I posted back in March asking advice on what was a crazy-busy itinerary for our trip to England, Wales, and Ireland in October of this year. So many of you provided such good advice that helped me cut back on what would have been far too much, and made for a fantastic holiday for my wife and me. I just wanted to post and say a big THANK YOU to everyone who chimed in, and, also, to post the final/actual itinerary that worked wonderfully for us, in hopes that it may help someone else.
Day 1: Flew into Heathrow and checked into the Gore Hotel in South Kensington. We did some general sight-seeing and in the evening went on a "Jack the Ripper Ghost Tour (by bus)" by Premium Tours. This was a fun way to see the historic sights of London, plus hear the stories of Jack the Ripper.
Day 2: The Warner Bros Studio Harry Potter tour. If you're a Potter fan this tour is a must! The Deluxe Tour is worth the extra money!
Day 3: Westminster Abbey verger tour and Tower of London Beefeater Tour (including Crown Jewels). Also went to see Buckingham Palace.
Day 4: Drove to the Cotswolds and stayed in the beautiful medieval village of Castle Combe, where the original Dr. Doolittle and Warhorse were filmed.
Day 5: Drove a half-hour down to Bath for a day trip. Drove to our hotel in Caerleon, Wales.
Day 6: Cardiff Castle Tour. Shopping.
Day 7: Berkeley Castle tour. Drove to Cardiff airport and flew to Dublin.
Day 8: St. Patrick's Cathedral tour. Grafton Street shopping.
Day 9: Book of Kells and Trinity Library tour and Kilmainham Gaol tour. Went to the Irish House Party for dinner and Irish music and dancing. Fantastic!
Day 10: Hired a car and drove to the Lake Hotel in Killarney, touring the absolutely beautiful Glendalough and the stunning Rock of Cashel along the way.
Day 11: Absolutely nothing! The Lake Hotel is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the beauty of Ireland.
Day 12: Dingle Peninsula - driving along the coast. I still haven't gotten over the breathtaking beauty of this drive.
Day 13: Drove up to our B&B in Galway, stopping to view the Cliffs of Moher. Words cannot describe the view.
Day 14: Drove the Connemara Loop (N52) stopping at various sights along the way, including the peaceful and beautiful Kylemore Abbey. Stopped for pictures on the Quiet Man bridge and cottage ruins (John Wayne/Maureen O'Hara movie). Stopped and stayed in a B&B in Cong and enjoyed that beautiful little town.
Day 15: Drove to our final hotel (Clontarf Castle) in Dublin, stopping in Athlone along the way - specifically for Sean's Bar, the oldest pub in Ireland!).
Day 16: Flew home out of DUB.