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9 Days in the UK and Ireland Itinerary for First-Timers

ByPaige Watts

If it’s your first time visiting the UK and Ireland, that mix of excitement and “how are we fitting all this in?” is very real — and this itinerary is designed to help you make the most of it without feeling rushed!

When we planned our big UK and Ireland trip, I put together an itinerary that showed Kevin as many iconic sights as possible on his first-ever visit. Having studied abroad in both England and Ireland, I knew exactly what was worth our time — and what we could confidently skip.

This 9-day itinerary takes you through England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, with time in cities like London, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. I’ll walk you through everything we did day-by-day, along with a few mistakes we made so you can plan smarter and avoid them yourself.

Paige walking across a bright green lawn toward the stone ruins of Craigmillar Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, with tall gray walls, a round tower, and broken rooflines under a partly cloudy sky.

Post Contents

9 Days in the UK and Ireland Overview

This 9 day itinerary starts with your arrival in London (for US travelers, that likely means arriving a day after your flight takes off; be sure to add in a travel day). You’ll spend a few days in London, take a day trip to Stonehenge, then head to Cardiff, then on to Dublin with a day trip to see castles, spend a couple days in Edinburgh, and then head back to London.

  • Day 1: Arrive in London, get familiar with the city
  • Day 2: Day trip to Stonehenge and King Arthur sights
  • Day 3: Explore London with castles and museums
  • Day 4: Explore Cardiff with castles and museums
  • Day 5: Explore Dublin with castles, cathedrals, and pubs
  • Day 6: Day trip to Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel, and Cahir Castle
  • Day 7: Explore Edinburgh with castles and closes
  • Day 8: Visit Edinburgh’s other castle
  • Day 9: Fly home

Detailed 9 Day UK and Ireland Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in London, England

We flew into London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which is typically the better airport for connecting to London’s city centre. When I studied abroad in England, I used London Gatwick (LGW) a lot for my European flights, but it does offer some alternative flights from the US, especially from NYC. For us, there are direct flights from Atlanta to Heathrow, which is preferable.

Most flights from the US from the East Coast and Midwest will travel overnight and will arrive in the UK in the morning; flights from the West Coast typically arrive in the afternoon or evening. Our flight arrived in London around 9 a.m.

Remember: Overnight flights from the US leave a day earlier. So if your flight is on a Saturday, you’ll arrive in London on Sunday.

To get to our hotel, we took the London Underground (the Tube), which is the cheapest way to get into the city. Traveling on the Tube with your luggage is not always the easiest, and we did have to transfer trains. If I did this trip again, I’d probably just go ahead and pay for a cab.

Check in at The Belgrave Hotel

Paige smiles while standing in front of the bright purple front door framed by white trim of The Belgrave Hotel in London, with two potted green trees on either side and building reflections visible in the door’s glass panels.

If you’re arriving in the morning like us, you likely won’t be able to check in yet. But you can at least drop your luggage off at the hotel where they can store it for you.

For our first London leg, we stayed at The Belgrave Hotel. This is a contemporary boutique hotel that’s set in a beautiful Georgian townhouse in London’s Pimlico neighborhood.

We loved this location because there are a ton of pubs around and it’s just a 4-minute walk to Pimlico Station and a 10-minute walk to Victoria Station, so it’s pretty easy to get around.

Book your stay at The Belgrave Hotel here.

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Lunch at Pret A Manger

Street-level view of a Pret A Manger café in London with a red storefront and awning featuring a large white star. Several people sit at small outdoor tables eating and drinking, while others stand and chat on the sidewalk in front of the busy café.
Edwardx, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pret A Manger is my favorite lunch spot, especially for travel days. You can almost always find a Pret location at the airport or in the train stations.

They have a menu of sandwiches and coffee, so it’s perfect for when you’re jetlagged and just trying to make it through the day.

I’m a big fan of their Chicken Caesar Bacon Baguette.

Westminster Abbey

Upward view of Westminster Abbey’s ornate Gothic façade, with two tall stone towers, arched windows, carved details, and clock faces set against a clear blue sky in London, England.
Side view of Westminster Abbey in London, England showing tall Gothic walls with pointed arches, stained-glass windows, and flying buttresses, bordered by a neatly trimmed green lawn under a clear blue sky.
Paige and Kevin taking a selfie in front of Westminster Abbey in London, England, with the cathedral’s pale stone towers and Gothic details rising behind them against a clear blue sky.

Westminster Abbey is the iconic Gothic church that’s hosted the coronation of every British monarch since 1066. It’s the final resting place of Britain’s famous monarchs, poets, musicians, scientists, and politicians.

I highly recommend touring inside. Your ticket comes with an audio guide to walk you through the important stops.

Last entry is fairly early, though, ending around 3-3:30 p.m., and even at 2 p.m. in the winter, so depending on what time your flight gets in, this could be a bit of a squeeze.

Book your Westminster Abbey tickets here.

Self-Guided London Walking Tour

View across the River Thames at sunset with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben rising on the left and Westminster Bridge stretching across the water, bathed in warm golden light under a soft evening sky.
Brick Tudor-style gatehouse of St James's Palace in London, England with twin square towers and a central arched entrance, featuring a large clock above the doorway and crenellated walls, photographed from below against a clear blue sky.
Kevin and Paige taking a selfie in front of Buckingham Palace gates on a sunny day in London, England, with crowds of visitors and the ornate palace façade visible in the background, sunlight flaring across the scene.
Westminster Cathedral in London, England with a striped red-and-cream brick façade with its tall campanile tower rising against a clear blue sky, viewed from street level with trees and a modern building framing the scene.

After Westminster Abbey, I took Kevin on a self-guided walking tour of London’s top sights. You don’t need to pay anything to see these sights from the outside, and it had gotten too late in the day to do a tour inside.

Here’s the route we took, starting from Westminster Abbey:

  • Houses of Parliament (the Palace of Westminster) and Big Ben — I recommend viewing these from the east side of the River Thames; it’s great for a sunset view across the river!
  • St James’s Park — 57 acres of lawn, lake, and gardens; take walk through the park to get to the next stop.
  • St James’s Palace — The Tutor-style building that was a royal residence and is now used for state visits.
  • Buckingham Palace — The royal residence; approach via The Mall, the ceremonial route to the palace. If you want to see the Changing the Guard ceremony, you’ll have to check their schedule and circle back here on another day.
  • Westminster Cathedral — (not to be confused with Westminster Abbey) Neo-Byzantine cathedral that’s the largest catholic church building in England and Wales. It’s free to go inside, and it’s usually open later.

If you want a guided walking tour so you can learn more about each stop, there are some London walking tours that are offered later in the day, but you’ll just have to schedule accordingly.

Dinner at The Queens Arms

A hand holds a clear glass of pale golden cider labeled ‘Sharp’s Brewery, Rock, Cornwall,’ resting over a wooden table inside the softly lit pub of The Queens Arms in Pimlico, London.

We ate dinner at The Queens Arm, a Victorian gastropub not far from The Belgrave Hotel in Pimlico (so don’t worry, you can finally go back and crash for the night after dinner).

The restaurant has a bar downstairs, a small terrace, and an upstairs dining room. They also have a great selection of ciders.

