Performance Groups

Your musical group has a new partner in Ireland and the UK. We will help you create a wonderful visit where you not only see the culture of these beautiful countries but you get to be a part of it as well.

What are performance groups?

Calling all choirs, orchestras, and marching bands! Our performance group tours provide the perfect stage to showcase your talents in some of the UK and Ireland’s most iconic venues and parades. Perform in historic settings like St. Giles’ Cathedral or St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The atmospheric castles of Ireland and the UK offer a superb backdrop for your artistry. Don’t forget lively parades such as St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin or Cork. These tours are designed to inspire and elevate your performances.

SAMPLE ITINERARIES

A sneak peek of our tours

Bringing your choir, marching band, or other performance group to the UK and Ireland offers more than amazing stages – it’s a chance to perform in remarkable venues while exploring historic landmarks and local gems. Every group has unique needs, and at Abbey, we design tours that combine unforgettable performances with cultural and scenic experiences.

We take care of the details so you can focus on the music. Abbey provides full transportation and safe storage for your band instruments, assistance with organising performances, parades, stand, and blow opportunities, and a full-time, experienced tour manager with each coach to ensure everything runs smoothly from start to finish.

Travelling through the UK

-> All England Choir Groups

Day 1

Welcome to England

Arrive at a London airport. Meet with your English-speaking guide and driver and transfer to London. On arrival enjoy a panoramic tour of London. Discover the iconic landmarks, architectural and cultural diversity, and fascinating history that makes London the most visited city in the world. Your London sightseeing tour will take you on a non-stop precession of recognisable landmarks, including The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s Column, and Marble Arch and much more. Continue to your hotel and check in.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in London or area

Day 2

London

This morning enjoy a River Thames cruise. From Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, a River Thames cruises gives you the chance to see the famous sights of London from a different angle, including the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY: Enjoy a lunchtime performance at the Old Royal Naval College chapel Greenwich, St John’s Church Covent Garden or another London venue.

This afternoon visit the Tower of London. During a visit to the Tower you can see crown jewels worth over £20 billion, meet the ravens who legends say have the fate of the Kingdom in their claws, talk to the distinctive Yoeman guards with their white ruffs, and learn about the gruesome torture that went on within the walls. At the Tower there are also cafes and a shop.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in London or area

Day 3

London to the Midlands

This morning depart London and journey to The Midlands.

En-route enjoy a walking tour of Oxford. A walking tour of the city will pass a number of Oxford University’s most notable buildings. After plenty of food for thought, a little food may be to order at the bustling covered market.

Also visit Christ Church College Oxford which is the largest college in one of the most prestigious universities in the world. With over 500 years of history and an introduction into modern popular culture Oxford University’s Christchurch College means different things to different people. Guided tours are available where an old Oxford Custodian will take you on a historical journey through the grand halls and manicured gardens.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY: Enjoy a lunchtime recital at St Luke’s Chapel, Christ Church College, Sheldonian Theatre, Wesley Memorial Church or similar

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Coventry/Birmingham or area

Day 4

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Today visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace. In the charming town of Stratford-upon-Avon is a distinctive 16th century, half-timbered house where the great Bard William Shakespeare was born, grew up and lived with Anne Hathaway and his children for the first five years of their married life.

Also visit Holy Trinity Church. Stratford’s oldest church is also one of England’s most visited because of the important links to the life of William Shakespeare. The famous playwright was baptised and buried in the chapel and his grave can still be visited today.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY: Enjoy a lunchtime recital at Guild Chapel Stratford, St Mary’s Collegiate Church Warwick, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford Methodist Church, Warwick Hall, Warwick Arts Centre or similar

Depart Stratford-upon-Avon and journey to Liverpool.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Liverpool or area

Day 5

Liverpool

This morning enjoy a panoramic tour of Liverpool
There are few cities with as many iconic features as Liverpool. During the last two centuries, this northern port city has been a maritime powerhouse, home of The Beatles and two world-class football teams, and became the European Capital of Culture. The recognisable skyline along the famous River Mersey is a great place to start a city tour. Also on the waterfront, a welcome legacy from the city’s stint as the European Capital of Culture in 2008, the Albert Dock complex sits in redeveloped warehouses and offers a collection of excellent museums.

