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Edinburgh & London

See our educational approach to program design
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See our educational approach to program design
Connect with us

8 or 10 days

Edinburgh, London, extension to Dublin


Program designed to: Provide an in-depth understanding of two of the UK's cultural and political capitals. Your explorations of breathtaking Edinburgh—built atop seven extinct volcanoes—will give you a real sense of Scottish customs and tradition. In London, you’ll experience iconic cultural sights, like Buckingham Palace, that are quintessentially English—as well as a contemporary art, fashion and food scene that is delightfully multicultural.

Highlight: A stroll down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile will immerse you in Scottish culture: the sound of bagpipes, the sight of tartan kilts, and the scent of steaming haggis for lunch.

🔹 Curated experiences: Every program is intentionally designed to feature guided learning, cultural engagement, and independent exploration experiences to drive global competency development, denoted on each itinerary with a blue diamond. Learn more about these experiences.
Image displaying map describing the itinerary of the Edinburgh & London tour

Day 1: Fly overnight to Scotland

Day 2: Edinburgh

Meet your Field Director at the destination airport

Take a walking tour of Edinburgh, a classic medieval city, and learn about the city from your Field Director

Enjoy dinner in Edinburgh

Day 3: Edinburgh

Take a guided tour of Edinburgh

With an expert local guide you will see:

  • Edinburgh’s New Town, which was constructed in the 1800s and remains a shining example of city planning today 
  • Calton Hill, where you can take in views of the Lomond Hills of Fife
  • Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Family’s official residence in Scotland
  • Royal Mile and Old Town, a jumble of medieval buildings

Visit Edinburgh Castle, the enduring symbol of Scotland’s capital where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI, who would later rule England

🔹 Independent exploration: Spend time exploring Edinburgh on your own

Day 4: Edinburgh

Add this in-depth excursion:


🔹 Cultural engagement: University of St Andrews

🔹 Cultural engagement: University of St Andrews

Take a guided walk through the Gaelic beauty of St Andrews University, one of the oldest Universities in the English-speaking world—and the site where a young Kate Middleton and Prince William started a world-famous romance. This prestigious and beautiful campus is like a real-life Hogwarts, complete with cursed cobblestones and John Cleese alumnus.

Day 5: Edinburgh • London

Travel by train to London 

Take a walking tour of London

With your Field Director you will see:

  • The Strand, London's major thoroughfare
  • Trafalgar Square, a bustling central square
  • Leicester Square, a square lined with theaters and other events
  • Covent Garden, a vibrant and charming shopping area

Day 6: London

Take a guided tour of London

With your expert local guide you will see: 

  • Big Ben, an iconic London bell at the Palace of Westminster
  • Houses of Parliament, home to England's governing body
  • Piccadilly Circus, a five-way intersection 
  • St. Paul’s Cathedral, a domed church which has hosted many royal events
  • Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)

Tour the Tower of London with an expert local guide and see this former prison, where Henry VIII banished two of his wives, and the jaw-dropping collection of Crown Jewels

Day 7: London

Add this in-depth excursion:


Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Sometimes you just need 13 acres of castles, towers, and gardens to really unwind—or at least you do if you're a British royal. Wander onto this tremendous retreat favored by the Royal Family for the afternoon, and explore what is essentially a small town. Behind the walls of its exquisite architecture you’ll find treasures that date back to its origins in 1070—from original Da Vinci sketches to the royal remains of monarchs past.  

Enjoy a fish and chips dinner in London

Day 8: Depart for home


Add 2 more days


Day 8: London • Dublin

Fly to Dublin

Take a walking tour of Dublin

With your Field Director you will see:

  • Grafton Street, a brick-lined street known as the center of commerce
  • Temple Bar district, Dublin's iconic hip neighborhood

Enjoy a traditional Guinness stew dinner in Dublin

Day 9: Dublin

Take a guided tour of Dublin

With your expert local guide you will see:

  • Dublin's five iconic Georgian squares, which span the north and south sides of Dublin and are surrounded by homes with colorful doors
  • O’Connell Street, a bustling street filled with monuments
  • St. Stephen’s Green, the largest of the five Georgian squares
  • Phoenix Park and the presidential residence

See the Book of Kells at Trinity College, a manuscript created more than 1,000 years ago by Irish monks

Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, whose presence honors the patron saint of Ireland 

Add this in-depth excursion:


Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse

Located in the heart of the St. James’s Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse explains the history of the famous beer. The story is told through various interactive experiences that fuse the company’s brewing heritage along with Ireland’s rich history. At the Perfect Pint bar, you’ll learn how to pour your own Guinness. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy your pint (as well as fantastic views) at the rooftop Gravity Bar.

Day 10: Depart for home


Learning outcomes on this program

Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness

Academic resources

With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions

  • Sample assignments

  • Journal prompts

  • Webinars

  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development

See the resources you get

Your experience includes

Transportation
Accommodations
Select meals
End-to-end support
EF Global Learning Toolkit
Field Director
Guided exploration
Field Visits

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