"There were so many! We'll enjoy a guided tour of the abbey, where England's kings and queens have been crowned and buried since 1066, and continue with a history-laced walking tour along Whitehall. For Bath, take a taxi to the hotel and then walk everywhere you want to see. . ", The tour was well organized and lead by a very knowledgeable guide, Jeanne, "No one "wow" momentmore a totality of finally seeing and experiencing a city so very important in the world and throughout history!". Are you on the 11:31 Eurostar or the 12:01 or the 12:25? Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you. The tour was well organized and while the pace was quick it never felt rushed. There was enough free time that we could also do our own thing, see a show etc. So knowledgeable, funny and helpful! Very good tour, but exhausting. The tour did an excellent job of that.". Beautifully maintained inside and out, so scenic and historic.". The people were great, the place was great, and our guide, Jeannie, was spectacular. "I've been to London before so my "wow" was probably Windsor Castle. I absolutely love the pubs. "One of my favorites was being introduced to areas I hadn't known about - East End, on the food tour, and Borough Market which I loved. On balance, the tour met my expectations for a Rick Steve's city tour: an excellent guide (Tom), excellent local guides, and a well thought out set of activities. From start to finish we were extremely pleased with our tour! Could walk over to it if you felt up to it. "The tower beefeaters presentation and Crown Jewels.". Mike, Emma, don't forget coasters, placemats, and key chains in the marketing campaign!!! For those not ready to return home yet, London is a great jumping off point to Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, and many other exciting destinations. We saw famous must-see landmarks, but also experienced things the average traveler's itinerary would not include. It was so much fun being in London during the Coronation. He made the culture and history come alive for us.". The British Museum was an amazing experience.". Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. I'd keep the palace, war rooms Big Ben, parliament, and Abbey together. 2pm - See Big Ben / Houses of Parliament (exterior only) With the tour, the Westminster Abbey was the best place visited.". The city was decorated and there was a celebratory atmosphere. "Westminster Abbey. Joe Darcy, our guide was outstanding! I was so disappointed because I thought we weren't going to the Churchill War Rooms. Then you'll be ready to explore the treasure-packed British Museum. "Again, I don't know where to start, everything on the tour was a "Wow" moment for us. France Itinerary: Where to Go in France by Rick Steves The remainder of the day is yours for poking around the quaint town of Windsor or for more sightseeing back in London. I'd love some advice on timing and what to combine. We enjoyed walking tours, seeing Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Windsor Castle, and many more sites! My greatest surprise was the enormity and detail of the Prince Albert Memorial.". Today we'll catch a train and head out of town to Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest castle residence in the world. Emma- thanks for the other store recommendation too. Half a block from the hotel. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your tour hotel in the Documents section of your tour account. It was an overall feeling that I had really experienced London and had soaked up a good deal of its culture and modern history. "I think the food tour of East London was probably our favorite event the guide was outstanding and the tour itself was very interesting and tasty. "I think Borough Market was something I will never forget and want to recommend to all my friends who travel to London.". Hello, My husband and I are taking an impromptu trip to Amsterdam for a long weekend in Feb (on an airline pass) but haven't made our itinerary yet! Any other places . Although I think you have alot crammed in, on second thought most is doable since some of your sites are what I call "walk bys' ,, you will walk by them or see them from outside. Wonderful time in London! Thanks for the replies! Day 1: Arrive in London, connect to Bath by train or bus (sleep in Bath) Day 2: Bath (sleep in Bath) Day 3: Pick up car, visit Avebury, Wells, Glastonbury (sleep in Bath) Day 4: South Wales: Cardiff, Tintern Abbey (sleep in Chipping Campden) Day 5: Explore the Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace (sleep in Chipping Campden) The changing of the guard and walking through the charming town.". After participating in the tour we were very glad that we did it. Well worth seeing. Our hotel the Washington Mayfair was perfect and the staff there were so attentive and professional. Our days in London were full and fun. Nothing will ever match that experience.". My mother and I will be traveling London June 6-10. Loved the food courts we visited and the eating tour of East London. Not into London eye (I get sick). They were exceeded by our dear guide. Stay all day. She is funny, sweet, and efficient!!!! 21 days: Slow down; Rick's Best Three-Week Ireland Trip (by Car) Spend your first three nights in Dublin, using buses and taxis, then pick up a car for the rest of this itinerary. Because we were there during the queen's funeral, we got to experience the event firsthand! Rick Steves tours are well organized and prepared to give us an exceptional vacation experience. Our guide Jeanie was a wealth of information and made sure we all were included. Emma, the reason why I was thinking to buy two separate tickets (airport to westminster; and travel card for 7 days) was because to take the advantage of 2 for 1 deals that come with 7 day travel card purchased at waterloo station. Saw so much but did have a ton of time to really explore too in depth. It brought to life London in a way that I had only read about in books. 