Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to London | Half Day London City Tour
Stop At: Richmond-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames, Greater London, England
London is a city of culture, education, fashion, art, science, music, sport, technology, romance, trade and much more, and like New York, never sleeps. Get ready to enjoy an exciting tour packed full of fascinating things to see.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met at the international arrival hall from where you will be transferred from the airport to Richmond where your English host families await. There is no better way of experiencing the local culture by staying in English houses with English host families. Your English host families live in Richmond in the same area, within walking distance, meaning if you come as a group you will be able to stay together in this lovely town in London.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Leicester Square, London England
Leicester Square is the entertainment epicentre of London with many famous shows and theatres, restaurants and bars. It was designed in 1670 and is named after the contemporary Leicester House, named after Robert Sidney, the 2nd Earl of Leicester. Originally, the square was a gentrified residential area, with tenants including Frederick, Prince of Wales and artists William Hogarth and Joshua Reynolds. In the late 18th century, when Leicester House was demolished and retail changes took place, it became a centre for entertainment. Today, Leicester Square is the heart of London with its restaurants, cafes, cinemas, casinos, fast food stores, hotels, international brands with the street performers and tourist crowds. No tour is completed in London without visiting Leicester Square. Leicester Square has been a popular venue for almost 400 years. Well, the vicinity welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors every week! It’s a meeting point of all Londoners and London lovers. The city's top shows and plays and over 52 star-studded red-carpet film premiers each year can widely be enjoyed by all visitors.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Piccadilly Circus, London W1J 9HS England
Piccadilly Circus is one of the main attractions of London with its huge television screens and the statue of Eros. At the junction of Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue lies a trapezoidal area near London's West End known to the world as Piccadilly Circus. It's an odd name since there's no circus there, but even odder is that 'circus' usually denotes around city area where several streets meet in a circle, after the Roman plan. But that eccentricity fits Piccadilly Circus, since this area of the great British capital attracts the most diverse set of people in an already diverse town.
The first half of the Piccadilly Circus name comes from a 17th-century frilly collar called a “picadil”. The name is a perfect description, for here are the frills of London. Here are pubs, monuments, shops and nearby theatre in the West End. Piccadilly Circus, akin to New York's Times Square, it's filled with traffic, crowds and (at night) neon lights befitting its role as a major tourist attraction.
Known already by 1743 by its current name, the junction was created in 1819 and its history shows. There's the bronze Shaftesbury memorial fountain, erected in 1893, topped by a statue of Anteros, the Angel of Christian Charity. (The Evening Standard uses a graphic of the nude statue on its masthead.) Technologically innovative at the time, it was the first sculpture to be cast in aluminium. In the late 1980s, the fountain was moved from the centre to its present Piccadilly Circus location at the south-west corner of the intersection. Not far from the centre, is the off-centre (the literal translation of the Greek word 'eccentric') Reduced Shakespeare Company, who have performed at the Criterion Theater since 1995.
Their speciality is the rapid, highly improvised, presentation of the complete works of Shakespeare in 97 minutes. (Well, something that draws inspiration from 37 of the plays, anyway.) The 600-seat theatre regularly sells out, so plan ahead. The surrealistic show fits in well with the ambience of Piccadilly Circus, but for those interested in more traditional forms of theatre the London West End shows are only a few minutes’ walk. Here you can see the best of British theatre - shows which often are later imported to Broadway.
On the north-eastern side of Piccadilly Circus, is the London Pavilion. First erected in 1859 as a music hall, Shaftesbury Avenue bisected the site in 1885. A new building for the purpose was built and by 1923 was even lit with electric billboards. Rebuilt in 1986, the original 1885 facade was preserved, and the area converted to a shopping arcade. Later it was connected to the neighbouring Trocadero Centre. There are also pubs galore at Piccadilly Circus, but be selective. Some are nothing but tourists, some are very tourist unfriendly. While you're doing touristy things, don't miss the newly installed, giant, curved TV screen at Piccadilly Circus. Not even Times Square can compete with this one.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Carnaby Street, Soho, London W1F England
Carnaby Street comprises 14 streets of high and designer fashion, restaurants and bars. Welcome to the heart and soul of the fashion industry in the city. Carnaby Street is a pedestrian shopping street in Soho City and its colourful history stemmed from when the street was built in 1682, taking its name from Karnaby House to the first men's boutique, being the epicentre of the Swinging 60s, home to the punks of the 80s and up to today. It is an iconic London area. Between Oxford and Regent Streets, fashion and lifestyle retailers are just located here, including a large quantity of independent fashion shops. In the heart of London's shopping scene, Carnaby Street brings you over 100 foreign and British fashion brands, independent boutiques, one-off concepts, trendy beauty emporiums, grooming salons and custom jewellery specialists together. From brand-new flagships and UK firsts to presenting one-off and unique designers, Carnaby's 14 streets are lined up with women's wear, men's clothing, cosmetics and accessories like no other. Not just for shopping of course, more than 60 independent restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs selling cheap à la carte and late-night drinks, even yummy breakfasts bedazzle the tourists and Londoners alike. Now it’s your turn to explore this lovely district with us.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Covent Garden, Covent Garden, London, England
Covent Garden is an eclectic mix of history, culture, shopping, fashion and bars and restaurants. Speaking of gardens, be sure not to overlook Covent Garden. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a very popular shopping and tourist site. Not really gardens at all, the area is a spectacular array of theatres, shops (many people visit London just for the shopping) and more where the street performers compete with restaurants, bars, clubs and shops for tourists' attention. Covent Garden is also the prime destination of theatregoers and patrons of the Royal Opera House by night. It’s situated right in the heart of London’s Broadway West End. The area wasn’t used to be a fancy part of the city, however, series of developments after 70’s made this district a prime destination for tourists. Indeed, Covent Garden is one of the vibrant places of interest in London. It plays a great role in today’s cultural life with its theatres, restaurants, cafes, street performers, stalls, markets and many attractions. It’s a must-see place in London.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Richmond-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames, Greater London, England
After this half-day tour, you will return to your host family for dinner, following which, you may like to visit a local pub for an evening of traditional English social culture.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: You will be staying in our English host family community in Richmond for the utmost and real British culture
Day 2: Full Day London City Tour - Sightseeing Bus Tour - London Eye - Buckingham Palace
Pass By: Green Park, Piccadilly, London W1J 9EJ England
After having a very nice English breakfast, you will start your day at Richmond Train Station. Here is today’s list of places of interest in London. Today you will explore the most important highlights of London with open deck sightseeing tour buses. Your journey starts in Green Park which is one of the Royal Parks of London. It connects with St James Park just across the road with Buckingham Palace in between. This nice park has an ornate fence with some paths that crisscross the park, and, in the summer, visitors can rent deck chairs to soak up the sun. Green Park is a good respite from the heavy London traffic as it is a lovely piece of greenery in the middle of the city of London and is a good place to take a stroll. The Park has a great connection to the London transportation system through a designated tube station as well as plenty of bus stations including sightseeing tour bus companies. The Ritz is one of the iconic hotels in London very close to the park. Other significant historical buildings close to Green Park are St James's Palace, Clarence House and Spencer House.
