London Walking Package
Code:LONSB4
Not sure where to go or what to see first when you arrive in the UK? Then start or end, your holiday in Britain with a capital city guided walking short break!
LONDON 4 nights $725 bed & breakfast
per person twin share en-suite
Operates: 16/5, 13/6(H), 8/7, 9/9, 19/9(H) 2006
Classic and (H)idden London Itineraries
Day 1 - Arrival Day |
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Meet your Leader and take a short walk into the West End for an
evening meal
| Day 2 - Westminster |
Short bus or tube ride to Westminster and the Houses of Parliament . We will walk up Whitehall passing many of the main government buildings and 10 Downing Street, to Trafalgar Square. A pleasant walk through St James's Park takes us to Buckingham Palace , the main Royal residence since 1837. If we time our visit for 11.30am we will be able to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Next we visit Westminster Abbey, Britain's most important place of worship and the burial place for numerous famous historical figures including monarchs, political leaders and writers. In the afternoon a boat trip along the River Thames is a good way of viewing the main sights. Alternatively you could visit the Tate Britain or National Galleries, the Cabinet War Rooms, or take a trip on the London Eye.
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| Day 3 - South Bank and the Tower of London |
Today we will concentrate on the City of London and the South Bank. We start at St Paul's Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1697, and famous for its immense dome and Whispering Gallery. We then have a short walk across the Millennium footbridge to the superb Tate Modern Gallery, one of London's best free attractions. We next head east along the South bank towards the Globe Theatre, Southwark Cathedral and HMS Belfast. We re-cross the Thames at Tower Bridge, one of London's iconic landmarks. We conclude our day at the adjacent Tower of London. This well-preserved medieval castle has played an important part in many aspects of British history. Among the most notable sights are the Traitor's Gate, the Bloody Tower and the Queen's Tower, where Anne Boleyn spent her final days..
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| Day 4 - The West End |
| London's West End is the capital's most lively district with theatres, cinemas, clubs and restaurants. We start at Trafalgar Square where we could visit the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Next we walk along The Strand to the lively piazza of Covent Garden. We next head towards Leicester Square and the interesting Chinatown area. A walking tour through the narrow streets of Soho takes us through London's most cosmopolitan area. Vibrant, brash and seedy in equal measure, it is an experience not to be missed. The landscape changes as we continue our walk through the sedate streets and green squares of Bloomsbury to the British Museum. This huge museum contains a stunning collection of artefacts from across the British Empire and beyond including the Rossetta Stone, used to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics, the controversial Elgin Marbles, and the treasures of the Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo ship burial.
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Edinburgh Walking Package
Code:EDISB3
Discover the wonders of Edinburgh, and start your holiday with a guided short break.
EDINBURGH 3 nights $555 bed & breakfast per person twin share en-suite
Operates: 26/4, 20/5, 28/6, 30/9 and 4/10/ 2006 |
Edinburgh Castle
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| Day 1: Arrival Day |
Meet your Leader and head to the centre of Edinburgh for an evening meal.
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| Day 2: Old Town |
The city of Edinburgh divides neatly into two sightseeing days. Today we'll concentrate on the Old Town as we follow the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. We'll start the day with a walk on Arthur's Seat , an extinct volcano and miniature Scottish mountain with great views over the whole city. At its foot is the Palace of Holyrood House , the Queen's official residence in the city. Originally built by James IV in 1501 the palace was steadily extended by successive monarchs, though it remains relatively modest in size. Opposite the palace is the new Scottish Parliament Building designed by the architect Enric Miralles.
For the rest of the day we'll follow the Royal Mile , the main thoroughfare that runs through the Old Town towards the castle. This historic street is lined with fascinating buildings, including the free People's Story Museum, Museum of Edinburgh and the enjoyable Museum of Childhood. Our next major landmark is St Giles Cathedral or the 'High Kirk'. Just off the Royal Mile is Lady Stair's House, an elegant townhouse that is home to the Writer's Museum .
A visit to Edinburgh Castleis a superb conclusion to the day. The castle was built progressively between the 12 th and 19 th centuries and as you enter you'll see the statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. At the highest part of the castle are St Margaret's Chapel and the Great Hall. You can also visit the Crown Room, the sight of the coronation of Scottish Kings and Queens up until 1707. There is also a formidable display of armour and weaponry from the castle's military past
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| Day 3: New Town |
Our second full day in Edinburgh concentrates of the New Town. We start off at the Scott Monument, built in 1844 to celebrate the life of St Walter Scott. Rising above the eastern end of Princes Street is Calton Hill with its fascinating collection of monuments and follies. These include the Nelson Monument, the copper-domed New Observatory and the columns of the National Monument.
Edinburgh's New Town is a well-planned grid of Georgian and Recency buildings, originally laid out by James Craig in 1767. Princes Street is the main thoroughfare in the New Town and is lined with the city's main shops on one side, and the Princes Street Gardens on the other. Midway along this road is the National Gallery of Scotland and the adjacent Royal Academy of Scotland.
In the afternoon we can take a walk beside the meandering river of the Waters of Leith. This leads us to the Royal Botanic Garden , one of the oldest in the world. The enthralling glasshouses contain a collection of plants from right across the world, whilst the outside gardens are a delightful spot for a stroll.
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| Day 4: Departure Day |
| Time for independent sightseeing, shopping, or a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia at Leith, or depart by train to Glen Coe or the Isle of Arran for a walking holiday in the magnificent Scottish mountains. |
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