วันพุธที่ 17 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2553

Private Tour: London Walking Tour


Private Tour: London Walking Tour,

Summary
Your tour starts from Westminster Abbey, perhaps the most beautiful early Gothic building in Great Britain and still used for daily worship and royal functions. The Abbey was a royal mausoleum for many centuries and from 1066 when William I was crowned in the Abbey. The Abbey was rebuilt in 1220 in the then new Gothic style and the Henry VII Chapel (1503-19) is one of the most beautiful examples of the perpendicular Gothic.
Walk down Whitehall towards the Banqueting House. This was built in 1619-22 by Inigo Jones for James I Stuart in Palladian style. His son Charles 1st continued this richly decorated Royal Palace, an extravaganza largely used for masques, plays, balls and other ceremonies for the Queen and King. Inside its impressive hall is a ceiling decorated by Rubens in 1629 celebrating the triumph of James I.Enter Trafalgar Square, then cross to the National Gallery. With Nelson's Column in the center, you can see through the Admiralty Arch, the Mall which leads to Buckingham Palace. The National Gallery opened in 1838 to house one of Europe's greatest collections of Old Master's paintings. Italian Renaissance, Flemish, Dutch, Spanish, French, English and German works from their great artists are displayed. View art works by Jan Van Eyck's famous "Arnolfini Wedding", Piero della Francesca's magnificent "The Baptism of Christ", Botticelli's sensuous "Mars and Venus", Leonardo's "Virgin of the Rocks", Ruben's breathtaking "Chapeaux de Paille", Rembrandt's moving last self portrait and the great French Impressionists collection with Renoir, Monet, Pissarro and Cezanne.This in-depth private tour is hosted by an English-speaking guide specializing in art history. Please list any special interests you have (art, architecture, history, culture) at time of booking to alert our guide, so that he or she can better prepare for your private tour.

Thames River Cruise, Tower of London and City of London Tour


Thames River Cruise, Tower of London and City of London Tour.

Summary
See the best of London in an afternoon, with a visit to the Tower, a City tour including St. Paul's Cathedral and a cruise on the River Thames.
London was built along the shores of the Thames 2,000 years ago, so taking a river cruise is one of the best ways to experience the city. You'll have stunning views of the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the South Bank Arts Complex and, of course, London's famous bridges.Then it's on to the Tower of London, the ancient fortress steeped in centuries of murder and treason, guarded by jet-black ravens. The splendidly dressed Beefeaters will tell you about the Tower's history, including tragic tales of royals and nobles who met their end within its walls. You'll also see the fabulous Crown Jewels, including the 6,000-year-old Koh-I-Noor diamond and impressive coronation regalia.You'll then continue by coach to the City of London, that famous square mile where brash new architecture towers above buildings dating back to medieval times. The Romans founded Londinium here 2,000 years ago, and the city's square mile of narrow streets follows the cramped medieval street plan.You'll see the glorious dome of St. Paul's Cathedral watching over the hustle and bustle of city merchants, the elegant Mansion House, home to the Lord Mayor of London, and the nearby Bank of England, known as the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street, at the heart of the City.This tour includes a guided tour of Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral. Crowned by the magnificent dome that continues to dominate the London skyline, the cathedral was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666. In recent years it has seen the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer and, most recently, the thanksgiving services for both the Golden Jubilee and 80th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

London Morning Tour including Changing of the Guard


London Morning Tour including Changing of the Guard.

Summary
Visiting London on a budget? See London's West End highlights on this morning tour - and save money by choosing your own lunch, giving you the freedom to work to your own budget. This tour is a combination of coach travel and walking tours and highlights include visiting Westminster Abbey and viewing the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
Your morning tour of London begins with a game of eye-spy as you pass James Bond's famous MI6 building before traveling on to Lambeth Palace and Westminster Bridge with its fabulous view of the Thames and London Eye. Next stop is Parliament Square for a guided walking tour to see the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Note, exterior visits only. You will also have a optional tour of St Paul's Cathedral (additional cost).
You'll then travel in air-conditioned style along Whitehall to set eyes on Downing Street (home of the British Prime Minister) and Trafalgar Square before another walking tour shows you the Mall, Admiralty Arch, St. James's Park, Clarence House (home of Prince Charles) and St. James's Palace.
At Buckingham Palace you will witness the famous Changing of the Guard (occasionally there may not be a Changing of the Guard, when you will visit Horse Guards Parade instead).
Lastly, you'll take a drive along Piccadilly past Green Park and the Ritz to Trafalgar Square, where the tour ends. You have the option of spending the afternoon how you please or enjoying lunch and taking a private tour of the vaults of rock memorabilia.
Hotel pickup is available, please click on 'View Map' below for full list of hotels included
Special Offer - Price displayed currently includes a discount of 10% off the regular retail price - BOOK NOW!

London Thames River Lunch Cruise


London Thames River Lunch Cruise.

