Trip Report, 8-Dec through 13-Dec in London after 5 days in Ireland

Such a great trip, although full of anxiety on handling all the changes on testing requirements (affected us almost daily). Spent the first five days in Ireland after antigen test prior to leaving US...discovered Ireland had removed the requirement while we were in the air. It felt good to know we were negative though. Rental car with all the insurance and the waiver to drive into Northern Ireland to visit Titanic Experience. Checked into Clontarf Castle, N of Dublin, so beautiful, free parking and easy bus options into city. Purchased 3 day visitor leap card in town as bus takes coins only, no paper (if you don't have Leap card.) First bus driver allowed us to travel w/o coins and gave us instructions to purchase the card (heard a later driver not let others on so feeling very grateful ours was understanding). HOHO bus, getting off midway to walk Grafton street and get lunch at Avoca cafe before back to castle for nap/dinner. Drove to Belfast, enjoying the scenery along the way and amazed at the Titanic Experience. Grabbed some lunch before heading back to town, dropping son off to watch Formula One at a pub while I went to nearby church for mass. We had a fantastic dinner at The Boxty House in the temple bar area. On Sunday, we visited Guinness Storehouse for tour/lunch and then to Croke Park (son is a Gaelic player). Great short tour and history lesson on Bloody Sunday. Dinner at Woolshed Baa and Grill for NFL games, much fun! We left the next morning to drive to Wexford, another beautiful day with warnings about the wind/storm coming. Stayed at wonderful Killiane Castle, and the storm was no joke. Fearful driving the next morning but made it safely to Cork, having to reschedule an antigen test for the next morning prior to airport arrival as testing center was closed for the day due to the storm. Montenotte Hotel was very nice and we enjoyed both our meals and drinks there. Cork Covid testing so nice and easy to work with, great communication then off to navigate rental car return at Cork Airport, also easy and received antigen results as we walked into arrivals hall. Ryanair allows forms to be updated on their site and check in there a breeze. All restaurants asked for vaccine card and tracing info; pretty much masking everywhere.
London-arrived at Luton, no customs/border control and followed easy signage to Collinson testing just outside arrivals hall. Grabbed Thames Link shuttle to train and lucked into express line to arrive at Kings Cross/St Pancras in about a half hour. Connected to Piccadilly Line to Earls Court using our CC/Apple Pay taps and a 5 min walk to airbnb. Walked to grocery nearby for self-isolation. Daughter on Eurostar/tested at Collinson at Kings Cross. Nando's takeaway for dinner while anxiously checking email for test results, which we all received late the next morning, even daughter who had taken hers 7 hours after us at a different location. Headed out to walk/explore and had a great time. Ate late lunch at Two Chairmen before walking more. Never a vaccine card checked and masking only on transit. Friday we took the Golden Tours trip to Harry Potter, fun watching the film on the bus and so easy transport there and back. Another great experience, even if not a fan of the books/films. Another takeaway dinner before relaxing in flat. Saturday was Chelsea day for my son and I, great fun and a win by the home team. Sunday, the two youngers were recovering from a night out while I attended mass nearby and short walk from flat for ExpressTest antigen test for return home to US. Lovely Sunday Roast at Hawksmoor Knightsbridge for lunch, shopping at Harrods and Covent Garden, too crowded to enjoy. Dinner at Dishoons, great food and decor. Left flat and arrived at Heathrow 3 hours prior to flight only to stand in check-in/baggage line for over 90 min with Virgin Atlantic. Covid documents checked by staff while in line. Security line short and plane began boarding as we approached. Hope this helps!