Just the Facts

Best suited for:

Honeymoon couples who enjoy history, peaceful countryside, driving, and exploring a multitude of places. Lovers of food and beer. People who love being outdoors and being active.

When to go:

May through October are the best months from a weather perspective. High tourist season is June - September when festivals and arts venues are common, and you'll want to book far in advance for these months. Although it can get quite cold in England and Scotland over the winter, Ireland never freezes, and 40s and 50s F (5-10 C) can be found even in January (with beautiful morning mists and hardly any tourists). Ireland is perfect for a Christmas/ New Year's escape - you can even golf!

Accommodations:

There is no limit to the diversity in accommodations here - grand hotels in the big cities, intimate farm-based hideaways in the countryside, lakeside mansions and castles converted to luxury boutique hotels, even some quaint beachside bed and breakfasts in the southwest of England.

Dining:

British dining often gets a bad rap, which is pretty much unfounded in the current state of the world. Continental cooking schools have earned great renown in London, Dublin, and Cork, and chefs are recently focusing on reintegrating local ingredients and traditions with cosmopolitan cuisine. Away from the cities, food is substantial and savory as it has always been when times are good, and sitting down to good beer, stews, eggs, mushrooms, pies, and fish are a delight.

Special Activities:

Touring London via open bus, viewing an outdoor Shakespeare play in Stratford, horseback riding in the Lakes District, looking for Nessie in the lakes of the Great Glen of Scotland. In Wales and Ireland, deep sea and river fishing, hill walking, exploring ruined castles, communing with nature in meadows and ancient stone circles.