Delve Deep: Britain & Ireland (Winter)

LDN. The perf place to kick off one mind-blowing wintertime adventure around Britain and Ireland's best bits. First: greet your fellow explorers with a formal royal wave (or, you know, just say hi). Then: settle in for our first included group dinner. Over two weeks' worth of frosty, foodie, fact-filled fun: we're coming for ya. (D)

After that twelfth cuppa (when in England), it's time to hit the road and get pumped for our first stop: Oxford. Get your real-life Harry Potter fix with a walking tour around the INCREDIBLE colleges. Soak up the views from Carfax Tower. And grab a pub lunch next to a toasty fireplace.

Then: we'll make tracks to Liverpool. Our Trip Leader will show us around town before we head off solo to tick off the likes of the Tate Liverpool, Maritime Museum, Albert Docks and The Beatles museum (of course). Dinner's up to you this eve. Our suggestion? Warm your cockles with a steaming bowl of scouse stew – so good, Liverpudlians named their accent after it. (B)

Wave 'ta ra' to Liverpool, today we're off to the medieval walled city of York. Centuries of history. A ‘holy sh*t'-worthy cathedral. And some pretty awesome pubs. Don your beanie – we'll get to know the who's who of York on a walking tour, then the rest is up to you. Head up the tower of York Minster, visit the JORVIK Viking Centre or engage explorer mode and lose yourself along the Shambles and Snickelways. Later, track down The York Roast Co. and try the Yorkshire Roast wrap for dinner. It's so wrong, it's right. (B)

No lies – today is a bit of a drive day. BUT we've got some awesome stops to make along the way. First up: spread your wings under the Angel of the North. Then: take a peek at what Roman life was like back in the year 122 with a stop along Hadrian's Wall. Wander the barrack blocks of Housesteads Roman Fort and soak up the 360-views from the fortress, before we cross the border into bonnie Scotland.

We'll go all Hogwarts tonight with our included dinner in a traditional Edinburgh dining hall. Line those stomachs with a hearty feast before seeing if the city's bar scene lives up to the hype. (B/D)

Kick things off today with a walking tour of this historic capital – gawp at mighty Edinburgh Castle, stroll the Royal Mile, get all the feels from Greyfriars Bobby's statue and stare in awe at St Giles Cathedral. Then? The rest is 100% up to you! Check out the unique collection of Viking-age objects at the Museum of Scotland. Strap on your boots and take a hike up Arthur's Seat. Step aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Explore the uber-cool Leith district. Or escape the weather with afternoon tea at Elephant House (where JK Rowling wrote THAT series, just sayin').

And tonight? There's an opportunity to delve into Edinburgh's dark-side on a ‘City of the Dead' tour. You might need to pack a spare pair of underwear for this one. (B)

Didn't get to everything? DW we've got your back – here's a free day we prepared earlier. Zip up the puffer jacket and jump on a Potter-themed walking tour. Check out Charles' official Scottish residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Explore the National and Portrait Galleries. Sip on Scotland's national drink at The Scotch Whisky Experience. Or flash some plastic along George Street.

If the weather is on your side, head up Calton Hill for alllll the sunset views over the city. Then gather the gang for a night on the Old Town – filled with quirky cocktail bars, cosy traditional pubs and craft beerhouses there's something for everyone. Our fave? Hoot the Redeemer. Think: 1950s' cocktail bar + arcade games = hours of entertainment! (B)

Breathtaking landscapes. Mysterious legends. Culture-rich traditions. And a lot of attractive red-heads. We must be in the Scottish Highlands. Blast Snow Patrol as we weave past more glens, mountains and lochs than you can shake a sporran at. Tonight, after our included dinner you'll be free to explore or kick back and take it all in. Yep, you're actually here. *Take note: the Scottish Highlands are BIG – and we're unable to guarantee exact locations right now. So, sit tight and check your Trip Notes or Topdeck app for specific locations closer to take-off. (B/D)

This is your day, your way. But we've got an included trip out to see ol' Nessie if you're keen. Hear alll the legends and see if you can spot the slippery sucker through the mist on an optional scenic cruise. Rather do your own spontaneous-this-is-what-I-came-here-for thing? No worries! There's plenty to explore around here. Trust us. Tonight, gather your trip mates and seek out a historic pub for a wee dram and hearty Scottish fare. Trying haggis? Go on, we dare you. (B)

Fact: you can't ‘do' Scotland without whisky. So, we've organised an included tour of Glengoyne Distillery and a belly-warming tasting today. You can thank us later. Uncover the magic maturation process this liquid gold goes through – before having a sniff and swirl of the good stuff.