4 Day London Itinerary Day 1: Belgravia, Mayfair, Westminster, & Embankment Day 2: City of London & Southwark Day 3: Notting Hill, Kensington, & Regent's Park "Discovering through the Spitalfield food tour and the Borough's Market that there really is a vibrant foodie scene in London. Train/underground/bus strikes, COVID restrictions and the associated logistical challenges were NO MATCH for our tour group!! The amount of walking was just right and the list of sites and dinners was great. Our guide Tom was informative, funny and showed so much care and consideration with the tour members. But since our Ceremony of the Keys isn't until late that evening, I'm afraid we are . "On Day 1 we were 24 strangers, sitting quietly waiting or Jeanie to begin the kick-off meeting and looking like a bunch of nervous grade schoolers sitting outside the Principal's office. Just the right amount of organized activities and time on our own. But I also loved the Churchill bunker and the Tower and St. Paul's and Westminster.". "We visited so many amazing places and saw so many treasures that I thought I would never get to see, but the most wow moment was having Steven as our tour guide. Our tour guide (Tom) was the best! He was outstanding. =Tod. Our guide Jeanie Carmichael was excellent, knowledgeable, and made the trip even better. My daughter and I are vegetarian and there was always a vegetarian selection available at each of our group mealsthat meant so much to me. Felt as if we visited the top stops in this great city. Lady's Itinerary for 3 Days in Bordeaux, France - A Lady in London They were week trips, so we managed to do a day trip on each but if I were you I would stay right there in London and soak it up. Our guide, Gillian, was fantastic! 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | CST# 2086743 | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/sunday-markets-in-london. We had an English tea which was really a treat and breakfast at our hotel was great. From historic streets to acclaimed restaurants and hip hotels, there's a lot to love here. Like all the RS tours we've been on, there was a good mix of daily activities. We have extra time Saturday and Sunday late afternoon / evenings. Very active tour, sometimes exhausting, but worth every minute. 3-Day London Itinerary - 72 hours in London - London City Break sleep overnight in Bath. Our tours are physically active! Changing the Guard at Horseguards Parade tends to be a much more intimate affair than at Buck House (the Palace) where you can get much closer, and no wrought iron fence in the way - and there are horses and shining breastplates, too. Disobey Rick Steves in Paris: 4 Day Offbeat Itinerary 3 Comments Dare to disobey the Rick Steves Paris guide with this itinerary for four days there. My WOW moments are the collective times our family shared, we will recollect them for years. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | CST# 2086743 | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. That's exactly what happened, and I felt safe and in good hands at the hotel and with our wonderful guide, Lady Chadwick! "I thoroughly enjoyed the vintage double decker tour that began the tour. I see that 7 days travel card zone 1-2 is 32.2 GBP (cheapest) but it won't cover the ride from Heathrow so I will have to purchase one ride ticket for that. Any time between April and December is a good time to visit London. 3 Days in London- need help with an itinerary Jump to bottom Posted by Laura (USA) on 02/21/13 08:45 AM We, my boyfriend and I, will be arriving in London at noon on day 1 and will be leaving at 1100 on day 4. We had the best time on the local East End food walk learning about the history and culture and the food stops were amazing!". Unless you mean the Mews with the cars, horses, and carriages? Because I was ill, I missed Westminster Abbey which I'm sure would have been 'it'.". "Walking into Westminster Abby just a few weeks after seeing the Coronation was very special. We are planning an Italy trip in 2024!". "Loved the Winston Churchill Museum and the walk in the financial district.". "Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls Cathedral, Windsor Castle". The guides were excellent. Either way, you absolutely need to be checked in 30 minutes prior to departure time or you won't go - I generally recommend an hour. We knew it was going to get interesting quickly since our itinerary had us scheduled at Westminister Abbey during the Queen's funeral. I hung close to our guide, who walked at my speed, and enjoyed the tour more when I was with her. The location was the best, situated close to all the sites. It's one thing if you're visiting places that you can't get to by train. Our tour guide was outstanding in her knowledge, story telling and sense of humor. "Hard to pick just one--Loved the entire tour: Churchill war rooms were outstanding. Considering our stay includes Sunday and my mother's age (70), I am trying to make 3 (or 3.5) days itinerary that includes Westminster Abbey, London Tower, British museum/library, National Gallery, London Tower, Buckingham Place, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, St Paul, etc. Haha, yes- afternoon tea at lunch? Day 1: 9:00 Tower of London (crown jewels first to beat the crowds, then Beefeater tour, then White Tower); 13:00 Munch a sandwich on the Thames while cruising from Tower to Westminster Bridge; 15:00 Tour Westminster Abbey (consider Evensong service at 17:00); 17:00 Follow the self-guided Westminster Walk. Once you understand that, the city is super easy to navigate. I don't think so. Tom was a fantastic guide, so knowledgable. "My favorite wow moment wasnt a single moment. "The Tower of London was a highlight -- so much history we've only read about. Routes to sites became familiar quickly. :o) God Save the Queen! This London travel guide will help you prioritize your time with top things to do and cool neighborhoods. Of course you miss being in THE place but many including me prefer it. There were days we walked 8 miles. You want to get over to Stratford (where you can see a memorial to scrap iron - what an icon for the Olympics!!) I agree with the pubs! What we are seeing