Pass By: Hyde Park, London W2 2UH England
Hyde Park, perhaps most famous for the Speaker's Corner, where citizens stand atop a soapbox and shout their views to the crowd, but there's much more to see and do in Hyde Park than listen to political opinions. The land forming Hyde Park was first acquired by Henry VIII from the monks of Westminster Abbey in 1536. While Henry used Hyde Park for deer hunting, the horseback riding today is strictly not for sport. Casual and relaxing, the Hyde Park trails are abundant, but riders must bring their own horses. Visitors can often see the Royal Horse Artillery riding on horseback through Hyde Park early in the morning. Hyde Park was first made accessible to the public by King James I in the early 17th century, the park is split by the Serpentine, a river dammed to make an artificial lake. The idea was originated by the wife of King George II, an avid gardener. Boat rides on the Hyde Park lake remain a popular activity.
Pass By: Marble Arch, Park Lane, London W1H 7EJ England
Marble Arch used to be an entry gate of Buckingham Palace and today it’s the entry point of world’s famous shopping district of London, that’s Oxford Street as well as Hyde Park Speaker’s corner. Marble Arch also gave its name to the district where it was moved. This lovely masterpiece’s history is charming. Famous British architect John Nash (1752-1835) was also Prince Regent's (later known as King George IV) favourite architect. Under George's auspices, Nash designed and planned some important landmarks and masterpieces including Regent's Park, Regent Street, Carlton House Terrace, much of Buckingham Palace and lovely Marble Arch in London. By 1830 Nash's work with several statues and panels were completed in Buckingham Palace but suddenly King George IV died. Unfortunately, Nash was sacked by the Prime Minister of Wellington shortly after the King's death for the excessive expenditure of the project, so instead, architect Edward Blore had the task of completing the work economically and practically. When Blore found himself in possession of a jumbled collection of statues and panels, he was trying to obtain drawings by Nash to explain how his puzzle was meant to fit in but Nash was not happy about his dismissal. Despite its glory and triumph, this masterpiece contains a notable mistake. Our APTG blue badge guides will tell you the rest story during the tour.
Pass By: Oxford Street, London W1W 8LG England
Oxford Street is one of London’s artillery stretching between Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch. It’s also Europe’s busiest shopping street hosting around half a million visitors daily. Today, there are more than 300 shops, cafes, restaurants, language schools, department stores and many more. It’s the heart of daily business, fun, leisure and of course shopping in London. Like everywhere in London, Oxford Street has its history. The street route used to be part of the Via Trinobantina, a Roman route that passes through London between Hampshire and Essex. It was known as the Tyburn Road during the Middle Ages when Tyburn Gallows was also known for its public hangings. It became known as Oxford Road and then Oxford Street in the 18th century and began to change from residential to commercial and retail use by the late 19th century, attracting street traders, confidence tricksters and prostitution. The first department stores in the UK opened in the early 20th century, including Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners and HMV. Unlike nearby shopping streets such as Bond Street, it has retained an element of downmarket trading alongside more prestigious retail stores. The street suffered heavy bombing during World War II, and several longstanding stores including John Lewis were completely destroyed and rebuilt from scratch. Oxford Street, with several chain stores on the street and several buildings listed, remains in demand as a retail place amid the competition of other shopping malls, including Westfield Stratford City and the Brent Cross Shopping Centre. Because shopping is simply a tradition on this street and especially tourists love this experience during their stay in London.
Pass By: Regent Street, London W1, London England
Regent Street in London's West End is a major shopping street. It was laid out by architect John Nash and James Burton and named after George, Prince Regent later George IV, the uncle of Queen Victoria. George IV was a pleasure King. Therefore, you can see his grace and signature almost everywhere in London. We are talking about the King who also remodelled Windsor Castle. By the time you walk on the street, you will deeply learn the history of the British monarchs and their lifestyles in our charming city. Regent Street runs from Waterloo Place in St James's at the southern end, through Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus, to All Souls Church. The street is famous for its flagship international retail stores and brands, including Liberty, Hamleys, Jaeger, Apple Store, Microsoft, Bose, Burberrys, Anthropologie, Hugo Boss, Breitling, Calvin Klein, Coach, Desigual, Gant, Guess, H&M, Hollister, Kiko, Kipling, Lacoste, Longchamp, Levi’s, Mango, Michael Kors, Nike Town, The North Face, Omega, Polo Ralph Loren, Reiss, Superdry, Ted Baker, Tezenis, Tommy Hilfiger, Topman, Topshop, Tumi, Uniqlo, Yoshino, Zara and many more. Regent Street was one of London's first planned developments. After the Great Fire in London in 1666, Sir Christopher Wren and John Evelyn drew up plans for a reconstruction of the city according to the classical formal model. The ordinary configuration of London's roads replaced the mediaeval layout and houses were reconstructed on the old road network after a lack of development. The Royal Polytechnic Institution, now Westminster University, has been based on Regent Street since 1838.
Pass By: Piccadilly Circus, London W1J 9HS England
At the junction of Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue lies a trapezoidal area near London's West End known to the world as Piccadilly Circus. It's an odd name since there's no circus there, but even odder is that 'circus' usually denotes around city area where several streets meet in a circle, after the Roman plan. But that eccentricity fits Piccadilly Circus, since this area of the great British capital attracts the most diverse set of people in an already diverse town.
The first half of the Piccadilly Circus name comes from a 17th-century frilly collar called a “picadil”. The name is a perfect description, for here are the frills of London. Here are pubs, monuments, shops and nearby theatre in the West End. Piccadilly Circus, akin to New York's Times Square, it's filled with traffic, crowds and (at night) neon lights befitting its role as a major tourist attraction.
Known already by 1743 by its current name, the junction was created in 1819 and its history shows. There's the bronze Shaftesbury memorial fountain, erected in 1893, topped by a statue of Anteros, the Angel of Christian Charity. (The Evening Standard uses a graphic of the nude statue on its masthead.) Technologically innovative at the time, it was the first sculpture to be cast in aluminium. In the late 1980s, the fountain was moved from the centre to its present Piccadilly Circus location at the south-west corner of the intersection. Not far from the centre, is the off-centre (the literal translation of the Greek word 'eccentric') Reduced Shakespeare Company, who have performed at the Criterion Theater since 1995.
Their speciality is the rapid, highly improvised, presentation of the complete works of Shakespeare in 97 minutes. (Well, something that draws inspiration from 37 of the plays, anyway.) The 600-seat theatre regularly sells out, so plan ahead. The surrealistic show fits in well with the ambience of Piccadilly Circus, but for those interested in more traditional forms of theatre the London West End shows are only a few minutes’ walk. Here you can see the best of British theatre - shows which often are later imported to Broadway.
On the north-eastern side of Piccadilly Circus, is the London Pavilion. First erected in 1859 as a music hall, Shaftesbury Avenue bisected the site in 1885. A new building for the purpose was built and by 1923 was even lit with electric billboards. Rebuilt in 1986, the original 1885 facade was preserved, and the area converted to a shopping arcade. Later it was connected to the neighbouring Trocadero Centre. There are also pubs galore at Piccadilly Circus, but be selective. Some are nothing but tourists, some are very tourist unfriendly. While you're doing touristy things, don't miss the newly installed, giant, curved TV screen at Piccadilly Circus. Not even Times Square can compete with this one.
