British Isles Discovery

Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, sits on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the Liffey River. The Vikings settled in Dublin from the 841 AD onward, and existing remnants of Viking history infuse the city. During their reign Dublin became the most important town in Ireland as well as a center for western Viking expansion and trade. As the second city of the British Empire in the 18th century, Dublin entered its architectural golden age and is famous for the Georgian architecture of this period. Historic buildings include the thirteenth-century Dublin Castle and imposing St Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191. City parks include landscaped St. Stephen’s Green and strollable Phoenix Park. The National Museum of Ireland explores Irish heritage and culture. You’ll find just as much allure in Dublin’s parks and expansive green spaces as you will in the city’s lively quarters—from cycling through the quiet glens of Phoenix Park to meandering amid orchids inside the glasshouses at the National Botanic Gardens.

Located in Northwest England on the estuary of the Mersey River, sits Liverpool, defined by its maritime history, lively arts and music culture, and beautiful waterfront. The waterfront’s Pier Head is home to the iconic Three Graces, Royal Liver Building, and Cunard Building, known as the home of the Liver Bird who proudly watches over the city. Liverpool offers a wide range of museums, including the World Museum, Maritime Museum, and Beatles Story Museum, and notable attractions from St. George’s Hall to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral—all worthy of discovery. Walk in the footsteps of the Beatles as you visit the Cavern Club or Strawberry Field and take in the city’s lively pubs and restaurants, perhaps sampling a traditional dish of scouse, a hearty meat-and-potatoes stew.

A tranquil coastal town in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales, Fishguard stretches along the north slope of the valley. Set across two parts, the main town is perched on the top of the hill, while Lower Fishguard hugs a small river that flows into an idyllic harbor, where SeaDream drops anchor. Ancient standing stones round the perimeter of Fishguard Parish, forming one of several clusters of Early Medieval standing stones in Wales. Beyond its public gardens of Dyffryn Fernant and Penlan Uchaf, the quaint fishing village is notable for its parish church, seaside cafés, and artisan shops and boutiques along High Street. Fishguard’s Royal Oak House is notable as the site of the signing of France’s surrender after 1797’s Battle of Fishguard, a brief military campaign during which Napoleon’s troops attempted to invade Britain, its story displayed in finely embroidered tapestry.

The Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the Cornish coast of southwest England, is defined by its heathland and fringed by sandy beaches. On Tresco, one of the five inhabited islands in the archipelago, Tresco Abbey Garden is home to subtropical plants and the Valhalla Museum, displaying a diverse collection of artifacts. As a small, privately owned island, Scilly’s ambiance of exclusivity extends to its upscale cafés and art gallery. The tower of 17th-century Cromwell’s Castle stands north of Tresco and is one of a handful of stone fortifications that survive from England’s Interregnum (“between reigns”) period of 1649-1660.

Dartmouth sits along the English Channel on the west bank of the Dart River estuary in Devon, England. As part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Dartmouth has long attracting yachting and boating enthusiasts. The castle, constructed in 1481, guards the entrance to the estuary, from which Richard I’s Crusaders set sail in 1190 over 400 ships gathered during the 1944 D-Day landings. The town’s rich naval history also includes the hometown of Thomas Newcomen, inventor of the first working steam engine in the early 1700s. Dartmouth charms with its historic colorful streets and traditional architecture, particularly its hidden gems, including painted family crests and narrow winding steps. Nearby, discover the secret known to locals: Blackpool Sands, a “Blue Flag”-awarded beach tucked away in a cove among evergreens and pines, named an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Dock in Fowey Harbor to explore the small town of Fowey, England, sitting pretty on the south coast of Cornwall, just a stone’s throw away from the Biomes House, the largest contained rainforest, and the award-winning garden restoration project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Established hundreds of years ago as a trading and navel town, Fowey boasts a heady mix of coastal walking paths, quaint streets, and luxe boutiques, backgrounded by a picturesque countryside and thirteenth-century Restormel Castle.

This picturesque seaside town on the south coast of Dorset is defined by its beautiful natural yachting harbor, maritime history, and award-winning beaches. The town’s name comes from the Old English pool and pol, both of which refer to places near water. It’s here that one finds watersports from paddleboarding to kayaking and nature trails perfect for spying local flora and fauna. Poole’s cobblestoned Old Town dates from the twelfth century, its street lined with Georgian buildings, local art galleries, and traditional pubs. Nearby, venture to Brownsea Island, tucked in the harbor, for its rocky beaches, wildlife, and namesake castle built by Henry VIII.

Portsmouth lies on Portsea Island, a narrow peninsula that separates two inlets of the English Channel, Portsmouth Harbor to the west and Langstone Harbor to the east. Home to Britain’s Royal Navy, the city’s rich military history includes an historic dockyard that houses many notable ships, including HMS Warrior, the first iron-hulled warship, and HMS Victory, Admiral Horatio Nelson's flagship during 1805’s Battle of Trafalgar. Beyond military history, Portsmouth is marked by Spinnaker Tower, a 170-meter structure with sky-high observation decks providing views of the harbor. Browse the shops at Gunwharf Quays and explore Old Portsmouth for its pubs and restaurants, Portsmouth Cathedral, Royal Garrison Church, and Square and Round Tower, two historic defense towers dating to the fifteenth century. Relax and stroll the promenade at Southsea Beach, stretching from Old Portsmouth to the estuary, with King Henry VIII’s Southsea Castle jutting up to the water’s edge.