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Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotel, transfers, meals and more!

London Express

Ask any experienced traveler about London, and chances are you'll hear that it's a personal favorite, high on the list of "visit every chance I get" cities. And the pomp, pageantry and grandeur are only the beginning of the story. London has absolutely everything you could want from a travel destination, from truly great theater, wonderful restaurants, inspired fashion and shopping galore, magnificent museums of art, history and culture, history, music, literature and a multicultural population that gives London an amazing and wonderful diversity. Amazing, too, is our London Express package pricing, starting at only $799, including flights from JFK (ask about inexpensive through fares from other gateways), 4 nights at the Superior First Class Hilton Kensington Hotel, daily breakfast and an arrival transfer. You simply can't afford to miss it!

Our Touring Program

Day 1: Depart USA. Your exciting journey to London begins today as you check in for your overnight jet flight.

Day 2: Arrive London. Morning arrival in London. Meeting by our representatives, assistance through customs formalities, and transfer to your centrally located 4-star superior hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to begin your exploration of this fascinating city. Your hotel is in the beautiful Kensington area of London only two miles from Kensington Palace, Hyde Park and much more.

This evening, enjoy an optional opportunity to see, hear and feel the vibrancy which is London. As the working day draws to an end and the lights are switched on, you'll see the London that never sleeps, including some of its famous and beautifully illuminated landmarks. Drive by Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, the London Eye, and, crossing one of the bridges over the River Thames, enjoy a spectacular view of the city at night. Later, visit three of London's oldest and best pubs where you'll enjoy an included first drink.(£25). Hilton London Kensington.(B)

Day 3: London. Today, you can choose one (or both) of the optional sightseeing tours offered. This morning visit Royal London. Departing from Victoria Coach Station, view the MI6 building as seen in the "James Bond" films, Lambeth Palace and Westminster Bridge with fabulous views of the River Thames and the London Eye. Continue to Parliament Square for a guided walking tour including the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Travel along Whitehall to Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister, and Trafalgar Square. A walking tour of the area takes you to The Mall, Admiralty Arch, St. James Park, Clarence House, the home of Prince Charles, St. James Palace and Buckingham Palace, where you'll witness the changing of the Guard. (On rare occasions, when the Changing of the Guard does not occur, you'll visit Horseguards Parade.) Afterward, drive along Piccadilly past Green Park and the Ritz to the Hard Rock Cafe where your tour terminates. (£21.50).

After lunch, which is not included, you can return to your hotel independently or enjoy an afternoon tour of London Past and Present. You will ride in comfort to Piccadilly Circus, the Strand and the South Bank where you will see the National Theatre and the London Eye. A walking tour takes you to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern Art complex before crossing the Millennium Bridge to St. Pauls Cathedral. Continue by coach past the Bank of England and the Monument, a tribute to the Great Fire of London, to Tower Hill to see the Tower of London. Here, you can choose to enter and visit the Crown Jewels or stay with your guide who will lead you on a walking tour around the Tower explaining it's history. Your tour ends at Victoria Train Station. (£21.50) (B)

Day 4: London. Enjoy a day at leisure or join an optional full day tour to Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Gardens. Built high above the Thames River, Windsor Castle has been home to the Royal Family for 900 years and is still an Official Residence of the Queen. Visit the magnificent State Apartments*, still used for Sate occasions and Royal receptions and St. George's Chapel, one of the most beautiful examples of medieval church architecture in England and a burial place of kings and queens, including Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. Afterward, travel via Runnemede, where King John met his barons in 1215 and agreed to seal the Magna Carta. Visit the Kennedy Memorial, situated on an acre of land given to America by the people of Britain, the continue to the magnificent formal gardens of Hampton Court. Here, centuries of careful cultivation have resulted in a symphony of regal splendor, symmetry and intricacy. (£49) (B)

*On rare occasions, the State Apartments may be closed. Queen Mary's Dolls House will be visited instead.

Day 5: London. Full day at leisure to explore London independently or take advantage of additional optional tours available to you, both within and outside of London. Stroll through London's colorful and lively West End and browse Covent Garden. Enjoy window (or real) shopping on world-famous Bond Street where you'll find shop after shop offering wonderful fashions from popular and traditional British designers.

