Britain & Ireland Delight: Self-Launched 8-Day Adventure
8 days · Britain and Ireland
Costsaver charges £1,484
No-markup version: ~£800 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Explore the best of Britain and Ireland independently — from Shakespeare's Stratford and Viking York to the Scottish Highlands, Dublin's craic, Kilkenny's castles, Welsh dragons and Georgian Bath — all without the coach, the 4am wake-ups or the group-tour price tag. This self-launched version follows the same iconic route as Costsaver's guided tour but swaps the motorcoach for trains, National Express coaches and local buses, and replaces chain hotels with well-rated budget hotels and hostels. Estimated cost is roughly half the commercial tour price per person.
Day-by-day
London → Stratford-upon-Avon → York → Bradford
Bradford, England
An early start from London. Take a National Express or Megabus coach from London Victoria to Stratford-upon-Avon (~2.5 hrs, £10–18). Spend a couple of hours wandering Shakespeare's birthplace — the town centre is free to explore. Then hop on a train from Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway to York via Birmingham New Street (~3 hrs, £25–40 booked in advance). Stroll the medieval Shambles, walk the city walls and gaze up at York Minster (free exterior; interior entry ~£13 via direct booking). Finish the day with a 30-min train to Bradford (£5–8) to overnight.
🚌National Express/Megabus London Victoria → Stratford-upon-Avon (~£12). Train Stratford Parkway → York via Birmingham (~£30 advance). Train York → Bradford (~£6).
🛏Midland Hotel Bradford or Jurys Inn Bradford (~£55–70/night)
- →Explore Stratford-upon-Avon town centre and Shakespeare's Birthplace area (free)
- →Walk York's medieval Shambles street (free)
- →View York Minster exterior (free) or buy entry direct ~£13
- →Stroll York's ancient city walls (free)
Yorkshire Dales → Lake Windermere → Gretna Green → Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland
Take an early TransPennine Express train to Windermere via Leeds and Oxenholme (~2.5 hrs, £25–35). Spend time at Lake Windermere — a Windermere Lake Cruises boat ticket costs ~£14 and can be booked direct or via GetYourGuide. Then catch a bus or train north through Penrith, stopping briefly at Gretna Green (free to visit the famous blacksmith's shop). Continue by train or Scottish Citylink coach to Glasgow (~1.5 hrs from Carlisle, £12–18). Do a self-guided orientation walk around Glasgow Cathedral (free), George Square and the River Clyde.
🚌Train Bradford → Windermere via Leeds & Oxenholme (~£30 advance). Bus/train Windermere → Carlisle (~£10). Train/coach Carlisle → Glasgow (~£15).
🛏Z Hotel Glasgow or Generator Glasgow (~£30–45/night)
- →Scenic drive/rail journey through the Yorkshire Dales
- →Windermere Lake Cruise (book direct or via GetYourGuide, ~£14)
- →Stop at Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop (free)
- →Self-guided walk: Glasgow Cathedral (free), George Square, River Clyde
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland
Take a ScotRail train from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley (50 min, ~£15). Edinburgh is extremely walkable. The Royal Mile, Old Town medieval facades and Arthur's Seat (an extinct volcano with panoramic views — free to hike) are all free. Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland's top paid attractions — book tickets direct at edinburghcastle.scot (~£17.50). The Palace of Holyroodhouse can be viewed from outside for free (~£17 to enter). For Rosslyn Chapel, take the 37 Lothian Bus from the city centre (~45 min, £2 — book entry at rosslynchapel.com ~£9). In the evening, consider a budget-friendly walk along Princes Street Gardens.
🚌ScotRail Glasgow Queen Street → Edinburgh Waverley (~£15, 50 min). Local Lothian buses within Edinburgh (~£2/journey).
🛏Smart City Hostel Edinburgh or Safestay Edinburgh (~£25–35/night dorm, £55–70 private)
- →Walk the Royal Mile and Old Town medieval streets (free)
- →Edinburgh Castle — book direct at edinburghcastle.scot (~£17.50)
- →View Palace of Holyroodhouse (free exterior; ~£17 to enter)
- →Hike Arthur's Seat for panoramic city views (free)
- →Explore 18th-century New Town Georgian boulevards (free)
- →Optional: Rosslyn Chapel — bus 37 + entry ~£11 total
Ayrshire Coast → Belfast → Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Take a ScotRail train from Edinburgh to Ayr (~1.5 hrs via Glasgow, £18) for a scenic drive/walk along the Ayrshire coast with views of Ailsa Craig. Then head to Cairnryan and take the Stena Line or P&O Ferries crossing to Belfast (~2 hrs, £25–40 foot passenger). In Belfast, take a free walk to Belfast City Hall (free entry to grounds and interior), view the iconic Samson & Goliath cranes and the Titanic Quarter — the Titanic Belfast museum entry is ~£23 (book online). Finish with a 2-hr Enterprise train from Belfast to Dublin Connolly (~£20–30).
🚌Train Edinburgh → Ayr via Glasgow (~£18). Bus Ayr → Cairnryan (~£10). Ferry Cairnryan → Belfast (Stena Line/P&O, ~£30 foot passenger). Enterprise train Belfast → Dublin Connolly (~£25).
