Destination: British Isles

Discover Great Britain and Ireland | Small Group Tours British Isles.

Packed to the brim with history, culture, and striking scenery, Great Britain and Ireland have a lot to offer the traveller. Our small group tour of the British isles are perfect for the mature or senior traveller who wants to explore Britain and Ireland as part of an intimate guided tour with an expert local guide. From walking tours of England Scotland and Ireland to tracing the Industrial revolution, you can explore Britain on a tour with Odyssey. We take in the must-see sights, while nonetheless offering experiences that venture off the beaten path on Odyssey Travellers collection of British tours.

Seemingly tucked away in the corner of the world, the British Isles nonetheless exert a world-wide influence that belies their small size. English literature buffs familiar with Shakespeare, Jane Austen, or the Romantic Poets will relish Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the Lake District, and Bath, while amateur historians will enjoy visits to medieval castles, the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. In Scotland, experience the local culture – ‘neeps and tatties’, the Edinburgh military tattoo, and local whiskey; while in Wales, enjoy our walking tour of its unjustly neglected coastline.

Across the St George’s Channel (Irish sea), our visits to Dublin take in Ireland’s tangible historical remnants – the Book of Kells, O’Connell Street, and St Patrick’s Cathedral – in order to understand its turbulent history. We also offer a trip off the beaten path to see Northern Ireland, including the Giant’s Causeway. And wherever we are, our itinerary always takes time to journey into the British Isles spectacular scenery: England’s Cotswold and quaint villages; Snowdonia National Park in Wales; the Scottish highlands and Loch Lomond; and Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher and Killarney National Park (on the Ring of Kerry). For those mature and senior travellers seeking a small group tour of the British isles and small group tours of Ireland and Scotland 2020 – 2021 we offer over 100 departures from our small group tour of the British isles collection each year.

Odyssey’s tours to Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales are all an escorted tour with a tour manager often accompanied by a knowledgeable local tour guide. Whether your are on a Ireland tour for the first time or a Scotland tour heading for the Scottish highlands, our tour director will have the itinerary for your sightseeing tour planned out. If you are on walking tours of England Scotland and Ireland, then on this walking holiday your tour manager will have the coach ready for ready for the hike into the countryside, over rolling hills, pausing in quaint villages for lunch. We enjoy preparing for each tour to ensure whatever small group tour or walking holiday you choose that we have prepared for your trip.

Articles about the British Isles

A well preserved Roman road.

A Journey Through Britain's Roman Roads

Rome's roads constitute the most remarkable culmination of its technological, logistical and bureaucratic achievements. Even a brief understanding of their history and significance can enrich your experience walking tour of Britain.

28 Nov 19 · 14 mins read
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Manchester canals boats

Britain: First Industrial Nation

Britain: The First Industrial Nation In the mid-18th century, the Industrial Revolution was largely confined to Britain. Historians and economists continue to debate what it was that sparked the urbanisation and industrialisation that would change…

12 Feb 19 · 8 mins read
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Lacock Abbey, Britain's National Trust

Britain’s National Trust role for successful small group history tours

Britain’s National Trust: Historic houses, gardens and natural wonders Britain is home to many attractions, many of them rich in the region’s history. Sites and artefacts are preserved beautifully, and kept safe from future development.…

31 Jul 17 · 10 mins read
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Cottages in Cheshire

British Village Icons: Definitive Guide for Travellers

Icons of the British Villages: Pubs and Cottages The British pub and cottage figure prominently in the image of a (often romanticised) quintessential “British village”. In this article, we will give special attention to these…

9 Oct 19 · 12 mins read
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Enclosure farming system, typical of the 19th century, in Yorkshire.

Dry Stone Walls: An Alternative History of the British Isles

Throughout the nation, from Yorkshire to Orkney, miles of moss-covered dry stone walls snake their way through the open land. You would be forgiven for not looking twice. However, dry stone walls offer an alternative route into the history of humanity in the British Isles.

28 Nov 19 · 12 mins read
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Exploring Britain's Neolithic past

Exploring Britain's Prehistoric Past: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

Article on Britain's neolithic past for small group educational tours for senior couples and mature solo travellers interested in learning about Standing stones, burial chambers, Skara Brae and Stonehenge or Beaker people.

8 Oct 19 · 13 mins read
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FAQs

When is the best time to go on your UK trip?

The best time to visit the United Kingdom is in spring (late March to early June) and autumn (September to November), when it’s usually warm and dry. You’ll see beautiful spring flowers or the leaves changing hue in autumn, and avoid the much busier summer period.