Try to stop by St-Martins-in-the-Field at Trafalgar Square (which is presently undergoing a massive renovation but will reopen fully by October 1), where, with a little bit of luck, you'll hear a free concert and get a chance to try your hand at brass rubbing in the famous church's basement gallery, known as the Crypt. Don't miss a visit to the British Museum, one of the world's greatest museums of human history and culture and the National Gallery, which houses one of the world's best collections of Western European painting. These museums, as well as other major British Museums, are admission free and not to be missed. Consult your destination guide for lots of other suggestions, and be assured you will NOT run out of things to do.

Why not join an optional evening dinner event such as a Medieval Banquet. You'll step back in time to experience an evening in the vaulted cellars of Ivory House. Join King Henry VIII and his special guests who will perform a show of festive pageantry that includes duelling knights, magic and feats of strength. All of this accompanies a four-course banquet with unlimited beer and wine, followed by music and dancing.(£49) (B)

Day 6: London/USA. Today you'll bid London a fond farewell. Transfer to the airport independently to board your return flight to the USA. Your exciting journey comes to an end as you arrive in the USA later today. (B)

Destination FAQs

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to England, click here.

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London Express
Included Features

• Round-trip airfare from New York (other gateways are available upon request) including fuel surcharges. Click here for a full flight schedule.

• Arrival transfer with meeting, assistance and porterage

• Accommodations at the 4-star Hilton London Kensington

• Full buffet American breakfast daily (B)

• Wide variety of optional tours to help you explore London further.

Taxes & Fees Service Price Additional Taxes, Fees, & September 11 Security Fee $170

Optionals & Upgrades Service Price Single Room Supplement $375 Comprehensive Travel Insurance (Recommended) $129

Alternate Gateways: Included flights are from New York (JFK). Departures from other cities at low through fares may be available upon request. Please call us at 800-555-5765 to check availability from alternate gateways.

Shop & Compare

Our packages may look similar to others you've seen, but we invite you to shop & compare. There are important differences that make Friendly Planet tours the best you can find.

Credit Cards or Cash:Whether you pay by check, money order or your favorite major credit card, your tour price is the same. No extra cost to charge your dream vacation to London when you travel with Friendly Planet.Credit Card Authorization Form.

No Compromise on Quality: Despite our extraordinary prices, there are no compromises on our London Express tours. You'll stay in well-located, Superior First Class hotels that are noted for their amenities and service. Optional tours, where offered, are priced specially for Friendly Planet travelers.

Included Features: Your arrival transfers are all included, not expensive extras as in other tours. You'll enjoy a lavish buffet breakfast daily with lots of delicious choices to begin your day.

Free Comprehensive Destination Guide: To help you prepare for your trip, you will receive a free, comprehensive Friendly Planet London destination guide - a Friendly Planet exclusive - filled with plenty of helpful information about the destinations themselves (including history and other fascinating facts), weather, tipping, local customs, how to dress, plus insider shopping, nightlife and restaurant suggestions, organized by cuisine and cost.

Personal Service: Most important of all, the extra ingredient that makes our tours stand apart from others—the wonderful, personal attention you'll receive from our friendly staff in the USA and our representatives in London, is completely free of charge. Compare our London Express programs to others, feature for feature. You'll see for yourself that ours are the very best value for money you'll find anywhere.

Important Note: If you are reserving this tour less than 60 days prior to departure, confirmation is subject to space availability. We will advise you within 48 hours if we can confirm your reservation. In the meantime, no credit cards will be debited for deposits or payments until we are able to confirm your reservations.

Waitlisting on Sold-Out Departures: If your preferred departure is sold out, you can place yourself on a waitlist by completing the online reservation form and submitting it to us. Just click on the "waitlist" button, complete the form and click "submit". In the comments box at the very bottom of the form, please write any notes regarding your request, especially any flexibility you might have in your dates of travel. This way, if your first choice doesn't clear, we can try for a second or third choice. We will make every effort to clear your space in a timely way so that you can join us on tour. You do not need to send any deposits for waitlists. When we clear your space, we'll contact you immediately by phone or email, and if you still wish to travel, we will arrange for deposits or payments at that time. We regret that we cannot accept waitlists beyond 35 days prior to departure. If you see "sold out" next to the dates you wish to reserve or waitlist, please note that this departure is now closed, including waitlist possibilities.

Flight Schedule: Click here for a full flight schedule.

Already Booked? Print and complete your Tour Registration Form (PDF).

800.555.5765 / Fax 215.572.9803

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* Some tour prices reflect an early booking discount on select dates. Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee.

Though we do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our site about our tours, sometimes oversights and typographical errors can occur. Please confirm all tour prices and details with us via email or phone prior to booking. We will not be held responsible for misunderstandings arising from such errors.