I recommend the Steak Burger, the Braised Shoulder of Lamb, or their Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie.

Day 2: Stonehenge Day Trip

On our 2nd day in the UK, we took a day trip from London to Stonehenge and King Arthur sights (like Glastonbury Abbey and the Avebury Stone Circle). We did this as a small-group van tour, and that’s honestly the best way to go so you don’t have to drive on the other side of the road or stress about entry fees.

Book the exact tour we took here.

But if you want to do this all yourself, you can rent a car and drive (be sure you have your international driver’s permit). I’ve outlined the stops below so you can follow along yourself.

Stonehenge

Wide view of Stonehenge with massive standing stones arranged in a circle on a bright green field, under a clear blue sky with distant visitors visible near the stones.
“Closer side view of Stonehenge showing tall, weathered stone slabs arranged in a rough circle on a wide grassy plain, with a pale blue sky overhead and a few distant visitors to the left.
Kevin and Paige wearing sunglasses taking a selfie in front of Stonehenge, with the iconic standing stones visible behind them on a sunny day and green grass stretching across the plain.

Stonehenge is the mysterious circle of stones whose purpose is still unknown. Besides the stone circle, the historical site also includes an exhibition at the Visitor Center and Neolithic house models.

The site is very popular and gets crowded quickly. It’s best to arrive right when it opens (which you will if you do the group tour) to beat the crowds.

I recommend doing Stonehenge as part of a larger day trip (either guided or on your own). Otherwise, you’ve made the trek out to Salisbury (about a 2 hour drive) just to walk around a bunch of rocks. If the King Arthur tour isn’t your thing, I’ve also done Stonehenge as part of an Oxford/Windsor day trip, and paired with Bath is another popular tour.

Book your Stonehenge tickets here.

Chalice Well Gardens

Small circular stone well at Chalice Well Gardens in Glastonbury, England with a metal grate and hinged cover propped open, surrounded by ivy, ferns, and stone steps in a shaded garden setting with dappled sunlight on the ground.

The Chalice Well Gardens are a sacred garden and holy well believed to be the site where Joseph of Arimathea placed the Holy Grail used to catch drops of Christ’s blood at the Crucifixion. King Arthur and his knights are, of course, famous for their quest for the Holy Grail.

You can drink from the Lions Head Fountain to get a taste of the spring’s healing waters.

Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor rising from a bright green grassy hill, topped by the stone tower at the summit, with a public footpath sign and a Glastonbury Tor conservation sign in the foreground under a clear blue sky.

Glastonbury Tor is a steep hill topped with the roofless tower of St Michael’s Church. This is believed to be the Isle of Avalon where King Arthur’s sword Excalibur was forged.

You can climb to the top, which would take about 45 minutes round-trip.

Lunch at Abbey Tea Rooms

Abbey Tea Rooms in Glastonbury offers a classic Afternoon Tea experience. They also have a heartier lunch menu if you’re more famished from your day exploring.

Glastonbury Abbey

Stone ruins of Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, England with arched windows and doorways, standing on a neatly mown green lawn under a bright blue sky, with a church tower visible in the background.
Ruins of Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, England with tall stone arches and crumbling walls set in a green lawn, under a clear blue sky, with a few visitors walking among the remains.
Rectangular grassy grave marker bordered by stone at Glastonbury Abbey, with flowers laid on top, and a small sign identifying the site as King Arthur’s tomb, set in a wide green lawn.

Glastonbury Abbey was built in the 7th century, but today all that remains are picturesque ruins and parkland.

In the 12th century, after a fire that destroyed most of the buildings, the monks here claimed to have found King Arthur’s remains, the remains of his wife Queen Guinevere, as well as the sword Excalibur. This is believed to have been a publicity stunt to raise funds to rebuild the abbey.

Yet their marketing works still because you can see where the supposed King Arthur’s tomb was reburied in the nave.

Avebury Stone Circle

Wide grassy field with Avebury Stone Circle, a long line of standing stones set within low earthwork banks, a few visitors walking among the stones under a clear blue sky.

The stone circle at Avebury is the largest in Europe. It encircles the village of Avebury and encloses 28.5 acres of land.

This circle of stones is just as mysterious as Stonehenge. But unlike Stonehenge, it’s much less crowded and you can actually go up to the stones (though they are less impressive-looking than Stonehenge’s).

The Red Lion Pub

Wooden roadside sign in Avebury, England reading ‘The Red Lion – The only pub in the world inside a stone circle,’ set beside a low stone wall, with a village road, stone houses, and flowering trees under a clear blue sky.
Sunny outdoor pub garden at The Red Lion Pub in Avebury, England with people sitting at wooden picnic tables under cream umbrellas, in front of a traditional white pub with black timber framing and a thatched roof.

The Red Lion Pub is the only pub in the world that’s inside a stone circle.

So go on and have that drink!

Durrington Walls and Woodhenge

A wide grassy field dotted with small yellow wildflowers stretches into the distance under a clear blue sky, with rows of short wooden posts scattered across the landscape that make up Durrington Walls and Woodhenge and a few people walking far in the background.

Durrington Walls and Woodhenge is a really interesting stop because the theory is that Durrington Walls fell into disuse when the stone circle at Stonehenge was built.

Durrington Walls is Neolithic settlement about 2 miles from Stonehenge that may have been the largest village in Northern Europe during its time. Woodhenge was a timber circle rather than a stone circle. You can really see the henge (the slope and bank) here better than at other henges.

We stopped here as a bonus on our guided tour (because it was a small group, so the driver could do that if everyone was okay with it). It’s not usually included on these tours, so this would be an extra stop you could make if you were driving yourself.

Dinner at Seafresh

Plate of traditional fish and chips on a wooden table at Seafresh in London, England, featuring a golden battered fish, thick-cut fries, a lemon wedge, and a small dish of tartar sauce, with ketchup and drinks visible in the background.

Back in London for dinner, we ate at Seafresh, a fish and seafood restaurant that serves up traditional fish and chips and Mediterranean-inspired seafood.

I recommend their Traditional Fish & Chips and their Fried Calamari Strips.

Day 3: London

On our 3rd day in the London, we went to the Tower of London (the castles are about to start pouring into this itinerary, y’all), saw Tower Bridge, visited the British Museum, visited the National Gallery London, and walked around Covent Garden.

Tower of London

The White Tower of the Tower of London, a large rectangular stone keep with rows of arched windows and a corner tower, viewed from a grassy courtyard with a wooden staircase leading to the entrance, leafy trees nearby, and modern London city buildings faintly visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
Stone fortress buildings of the Tower of London with crenellated walls and rounded towers topped by domes, viewed across an outer wall under a partly cloudy sky.
Busy castle courtyard at the Tower of London with historic stone buildings and towers, visitors walking and sitting on benches, leafy trees framing the scene on a bright, partly cloudy day.
Paige and Kevin taking a selfie outdoors in front of the Tower of London in London, England, both wearing sunglasses, with green grass and castle walls visible behind them on a sunny day.

The Tower of London is so good, I’ve visited 3 times. The castle has been used as a royal residency, a prison, a place of execution, a royal mint, an armory, the home of the Crown Jewels, and more, so there is a ton of history to learn about when you visit.