🛏Abigail's Hostel Dublin or Isaacs Hostel Dublin (~£25–40/night dorm, £60–80 private)
- →Scenic Ayrshire coast walk with views of Ailsa Craig (free)
- →Belfast City Hall exterior and grounds (free)
- →View Samson & Goliath cranes and Titanic dock (free from outside)
- →Optional: Titanic Belfast museum (~£23, book at titanicbelfast.com)
Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is a fantastic city to explore on foot. Trinity College's grounds are free to enter and you can join the free guided campus walks; the Book of Kells exhibition is ~£16 (book online at tcd.ie). St. Patrick's Cathedral (~£9 entry) and Christchurch Cathedral (~£8) are within walking distance of each other. The Georgian Squares — Merrion Square and St. Stephen's Green — are free public spaces. Grafton Street is Dublin's main shopping strip (free to wander) and Temple Bar is lively for an evening pint. For the Irish pub experience, explore Temple Bar's many traditional music sessions in the evening (free entry to most).
🚌Dublin city bus/Luas tram for getting around (~£1.50–2.50/journey). Walking covers most sights.
🛏Abigail's Hostel Dublin or Isaacs Hostel Dublin (~£25–40/night dorm, £60–80 private)
- →Trinity College campus walk (free; Book of Kells ~£16)
- →St. Patrick's Cathedral (~£9, book online)
- →Christchurch Cathedral (~£8)
- →Stroll Georgian Squares: Merrion Square, St. Stephen's Green (free)
- →Grafton Street shopping and busking (free)
- →Evening in Temple Bar for traditional Irish music sessions (free entry)
Kilkenny → Waterford
Waterford, Ireland
Take a Bus Éireann coach from Dublin Busáras to Kilkenny (~2 hrs, £10–15). Kilkenny Castle and gardens are a highlight — entry to the castle is ~£8 (book at kilkennycastle.ie). The medieval city centre is lovely to explore on foot for free. After lunch, take a Bus Éireann service to Waterford (~1 hr, £8). Visit the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre (~£15 for factory tour, book at waterfordvisitorcentre.com). Waterford is Ireland's oldest city — a free self-guided walking trail covers the Viking Triangle. Seek out one of the area's ancient pubs for dinner.
🚌Bus Éireann Dublin → Kilkenny (~£12). Bus Éireann Kilkenny → Waterford (~£8).
🛏Granville Hotel Waterford or Mayor's Walk House (~£55–75/night)
- →Kilkenny Castle and gardens (~£8, book at kilkennycastle.ie)
- →Self-guided walk of Kilkenny medieval centre (free)
- →Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre factory tour (~£15)
- →Self-guided Viking Triangle walking trail in Waterford (free)
- →Dinner at a historic local pub
Waterford → Fishguard → Cardiff
Cardiff, Wales
Take a Stena Line ferry from Rosslare Europort (bus from Waterford, ~45 min, £5) to Fishguard in Wales (~3.5 hrs, £25–40 foot passenger). From Fishguard Harbour, take the connecting train to Cardiff Central (~2.5 hrs via Swansea, £20–30 booked in advance). Arrive in Cardiff and take a free self-guided walk past Principality Stadium, City Hall, the National Museum of Wales (free entry!) and Cardiff Castle (exterior free; interior ~£15, book at cardiffcastle.com). The castle's Norman keep climb is well worth it.
🚌Bus Waterford → Rosslare Europort (~£5). Stena Line ferry Rosslare → Fishguard (~£30 foot passenger). Train Fishguard Harbour → Cardiff Central via Swansea (~£25 advance).
🛏Ibis Cardiff or Cardiff Backpacker Hostel (~£25–45/night)
- →Stena Line ferry Rosslare → Fishguard (scenic Irish Sea crossing)
- →View Principality Stadium exterior (free)
- →National Museum Cardiff — free entry, world-class art and natural history
- →Cardiff City Hall exterior (free)
- →Cardiff Castle and Norman Keep (~£15, book at cardiffcastle.com)
Bath → Windsor → London
London, England
Take a Great Western Railway train from Cardiff to Bath Spa (~50 min, £15–20 advance). Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage city — the Roman Baths are the must-see attraction (~£20, book at romanbaths.co.uk). The Georgian architecture, Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge are all free to admire. After lunch, catch a GWR train to London Paddington (~1.5 hrs, £20–30). From London, take a train from Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside (~50 min, £10–14 return) to view Windsor Castle exterior (entry ~£28, book at rct.uk). Head back to London to end your adventure.
🚌Train Cardiff → Bath Spa (~£17 advance). Train Bath Spa → London Paddington (~£25 advance). Train London Waterloo → Windsor & Eton Riverside (~£12 return).
🛏N/A — end of tour, return to London
- →Roman Baths, Bath (~£20, book at romanbaths.co.uk)
- →Walk Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Bath city centre (free)
- →View Windsor Castle exterior (free) or entry ~£28 (book at rct.uk)
- →Stroll along the Thames in Windsor (free)
Self-launched vs. Costsaver
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Costsaver | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£800 | £1,484 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £684 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Costsaver-style trips? Check them out here.~£800
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Britain & Ireland Delight: Self-Launched 8-Day Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £800 per person for 8 days in Britain and Ireland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Costsaver?+
Yes — Costsaver charges around £1,484 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £800 — a saving of roughly £684 (46%) per person.
How long is the Britain and Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Britain and Ireland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, backpacker trip through Britain and Ireland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.