Play & Pause: Britain & Ireland

One minute you’re at home, dreaming of the second you hit London with all you got. Next minute, you’re here. Making that dream a reality with a bunch of people who are 100% different but 100% the same. Ready to see what Britain and Ireland are about? Home to fish and chips. Bridgerton actors. Mind-blowing history. And really long names you probs can’t pronounce. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. First, we’ll kick off the good times with our first included group dinner. Bonus points for the weirdest British facts (FYI it’s illegal to hold a salmon and look suspicious here – time to make new evening plans).

The first full day. Let’s. GO! We’re leaving the Big Smoke behind cos our sights are set on Oxford. Our Trip Leader’ll introduce us to the do-not-miss-this sights on a walking tour. Think: Magdalen College, Bodleian Library, Sheldonian Theatre and The Ashmolean Museum (the oldest museum in the country, fyi). Then, we’re heading north. Make sure you rest those legs cos we’ve got another walking tour waiting for us in York. This time it’s allll about medieval streets, the original Diagon Alley and 2000 years of history. 2000! Is your mind blown yet? After an AWESOME day of filling your noggin with facts and figures, you’re probs gonna wanna let it all sink in. The night is yours. Find a cosy restaurant to get your foodie fill. Take a leisurely evening river cruise. Or settle in a dimly lit cocktail bar with an ambience you’ll wanna enjoy all night long.

Wake up, it’s another day of travel paradise. And we’re taking the scenic route. Through North York Moors National Park. It’s giving magical. It’s giving vast af. It’s giving gob-s-m-a-c-k-e-d. Make sure you’ve got a window seat. And put your phone away – your travel fam sitting in the aisle wanna see England’s beaut countryside too. Whitby’s our first stop. The gothic coastal town made famous by Captain Cook (and Dracula if you like vamp fiction). After that, a quick visit to the historic city of Durham is on the cards. Then: Newcastle! We’ve got one night in this iconic city so make the most of it. First step: get up to speed with the Geordie lingo. Examples include: “Howay man!”, “Radgie” and “A right bobbly dazzler”. Don’t get the last two mixed up – you won't pass the vibe check.

No lies – today is a bit of a drive day. BUT we’ve got some awesome stops along the way. Take a peek at what Roman life was like back in the year 122 with a stop along Hadrian’s Wall. Wander the barrack blocks of Housesteads Roman Fort and soak up the 360-views from the fortress. Next up on our summer shenanigans: Alnwick Castle. Potterheads will recognise this place first-go. Here in winter? Head up to Bamburgh Castle. Goosebumps at the ready cos this place has spooky written all over it. You’ll have free time to wander inside or grab some lunch at the cafe before we cross the border into bonnie Scotland. Dinner in Edinburgh is on us, so line those stomachs with a hearty pub feast. Tonight: you do you. And Make. It. Count.

Kick things off today with a walking tour of this medieval capital – swing by Edinburgh Castle, stroll the Royal Mile, get all the feels from Greyfriars Bobby’s statue and be in awe of St Giles Cathedral. Then? The rest is 100% up to you! We’ve got a couple of options if you fancy ’em. Pub crawl with a good few wee drams. Or step back in time and see the city through Outlander eyes. We can’t promise any swoon-worthy romances though. Wanna have some solo time? Strap on the Nikes and breathe in that fresh air on a hike up Arthur’s Seat. Step aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Or escape the crowds with a picnic in Princes Street Gardens. Tonight, gather the gang for a night on the Old Town – filled with quirky cocktail bars, traditional pubs and craft beerhouses: there’s something for everyone in Scotland’s capital.

We might be waving goodbye to Edinburgh, but the mems we made here will stay with us forever. Facts. First up: Stirling. Find the National Wallace Monument. You can tell Braveheart fans (boomers in the fam) back home you’ve stood where the REAL Scottish hero is remembered – bonus points for screaming FREEEDOMMM at the top of your lungs. Or grab your mates and wander up to Stirling Castle (on the hill, no cap). Next stop = immense landscapes. Mysterious legends. Culture-rich traditions. And a lot of attractive red-heads. It’s none other than the Scottish Highlands. Tonight, we’re settling in, stuffing our faces and swapping our best bits so far.

Today’s main character: the Scottish Highlands. The sidekick? Ol’ Nessie. We’ve got a trip to her watery lair if you’re up for it. Hear alll the legends and see if you can spot the slippery sucker. Want a closer peek at what lurks beneath the murky waters? Hop on the optional cruise. Then there’s Glenfinnan. You’ve 100% seen the i-con-ic railway bridge. It’s Wizarding. World. Famous. Rather do your own thing? No worries! There’s plenty to explore around here. Trust us. Later, you’ve got the evening to enjoy some downtime. Scrolling mindlessly on #traveltok for an hour or so is totally okay with us. *Take note: the Scottish Highlands are BIG – and we’re unable to guarantee exact locations right now. So, sit tight and check your Trip Notes or Topdeck app for specific locations closer to take-off.

Blast Lewis Capaldi as we roll back past more glens, mountains and lochs than you can shake a sporran at. Glasgow’s next on the agenda. Get your bearings during a walking tour with your savvy in-the-know Trip Leader. They’re gonna give you a rundown of this larger-than-life city as you hit George Square, Glasgow Cathedral, Riverside Museum and MORE. Then? The rest of the day is yours. Pick a direction and walk. Get lost. And lost again. Find something so random your mates back home won’t believe it. Maybe you won’t believe it yourself until it’s Right. There. Drag your trip mates along for the ride. Mems shared are mems that’ll live (way) longer than your average TikTok watch-time.