Next: onwards to the home of COP26, mac ‘n' cheese pie (try it) and Glasgow kisses (don't try it). Our in-the-know Trip Leader will show us around the Merchants Quarter, Buchanan Street and George Square on a walking tour – pointing out the must-visits for our free time tonight. Then the rest is 100% up to you. We suggest grabbing a bite in Merchant City, where the 18th-century warehouses are chock-a-block with buzzing bars, restaurants and galleries. (B)

Rise and shine! We're leaving Scotland behind and setting sail for the Emerald Isle. First up? Belfast. More than just four-leafed clovers and pots of gold – Northern Ireland's capital is THE place to start delving deeper into the rich history of this island-country. Get a local insight into The Troubles on an included walking tour – visiting significant Protestant and Catholic estates and the Belfast Peace Wall. Tonight: head to the Cathedral Quarter to check out the bar scene. Or find a local haunt to warm your feet by the fire and sip on an Irish coffee. It's like a hug for your insides. (B)

Limber up for a giant game of hopscotch – today we'll skip and jump our way across the famous Giant's Causeway. Think these huge hexagonal columns were created by volcanic activity 60 million years ago? Wrong! They're actually remnants of a GIANT-sized, testosterone-filled stand-off. True story, just ask your expert Trip Leader.

Next up: (London)Derry, where we'll take a closer look at the Derry Murals and learn about the Battle of Bogside and Bloody Sunday. Later, get the run around Galway with our on-road expert before taking the night off to explore. Tonight, dinner is up to you. But we hear the oysters here are bloody good. Hot tip: McDonagh's is THE place to go. (B)

It's your day, your (Gal)way. You've got 24 hrs to delve deeper, so don't waste a second. Need some suggestions? Set sail for the Aran Islands and rewind to a time of horse-drawn carts, ancient forts and locally spoken Gaelic. Or if you're sticking around town – make sure you check out Wolfe Tone Bridge, the Spanish Arch, Lynch's Castle and settle in for a shamrock tea at Cupán Tae.

Tonight, dinner's on us back at the hotel. Then? Find your Galway girl/boy at O'Connor's Pub. (B/D)

Next: the cobblestone streets of Temple Bar and historic watering holes of the capital. But first, glue your nose to the coach window as we take the scenic route across the Burren to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher. You're gonna want your camera charged for this one. We'll stop in at Doolan (famous for surfing) and Lisdoonvarna (famous for matchmaking...) before rolling onto Dublin. Home of saints, scholars and U2 – tonight is yours to take on the buzzing local nightlife or learn some new moves at a traditional dance show. (B)

Slip on your gloves and down that cup of Joe – we'll get our bearings around this historic city on a walking tour. Tick off Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin Castle, the General Post Office and Temple Bar. Then? It's time to discover what's so special about Ireland's most iconic export at the Guinness Storehouse. With 7 floors, a sky-high Gravity Bar and a cold pint of the good stuff included – even the cider-drinkers will be impressed.

Fact: you've got the rest of the afternoon to do whatever you want. Keep the buzz going and head to the Irish Whiskey Museum. Check out the Book of Kells at Trinity College. Take a tour of Kilmainham Gaol. Buy a claddagh ring for someone special along Drury Street. And don't miss out on a cone of brown-bread ice cream at Murphey's. Trust us, even in winter it's a must. (B)

Land ahoy! Today, we're ferrying over to wild Wales – a country that has collectively rejected the letters K,Q,V and Z. Speaking of letters – we'll make a photo stop at the place with the longest name in Europe. Work on your pronunciation for a bit, then we'll roll through the scenic countryside to Llangollen.

A cute lil' Welsh town on the riverfront – you'll have the afternoon to check out the 13th- century ruins of Castell Dinas Brân, jump aboard the (seasonal) steam train, or take a walk along the canal. Tonight: gather the gang to seek out a local pub for some live music and a hearty feed along the riverfront.*

Take note: North Wales is a BIG place – and we're unable to guarantee exact locations right now. So, sit tight and check your Trip Notes closer to take-off. (B)

Today we're gonna find out why so many English university students flock to study in Cardiff. Hint: it has something to do with the awesome bands that pass through. Check out the Castle on the Hill. Take a tour of Principality Stadium. Wander around Cardiff Bay. And tuck into a Welsh cake at Cardiff Central Market. At dinner tonight, we're going to give this incredible adventure the send-off it deserves. Make sure you catch a home-grown act at the Welsh Club or sample a quirky cocktail at the Dead Canary (their menu is as whacky as the name). (B/D)

Quick maths: this is our last day. But we're sure as hell not done yet! En route to London, we'll stop by the gobsmackingly beautiful Bath to take in the Abbey, Royal Crescent and Roman Baths. You've got free time to take a tour of the Baths and sample the healing (read: disgusting) spa water. Or treat yourself to a classy lunch at the Pump Rooms.

Get a Bath Bun (or two) takeaway before we make tracks to our next stop: the mystical Stonehenge. One of the most iconic prehistoric sites in the world, take it alllllll in before piling back on the coach for the drive back to ol' Blighty. Swap Insta handles and start planning that reunion trip – where to next? (B)