Pass By: Trafalgar Square, Centre of the City, London SW1A England
Trafalgar Square is a very touristic public square with some of London's most popular attractions, from galleries and historic buildings to monuments and statues, you can be a witness of deep-seated British history. Square also holds a series of events all year round. Listen to the stories of the kings such as Charles I, Charles IV, Admiral Horatio Nelson, General Sir Charles James Napier and Major General Sir Henry Havelock who shaped the history of this nation. Tourope UK's APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides will ready to take you an immaculate journey through the timeline of our nation.
Pass By: Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall, Horse Guards Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX England
Explore the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660. Lifeguards have stood guard at Horse Guards and ready to offer you a true British ceremony. Although Changing The Queen's Lifeguard is not as well-known as Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace smaller crowds and no railings between you and the men and horses taking part make it ideal for those with younger children and those looking for some amazing pictures. The ceremony lasts about half an hour, and the mounted sentries change every hour, or half hour in very cold weather during the day until 16:00 when a dismounting ceremony takes place. The Queen's Lifeguard is normally provided by men of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment which consists of a Squadron of The Life Guards, who wear red tunics and white plumed helmets, and a Squadron of The Blues and Royals with blue tunics and red plumed helmets. Our APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides will be ready to tell you amazing stories about this ceremony. A simply not to be missed attraction in the heart of the city.
Pass By: Downing Street, London SW1A 2AL England
Being one of the most important political buildings in the world, the United Kingdom's “White House”, Number 10 continuously hosts the British prime ministers since 1735. The main decisions affecting Britain's destiny in the last 275 years have seriously been taken behind its iconic black door. Today it's not possible to enter the street as a tourist but knowing the idea that an actual prime minister lives and works in the street is exhilarating.
Pass By: Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean's Yard Broad Sanctuary, London SW1P 3PA England
Westminster Abbey is a Church, burial ground, coronation site and much more and continues to attract visitors over 900 years after its founding. In many respects the architecture is common. There's the traditional cross-shaped floor plan with a nave, north and south transepts and several round side areas but both its execution and use raise The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster (the official name) to among the highest examples of church construction. Here at Westminster Abbey lie buried kings and poets, scientists and philosophers who have themselves raised humankind to the highest levels. Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell (discoverer of electromagnetic theory, which later leads to radio and TV), Chaucer and Kipling, Dr Samuel Johnson (creator of the first English dictionary) and many other justly famous names are interred here.
Pass By: Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, London SW1A 0AA England
The Houses of Parliament, known also as the Palace of Westminster is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) conduct their sittings. They lie on the north bank of the River Thames in the London borough of the City of Westminster, close by other government buildings in Whitehall. The oldest part of the building is still in existence, Westminster Hall, which dates from 1097. The palace originally served as a royal residence, but no monarch has lived in it since the 16th century. Most of the present Houses of Parliament structure dates from the 19th century when the Palace was rebuilt after it was almost entirely destroyed by a fire in 1834. The architects responsible for rebuilding the Palace was Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin, and the building is an example of the Gothic revival.
Pass By: Westminster Bridge, London England
Westminster Bridge is not an ordinary bridge to span the river Thames. It has a very tumultuous history in London. The bridge's colour is green and the story of the bridge is colourful. We will tell you about the history of the bridge after Lady Boudicca's role in London's 2000-year-old history. Oh before we leave we will walk along the bridge and take pictures of London Eye, Royal Festival Hall and the River Thames.
Stop At: London Eye, Westminster Bridge Road Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB England
Before getting on, you will see a sponsored 4D show which will give you an insight into the London Eye and what to expect. Did you know that the London Eye can carry 800 people in each rotation, which is comparable to 11 London red double-decker buses at the same time? Your full rotation will take 30 minutes, during which you will observe London’s best landmarks from the sky. Your picture will be taken in the capsule and you will be able to take your own pictures of the landmarks of the city. If you want to purchase some souvenirs, you will see a small shop where you can purchase some little things including the picture of you taken inside the capsule.
Our Millennium Wheel is the first-built and largest observation wheel in the world (a type of evolution on the Ferris wheel) and has been since its opening at the end of 1999. The London Eye stands 135 metres (443 feet) high on the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in Lambeth, London, England, between Westminster and Hungerford Bridges. It is adjacent to London's County Hall and stands opposite the offices of the Ministry of Defence situated in Westminster which it overlooks to the west. The London Eye was designed by architects David Marks, Julia Barfield, Malcolm Cook, Mark Sparrow hawk, Steven Chilton, and Nic Bailey. The London Eye's wheel carries 32 sealed and air-conditioned passenger capsules attached to its external circumference. Rotating at a rate of 0.26 metres per second so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes to complete, the London Eye wheel does not usually stop to take on passengers (the rotation rate is so slow that passengers can easily walk) except for the wheelchair users. What a lovely panoramic sightseeing attraction in the city. Our APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides will gladly tell you the history of the landmarks that you will see from the sky.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pass By: Covent Garden, Covent Garden, London, England
You will then get back on the bus to continue your open-air sightseeing bus tour. Speaking of gardens, be sure not to overlook Covent Garden. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a very popular shopping and tourist site. Not really gardens at all, the area is a spectacular array of theatres, shops (many people visit London just for the shopping) and more where the street performers compete with restaurants, bars, clubs and shops for tourists' attention. Covent Garden is also the prime destination of theatregoers and patrons of the Royal Opera House by night. It’s situated right in the heart of London’s Broadway West End. The area wasn’t used to be a fancy part of the city, however, series of developments after 70’s made this district a prime destination for tourists. Indeed, Covent Garden is one of the vibrant places of interest in London. It plays a great role in today’s cultural life with its theatres, restaurants, cafes, street performers, stalls, markets and many attractions. It’s a must-see place in London.
Pass By: St. Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD England
St Paul's Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building dates from the 17th century and is generally reckoned to be London's fourth St Paul’s Cathedral, although the number is higher if every major medieval reconstruction is counted as a new cathedral. The first cathedral was built of wood by the Saxons. It burned down in AD 675 and was rebuilt, again in wood, ten years later. After this version was sacked by the Vikings in 962, the "second" St Paul’s was built, this time mainly in stone. The predecessor to Wren's cathedral, the third St Paul’s (known as Old St Paul’s), was begun by the Normans after the late Saxon cathedral suffered in a fire of 1087. Work took over two hundred years, and a great deal was lost in a fire in 1136. Nonetheless, the roof was once more built of wood, which was ultimately to doom the building. The church was "completed" in 1240 but a change of heart soon led to the commencement of an enlargement programme, which was not completed until 1314. The cathedral was however consecrated in 1300. It was the third-longest church in Europe at 596 feet (181 metres) and boasted one of Europe's tallest spires at some 489 feet (149 metres). England's first classical architect Sir Inigo Jones added the cathedral's new west front in the 1630s, but "Old St Paul’s" was finally ruined in the Great Fire of London of 1666. Building work on the latest St Paul’s Cathedral commenced in June 1675 to a design by a great English scientist and architect of the 17th century Christopher Wren, and St Paul’s Cathedral was completed on October 20 1708. The story starts from this point on and you can't wait to hear the rest of it from our qualified blue badge tourist guides.