Summary
Escape London's hustle and bustle, and combine lunch with a sightseeing cruise on the River Thames. You'll cruise in style and enjoy a three-course lunch, freshly prepared onboard by a talented team of chefs
Eelax and enjoy the spectacular views as the Thames lunch cruise takes you past London's magnificent attractions. You'll see the London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and many other memorable sights on this leisurely lunch-time sightseeing cruise.With daily cruise departures from the newly designed Embankment Pier (or Waterloo Pier), guests are offered a dedicated reception area, easy access to boats and cloakroom facilities, making your cruise experience even more memorable.

Royal Palaces Pass: Kensington Palace, Hampton Court and Tower of London


Royal Palaces Pass: Kensington Palace, Hampton Court and Tower of London.

Summary
Book in advance and jump the queue at the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. Don't waste time waiting in lines on vacation! Your pass is valid for one visit to each attraction and is valid for two years. You'll have plenty of time to explore the stories and intrigues at each site at your leisure, as part of your own itinerary.Tower of LondonHome to the Crown Jewels, the Tower of London reverberates with dark secrets, where priceless jewels glint in fortified vaults and pampered ravens strut the grounds. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, and enlarged and modified by successive sovereigns, the Tower of London is one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses. Discover its 900-year history as royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint, arsenal, menagerie and jewel house.
Hampton Court PalaceFlamboyant King Henry VIII developed this majestic palace after acquiring it in the 1520s. The palace has fabulous furnishings, tapestries and paintings, and is set in formal gardens, which include the famous maze and Great Vine.Kensington PalaceGenerations of royal women have shaped this stylish palace and elegant gardens, from Queen Mary to Victoria and, more recently Diana, Princess of Wales. Today, the palace also houses a stunning collection of fashionable formal dress worn for state and royal occasions.

2-Day Rail Trip to Paris from London


2-Day Rail Trip to Paris from London.

Summary
With France situated only a few miles across the English channel, a little over 2.5 hours away on the Eurostar, you won't want to miss this opportunity to spend a night in the City of Lights.
Depending how you prefer to travel, you have the choice of a fully independent or an escorted tour.INDEPENDENT:Board the Eurostar, sit back and relax, arriving into Paris in just 2 hours and 40 minutes. On arrival into Paris Gare du Nord the rest of the day is free for you to explore Paris. Your accommodation is in a centrally located 3 star hotel.Whilst in Paris you can use your ticket on the Hop On Hop Off City Tour to see the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, the Champs Elysees etc. at your leisure. The tour gives you the opportunity to have total independence to see what you want, when you want.ESCORTED:Day One (Fully Escorted) - Travel from London and on arrival enjoy a guided panoramic tour which will show you all the main sights of Paris, and includes a stop at the second level of the Eiffel Tower. The tour finishes at the Louvre where you will have free time for lunch. In the afternoon board a boat for a romantic guided River Seine cruise followed by an optional visit of the Louvre (admission not included). Make your own way to your comfortable, air-conditioned 3-star hotel.Day Two (Unescorted) - After breakfast the day is free for you to explore independently. With your one day Hop on Hop off tour ticket you can explore the sights of Paris. This is by far the easiest way to get about in Paris and enables you to concentrate on your main areas of interest.You will arrive in Paris at approximately 11:00am on Day One, and depart Paris between 8:30pm and 9:15pm, arriving into London between 10:00pm and 10:30pm on Day Two.

3-Day Rail Trip to Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Highlands from London


3-Day Rail Trip to Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Highlands from London.

Summary
All aboard the Edinburgh Express on a three-day tour from London! You'll tour Edinburgh at your own pace on this partially guided rail tour, and take a drive north to Loch Ness and the Highlands.
Day 1 - EdinburghYour train from London's King's Cross whizzes you north, along Britain's east coast to Edinburgh. Your visit to Edinburgh includes a 24-hour hop-on hop-off tour by open-top sightseeing bus. Frequent departures throughout the day mean you have total flexibility to plan your day in Edinburgh the way YOU choose!Sights, attractions and landmarks of this lovely city include the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and Scottish crown jewels (entry included), the Scott Monument, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where state ceremonies and official entertaining take place when the Queen is in Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament Building.Day 2 - Loch Ness and HighlandsYour journey to the Highlands begins with a drive through Rob Roy MacGregor country, Rannoch Moor. Then it's on to Glen Coe, site of the 1692 battle of the MacDonalds and Campbells. Next you'll see Fort William, in the shadow of Ben Nevis, and take a memorable drive through the Great Glen. After a stop at the picturesque village of Fort Augustus, you'll head along the shores of Loch Ness for some monster spotting! Then it's on to Inverness, where you'll stop to discover the capital of the Highlands before heading south along the Spey valley to Pitlochry and back to Edinburgh.Day 3 - EdinburghEnjoy some last-minute shopping in Edinburgh, visit the attractions on your must-see list, stroll through the city center - it's your choice because it's your day!