Tour Overview
Welcome to England! Experience the best of England on this 7-day program. Begin in London, which will feature privately guided visits to the major sites of the city, including the Tower of London, St. Paul’s’ Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and the houses of Parliament. An expert local guide will whisk you on a private tour of the Bloomsbury area of London where you will visit the British Museum which houses a world-renowned collection of historic artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone. Then, off to Salisbury, stopping to admire the magnificent 13th century cathedral, before visiting the famous prehistoric site at Stonehenge. Then, explore perhaps the loveliest city in England- Bath. Journey into the English countryside and visit Oxford, where you will walk through the impressive buildings. And tour the largest inhabited castle in the world- and the Queen’s favorite- Windsor Castle.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01: London, EnglandUpon arrival at London Heathrow airport, you are met by your driver and privately transferred to your hotel. Your representative will meet you upon arrival, welcome you to England and assist you with check-in procedures. Your local representative is part of a unique network of one of over 75 on the ground representatives throughout Europe to ensure your vacation operates smoothly and to your absolute satisfaction. Your local representative is there on the ground to ensure that your travel arrangements run perfectly. He/she is on the end of the phone for you should you have any queries and is there to assist you. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure. You are confirmed for three nights at the Rubens at the Palace in standard room accommodations, inclusive of buffet breakfast. Please note that official check-in time is 3.00pm. (If your arrival is before this time there will be an early check-in requested on your behalf however this cannot be guaranteed). Nestled in close proximity to St. James Park opposite the Royal Mews, this four-star deluxe hotel is as close to Buckingham Palace as one can get. With this superb location, The Rubens at the Palace offers fantastic views of the pageantry and Royal occasions such as the Changing of the Guards, while providing guests with personally designed accommodations and the comforts of home. The spacious guest rooms are held in a traditional style with expensive fabrics and antiques adding to the luxurious, characteristically English atmosphere. The manifolds of amenities with careful attention to detail make it a prestigious four-star hotel within the city of London. With its selection of restaurants and bars on offer, its unbeatable location and reputation for impeccable service, this boutique style hotel is an excellent option for an unforgettable stay in London.
The Rubens at the Palace- Standard Room Day 02: London
An expert local guide and chauffeur will be waiting to meet you for a full day sightseeing tour (8-hours) of the city of London. You will visit the Tower of London, where the Beefeaters guard the dazzling Crown Jewels, and where you will have excellent views of the Tower Bridge from the Medieval Palace. Proceed afterwards to St. Paul’s Cathedral. This is the cathedral church of the London diocese- a church for Londoner’s, while Westminster Abbey serves the nation. King Aethelbert of Kent founded St. Paul’s for the missionary Mellitus. This, the fifth church on the site, is England’s only baroque cathedral, the only one with a dome, and the only one built between the Reformation and the 19th century. It was also the first to be built entirely by a single architect, Sir Christopher Wren. Continue on to Trafalgar Square, where the National Gallery of Art is overshadowed by Nelson’s Column. You will then head down Whitehall and past Downing Street, to the Houses of Parliament. You will also visit Westminster Abbey, the National Church of England that has been the scene of many state occasions including the Coronation. Finally, return to your hotel past Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence in London.
Breakfast
The Rubens at the Palace- Standard Room Day 03: London
Today, an expert local guide and your chauffeur will be waiting to meet you for a half-day sightseeing tour (4 hours) to the Bloomsbury area of London. Bloomsbury’s air is filled with calm contemplation and wonder, a mood set by the presence of the University of London and the British Museum plus their satellite institutions. It’s hard to believe that Soho’s bars, Covent Garden’s entertainment, and the bustle of north London’s busy railway stations are but a five-minute walk away. You will visit the British Museum that houses a world-renowned collection of historic artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles and the Sutton Hoo treasures. You will also see the excellent collection on Egyptian antiquities. Time permitting, you may also travel to the British Library building, where many priceless documents including a Gutenberg Bible and the First Folio edition of Shakespeare are on display.