If you want to just explore the castle at your own pace, that’s totally fine. But if it’s within your budget, I definitely recommend booking a Beefeater tour led by the Yeoman Warders who have been in charge of guarding the Tower of London since the Tutors. The Beefeater-led tour gets you early access, a guided tour, and then plenty of time to explore on your own afterwards.

Get your Tower of London tickets here or book an early-access tour with a Beefeater here.

Tower Bridge

“Wide view of Tower Bridge in London with both bascules raised, revealing the river passage below, as a passenger boat travels between the open spans; the twin stone towers and upper walkway are visible under an overcast sky.
Upward-looking view of Tower Bridge in London as the bascule is raised, showing the underside of the roadway and blue steel supports, with part of a stone tower visible and people watching from below on a cloudy day.
Paige wearing glasses and a light-colored coat sitting on a glass floor, with the street of Tower Bridge and pedestrians visible far below through the transparent panels.
View from the pedestrian walkway of Tower Bridge in London, looking toward one of the stone towers framed by blue suspension beams, with people walking, cars passing by, and sunlight breaking through clouds overhead.

The castle-like Tower Bridge is just beside the Tower of London. It’s both a drawbridge and a suspension bridge spanning the Thames River.

(This is not London Bridge, just fyi).

Check the lift times to see if you can catch it when the bridge is raising — it’s said to be good luck. It’s raised for passing ships about 1,000 times a year, so you have a pretty good chance of timing it right if you plan ahead.

If you have time, you can also go inside Tower Bridge. There’s a small museum that tells you about the building of the tower, the engine rooms, and lets you walk across the top on a glass floor.

Get your Tower Bridge tickets here.

Lunch at Chicome Mexican Restaurant & Bar

A plate of three small tacos filled with shredded meat and topped with diced tomatoes, onions, and herbs sits on a wooden table, served with lime wedges, guacamole, and a white dipping sauce; a bowl of soup, tortilla chips, and a dark drink are visible in the background.

Chicome Mexican Restaurant & Bar is a Mexican-fusion restaurant with flavors from all around Latin America (come one, you know you’re curious what the Brits do with Mexican food!).

I recommend the Chargrilled Chicken Thigh Tacos or the Iberico Pork Cheeks Carnitas. Their Lunch Burrito Bowl is also a great deal for lunch on the weekdays.

British Museum

The Rosetta Stone displayed upright inside a glass museum case at the British Museum in London, showing a large dark stone slab densely carved with lines of ancient inscriptions; informational signage and museum visitors are visible in the background.
Two ancient Egyptian coffins displayed in a museum case at the British Museum in London: a brightly painted wooden sarcophagus with a gold-toned face and detailed hieroglyphs in the foreground, and a darker, less decorated coffin behind it; museum visitors are faintly visible through the glass.
Ancient bronze head sculpture of Caesar Augustus displayed inside a glass museum case at the British Museum in London, showing a realistic face with short hair and hollow eyes; gallery visitors and additional artifacts are visible in the softly lit background.
Interior of the British Museum in London, England with a sweeping glass lattice roof overhead, looking down onto a circular stone building with tall windows and exhibition banners; classical columns and sculptures are partially visible around the edges.

The British Museum is an art and history museum that’s one of my favorite free things to do in London.

It’s permanent collection is one of the largest in the world, with artifacts like the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and a bust of Caesar Augustus that I’m particularly fond of. Even the Great Court at the center of the museum if a work of architectural art.

National Gallery London

Large framed Renaissance painting displayed in the National Museum London, showing a central robed figure gesturing amid a dramatic crowd scene; the artwork is set within an ornate gilded architectural frame against deep red walls.
Crowds gathered outside the National Gallery in London, with people sitting and relaxing on the grass near a statue; dramatic sun rays break through cloudy skies above the classical stone buildings lining the square.
Framed Van Gogh painting of a golden wheat field under swirling white clouds, with tall dark green cypress trees and rolling hills in the background, displayed on a museum wall at the National Gallery London with a small informational plaque beside it.

The National Gallery London is a free art museum with over 2,300 paintings from the greatest names in art history like Monet, Van Gogh, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt.

There’s a lot to see, so make sure budget enough time to get to all your favorites.

Covent Garden

Busy covered market hall of Covent Garden Market in London with a high arched metal-and-glass ceiling, decorated with hanging lanterns, greenery, and large mirrored spheres, as crowds of people sit and stand beneath the lights around central food stalls.

Covent Garden is a lively shopping and entertainment district with luxury stores, street entertainers, theater, and restaurants.

It’s a great area to walk around and just see what piques your interest.

Dinner at The White Lion

Black chalkboard-style sign on a brick wall of The White Lion pub in London reading ‘Famous Pie House,’ with an illustration of a pie and smaller text inviting visitors to try delicious pies in the upstairs dining room.

The White Lion in Covent Garden is a traditional pub that’s known for their savory pies. They also have everything else you’d expect to find on a classic British pub menu, but you know, when at a pie house…

I recommend their Slow-Cooked Beef Rib, Shin & Pulled Brisket Pie or the Chicken & Truffled Oyster Mushroom Pie.

Day 4: Cardiff, Wales

On the morning of our 4th day, we took the train from Paddington Station to Cardiff Central for a quick jaunt in Cardiff, Wales. We only spent one day in Cardiff, but it was definitely worth the visit!

Paddington Bear Statue

Paige sits on a stone bench beside a bronze Paddington Bear statue wearing a wide-brimmed hat and holding a suitcase, inside the large indoor Paddington Station hall in London with cream-colored columns and overhead lights.

Paddington Station is, of course, where Paddington Bear arrived in London. In honor of the precious bear, the station has put up a Paddington Bear statue right where he got off the train, under the clock tower at Platform 1.

Since we were conveniently taking the train from Paddington, I had to have a little visit with him.

Train to Cardiff

Paige leans in to kiss Kevin on the cheek as they sit side by side on a modern train from London to Cardiff, with gray seats and bright overhead lighting visible behind them.

Getting the train from London to Cardiff is really easy. There are two trains departing every hour from London Paddington to Cardiff Central.

The trains are operated by GWR, but you can buy from any train company or third party apps like Omio. I recommend buying a ticket in advance since it’s usually cheaper and you can reserve a seat.

It usually takes just under 2 hours for the trip (their fastest service takes 1 hour and 48 minutes) and only calls at about 4 stations between London and Cardiff. Overall, it’s an easy, comfortable ride.

Check in at the Hilton Cardiff

Wide street view of the large, curved Hilton Cardiff hotel building in Cardiff, Wales with light stone façades and rows of windows. Flower-filled planters and small trees line the foreground, while pedestrians, cars, and buses move through the intersection under an overcast sky.
Robin Drayton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

For our one night in Cardiff, we chose the Hilton Cardiff because it is centrally located and is right across the street from Cardiff Castle.

Since you’ll arrive before lunch, you likely won’t be able to fully check in yet. But you can drop your luggage off at the hotel for them to store while you explore.

We loved how large and spacious our room was. We had a king-sized bed and a large bathtub that was perfect for a relaxing night reading in a bubble bath.

Book your stay at the Hilton Cardiff here.