Rise and shine! We’re leaving Scotland behind and setting sail for the Emerald Isle. First up? Belfast. Aka THE place to start getting to know this island-country. Tighten your Air Forces cos we’ve got a hot walk date with our Trip Leader. They’re giving us the deets on The Troubles with visits to significant Protestant and Catholic estates as well as the Belfast Peace Wall. Later: head to the Cathedral Quarter to check out the bar scene. Or find a local haunt to warm your feet by the fire and sip on an Irish coffee. It’s like a hug for your insides.

Bestie, you’re gonna be stoked for today’s Northern Ireland road trip. First up, we’ve got Giant’s Causeway. You ain’t ever seen anything like this before. Whether you believe it was formed by an underwater volcano or a giant called Finn, the moment you step foot onto one of these stones and look out to the water... well, there ain’t nothing like it. Unfortunately, we can’t stay here all day long. Don’t cry, we’ve got a stop at (London)Derry. Fans of Derry Girls, make sure you snap at pic at the mural on Orchard Street. Then, it’s back to Belfast for the night.

Cram in heaps of brekky, stock up on your new fave snacks (Tayto crisps are top tier) and get your comfies on. We’ve got a few hours on the road. Whip out UNO or catch up on the zeds – whatever you gotta do to pass the time, before we roll into Galway. It’s the edge(ish) of Europe. Ed Sheeran’s a clear winner for today’s music vibe, obvs. Our expert Trip Leader will introduce us to the city with pretty pastel houses along the waterfront on an orientation walk. Then: hit up Quay Street with the fam and get to know the locals – they're some of the friendliest people on earth. Not your vibe? Experience some of the county’s culture during an intimate theatre performance at the Druid Theatre.

It’s your day, your (Gal)way. You’ve got 24 hrs to embrace it all, so don’t waste a second. Need some suggestions? Set sail for the Aran Islands and rewind to a time of horse-drawn carts, ancient forts and locally spoken Gaelic. Hire a bike and head out to the prehistoric clifftop fort of Dún Aonghasa. Check out the ‘Worm Hole’. Or take a picnic to one of the pristine sandy beaches and soak up all the incredible views. This is livin’. Staying around town? Make sure you check out Wolfe Tone Bridge, the Spanish Arch, Lynch’s Castle and settle in for a shamrock tea at Cupán Tae. After? It’s time for an included group dinner before you find your Galway girl/boy at O’Connor’s Pub.

Next up: the cobblestone streets of Temple Bar and historic watering holes of the capital. But first, glue your nose to the coach window as we take the scenic route across the Burren to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher. You’re gonna want your camera charged for this one. We’ll stop at the award-winning visitor centre (built into a hillside for full-on Hobbit vibes) before rolling into Dublin. Home of saints, scholars and U2 – tonight is yours to take on the buzzing local nightlife. And you wanna be introduced to this city right, right? An optional dinner and dance show that’ll get your feet stomping and your hands clapping will give you the real Dublin experience. Including the craic.

Slip on your Birks and down that cup of J – we’ll get our bearings around this historic city on a walking tour. Tick off Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin Castle, the General Post Office and Temple Bar. Then? You’ve got the rest of the afternoon to do whatever you want. Check out the Book of Kells at Trinity College. Take a tour of Kilmainham Gaol. Buy a claddagh ring for someone special along Drury Street. And don’t miss out on a cone of brown-bread ice cream at Murphy’s. Trust us.

Set your alarms for an early start. We’re ferrying over to wild Wales – a country that has collectively rejected the letters K, Q, V and Z. Speaking of letters – we’ll make a photo stop at the place with the longest name in Europe. Work on your pronunciation for a bit, then we’ll roll through the scenic countryside to Llangollen. A cute lil Welsh town on the riverfront – you’ll have the afternoon to check out the 13th- century ruins of Castell Dinas Brân, jump aboard the steam train, or take a walk along the canal. Tonight: gather the gang to seek out a local pub for some live music and a hearty feed along the riverfront. *Take note: North Wales is a BIG place – and we’re unable to guarantee exact locations right now. So, sit tight and check your Trip Notes or Topdeck app for specific locations closer to take-off.

Today we’re gonna find out why so many English university students flock to study in Cardiff. Hint: it has something to do with the awesome bands that pass through. Check out the Castle on the Hill (yep, another one). Take a tour of Principality Stadium. Wander around Cardiff Bay. And tuck into a Welsh cake at Cardiff Central Market. At dinner tonight, we’re going to give this incredible adventure the send-off it deserves – make sure you catch a home-grown act at the Welsh Club or sample a quirky cocktail at The Dead Canary (their menu is as whacky as the name).

Quick maths: this is our last day. But we’re sure as hell not done yet! En route to London, we’ll stop by the gobsmackingly beautiful Bath to take in the Abbey, Royal Crescent and Roman Baths. You’ve got free time to take a tour of the Baths and sample the healing (read: disgusting) spa water. Or treat yourself to a classy lunch at The Pump Room. Get a Bath Bun (or two) takeaway before we make tracks to our next stop: the mystical stones of Stonehenge. One of the most iconic prehistoric sites in the world, take it alllllll in before piling back on the coach for the drive back to ol’ Blighty. Swap TikTok handles and start planning that reunion trip – where to next?