Pass By: The Monument to the Great Fire of London, Monument St., London EC3R 8AH England
The Monument to the Great Fire of London, more commonly known simply as the Monument, is a Doric column situated near the northern end of London Bridge. Commemorating the Great Fire of London, it stands at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill, 202 feet (62 m) in height and 202 feet west of the spot in Pudding Lane where the Great Fire started on 2 September 1666. Constructed between 1671 and 1677, it was built on the site of St. Margaret's, Fish Street, the first church to be destroyed by the Great Fire. The Monument comprises a fluted Doric column built of Portland stone topped with a gilded urn of fire. It was designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. Its height marks its distance from the site of the shop of Thomas Farriner (or Farynor), the king's baker, where the blaze began. Hear the story of how London missed its opportunity to be a highly planned city of all times.
Pass By: London Bridge, London SE1 9DD England
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, between the City of London and Southwark. It is between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge; it also forms the western end of the Pool of London. The original London Bridge made this one of the most famous bridge emplacements in the world. It was the only bridge over the Thames in London until Westminster Bridge was opened in 1750. On the south side of London Bridge is Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge station. On the north side is the Monument to the Great Fire of London and Monument tube station.
A bridge has existed at or near the present site for nearly 2000 years. The first bridge across the Thames in the London area was built by the Romans on the present site around 46 CE and was made of wood. The location was most likely chosen as a bridgeable spot which still had deepwater access to the sea. The bridge fell into disrepair after the Romans left, but at some point either it was repaired or a new timber replacement constructed, probably more than once. In 1013, the bridge was burned down by King Ethelred in a bid to divide the invading forces of the Dane Svein Haraldsson.
This episode reputedly inspired the well-known nursery rhyme London Bridge is falling down. The rebuilt London Bridge was destroyed by a storm in 1091 and yet again, this time by fire, in 1136. The current London Bridge was constructed by contractors John Mowlem from 1967 to 1972 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 17, 1973. London Bridge is a fairly dull edifice comprising three spans of pre-stressed concrete cantilevers, paid for in part by the sale of the earlier Rennie bridge. It is 928 feet (283 metres) long. The cost of £4m was met entirely by the City of London's Bridge House Estates. The current bridge was built in the same location as Rennie's bridge, which was carefully demolished piece by piece as the new bridge was built, so the bridge would remain in use throughout.
In 1984 the British warship HMS Jupiter collided with London Bridge causing significant damage to both ship and bridge. On Remembrance Day 2004, various London bridges were furnished with red lighting as part of a night-time flight along the river by wartime aircraft. The red lighting on London Bridge considerably improved its drab appearance, so it has been left on the bridge (but not the other bridges) and lights it at night.
Pass By: HMS Belfast, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2JH England
HMS Belfast is the last remaining vessel of her type and one of the largest and most powerful light cruisers ever built. At 80 years old HMS Belfast is now a popular museum and tourist attraction in London. Built by Messrs Harland & Wolff in 1936, HMS Belfast was launched by Anne Chamberlain, wife of the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, on St Patrick's Day in 1938. This Warship was designed for the protection of trade and offensive action from Germany. Two months at sea and then, unfortunately, hit a magnetic mine and this masterpiece of Windsorian engineering was damaged so severely she was out of action for three years. On re-joining the home fleet in 1942 she was still the largest and most powerful cruiser in the Royal Navy and most importantly she was equipped with the most advanced radar systems. HMS Belfast was immediately called into action and played a crucial role in protecting the arctic convoys, Russia’s supply route throughout the war. Most notably in her role during the Battle of North Cape which saw the sinking of the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst and the loss of all but 36 of her 1,963 crew. HMS Belfast remained protecting the arctic convoys until 1944 when she spent five weeks supporting the D-Day landings and reportedly fired one of the first shots on D-Day itself. After the Second World War HMS Belfast played an active role in the Korean War from 1950-1952 working with other Allied Forces to support the retreating American and South Korean troops. HMS Belfast was brought to London opening to the public on Trafalgar Day, 21 October 1971. Her final years were spent performing peace-keeping duties until she was retired from service in 1963. Explore and visit this sleeping beauty by our APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides today.
Pass By: Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP England
Tower Bridge is probably city's most distinctive symbol for today. Bridge shows a lot to its medieval predecessor London Bridge with its starlings and elaborate twin towers that give the bridge its name but it's not just a homage to the past, hidden inside that medieval looking exterior there's a rather wonderful piece of Victorian engineering and in its day it was the biggest and most sophisticated lifting bridge in the world. Unlike London Bridge, the genius of the design is that the bridge can act as a gateway swinging open to allow tall ships to pass through. Plenty of things we will tell you about this masterpiece in London, just follow us!
Pass By: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB England
Few prisons can claim to be as popular as the Tower of London, an attraction - unpleasant for some - for over 900 years. Its twenty towers are filled with an ancient tradition of royal blood, armor and jewels and the history to match. The Tower of London central structure began as a fort - used by the original builder William the Conqueror who completed the first tower around 1100 AD. At its completion it was the tallest building in London. Henry III had it whitewashed in the 13th century and the name, White Tower, has stuck. Later it evolved into a prison, used by Henry VII (and many others). Still later - and continuing to this day - it has acted as a repository for the extensive collection of crown jewels. Henry VII, nearly always short of money, had few jewels to store. But the stone complex, near the Tower Bridge alongside the River Thames, has also been used at various times to house the Royal Mint, the Public Records, the Royal Menagerie (later to form the starting point of the London Zoo) and an observatory (built in 1675). Listen to the rest of the story of the Tower of London from us today.
Stop At: Buckingham Palace, Spur Road, London SW1A 1AA England
Buckingham Palace is still actively used as both residence and offices, over 50,000 guests and invited diplomats to visit per year who interact with over 400 individuals for whom this is 'the office'. Nevertheless, several parts of Buckingham Palace are open to the public although we are here just for sightseeing today but you can listen to the story of Royal’s Residence that goes back to the 1820s.
Buckingham Palace is still the official residence of Britain's monarchy, as it has been since Queen Victoria's designation in 1837. Much of the Buckingham Palace was constructed as early as 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham House (as it was then known) was purchased in 1762 by George III, who used it as a private residence. Over the following 75 years the house was expanded to form three wings around a central courtyard. When Queen Victoria discovered Buckingham Palace lacked several 'necessary' rooms - such as a formal ballroom, a nursery, visitor's bedrooms and others - major additions were undertaken, including adding an entire wing to form a quadrangle. Buckingham Palace is the home of the Changing Guard Ceremony in London. The Changing of the Guard has been a tradition for hundreds of years whereby the Household Regiment, the Queen’s Guards at Buckingham Palace, change shift in a fascinating show of pomp and circumstance.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: St. James's Park, Horse Guards Road The Storeyard, London SW1A 2BJ England
You will then proceed to St. James’s Park which is a small central park of London when compared with New York’s Central Park. It’s not just a park as it has an interesting history which you will hear, and The Blue Bridge in the park offers you a great view of Buckingham Palace as well as government buildings and Horse Guards.
