Overview Itinerary Dates & prices Reviews Hotels, flights & FAQ

London: The City Experience

with London extension

Duration: 7 or 9 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 133

Discover everything Great Britain’s most dynamic city has to offer.

London was once considered the capital of the world—and it shows. It has a history that stretches back 2,000 years, and a culture as rooted in the local pub as it is in world-class museums. Get acquainted with this city at your own pace, whether that means strolling through Kensington Gardens, entering Westminster Abbey, or seeing Big Ben up close.

Your tour package includes

5 nights in a well-located hotel
5 breakfasts
2 dinners with beer or wine, including a signature farewell dinner experience and ride on the London Eye
Expert Tour Director
Sightseeing tour with a local guide

Included highlights

Trafalgar Square
Big Ben
Buckingham Palace
ride on the London Eye
Covent Garden

Start planning today

An expert specializing in tours of this
region is here to help

Talk to a Tour Consultant

Day-by-day itinerary

Print itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to London today.

London5 nights

Day 2: Arrival in London

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to London! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of London

Included meal: Breakfast

View the regal landmarks of England’s vibrant and cosmopolitan capital on a guided sightseeing tour.

Pass the grand Trafalgar Square and Baroque-style St. Paul’s Cathedral, perched atop Ludgate Hill
See Westminster Abbey, the setting for royal coronations, weddings, and funerals
View icons like Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
Stop by Buckingham Palace, where you may catch the Changing of the Guard

Enjoy a free afternoon in London or add an excursion.

Windsor Castle

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 4: Free day in London

Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know London on your own or add an excursion.

Stonehenge & Salisbury

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 5: Free day in London

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend the day exploring London on your own or add an excursion.

Westminster Abbey & Afternoon Tea

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 6: A ride on the London Eye & farewell dinner

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Explore London on your own today or add an excursion.

This evening, take in spectacular views of the city’s skyline from the London Eye. Take a tour through the Covent Garden area of the West End before saying goodbye to your group at a farewell dinner.

Tower of London & Thames River Cruise

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 7: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to continue exploring London.

Extension to London

A city that loves to be explored, London beckons with world-class (and often free) museums and galleries, quirky shops, outstanding restaurants, royal pageantry, charming neighborhoods, and an unconquered heritage of more than 2,000 years of history.

London2 nights

Day 7: Free day in London

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day exploring London at your own pace or add an excursion.

London Home-Hosted Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 8: Free day in London

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy another full free day to explore the city on your own.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Flight Home

Day 9: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Show full itinerary

Get unbeatable value

With price matching, risk-free booking,
interest-free payments, and more

Read details

Reviews

4.7 average

Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

10/28/2019 by 2nd time traveler Claudia B.

My London experience was incredible. This was a birthday gift to myself, the first time ever getting a passport and traveling out of the country. Our Tour Director Kay, was wonderful. I have to admit that the next time I do this and there will be a next time, I will have to be more physically fit...

Read more +

Lovely London!

10/28/2019 by 8th time traveler Mary K.

Thank you, Kay Macintyre for making this trip so special! You are a delight and a wealth of knowledge about your fair city! Thank you for going above and beyond making this trip smooth in the midst of chaos with the challenges in the center of town. You helped make our extended stay wonderful wit...

Read more +

10/06/2019 by 2nd time traveler Maxine M.

The tour was wonderful along with our amazing tour guide Kay..Would do it again...Go ahead took care of everything so it was a worry free trip..Thank you for the experience..

WONDERFUL TRIP

10/04/2019 by 2nd time traveler Wanda M.

This was a wonderful TRIP. Just the right amount of structured time as well as free time. The tour directot, Kay, could not have been any better. I will definitely use this company again.

Excellent tour!

09/29/2019 by 9th time traveler Helen S.

The only downside to this very excellent tour was the welcome dinner at the hotel. I would have preferred being taken to an authentic English pub to start the tour on the right foot. Otherwise, City Stay Tours allow you to do as much or as little as you want on your own. We chose a mix of Go Ahead o...

Read more +

Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

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.

Dorsett City

This contemporary hotel is located in Aldgate. Guests enjoy a gym, free Wi-Fi, and restaurants. Nearby, you’ll find the Tower of London, Tower Bridge,...

Read more +

Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

Local weather

London, England

Weather averages

Today
High 90°F Low 74°F

FAQ

Print FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

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.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for about 1.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with few hills or stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart fromLondon. When you first arrive in London, a driver from a private chauffeur service will be standing at the arrival gate with your name on a message board. If you do not see your driver, please remain in the arrival lounge, as the driver may be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the shuttle at the time of your arrival. For more details, please reference the London transfer information included in your Go Kit.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
For your convenience, a 4-day London Underground ("the tube") pass is also included in the price of your tour.

Baggage allowance

Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend 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).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to the United Kingdom.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at [cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov).
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.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

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.

Electricity & air conditioning

England operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances, but these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

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.

Time zones

England operates on Greenwich Mean Time Zone (GMT) and is five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it's 5pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the Pound sterling on tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, but you may choose to order 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.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
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.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Dates & prices

Choose your dates to start a quote

20202021

Starts

Ends

Price

Availability

2020

London: The City Experience

More tours you might love