London At Its Best!
Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for London with Air Canada.
We arrive in London in the morning and transfer to our hotel. There will be an orientation walking tour around the area, with some free time before this evening’s Welcome Dinner.
London is bursting with centuries-old landmarks. Today’s full-day tour will be by both coach and walking to take in the major highlights: Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, along with visits to Westminster Abbey and the Canadian War Memorial. This evening is our first night at the theatre.
We board a Rover riverboat at the London Eye and cruise along the Thames to the Tower of London – one of the world’s most famous fortresses, where the ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets of the past. The Tower houses the magnificent Crown regalia. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to cruise the Thames to the maritime village of Greenwich, where we’ll see the world’s oldest surviving tea clipper – the Cutty Sark, and the Old Royal Naval College. Our walking tour includes a visit to the stunning Painted Hall, known as the “Sistine Chapel of Britain”, as well as a buffet-style Afternoon Tea. During your free time, you may wish to visit the 17th century Royal Observatory - home to the Prime Meridian, the place from where the world bases its time. Note - your included Rover ticket is your travel pass allowing unlimited access to hop on and off the city’s sightseeing riverboats for the next 2 days. OCT departure follows the below. DAY 4: AT LEISURE. A day at leisure. There are countless attractions, museums and galleries in London to visit. Your Tour Manager will be on hand with suggestions.
Our morning tour takes us first to the Royal Mews, which houses the horses and coaches of the Royal Transport (including the Gold State Coach which has been used at every coronation for the past 200 years). It is still one of the world’s finest working stables. Then we walk over to Buckingham Palace – the official residence of the King, serving as his London home and offices. We will see many of the magnificent staterooms in this working palace, used extensively by the King and members of his family to receive and entertain guests on State and ceremonial occasions. There will be time at leisure in the palace to enjoy the magnificence of the interior, perhaps enjoy a spot of tea and visit the Royal Shop rich with memorabilia. This evening is our 2nd theatre night. OCT departure follows the below. DAY 5: STRATFORD-UPON-AVON. Our full day excursion takes us through the quintessential English countryside to Stratford- Upon-Avon, home of William Shakespeare. We start with a guided walking tour through the century old buildings visiting Shakespeare’s birthplace and ending at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre where we will enjoy a traditional Sunday roast lunch and end our day with a back stage tour of this famous house of performances with engaging stories of its unique and magical history.
A day at leisure. There are countless attractions, museums and galleries in London to visit. Your Tour Manager will be on hand with suggestions. OCT departure follows the below. DAY 6: WINDSOR / THEATRE. This morning we visit Windsor and the castle that has been “home” to English monarchs for almost 1,000 years. It is said to be the favourite residence of His Majesty King Charles. We also pass by Runnymede—site of the signing of the Magna Carta, and stop at the R.A.F. Memorial, overlooking the scenic countryside. This evening is our second theatre night.
Our full-day excursion takes us through the quintessential English countryside to The Cotswolds - home to rolling hills and quaint villages laden with unique honey coloured cottages and dry stone walls! We will stop for visits to two or three of the villages with time to enjoy gentle walking strolls before returning to London! A pub lunch is included. OCT departure follows the below. DAY 7: BATH. We visit Bath, known for its hot spring waters and the 18th-century honey coloured Georgian terraces with their elegant crescents. Our guided walking tour shows us Jane Austen’s home, the Avon River, Bath Abbey and more. We’ll visit the magnificent Roman Baths, built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. After, we’ll enjoy a sumptuous “Afternoon Tea” (an interpretation of the ritual that began in the 1800s) in The Pump Room—the social heart of Bath for more than two centuries with famous patrons like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.
This morning we visit Windsor and the castle that has been "home" to English monarchs for almost 1,000 years. It is said to be the late Queen's favourite residence. We also pass by Runnymede - site of the signing of the Magna Carta, and stop at the R.A.F. Memorial, overlooking scenic countryside. This evening is our final theatre night. OCT departure follows the below. DAY 8: COVENT GARDEN / THEATRE. Our visit to Covent Garden today takes us to an area that through the years has evolved into one of the liveliest districts in London. Originally a vegetable garden for the monks of Westminster Abbey, today Covent Garden houses stylish shops, market stalls, cafés, bars, restaurants and even a “Canadian” pub close by along with all kinds of buskers (street entertainers). We’ll visit the “Actors Church”—so called as it contains memorials dedicated to many famous theatrical personalities: Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward, Vivien Leigh and more. It was also here that George Bernard Shaw set “Pygmalion”—the basis for the movie “My Fair Lady”, right under the Portico! This evening is our final theatre night!
Today we harken back to the days of the dramatic world of Elizabethan London with a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in Bankside – an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the tales and history of the 16th century theatre experience. Afterwards, it’s on to Covent Garden - an area that through the years has evolved into one of the liveliest districts in London. Originally a vegetable garden for the monks of Westminster Abbey, today Covent Garden houses stylish shops, market stalls, cafes, bars, restaurants, pubs, and all kinds of buskers (street entertainers). We will enjoy a “Behind the Scenes” tour of the nearby Royal Theatre, and the affectionately called “Actors’ Church” – depicting memorials dedicated to many famous theatrical personalities: Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward, Gracie Fields, Vivien Leigh, and many more. It was also here that George Bernard Shaw set “Pygmalion” - the basis for the movie “My Fair Lady” right under the Portico! Later this evening we will enjoy our Farewell to London dinner. OCT departure follows the below. DAY 9: AT LEISURE. A day of leisure to do your own thing in London. Prior to our Farewell Dinner this evening, we’ll step aboard the magnificent London Eye, which offers a truly captivating and unparalleled view of London—a perfect “Farewell” to the city!
It’s "Cheerio" as we fly home with Air Canada.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
.avif)