Discovering London's Historical Gems

On day one, we are going to hit the ground running! If that's not your style, no problem. Take the afternoon to settle into your hotel and wander the streets of London. Maybe stopping at a café on the bank of River Thames would be a great way to unwind after your journey.

If moving and grooving is your style, drop your bags at the hotel and hop in a cab or take the tube over to the City of London! Here you can admire from outside the Shard and London Bridge. I recommend buying tickets to go inside and discover all the Tower of London has to offer, as well as taking a peek inside Saint Paul's Cathedral. Next, you can book tickets to see the inside of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre! Finish your day with a nice meal of British-style cuisine or opt for a quirky meal and movie hosted by Taste Film! Truly a unique experience offered in London!

Wake up early and enjoy breakfast at your hotel or grab a coffee and pastry at Caffe Grana to enjoy on the way to your first site to see!

Today you are exploring the most famous parts of London in the City of Westminster. A good option to navigate this area could be a hop-on hop-off Red Bus tour, but I prefer walking through the area. Many of the top spots are close together and you'll be able to wander at your own pace. My top three to see would have to be Buckingham Palace (depending on the time of year, you may be able to tour inside, but be sure to book in advance!), Big Ben (again, you can book a tour to see the inside if you wish, but bring earplugs!) and Churchill's War Rooms.

If site-seeing is not how you'd like to spend your whole day, there are plenty of shopping plazas to visit! I recommend Covent Garden, a shopping center connected by cobbled streets lined with many shoppes, cafés and restaurants. They also offer seasonal experiences and collections! The best way to end your day in London, in my opinion, is by attending a show at His Majesty's Theatre (previously Her Majesty's Theatre and renamed April 2023). Established in 1705, the theatre is oozing with British history and is as much of an experience to visit as enjoying a performance here is! I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance for the best experience.

There is so much to do in London, but also so many places to experience outside of London I'd recommend seeing as much as possible!

So today, we are taking a private day tour to Stonehenge, City of Bath and Cotswald! Stonehenge speaks for itself, and I feel like this historical site is a must-see if you're in the area! The City of Bath is famous for its walled, Roman architecture and its complex structure of hot springs. It's a truly incredible feat that the Romans with very limited technology were able to establish such a system, and while touring Bath, you'll see the baths, but hear about how the Romans created it!

The last stop on our day tour is The Cotswolds. This village has become known for its typical English landscape and creating a fairytale-like feeling as you walk the streets. All the buildings are created with Cotswold Stone, creating a uniform look among the lush green gardens, flowering vines and stone walls. It truly is a picture as you explore the local shops and gardens and a great way to end a day trip. I recommend adding additional time to enjoy dinner at a picturesque pub; The Porch House, perhaps, a restaurant with a patio operating out of England's oldest inn!

I'm sure you're getting anxious for a morning to sleep in, but give me one more day! If you are more interested in having a leisurely last day in London or maybe you didn't get to do everything in the city on the first two days, of course, you can use this as a free day.

I recommend taking one more day trip to see a few castles and indulge in more history! Today is the day for a private tour to Leeds Castle, Dover Castle, including the White Cliffs of Dover and concluding with a trip to Canterbury! Both Leeds and Dover Castles are steeped in history and have witnessed the rise and fall of many rulers! In particular, Dover Castle also played a major role during WWI and WWII, acting as the gateway to England! Canterbury is the last place you will visit today. It is one of the most visited places in the country and has been since it was founded by St. Augustine in about 600AD! While you are strolling the medieval streets, be sure to visit the famous Canterbury Cathedral, a place that people have been pilgriming to for thousands of years. Westgate Towers and the Canterbury Castle ruins should also be seen during your time here!

Finally a morning to sleep in! I know it's long overdue after all the exploration you've been doing! I recommend taking your last day in London to see anything you feel you missed - sites, shopping and souvenirs. This morning is also the perfect time to indulge in a traditional English breakfast or brunch!

If you're not ready to finish exploring London, consider taking a trip to Oxford University, especially if you're a Harry Potter fan. You will walk the halls that were used for filming the scenes inside Hogwarts. Harry Potter fanatics could also use today to take a Harry Potter tour of Warner Brothers Studios! Many of these tours offer luxury transport from London, so all you have to do is enjoy the magic! As this is your last day in London, I always like to have a fancy/fun last meal in the city. Rules would be a great option in my option since it's the longest-operating restaurant in the city and offers a gastronomic and traditional British menu! A more low-key option I suggest is Tattershall Castle. This is a pub on a boat that is actually docked on the Thames! It offers several different menus and cocktails, comedy shows and music. They even have a nightclub on board if you don't want your last night to end! It is sure to offer a unique experience for a last meal!

After embracing all that London has to offer, you will depart from Heathrow Airport to return home and begin planning your next getaway! I usually begin this process before my plane has even left the tarmac!