Imagine a park that is surrounded by world-famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Whitehall right in the heart of the city. It is arguably the city's best park in every season. St James’s Park is one of London’s eight Royal Parks and covers an area of nearly 57 acres. Summer, fall, winter and spring, St James's Park gives you great joy with the outstanding beauty of its landscape with animals, nature and the vegetation you can admire. The park’s famous flower beds at the front of Buckingham Palace are a familiar backdrop to pageants including Trooping the Colour, as well as state visits and other ceremonial occasions. Can you believe this? Pelicans have lived in St James’s Park for nearly 400 years. They were originally presented as a gift from the Russian Ambassador to King Charles II. If we go back to 1500's, Tudor times we should mention our big King Henry VIII who was also known for his love of hunting; he regularly used Regent's Park as a hunting ground. St James's Park wasn't quite big enough for his needs, so he put it to use as an area for breeding young deer — once they were old enough, they were shipped off to Hyde Park and Regent's Park to face their fate. Listen to other stories from our tourist guides.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall, Horse Guards Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX England
You will see the Horse Guard inspection ceremony, which was a punishment ceremony 100 years ago but is now only ceremonial, at 4 pm and the history will be told to you by your knowledgeable guide.
Explore the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660. Lifeguards have stood guard at Horse Guards and ready to offer you a true British ceremony. Although Changing The Queen's Lifeguard is not as well-known as Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace smaller crowds and no railings between you and the men and horses taking part make it ideal for those with younger children and those looking for some amazing pictures. The ceremony lasts about half an hour, and the mounted sentries change every hour, or half hour in very cold weather during the day until 16:00 when a dismounting ceremony takes place. The Queen's Lifeguard is normally provided by men of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment which consists of a Squadron of The Life Guards, who wear red tunics and white plumed helmets, and a Squadron of The Blues and Royals with blue tunics and red plumed helmets. Our APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides will be ready to tell you amazing stories about this ceremony. A simply not to be missed attraction in the heart of the city.
Next, you will go to Downing Street Number 10, the official residence of all British Prime Ministers where you can take photos of the iconic door, complete with a policeman.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: West End, London England
You can either return to your homes for dinner or turn this day to an amazing London culture experience with one of the West End musicals tonight. And please remember, this tour can be customized by considering the group’s interest. It’s totally up to you.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Your accommodation will be provided by our English host families in Richmond for tonight. What a lovely experience!
Day 3: Full Day London City Tour | Tower of London - Greenwich
Stop At: Embankment Pier, Victoria Embankment, WC2N 6NU, London WC2N 6PA, UK
Today’s tour will be via Thames River Cruise. Hop on a boat as the “the boat on the river” will glide through the Thames while passing by London’s most iconic landmarks, with many places of interest being seen on the way to Greenwich. You will probably notice most of the places of interest are from yesterday’s sightseeing tour in London; however, this time you will observe from the river and the good news is there will be no barrier between London’s landmarks and your camera. Just enjoy your shots.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB England
As soon as you enter the Tower of London, your guide will take you through the bedroom of the Medieval King; you will admire the world-famous Crown Jewels. Meet the Jean Warders and stand where once known heads have rolled in a bloody story. Enjoy the White Tower Kings' line with its fine arms from the Royal Armour Gallery collection and extraordinary wooden horses from the 17th century. You will be fascinated with the historical journey through the timeline of the Tower of London.
Few prisons can claim to be as popular as the Tower of London, an attraction - unpleasant for some - for over 900 years. Its twenty towers are filled with an ancient tradition of royal blood, armour and jewels and the history to match. The Tower of London central structure began as a fort - used by the original builder William the Conqueror who completed the first tower around 1100 AD. At its completion, it was the tallest building in London. Henry III had it whitewashed in the 13th century and the name, White Tower, has stuck. Later it evolved into a prison, used by Henry VII (and many others). Still later - and continuing to this day - it has acted as a repository for the extensive collection of crown jewels. Henry VII, nearly always short of money, had few jewels to store. But the stone complex, near the Tower Bridge alongside the River Thames, has also been used at various times to house the Royal Mint, the Public Records, the Royal Menagerie (later to form the starting point of the London Zoo) and an observatory (built-in 1675). Listen to the rest of the story of the Tower of London from us today.
Back to the pier, you will join another river cruise and will reach Greenwich along the River Thames.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cutty Sark, King William Walk Greenwich, London SE10 9HT England
After the Tower of London, you will go back to St Katharine’s Dock Pier where you catch the next boat that will take you to Greenwich again along the River Thames. Don’t miss the skyline of Docklands dominated by the skyscrapers of financial centres & banks while passing along the River Thames. Upon arrival at Greenwich, you will see the Cutty Sark which is a British clipper ship, built on the River Clyde in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line and now moored in dry dock. She was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest ones, coming at the end of a long period of design development, which halted as the popularity of sailing ships gave way to steam propulsion.
This masterpiece of naval engineering, Cutty Sark, represents the pinnacle of clipper ship design and was one of the fastest ships of its day. Aged 14 years, Cutty Sark started recording remarkably fast passage times, under her Master Richard Woodget and became the dominant ship in bringing wool from Australia to England. Cutty Sark was built for China tea trade but would carry a vast array of cargoes during its career. Cutty Sark, the Ferrari of the seas carried almost 10 million pounds of tea between 1870 and 1877. The opening of the Suez Canal marked the end for sailing ships in the tea trade and so Cutty Sark had to find new employ. Delve into the fascinating history of Cutty Sark, now an award-winning visitor attraction in Greenwich with our APTG qualified blue badge tourist guides. We celebrated Cutty Sark's 150th anniversary in 2019.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Royal Observatory Greenwich, Blackheath Avenue, London SE10 8EJ England
Your next stop is Royal Observatory, and on the way up the hill, you will pass through the lovely Greenwich Park where you can also get some rest and chill out.
Welcome to Space and time’s place in the world, The Royal Observatory of Greenwich, where the Greenwich Meridian Line is located. Take a selfie on the Meridian Line with a foot to the West Hemisphere and a foot to the East Hemisphere. Discover one of London's most cherished views through Greenwich Royal Park and the Thames River. Learn the findings of leading scientists and inventors based or associated with the Royal Observatory from your guide today.