Breakfast
The Rubens at the Palace- Standard Room Day 04: London- Salisbury- Stonehenge- Bath
Your driver-guide leads you today on a full day excursion (8 hours) across the English countryside. You will first head to Salisbury, stopping to admire the 13th century cathedral that boasts the highest medieval spire in England and also visit the Chapter House, to see the best preserved of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta. Continuing afterwards past the hill of Old Sarum on your way up to the Salisbury Plain. Here you will visit Stonehenge, arguably the most famous prehistoric site in Europe, it inspires wonder at the effort it must have taken to drag the enormous stones over the land and erect them in circles. Finally, drive to your hotel in Bath. You will be confirmed for two nights at the Royal Crescent in Classic room accommodations, inclusive of English breakfast. The Royal Crescent is located in part of one of the most famous streets in the world; the Royal Crescent extends back from the central houses of the crescent to surround a peaceful garden. Modern buildings that include the restaurant and a luxurious spa facility have complimented the traditional Georgian interiors of the crescent houses. The varied accommodations include rooms in the crescent houses and elsewhere.
Breakfast
Royal Crescent- Classic Room Day 05: Bath
Your driver-guide and private vehicle will be at your disposal for a full day (8 hours) for you to explore the beautiful Georgian city of Bath, often regarded as one of the loveliest cities in all of England. From its beginnings as a Roman camp in the first century AD, Bath developed through troubled centuries to emerge in the 1700’s as a fashionable “spa” resort. Some of England’s best-preserved Georgian architecture is housed here, together with fascinating relics of earlier eras. You will tour the Roman Baths that were discovered in an excellent state of preservation near to Bath Abbey Church and also see the magnificent Palladian architecture for which the city if renowned (seen at its best in the Circus and the Royal Crescent). You may also visit Number One Royal Crescent that has been authentically restored to its Georgian appearance. Time permitting you might wish to venture out to visit Glastonbury Abbey.
Breakfast
Royal Crescent- Classic Room Day 06: Bath- Oxford- Windsor- London
This morning, meet your driver-guide, who will be waiting with your private vehicle to take you on a full day journey (8 hours) into the English countryside. You will head first to Oxford, home to England’s oldest university, where you may take a walk through the impressive buildings that are still home to the university’s main ceremonial and educational functions. You will enjoy a behind- the- scenes tour of Christchurch College (subject to confirmation) where you are allowed access into the College’s history and architecture as well as scenes associated with the world of Lewis Carol and the Harry Potter films. You will then proceed to Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world, and the Queen’s favorite residence. Subject to opening restrictions, you may see the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel and Queen Mary’s Doll House. You will also take in the excellent views of Eton College from the castle ramparts, followed by a visit to the charming old town to peruse some of the boutiques and cafes. Continue on to your airport hotel from here. You will be confirmed for one night at the London Hilton Heathrow Airport Hotel or the London Gatwick Hilton Airport Hotel, in standard room accommodations, inclusive of buffet breakfast. The Hilton Heathrow Airport Hotel is located by terminal 4 and linked by a covered walkway. This is really as close as you can get to the airport. Amenities include multi-satellite TV with Internet access and in house movies (chargeable), direct dial telephones with dataport, mini-bar, tea making facilities and the rooms are fully soundproofed, with individual climate controls. There is an in-room dining menu available 24 hours and three restaurants as well as a fitness center and swimming pool. The Hilton Gatwick Airport Hotel is linked with the airport’s South Terminal via a covered walkway, and is conveniently located for departing flights. All rooms are soundproofed with triple glazing, movie channels, tea and coffee making facilities, satellite TV, 24-hour room service, Sony Playstation and Internet access. The hotel offers a fitness center as well as two restaurants and three bars.
Breakfast
Hilton Heathrow Airport Hotel or Hilton Gatwick Airport Hotel. Day 07: Depart London
Make your own way to your departure flight today. The Hilton Heathrow Airport Hotel is located near Terminal 4 with a covered walkway connecting the hotel with Terminal 4 (approximately a 5 minute walk). The hotel also provides a free shuttle service departing every 30 minutes for guests (arrives at terminal 5). You can reach the other terminals from here by regular connecting free airport transits. The Hilton Gatwick Airport Hotel has direct access to the South Terminal via a covered walkway (a 5 minute walk). To get to the North Terminal from there, complimentary airport transits depart every 5 minutes.
Breakfast We hope you will be returning home with fond memories of your tour of England!
