London & Paris Discovery

Have all of London at your fingertips with a London Pass that includes a London Transport Travelcard for your choice of 1, 2,3 or 6 days (zones 1-6). You could consider this as your passport to the city as it gives you free access to over 50 attractions. Museums, the zoo, galleries, cinemas, royal palaces, ice skating, boat trips, walking tours, historic sites and much more. Once you have purchased your London Pass you gain fast track entry to over 50 of London's attractions. Some attractions that you can visit with your London Pass include: The Tower of London, The Tower Bridge Exhibition, Kensington Palace, Kenwood House, Kew Gardens, London Zoo, The British Museum to name just a few. Have fun exploring at your own pace!

The London Underground, or ‘the tube’ as it is universally known to Londoners, is normally the quickest and easiest way of getting round London. Greater London is served by 12 tube lines, along with the independent (though linked) and privately owned DLR and an interconnected rail network. The first tube train operates at around 5:30am Monday to Saturday and around 7am Sunday; the last train leaves between 11:30pm and 12:30am depending on the day, the station and the line. Remember that any train heading from left to right on the map is designated as eastbound, and any train heading from top to bottom is southbound- no matter how many squiggles and turns it makes. If your two stations are not on the same line, you need to note the nearest station where the two lines intersect, and it is here that you must change trains. Step out into this fantastic city and explore with your travel card - the best way to see London!

Consider any number of shared or private tours such as a guided tour of the TATE modern museum, a city highlights tour, a hop on hop off city tour taking you to all of the main sights within the city and allowing you to get on and off as often as you like. For activities further afield, consider a day trip to Oxford and Blenheim Palace or Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath. Please speak to your Sales Advisor if you would like more information on optional tours and activities that you could add to your itinerary.

There are some great restaurants in the West End of London.Here are a few suggestions: J Sheekey, an incredibly smart seafood restaurant, Mildred's, London's best veggie restaurant, Sketch, the trendiest place in London, specializing in some of the best french food you'll ever taste, or for those looking for something simple and cheerful, enjoy a nice meal out at Zipangu. Or try the amazingly stylish Corrigan’s Mayfair http://www.corrigansmayfair.co.uk

Spend the day outside of London a shared guided tour taking in the magnificent Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath. Built high above the River Thames, Windsor Castle has been home to the Royal Family for 900 years and is still an Official Residence of the Queen. We visit the magnificent State Apartments*, still used for State occasions and Royal receptions. Take some time to explore the castle grounds and the fourteenth-century St. George's Chapel, one of the most beautiful examples of medieval church architecture in England and a burial place of kings and queens, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour.

Clouded in mystery, the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is an amazing feat of engineering and the most important prehistoric site in England, but beyond its archaeological significance and possible astronomical role, Stonehenge is also a place of spiritual importance. Early legends link it with Merlin and King Arthur, but over the last hundred years the midsummer sunrise has attracted pagan groups and followers of the Ancient Order of Druids.

We also visit the beautiful Georgian City of Bath and take you on a panoramic tour of some of the finest architectural sights in Europe, including Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent, the Circus, Assembly Rooms and the famous Pulteney Bridge. Explore the Roman Baths, built around thermal springs, which have been supplying water for over 2,000 years. In Roman times a great Temple was built next to the sacred spring - the waters were believed to have healing properties and attracted visitors from across the Roman Empire.

The Ivy is situated in the heart of London's West End, close to Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue and the vibrant quarters of Covent Garden and Soho. Open late each night, the restaurant is also perfect for post theatre dinner. The Royal Opera House and Coliseum, Palace Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Wyndham's and Noel Coward Theatres are close by. All restaurant food comes from sustainable sources.

Meet your driver for a private train station transfer in London.

Enjoy the Eurostar train from London to Paris. The train ride takes approximatelly 2.5 hours.

Take a private train station transfer with a private vehicle and English speaking driver.

A welcome package with your vouchers, and itinerary, city map(s) and train tickets (where relevant) and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip. 

Enjoy dinner at leisure. Here are a few suggestions; In the Latin Quarter (5th): Le Petit Pontoise bistro, 9 Rue Pontoise (Metro: Maubert Mutualite) Tel: 0143292520.This restaurant is nestled in a discreet and quite street, 10 minutes walk from Notre Dame Cathedral. Reservation for the dinner is recommended. By the Arc de Triomph and Parc Monceau (17th): Chez Les Anges, Paris, 54 Boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg (Metro: La Tour-Maubourg). Tel: 01 47 05 89 86. Cool jazz on the sound system, a sunny veranda, and a cool, modern bar. This is pure market cuisine, the daily changing menu punctuated by fabulous wild fish, wild mushrooms, and seasonal game. Closed Sat. & Sun. In the Trocadero area (16th): Astrance, Paris. 4 Rue Beethoven (Metro: Passy). Tel: 01 40 50 84 40. For fashionable foodies, a meal at this small, split-level dining room with silver-painted walls on a quiet residential street near the Trocadero is guaranteed Nirvana. Book a month in advance. Closed Sat. Sun. & Mon.