Greenwich Mean Time was at one time based on the time observations made at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, before being superseded by Coordinated Universal Time. Whether it's observing the stars, standing astride the Prime Meridian or marvelling at John Harrison's timepieces, the Royal Observatory Greenwich provides a treasure trove of fascinating information. Marvel at the history of space, time and navigation, stand on the world-famous Meridian Line with one foot in the west and one foot in the east at the Royal Observatory. Enjoy one of the most-loved views of London at the home of Greenwich Mean Time. Hear about the story of Docklands and explore how great scientists first mapped the seas and the stars in Charles II's magnificent Christopher Wren-designed Octagon Room - dating from 1675. Marvel at the Great Equatorial Telescope, the UK's largest historic telescope which gave astronomers new views of the universe over 100 years ago. While Greenwich no longer hosts a working astronomical observatory, a ball still drops daily to mark the exact moment of 1 p.m. (13:00), and there is a good museum of astronomical and navigational tools.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Queen's House, Romney Road, London SE10 9NF England
Queens House is the former residence of the consort of King James I/VI, Anne of Denmark, the mother of Charles I who lost his head during the Civil War. The Stuarts are such an important dynasty in British history. Our APTG qualified guides will share all important information about the kings and queens of England here in this house. Therefore, Queens House is one of the most important buildings in British architectural history. We can clearly see the trace of Italian architecture touches in this building and the reason for this is because the architect Inigo Jones built this masterpiece a year after his return from the grand tour in Italy in 1614. Construction of the house began in 1616 but work on the house stopped in April 1618 when Anne the consort of James I/VI became ill and died the next year. Work restarted this time when the house was given to the queen consort Henrietta Maria in 1629 by King Charles I, and the house was structurally complete by 1635 finally. The Queen’s House is considered remarkable for its break with the traditional, red-brick Tudor style of building, and its elegant proportions and the high quality of its interiors. Queen Henrietta Maria turned the building into her personal ‘house of delight’, filling the rooms with the most cutting-edge art and design of the day. Henrietta Maria’s white and gold colours, fleur-de-lis symbol and initials are present everywhere in the house’s original features. Therefore, we can see some significant connections between this house and Windsor Castle. The Tulip Stairs and lantern are the most iconic photo spots being the very first centrally unsupported helical stairs constructed in England. The stairs are supported by a cantilever from the walls with each tread resting on the one below. Queens House was only used for 7 years until the Civil War began in 1642 which meant that Henrietta Maria had little time to enjoy it – she went into exile, her husband was executed and his property seized by the state. Following the restoration, in 1660 Henrietta Maria returned to England. She lived at the Queen’s House from 1662 and was the last queen to do so. During the restoration period, Charles II, who began a new palace in 1664 (design by Denham and Webb, now incorporated as part of the Old Royal Naval College), redesigned and replanted the Park, and in 1675-76 founded and built the Royal Observatory (designed by Sir Christopher Wren). The Royal Observatory is Britain's oldest purpose-built scientific structure in London. James II, (as Duke of York and Lord Admiral to 1673) was often at Greenwich with his brother Charles. According to Samuel Pepys, it was James who proposed the idea of creating a Royal Naval Hospital. This was then established at Greenwich by his daughter, Mary II who commissioned Wren to design the Royal Hospital for Seamen, now the Old Royal Naval College, in 1692-3. The work began in 1696 under her widower husband William III, who supported it in her memory. Queen Mary insisted that the view from the Queen's House to the River Thames should be left clean and not blocked by the new buildings. This view continues to the present day. The sister of Mary II, Queen Anne and Prince George of Denmark continued to patronise the project (of which George was Grand Committee chairman from the 1690s to his death in 1708). In 1714 the Georgian era started with George I, who landed at Greenwich from Hanover on his accession. In 1735 George II granted the Hospital the forfeited Jacobite Earl of Derwent water’s estates (c. 80,000 acres mainly in Northumberland). This allowed completion of the Hospital by 1751. In 1805-06 George III, the grandfather of our Queen Victoria granted the Queen's House to the Royal Naval Asylum, an orphanage school under Royal patronage. In 1821-25 this amalgamated with the pre-existing Greenwich Hospital School. It was extended with the buildings which are now the National Maritime Museum and was renamed the Royal Hospital School by Queen Victoria in 1892. Queen Victoria’s uncle George IV donated nearly 40 paintings, including JMW Turner's only royal commission in 1824. This created the Naval Gallery of Greenwich Hospital in the Painted Hall, Britain's first public national historical art collection. We all know that George IV is a pleasure and art king of our nation. These now form the Greenwich Hospital Collection in the National Maritime Museum. William IV the son of George III and the uncle of Queen Victoria, our 'Sailor King' made further donations to the Gallery. Queen Adelaide continued to be a regular and popular visitor in his memory. Queen Victoria only occasionally visited Greenwich. When Nelson's Trafalgar coat appeared on the market in 1845 Prince Albert bought it for the Naval Gallery. He paid £150 for it. George V and Queen Mary both privately supported creation of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. Queen Mary presented many items to it, both from her own Nelson collection, and other royal items. George VI the father of our Queen Elizabeth II, laid the foundation stone of the new Royal Hospital School at Holbrook, Suffolk. As Duke of York, in 1937, as his first major public act as King, just three weeks before his Coronation - George VI opened the National Maritime Museum. In 1948, whilst still princess, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh made their first joint visit to Greenwich. This was also the year that the Duke of Edinburgh became a trustee of the National Maritime Museum. Both have opened or visited countless projects at Royal Museums Greenwich, including the opening of the Cutty Sark in 1957.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: 5B Greenwich Market Greenwich, London SE10 9HZ England
In Greenwich Market, you will find plenty of souvenirs, art stalls, retro shops and much more. You will love this neighbourhood.
Since the middle ages, all stalls have constantly been trading in the historic district of Greenwich where you can find a wide range of goods including street foods, books, vinyl, CD’s, DVD’s, vintage clothes, beads, crocheted and knitted items, jewellery, antiquity, fruits, vegetables, olives, freshly prepared products such as bread, cakes, cookies, scones, healthy foods, meat products, fish and dairy products, any type of second-hand goods including bikes, garden plans, flowers, electronic gadgets, mobile phone accessories, typical English art and craft stands, hand made things, yarns, embellishments, totes, bags, suitcases, simply beyond your imagination. The Greenwich Market also offers to flourish local street food, arts and crafts market on scheduled days selling organic produce from local farmers and work from some of the region's most talented artists, craftsmen, potters, sculptors and photographers. To feel the soul of this vibrant district, historic Greenwich Market would the best hit in this historic naval town. For art & craft lovers, do visit market on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends; for antique and collectable buffs don't forget to pop in on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You will love this lovely market we bet.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Palace of Placentia, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich SE10 9NN, UK
A description of the Palace of Placentia in one sentence would be “The Buckingham Palace of the Tudors”. This lovely English Royal Palace, built by Humphrey, the Duke of Gloucester, in 1443, was sadly demolished by Charles II in 1660 during the restoration period in order to construct the new palace which was never constructed till 40 years later. Instead, today's Royal Naval College was built in the foundation of the site. Palace of Placentia has a very deep background in English history. Humphrey, The Duke of Gloucester was the regent of Henry VI. He built this palace under the name of Bella Court but later on, things changed and Humphrey lost his life in prison. It was popularly believed that he was murdered by Henry VI. This is depicted in William Shakespeare’s plays in the Globe Theatre too. Margaret Anjou, the consort of Henry VI took over Bella Court and renamed as Palace of Placentia. Henry VI’s nephew Henry VII, the very first Tudor, who is also the father of our infamous King Henry VIII rebuilt this palace between 1498 and 1504. This is where Henry VIII was born in 1491 and the palace remained the principal royal palace for the next two centuries. Therefore, we may call this palace the Buckingham Palace of the Tudors if you like. Henry VIII’s very first child Mary Tudor was born in this palace in 1516 (Our Bloody Mary and we will tell you the story) from his first marriage with Catherine of Aragon. From his second marriage with Anne Boleyn, our Virgin Queen Elizabeth I was born in Palace of Placentia in 1533. After the loss of his third wife Jane Seymour who was the most popular amongst his 6 wives, he married with wife number four Anne of Cleves in this palace but we all know that marriage was a total disaster due to the blind date. Although they hated each other both Queens lived in the Palace of Placentia. During the reign of James I/VI and his son Charles I, the Queens House was erected to the south area of the complex. Our APTG guides have many stories ready to share with you today.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Greenwich Foot Tunnel, Cutty Sark Gardens Greenwich, London SE10 9HT England
Greenwich Tunnel is one of the marvels of the late Victorian period in England. The project began in June 1899 and the tunnel opened on August 4, 1902. The tunnel actually replaced an expensive and often unreliable ferry service enabling staff living south of the Thames to access their workplaces in the London docks and shipyards in or around Isle of Dogs. It’s the only pedestrian tunnel beneath the River Thames that allows walkers and cyclists. The tunnel was restored after destruction during World War II. The entrance shafts at both ends are under glazed domes. Built-in 1904, lifts were upgraded in 1992 and again in 2012, and helical staircases allow pedestrians to enter this sloping, tiled tunnel. This cast-iron tunnel is 1,215 feet (370.2 m) wide, 50 feet (15.2 m) deep and about 9 feet (2.74 m) in diameter. The cast-iron rings are coated with some 200,000 white glazed tiles. Bombs weakened the northern end during World War II, and repairs required thick steel and concrete inner lining that significantly reduces diameter for a short span. The North Tower has 87 steps, the South Tower has 100 steps. Greenwich Foot Tunnel is actually one of the best examples to understand London’s subway system because cast iron tunnelling is the main principle of building the tunnels in the late Victorian eras.
