10 Day UK and Great Britain Tour Packages

UK And Great Britain itineraries for 10 days

Compiled by

SteffUK and Great Britain travel expert at TourRadar

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

  This grand 10-day circuit through 13 cities crosses 4 countries, beginning and ending in London. Marvel at UNESCO-listed Stonehenge, Cardiff Castle in Wales, and Edinburgh Castle's Crown Jewels. Features centrally-located hotels, with guided tours of House of Waterford Crystal and Shakespeare's Birthplace.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    London & Southern England

    Start your London visit with a morning tour of the main sites. "Our morning orientation gave us the perfect overview - but book afternoon activities since London morning traffic can be intense." On day 2 visit Stonehenge before 10 AM to avoid the crowds. Travel to Bath to see the Roman Baths. A practical note: The limestone steps at the baths can get slippery so wear shoes with good grip.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Wales & Ireland

    Visit Cardiff Castle in Wales before taking the 4-hour ferry from Pembroke to Rosslare Ireland. Start your next day at Waterford's crystal factory. A visitor suggested: "The morning demonstrations are less crowded and you can really see the craftsmen at work." Next stop is historic Kilkenny before heading to Dublin.

    
  • Day 5

    Dublin

    Spend your day exploring Trinity College St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Georgian squares. A visitor shared: "The hop-on-hop-off bus was perfect for orientation but walking the cobbled streets of Temple Bar in the evening gave us the real Dublin experience." Make dinner reservations ahead of time since good restaurants fill up quickly.

    
  • Day 6

    Northern Ireland & Scotland

    Drive to Belfast in the morning about 2 hours from Dublin and stop for photos at City Hall. Take the afternoon ferry to Cairnryan Scotland which takes about 2.5 hours. You'll arrive in Edinburgh by evening. Bring motion sickness medicine the North Channel crossing can be rough.

    
  • Days 7-8

    Edinburgh & Northern England

    Spend day 7 in Edinburgh starting at the castle. A recent visitor advised: "Get to the castle right at opening (9:30 AM) - by 11 AM the Royal Mile gets incredibly busy." On day 8 travel south through Northumberland to see Hadrian's Wall on your way to York. Visit York's Shambles after 4 PM when most tourists have left.

    
  • Days 9-10

    Shakespeare Country & London

    Visit Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon. A good tip from a visitor: "Book theatre tickets well in advance if you want to see a Royal Shakespeare Company performance." Head back to London for your final evening. The tour ends the next morning.

    

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• 9 Days in Great Britain, incl. London and Edinburgh

  

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  • Day 1

    Windsor and Castle

    From Heathrow it's a quick 45-minute trip to Windsor. Visit Windsor Castle early. One traveler shared: "The changing of the guard at 11 AM gets incredibly crowded, arrive by 10 AM to get a good viewing spot." You'll need 2-3 hours for the castle. The town center is perfect for afternoon exploring after the tour buses leave.

    
  • Day 2

    Cotswolds and York

    Take a scenic drive north through the Cotswolds. Plan about 2 hours to see Blenheim Palace and its gardens. The total drive to York is about 4 hours. Stop for lunch in Bourton-on-the-Water. Its riverside cafes offer a more authentic experience than other tourist-heavy Cotswolds spots.

    
  • Day 3

    York and Northumberland

    Start exploring York's medieval center before 9 AM. Book York Minster tickets online to avoid the lines when it opens at 9. A recent visitor noted: "The Shambles gets extremely crowded by midday. We loved walking the city walls at sunrise when it was peaceful." Drive to Bamburgh Castle in the afternoon for beautiful coastal views.

    
  • Day 4

    Edinburgh Exploration

    Give Edinburgh a full day. The castle opens at 9:30 AM. A traveler tip: "Book Edinburgh Castle tickets online and arrive 15 minutes before opening. The ticket queue can take over an hour in peak season." The Royal Mile is quieter after 4 PM. Planning to visit in August? Book Military Tattoo tickets well in advance.

    
  • Day 5

    Lake District and Liverpool

    Drive about 3 hours through the Lake District to Liverpool. Take a break in Grasmere to visit Wordsworth's Dove Cottage and try the local gingerbread. Book Dove Cottage ahead. Get to the Cavern Club by 7 PM for a good spot. Set aside 2 hours for the Beatles Story museum.

    
  • Day 6

    Wales via Ludlow

    The drive to Cardiff takes roughly 4 hours. Visit Ludlow Castle when it opens at 10 AM. Thursday's medieval market adds extra charm. Stop at Tintern Abbey near sunset for amazing views. Plan to arrive at Cardiff Castle before the last entry at 4 PM (3 PM in winter).

    
  • Day 7

    Bath and Stonehenge

    Get an early start to beat Bath's crowds. The Roman Baths open at 9 AM. You'll want 2 hours there. For Stonehenge, a visitor recommended: "The best light for photos is late afternoon, and crowds are smaller too. The visitor center needs at least an hour." From there it's 2 hours to London.

    
  • Day 8

    London Highlights

    Head to the Tower of London at opening time (9 AM). The Crown Jewels queue grows quickly. Take a river cruise to Westminster to avoid traffic and see great views. A visitor shared: "The walk-up queue was over 2 hours long, but we walked right in with pre-booked tickets."

    
  • Day 9

    Departure

    Most hotels will store your bags for a late flight. Choose between the quick but pricey Heathrow Express from Paddington (15 minutes) or the cheaper Tube option (1 hour).

    

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• 10 Day Britain and Ireland Itinerary, incl. London and Edinburgh

  The comprehensive 10-day route covers 18 British cities. Highlights include Edinburgh Castle, York Minster, and Windsor Castle. Features 9 breakfasts, professional guide, and stays at Holiday Inn Brentford Lock and Mercure Newport.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    London to York

    Leave London after rush hour to avoid heavy morning traffic. The drive to Stratford-upon-Avon takes about 2 hours. "Book tickets to Shakespeare's Birthplace in advance—the queue can be an hour long during peak season" a previous visitor suggests. The drive to York takes another 3 hours. Walk the medieval streets and visit York Minster. Just note the tower climb includes 275 steep steps.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Scottish Highlands

    The route through Yorkshire Dales to Lake Windermere offers beautiful views. Get to Windermere before 10 AM to beat the tourist buses. When you reach Edinburgh start your Royal Mile walk early to avoid midday crowds. "The castle esplanade offers the best city views at sunset but bring a warm layer as it gets windy up there" recommends one traveler.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Dublin

    The ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland takes about 2 hours. Sit on the port side for the best coastal views. Take a quick city tour in Belfast before heading to Dublin. Book Trinity College's Book of Kells tickets online to skip long lines. Skip the touristy Temple Bar area and try Kehoe's Pub on South Anne Street where locals go.

    
  • Days 7-8

    Irish Coast to Welsh Capital

    Make sure to book the Waterford Crystal factory tour ahead of time. Plan extra time for driving in Ireland because of narrow country roads. Ferry times to Wales can change with weather so keep your schedule flexible. Take a guided tour at Cardiff Castle to see restricted areas most visitors miss.

    
  • Days 9-10

    Bath and Return

    Visit the Roman Baths right when they open at 9 AM to avoid crowds. Plan your Windsor Castle visit carefully since last entry is at 4:15 PM. The drive back to London takes about 2.5 hours. Avoid arriving between 4-7 PM when traffic is worst.

    

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