Board your flight to London on Icelandair from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Parents to drop-off their children no later than 3 hours prior to departure to facilitate group check-in.
Welcome to the United Kingdom!
Early morning arrival to London. The group will be met outside the baggage area by their GHT tour director.
They will transfer to Central London by coach and enjoy an orientation coach tour of some of the city’s principal sites on route to the hotel.
Upon arrival, the group will drop their bags with the hotel concierge and head out with their GHT Tour Director to enjoy a supervised lunch in small groups in the immediate area (an early check-in will be requested, but is subject to availability).
After lunch, the group will enjoy a walking tour of London by foot and tube with their GHT Tour Director to explore two of the most iconic neighbourhoods of this incredible city: Knightsbridge and Kensington. The group will stroll through Kensington Gardens, see the exterior of Kensington Palace (where Queen Victoria was born and where Prince Willian and Duchess Kate currently live) before passing the famous Albert Memorial on route to Knightsbridge. A stop at Harrod’s the most famous store in the world and pick up a snack in the fabulous Food Hall will follow!
In the late afternoon, the group will transfer to a restaurant in central London (by public transit) for a group dinner at a local restaurant in central London.
Transfer back hotel (by public transit)
Overnight Royal National Hotel in London
Breakfast at Hotel
This morning the group will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of some of this amazing city's landmarks. The group will travel by London Underground to meet their local guide starting in the iconic West End.
The tour begins in front of Buckingham Palace where they will watch the Changing of the Guard (subject to timing and schedule).
The group will continue their walk along The Mall to see the lovely Regency era Clarence House (home of HRH The Prince of Wales) and pass aristocratic city mansions along Piccadilly. The group will also pass The Ritz Hotel, and stop at the iconic shopping store “Fortnum & Mason” (who supplies HM King Charles) for some traditional British sweets.
The tour will continue through bustling Piccadilly Circus. Located at one of the West End’s major intersections, Piccadilly is London’s equivalent of NYC’s Times Square with bright lights and the golden statue of Eros being the city’s universal meeting point.
From there, it's a short walk to Trafalgar Square, site of Nelson's Column. This impressive monument was built to commemorate his 1805 victory in the Battle of Trafalgar. Canada House, the Canadian High Commission’s location fronts onto Trafalgar Square, so keep you eyes peeled for many maple leafs and red and white flags!
The group will then visit The National Gallery where “the story of European art is told masterpiece by masterpiece”. Housing one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world, the National Gallery’s permanent display has pieces from all major traditions of Western European paintings ranging from the late medieval period to the early 20th-century.
After some time in the gallery, the students will break into small groups and have free time for lunch at one of the many sandwich shops or cafes in the immediate area.
Following some free time for lunch, the group will continue their walk along Whitehall, passing the Household Calvary and Horse Guard’s parade and see the mounted Queen’s guards, see the entrance to 10 Downing Street the home of the UK Prime Minister, snap photos of Westminster Abbey, the gothic Houses of Parliament and Big Ben! They will continue onward and cross over the Thames River (by Tube) to the Southbank for a guided tour of the Globe Theatre. London’s new Globe Theatre is a faithful reproduction of an Elizabethan era theatre where William Shakespeare’s plays were performed. Across the Thames, the view of the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is stunning!
The group will return to the hotel to freshen up before transferring to a central London restaurant (by public transit) to enjoy an early group dinner.
After dinner, the group will then attend a fun West End theatre performance.
Transfer to Hotel in central London (by public transit)
Overnight Royal National Hotel in London
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the Tower of London (on foot and by Tube)
Visit the Tower of London (on foot). Located on the banks of the Thames River, the mighty Tower of London was established by William the Conqueror in 1066 and has been the scene of many of Britain’s most dramatic moments. Used as a palace, prison, royal mint, zoo, and museum, the Tower now houses one of the foremost collections of armour in the world and the incomparable royal crown jewels used for the coronation of Britain’s kings and queens.
The group will then walk along the south shore and enjoy some time in Burrough market and some free time for lunch.
Transfer to the British Museum (by public transit)
Visit the British Museum, the world's first public museum, and see some of the finest treasures from around the globe. The Parthenon Frieze (the Elgin Marbles) from Athens and the Rosetta Stone (which allowed archaeologists to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics) from Egypt are two of the museum’s major sites, in addition to many priceless artifacts from the British Isles, Africa and beyond.
The group will then enjoy a group dinner in the area before returning to the hotel.
Overnight: London Royal National Hotel
Breakfast at the hotel and bags down for check-out and departure.
The group will be met at the hotel and take a private coach to St. Pancras International Train Station for their journey by Channel Tunnel to Paris. The group will arrive early as all travellers must be checked in through security and customs a minimum one-hour before scheduled departure.
The group will travel to Paris (by train) on the high-speed Eurostar train that runs through the Channel Tunnel connecting continental Europe with Britain. Note: there is a one-hour time difference between London and Paris. There will be time for lunch on the train.
