Mysterious Stonehenge, the beautiful Georgian city of Bath with its remarkable Roman baths, and Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon – begin your visit to England by experiencing the beauty of the English countryside and some of its most admired regional sights.

 

Depart for your evening flight across the Atlantic.

 

After a late morning arrival in the UK relax as we transfer to Bath in western England. En-route our first sightseeing stop will be made at Stonehenge, an ancient stone circle and one of the most recognizable images of the English landscape.

Ø    Later this afternoon we will check-in at Pratt’s Hotel, an atmospheric historic hotel in the very heart of beautiful Bath.

Ø    Dinner this evening will be taken in our hotel.

 

City tour this morning will introduce you to Bath, named after the Roman baths, constructed almost 2,000 years ago when the Romans ruled England as part of their extensive empire.

Ø    After visiting the baths enjoy a free afternoon, perhaps to stroll alongside the River Avon or to view the historic dresses of the renowned Costume Museum.

Ø    After dinner a ghost walk will reveal a darker side of Bath…

 

Today we travel to Stratford-upon-Avon, home of England’s greatest playwright William Shakespeare. Visits will be made to both Shakespeare’s birthplace and to his mother, Anne Hathaway’s, Cottage.

Ø    This evening you will have the opportunity to experience a performance of one of Shakespeare’s plays at the Royal Shakespeare Company playhouse.

 

En-route to London today we will visit Windsor Castle, originally constructed by William the Conqueror in the 11^th Century and now one of Queen Elizabeth’s homes.

 

Day 5 becomes Day 2 of London City Stay.

 

All sightseeing activities and transport are included as described, as well as breakfast and dinner on all days and lunch on Day 5/2.

 

 

 

 

 

The Tower of London, Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace & the Changing of the Guard – the sights and sounds of Europe’s greatest city await.

Experience London in the company of your Lynchburg-based tour leader, a real-life Londoner, on our pre-Christmas sightseeing and shopping break.

 

 

Depart for your evening flight across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom.

 

A late morning landing will bring you to London, a city founded almost 2,000 years ago by the conquering Roman army.

Ø    After a light traditional English lunch stretch your legs a little as we take a short walking tour of London’s center. Then enjoy free time to explore or shop on your own in the lively Covent Garden area.

Ø    Later this afternoon check-in to our conveniently-located hotel where dinner will be taken.

 

This morning a comprehensive city tour of London will include visits to St. Paul’s Cathedral, site of the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and to Buckingham Palace to witness the world-famous Changing of the Guard.

Ø    This afternoon is free, perhaps for you to explore the historic Tower of London, where one of Henry VIII’s wives and many others met their grisly ends. Or maybe you’ll choose to marvel at the treasures housed in the British Museum, including Egyptian mummies and the Rosetta Stone.

Ø    After dinner travel in that most British form of transport, a black London taxi, to a West End theater performance, a highlight of any stay in London!

 

Today choose between exploring London further or a day of ‘guided’ shopping!

Ø    Your tour leader will escort you around some of the city’s most renowned stores and shopping areas including the legendary Harrods in the heart of Knightsbridge, the Queen’s official grocer Fortnum & Mason’s on Piccadilly, London’s largest toy store Hamley’s on elegant Regent Street.

Ø    Alternatively, explore on your own – your tour leader will help you plan your day according to your personal interests.

Ø    Following dinner tonight view London from the top of the London Eye, the world’s largest ferris wheel, built to mark the millennium and one of London’s newest landmarks.

 

Transfer to Heathrow Airport for your lunchtime flight to the USA, arriving home later the same day, or…

choose to lengthen your London City Break by exploring the English countryside or visiting the ‘City of Lights’ – Paris!

 

 

All activities and transport are included as described, as well as breakfast and dinner on all days, and lunch on Day 2.

 

 

The Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa & the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, a Seine River Cruise – these and many other sights and sounds will reveal why Paris is known as Europe’s most romantic city.

 

 

Depart for your overnight flight across the Atlantic to France.

 

Late morning arrival in Paris, the ‘City of Lights’,

Ø    founded 2,000 years ago on the Isle de la Cite by the Parisi tribe.

Ø    After a traditional baguette lunch, a short walking tour will introduce you to the heart of Paris.

Ø    Later this afternoon check-in to our central hotel for a 3 night stay.

                 

Ø    Highlights of our Paris city tour will include a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral, one of Europe’s greatest buildings and legendary home of Quasimodo.

Ø    Your afternoon will be free perhaps to visit the wonderful collection of 19^th century art in the Musee D’Orsay, or to pay your respects at the tombs of Napoleon or Jim Morrison!

Ø    After an early dinner we’ll pay an evening visit to the Louvre Museum to avoid the crowds as we gaze in awe at the Mona Lisa and others of the thousands of exhibits.

 

Ø    Today enjoy an entirely free day to explore Paris on your own.

Ø    Your tour leader will help you plan your day according to your interests, whether you want to shop in the city’s many boutiques, stroll beside the Seine, or sip coffee outside a sidewalk café.

Ø    This evening our Paris By Night excursion reveals city at night, cruising along the River Seine to view Paris’s famous lights before taking the elevator to the very top of the Eiffel Tower for the best view in town!

 

This morning transfer to Charles De Gaulle Airport for your lunchtime flight to the USA, arriving home later the same day, or…

extend your ‘City of Lights’ Paris City Break by exploring the beauties of the Loire Valley or by visiting London, England’s historic capital.

 

All sightseeing activities and transport are included as described, as well as breakfast and dinner on all days and lunch on day 2.

 

 

 

 

Versailles, Chartres Cathedral, Amboise Sunday market, and the chateaux of the Loire – enjoy a few relaxed days away from the bustle of big city Paris.

 

Day 5 of Paris City Break becomes Day 1 of Chateaux of the Loire.

Ø    Enjoy free time this morning before our afternoon excursion beneath the city! Paris is home to many miles of underground passages, the catacombs, originally dug as quarries.

Ø    After dinner, this evening will be spent exploring the charming area of Montmartre, the famous artist’s quarter of northern Paris.

 

Today we will depart Paris, heading south-west towards the Loire Valley.

Ø    Our first stop will be to visit the magnificent palace of Versailles, and its magnificent gardens.

Ø    After lunch we travel on to Chartres, to see its famous gothic cathedral which dominates the town.

Ø    Continue on to the provincial town of Amboise for a 2 night stay.

                 

Ø    Today is market day in Amboise, so we will have the chance to experience a provincial French town at its best.

Ø    We’ll also explore Amboise’s history and its connections to the kings of France and Leonardo Da Vinci, visiting the former royal retreat of Amboise Chateau.

 

Ø    Leaving Amboise, our destination this morning is Chenonceaux, home of perhaps the most beautiful of all the chateaux of the Loire.

Ø    After visiting the chateau and taking a picnic lunch we will continue on to Chambord, the grandest of the chateaux.

Ø    Later we return to the Paris area for our final night in France.

 

Transfer to Charles De Gaulle Airport for your lunchtime flight to the USA, arriving home later the same day.

 

All sightseeing activities and transport are included as described,

as well as breakfast and dinner on all days.