Lunch at Pillars Restaurant & Coffee Shop

Two cafeteria-style plates on a tray from Pillars Restaurant & Coffee Shop in Cardiff, Wales, each with chips (fries), green peas, and a breaded main covered in gravy or tomato sauce. A hand reaches in to grab a chip from the right plate, with forks resting on both plates.

For lunch, we chose a quick bite at Pillars Restaurant & Coffee Shop. This cafeteria-style restaurant serves classic British foods (and it’s budget-friendly).

I recommend the Steak & Kidney Pie and the Lasagna.

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle rises on a grassy, sloped hill beside a narrow river. The castle’s tall walls and towers dominate the right side of the scene, while an ornate historic building with spires and turrets stands across the water on the left. Trees and greenery line the riverbank under an overcast sky.
An ornate medieval-style great hall with a high, timbered vaulted ceiling and two large circular chandeliers inside the Cardiff Castle apartments. Colorful murals cover the upper walls, while carved wooden paneling lines the lower walls. A row of decorative chairs and a ceremonial dais sit at the far end, with arched doorways and patterned stone details framing the room.
Cardiff Castle, a stone medieval castle with a round keep sits atop a grassy mound, a flag flying from the top. A narrow stone stairway leads up the hill, with a low stone wall and rocky path in the foreground and open green lawns on either side under a cloudy sky.

Cardiff Castle was the main thing I wanted to see during our short trip to Wales. You get to see the ornate castle apartments, the Norman keep, the wartime tunnels, and you get an audio guide to take you through it all.

The castle apartments are beautifully decorated, but the gem here is the original Roman stonework that they uncovered during some renovations.

If you can handle 50 steep steps, and then even more, it’s worth it to head up to the top of the keep where you’ll get panoramic views of Cardiff.

National Museum Cardiff

Three framed Impressionist paintings by Monet hang side by side on a pale blue gallery wall, each depicting water lilies floating on a pond. The paintings are evenly spaced with small wall labels beside them, above a wooden baseboard and parquet wood floor in a quiet museum gallery at the National Museum Cardiff in Wales.

The National Museum Cardiff is Cardiff’s art and history museum that has Impressionist art, influential Welsh works, paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, and a national history gallery.

The museum is free to visit, and it’s a great way to learn about the evolution of Wales (including Welsh dinosaurs!) and see some incredible art (they have a lot of Monet, which is my favorite).

The Hayes

The Hayes in Cardiff, Wales, a wide pedestrian shopping street with modern buildings on the left and ornate historic buildings on the right. People sit on curved benches around young trees and stroll along the paved walkway, with shopfronts and cafes lining both sides.
The Hayes in Cardiff by Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Hayes is Cardiff’s mostly-pedestrianized shopping thoroughfare lined with luxury shops and restaurants. It runs from St Johns Church near the castle to Cardiff Central Library.

There are two Victorian shopping arcades that have entrances of the Hayes; inside Morgan Arcade you’ll find Spillers Records, the oldest record shop in the world!

Dinner at The Owain Glyndwr

Paige sits at a wooden table in the cozy The Owain Glyndwr pub in Cardiff, Wales, holding a clear glass of a bright red cider up to her mouth. She wears a black-and-white plaid shirt, with framed artwork and warm hanging lights behind her, while other patrons move through the softly lit background.

For dinner, we ate at The Owain Glyndwr, a craft beer pub named for the Welsh ruler and last native Welshman to hold the title of Prince of Wales, who led a revolt against the English rule of Wales.

I recommend the Wagyu Beef Burger and the Beef & Double Gloucester Pie.

Day 5: Dublin, Ireland

On the next day, we took a flight from Cardiff to Dublin to spend a couple days exploring Ireland. This is one of my favorite countries, and I even studied abroad in Galway, so I was excited to show Kevin around!

Flight to Dublin

Aerial view of the rugged Ireland coastline seen from above, with dark landmasses jutting into a pale blue-gray sea, scattered low clouds drifting along the shore, and small offshore islets fading into the distance.

Flights from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Dublin Airport (DUB) are super quick and really affordable. You can find flights from Ryanair for cheap, usually under $30 for a one-way ticket. The flight time is about 1 hour.

Once you land in Dublin, you can either take a cab to the hotel or take the Dublin Express coach. For the Dublin Express, you have a couple options:

  • the 782 service to George’s Quay (Tara Street Station)
  • the 784 service to Custom House Quay (Gardiner Street & Connolly Station)

Both coaches have dedicated stops outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Check in at the Celtic Lodge Guesthouse

Busy Talbot Street in Dublin, Ireland lined with pubs and shops, dominated by a tall vertical red sign reading ‘GUINEYS’ on a brick building, with hanging Guinness logos, outdoor seating along the sidewalk, pedestrians walking past, and overhead wires against a cloudy sky.
Smirkybec, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As per usual, we’re arriving at the hotel before check-in to drop off our bags.

We chose the Celtic Lodge Guesthouse for our Dublin stay because it’s simple and budget-friendly in a great location that’s an easy walk to everything. It also has a traditional Irish pub attached, too, if you ever feel too tired to go back out for dinner after exploring.

The rooms are compact but comfortable. It’s a lively neighborhood, so we could lay in bed and listen to Irish music drifting in from the streets below through the open window. But the noise never really disturbed us at night.

Book your stay at the Celtic Lodge Guesthouse here.

Book of Kells and Trinity College

Long, vaulted library hall in the Long Room at Trinity College Dublin with dark wooden arches and towering bookshelves filled with old books, symmetrical rows stretching into the distance, and a line of white marble busts displayed down the center under soft, warm lighting.
Paige and Kevin taking a selfie inside the grand historic library Long Room at Trinity College Dublin, with tall wooden bookshelves packed with books, a long arched ceiling, and white marble busts lining the central aisle stretching into the background.
Wide view of the Campanile bell tower at Trinity College Dublin, standing on a manicured green lawn with students and visitors walking nearby, historic stone buildings in the background, and leafy trees framing the scene under a partly cloudy sky.

The Book of Kells is an elaborately illustrated manuscript of the New Testament from the 9th century that’s on display at Trinity College Dublin. They have a different page of the book on display each day, so you could keep coming back and see a new page each visit.

After viewing the Book of Kells, you’ll go into the Long Room of the college’s Old Library, which has the library’s oldest and rarest books. This is one of the prettiest libraries in the world, with dark wooden bookshelves, marble busts of famous writers, and a spiral staircases in some of the alcoves.

Pro tip: Don’t schedule your tickets for the same time as your flight. No clue how we messed that up. Be sure to double-check all your times!

But because of that mishap, I now know that you only really need 15 minutes to see the Book of Kells and the Long Room if you aren’t going to stop and read any of the information. So you can file that away if you feel pressed for time here.

The college campus itself is beautiful and free to visit, so I definitely recommend taking some time before or after seeing the book to walk around. Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest university, and it’s walled off from the hustle and bustle of Dublin to create a quiet retreat of stone paths, green common space, and studious learning.

Lunch at The Temple Bar Pub

Crowded street corner outside The Temple Bar pub in Dublin, with its bright red façade covered in hanging flower baskets, gold lettering reading ‘The Temple Bar,’ and large groups of people gathered outside along the cobblestone street.

