England Cruise from City of London to Belfast — 13 Days

London-Greenwich

Begin at St Paul’s Cathedral, whose dome has defined London’s skyline since the 18th century. The City is the capital’s ancient Square Mile, where Roman Londinium meets one of the world’s great financial centres. Walk its lanes to Guildhall, the historic heart of civic London, then explore Leadenhall Market beneath its ornate Victorian roof. Between glass towers and churchyards, history remains part of a working city.

Dover

Dover is a working Channel port, but its appeal begins before you leave the harbour. Above the waterfront, Dover Castle has watched over the Strait for centuries, with Roman, medieval and wartime history to explore. Walk the clifftop paths for views across the water. At Fan Bay, explore a wartime tunnel complex cut into the chalk. Inland, Canterbury offers a celebrated cathedral and a compact old centre.

Poole

Poole gives you a handsome harbour, a lively old town and easy access to Dorset’s celebrated coast. Step ashore to explore the quayside, where fishing boats and pleasure craft share one of Europe’s largest natural harbours. Nearby, Sandbanks and the beaches of Studland offer broad sands, while Brownsea Island shelters red squirrels and rare wildlife. Choose a harbour cruise for the finest perspective, or linger over seafood before discovering Poole’s Georgian streets.

Guernsey Island

Guernsey rewards travellers who look beyond its handsome harbour. St Peter Port rises from the waterfront, its lanes climbing past Georgian houses and independent shops. At the harbour entrance, Castle Cornet has guarded the island for centuries. Beyond town, cliff paths, sheltered coves and country lanes reveal a landscape shaped by sea and history. Guernsey is a self-governing Crown Dependency, not part of the United Kingdom. It uses sterling, and issues its own banknotes and coins.

Plymouth UK

Plymouth faces the open waters of Plymouth Sound, where naval history and a working harbour shape the city’s character. The Hoe opens broad views across the Sound to Drake’s Island. The Barbican’s historic quays include the Mayflower Steps, commemorating the Pilgrims’ 1620 departure for America. Independent shops and waterfront restaurants make this old port rewarding to explore on foot.

Lundy Island England

Three miles long and a world apart, Lundy rises from the Bristol Channel off north Devon. Seasonal ferries sail from Bideford or Ilfracombe; helicopter flights operate from Hartland Point in winter. Follow granite paths to 13th-century Marisco Castle, historic lighthouses and expansive cliff-top views. Watch for seals and seabirds, including puffins in season. The surrounding waters became England’s first Marine Conservation Zone in 2010. Lundy rewards visitors who trade shops and schedules for wildlife, open air and genuine solitude.

Criccieth (Ask Travel Agent)

Bardsey Island UK (Scenic Stop)

Holyhead

Holyhead is more than a ferry port. It opens the way to Anglesey, an island of cliffs, castles and quiet roads. Walk Holy Island’s coast to South Stack Lighthouse, or climb Holyhead Mountain for views across the Irish Sea. The town itself is a working gateway, with regular sailings linking Wales and Ireland. Further east, Beaumaris Castle offers a striking lesson in medieval ambition.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is a city best explored on foot, where Georgian squares, lively lanes and centuries of history sit close together. From Dublin Port, the centre is a short drive away, making a day ashore easy to shape. See the Book of Kells at Trinity College, then trace the Liffey through the city centre. A pint in a traditional pub is an invitation to linger.

Isle of Man

Douglas, the Isle of Man’s capital, welcomes visitors with a broad seafront. Its Victorian promenade and Manx Museum offer a concise introduction to the island’s history. Ride the electric railway north to Ramsey, or visit Tynwald Hill, where the island’s parliament holds its annual open-air sitting. Beyond town, rugged cliffs, sandy bays and quiet roads reward exploration on foot or by car.

Portrush

Portrush puts Northern Ireland’s celebrated Causeway Coast within easy reach. Start in town, where a working harbour and two broad sandy beaches frame the Atlantic. Royal Portrush Golf Club has hosted The Open, while nearby Dunluce Castle stands dramatically above the sea. Farther east, the Giant’s Causeway’s interlocking basalt columns reward a visit, especially when the light shifts. Bring a windproof layer; coastal weather changes quickly, and the views are best enjoyed outdoors.

Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island lies six miles off County Antrim, reached by ferry from Ballycastle. This small, inhabited island rewards visitors with rugged coastal walks, quiet lanes and broad views across the North Channel. At the RSPB’s West Light Seabird Centre, watch nesting seabirds, including puffins, from a dramatic cliff-top setting. The West Lighthouse is famously inverted, with its light housed near ground level.

Belfast

Belfast pairs a proud maritime past with a lively, walkable centre. At Titanic Belfast, the story of the famous liner unfolds beside the shipyard where she was built. Nearby, grand City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter reveal different sides of the city, from civic confidence to café-lined lanes. Across west Belfast, political murals offer a vivid perspective on its recent history. With the Giant’s Causeway within reach, Belfast also makes a compelling starting point for Northern Ireland’s dramatic coast.