would mean nothing if we didn't know the history. Our dinners with our group were delicious and fun. But we were able to see so many sites while still having time to do our own sightseeing several days. We arrive on a Wednesday night around 9PM and will be there for 4 days. Other than that, the overall tour was wow. Throughout this process our Guide was Exemplary, to say the least.". Buckingham Palace opens for state room tours in July so no worries in May; its not an option. Simply awesome. So much to see, so little time. However, being in London at the time of the passing of the Queen was historic. We were overwhelmed by the country's response, especially the sea of flowers in Green Park. Our guide Gillian did an amazing job getting us all where we needed to be, giving us the historic background that we needed, and helping us to appreciate each and every place we visited. Driving in and out of London is a nightmare. We saw more than we could on our own every day! Should I switch with any other London day? Great pub for food: Hereford Arms on Gloucester Road South Kensington, just south of the Gloucester Road tube station. Loved this week! It has a wonderful patio which overlooks the Thames and would be fun to hang out there in warmer weather. Larry depending on how far you wish to travel, http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/sunday-markets-in-london. 10am - British Museum Have a great trip! Ive been on a Rick Steves tour in the past and thought this one was very rigorous. "Our favorite stop was Westminster Abbey. Windsor and the Globe Tour are certainly at or near the top.". She was so informative and added a bit of humor that made for an enjoyable experience. "St. Paul's Cathedral was beautiful. 5pm - Freshen up at hotel and grab dinner We also liked our walking culinary tour in the East End. Our experience with the transportation options in the US is that they're far inferior to any we've encountered in Europe. A lot of walking; guide very helpful in teaching to use the subway & buses. We were able to see so much! If you'd rather save Dublin for your finale, when you're rested and ready to . The second "wow" moment, although brief, nevertheless qualified -- touring the British history section of the British Museum with a degreed British archaeologist. Tour allowed for a lot of free time to explore London independently if desired or with the tour group. Our guide, Tom, was wonderful and helped to create a memorable experience while managing our group with humor and intelligence. of a different generation and a different experience set. I very much liked having the history of sites explained to us as well as details I never knew about in London. Please critique my London itinerary. Tonight, we'll meet for our "last supper" and raise a toast to London and new friends. "There were so many "wow" moments! The tour was great, the guide was knowledgeable and helpful. Picking a restaurant and eating on our own was very nice too. ", The Tour itself was excellent. That was my "wow" moment: Rick Steves tours don't just show you around, they foster camaraderie, friendship, and memories that will last a lifetime. If you're near Victoria Station you might want to check out Cask in Pimlico. I could go on about the abbeys and cathedrals and the food we feasted on, but I've only scratched the surface. Enjoy. 5/27 - London Day 3 Imperial War Museum (London 2 hour bike tour) Train at 9pm to Gatwick She gave us interesting pertinent information without overwhelming us with facts. Our tour guide, Jeanie, was amazing! We'll meet at our hotel in central London at 3 p.m. to get acquainted. The tour is active: you have to be happy hopping on and off tube and 'grown up' trains, walking distances and sometimes early starts. Just enough activities and free time. Tate Modern and Victoria Albert are a plus. Travel Heathrow Connect to Paddington St. 9:00-10:00 5 min. Westminster Abbey can sell out pretty quickly. The hotel itself was a bit worn and tired looking though. Tower Bridge, you can see it from Tower of London grounds, Big Ben and Parliment,Kensington Palace, all those are easy walk bys to me. We were a family of 7, with high anticipation as this holiday was planned originally for spring 2020. Should I tour Buckingham Palace? The tour was fantastic and we loved every minute of it! I am already planning my next trip! That part was definitely out of my comfort zone. For pubs in the area you are staying in try www.fancyapint.com. "Windsor Castle was really beautiful and interesting. This was my second Rick Steves 7 day tour. Staying in the same hotel for all seven nights is a bonus as not having to pack and unpack is priceless. ", First of all, little did we know or expect to stay in such a wonderful setting: Mayfair right next to Green Park and Buckingham Palace! Literary fans make pilgrimages to Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare), Bath (Austen), and the Lake District (Wordsworth and Potter). Any thing else I can pack in? Pub near the Fitzroy is the Queens Larder. The tour was exceptional. A friend of ours and 6 of his fellow travelers with another tour company tested positive last week. Borough Market Ogle the crown jewels at the Tower of London, gaze up at mighty Big Ben, and see the Houses of Parliament in action. We visited Henry VIII's Hampton court instead of Windsor and it was remarkable. We've put together a recommended Dublin itinerary to help you get the most out of your 3 days in Dublin. Our hotel was fabulous: it was centrally located, which made it very easy to get around. That said, if this were my first time I'm pretty sure my "wow" would have been the Tower of London or Westminster Abby. Windsor is also a fun town to wander before or after going to the castle. History galore. I might use 2 for 1 deal for London Tower only or perhaps London Eye as well, though. That green girl sure can sing! you guys think that Westfield Shepherds Bush is busy? We had a wonderful time. First time taking a week long city tour and it was wonderful.
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