The Temple Bar Pub is that famous red facade pub you see in all those pictures of Dublin. The pub is the namesake of the Temple Bar area that it’s in. This old-world-style pub has live music every day of the week.

I recommend the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich or the Hot Roast Beef Roll.

This is a popular Dublin tourist spot, so if it’s too crowded, just pop into any of the other pubs in Temple Bar. You really can’t go wrong with any choice here!

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle with a round medieval tower and a long Gothic-style chapel featuring tall pointed windows and decorative spires, framed by lush green shrubs and purple flowering plants in the foreground under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
Symmetrical Dublin Castle courtyard building with a central clock tower topped by a green dome, stone arches at ground level, and red-brick wings on either side, set against a clear blue sky with a few visitors walking across the cobblestone square in front.
Ornate historic throne room at Dublin Castle with a polished parquet floor, gilded columns, and richly decorated walls, featuring a large crystal chandelier overhead and a roped-off ceremonial throne set into an alcove, with tall windows draped in heavy curtains letting in soft light.

Dublin Castle was the former seat of the UK government in Ireland until Irish independence in 1922, and it’s the current meeting place for official State visits.

This is important to remember because the castle will be closed to the public when they’re entertaining official State visits (this has happened to me twice).

You can take a tour of the State Apartments to see the lavishly decorated rooms, including the throne room with the throne built for King George IV. A self-guided tour only takes about 40 minutes.

Dublin Castle Garden

Small formal garden behind Dublin Castle with gravel paths, trimmed hedges, and wooden benches surrounding a circular stone pedestal topped with a blue spiral glass sculpture; a round stone castle tower and colorful historic buildings rise in the background beneath leafy tree branches.

Dublin Castle Garden is where you can get some of the best pictures of the castle. It’s free to visit and it’s hidden around the back of the castle. Even if the castle is closed for a State visit, you can still access the gardens — it’s one of my favorite free things to do in Dublin!

The gardens are believed to be the original site of dubh linn, the “black pool” where the Vikings harbored their ships and from which Dublin gets its name.

St Patrick’s Cathedral

Upward-looking view of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, a gray stone Gothic cathedral façade with pointed arches, tall narrow windows, and a slender spire rising into a bright blue sky with white clouds, partially framed by leafy branches and an iron fence in the foreground.
Interior view of the grand Gothic nave of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, with soaring ribbed vaults, tall stone columns, pointed arches, hanging heraldic banners, and stained-glass windows glowing softly at the far end.
Wide view of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, a large gray stone Gothic cathedral with a tall square tower and spire, seen across a green lawn with a curved walking path, benches, and scattered visitors under an overcast sky.

St Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Ireland and is one of the few buildings left from medieval Dublin.

Take a tour inside to see its Gothic architecture up close, learn about the church’s connection with writer Jonathan Swift, and learn about Ireland’s religious history. They have both self-guided audio tours and guided tours (offered at limited times, but they don’t cost any extra).

Book your St Patrick’s Cathedral ticket here.

O’Connell Street

Low-angle view of the Spire of Dublin, a tall stainless-steel needle rising sharply into a cloudy sky, with historic city buildings lining both sides of the wide street below.
Wide street view of the General Post Office on O'Connell Street in Dublin, a large neoclassical stone building with a columned portico and statues on the roof, an Irish flag flying above. Pedestrians cross the wet street in front while cars pass by under an overcast sky.

O’Connell Street is famous for being bombarded during the 1916 Easter Rising. You can see the bullet holes still visible in the General Post Office’s columns — There’s a great museum inside the GPO where you can learn about the history here, if you have time for it.

You’ll also find the Spire here, an enormous steel monument that’s earned the nickname of “Erection at the Intersection” (I’ve got loads more statue nicknames for you to explore; Dubliners love a cheeky nickname).

To get here, make sure you cross over the Ha’penny Bridge, Dublin’s original toll booth that cost a halfpenny to cross back in the day.

Dinner at The Brazen Head

Street-level view of The Brazen Head pub in Dublin, featuring a whitewashed building with a large painted sign reading ‘The Brazen Head, Ireland’s Oldest Pub, Estd. 1198.’ A stone archway entrance is decorated with hanging flower baskets, while pedestrians walk past and cars are parked nearby.
Roman Kharkovski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Brazen Head is Dublin’s oldest pub, dating back to 1198. They’ve even still retained the pub’s original features. There’s live Irish music, an authentic local bar experience, and delicious drinks and food.

I recommend the Beef and Guinness Stew or the Fish and Chips.

Dublin Pub Crawl

Close-up selfie of Paige, smiling and wearing glasses and a lanyard, holding a freshly poured pint of Guinness with a creamy foam head inside the industrial-style indoor space of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland.

End the night with a pub crawl! This pub crawl with a local guide is the best way to get to know Dublin’s pub culture.

This tour takes you to 4 hidden gems that most tourists won’t find on their own! Plus you get 3 tasters of craft Irish beer, a glass of Guinness, a taster of Single Malt Irish Whiskey, and a taster of craft Irish gin and tonic.

Book your Dublin Pub Crawl here.

Day 6: Blarney Castle Day Trip

On our second day in Ireland, we took a day trip from Dublin to Blarney Castle (and more!). We did this as a big bus tour, and that’s honestly the best way to go so you don’t have to drive the winding Irish countryside on your own.

The tour visits Blarney Castle, the Rock of Cashel, and Cahir Castle. Three castles in one day kind of became my baseline for a good day trip after this trip!

Book the exact tour we took here.

But if you want to do this all yourself, you can rent a car and drive (be sure you have your international driver’s permit); you could also go by train and bus, but this would be much more involved. I’ve outlined the stops below so you can follow along yourself.

Molly Malone Statue

Bronze statue of Molly Malone, a woman in a 19th-century dress standing beside a wooden handcart filled with baskets, set against a stone wall in Dublin, Ireland. A red ‘Information Point’ sign is visible in the background.

Our tour met at the Molly Malone statue, another of Dublin’s famous statues with a cheeky nickname.

She’s been nicknamed “The Tart With a Cart” thanks to the sculpture’s artist making sure Molly was well-endowed like a romance novel heroine. The statue itself is supposed to be a tribute to a famous Irish song called “Cockles and Mussels”.

Rock of Cashel

Wide view of the medieval stone Rock of Cashel perched on a green hilltop, seen from across a wet roadside. Trees frame the scene on the left, and the overcast sky adds a misty, atmospheric feel to the landscape.
View of the weathered stone ruins of the Rock of Cashel, with crumbling walls, arched windows, and a tall round tower rising on the right under an overcast sky. A few visitors stand among old gravestones in the foreground.
Interior view of the roofless medieval stone ruin of the Rock of Cashel, framed by tall Gothic arches. A cylindrical round tower rises in the background through the open roof, with weathered stone walls and pointed archways visible below under a gray sky.

The Rock of Cashel is a group of Medieval ruins made up of a 12th century round tower, a 12th century chapel, a 13th century cathedral, a the 15th century castle.

According to Irish mythology, the hill the buildings sit on was taken from the Devil’s Bit, a mountain 20 miles north of here. The devil is said to have taken a bite out of the mountain when St Patrick banished him, and the devil spat that piece out here at the Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel was also the seat of the kings of Munster, and it’s said to be the site of St Patrick’s conversion of the King of Munster in the 5th century.

