Luxury London a la carte

London, England: 4 Nights – 5 Days

Hotel Options:
4 Nights – Belgravia, London, Hotel The Goring

Description

We have based your stay in The Goring, one of European Voyages’s favourite London hotels, but we can of course talk through the different options depending on the style of hotel you like, and where in London you want to be based. The length of your stay is again totally down to you and how long you have in the city.

All those vivid images of London you have always imagined can come alive through the use of a personal expert private guide. We will design a few days of exploring London designed around you; quite often opening doors that are often closed to the general public, and giving you ideas that you never thought were possible. All you have to do is let us know your interests and we will put together an overall experience that will simply blow you away. So here is London, à la carte!

Let’s start with the well-known favourites; you will of course know about historic and royal London – the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace for instance, and it is of course worth seeing these on a first visit to the city. What is so important is to make these sights fun and interesting, and our guide will make these places come alive with stories that don’t exist in the guidebooks. See how well the Brits do ‘pomp’ such as the Changing of the Guard, or we can sneak you into the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.

If you can sum London up, then we would say it has so much of the ‘old world’ to explore and see, yet it is enhanced by being one of the most vibrant, modern and cosmopolitan cities on earth. The arts scene in London is second to none, and there a multitude of galleries and museums to dip in and out of. We can arrange special experiences like meeting local artists for the day. London’s theatre land comes alive at night, and we will arrange front-row seats to the best shows, and give you up to date information on the latest hot show in town.
We love to explore London in different and fun ways, and think about doing London ‘by any means’. Consider blending exploring London by foot, on ‘Boris Bike’, on the Underground, by boat down the Thames or even by Black Cab – it is such a great way to bring the city to life. European Voyages are experts at ensuring that if you are travelling with your children, they will remember London! They might love to head to the Harry Potter film studios, before returning to London and try their hand at making chocolate at William Curley’s in Belgravia. Head to Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross before heading to Regent Street and visiting London’s best toy shop, Hamleys (if they are very good!). No doubt they will love the Mad Hatters Tea Party at the Sanderson, or possibly the Charlie & the Chocolate themed afternoon tea party at One Aldwych.
Let’s move to hidden and quirky London. We love the small markets – maybe Billingsgate to see the morning fish market, or grab a bite to each at Borough Market. Hunt for antiques in Portobello Market or simply stroll through antique bookshops in Bloomsbury. Hit the shops (we can also arrange personal shoppers) whether it is Harrods or Selfridges, or smaller boutiques on Burlington Arcade.

Why not delve back into the 18th century with a visit to Dennis Severs House in Spitalfields, or visit a working Gin distillery. Why not wander through London via a collection of historic pubs along the way – learn about Captain Kidd or tales of exploration that began from London’s historic Docklands. We know all the restaurants that Londoners are talking about and can arrange reservations. You might also want see a little sport, or even have a few drinks in a Private Members Club before catching a show.
You might want to do a few day trips out of London, and your guide will drive you into the countryside, through classic chocolate-box English villages to the highlights beyond. Whether you want to explore the sleepy spires of Oxford, or Shakespeare’s home of Stratford-upon-Avon to Highclere Castle (famous for Downton Abbey), Stonehenge or Bath we will tailor any day accordingly. You can of course stop for a few days out of town and we have a range of rural retreats so you can blend town and country perfectly. We also think a day on the British Pullman train is a good option taking in the amazing countryside whilst enjoying a fantastic lunch on board.

When to travel
It is very difficult to predict the weather in the United Kingdom – in the summer from May to late September is generally seen as the most pleasant time to visit. Rainfall is difficult to predict – but the UK does not receive as much as many are led to believe! In the winters, temperatures do fall, but there is nothing better than finding a remote pub with a roaring fire to sit beside after a long walk in the country.