London Christmas
8 Day Escorted Tour

Holiday visitors revel in the spirit of “Londontown,” appreciating the grand appeal of this magnificent city and the timeless charm of outlying country mansions and ancient churches. This year, hear carols ring through the air at St. Paul’s and watch the horses run for first at Kempton Park. Stop in at the Geffrye Museum to see its Christmas Past exhibition, an authentic and fascinating collection and a historically favorite holiday pastime with both locals and visitors. Come celebrate your Christmas among the castles and countryside, the theater and festive old English traditions. Click Here For Itinerary

Inclusions:

• 6 nights at the Athenaeum Hotel in London
• 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners

Highlights:

• Sightsee in London with a Blue Badge guide
• Visit Westminster Abbey, enjoy Christmas carols at St. Paul’s
• Cathedral and ride the exciting London Eye
• Tour magnificent Leeds Castle
• Enjoy a traditional pub luncheon in a centuries-old English pub
• Attend the races at Kempton Park on Boxing Day
• Meander the charming Cotswolds
• Attend a West End theater performance

Itinerary
Day 1
Depart U.S.A.
With images of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in mind, depart for London, England.

Day 2 D Arrive London
Welcome to London! For the next six nights, stay in the heart of the West End at the elegant Athenaeum Hotel, on bustling Piccadilly and just across from Green Park. You are within walking distance to Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus and Fortnum & Mason. Tonight, get acquainted with your group at dinner. ATHENAEUM HOTEL

Day 3 B
City tour/Theater
Sightsee London’s most famous sights. See Oxford Street, decorated for Christmas, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and visit Westminster Abbey, the location of every coronation since William the Conqueror in 1066AD. Cross the Thames River to ride the London Eye for marvelous bird’s-eye views of Londontown from enclosed cars. The afternoon is free for your own pursuits. This evening attend a London theater performance! ATHENAEUM HOTEL

Day 4 BL
Geffrye Museum/Pub lunch/ Leeds Castle
Visit the Geffrye Museum, which annually features a Christmas Past exhibition gathered from 400 years of English traditions. Midday finds you in a medieval pub, where the fare is sure to warm the body. Then visit magnificent Leeds Castle, described as the “loveliest castle in the world” and listed in the Domesday Book as a Norman stronghold. Return to London for a free evening. ATHENAEUM HOTEL

Day 5 BD
Carols at St. Paul’s Cathedral
Enjoy a delightful morning to do as you please in a city offering a wealth of options. Try holiday shopping at Harrods in Knightsbridge or stop by the National Portrait Gallery to view a collection of historic paintings of the British Royal family. This afternoon, attend a concert of Christmas carols at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which miraculously escaped destruction from WWII bombings, and the perfect setting for the holiday performance. Christmas Eve dinner is at the ATHENAEUM HOTEL.

Day 6 BLD Cotswolds/London
Merry Christmas! Begin the holiday with a drive through the Cotswolds, one of the most picturesque parts of the country, graced by beautiful, quaint villages. Enjoy Christmas lunch in the countryside at the half-timbered, 600-year old The Mill & Old Swan in the Cotswold village of Minster Lovell. The remainder of your day is at leisure to pursue your own interests and adventures. ATHENAEUM HOTEL

Day 7 BD
Kempton Park Horse Races/Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a traditional holiday in the United Kingdom. The origin of the holiday stems from a practice by lords and ladies of old London, who presented their servants with “boxed” gifts the day after Christmas. Have views of Windsor Castle en route to attend another traditional event, the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park. Since 1878, Kempton Park has provided some of the most dramatic moments in equine racing. Your farewell dinner is at the ATHENAEUM HOTEL.

Day 8 B
Conclude London
Invigorated by the joy of the season, return home this morning.
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The above rates are presented as a guideline only.
Please contact Quality Travel at 1-800-331-5601
for actual pricing and availability.