London is one of the world’s favorite cities with its endless attractions, great restaurants and pubs, and abundant shopping. The hustle and bustle of the city is contagious.
On our tour to London, you will be visiting many of these sites. There are visits to the Celtic and pre-Celtic mysteries at Stonehenge for a full-day tour including a stop at Windsor Castle. A tour to visit locations of the famed TV show Downton Abbey, plus Oxford and the Cotswolds. There will be special dinners and more. Plus, free time to enjoy the city with an incredibly long list of things to do. There are more museums to visit, neighborhoods to explore, pubs to visit, department stores and markets to go shopping, and parks to visit than just about any other city, not to mention its great theater.
TOUR INCLUDES
• Round trip air from JFK to London (if a minimum of 10 participants)
• Round trip transfers to/from JFK (if a minimum of 10 participants)
• 6 nights hotel accommodations at the 4-star Chesterfield Mayfair hotel
• Hotel service charges and taxes
• Breakfast every day
• 3 dinners
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
• Sightseeing entrance fees
SPECIAL FEATURES
• Panoramic Tour of London
• Visit to Westminster Abbey
• Visit to Oxford
• Visit to Stonehenge
• Visit to the site of Downton Abbey
• Visit to Windsor Castle
• Soho pub dinner
• Dinner cruise on London’s Thames River
TOUR ITINERARY **
Day 1, Thursday. October 16: To London
Depart on your flight to London.
** If there are 10 or more travelers, air and transfer to/from JFK is included in the price.
Day 2, Friday, October 17- Arrival London (D) Arrival in London,where you transfer to your reserved accommodations in London to relax and get used to the time change. In the early evening, we will be transferred to the pier for our evening dinner cruise on the Thames River. As we step on board our floating river restaurant, we start to sail, gliding on the river as London’s landmarks are even more impressive at night. With their bright lights and dreamlike quality, the ever-changing backdrop is simply mesmerizing as we sail under Tower Bridge, down towards the Thames Barrier and past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Dinner is served and a live band sets the mood with gentle background music. After disembarking, we return to our hotel by coach.
Day 3, Saturday, October 18- Morning London Sightseeing tour. Evening SOHO dinner (B/D) After breakfast, we have a panoramic tour morning to experience London’s West End, including a look Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and other famous sites. A stop will be made for a visit to Westminster Abbey, an architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries that presents a unique pageant of British history – the tombs of kings and queens, and memorials to some of the greatest writers in history. King Henry III, who rebuilt Westminster Abbey in 1245. The rest of the afternoon is free for some independent time on your own for lunch, exploration, museum hopping and shopping. In the evening, it’s a Soho dinner. Explore one of the most dynamic and storied neighborhoods in London and take a deep dive into its dining and imbibing scene with this Soho food tour. Join your insider guide to discover the top spots for specialties from gourmet tacos to Chinese dumplings, plus enjoy drinks at a lounge bar and English pub far from the tourist traps. Return to your hotel.
Day 4, Sunday, October 19- Excursion to Windsor Castle & Stonehenge (B) It’s hard to believe that the imposing Windsor Castle is a working royal residence. But on our visit to this lavish fortress we will discover why it was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite weekend home! Overlooking the Thames and a stone’s throw away from the charming Windsor town, the castle has been a fixture on the landscape for almost 1000 years. During this visit you’ll be able to peek inside the luxurious State Apartments, where 39 monarchs have lived since the castle was built. Keep your eyes open for priceless artwork on the walls by Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt! You’ll also get to explore St George’s Chapel — the setting for many royal weddings and the final resting place of many monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II and the notorious Henry VIII. After lunch on our own, we head for Stonehenge to learn more about English history and culture, and to see breathtaking views of the countryside. Our destination is the mysterious Stonehenge as we approach Salisbury Plain — and where we’ll be able to get up close to the 5,000-year-old monument during this visit to the Neolithic stones. Sitting strikingly on the landscape, Stonehenge’s origins have puzzled experts for hundreds of years. During our visit, we’ll get a chance to discover many fascinating theories and attempt to make up our own mind and solve the mystery ourselves. We will also have a little time to visit the exhibition, where 250 archaeological objects are displayed! Return to London in the late afternoon.