Visit The Beatles Story. Discover everything you will ever need to know about the world's greatest ever rock band at the award-winning The Beatles Story in Liverpool's Mersey-side Albert Dock. The Beatles met as teenagers in the maritime city of Liverpool before shooting to worldwide fame. The Beatles Story explores the lives, careers and times of The Beatles right from their childhoods to world domination and beyond into their successful solo careers through fascinating exhibits and interactive themed areas.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY: Enjoy an informal performance in Liverpool Metropolitan RC Cathedral or at the Strawberry Fields Bandstand.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Liverpool or area

Day 6

Liverpool to York

This morning depart Liverpool and journey to York.

On arrival enjoy a walking tour of York. Since its establishment as a city by the Romans in 71 AD York has played a pivotal role in the history of England and today showcases well-preserved remains that bring this history to life. Over the centuries York was a roman garrison town, Viking stronghold and prosperous medieval city and aspects of all this can still be seen today. Your York walking tour will walk along medieval city walls, visit the ruined 11th century St. Mary’s Abbey and marvel at the exterior of the imposing gothic cathedral.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY: Enjoy an evening performance at The National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), St Olave’s Church, Holy Trinity Boar Lane, Leeds Cathedral or similar.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in York, Leeds or area

Day 7

York to London

This morning depart York and journey to London.

En-route visit Kings College. Founded in 1441 by King Henry VI, Kings College is the oldest and grew into the largest college at the prestigious Cambridge University. Over the centuries the college educated some of the finest minds in literature, politics and economics, including novelist E.M Forster and economist John Maynard Keynes and a guided tour shows you where they lived, studied and were inspired. The highlight of Kings College is unarguably the late-gothic King’s Chapel - an ornate masterwork of English craftsmanship. When gazing upwards at the breathtaking fan-vault ceiling, beautiful stained-glass windows and famous baroque painter Ruben’s Adoration of the Magi masterpiece, it’s easy to see why it took over a century to build.

Spend some free time in Cambridge.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in London or area

Day 8

Farewell

Transfer to a London airport for your journey home.

Travelling through Ireland

-> Cork St Patrick's Parade 2027

Day 1

Welcome to Ireland

Arrive at Dublin Airport.

Meet with your English-speaking guide and driver and transfer to Limerick area.

En-route visit the Rock of Cashel. Possibly the most photographed site in Ireland, the Rock of Cashel towers over the town of Cashel from its perch on a 200-foot high outcrop of limestone. Once the seat of the Kings of Munster. St. Patrick visited the rock in 450 AD, while Brian Boru was crowned the first high King of Ireland here in the tenth century. Granted to the church in the twelfth century, by the O'Brien clan, today the impressive stone walls enclose a round tower, a cathedral, a twelfth century Romanesque chapel and high crosses.

Depart Dublin for Limerick. Continue to your hotel and check in.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Limerick/County Clare or area

Day 2

International Band Championship

Today take part in the Limerick International Band Championship and Jamboree.

Each year Limerick's O'Connell Street is filled with the spectacular sight and sound of talented marching band musicians from across Ireland, Europe and America for Ireland’s only International Band Championship. Prizes are awarded for the overall champions, best uniforms, best musical performance, most entertaining performance, best local band, best youth band, best international band, 'Mayors Prize', the special judges’ award and special commendation prizes awarded at the judges discretion. Bands can also enjoy a non-competitive parade through the streets with a fun jamboree at the end.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Limerick/County Clare or area

Day 3

County Clare

Visit the Cliffs of Moher. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean and bordering the Burren region, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most spectacular sights. Standing 230 metres above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara.

