of sites/activities and free time.”
Sandra, traveled in October
Fifteen travelers share a luxury Mercedes coach for up-close experiences at iconic sites. Extended visits to Glendalough Monastery, sheepdog demonstrations in Connemara, and farmer meetings in the Burren benefit from the small group format.
Duration 8 days Destinations Dublin, Glendalough, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Cahir, Blarney, Killarney, Killarney National Park, Dingle, KillimerSee all destinations Age Range Ages 10+ Group Size Max Group Size 15 Group Type Group Operator Overland - Small Group Tours From
10% Off- US$2,837
Wild Grande - Multi Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The accommodation in the larger cities wasn't central but the view from the hotel in Cork made up for the hike up the hill.”
Jean, traveled in October
A select group of 16 guests winds through Britain's dramatic northern coastline. Intimate setting enables up-close experiences at Giant's Causeway and Belfast's historic sites, with dedicated guide attention and local accommodation choices.
Duration 13 days Destinations Dublin, Cork, Skibbereen, Kenmare, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Slea Head, Lahinch, Cliffs of MoherSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator Wild N' Happy From
10% Off- US$4,176
11 Day Full Irish Adventure Small Group Tour
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We saw Ireland in all her magnificence -- her raw ruggedness, her history and how she came to be, and her beautiful people.”
Gail, traveled in September
Small groups of 15 travel by Mercedes coach through Britain and Ireland. The intimate size enables special access to Glenveagh National Park, personal Belfast food tours, and authentic traditional music sessions.
Duration 11 days Destinations Dublin, Belfast, Portstewart, Giants Causeway, Bushmills, Londonderry, Glenveagh National Park, Donegal, Ballina, WestportSee all destinations Age Range Ages 12+ Group Size Max Group Size 15 Group Type Group Operator Overland - Small Group Tours From
10% Off- US$4,148
Wild North - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The perfect mix of activities with beautiful scenery and hikes to amazing vistas being the favorites.”
Mary, traveled in May
Northern Britain's treasures unfold before an intimate group. From Giant's Causeway to Belfast's Titanic Quarter, guests receive personalized attention and flexible scheduling. The close setting enhances authentic experiences like Black Cab Tours and traditional music sessions.
Duration 7 days Destinations Dublin, Galway, Croagh Patrick Mountain, Westport, Sligo, Donegal, Slieve League Mountain, Glenveagh National Park, Ballycastle, Giants CausewaySee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator Wild N' Happy From
10% Off- US$2,552
Reviews of Small Group tours to UK And Great Britain
- 2-day Outlander Tour (Small Group)
We had a great time with this tour. Paul was incredibly knowledgeable about the various sites and about Scotish history. I especially liked exploring the various old castles. He pointed out the numerous sites used in the TV show Outlander, as well as Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and Highlander. A great experience!
- 5-Day Northern Ireland & Atlantic Coast Small-Group Tour from Dublin
-Lots of information about the history and culture of the area -Frequent stops at interesting and beautiful locations -Excellent guide
- 8-Day Emerald Explorer Small Group Tour
Overland is a wonderful company to book your Ireland adventure with. It is a legit company and the real deal:) We booked a private family tour (six American adults) with a customized itinerary to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary and a birthday. Liz was incredibly helpful throughout the planning process. She was mindful about creating an itinerary that matched our bucket list "must-dos" as well as providing suggestions and coordinating all of our accommodations. She was very responsive to all of our emails. Mark, our guide, really made the trip special. He quickly became part of the family. He gave us a real feel of what Ireland hospitality is all about. He added jewels to our stops that we were not expecting. Because we were a small group, private tour, he proactively was able to switch some activities around to align with the weather. He was able to offer great suggestions on restaurants, pubs, and things we might be interested in during our free time. Booking with Overland really took away all of the stress with planning an international group trip. We highly recommend them and will book trips to Ireland with them in the future.
What our customers ask about UK and Great Britain Small Group Tours
What makes small group tours in the UK and Great Britain unique compared to larger tours?
These intimate tours operate with 14-16 travelers in Mercedes mini-coaches designed to navigate the narrow countryside roads larger buses can't access. The vehicles easily wind through remote parts of the Lake District and Cornwall's village lanes. A recent TourRadar traveler noted about their Rabbies tour: "The small group size made for a good journey; our bus was able to squeeze through streets and roads which would not have been possible on larger buses." Guests enjoy stays at selected local properties like The Ashling Hotel in Dublin or Tongadale Hotel in Portree where personal attention comes standard.
How do accommodations differ on small group tours versus large group tours?
These tours favor cozy locally-owned properties and B&Bs over standard chain hotels. Travelers rest their heads at places like the Tongadale Hotel in the Scottish Highlands or Doolin Lodge on Ireland's west coast. One TourRadar guest shared: "The B&Bs were wonderful with great breakfast options and being family-run meant we got personalized local recommendations." The chosen accommodations sit in the heart of towns and villages putting local life right at your doorstep.
What are the main benefits of taking a small group tour through England's Lake District?
Small group tours give access to the Lake District's lesser-known spots and viewpoints often missed by larger groups. The 16-seater Mercedes mini-coaches can reach places like Castlerigg Stone Circle and quiet trails around Lake Windermere. According to a TourRadar traveler: "Our guide knew all the best photo spots and quiet walking paths away from crowds." Local guesthouses in Keswick serve as home base while guides share insights from Wordsworth's poetry to finding authentic cream tea.
What is the average length of a small group tour in UK and Great Britain?
Tours span 3-10 days with most running 3-5 days. The Snowdonia experience covers North Wales over 3 days with stays at places like the Imperial Hotel in Llandudno. The Scotland Castle Experience runs 4 days visiting historic sites including Blair Castle and Crathes Castle near Aberdeen.
What is the typical age range and group dynamics on UK small group tours?
These tours draw a mix of travelers mostly between 40-65 years old split between solo adventurers (40%) and couples (45%). The small size of 14-16 people creates natural connections. A Cornwall tour participant shared on TourRadar: "With a small group of just 15 people we made new friends and shared meals together. The smaller numbers allowed for more interaction with our guide and fellow travelers." While open to ages 5-99 the average participant is 56.