Blarney Castle & Gardens

Blarney Castle, a stone medieval castle complex with a tall rectangular keep and a separate round tower, rising from a grassy slope. The ruins are surrounded by greenery and trees, with dramatic clouds and patches of blue sky overhead.
Lush garden landscape of Blarney Castle Gardens with a small stream winding through greenery, framed by trees on both sides. In the distance, the square medieval stone tower of Blarney Castle rises above shrubs and flowers under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
A man helps Paige lean backward through a narrow opening in the stone wall of Blarney Castle, holding here securely as she reaches down to kiss the Blarney Stone. The scene shows a small platform with metal railings set into the historic stone structure, with cleaning bottles resting on the ledge nearby.
Kevin and Paige taking a selfie on a stone castle walkway of Blarney Castle. Kevin wears glasses, a flat cap, and has a red beard; Paige wears glasses and a jacket. Behind them, visitors stand along a curved stone wall waiting to kiss the Blarney Stone, with countryside visible beyond the castle ruins.
Paige, smiling, sits on a low stone ledge in a sunny green courtyard, with the tall medieval stone tower of Blarney Castle rising behind her. Trees frame the scene, and the grass is dotted with small white flowers under a bright blue sky.

Blarney Castle is the 15th century castle that’s famous for its Blarney Stone.  When it was installed in the top of Blarney Castle in 1446, the stone was said to give the “gift of gab.”

You’ll climb up 128 steps of the castle ruins to kiss the Blarney Stone. You have to lie on your back and reach your head back, upside down over the edge of the castle, in order to kiss the Blarney Stone. There are handrails and workers to hold you steady (and take your picture).

I recommend jumping in line to kiss the Blarney Stone first thing when you arrive (the line starts to build up through the castle ruins). Then you can explore the castle rooms more on the way back down, walk around the gardens, crawl around in the dungeons and caves, and tour Blarney House.

Lunch at the Stable Yard Cafe

Paige, with long brown hair and glasses, sits at a table at The Stable Yard Cafe at Blarney Castle, sipping a dark soda from a clear glass. She wears a light-colored knit sweater. In front of her on a tray is a small sandwich on a white plate. The café interior has hanging pendant lights, mirrors on a green wall, and other patrons seated in the background.

The Stable Yard Cafe at Blarney Castle & Gardens is a quaint cafe inside the old stable for the estate.

This is a great place to grab lunch. They have sandwiches, Guinness stew, sausage rolls, and snacks, as well as jams, juices, and loganberry ice cream made from estate-farmed ingredients that you can take home.

Cahir Castle

Stone exterior of Cahir Castle in Ireland with a round crenellated tower and an arched entrance, built from weathered gray stone. A small rectangular window sits in the tower, and a lower roofline appears in the foreground. The scene is set against a bright blue sky with a few white clouds.
View from a stone overlook beside a stone wall inside Cahir Castle, looking down at a fast-moving river. On the opposite bank are old stone buildings with pitched roofs, trees, and greenery, with rolling hills in the distance under a bright blue sky dotted with white clouds.
Wide view of the medieval stone Cahir Castle in Ireland with multiple square towers and crenellated walls, seen from a nearby parking lot filled with cars. Leafy trees frame the scene on both sides, and the castle sits beneath a partly cloudy sky with patches of blue.

Cahir Castle is a 12th century castle along the River Suir and is one of Ireland’s largest and best preserved castles.

The really cool thing about this castle is that it still has much of its original defense structure, including a working portcullis. Their guided tour takes you through how difficult it was to storm the castle.

After the guided tour, you can roam around the castle on your own and discover its rooms, nooks, and crannies. Definitely be sure to climb to the top of one of the towers for a great view of the town!

Dinner at Bunsen Burgers

Street-level view of a brick-lined city street in Dublin with multiple vertical shop signs hanging from old red-brick buildings, including the Bunsen Burgers logo and signs for a gourmet burger kitchen, barber, and dental practice. Festive string lights span the street overhead, and a historic stone building with arched windows appears in the distance.

Bunsen Burgers is a trendy burger joint with juicy burgers made from Black Aberdeen Angus. They’re considered one of the best burgers in Dublin.

The menu is simple: hamburger or cheeseburger (both available as a double). You can get it with or without any of the toppings (lettuce, onion, tomatoes, pickles, and a signature sauce).

Grafton Street

Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland, a busy pedestrian shopping street lined with multi-story historic buildings in white, red, and beige facades. A crowd of people fills the street, with a street musician seated and playing near the center. Shop signs hang from buildings, an Irish flag flies above the street, and the sky is partly cloudy overhead.

Grafton Street is Dublin’s busy pedestrian shopping street. You’ll find tons of shops to pop into, pubs with live music, and street performers and buskers.

You never know what entertainment you might find on Grafton Street! There are musicians, poets, mimes, comedians, magicians, jugglers, and everything in between.

Day 7: Edinburgh, Scotland

On day 7, it was time to fly to Scotland to spend a couple days exploring Edinburgh. My main agenda was castles, so we’ve got two Scottish castles to discover before wrapping up this itinerary!

Flight to Edinburgh

Flights from Dublin Airport (DUB) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) are quick and cheap through Ryanair: it’s about a 1 hour, 10 minute flight and you can usually find tickets for under $30 for a one-way.

Once you land in Edinburgh, I recommend taking a cab to the hotel; there is public transit, but it takes half the time to just take a cab.

Lunch at Marqette at Dublin Airport

Close-up of rotini pasta salad tossed with herbs, red pepper pieces, and a light oil-based dressing, served on a white plate.

I recommend booking your flight around lunchtime (why give yourself early morning stress this late in the trip? There’s time to sleep in a little) and grabbing lunch at the Dublin Airport.

At Marqette food market, you can grab a ready-made salad or sandwich to eat on the plane or when you land in Edinburgh, depending on when your flight is.

Check in at the Hotel Ceilidh-Donia

Several small teddy bears and plush toys dressed in colorful outfits lie scattered near the center of a neatly made white bed at the Hotel Ceilidh-Donia in Edinburgh, Scotland, with pillows and a wooden nightstand visible in the background.

The Hotel Ceilidh-Donia is a small, family-run hotel in a Victorian townhouse that’s kind of bed & breakfast-like. It’s located just south of Arthur’s Seat in a quiet residential area. Even though it’s not in the city centre, it’s still easy to access by bus.

Our room had a king-sized bed and a large bathroom. We were in the front room right by the front door, but it wasn’t very loud and we hardly even noticed other guests coming and going.

Depending on what time you arrive, you may not be able to check in yet. We were pretty early in the afternoon and they let us check in early, so it just depends. Still, they can hold your luggage at the front desk if needed.

Book your stay at Hotel Ceilidh-Donia here.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle rising above a steep rocky cliff in Edinburgh, Scotland with green grass along the rock face, visitors gathered on the upper walls, and a Scottish flag flying against a pale blue sky.
Paige, with long brown hair and wearing a dark jacket, stands at a stone lookout inside Edinburgh Castle, gazing out over the Edinburgh cityscape below. Historic buildings, cranes, and greenery stretch toward the water in the distance under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds, while other visitors stand along the stone walkway nearby.
Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland perched on a rocky hill above a green park, with people relaxing on the grassy slope below and historic stone buildings framing the scene under a clear blue sky.