Just a few yards from the Opéra Garnier, l'Olympia, cinemas and department stores, the Grand Café Capucines stands in a magical spot. This institution of Parisian life never closes its doors and draws patrons in with its luxurious and romantic décor (signed by Garcia) and its magnificent Art Deco glass ceiling. Whether it is midday or midnight, allow yourself to be enticed by the wide selection of seafood or one of the chef’s specialities: the house terrine of duck foie gras, lightly spiced golden langoustines or veal kidneys flambéed in Port... not forgetting the fine patisseries which can be enjoyed after your meal or at tea time. Meal not included, and paid locally.

Steeped in history and packed full of world famous landmarks, seeing the city by open air double-decker bus is by far the best ways to see the capital. With this ticket, enjoy great views from the open top deck hop on and off bus, and see Paris in your own time, at your own pace. The ticket offers you the flexibility of L' Open Tour, valid on 4 different routes. The Paris Grand Tour takes you to the all the main sights, while the other 3 routes concentrate on particular areas (Montparnasse/St Germain tour, Montmartre/Grands Boulevards tour and Bastille/Bercy tour). (Includes transportation by coach, commentary by headphones on L' Open Tour buses). Please note that shared tours can have up to approx. 50 people (depending on the number of people that have signed up for the tour on the particular day, and are carried out in a number of languages).

There are so many things to do and see in Paris it is hard to know where to start! Within the city you can choose from any number of private guided tours - of neighbourhoods or places of interest such as the Louvre or with a focus on architecture. Consider a few hours with a personal shopper, or a guided tour in a vintage car through one of the neighbourhoods. If you are interested in doing something further afield consider a day trip to Chatres, Giverny (known because of Monet's paintings), Versailles, Normandy or Burgundy. A fun way to spend an afternoon is by hot air balloon - this is possible to do in the Parisian countryside. Please ask your Sale Advisor if you are interested in any of these optional tours and activities.

Flora Danica, patronised since 1973 by fans of Danish cuisine and exotic Northern flavours, has been honoured with numerous prizes. In 2000 it received the Marianne "flavours of France" award for best foreign restaurant. Traditional Scandinavian dishes prepared with subtlety and the mélange of Danish and French flavours can now be enjoyed in an original setting with a choice of ambiances: the winter garden, the main dining room with its cosy benches (ideal for revealing secrets!), and the hanging gardens with their harmonious white and green tones. Meal not included, and paid locally.

Whether it is strolling down the famed Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré with a personal shopper; exploring the Louvre Museum with your iPod-based Da Vinci code museum tour, or taking a Soundwalk through the lively St. Germaine district, there is something to suit every mood and interest. Discover St Germain des Pres as you stroll through the literary and historical neighbourhood along winding streets lined with boutiques, art galleries and other places of interest. Alternatively (or in addition), explore the Marais neighbourhood - the most fashionable district of Paris in one of the most well preserved neighbourhoods of the city. Marvel at the remarkable 16th and 17th century mansions, squares and museums, beautiful streets steeped in history and trendy shops and bars. Lastly, discover the Montmartre area of Paris - a neighbourhood of steps and narrow cobblestoned streets which evokes images depicted by Toulouse Lautrec.

Enjoy the many wonders of Paris. Consider taking a stroll down one of the many quays by the river Seine, or wandering around any of the fascinating neighbourhoods such as Montematre, the Marais or the Left bank. Of course there are a plethora of museums and galleries to choose from if you are so inclined. Consider getting a 2 Day Paris Pass that includes a Paris Transport Travel card for 2 days (zone 1-3) to see all of the sites that are of personal interest to you. The Paris Pass is a smartcard offering free access to 65 attractions in Paris such as the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Orsay museum, Musee Rodin, commented cruise with Bateaux Parisiens and Pompidou museum. With this pass, you have access to 22 museums, 24 historical monuments, 15 art galleries, 3 tourist attractions, 1 cruise and special offers in shops and restaurants. Please contact your Sales Advisor if you would like more details.

Paris takes on a different hue at night and, with many of the magnificent buildings aglow which make it is possibly the best time to admire the beauty of the city. There are plenty of options to choose from for evening entertainment including an early evening wine tasting in a beautiful, airy Parisian loft of a French sommelier located close to the lively Marais district, a dinner cruise, a cabaret show, dinner in the Eiffel tower followed by a night-time cruise, or an evening tour of the city with many of the historical buildings aglow.

This true bastion of Parisian dining located at Place des Ternes is as flamboyant as it was in the 1930s, and has managed to remain youthful, vibrant and warm. Its refined Art Nouveau decor boasts century-old mosaics and chandeliers of St Louis crystal. La Lorraine is also synonymous with one of the most impressive seafood tables in Paris, and a wonderful menu prepared from the best produce the French countryside has to offer. Meal not included, and paid locally.

Enjoy a private airport transfer in Paris in a private vehicle with a professional driver.