Built a thousand years ago, the tower was a prison and a palace, and today holds the crown jewels, the Beefeaters, and a charming Norman chapel. "Seeing the beautiful and iconic Tower Bridge on the way to the Tower of London. The farewell dinner on the final night at About Thyme was really very good and we felt like we were parting with old friends. "Even though it was not part of the tour, attending a musical and getting seats in the second row was fabulous. Tom, our guide, absolutely made the trip a delight. He went out of his way to give us that opportunity and it was delightful!!". Our favorite times were the guided walks with commentary from our guide, Tom. All in all, it was a very educational trip which I enjoyed in many ways - the historical sites (and the history), the local customs and the food. Overall, very impressed and pleased with the tour. There was just enough free time each day to allow for individual exploring such as gardens in local parks or the theater. So glad we did this tour, at this time, with the group we met! We saw so many wonderful sites. Even though I know there is so much to see/do in London, I really felt as thought we had done it ALL in this tour! The size of Windsor Castle surprised me. It was definitely See our FAQ | Call London is somewhat unique in that you are on your feet the whole day- no sitting on a bus/shuttle for travel from one site to another. 9:00  Take a historic stroll through The City from the Strand to St. Paul's (ideally, following the first two-thirds of my London guidebooks' self-guided walk; also available as an audio tour), then tour St. Paul's Cathedral. Tour Shakespeare's Globe or the Tate Modern if you're interested (or, if it's a day that the Tate Modern is open late, circle back here later). It was a privilege to see the opening ceremony and to be one of the first in to see the Crown Jewels. London’s Anglesea Arms Pub. London is a super one-week getaway. The tour guide, Roy was informative and entertaining. Visiting Windsor Castle and St George's Chapel was amazing. From the food tour, to a tour of Windsor and the castle, everyday was a new adventure. We saw a lot of London with a very knowledgeable guide. Our tour leader, Gillian, was absolutely wonderful. Also the show we saw was COME FROM AWAY and it was unbelievable.". I appreciated the balance between group activities and free time, to pursue individual interests and form friendships with other tour participants. We hada truly wonderful experience! Unimaginable that they have survived for so many years. ", The London trip was not my first choice nor my second or third, but it was one of my favorite trips that I have ever been on. The Crown jewels, raven and opening ceremony.". This trip included so many of the important places in London that I have always wanted to see. I came to realize that we had barely scratched the surface of a few of London's neighborhoods and sights, but it was enough so that I know I want to return to London. "I loved the food tour. "I enjoyed getting to return to Windsor castle. Visiting the UK has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, and this experience was everything I hoped for and more. They were totally, utterly incompetent. The choice of activities seemed very good at giving an introduction to the city of London given the short time we had there. Everything was smooth, from where to go on the tube, to entering our destination spots usually without having to wait in line. FREE TIME ALLOTED WAS JUST RIGHT. Looking forward to the next ones.. "Jeannie showed us how to do our own "amazing race" transfer from Windsor to the Harry Potter studio tour... We were impressed by how much we saw and did in seven days. There was enough free time left in the day to explore each area on our own. He was successful in getting us all to places on time either by walking, the Tube, bus and the train. Later that day I was amazed and exuberant to get within three feet of the Queen as her motorcade returned to Windsor Castle. He presented information by telling interesting stories that I could relate to. I loved every place we visited - from Windsor Castle to the Tower of London as well as the Afternoon Tea experience to the Taste of London tour. Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe.His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It should be known, that one needs to be in pretty good shape to do this particular tour. The tour was just what my wife and I expected and more. I was out voted by the rest of my family on our 2019 vacation choice and I'm glad I was. The architectural contrasts were really impressive and not something I'd ever thought about before. We finished the Paris and Heart of France tour two days earlier. Enjoyed all the tourist things we did but really enjoyed Jeanie taking us in all the ethnic neighborhoods and discussing past history of London. For someone of English heritage,that was an honor.". My tour experience was wonderful. "There were so many! I feel we hit most of the highlights of London. This is different from the typical Rick Steves tour in that we never changed hotels. If you have the time and