Itinerary for: Select London Week Thistle Marble Arch (S675A)
Day 1 - ARRIVE LONDON.
After checking into the tour hotel, the rest of the day is yours to relax, shop or explore. In the evening you are invited to an informative meeting and Welcome Drink with your Insight local host.
Hotel: Thistle Marble Arch
Days 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 - LONDON AT LEISURE.
You have five full days to get acquainted with London, Europe's most visited city, so steeped in tradition and history, an immense cosmopolitan metropolis housing over 7.5 million people. Its central area brimming with beautiful parks, exquisite shops, and the world's best museums and art galleries.
On Monday, your included half day London sightseeing tour begins with a panoramic drive around Parliament Square, to see Westminster Abbey, where Kings, Queens, Statesmen, poets and writers are buried. See Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Then continue past Downing Street to Trafalgar Square, London's Theatre District and Piccadilly Circus. Stop at Buckingham Palace to watch the colourful Changing of the Guard ceremony. Accompanied by a military band, a detachment of the Queen's Foot Guard march to Buckingham Palace in their bearskins and red tunics. Your tour finishes at Trafalgar Square at around 12.30pm.
Now we leave the rest to you. With such a rich choice of attractions on offer, there is always plenty to do, and everybody has their own personal preference on what they should see!
Why not devote part of the day to the treasures of the British Museum, or the Old Masters in the National Gallery? Or travel into the City, financial centre of Britain, to visit St Paul's Cathedral - the baroque masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren? And be sure to visit the awesome Tower of London, long the dreaded prison of the monarchs but now a fascinating museum housing the Crown Jewels!
You could go on a day trip to Hampton Court, with its gardens, maze and haunted gallery or catch the 'tube' to Kew Gardens.
If shopping's your thing then Harrods and Selfridges are a must. You could stroll down the King's Road in fashionable Chelsea, or spend an afternoon browsing through the market stalls at Camden Lock.
- If all this sounds a little overwhwelming then we have the answer. Additional London sightseeing, half day trips to Royal Windsor Castle or a full day excursion to places like Stonehenge and Bath are offered by Insight's sister company, Evan Evans Tours. See page 17 for details of what's on offer.
Once night falls in London, enjoy a myriad of entertainment options - perhaps go late-night shopping; consider taking in a show in the heart of London's famous West End; dine at some of the best restaurants in the world; or simply try the capital's famous pubs and taverns. (B)
Day 7 - LONDON.
Sadly your tour comes to an end after breakfast. (B)