Day 5, Monday, October 20- FREE Day in London (B) A free day in London. Maybe take a ride on the London Eye It is an ultra-touristy thing to do in London, but if this is your first time in the city, it’s thrilling to look down on the River Thames, Parliament, and over the London skyline. Or visit the Churchill War Rooms. This museum has two parts to it. At the Churchill Museum you learn about the life and legacy of Winston Churchill. Then you enter the Cabinet War Rooms. This is the underground bunker where Churchill and his staff ran their operations during World War II. This museum is fascinating, and you do not need to be a history buff to appreciate this visit. In the evening, why not take in a London show.
Day 6, Tuesday, October 21- Full day excursion to Oxford, the Cotswold & Downton Abbey (B) Trace the footsteps of Lady Mary Crawley on a full-day tour of rural ‘Downton Abbey’ locations. Rewind to early 20th-century Britain as you tour Bampton—the Oxfordshire village that doubled as Downton—and hear anecdotes about the series and actors. Enjoy the picturesque village of Swinbrook, home to the famous Mitford family, as we drive through this stunning village. On the way, your guide will point out some local landmarks that have been used in the hit film series Bridget Jones. There is a stop at the Swan Pub, a pub so good former Prime Minister David Cameron is known to drink there. We will stop in for a quick pub lunch. Please note that the cost of lunch is not included in the tour. The final stop on the tour is the fantastic filming location that is Bampton village. Bampton is famous for being the filming location for Downton village in all six series and the feature film of Downton Abbey. There will be a chance to take photos outside a some of the iconic buildings. Leaving Bampton, we head to Oxford for a walking tour. Stroll through the quaint cobbled streets of Oxford and get a real feel for this historic city. During your guided walking tour, we’ll get to wander through the charming college courtyards, which can be found dotted throughout the city, including that of Christ Church. If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you’ll recognize this college from a number of famous scenes. Our tour guide will also take you to see the famous 17th century Bodleian Library, a huge library packed with research and literature. An Oxford visit wouldn’t be complete without visiting the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The 36 colleges that comprise Oxford University have produced such gifted alumni as T. S. Eliot, Hugh Grant and Bill Clinton. Back to London in the early evening.
Day 7, Wednesday, October 22- FREE Day in London. Evening Farewell dinner (B/D) Free day for independent exploration. Visit Covent Garden, a district in the West End that is now a popular shopping and dining area. Spend the afternoon exploring this neighborhood. Neal’s Yard is a colorful alley near Covent Garden. It’s worth the quick visit just to take a photo. Just around the corner is Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of the best spots in the city to sample artisanal cheese. There are numerous restaurants in this area for lunch, including a cluster of restaurants and shops in Apple Market. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner at a local pub.
Day 8 Thursday, October 23 – Fly home from London (B)
The tour ends after breakfast as you make your way on your own to the airport and your fights home. Or with an included transfer if we have the group flight.
Your Hotel: The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel As a proud part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, this hotel on Mayfair’s Charles Street offers a serene sanctuary amidst the bustling city life. With a prime central London location, just a brief walk from Bond Street, Hyde Park, and iconic landmarks such as The Royal Academy and Buckingham Palace, The Chesterfield Mayfair truly embodies the vibrant essence of an historic city.
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PRICE PER PERSON
INITIAL DEPOSIT
$750 ($800 by credit card) Non-Refundable* deposit on or before May 1, 2025 is required to guarantee space.
Note: Should the tour fail to materialize due to insufficient participation, all deposits will be refunded in full.
FINAL PAYMENTS: Due on or before August 1, 2025
** Note: Invoice will be charged based on 10+ air & transfer rate. If we do not achieve that number, a shortfall supplement will be issued based on the above “without air or transfer” rate.
If you already registered online and want to access the Payment Information page, click here.
Travel Insurance RMC Travel highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact RMC’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance.
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