Edinburgh Castle is the 12th century castle that dominates the city’s skyline from atop Castle Rock. It has been besieged 26 times in its 1,100+ years, making it the most besieged place in Great Britain.

There’s a lot to see here, from the oldest building in Edinburgh to the Crown Jewels of Scotland to the Scottish National War Memorial.

You can explore on your own, purchase an audio guide, or book a guided tour either from castle staff or with a tour company. If you have the time, I recommend the Official Guided Tour, which doesn’t cost much extra.

Pro tip: Don’t bring a large backpack (over 30L) to the castle; they don’t allow large backpacks inside and they don’t have anywhere to store them. So you’ll have to hop in a cab and go all the way back to the hotel, wasting time and money and almost missing the window on your timed ticket. Ask me how I know.

Walk the Royal Mile

Front view of St Giles' Cathedral, a large Gothic stone church with pointed arches and tall stained-glass windows, set on a cobblestone square along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. A green-patina statue on a pedestal stands to the left of the entrance, with a few people and parked cars scattered across the open plaza under a pale blue sky.

The Royal Mile is the street that runs from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. There are shops (this is a great place to find yourself an authentic kilt), restaurants, and street performers like bagpipe players and street magicians.

You can walk the whole Mile; just remember that the walk toward Holyrood Palace is downhill so the walk back up to Edinburgh Castle will be all uphill!

Be sure to explore some of the narrow alleyways called “closes”; Edinburgh is famous for these hidden nooks and crannies. There are also historic locations like St Giles’ Cathedral to discover along the way.

Dinner at The Royal Mile Tavern

Restaurant table at the Royal Mile Tavern in Edinburgh, Scotland with a plated burger on a shiny brioche bun served with thick-cut fries in a small metal cup and a side of pale sauce. A glass of cider and a bottle of Thistly Cross cider sit nearby, with another plate in the background holding a meal topped with creamy sauce and vegetables.
Close-up of an open-faced burger on a toasted brioche bun with a beef patty topped with haggis. Thick-cut fries sit in a small metal bucket beside a white gravy boat filled with pale sauce, with a small cup of ketchup in the foreground. A bottle of Thistly Cross cider and another plated meal are visible in the background on a restaurant table at the Royal Mile Tavern in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Royal Mile Tavern is a fitting place to eat dinner after exploring The Royal Mile. They have a menu of traditional Scottish meals.

I recommend The Big Scot burger topped with haggis and black pudding or the Highland Chicken stuffed with haggis.

Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour

Wide view of Edinburgh at dusk, with Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town skyline silhouetted on a hill. Princes Street Gardens stretch across the foreground, framed by bare tree branches, under a pale evening sky with the moon faintly visible.

The best thing to do at night in Edinburgh is take a haunted walking tour. This Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour takes you through the cobblestone streets of Old Town so that you can learn about the city’s grisliest tales.

You’ll see the sites of witch trials, pagan rituals, and executions. Then you’ll get to walk around a cemetery and learn about body-snatching graverobbers and climb to the top of Calton Hill for panoramic nighttime views of Edinburgh.

Book your Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour here.

Day 8: Edinburgh to London

We had half a day left in Edinburgh before heading back to London and wrapping up our vacation. And we still had one more castle left to see!

Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, a ruined stone castle with thick defensive walls and round corner towers, rising above a wide stretch of bright green grass. The weathered gray stone contrasts with a partly cloudy sky, giving the scene an open, windswept, medieval feel.
View across the interior ruins of the stone Craigmillar Castle in Edinburgh, showing roofless rooms, broken walls, and tall chimney stacks rising from weathered gray masonry. Jagged stone edges and moss-covered surfaces emphasize the abandoned, medieval atmosphere beneath an overcast sky.
Stone archway set into an old, weathered wall at Craigmillar Castle in Edinburgh, with a heavy wooden door standing open to a sunlit courtyard beyond. Two gnarled trees frame the doorway, their branches arching overhead and casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone ground, creating a quiet, enclosed garden-like atmosphere.
Panoramic view from the top of Craigmillar Castle overlooking lush green trees and the remains of a stone wall in the foreground, with the city of Edinburgh stretching into the distance. Arthur’s Seat rises in the background, dotted with yellow gorse, beneath a bright blue sky filled with scattered, textured clouds.

Craigmillar Castle is best known for its association with Mary, Queen of Scots. This castle is where Mary’s noblemen conspired to get rid of Mary’s unpopular husband.

These castle ruins are a lot less popular than Edinburgh Castle; when we visited in the morning, we had the whole place to ourselves.

You also get free reign over the grounds. At admissions, they told us to try out all the doors and if the door is unlocked, you are welcome to explore what’s behind it. That’s music to my ears as a Nancy Drew super sleuth.

There are four stories of rooms to explore. At the top of the tower house, you can get great views of Arthur’s Seat in the foreground and Edinburgh Castle in the distance.

Flight to London

Paige and Kevin seated side by side on a train, taking a casual selfie. The image is softly hazy with light glare from the left. Paige wears glasses and a light top, leaning slightly toward Kevin, who wears glasses, a cap, and a blue plaid shirt, looking directly at the camera. Train seats, poles, and interior details are visible in the background.

You can get a flight from Edinburgh Airport to any London airport — British Airways typically goes to Heathrow (LHR) and to Gatwick (LGW) and have moderate prices, while budget airline easyJet goes to Gatwick (LGW) and budget airline Ryanair goes to Stansted (STN).

The flight time is about 1.5 hours, and you can typically find flights for less than $35 dollars on the budget airlines.

We flew Ryanair, so we flew into STN. My hotel recommendation for this last night in London is at LHR, so you’ll have to make your way between the airports.

  • The National Express coach operates routes from both LGW and STN to LHR — this is the easiest and fastest transfer option, and it’s cheap too.
  • From STN to LHR on the train + Tube, take the Stansted Express train to London Liverpool Street, transfer to the Underground to the Elizabeth Line to the airport — this is what we did, and it was fine but I’d rather have a direct option.
  • From LGW to LHR on the train + Tube, take the Thameslink train to Farringdon, change to the Underground for the Elizabeth Line to the airport; or take the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria, switch to the Underground for the Circle Line to Paddington, then switch to the Heathrow Express train.

Honestly, if I did this again, I’d probably just pay more to fly into LHR for way less headache. Plus, then I’d have more time in the afternoon for one last London activity.

Lunch at BrewDog at the Edinburgh Airport

Close-up of a stacked cheeseburger with two beef patties, melted cheese, pickles, red onion, tomato, and lettuce on a toasted bun, served beside a pile of golden French fries on a wooden board against a dark background.

BrewDog is a craft beer gastropub in the Edinburgh Airport that has a menu of burgers, sourdough pizzas, and wings (plus 16 lines of craft beer).

If you have time, they have space for a sit-down meal. If you’re rushing to catch your flight, they have Hoppy Meals (for adults and kids) that are easy takeaway burger boxes that you can eat at the gate or on the plane.