Stop At: Richmond-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames, Greater London, England
Time to return to Richmond for yummy homemade dinners at your English homes. After dinner, you may enjoy the rest of the night in one of the traditional English pubs in Richmond Riverside.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: You will be staying in our English host family community in Richmond for the utmost and real British culture experience.
Day 4: Full Day London City Tour - The British Museum and St Paul's Cathedral
Stop At: The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG England
Today’s tour will begin with the British Museum, the biggest and most important museum of human history and culture.
The British Museum is one of the oldest museums in the world that was established in 1753. The British Museum was based largely on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. We are talking about 40,000 printed books, 7,000 manuscripts, extensive natural history specimens, prints by Albrecht Dürer and antiquities from Rome, Greece, Egypt, the Middle and the Far East and the Americas. Our 3 hours will be dedicated to this museum for today.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Stop At: St. Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD England
The British Royal Family hold most important marriages, funerals, and other religious and celebratory functions in Westminster Abbey, but Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer were married in St. Paul’s Cathedral. The church had been "finished" in 1240. However, an extension program was soon begun, which was only finished in 1314. In 1300 the Cathedral was consecrated. At 181 meters (1596 feet) it was the third largest church in Europe and had 489 feet (149 meters) of one of the largest spires in Europe. The construction of the latest St. Paul Cathedral was started by Christopher Wren in June 1675 and the St. Paul Cathedral was completed by a great English scientist and Architect of the XVII Century on 20 October 1708. The new West Front of the Cathedral was added by England's first classic architect Sir Inigo Jones, but the Great Fire of London of 1666 finally destroyed " Old St Paul's'’ . Today you will explore this masterpiece and pay an interior visit.
St Paul's Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building dates from the 17th century and is generally reckoned to be London's fourth St Pauls Cathedral, although the number is higher if every major medieval reconstruction is counted as a new cathedral. The first cathedral was built by the Saxons in wood. It burned down in AD 675 and was rebuilt, again in wood, ten years later. After this version was sacked by the Vikings in 962, the "second" St Pauls was built, this time mainly in stone. The predecessor to Wren's cathedral, The third St Pauls (known as Old St Pauls), was begun by the Normans after the late Saxon cathedral suffered in a fire of 1087. Work took over two hundred years, and a great deal was lost in a fire in 1136. Nonetheless, the roof was once more built of wood, which was ultimately to doom the building. The church was "completed" in 1240 but a change of heart soon led to the commencement of an enlargement programme, which was not completed until 1314. The cathedral was however consecrated in 1300. It was the third-longest church in Europe at 596 feet (181 metres) and boasted one of Europe's tallest spires at some 489 feet (149 metres). England's first classical architect Sir Inigo Jones added the cathedral's new west front in the 1630s, but "Old St Pauls" was finally ruined in the Great Fire of London of 1666. Building work on the latest St Pauls Cathedral commenced in June 1675 to a design by a great English scientist and architect of the 17th century Christopher Wren, and St Pauls Cathedral was completed on October 20 1708. The story starts from this point on and you can't wait to hear the rest of it from our qualified blue badge tourist guides.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD England
Following this wonderfully historical building, you will take a short bus ride to the beautiful Covent Garden. Spending some quality time in Covent Garden is priceless. London’s theatreland is solely pedestrianised. You can sit and admire the street talents. Mostly then singing music, even opera bearing the soul of Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Some do magic; some do comedy: bustling cafes and gourmet shops from Italian ice cream to the signature British tea. Wander in Apple and Jubilee Markets to check the stalls for handmade ornaments, London souvenirs and vintage goods to be purchased. See how friendly and welcoming people are. For those who would like to visit the London Transport Museum, you can take a journey of London’s transportation saga from the past to the present. Explore the art underground, don’t miss this lively and lovely exhibition.
Speaking of gardens, be sure not to overlook Covent Garden. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a very popular shopping and tourist site. Not really gardens at all, the area is a spectacular array of theatres, shops (many people visit London just for the shopping) and more where the street performers compete with restaurants, bars, clubs and shops for tourists' attention. Covent Garden is also the prime destination of theatregoers and patrons of the Royal Opera House by night. It’s situated right in the heart of London’s Broadway West End. The area wasn’t used to be a fancy part of the city, however, a series of developments after 70’s made this district a prime destination for tourists. Indeed, Covent Garden is one of the vibrant places of interest in London. It plays a great role in today’s cultural life with its theatres, restaurants, cafes, street performers, stalls, markets and many attractions. It’s a must-see place in London.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: West End Theatre District, London England
Now that you are right in the middle of Theatreland, why don’t you add one of the famous West End musicals to your programme? There are lots of shows and musicals ongoing in Covent Garden. Turn your visit into the perfect one. Enjoy your musical experience in the heart of the city.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: You will be staying in our English host family community in Richmond for the utmost and real British culture experience.
Day 5: Full Day London City Tour | Madame Tussauds - Regents Canal - Camden Town
Stop At: Madame Tussauds London, Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LR England
After breakfast, your agenda is full of other important landmarks of London, beginning with the impressive Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.
Madame Tussaud learnt her extraordinary skill of wax modelling by creating death masks of the guillotine victims in France from the 18th and 19th centuries. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were among her ' clients.' In the modern museum, this blend of accurate and macabre art can be seen but with a much stronger sense of fun!. Therefore, the museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions not just in London, but in almost every large city of the world. Madame Tussaud’s attracts more than two million visits every year. From the Hulk to Brad Pitt, from Jack the Ripper to Princess Diana or Winston Churchill, everyone wants to take a photo with them. Just search and find your favourite film, sport, music star or politician in the museum. Don’t miss the Marvel’s London Adventure 4D IMAX movie experience (Wear your 3D glasses and sit upright & go) and also the Star Wars gallery. The characters you love including 3PO and R2 will be just next to you. You will spend approximately 90 to 100 minutes in the museum.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Regent's Canal, 42 Blomfield Road, London W9 2PF England
After a quick lunch, you will get on a boat that will take you to beautiful Camden Town. Boating in the Regents Canal has been a British tradition since 1951. The one-way journey takes about 45 minutes. Live comments by a professional guide will be given during the trip from Little Venice to Camden Town, which will tell you about the history of the canal from 1800 up to the present day. What could be a better way to reach beautiful Camden Town on a good day?