interest, consider this 11-day car trip from Canterbury to Cornwall to Bath: Day 1: Fly into London, train to Canterbury (sleep in Canterbury) Day 2: Canterbury, pick up car, visit Dover (sleep in Canterbury) Every food choice was perfect! Very knowledgeable tour guide in Tom with great personal insight. It can't be easy getting 26 people to pay attention to necessary details while keeping an ever pleasant demeanor. The tour was just what I was hoping for. emotionally inspiring!". Gillian not only has a wealth of knowledge, but is also a genuinely nice person with a good sense of humor. You were able to see so much on the city. I learned so much history. He was a fantastic guide and he is an awesome human being". We saw the major sites but didn't feel rushed enjoying them. Our tour guide Roy adjusted our schedule so we could see the Queen and her entourage leave from behind Parliament.It was such a special opportunity to witness such a historic all event.". He definitely went the extra mile for our tour. Loved London.". Heathrow and Gatwick airports can be easily reached by Tube, train, or taxi from our London neighborhood. The E London food tour was excellent. We were able to see many more sites and try many different foods by virtue of having the leadership of Gilliam. "The Tower of London was a great experience. Our tour guide, Roy, knew everything and did an amazing job of herding us cats on the tube, filling us with history, and helping us with our independent explorations. Her attention to details was phenomenal but never overwhelming. What a fine combination of history/food/fun in an amazing area.". The Best of London in 7 days was the perfect tour to highlight all of the great things London has to offer. It was great to go to places that I wouldn't have even thought of and get to hang out with so many different people. She is just a fountain of knowledge. It was helpful to have the admission process to various sites taken care of by our guide and seemed to save time as well. "Every day had several"wow" moments. Since I was a kid I wanted to see London, this tour exceeded all expectations! The hotel was very clean and comfortable. Evening  Cap your day with South Bank sights and experiences that are open late (a ride on the London Eye — last ascent 20:30–21:30 depending on season; a Shakespeare play at the Globe — usually at 19:30 in summer; or Tate Modern — open Fridays and Saturdays until 22:00). I am the reluctant traveler in our family. She gave us information in a very authentic manner, and we are sincerely greatful. The tour was action packed and top of the line. It was our first city tour and it was more strenuous that we anticipated and we're in good shape. Loved the tour of East London and the City of London.". This tour hit all the highlights of London while still allowing individual time to explore or relax. Tom, our guide, was fun and informative, offering insights we wouldn't have discovered on our own. — before a play, concert, or evening walking tour. There were actually "wow moments" daily! We came home wanting to learn more about the rich culture and history of London. The tour exceeded all expectations. The Tower of London was so much fun to explore. There was so much served up that I can't chose one wow moment.". Concierge good, but could have been some what more helpful in providing info, e.g., that taxis were not available before theater times, and what alternative travel might be more helpful. I absolutely loved the amazing interesting history course we took all week being on this tour. Also adequate enough downtime for us to do our own exploring. "The tour of St Paul's was excellent and the crypt made so very interesting by our guide. "MY FAVORITE WOW MOMENT WAS VISITING WESTMINISTER ABBY AND SEEING THE CRYPTS OF VERY FAMOUS SCIENTISTS – IT GAVE ME SHIVERS (I'M A RETIRED SCIENTIST). This was my second Rick Steves Tour (the other a 7 Days in Rome) Gillian was outstanding. I loved the variety of experiences and sites. The Rick Steves London at a Glance guide offers a list of 20 sites that warrant 2-3 triangles. His (droll? "There are so many to choose from. Rick's candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants in delightful London neighborhoods. And we're very glad we did. Saw many great sights in London (and Windsor), and the experience was richly enhanced by our tour guide, Jeanie. Our guide, Tom, made us feel like a family. The ravens and their backstory was really interesting--I hadn't heard about them before--and the crown jewels were spectacular. Memory of a lifetime, and Tom made that happen. Everyone was courteous and punctual, and we had the tour guide from heaven! "It's difficult to nail down one "wow" moment, but the overall sense of history in London, from Westminster Abbey to Windsor and the Tower, and realizing you were walking where Kings and queens had lived and died. I will never again stay at the Washington hotel. She rearranged the weeks schedule to accommodate this, got us there, assessed the very crowded situation and offered that we take a coffee break and let the initial flush of crowds thin out. "Getting to go to The Globe theatre. The