15 days in United Kingdom & Ireland Itinerary

Home to an impressive 25 World Heritage sites, the United Kingdom, which includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, has hundreds of museums to explore, thousands of parks and gardens to stroll through, and tens of thousands of communities to discover. From Land’s End in the south to John O’Groats in the north, the country is packed with tourist attractions that can fill a range of itineraries. With nearly 30 million tourists visiting every year, the UK is ranked among the top ten holiday destinations in the world. Known for its royalty, this country also represents a diverse patchwork of native and immigrant cultures. Although Britannia no longer rules the waves, it possesses a captivating history and a dynamic modern culture, both of which remain hugely influential on the rest of the world.

Wales attracts tourism with its stunning landscape, a wealth of history, and a huge number of imposing castles. Yet behind the spectacular scenery and the ancient fortress walls hides the simple warmth of the Welsh people, whose pride in their Celtic heritage is only exceeded by the love they feel for their homeland. This may be a relatively small country, but its spirit is truly grand. Your itinerary may just be made up of joining the locals at the pub or a village rugby game to soak up the famous Welsh spirit and learn about "hiraeth," a deep bond the Welsh feel with their land. Though compact, Wales has no shortage of secluded corners easily and quickly explored on an extensive network of footpaths, which makes a trip to this land a true hiker’s paradise.

A paradise for all lovers of the great outdoors, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Lake District is widely regarded as one of the most stunning areas of natural beauty in the UK. This mountainous region famously served as inspiration for some of the finest works of artists William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Containing the country’s largest national park, the Lake District is England’s top vacation destination for hikers and rock climbers. Nature lovers from around the world linger in this area for days and even weeks, sightseeing in the sweeping landscape of rugged hilltops, glistening lakes, dense forests, and hazy mountaintops. The region abounds in numerous hidden pubs, inns, and hotels, offering not only shelter from the weather, but also first-class dining and drinking options.

Unlike the place travelers found several decades ago, the Northern Ireland of today is a rejuvenated and dynamic region attracting increasing amounts of tourism. Belfast, the region’s biggest urban center and capital, is a hip city with vibrant nightlife and a thriving gourmet culinary scene, providing an extensive list of indulgent things to do. The region’s renowned coastline, featuring the World Heritage-listed Giant’s Causeway, is an attractive holiday destination for hikers, cyclists, photographers, and other adventurers of all descriptions. Northern Ireland has seen more than its fair share of political and economic unrest, yet the people of this region have always remained proud of their cultural and artistic heritage, providing visitors with a warm hospitality hard to find almost anywhere else in the world.

Gentle green hills, Guinness, leprechauns, and friendly folks characterize this small isle of a country. From the busy big city of Dublin to cozy countryside, the emerald isle harbors a varied natural landscape and is steeped in tradition. Visitors can immerse themselves in the native Irish language by visiting a Gaeltacht, or Irish-speaking region of the country, where traditional culture thrives. The Irish are known for being open and welcoming: from the moment you land to the moment you leave, you'll be greeted with "cead mile failte"--a hundred thousand welcomes.