A Week in London
8 days | 11 days with Edinburgh extension |
- Group size
- 12–28 travelers
- Activity level
Unpack once and learn to love London like a local.
London might move fast, but the city rewards those who take a beat. You’ll do exactly that on this immersive itinerary: Your Tour Director will introduce you to timeless sights like St. Paul’s Cathedral, while local guides will take you to corners you might otherwise miss. (After an included tasting at Borough Market, you’ll wonder how you’ve never visited before.) Add included visits to the Tower of London and Globe Theatre—along with plenty of free time and an optional extension in Edinburgh—and you’ll sync up to the rhythm of the United Kingdom’s heart.
Your tour package includes
- 6 nights in a well-located hotel
- 6 breakfasts and 2 dinners served with beer or wine
- 2 food tastings, including the finery of a traditional afternoon tea
- 1 expert Tour Director, your guide to the city’s history and highlights
- 3 sightseeing tours, spanning icons from the Tower of London to the Globe Theatre
- Private deluxe motor coach to shuttle you between sightseeing stops
Included highlights
- Chatting with your host in the shadow of the Tower of London
- Sipping afternoon tea and sharing finger foods at a local brasserie
- Imagining the debuts of Shakespeare’s masterworks in the reconstructed Globe Theatre
- Navigating the bustle of Borough Market (and delighting in an included tasting)
Itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to London today.
London6 nights
Day 2: Arrival in London
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to England! After touching down, transfer to your hotel and unwind. Later in the evening, meet up with your Tour Director and fellow travelers and get to know one another over a welcome dinner, served with beer or wine.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of London & afternoon tea
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting
The capital of England packs more than 2,000 years of history into its 607-square-mile footprint—and all of it traces back to the City of London. Today’s metropolis sprang from this tiny central district, and this morning, a local guide will introduce you to some of its most compelling sights.
- Stop at St. Paul’s Cathedral for photos. Sat atop Ludgate Hill, this baroque Anglican church dates to the 17th century and has hosted state funerals and royal jubilees over the years.
- Continue to the infamous Tower of London—once a palace and prison, now home to the Crown Jewels—and stop to meet a Yeoman Warder. Instantly recognizable by their blue-and-red uniforms, these ceremonial guards are the traditional protectors of the Tower of London.
- Bid farewell to your host and follow your local guide on a tour of the tower, diving deeper into its complicated past. (Did you know that it once doubled as the Royal Menagerie, holding lions, a polar bear, and other animals?)
Sightseeing complete, head for the posh, pedestrianized streets of Covent Garden, the shopping and entertainment hub of London’s West End. Your destination: a brasserie, where you’ll be treated to a traditional afternoon tea. Share some conversation as you tuck into finger sandwiches, scones, and other bite-sized goodies, then wash it all down with a cuppa before returning to your hotel.
Day 4: ❇️ Churchill War Rooms or sightseeing tour of Soho & Covent Garden
Included meal: Breakfast
Start today on your terms, whether that means sleeping in, enjoying breakfast at your hotel, or striking out in search of a full English. (Sausage and eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms, black pudding and toast—it’ll power you through the day!)
❇️ Then, fill your afternoon with one of two included experiences:
- Best for history buffs: Churchill War Rooms. Descend into the subterranean bunkers that served as Britain’s nerve center during World War II.
- Best for local explorers: Soho & Covent Garden. Follow a local guide through two of London’s liveliest districts, capping your stroll with an included pint at a classic pub.
Not ready to head back to your hotel? Your Tour Director’s got just the ticket—literally. For an extra cost, they can get you into a show in the West End, London’s counterpart to Broadway and an international theater hub in its own right.
Please note: Your Tour Director will discuss show options and ticketing before departure via our mobile app.
Additionally, depending on scheduling and ticket availability, the show may take place on another evening. Additionally, choose your experience gives you the freedom to personalize your city experience by selecting one guided sightseeing activity from two available options—both included in your tour price. Both activities occur simultaneously, so you will need to choose just one. You can make your selection at the time of booking or any time up to 20 days before your tour departure. We encourage you to choose early, as some activities have limited availability and fill up on a first-come, first-served basis—your spot is not guaranteed until you’ve enrolled.
Day 5: Free day in London
Included meal: Breakfast
For your free day in London, consider adding the excursion to Stonehenge and Salisbury to your itinerary. (Between those mysterious monoliths and Salisbury Cathedral’s copy of the Magna Carta, it’s a monumental way to spend a few hours.) If you’d rather explore on your own, check out a few of London’s excellent museums. Some of our favorites: the traditional exhibits of the British Museum in the Bloomsbury district, and the more interactive offerings of the Cutty Sark clipper ship in Greenwich.
