Dublin to London: Ireland, Wales & England Self-Launched Adventure
9 days · Ireland, Wales & England
Cosmos charges £1,660
No-markup version: ~£870 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Travel independently from Dublin through Ireland's west coast, across the ferry to Wales, and on to London — taking in Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle, Cardiff, Bath and Stonehenge at your own pace, without the group coach or inflated tour prices.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Fly into Dublin and check into a central hostel or budget hotel near O'Connell Street. Spend the afternoon settling in and getting your bearings. In the evening, book yourself into the Guinness Storehouse for a self-guided tour with tasting, and enjoy a pint of the black stuff at the famous Gravity Bar overlooking the city.
🚌Dublin Airport Express Bus (Aircoach/Dublin Express) to city centre, ~£8 one-way
🛏Budget hostel or guesthouse near O'Connell Street (The Times Hostel or Generator Dublin), ~£30/night
- →Guinness Storehouse self-guided tour and tasting
- →Gravity Bar skyline views
- →Dinner in Temple Bar district
Dublin City Highlights
Dublin, Ireland
Follow your own walking route through Dublin's landmarks: stroll up O'Connell Street, admire the Georgian squares around Merrion Square, wander through Trinity College's historic campus (the Book of Kells is worth the admission), and visit St. Patrick's Cathedral. In the evening, book into Taylor's Irish Cabaret Bar for dinner, music and dance, or just find a traditional pub session.
🚌Walking and Dublin Luas tram, ~£3
🛏Budget hostel or guesthouse near O'Connell Street, ~£30/night
- →Trinity College campus and Book of Kells
- →St. Patrick's Cathedral
- →Georgian squares and Merrion Square
- →Taylor's Irish Cabaret evening (optional)
Galway & the Cliffs of Moher
Galway, Ireland
Take the direct Citylink bus from Dublin to Galway (~2.5 hours). Drop bags at a budget spot near the centre, then book the afternoon Cliffs of Moher day trip or catch the local bus out to the Cliffs for sunset — arguably Ireland's most dramatic coastline. On return, explore Galway's lively Latin Quarter with its music pubs.
🚌Citylink bus Dublin–Galway, ~£18; local bus or shuttle to Cliffs of Moher, ~£20 return
🛏Budget hostel in Galway city centre (Galway City Hostel or Sleepzone), ~£25/night
- →Cliffs of Moher and the Burren views
- →Galway Latin Quarter and shop street
- →Traditional music session in a Galway pub
Adare & the Ring of Kerry
Killarney, County Kerry
Travel by bus from Galway to Killarney (via Limerick, ~4–5 hours). On arrival, make time for a quick stop (or save it) at the picture-perfect thatched village of Adare en route. In the afternoon, join a self-booked Ring of Kerry group day tour or hire a car, taking in Ladies View and the wild Atlantic scenery.
🚌Bus Éireann Galway–Killarney via Limerick, ~£25; local Ring of Kerry shuttle tour, ~£30
🛏Budget B&B or hostel in Killarney (Killarney International Hostel or Neptune's Killarney Town Hostel), ~£28/night
- →Adare village photo stop
- →Ring of Kerry scenic drive from Killarney
- →Ladies View viewpoint
- →Evening stroll in Killarney town
Blarney Castle to Tramore
Tramore, County Waterford
Take a morning local bus from Killarney to Blarney (~1.5 hours) and climb the castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. Browse the craft shops for traditional Irish crystal before catching a bus east to Tramore on the sunny south coast (via Cork and Waterford). Check in and enjoy a relaxed evening by the sea — something the group tour rushes through.
🚌Local bus Killarney–Blarney–Cork, ~£12; coach Cork–Waterford–Tramore, ~£20
🛏Budget B&B or guesthouse in Tramore, ~£28/night
- →Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone
- →Blarney Woollen Mills craft shops
- →Sunset walk on Tramore beach
Ferry to Wales & Cardiff
Cardiff, Wales
Catch the morning train/bus from Tramore back to Rosslare Europort and take the Stena Line ferry across to Pembroke, Wales (~3.5 hours). From Pembroke, connect by train to Cardiff. On arrival, follow a self-guided walking tour past the city walls, Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park civic buildings and the Principality (Millennium) Stadium.
🚌Rosslare–Pembroke Stena Line ferry, ~£40; train Pembroke–Cardiff, ~£20
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Cardiff city centre (Nomad Cardiff or a budget Premier Inn), ~£45/night
- →Irish Sea ferry crossing
- →Cardiff Castle exterior and grounds
- →Cathays Park and civic centre walk
- →Millennium Stadium photo stop
Bath & Stonehenge to London
London, England
Take an early train from Cardiff to Bath (~1.5 hours) for a proper wander — see the ancient Roman Baths and Royal Crescent on your own schedule. Then join a Stonehenge day tour from Bath (or take the bus) with its visitor centre and stone circle. In the evening, continue by train into London and check in near the city centre.
🚌Train Cardiff–Bath, ~£25; Stonehenge tour bus from Bath, ~£30; train Bath–London Paddington, ~£30
🛏Budget hotel or hostel near Earl's Court or Hammersmith (Generator London, Wombats, or a budget chain), ~£40/night
- →Roman Baths and Bath's Georgian architecture
- →Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge
- →Stonehenge visitor centre and stone circle
- →Evening arrival in London
London's Royal & Historic Landmarks
London, England
Spend a full day seeing London's icons at your own pace. Walk from Westminster past Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Downing Street; see the mounted Horse Guards on Whitehall; browse Piccadilly Circus; and catch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Book the Tower of London with Crown Jewels for the afternoon, and end with a Thames River night cruise.
🚌London Underground and walking (Travelcard/Oyster day pass), ~£8
🛏Budget hotel or hostel near Earl's Court, ~£45/night
- →Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament
- →Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
- →Horse Guards Parade and Downing Street
- →Tower of London and Crown Jewels
- →Night Thames River cruise (optional)
Depart London (or Windsor Day Trip)
London, England
Depending on your flight time, either depart London from Heathrow or Gatwick, or squeeze in a morning day trip to Windsor Castle by train (~40 min from Paddington). If your departure allows, see the State Apartments and St George's Chapel before heading to the airport.
🚌Train to Windsor (optional), ~£12; Heathrow/Gatwick Express from central London, ~£15–22
🛏N/A — check out and depart
- →Windsor Castle and State Apartments (optional)
- →Final London walk before departure
Self-launched vs. Cosmos
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Cosmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£870 | £1,660 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £790 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Cosmos-style trips? Check them out here.~£870
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Dublin to London: Ireland, Wales & England Self-Launched Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £870 per person for 9 days in Ireland, Wales & England. 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 Cosmos?+
Yes — Cosmos charges around £1,660 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £870 — a saving of roughly £790 (48%) per person.
How long is the Ireland, Wales & England trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Ireland, Wales & England.
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 city-breaks, culture, road-trip trip through Ireland, Wales & England, 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?
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