Day 3: London, ENGLAND
Meet your expert local guide and chauffeur for a day of private
sightseeing in London. See the famous Beefeaters guarding the Crown
Jewels at the Tower of London. Stand on the Tower Bridge for
excellent views of the Thames and the City of Westminster. Nearby is
St. Paul’s Cathedral, rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the
Great Fire of London in 1666. This afternoon, take a ride on the
London Eye. As you are carried to the top of this modern-day Ferris
wheel, you enjoy a spectacular view over the city. Continue to
Trafalgar Square, where the National Gallery of Art is overshadowed
by Nelson’s Column that rises up from the fountain. Then head down
Whitehall and past Downing Street to the Houses of Parliament and
Westminster Abbey, the site of many state occasions, including
coronations and the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana. Pass
Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence in London, on the
way back to your hotel. ►For London hotel suggestions, see above.
Day 4: London / Windsor Castle or Hampton Court / London, ENGLAND
Today, you choose where you want your driver to take you. Perhaps
venture out to Windsor, outside London, for a tour of Windsor
Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and the Queen’s
favorite residence. Subject to opening restrictions, you may view
the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel and Queen Mary’s Doll’s
House. From the castle ramparts you can see Eton College, the
boarding school attended by Prince William and Prince Harry. The
school was founded in 1440 by Henry VI. Visit the old town to peruse
some of the boutiques and cafes. Alternatively, you may drive west
along the River Thames to Hampton Court Palace, a house that became
a favorite royal residence after it was confiscated by Henry VIII
from Cardinal Wolsey in the 16th century. Explore the Great Hall,
the Tudor kitchens and the royal tennis court on which Henry played.
Stroll through the maze in its ornamental gardens and view the
largest vine in England. ►For London hotel suggestions, see above.
Day 6: Paris, FRANCE
In Paris, even the buildings are works of art. View many of these
iconic sights on your morning overview tour: the Eiffel Tower; Arc
de Triomphe; Champs-Élysées; Sainte Chapelle, a pearl of Gothic
architecture; and Notre Dame Cathedral on Ile de la Cité. Discover
the treasures in the world-famous Louvre Museum this afternoon.
Enter the courtyard to see I. M. Pei’s glass pyramid that adds a
contemporary touch to this enormous complex. Once the former royal
residence of the Kings of France, the sprawling Louvre palace
contains one of the most important art collections in the western
world, spanning from antiquity to the mid-19th century. Its
best-known works include the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Afterward,
take a scenic cruise on the River Seine for a different view of this
amazing city. ►For Paris hotel suggestions, see above.
Day 7: Paris / Versailles / Paris, FRANCE
Many rulers, including Peter the Great of Russia, have tried to
outdo the magnificence of the “Sun King” Louis XIV’s Château of
Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally a humble
hunting lodge for Louis XIII, Versailles was expanded by Louis XIV
and transformed into one of the most impressive works of
18th-century French art. In 1682 he moved the court and government
of France there, and Versailles served as the seat of French
government until the 1789 French Revolution. Admire the stunning
palace and visit its State Apartments and decorative gardens. ►For Paris hotel suggestions, see above. Also suggested: Trianon Palace Versailles, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel (in Versailles) (V)
Day 8: Paris, FRANCE
Transfer to the airport to board your homebound flight.