Why choose a small group tour?

Odyssey specialises in educational small group tours, for seniors, typically groups between 6 to 12 people, and no more than 18 travellers. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs, since 1983.

We offer a wide range of educational, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

What's the accommodation like on a group tour?

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our long stay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

What ages are the group holidays suitable for?

Whether travelling solo, in a couple, or with friends, Odyssey Traveller caters primarily for travellers over 50, over 60, over 70 or 80 years of age. Therefore, your travelling companions are sure to share your interests. They will want similar experiences in an environment of mutual understanding. We design all programs with the mature traveller in mind. Travelling solo does not mean travelling alone, so when there’s free time to explore you’re sure to have another solo traveler or couple ready to join you if you wish. Single travelers make about a third of our groups and many a repeat travelers!

How big are the group sizes on your tours?

Odyssey specialises in educational small group tours, for seniors, typically groups between 6 to 12 people, and averages at 12 participants per tour, a mix of singles and couples.

First solo trip with Odyssey?

Odyssey offers a collection of genuine small group tour(s) Odyssey tours are priced to reflect that these are small group tours. Typically this means you are part of a small group of 6 to 12 people, not part of a group of 18 or more. Small group means you and fellow traveller enjoying an evening meal around one dinner table. So, we do not achieve the economies of scale of 18 plus on a coach that a larger tour operator would offer, because this is not the type of trip or touring experience our clients seek from us.

Odyssey tours are genuinely based around;

  • A Small group tour of less than 18 people for the mature traveller as holidays for a couple and holidays for solo travellers over 50.
  • Knowledgeable local expert guides and a great tour leader who has an interest in the theme of the tour.
  • Inclusive pricing, including all entrances, tipping and the majority of meals included. That means, no hidden extras with respect to cost. Transparent pricing of the single supplement for the single traveller.
  • A learning based escorted tour with a like minded fellow traveller.
  • Accommodation in 3 & 4 star hotels and self catering apartments.
  • A blend of group learning, touring activities and free time to explore a place further, whether on a discovery or walking holiday program.
  • No name badges or flags to follow when out and about.
  • Travel to places that extend your learning and curiosity, often where others will not follow.
  • Spending typically between 60 to 85% of the operating cost of the tour in the country visited, benefiting the local communities directly.

Do you have any other holidays that aren't with a group?

Odyssey welcome enquiries for private groups, at a minimum of 6 participants.

What is a small group tour?

Tours typically span between two to three weeks in duration. An Odyssey small group tour seeks to stay typically 2 to 3 nights in each location in good 3 or 4 star hotels. These are an escorted tour that have evolved to be a good blend of touring and seeing. As well as opportunities to spend time in key places to take a half or full day break from the group enabling you should you with to be a solo traveller for a few hours or explore with a travelling companion a particular place or take time out for a break, before we travel on to our next destination. For the solo traveller , Odyssey has a expansive range of holidays for solo travellers over 50 to choose from, though we do not offer a regular river cruise or a dedicated solos holiday or solo travel tours.

For the solo traveller there is a single supplement charged on all of Odyssey Travellers small group tour programs. The single supplement reflects the cost of single occupancy of a hotel room with a double bed in your own room (generally, no single bedded rooms are offered across Europe) or a single cabin on a cruise . There are no additional charges made any client booking holidays for solo travellers over 50 years of age, just the single supplement , we like to keep a level of transparency in the prices charged.

Which countries do small group tours go to?

Odyssey Traveller offers tours all over the world. We have a range of tours across Europe , The British Isles , Asia , Africa , The Middle East , and The Americas . We can take you to see the Northern Lights in the outermost regions of Norway. You can travel with us to the jungles of Madagascar to experience its magnificent landscape and wildlife or see the ruins of Machu Picchu in South America . Or take a journey through history with a tour with the theme of Britain’s canals and railways . If you enjoy a spot of cruising, join our Journey through Mongolia and Russia which includes a 10 night river cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg, or our Egypt tour with an amazing Nile river cruise . If you prefer to stay closer to home, we have a great selection of tours in Australia to Western Australia, South Australia, Northern territory, Kata tjuta Outback Queensland, but not the great barrier reef or Ayers rock, Kangaroo Island but Tasmania as well as New Zealand, visiting both North island and the South Island including the east coast, Rotorua, Milford Sound, and Queenstown.

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