Enjoy a sheepdog demonstration at Caherconnell Stone Fort, or similar. Caherconnell Stone Fort, situated 1km south of Poulnabrone Dolmen in the heart of the Burren, offers visitors the opportunity to visit an exceptionally well-preserved example of the stone forts and ringforts existing within the Burren. The fort is in its original state. Its position overlooking virtually all surrounding areas suggests a defensive settlement.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Limerick/County Clare or area

Day 4

Limerick to Cork

This morning depart Limerick and journey to Cork.

En-route visit Blarney Castle and Blarney Woollen Mills. Attracting visitors from all over the world, Blarney Castle is situated in Blarney village, 8 km from Cork city. An ancient stronghold of the McCarthy's, Lords of Muskerry, it is one of Ireland's oldest and most historic castles, and one of the strongest fortresses in Munster. Built in 1446, Blarney Castle is famous for its Blarney stone, the Stone of Eloquence, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who kiss it.

Enjoy a meet and greet with the Mayor or Deputy Mayor of Cork. *Subject to availability.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Cork or area

Day 5

St Patrick's Day

Today perform in the Cork St Patrick’s Day Parade. The Cork City St. Patrick's Day Parade is an annual pageant presented by the wonderful and varied communities who make up this 'beautiful city, so charming and pretty'. A vibrant and colourful display, Cork's parade features members of communities from all walks of life across the city - sporting groups to dance schools, new communities, our long-established brass bands, and special guests from around the world. The parade is the second largest in Ireland with more than 3,500 people participating and 55,000 lining the streets.

After enjoy the festivities in Cork city centre.

OPTIONAL: Enjoy a dinner and show with Hysterical Histories. This Comedic Dinner Theatre Experience is a must-do, inimitable comedy theatre experience and is a high-octane, laugh-out-loud adventure that is unlike anything else in Ireland, or around the world! Written and delivered by established professional Irish actors, this jam-packed performance celebrates all things Cork.

Overnight, dinner, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Cork or area

Day 6

Cork to Dublin

This morning depart Cork and journey to Dublin.

En-route enjoy free time in Kilkenny City. Capital of County Kilkenny, the town of Kilkenny is often referred to as “the Marble City”. It is the most interesting and best preserved of the medieval Irish cities. It owes its immense charm to the various impressive historical monuments.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY: Enjoy a parade through Kilkenny City or stand and blow in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle.

Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Dublin or area

Day 7

Dublin

En-route enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin City, exploring both sides of the River Liffey. See striking landmarks like the GPO on O'Connell Street, the Custom House along the quays, and Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest public park. The south side features Georgian squares such as Merrion Square, Oscar Wilde’s House, colorful doors, and Grafton Street’s shops. Nearby, Kildare Street hosts Bram Stoker’s house, while Trinity College displays the Book of Kells. This area also includes Dublin Castle and the city’s two Anglican Cathedrals.

Visit Epic The Irish Emigration. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is a state-of-the-art interactive experience located in the beautiful vaults of the 1820 Custom House Quarter building in Dublin’s Docklands, the original departure point for so many of Ireland’s emigrants. It will inspire and guide you on a journey to discover the stories of Irish emigration around the world, from early times to the modern day.

Spend some time at leisure in Dublin.

This evening enjoy dinner and entertainment at The Merry Ploughboy Pub or similar. The show takes place in the ideal location, a pub owned and run by musicians who have been performing to audiences in Dublin since 1989. The Merry Ploughboys live in concert is widely regarded as the best traditional music show in Dublin and also as a must see for any visitors to Dublin city.

Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Dublin or area

Day 8

Dublin

Transfer to Dublin Airport for your journey home.

Start Planning Your UK & Ireland Tour

Work directly with our senior sales experts to create exceptional travel experiences. Colin Wynne (North America & Long Haul) and Mylène Campalto (Europe) are here to collaborate with you in crafting tailor-made journeys that showcase the very best of the UK and Ireland.

NA & LH market

Colin Wynne
Head of Sales
Contact the sales team

European market

Mylène Campalto
Head of Sales