Independent London: Roman Walls and Historic Royal Palaces
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Learn what daily life was like in London when it was a wealthy Roman provincial capital as an expert leads you on a walk revealing the walls, streets and archaeological sites of this period.
- Delve into the lives of the Tudors and examine the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
- Most afternoons are yours to explore London’s cultural, historic and architectural treasures on your own.
General Notes
Lunch: Excluded.
Afternoon: Hotel check in is at 3:00pm and the concierge will store any luggage. Check in to the hotel, unpack and relax. At 5:30pm, enjoy a welcome meeting for introductions, a review of the programme itinerary and site orientation. PLEASE NOTE - On arrival at the 1st site you will be given an Oyster Card which allows travel on the London Underground and Bus services and covers Zones 1 and 2. Your Group Leader will advise you on how best to use this.
Dinner: Enjoy a welcome dinner.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: This morning enjoy a lecture focusing on Londinium (Roman London), founded in about AD50 and the centre of administration for the province of Britannia. Following the lecture the coach departs the hotel for a panoramic overview of London's monuments and most famous sights. Your London expert continues a discussion of the city's history, as well as its architecture throughout the ages.
Lunch: Lunch is on your own to enjoy what you like. Your Group Leader will give you advice on the best places to find food in this bustling city of restaurants and cafes.
Afternoon: Learn about daily life in Roman London, festivals and feast days in honour of the gods as we visit the Museum of London. Following this, you have to option of joining your Study Leader to continue this exploration walk of Roman London: the walls, locations of gates and a selection of sites of Roman buildings. The walk terminates near Underground station to return to the hotel by Underground.
Dinner: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Use of public transport and a round trip walk of up to 1 mile and standing up to 2 hours. Optional afternoon walk involves approx. 3 miles. This is a long day involving an evening experience.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: This morning's lecture focuses on After Rome: Saxon London, delivered as we travel to the world famous British Museum to view Roman and Saxon artifacts, notably the Mildenhall Treasure, the Sutton Hoo Treasure, and Frank's Casket, named after Sir Augustus Frank.
Lunch: Explore restaurants near the British Museum on your own.
Afternoon: Take an optional walk with your Group Leader to explore the City of London and Greenwich, the beginnings of the city you see today.
Dinner: In a Thameside pub.
Evening: Take a River Boat to Greenwich to see the lights and sites of London by night on the river Thames
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: This morning we visit an unmissable feature of the London skyline, St. Paul’s Cathedral, often considered to be Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. The post-fire rebuilding of the Cathedral was officially completed on Christmas Day 1711 at a cost of £1m. The tranquil interior is majestic in its Baroque splendour. Enjoy a lecture from your Study Leader as you make your way through its awe-inspiring galleries.
Lunch: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Afternoon: Take an optional walk with your Study Leader to explore the Southwark area of London, including the famed Millennium Bridge. Free time for independent exploration of the Guildhall area of London near to St Paul's Cathedral.
Dinner: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: This trip involves use of public transport and round trip walk of up to 1 mile and standing of up to 2 hours. The optional afternoon walk involves approx. 1 mile.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: We take the underground to the Tower of London for an on site lecture and field trip. Visit the Crown Jewels and the White Tower, which was completed in 1100, and now houses an exhibition of armour and a range of fascinating artifacts connected with the history of the Tower and the Monarchy.
Lunch: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Afternoon: For those who wish to remain with the Study Leader, continue with walk round the walls and the medieval palace as the study leader gives insights into the history of this iconic fortress. Take a Yeoman Warder tour.
Dinner: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: This trip involves use of public transport and round trip walk of up to 1 mile and standing of up to 2 hours. The optional afternoon walk involves approx. 1 mile.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: On-site lecture on the Tudors and Stuarts. Led by your local expert, take public transport to discover the History of Hampton Court Palace and explore the wonders of this majestic building, and the stories behind them. Enjoy Henry VIII's Apartments and the display in the Council Chamber. Take a walk through the Tudor Kitchens, visit William III's Apartments and discover the Georgian Private Apartments.
Lunch: Excluded. Food may be purchased in the Hampton Court Cafe or Privy Kitchen.
Afternoon: Continue to the Chapel Royal and view the "Truimph of Cezar" by Mantegna. Take public transport back to central London and take some more time to explore this fascinating city.
Dinner: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: This trip involves use of public transport and round trip walk of up to 1 mile and standing of up to 2 hours. The optional afternoon walk involves approx. 1 mile.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: Enjoy a lecture on Georgian to Present Day London, before hopping aboard the underground and visiting Westminster Abbey. Discover over a thousand years of history where Benedictine Monks first came in the middle of the tenth century establishing a tradition of daily worship, where, some of the most significant people in the nation’s history have been buried and where numerous royal occasions took place including sixteen royal weddings and every Coronation since 1066.
Lunch: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Afternoon: Continue with your Study Leader with a walk through Westminster, or use your weekly public transport pass to explore more of London.
Dinner: Farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: Independent departures for return flights to North America. Some early transfers may leave before breakfast which ends at 10:00am. Your Group Leader will give you helpful information about getting to the airport and will be able to assist you with arrangements if needed.