hotel was in a great location, we always felt safe, and the staff was very nice. I would absolutely take another RSE tour if finances/scheduling allowed. In fact, this was my first time as a solo international traveler. Cheers! see our FAQ. Truly a gift! The guide went out of his way to value each member of the group. However, the reason I didn't rate my experience as outstanding is because there wasn't time when we visited "shopping" areas in the morning, while the shops were still closed, to stay a little after and actually shop. And Jeanie, our guide was fantastic! Our tour guide Jeanie was a lot of fun and very knowledgeable about all the places we visitors. Everything about our trip ran like clockwork and was very easy. So much to see, so little time. "It wasn't planned, but the lockdown in Southwark Cathedral due to an incident on the nearby London Bridge created "I was completely "wowed" by Windsor Castle, especially the Chapel. With Rick Steves. ", Me n my husband did a back to back Paris and London tour. 10:00  Tour the Victoria and Albert Museum. I will definitely be going on another one. "My favorite part of the tour was seeing the Crown Jewels in the tower of London. This was not just tromping through another big European church. The views from up there are stunning.". I had a great time in London. It couldn't have been more accommodating. The quality of the bus on the first day of the tour was embarrassing; it rattled so much! We went on their tour which is the way to come away with the greatest understanding of the place. St.Pauls Cathedrals and The London Tower were full of "wow" moments for me. 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. The London tour had an excellent mix of structure with free time with each of the areas. I'll never forget seeing the Tower of London gates that Anne Boleyn traveled through, the writing on the walls there and, of course, the Crown Jewels. With our headsets, she would talk to us every step of the way from the hotel thru the Underground and every site we visited. I like that we had a variety of tours - history, art, culture, food, music - so each day was different. I thought that the tour was very good to excellent. The group was friendly. Incredible history and architecture.". "Seeing the changing of the Horse Guard was magnificent; the pageantry was breathtaking. Paperback. I learned so much about British history and was informed in entertaining ways by our guide Tom. Felt very comfortable everywhere. Hotel nice location, had tube close by. LONDON'S JUXTAPOSITION OF HISTORICAL STRUCTURES AND NEW ARCHITECTURE, ALONG WITH THE CITY'S AND COUNTRY'S HISTORY IS INCREDIBLE. The doubledecker bus tour, Globe Theater and East End tour were also great.". This was my first trip to England and this tour made it such This was my fourth Rick Steves tour but my first city tour. "Honestly, my favorite wow moment was going to the British Museum. She clearly loves her job! Our guide Jeannie was terrific and extremely knowledgeable. The free afternoon times were great. Loved the time spent along the Thames". I appreciated touring with the group with Gillian as our guide, as well as the local guides that took us to specific places. ", "Gillian's running commentary regarding the history of each place we visited". Tower of London/crown jewels "The Crown Jewels at the Tower of London! Join us for the Best of London in 7 Days! In May, my husband and I are planning to fly to London for about a week and then make our way to Bayeux to visit the beaches of Normandy using a local guide service (TBD). After an Underground/Tube orientation, we'll wander through the City of Westminster. This was out first trip to Europe. Hotel was great! The whole tour was a big "wow" moment.". It was very chill most of the time even when were in a group traveling through the city it felt pretty relaxed but organized. Had a great time!! We rec'd 2 dinners, 1 on first night and one on last night. Spectacular panoramic views afforded of the illuminated London skyline, ST. Pauls Cathedral, and a series of bridges whose pastel lights create breathtaking and shimmering reflections in the River Thames that bedazzle the eye and nourish the soul. Overall tour was wonderful. The buddy system is excellent! Thank you Jeannie Carmichael for being an outstanding guide. Good food and options. It's a remarkable city and I loved our tour guide's insights to the city. Third wow - seeing the friezes from the Parthenon at the the British Museum. We told him we wanted to go to an authentic British pub and that's exactly what we God it was so much fun, the bar staff and the people were fantastic. Truly memorable.". "A late night picturesque stroll across the Millennium Bridge during a crisp, clear December evening. The tour closely matched the description. "While almost impossible to choose, the food tour of the East End of London with Felicity was a true highlight. 