When the group arrives in Paris, they will transfer to their centrally located hotel by private coach. Enroute, they will see some of the famous sites of the incredible ‘City of Lights’. Paris is the most visited city in the world and an important centre of culture, the arts, fashion, cuisine and refinement Arrive at the hotel, check-in and drop their bags.
In the late afternoon, the group will then transfer by Paris Metro to the Latin Quarter.
The group will enjoy a walking tour of this Paris district led by a local English-speaking GHT representative of the Left Bank ‘Latin Quarter’. They will see many of the areas quaint cafes, and lovely squares that have inspired artists and writers for centuries. They will cross the Petit Pont, and arrive at Ile de la Cite and behold the magnificent cathedral of Notre Dame.
The group will see Notre Dame Cathedral (from the outside) - this impressive example of Gothic architecture that’s been famous since the Middle Ages. Built between 1163 and 1361 over the remains of an ancient Roman temple, it was here that Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804. The interior is known for the stunning stained-glass rose windows and vaulted ceilings.
The group will then transfer to local restaurant in the area for a group dinner.
After dinner, the group will return to the hotel (by public transit).
Overnight Hôtel André Latin.
Breakfast at the hotel
Today the group will explore Paris’ majestic Right Bank on a walking tour to see some of the city's most iconic sites. This area was masterplanned during the ‘Belle Epoque’ by Emperor Napoleon III and the architect Baron Haussmann. The end result of this ambitions 19th-century urban planning experiment is the majestic ‘grands boulevards’ and impressive buildings that comprise the core of the city on the Seine’s Right Bank. The group will stroll along the Champs Elysées, see Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe, walk through the Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries Gardens, and see the impressive courtyard of the Musée du Louvre.
The group will enjoy some free time for lunch in small groups on Saint-Honoré towards Les Halles. Supervised by teachers.
In the afternoon, the group will visit the Paris Catacombs. They will descend 135 steps beneath the city for a tour of the massive catacombs complex, the underground ossuaries that hold the remains of more than six million people. This fascinating tunnel network was built to consolidate Paris' ancient stone quarries. (Tour lasts approx 1.5 hours, timing pending group reservation availability).
After the tour, the group will depart the Catacombs and walk to the Luxembourg Gardens. Enjoy one of the most beautiful parks in Paris bordered by the historic Luxembourg Palace, now the French Senate building.
The group will then transfer to the Eiffel Tower by Paris Metro and will climb the stairs to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views and watch as twilight descends upon the city and the lights begin to twinkle!
The group will then enjoy a dinner at a local restaurant and transfer to back hotel in central Paris (by Metro)
Overnight Hôtel André Latin
Breakfast at Hotel the hotel.
The group will head out of the city today to visit the famous palace of Versailles (via RER train).
There will time for lunch in the area.
In the late afternoon, the group will return to Paris by public transit and immediately head to the vibrant and fun area of Montmartre. The students will see the impressive Sacré-Coeur. Sacré-Coeur Basilica is built atop the Montmartre hill. From here enjoy some of the most breathtaking views of Paris. The students will have time to wander along the quaint streets that are lines with art galleries and cafes; Montmartre has always attracted artists and was once home to Picasso, Renoir, and Monet. Watch talented artists at work or choose to have your own portrait done!
Dinner at a local restaurant in Montmartre and then return to the hotel by Metro.
Overnight Hôtel André Latin
Breakfast at Hotel
Transfer to the Louvre Museum (by Paris Metro) for a guided visit of this iconic museum. Once a former fortress, this massive Renaissance royal palace was transformed by the Revolution into the national museum and houses a remarkable collection of more than 35,000 paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Enter the museum through world-renowned architect I.M. Pei's controversial 1989 modernist glass pyramid. Inside see priceless masterpieces of art dating from antiquity like the Venus de Milo and paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci including the mysterious Mona Lisa.
Free time for lunch in small groups at the food court in the Louvre Museum
The group will then transfer to the area ‘Grand Boulevards’ district (by public transport) and enjoy time to shop for souvenirs at Paris’ premiere shopping destination: Galleries Lafayette. The students will have an opportunity to see the spectacular domed ceiling and an opportunity to climb to the spectacular roof top platform to get some stunning views of the city.
The group will then walk the short distance to the L'Opéra Garnier, whose stunning facade was re-gilded and renovated in the year 2000. The majestic red performance hall, can seat 2,130 people at a time. This is where the mysterious stories of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ happened, which in turn inspired the novel and the 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical of the same name. Learn more about this and the musical tradition of Paris on a tour of the interior and find out why Napoleon III had a horseshoe-shaped entrance built at the rear of the building to protect him (pending scheduling).
Farewell group dinner at a restaurant close to the hotel
Transfer by Metro to the hotel.
Overnight Hôtel André Latin in Paris
Breakfast at the hotel
The group will be met at the hotel for their private transfer to the Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport for their return flight.
Au Revoir a Paris and Bon Voyage!
- Breakfast
- Transfer from the hotel to the Paris Airport
