England/France
The Best of London and Paris: A Tale of Two Cities
Program No. 20953RJ
Compare the grandeur of these two cities as you discover iconic monuments, historic landmarks, distinct cultures and classic architecture on expert-led walks through London and Paris.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
10 days
9 nights
17 meals
8B 5L 4D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
2
Arrive London, Check-In, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
London, England
3
Panoramic City Journey, Victoria & Albert Museum, Free Time
London, England
4
Kensington Palace, Free Time
London, England
5
St. Paul’s Cathedral, The National Gallery
London, England
9
Montmartre, Free time
Paris
10
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
London and Paris. Both historic capital cities boast world-class museums and instantly recognizable landmarks and buzz with commerce, politics, education and culture. But it’s what separates them that makes them most intriguing: the languages, the aesthetics, the food, the attitudes. Compare for yourself on this journey that combines field trips led by top-notch Road Scholar experts and abundant time for independent discoveries.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
I like to spend much of the day exploring. Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full. Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Learn about the modern history of the Royal Family from trusted insider Ken Wharfe, then discover Kensington Palace, the former home of Princess Diana.
- Uncover the great artistic treasures of Paris at the Musee du Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay and the Musee Rodin.
- Enjoy free time to explore the neighborhoods, historic sites, pubs and cafes of London and Paris.
General Notes
Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials. Current Events in Paris: Due to the fire at Notre Dame, the cathedral is closed to visitors. Road Scholar programs that visit île de la Cité will be able to see the outside of the cathedral, but we will not be able to go inside.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Best of London and Paris: A Tale of Two Cities
Program Number: 20953
Paris to the Moon
Gopnik writes with candor and humor about Paris and Parisian ways in these charming reflections on adapting to life in glorious exile.
Paris Map
A sturdy laminated map of the city center at a scale of 1:12,000 and all of Paris at a scale of 1:15,000.
In Montmartre: Picasso, Matisse and the Birth of Modernist Art
Beginning with the teenaged Pablo Picasso’s arrival in Montmartre in 1900, this multi-faceted biography takes on the extraordinary men and women, including Henri Matisse and Gertrude Stein, who transformed the European art world.
Paris in Mind
With selections spanning 300 years, this wonderful anthology reflects America's long connection to Paris and the French. The 30 American writers tapped include Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Hemingway and David Sedaris.
Eyewitness Guide Paris
Gorgeous, well-illustrated and filled with maps, this compact book provides an excellent overview of the French capital, its history, traditions and sights.
The Road from the Past, Traveling through History in France
Time travel through France by way of its finest castles, chateaux, cathedrals and monasteries. This unusual travelogue is an invaluable companion for traveling in Paris, southern France, the Dordogne and the Loire Valley, combining personal observation with large doses of well-presented history.
London Map
A colorful and detailed laminated city map with a variety of useful inset maps.
Mastering the Art of French Eating
New to Paris and with her diplomatic husband called away, Ann Mah (not unlike Julia Child once upon a time) explores France through ten of its iconic regional dishes, from Brittany (crepes) to Provence (soupe au pistou) and Languedoc (cassoulet). Recipes included!
Hungry For Paris
An American in Paris since 1986, European correspondent for Gourmet and editor of Zagat's Paris, Lobrano brings a journalist's savvy and a food lover's insight to this enchanting guide of over 100 places to eat, enlivened by color photographs and charming essays on French food and dining.
Eyewitness Guide London
This superb guide to London features color photography, dozens of excellent neighborhood maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.
Watching the English
Fox's clever guide to the conversation, behavior, quirks, habits and foibles of the English is wildly popular back home in Britain. Second edition.
A Moveable Feast
A treasure for anyone interested in Parisian cafe society and its luminaries circa 1925. Hemingway includes sharp portraits of Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ford Maddox Ford and others who idled on their way to greatness.
London's Royal Parks
A history of the evolution of nine London parks from their days as private hunting land to monarchy acquisition to current status as a manicured public space. Divided into chapters by park, including Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Windsor Great Park and St. James’s Park.
A Tale of Two Cities
Dickens' famous tale of love and intrigue, set against the backdrop of the French Revolution.
Three Men in a Boat and Three Men on the Bummel
Written in 1889, "Three Men in a Boat" (to say nothing of the dog!) is a laugh-out-loud account of a man-powered voyage along the River Thames, full of detail on life and lore. A Longitude favorite.
A Traveller's History of London
The story of London, from the Romans to Tony Blair, tailored to the traveler.
London, A Literary Anthology
Ranging from the 15th century to the present day, the British Library’s generous selection of poems and novel excerpts evokes the spirit of London through the ages. Full-color works of art from the library's collection are interspersed throughout.
Tales of Two Cities, Paris, London, and the Birth of the Modern City
This dual history of Paris and London explores how the two modern metropolises grew alongside each other in design, politics, law and culture.
Paris to the Past, Traveling Through French History by Train
The infectiously enthusiastic Ina Caro charts 25 day trips from Paris in this marvelously conceived history and guide. From the splendor of Chartres, wonders of Sainte-Chapelle and elegant Place de la Concorde, Caro enchants.
Londoners
Drawing on the unforgettable stories of nearly 100 Londoners, Taylor provides a rich and vivid kaleidoscopic view of modern-day London through the diverse voices of those who, regardless of whether they love or hate it, capture the heart and soul of one of the world's greatest cities.
