Arrive London
Upon arrival at London Heathrow airport you will be met in the arrivals hall by your driver, privately transferred to your hotel where you will be welcomed to England by your local Springboard Butler, and you will be assisted with check-in procedures.
Your Springboard Butler is part of a unique network of over 75 representatives throughout Europe who ensure your vacation operates smoothly and to your absolute satisfaction. Your Springboard Butler is there on the ground to ensure that your travel arrangements run perfectly. He/she is on the end of the phone for you should you have any queries and is there to assist you
You will be confirmed for 7 nights at the Melia White House in two connecting standard rooms, inclusive of English breakfast.
You will have a half-day of sightseeing (4 hours) in Westminster with your private vehicle and your local guide. Today you will enjoy a flight on the London Eye, from the top of which you will gain spectacular views of the city. You may also like to stop briefly at Kings Cross station to see the famous Platform 9 ¾ as featured in the Harry Potter films. You will continue to visit Westminster Abbey, the National Church of England that has been the scene of many state occasions including the Coronation. Continue on to Trafalgar Square, where the National Gallery of Art is overshadowed by Nelson’s Column. You will then head down Whitehall and past Downing Street, to the Houses of Parliament. Finally return to your hotel past Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence in London.
This afternoon is at your leisure in London to explore the city at your own pace. You may like to travel to Bloomsbury area of London and visit the British Museum that houses a world-renowned collection of historic artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, the Sutton Hoo treasures or the unique China’s Terracotta Army exhibition (however only 500 tickets are released per day for sale each morning at 9.15am in the Great Court). You may also like to see the excellent collection of Egyptian antiquities. You may also like to travel to the British Library building, where many priceless documents including a Gutenberg Bible and the First Folio edition of Shakespeare are on display. (Sightseeing suggestions only, entrance fees are not included in tour cost on this afternoon.)
An expert local guide and your chauffeur will be waiting to meet you for a half day sightseeing tour (4 hours) of London. You will visit the Tower of London, where the Beefeaters guard the dazzling Crown Jewels, and where you will gain excellent views of Tower Bridge from the Medieval Palace. Proceed afterwards to St. Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. Return to your hotel from here.
This afternoon four seats will be confirmed for The Lion King at Lyceum Theatre, starting at 3pm. When the young lion prince Simba is born his evil uncle Scar is pushed back to second in line to the throne. Scar plots to kill both Simba and his father, King Mufasa, and proclaim himself king. Simba survives but is led to believe that his father died because of him and he decides to flee the kingdom. Private transfers to and from theatre are included. (Alternative afternoon shows also available, such as Mary Poppins [however closing on January 12], Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of Penzance [however closing March 1, 2008], etc.)
Today, an expert local guide and your chauffeur will be waiting to meet you for a full day sightseeing tour (8 hours) to the South Bank of the Thames in London. Here, two of London's newest and most exciting exhibitions are located. The Old Bankside Powerstation is home to the Tate Modern Gallery. You will see many of the interesting works on contemporary art on display here. You will also visit the Sam Wanamaker's reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre that stands alongside. Tour the exhibition dedicated to the Elizabethan stage and then visit the theatre itself. You may also like to visit the new special Tutankhamun exhibit at the O2 Center in Docklands (subject to tickets availability at time of booking). Later today enjoy a ride on the Docklands Light Railway. One of the first light rail systems in Britain, with one of the world’s safest and most advanced automatic train control systems, DLR has expanded faster than any UK railway. Trains run from the Tower through to Canary Wharf to Isle of Dogs and Greenwich, 19 miles railway with 38 stations and 94 vehicles, and you will be able to take the train from Island Garden Station to Tower Gateway today. After your tour you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Your driver-guide and private vehicle will be at your disposal for a half-day excursion (4 hours) to Windsor. Here you will enjoy a tour of Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world, and the Queen’s favorite residence. Subject to opening restrictions, you may see the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel and Queen Mary’s Doll’s House. You will also gain excellent views of Eton College from the castle ramparts, followed by a visit to the charming old town to peruse some of the boutiques and cafes. After your tour you will be privately transferred back to your hotel in London.
This afternoon is at your leisure to explore further on your own. You may like to visit Hampton Court Palace, a house that became a favorite royal residence after being confiscated by Henry VIII from Cardinal Wolsey in the sixteenth century. Visit the Great Hall, the Tudor Kitchens, and the Royal Tennis Court on which Henry played. You will also see the ornamental gardens, with its infamous maze, as well as the largest vine in England. (Sightseeing suggestions only, entrance fees are not included in tour cost on this day.)
This morning, you will meet your driver-guide, who will be waiting with your private vehicle to take you on a full day excursion (8 hours) into the English countryside. You will head to Oxford, home to England's oldest university, where you may take a walk through the impressive buildings that are still home to the university's main ceremonial and educational functions, and visit Christchurch College with the ‘Harry Potter’s Dining Hall. You will also be able to visit the ‘hidden Christ Church’. With access to private gardens, this allows a unique access into the College's history, its architecture, student life, scenes associated with the world of Lewis Carroll and of course, the Harry Potter films. This afternoon you may like to visit the Ronald Dahl Museum & Story Center or the Henley River & Rowing Museum. Later today you will be transferred back to your hotel in London.
This morning meet your local guide and private vehicle and visit the famous London Zoo (4 hours). See many exciting animals. It is the world's oldest scientific zoo and offers the ultimate back to nature experience while supporting the active conservation of many amazing species. Follow in Harry Potter’s footsteps, remembering his one happy day with those Muggles the Dursleys. See the amazing owl exhibit, and don’t miss the reptile room, where Harry realized he could talk to a boa constrictor. The brand new Gorilla Kingdom has accounted for visitors’ numbers exceeding all past years. After your tour you will be transferred back to your hotel.
This afternoon is at your leisure in London. You may wish to visit the Hamleys Toys store on Regent Street, with the finest toys in the world. Occasionally the store organizes events for children, program available upon request nearer time of travel.
Depart London
Today you will be privately transferred to the London Heathrow Airport.
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