Check in at the Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport

Neatly arranged pillows on a hotel bed with a wooden headboard and a lit bedside lamp.

We chose the Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport for our last night in the UK for the ease of flying out from LHR in the morning.

This conveniently-located hotel is right at Heathrow Airport. It also has an on-site restaurant so we didn’t have to go back out in search of food once we’d settled in. They also have an airport bus that will take you to the terminal in the morning.

The room was comfortable and just what you’d expect from a Hilton Garden hotel. We had a king-sized bed, air conditioning, and a nice bathroom, and we didn’t need much more than that.

Book your stay at the Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport.

Dinner at Jack’s

Paige sitting at a restaurant table at Jack's at the Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Aiport, holding a forkful of chow mein noodle mid-bite and looking at the camera with a playful, surprised expression. A bowl of noodles sits in front of her, along with a glass of water, salt and pepper shakers, ketchup bottle, and a water carafe. Decorative geometric room dividers and softly lit dining areas are visible in the background.

Jack’s is the on-site restaurant at the Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow. It has views of the runway and a menu of with a variety of dishes to suit the tastes of their international clientele.

I recommend the 10z Gammon or the Chow Mein Noodles.

Optional: London Sightseeing

View of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London with its large domed roof on the right, partially framed by bare tree branches and a dark bronze statue in the foreground under a cloudy sky.
Wide view of the cobblestone courtyard at Hampton Court Palace in London, England, showing the red-brick Tudor façade with towers and arched windows, small groups of visitors walking across the open space, and an overcast sky.

We really took it easy once we got to the hotel because it’s been a whirlwind trip. But it’s pretty easy to get into the city from the hotel.

From Hatton Cross Underground Station, take the Piccadilly Line toward Cockfosters, which will get you to Central London in about 45-60 minutes.

Here are a few recommendations of things to see if you just haven’t gotten enough of London yet (you can probably fit 1-2 sights into the afternoon depending on what time your flight got in and how deeply you explore an attraction):

  • St Paul’s Cathedral — One of London’s most iconic landmarks, known for its soaring dome, historic crypt, and panoramic views from the Whispering Gallery if you’re up for the climb.
  • London Eye — A slow, glass-pod Ferris Wheel ride with sweeping views of the Thames and city skyline, especially impressive on a clear afternoon.
  • Shakespeare’s Globe — A faithful reconstruction of Shakespeare’s original theatre that brings Elizabethan drama to life with exhibits, tours, and performances.
  • Hampton Court Palace — A grand riverside estate once home to Henry VIII famous for its Tudor history, lavish gardens, and historic maze.
  • The Shard — Western Europe’s tallest building with an observation deck that delivers dramatic, far-reaching views across London from above the clouds (and where Kevin proposed to me 😍).

Day 9: Fly Home

View from an airplane window showing the wing extending into a deep blue sky, with a curved coastline and scattered white clouds far below over a bright blue ocean.

On our final day, we unfortunately didn’t have time for last-minute exploring. Most flights from London to the East Coast depart in the morning; you may be able to get a flight later in the day, but they’re less common for direct flights.

The Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport has a shuttle that will take you straight to your terminal, so it’s super easy to get catch your flight.

Flights to the East Coast arrive in the early-to-mid afternoon. Jetlag is much easier to manage this direction since you only have to force yourself to stay awake a few more hours before crashing for a full night’s sleep.

I hope you’ve enjoyed following along with this UK & Ireland 9 day itinerary for London, Cardiff, Dublin, and Edinburgh, and I hope it helps you plan the perfect vacation for yourself! Happy travels!

9 Day UK and Ireland Itinerary Map

Ready to explore the UK and Ireland? Use the map below to plan out your trip!

I hope you have an amazing time in the UK & Ireland!

9 Days in the UK & Ireland FAQ

When is the best time of year to visit the UK and Ireland?

Late spring (May–June) and early fall (September) are sweet spots in the UK and Ireland for weather, daylight, and manageable crowds. We did this itinerary in early May, and everything really worked in our favor.

Will I need multiple currencies to visit the UK and Ireland?

Yes, you will need two currencies: the British Pound (£) is used in the UK (that’s England, Scotland, and Wales); the Euro (€) is used in Ireland.

Most places accept credit cards and contactless payment, so I recommend using a no-foreign-transaction-fee card and withdrawing only a small amount of cash in each currency for backup.

Do I need a car to visit the UK & Ireland?

No, it is not necessary to rent a car in the UK & Ireland. For this itinerary, you can do everything by taking trains, buses, and flights. London, Cardiff, Dublin, and Edinburgh are all extremely walkable and well-connected. For the day trips in this itinerary, I’ve noted the exact tours I took so you don’t have to DIY it. Driving just adds stress (left-side roads, city traffic, parking fees), especially for first-timers.

I only recommend renting a car if you’re extending the trip into rural areas like:
– The Irish countryside
– The Scottish Highlands
– Smaller Welsh villages

For a city-focused first trip, public transportation is the way to go.

Will I need a power adapter or special electronics?

Yes, plan on packing a UK/Ireland power adapter. Both countries use Type G outlets, which are different from US plugs.

Most modern electronics (phones, laptops, cameras) are dual voltage nowadays, so you don’t necessarily need a voltage converter, but I like having it as a bonus, just in case. I use this multi-port USB adapter, which is a lifesaver when hotel outlets are limited and it has the voltage converter built-in.

Is the UK & Ireland a good first international trip?

Yes, the UK and Ireland are some of the easiest places for first-time international travelers to visit.

Both countries are English-speaking, have excellent public transportation, and are very visitor-friendly, which takes a lot of stress out of your first trip abroad. You’ll find clear signage, familiar food options alongside local specialties, and cities that are easy to explore on foot.

Do I need a visa to visit the UK? Check for free ⬇️

Tourists from many countries (like the US, Canada, Australia, and European countries) are required to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for short-term stays up to 6 months. Check your visa requirements here or by using the widget below for free.

Where to Stay in the UK and Ireland

Check out my hotel recommendations for each city you’ll be staying in on this itinerary:

Where to Stay in London

Where to Stay in Cardiff

Where to Stay in Dublin

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

More UK & Ireland Travel Tips

Ready to travel across the UK and Ireland? Plan your trip with these tips.

Cheers!

Paige

9 Days in the UK and Ireland Itinerary for First-Timers

Did you find this UK and Ireland itinerary helpful? Let me know in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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8 Comments

  1. Hi Paige! I have read this post over and over and over. I love what you have outlined and I’m using it as my guide. I do have a question – what does a trip like this cost roughly?

    Reply

    1. So glad you’re finding it helpful! I think we spent around $3,500-$4,000 for the two of us for transportation, hotels, and tours (but it was a few years ago, plus we did get a great flight deal, and I know those transatlantic flights are sooo expensive now; and I don’t know what else has increased in price, so you may be looking at something more like $4,500-$5,000 for two people)

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  2. I am interested in going to Ireland and England. I would like to stop in Sleigo at some point where my grandparents lived.

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  3. This looks like such a fun trip! I have actually been planning a trip to the UK and Ireland for ages and I’m finally able to take a break from work to go. This was seriously so helpful and I added so many things to my list of notes and itinerary. Thanks so much for sharing!

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