3-Week England, Scotland and Wales Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 3-week England, Scotland And Wales tour itineraries

Compiled by

NadineEngland, Scotland and Wales travel expert at TourRadar

• 19 Days in Britain and Ireland, incl. London and Edinburgh

  This 19-day British adventure showcases Edinburgh Castle, Roman Baths, and Cardiff's Principality Stadium. The package includes 18 breakfasts, 5 dinners, and comfortable 4-star accommodations.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    London

    Start in London while adjusting to the time zone. Visit the Tower of London early at 9 AM to avoid crowds, then explore the City of London. A recent visitor shared: "The Tower Bridge area gets extremely busy by midday - do this early and save Westminster for afternoon when crowds thin out."

    
  • Days 3-4

    Stratford & York

    Take a 4-hour coach ride through Shakespeare country to York. Visit the medieval Shambles before 10 AM to beat crowds. Plan your York Minster visit in late afternoon to see sunlight filtering through the stained glass. Book accommodation inside the city walls for easy access to sites.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Edinburgh

    Drive through Northumberland to reach Edinburgh. Get your Edinburgh Castle tickets online before arriving to skip long peak-season lines. Walk the Royal Mile in early evening after day-trippers leave. A traveler notes: "The castle esplanade offers incredible city views at sunset, but bring a warm layer as Edinburgh evenings get chilly even in summer."

    
  • Days 7-8

    Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye

    The 5-hour journey to Skye includes scenic stops. Pack waterproof clothes and good shoes. Have backup plans for rainy days when viewpoints are cloudy. Visit Eilean Donan Castle before 10 AM to avoid tour groups.

    
  • Days 9-10

    Glasgow to Dublin

    Take the 3-hour ferry from Holyhead to Dublin. Sit on the port side for the best views. Pick a hotel near Trinity College for easy walking access. Book Guinness Storehouse tickets for early morning visits.

    
  • Days 11-13

    Ireland West & South

    The Ring of Kerry takes 6-7 hours with stops. Start early before coach tours crowd the narrow roads. Stay in central Killarney since taxis are limited. Visit Blarney Castle right when it opens to avoid long waits for the stone.

    
  • Days 14-15

    Waterford to Cardiff

    Cross to Wales on a 4-hour ferry ride. Visit Cardiff Castle later in the day after tour groups leave. One visitor suggests: "The Cardiff Bay area restaurants get fully booked - make dinner reservations in advance."

    
  • Days 16-19

    Bath, Stonehenge & London

    Set aside 3 hours for the Stonehenge trip from Bath. Book the earliest entry time for the Roman Baths and see the main pool first. Use your final London day for shopping or missed attractions. Book high tea weeks ahead to secure a spot.

    

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• 19 Days in Britain & Ireland, incl. London and Edinburgh

  Experience England, Scotland, and Wales over 19 days, from York Minster to Cardiff Castle. Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace, Edinburgh Castle, and Roman Bath ruins while enjoying premium accommodations at hotels like Park Plaza London Riverbank.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    London

    Arrive mid-morning to make the most of your first day. A hotel near Kensington puts you close to good Tube connections. On day 2, start at the Tower of London right when it opens at 9 AM to avoid the crowds. One visitor noted: "Book skip-the-line Tower tickets online - we saved over an hour of queuing."

    
  • Days 3-4

    York & Edinburgh

    Take a morning train from King's Cross to York. Visit the medieval Shambles before 10 AM when it gets busy. The train to Edinburgh takes about 2.5 hours. Watch the sunset from Calton Hill and plan about 3 hours to see Edinburgh Castle. Try to catch the one o'clock gun firing.

    
  • Days 5-7

    Scottish Highlands

    Travel north through Pitlochry, stopping to try the local salmon. It's a 5-6 hour drive to Isle of Skye with stops. Bring waterproof clothes since the weather changes quickly. A helpful tip from a past visitor: "The Eilean Donan Castle car park fills by 10 AM in summer. Get there early or you'll circle for ages."

    
  • Days 8-9

    Glasgow & Liverpool

    See Glasgow's Necropolis in the morning light for great photos. Drive 4 hours to Liverpool. Get Beatles Story tickets in advance to skip long peak season lines. You can walk around the Albert Dock area easily.

    
  • Days 10-11

    Dublin

    Take the morning ferry from Holyhead. Temple Bar is lively but noisy. Choose Ballsbridge for quiet nights. Visit Trinity College before 9:30 AM to see the Book of Kells without crowds.

    
  • Days 12-14

    Western Ireland

    Drive to Galway and explore its medieval streets before tour buses arrive at 10 AM. Plan a full day for the Ring of Kerry drive. At Blarney Castle, one visitor advised: "Go straight to the stone when they open at 9 AM - by 11 AM the wait is over an hour."

    
  • Days 15-16

    Wales & Bath

    Take the ferry to Wales. Check out Cardiff Castle for city views. Book the first entry at 9 AM for the Roman Baths in Bath. Glastonbury Abbey takes about 2 hours to tour.

    
  • Days 17-19

    Southern England & London

    Visit Plymouth's historic Barbican in early evening after the crowds leave. Go to Stonehenge right when it opens or just before closing. Allow 3 hours to drive back to London, more during rush hour.

    

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• 18 Days in British Isles, incl. London and Edinburgh

  The grand tour showcases Wales' Cardiff Castle, England's Roman Bath ruins, and Scotland's Edinburgh Castle. Travelers cross Severn Bridge to Cardiff, wander Lake District National Park's UNESCO landscapes, and visit Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, staying at hotels like Jurys Inn Liverpool.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    London

    Start your journey in London exploring major landmarks. Visit Westminster Abbey right when it opens to avoid long wait times. The Tower of London is less crowded during afternoon tours.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Southern England & Wales

    Get to Stonehenge by 9 AM before the tour buses arrive. Visit the charming village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor in Dartmoor and stay overnight in Plymouth near the historic Barbican area. The next day takes you to Bath's Roman ruins before entering Wales. Want great photos? Head to Cardiff Castle's western wall during golden hour for the best city views.

    
  • Days 5-8

    Ireland

    Take the 4-hour morning ferry from Pembroke to Rosslare. Visit Tramore before exploring Cork and Blarney Castle. "The Blarney Stone queue can take 2+ hours midday - either go first thing or skip it and explore the gorgeous gardens instead." Use Killarney as your base to drive the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula. If you get motion sickness, bring medication for the winding Slea Head route.

    
  • Days 9-10

    Dublin

    Stop at the Cliffs of Moher but bring a windproof jacket. Spend two nights in Dublin exploring the city. "Skip the long Temple Bar pub queues and head to The Cobblestone in Smithfield for authentic Irish music." Book your Guinness Storehouse tickets online to avoid waiting in line.

    
  • Days 11-12

    Northern England & Glasgow

    Morning ferries across the Irish Sea are usually calmer. Explore North Wales and Liverpool on your way to the Lake District. Get a seat on the right side of the bus for the best views. Stay in Glasgow's West End where you'll find excellent restaurants.

    
  • Days 13-15

    Scottish Highlands & Edinburgh

    Travel through Glen Coe to Fort William and along Loch Ness to Inverness. Pack warm layers even for summer visits. Plan 2-3 hours for Edinburgh Castle. "Book Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets months ahead for August departures - they sell out fast."

    
  • Days 16-18

    York & Return to London

    Give yourself time to see York's stunning Minster and walk the medieval city walls. Visit Stratford-upon-Avon on your way back to London. Planning an early August trip? You'll catch the Edinburgh Festival but expect higher accommodation prices.

    

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