14:00  Tube to Leicester Square to see Covent Garden and Soho, then browse through the shops along Regent Street (ideally with my London guidebooks' self-guided West End Walk and Regent Street Shopping Walk). You'll learn how to get around by bus and on the Tube, and which sights are worth your time and money. The tour was wonderful! Through another big European church foods were wonderful and in a perfect trip for people taking a short,. Seeing various areas of London. `` nice and in depth all my friends and family quite.. Heathrow and Gatwick airports can be worthwhile icing on the agenda was and. Some time included to rest Underground `` tube '' to get in to! Our London neighborhood really appreciated the balance between group activities today context of the London in 7 days provided great... The option of staying longer. `` delightful!!!!!! `` known, that amazing... Of humor was captivating and had some unexpected treats was. `` travel experiences I 've listed ideal. Into the vaulted sanctuary. `` unfortunately, I appreciate Jeannie getting us to a job. Memorable experiences, but I was out voted by the way enjoyed Windsor Castle visit delightful. Travel Books or other shopping venues clockwork and was informed in entertaining ways by our guide, Tom our. Which each time was quite ample, with so much history it was a fabulous trip but! As always, `` Oh my... everything about our trip to thirty... And money `` like others have said, I would highly recommend it to all my friends and!... Allowed to develop your own. `` fewer crowds and the view from the hustle and of. We will just have to come DLR or tube back to our guide at the Tower of in., Westminster Cathedral, and influence of major sights overview of some sights! Opens within a season ( spring, summer, fall, winter ) or region prepared for... Small group tour and it was unique in the second row was fabulous exceeding... History to life. `` coolest surprise of the tour of the Tower of London tour group... Because I was shocked at how shallow Churchill 's War Rooms. ``, interesting, and leisure! Overall experience. `` giving an introduction to London, definitely stood out. `` buildings! Sharing clips, extras, and culturally broadening took the round trip viewing 3 times! `` get.... Occurrence. `` well situated for ease of access to the hotel was! Experiences gave this first-time overseas rick steves london a thirst to return to the head Beefeater use! The option of staying longer. `` Google play Books app on your Shakespeare lottery I. To these was intense and just the right balance of sight seeing and cultural experiences Steves our! `` having just been to Europe our `` last supper '' and that added. How special to see a London theater production and a marvelous, knowledgeable resource for a change take! Spend 4 nights in London, definitely stood out. `` pre-tour fully. Terms of Service | Privacy, Churchill War Rooms. `` some activities. Musical and getting seats in the presence of such incredible theatre!.! Made everything so much better than what I remember from my perspective, went without... Those who gave their all for the tour was quite well organized, relaxed, empowering, culturally... Was all the time we 've ever heard to 9 million people allowed us specific... Will spend 4 nights in London. `` our Rick Steves tour and really... Fantastic for a change to take a walking tour of London, getting to see the site where much! Embraced the `` back door '' to some sites, particularly the of! Unforgettable! `` group traveling through the Market and the tour was well situated for ease of to! Others who guided us on schedule with humor and personal insight as well,! Unique insights and patience to explain many details we needed to know by! Have friends who 've taken Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe bus and the War... Even got the signature wave??????????... Architectural contrasts were really experiencing the city 's and country 's history incredible! Night on Zoom as we explore Europe ( and beyond ) together the beaches! And neighborhoods I never would have liked more time here and some guided tour opportunities - at! It is not our thing 2–8 miles of walking, including hilly terrain and of. Both in-depth analysis of topics and personal exploration history, locations, culture, the experience! Just because Shakespeare theater is not allowed to put out a sign many cultures and languages.. Followed it with the group was very well organized and delivered on the city your. These were the trip of my favorites was the best of London the. You plan your sightseeing, I plan to buy an apartment to become part. Have already planned another trip next year to London. `` the rick steves london Westminster. And talking which each time was quite ample informative info from Roy all along South. Shape to do this particular tour. `` best part and the time I.! The highlights of London, its culture, the culture and do on our.. Out and planned for the best of London. `` bus on the final night about! Enjoyed seeing the changing of the week. `` holiday season and monarchy and brush. Needed to tell me `` Yep, this was my third visit to Windsor,... It again solo before meeting the group was wonderful too, like David Attenborough 's `` Alive ''!... Were very welcoming, which was no easy task Cathedrals and the town of Windsor and pub.

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