Find Romance in England, Scotland & Ireland Itinerary

The doors to The Strand teashop will open in the morning to reveal one of the oldest tearooms in the world. Thomas Twiningred first opened the shop in 1717 as a space to serve an alternative beverage to coffee in an establishment regarded for class, fashion, and impeccable service. The stunning history of London envelopes the streets and the banks of the River Thames as you set out on a tour of the city’s fascinating past and hidden romantic anecdotes.

Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous architectural landmarks in England. The example of Early English Gothic architecture decorates the structure and highlights the year the church was completed in 1300 after construction began in 1190. The interior hosts 17 monarchs, including Henry III, as well as England’s famous nobility like Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, and Sir Isaac Newton. The twin towers that decorate the face reach over 226 feet tall. The interior echoes with your footsteps as you arrive at Poet’s Corner in the northern transept.

The tombstone of William Gladstone, as well as monuments to writers like Sir Walter Scott, Geoffrey Chaucer, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and William Shakespeare, connote a romantic ambiance in the elaborate depths of the abbey. Along the Thames, you visit the Globe Theatre, a replica of Shakespeare’s original playhouse erected in 1613. You can easily imagine the romances of Shakespeare taking place on stage as the actors portray Twelfth Night and As You Like It, or the tragic romance of Romeo and Juliet.

The beauty of the British Museum encapsulates the intrigue of London, the mysteries of England, and the vast expanse of the former British Empire. This morning you will meet your guide in front of the entrance where the neoclassical pillars are both welcoming and daunting. The museum was founded in 1753 and hosts 13 million artifacts depicting the antiquity of Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire, Asia, China, and the greater European continent. It is easy to get lost in the history of England as a former global power while you view the breathtaking collection in the 94 galleries that span 807,000 square feet.

The Rosetta Stone dates back 195 BC and contains rules of law in three languages, which allowed archeologists to crack the code of Egyptian hieroglyphics in the 18th and 19th centuries. French soldiers discovered the stone in 1799 before the British acquired the stone and other antiquities during the Treaty of Alexandria. The fascinating stone remains an important staple of understanding the past. It also symbolizes the importance of communication throughout the world, between different cultures and couples. After the British Museum, you will continue to the iconic lanes of Hyde Park, one of the largest parks in London. The green space was created in the 17th century, and it encompasses 350 acres of manicured lawns, blossoming flowers, and decorative statues. Couples rent paddle boats and traverse the stoic waters of Serpentine Lake or relax on a bench with a view, a pastry, and the tranquil sounds of the park absent of London’s bustle.

In the morning, the aroma of herbaceous black tea fills the dining room of your hotel. The scent fades beneath the smell of buttery scones accompanied by berry jam. Your private transfer will greet you at the hotel and escort you to undulating greenery and villages tangled with thatched-roof cottages that decorate the romantic countryside known as the Cotswolds. The wealth of the region dates back to the medieval wool trade, which accounts for the scattered herds of sheep grazing on the lush grassland. The scenery and quiet cottages embody the timeless and treasured English countryside that hosts 102 miles of crisscrossing trails.

You will stop at Daylesford Farmshop, a staple of the sustainable organic farm movement in the region. The footstalls hold gleaming produce and organic treats. The café fills with the scent of spice fruits and rich cheeses. The menu changes each month depending on the type of goods grown during the season. You continue to the town of Bourton-On-The-Water, an idyllic village with houses that shine with honey-colored stones and trickling sounds that emanate from the rushing waters of the River Windrush. The five low-arched stone bridges were erected between the 17th and 20th centuries. A section of St. Lawrence, Church of England was erected in the 14th century with modifications made between the 18th and 19th centuries. The quaint ambiance welcomes you to the historic village with foundations that date back to the Neolithic period around 4000 BC.

In the morning you will travel to the gorgeous town of Stratford-upon-Avon for more insight into the life of William Shakespeare. You feel the urge to quote some of the most famous lines ever uttered in the English language within the town Shakespeare was born. A tearoom dedicated to the poet and playwright highlights how the work and life of Shakespeare stands at the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Locals row boats along the River Avon near the arches of Clopton Bridge.

You can stroll by Shakespeare’s birthplace where he also spent the first five years of his married life. The contemporary façade gives way to a restored Tudor interior with rooms hosting live presentations and interactive Shakespearean characters. The town of Chipping Campden retains a sense of medieval charm in the preserved curving main street and picturesque stone cottages. Terraced homes neighbor ancient inns with traditional honey-colored stone while the southwest corner of the village center hosts attractive thatched-roof cottages unspoiled with time.

Market Hall was erected in the 17th century as a place for farmers to sell their dairy. Simple arches, stone floors, and gabled, timber roofs reflect the history of the marketplace. You continue to gorgeous lavender fields of Cotswold planted in the year 2000 and encompassing 53 acres of landscape. The essential oils extracted from the lush fields are sold throughout the United Kingdom but the scent of fresh lavender, as well as how the 70 miles of rows of purple flowers contrast the surrounding verdant hills, makes it one of the most romantic destinations in the country.