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Camden Town, London NW1 8AH England
Camden Town warmly welcomes its guests from all around the world to enjoy country punk, funk, retro, live music, alternative music, unusual and beautiful souvenir stalls and local jazz cafés. Here you can find a huge street filled with funky shops. You can also take beautiful pictures as many as you like on the Camden Canal. One of the highlights of this tour is the international food market which is supplied by local food dealers. Just dig in and enjoy the gastronomic experience. Don't miss Cyberdog in a clubbing neon lights environment, Cyberdog offers rave and cyber- club fashion wear goods..
Camden Town where you will fall in love with the dynamics of this lovely town. This city is just a cultural sanctuary for teens, tourists and punks. Live music in alternative and old-school clubs and major stars at the Jazz Cafe and the Roundhouse is part of the flourishing nightlife scene. During the day, cafés bustle, with hundreds and hundreds of stalls on the market with souvenirs you will be able to buy. At international food stalls, you will also admire the street food selection or you can experience shopping in a disco environment under neon lights with dancers, then in the Stables area, don't miss Cyberdog. Here you can also join Canal Boat Tour for an Italian home away from home experience right in the heart of the city.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Richmond-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames, Greater London, England
After some time for shopping, you will be back in Richmond, where your host families will serve a nice English dinner. This is what you need for today after a long day, right? The rest of the night is for either visiting Richmond Riverside or stay home at your own discretion.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: You will be staying in our English host family community in Richmond for the utmost and real British culture
Day 6: Full Day London City Tour | Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - Tate Modern - The Shard
Stop At: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT England
Today, your tour will take you to two very British attractions, one being cultural and the other being gastronomical. The cultural visit begins with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
If you love literature, William Shakespeare must be your idol. Here in Shakespeare Globe Theatre, you will see, feel, explore and follow in the footsteps of William Shakespeare. A fascinating tour of the iconic Globe Theatre will take you through with the expert guides to bring space to life with colourful stories on the world of 1599, the process of reconstruction in the 90s and how' Wood O' is currently a theatrical space of imagination and experiment. The Bankside Globe first opened in the summer of 1599 and was probably renowned for being the new building by Julius Caesar and Henry V. It was built using recycled theatre bodies in Shoreditch, the first playhouse in Shakespeare. It was probably a new building that became renowned. Did you know? In just two weeks, the Globe Theatre regularly featured up to ten plays. Special effects such as acrobatics, fireworks and even real cannon firing were often included in the plays. The Globe has a special license to have it anyway, despite the fact that its roof of the original stalk has been burning down and that it has been banned in London since the 1666 Great Fire of London. You will learn a lot today.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL England
Since the tour will be finalized towards noon, it is almost lunchtime. Do you know that we are just in the proximity of London’s historic food market? This is the famous Borough Market in London and although it is known as London’s oldest fruit and veg market, the food choices are outstanding. You won’t be able to resist the smell from freshly prepared food that is served here.
Welcome to one of the oldest markets in the world. Borough Market is a prime destination for food lovers, and it has been in continuous operation since 1014 near London Bridge. It has a great historic connection to London’s only bridge in Roman, Saxon and Medieval times. Borough Market offers pretty much any type of food you can imagine. Food lovers can just lose themselves in different foods from all over the world. From French cheeses, olives and bread to traditional English pies, Spanish paella, French confit duck, Asian curries it perfectly reflects the melting pot identity of the city. The Borough Market’s stallholders are also the producers. The farmer who reared the animal, the fisherman who caught the fish, the baker who baked the bread and the cookie, Borough market simply carries the soul of London. Therefore, Borough Market is a perfect place to eat and sample any type of food you like, especially traditional English Sunday roast. It’s the national identity and finger-licking good. Yes, forget about the chic knives and forks and dig in with both hands. As Tourope UK Ltd, we are pretty sure that you will visit more than once, and you will never get tired of it. You will just need to keep coming back. Borough Market is a place where food is talked about almost as enthusiastically as it is consumed. See, smell, sample and get the taste! But make sure that you visit with an empty stomach. Then it would be a feast for your eyes, your tongue as well as your tummy. It’s the centre of the world. Don’t miss it.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tate Modern, 53 Bankside, London SE1 9TG England
After your very authentic lunch, you will proceed to Tate Modern, home to contemporary and international art. Here, innovative commissions, pioneering works, international expositions and inspiring events can be seen. You will all listen to artists, share ideas and find new connections. The displays of Tate's collection are impressive. The topics are organized and include iconic works such as the Weeping Woman of Pablo Picasso, the Seagram Murals of Mark Rothko, and Nataraja of Bridget Riley are all displayed in order. Here you will also find the most recent photographic art and performance. Also, listen to the story of the massive engineering work of how a power station can be converted into a modern space for fine art performance and film venue. In the Natalie Bell building, you will commence with Start Display gallery, Artist and Society gallery, In the Studio, Materials and Objects as well as Media Networks galleries. The next building is Blavatnik Building showing how art from 1960 to the present was active featuring the Tanks, Between Objects and Architecture, Performer and Participant, Living Cities and Jenny Holzer in Artist Rooms. You will also have the chance to join one of the lately performing exhibitions in Turbine Hall.
Without a trip to Tate Modern, a visit to London surely is not complete. Tate Modern is a National Gallery for International Modern Art featuring masterpieces by Henri Matisse, Salvador Dalí, Magritte, Mirò, Louise Bourgeois, Yayoi Kusama, Cornelia Parke, Mark Rothko and many more. Built-in 2000 from a disused power plant and extended in 2016 with a newer Blavatnik building, Tate Modern is Britain's national museum of modern and contemporary art from around the globe, and the world’s most visited contemporary art gallery. Housed in the former Bankside Power Station on the banks of the Thames, the awe-inspiring Turbine Hall is the dramatic setting for new art commissions. The collection is free to visit and the most important, our APTG Blue Badge art professional guides promise a unique way for our guests to find out more about the art on display in this greatest works of art shrine.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: The Shard, 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG, UK
Before your night activity in Bankside District, you most probably will ask to be taken back to Borough Market for dinner. This is an assumption based on our previous experiences. However, as tonight is the last night for everyone before you leave London, you will first head to London's stylish roof, The Shard. Designed by an Italian architect, Renzo Piano, this extraordinary 95-story London Skyscraper is a new building in the city. Then, as you are already in the city, tonight's supper won't be served. You can instead enjoy extensive international food choices that Borough Market offers here in Southwark, London.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: You will be staying in our English host family community in Richmond for the utmost and real British culture experience
Day 7: Kingston Upon Thames | Transferring to the Heathrow Airport
Stop At: Kingston upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, England
Today is the last day in London and you will travel to the Royal Borough of Kingston, which is only 25 minutes away. Kingston Upon Thames is the oldest Royal District of London, and it was first recorded in 838. This town offers you great options. If you like shopping, be ready to get lost in hundreds of shops in the town, if you like to chill out and wish to enjoy the beauty of River Thames, then enjoy your coffee in stylish cafes while watching the beautiful swans.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: London Heathrow Airport T2 and T3, Longford, Hounslow TW6 1SD, UK
Make the most of your time in London as you will then be transferred to the airport for your flight home. We do hope you enjoyed your stay in London and next time we would like to offer other tours either in London or out of the city.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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No accommodation included on this day.