Day 6: Sightseeing tour of the Globe Theatre & Borough Market with tasting
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting
This morning, head to the banks of the Thames and join a local guide in Southwark. Though anchored by the Shard, the Tate Modern, and other contemporary buildings, the district dates to the first century, and today’s tour focuses on two historic attractions.
- Follow your guide through Shakespeare’s Globe, a faithful reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre that once stood on the same spot. Here, in the early 1600s, William Shakespeare debuted some of his most enduring plays—productions like “Hamlet,” “Othello,” and “King Lear.”
- Sit in the theater’s oak-and-thatch playhouse and join an interactive lecture that dives into the Globe’s history before exploring its permanent exhibitions at your own pace.
- Head to Borough Market—a roughly 1,000-year-old institution—and roam its stalls in search of the perfect bites to indulge in during an included tasting.
The rest of the day’s yours to do with as you please. If all that snacking piqued your appetite, eat your way through more of Borough Market before taking the Tube—the local nickname for the London Underground—to Shoreditch, home to a thriving street food scene. Then, return to your hotel for the night, or join us on a spooky optional stroll through Whitechapel, where Jack the Ripper terrorized the city.
Day 7: Free day in London & farewell dinner
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Can’t get enough of castles and kings? Add the excursion to spend your last day on tour at Windsor Castle for a fascinating peek into royal goings-on, as well as the historic market town of Windsor. Or, enjoy a free afternoon in London proper. The 350-acre Hyde Park is a little over a half-mile from Buckingham Palace; make the walk and roam its grassy fields, or maybe even rent a boat for a leisurely cruise on The Serpentine.
Whatever you choose, come together as a group this evening for a farewell dinner, served with beer or wine.
Flight Home
Day 8: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your trip from London to Edinburgh for a fuller taste of the United Kingdom.
Edinburgh extension
In Edinburgh, something charming awaits at the end of every close, or alley—and with a little guidance from your Tour Director, you’ll discover plenty on this tour’s extension. Pair guided sightseeing and optional excursions (whisky, anyone?) with free time in the Scottish capital; come day 12, you might just wonder how to stay in the city even longer.
Edinburgh3 nights
Day 8: Train to Edinburgh
Included meal: Breakfast
Begin your day at King’s Cross station, where you’ll board a high-speed train out of London. Settle in and look out as the landscape changes from English hills to Scottish lochs (or lakes)—soon, you’ll arrive in the city of Edinburgh. Then, transfer to your hotel and end your journey with some well-deserved rest.
Please note: Porterage isn’t included on this train transfer. You must be comfortable lifting and carrying all luggage over steps, onto platforms, and into storage.
Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Edinburgh
Included meal: Breakfast
Nestled between the rivers Almond and Esk, Edinburgh emerges from a series of hills and rocky ridges, earning it the nickname of the Athens of the North. With a local guide in the lead, get to know Scotland’s capital in all its medieval beauty.
- View the elegant neoclassical and Georgian architecture of the New Town. Its ornate sandstone and granite structures, surrounding oasis-like gardens and green spaces, became a model for European urban planning in the 18th century and beyond.
- Contrast the New Town’s grace with the Old Town’s moody Royal Mile, which runs between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace—the official residence of British monarchs in Scotland.
- Pass the towering Sir Walter Scott monument. Paying homage to the “Ivanhoe” and “Rob Roy” scribe, it’s one of the largest sculptural tributes to an author in the world.
- Ascend Castle Rock and enter Edinburgh Castle to view the Scottish Crown Jewels, fixtures at coronation ceremonies over the centuries.
If you’d like, fill your night with song and dance at an optional ceilidh (say it “KAY-lee”). (Maybe you’ll be inspired to take to the dance floor yourself!) Alternatively, use your free afternoon to take a scenic walk up Arthur’s Seat. Part of an extinct ancient volcano, this hill’s a popular local attraction—not least for its views of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth.
Day 10: Free day in Edinburgh
Included meal: Breakfast
Drink in Scottish heritage (in more ways than one) on today’s optional excursion—a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, followed by a stop at a distillery. Between a buffet of royal relics and a tasting of Scotch whisky, you’ll surely leave sated.
Or, use your free afternoon in Edinburgh to wander the winding streets of the UNESCO-listed Old Town. If you’re feeling adventurous, perhaps consider a spooky stroll through the tunnels that weave underneath the city—then reemerge and join your groupmates this evening for a farewell drink.
Flight Home
Day 11: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Reviews
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
London - Holiday Inn London - Regent's Park
This modern hotel is located in London's Westminster Borough. Guests enjoy the restaurant, lounge, and convenient location. Nearby, you'll find Regent's Park, the British Museum, and Kings Cross Station.