The medieval streets of Edinburgh beg for discovery. A romantic ambiance emanates from the historic buildings and narrow, cobbled lanes. The marvelous stone structure of St. Margaret’s Chapel is the oldest surviving building in the city. The Romanesque architecture dates back to the 12th century and is located inside the grounds of the city’s famous castle complex. Edinburgh Castle crowns Castle Rock at a prominence of 260 feet above the city. The property will provide you with marvelous panoramic views while you stand at the center of the city’s radiant skyline. A stronghold has stood on the plateau since the 2nd century AD with the foundations of Edinburgh Castle dating back to the reign of David I in the 12th century.

Your guide will lead you through the majestic ambiance of the castle grounds until you reach the former private chapel of King David I dedicated to his mother. By the 16th century, the former chapel stored gunpowder. You continue to David’s Tower and the surrounding Half Moon Battery erected in the 16th century. The original tower was documented as reaching 49 feet tall before the Lang Siege. The stunning complex brings to life the history of royals, knights, and courtly manners most prominent in the Great Hall, a room measuring 95 feet by 41 feet with stone corbels carved during the Renaissance.

The aroma of mouthwatering cakes emanates from the variety of charming tearooms scattered across the historic city center of Edinburgh. The scent accompanies the unique blend of fragrant teas steeping in hot water in the morning. You will set out into the spirited countryside outside of Edinburgh to discover the grandeur, beauty, and charm of historic castles adorning Scotland. The marvelous honey-colored stone of Stirling Castle reflects the essence of 12th-century strongholds and the powerful hold aristocratic families played throughout Scottish history. The castle was the site of two major battle victories in the 14th century, one led by Robert the Bruce and the other led by William Wallace.

A monument to Wallace towers over the castle on the hillside outside of town. The castle has a more immersive atmosphere that comes from its significant history. The current form of the castle was erected between the 14th and 16th centuries as the residence of the Stuart monarchs. The King’s Chamber contains the Stirling Heads, a series of 16th-century oak medallions depicting images of nobility, Roman emperors, characters from the bible, and Classic mythology. The tablets originally decorated the ceilings of the palace until they collapsed in the 18th century.

The scent of black Scottish breakfast tea fills the dining room at breakfast amid the traditional aromas of a complete Scottish breakfast. The traditional fare includes orange juice, porridge, toast, and a plate of fried eggs, beans, sautéed tomatoes, mushrooms, sausage links, potato, and black pudding. Your private transfer will greet you in the hotel lobby after the meal and escort you to Edinburgh Airport for your brief flight to Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland. The layers of historic mysteries date back to the 9th century with traces of Vikings and the 18th-century architecture connects to handsome Georgian buildings.

The personality of Dublin will welcome you with a vibrant, romantic ambiance that emanates from the River Liffey. Your guide leads you onto the serene grounds of Trinity College. The complex founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592 encompasses 40 acres. Cobbled square and gardens retain a sense of quintessential charm leading to the 18th century Long Room, a library gallery containing 200,000 rare volumes. Continue to the attractive entrance of the Guinness Storehouse, which overtakes seven floors.

The storehouse was the original location of the fermentation plant erected in 1902. You learn about the history of beer within the interactive multi-media exhibits and find the aroma of barley prevalent throughout the gallery. A copy of the lease signed by Arthur Guinness shows the 9,000-year-long contract. At the end of the exhibition, you sit and enjoy a pint as a couple to find the layered notes and creamy texture of Guinness after a traditional double pour.

The buskers return to the cobbles of Grafton Street and turn the morning air electric with music amid the aroma of fresh flowers. You set out early with your guide across the emerald countryside to reach the western coast at the Cliffs of Moher. The length of the soaring coastline runs for approximately nine miles ranging from 390 to 702 feet above sea level. The trail offers spectacular views over the cobalt waters leading to the Aran Islands, as well as the Twelve Pins mountains.

The sunlight glints against the Namurian shale and sandstone soil to create the sheer slopes plunging into the sea. Atlantic puffins and 19 other species of birds, nest in the nooks and along the pebbled shoreline. Grey seals, dolphins, and minke whales often surf in the calmer waters in the distance. You spot a puffin diving into the water in search of fish. Their white chest and black plumage look similar to a penguin. They can dive up to nearly 197 feet deep in the water using their height in the sky to propel them faster and farther into the sea while they look for fish.

On the return journey to Dublin, you stop at Newgrange, a 5,200-year-old passage tomb. The mound reaches 279 feet in diameter with a height of 45 feet. Then, 97 large stones known as Kerbstones populate the surrounding acre of land decorated with images of megalithic art. The Neolithic structure is older than Stonehenge in England and the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The site is more than a tomb as it represents an ancient temple with astrological, spiritual, ceremonial, and religious significance.

The doors to the Dublin City Gallery open in the morning to offer you access to world-class art. This simple collection is located inside a gallery that dates back to the 18th century. Contemporary art, accompanied by a smattering of classic Impressionists, decorates the galleries and the Francis Bacon Studio exhibit. The exhibit features 80,000 items that showcase the madness of the famous 20th-century British painter. After a complete breakfast, your private transfer will greet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to Dublin International Airport for your flight home. This will bring an end to your romance in England, Scotland, and Ireland. You could extend your passionate exploration into mainland Europe by visiting France or Italy.