Edinburgh - Mercure Edinburgh Haymarket
This modern hotel is located in Edinburgh’s West End. Guests enjoy the fitness center, a bar, and stylish rooms. Nearby, you’ll find Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, and the Royal Mile.
Flights
Make your journey to and from your tour as smooth as possible by letting our travel experts handle your round-trip flights. We’ll select the best itinerary for you at a great rate, thanks to our airline partnerships.
Your Go Ahead flight package includes:
- A round-trip flight for your tour from your preferred home airport
- An EF representative waiting for you on arrival to whisk you to your hotel
- Your lowest price locked in, so you don’t have to track airfare
- 24/7 on-tour support from our dedicated flights team
- Complimentary luggage retrieval services through Blue Ribbon Bags
- Dedicated flight experts to help arrange early arrivals, longer stays, or upgrades, so every detail fits your travel style
- Stress-free rebooking if your tour itinerary changes
Find out more about flights
FAQ
- In order to enter the United Kingdom, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- U.S. and Canadian passport holders must purchase an individual visa from the United Kingdom's government’s Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) website or the UK ETA mobile app (Apple or Android) in order to enter the United Kingdom.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code LCI.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from London (or depart from Edinburgh on the tour extension).
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
- When you arrive in London, a driver from a private chauffeur service will be standing at the arrival hall with your name on a message board. If you do not see your driver, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a moderate physical activity-level tour. You can expect short walks and low-intensity activities throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is an slow-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- Most transportation by motor coach
- Daily drive time varies
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day on city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
- Cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
- Access to Edinburgh Castle on the tour extension will involve walking half a mile up a steep hill.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.
Climate Considerations
- In London, travelers can expect cool, cloudy, and rainy days throughout the year, with occasional heatwaves in the summer months (June-September).
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.
- Most transportation on this tour is by private motor coach. Private motor coaches have steps required to board and often do not provide access to ramps or lifts.
- The tour extension includes a train ride from London to Edinburgh.
- European train stations typically operate similarly to airports where security measures, such as baggage and body scanners, are common. Platforms are often spread out across large distances and require travelers to manage their luggage on escalators or stairs. Porterage services are not offered on train transfers and luggage storage on trains is extremely limited. Please keep in mind that trains may only be stopping at the stations for a few minutes; speed with loading and unloading may be imperative.
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one personal item per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches (and the train ride on the tour extension).
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels, airports, and train stations.
- Luggage storage on trains is extremely limited, and often requires travelers to lift their suitcases onto storage racks, sometimes above the seats.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
- Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
- Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
- Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- The United Kingdom operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
Optional Excursions
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
Choose Your Experience
Choose your experience gives you the freedom to personalize your city experience by selecting one guided sightseeing activity from two available options — both included in your tour price. Please note that the two activities occur simultaneously, so you will need to choose just one. You can make your selection at the time of booking or any time up to 20 days before your tour departure. We encourage you to choose early, as some activities have limited availability and fill up on a first-come, first-served basis — your spot is not guaranteed until you've enrolled. If no selection is made by the 20-day deadline, we will automatically assign you to one of the options. Once the deadline has passed, selections are final and cannot be changed. All choose your experience activities require a minimum number of participants to operate. In the rare event that your selected activity cannot run, you will be moved to the alternate option. Please be aware that GAT is unable to offer refunds for Choose your experience activities that do not operate or are not participated in while on tour.
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center for more information or contact our Customer Experience Team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- This tour includes two dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- For traditional English fare at a reasonable price, try a pub meal of fish and chips or bangers and mash. Stilton cheese, steak and kidney pie, and Cumberland sausages are also worth a try.
- Modern-day London boasts an array of diverse international restaurants. Popular options for the adventurous palate include Indian, Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Greek, and West African cuisine. Sip afternoon tea with delicious finger sandwiches and scones at Harrods for the ultimate in English tradition.
- Scottish cuisine, on the tour extension, relies on readily available ingredients like game, dairy, and fish, with little use of exotic spices. Pickled kippers and smoked salmon are popular as well as hearty dishes like Scotch broth (stew of meat and root vegetables) and haggis (a savory pudding of sheep innards). Scotch whisky is a legendary local spirit, and Scottish ales are world-famous.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the Pound sterling on tour.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
- To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
- Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- The United Kingdom is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
- When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm on tour.
- When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.








































































