London 7 days

Paul's to hear evensong. We'll begin our morning with a tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the half-timbered and thatched-roofed replica of the original theater that was home to the playwright's productions in the late s. Then we'll take a walking tour along the South Bank of the Thames. We'll see the Tower Bridge and Southwark Cathedral, and learn how this side of the river has evolved since Roman times. We'll end our tour at Borough Market, one of the oldest and largest food markets in London, with colorful produce and the wafting scents of grilled-cheese and duck-confit sandwiches.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy lunch at the market, visit the Tate Modern, hop on a Thames River cruise, or take a ride on the London Eye. Tonight, we'll meet for our "last supper" and raise a toast to London and new friends.

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Heathrow and Gatwick airports can be easily reached by Tube, train, or taxi from our London neighborhood. For those not ready to return home yet, London is a great jumping off point to Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, and many other exciting destinations. Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Best of London in 7 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily….

Jeanie was a first-rate guide; her knowledge of both traditional London history coupled with "insider" facts and anecdotes helped create an engaging, thought-provoking interaction that allowed each day to be both adventurous and meaningful. Nevertheless, the Globe tour was crisply, intelligently presented. The theater was not from the tour. But it was great.

The food tour was outstanding. Love the history of the area and the food. London during the holiday season was dazzling! We saw all the traditional sights, our guide was amazing and witty, and made the whole trip a pleasure. From the food tour, to a tour of Windsor and the castle, everyday was a new adventure. This tour exceeded my expectations. We have taken 20 of your tours and, therefore, have fairly high expectations.

It was a very busy tour but we saw an incredible variety and number of places. I feel like we saw everything I had hoped for. Jeanie was first rate. I really enjoyed her as our tour guide. There was so much to see in so short of time. The people on the tour were a great to get to know. We were able to learn the history of food and try many new foods. The Best of London in 7 Days Tour exceeded my every expectation. The assortment of experiences gave this first-time overseas traveler a thirst to return to London as soon as I can.

I appreciated the balance between group activities and free time, to pursue individual interests and form friendships with other tour participants. The hotel location was very convenient. Another fabulous RS tour that totally lived up to its reputation The tour had the perfect formula for success, great European destination excuse me.. Gillian skillfully ensured an amazing and memorable experience was had by all.

Spectacular panoramic views afforded of the illuminated London skyline, ST. Pauls Cathedral, and a series of bridges whose pastel lights create breathtaking and shimmering reflections in the River Thames that bedazzle the eye and nourish the soul.

The perfect romantic evening was complete, by continuing along the south bank of the Thames, with a final lap across the iconic Tower Bridge. This was my second Rick Steves tour, so I had an idea of what to expect. This trip met my expectation and more! Everything about our trip ran like clockwork and was very easy. The tour was very easy to sign up for and the information we received was very good and easy to follow. The trip was educational, delicious, and a delight.

We were able to see most of what we were hoping to, and now have a list of things we'd like to go back to see on another trip. The architectural contrasts were really impressive and not something I'd ever thought about before.

Gillian spoke about how Paris may be more unified in architectural style and may be perceived as more beautiful, but London has this wonderful eclectic mix of styles, from sections of Roman walls, ruins, and modern buildings all right next to each other.

This tour is an excellent way to experience many facets of London in a short period of time. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and fun. The group excursions and local guides were well-timed and interesting. I like that we had a variety of tours - history, art, culture, food, music - so each day was different. Our group members embraced the "No Grumps" attitude. So glad we did this tour, at this time, with the group we met!

How special to see Windsor Castle, Harrod's, and the markets decked out for Christmas. A true delight! London was most enjoyable surprise.

The accessibility of theater and musical entertainment was amazing. When I win the mega million lottery, I plan to buy an apartment to become a part year London resident. But my "blue bird of happiness" moment was sitting chatting with tour members at the George Inn while drinking my warm mulled cider with a bit of vanilla rum added.

London weather, London crowds, London queues all masterfully orchestrated by conductor Roy. All the local guides were outstanding in their knowledge and communicative abilities to educate and possibly enlighten us. The Globe Theater tour segment provided a superb experience.

This was my first time travelling out of the country. I was anxious but had a very pleasant time. I appreciated the informative info from Roy all along the way.

It was a very busy trip including so many sites to see. It was helpful to have break times for coffee or toilets. The free afternoon times were great. I loved Windsor Castle and the village shopping. Always having the audible device was great!

I never felt lost. It was a great introduction to the city and its history, and it struck a good balance between group activities and time on our own.

We got to know the Tube really well, so it was easy to get places during free afternoons and on the days we stayed in London after the tour ended. I came to realize that we had barely scratched the surface of a few of London's neighborhoods and sights, but it was enough so that I know I want to return to London.

The rooms and furnishings themselves were fascinating, and the videotaped interviews of people who had lived and worked in those rooms for years gave the site a startling authenticity. It's hard to believe that these were the conditions under which Churchill and his advisers planned British war strategy. The rooms seem so primitive.

Jammed packed tour! Great overview of everything London has to offer. Itinerary was a bit strenuous, but we really got to see the major sites. Tom was a terrific guide, enjoyed his witty and clever narratives.

Hotel was in a perfect location to the underground, restaurants, and many of the major sites. Wonderful group of people on this tour, everyone was punctual and conscientious.

Overall a great week! George's Chapel, going back in history to Tower of London, and St. Paul's Cathedral was an unexpected surprise. Visiting the Globe Theater was a nice way to end the week. The tour experience was excellent. I learned so much about British history and was informed in entertaining ways by our guide Tom. The other tour guides were very good and knew their subjects. The Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Assyrian galleries were amazing! I've wanted to visit the museum for as long as I can remember and finally did so.

Wonderful experience. The tour closely matched the description. Tour Shakespeare's Globe or the Tate Modern if you're interested or, if it's a day that the Tate Modern is open late, circle back here later. Evening Cap your day with South Bank sights and experiences that are open late a ride on the London Eye — last ascent — depending on season; a Shakespeare play at the Globe — usually at in summer; or Tate Modern — open Fridays and Saturdays until Spend the morning exploring a street market try to make today coincide with the day that your market of choice is busiest; my guidebooks have details.

Spend the rest of your day at your choice of major sights. Spend the afternoon at Harrods or other shopping venues. To get a break from big-city London, you can easily spend a day or two side-tripping.

Windsor, Cambridge, and Stonehenge each make a satisfying one-day visit. Gene Openshaw is the co-author of the Rick Steves London guidebook. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Share. Even under gray skies, London sightseeing offers nonstop thrills. Oh — you can also see the crown jewels which are outrageous and beautiful. The nearest tube station is Tower Hill, which has access to the Circle and District lines.

On my first trip to London, I actually stayed out near Greenwich. This museum is free to enter and stuffed full of fascinating ship memorabilia, marine engineering relics and feats, and interactive displays for kids too. I am a space nerd after all! The Royal Greenwich Observatory is home to a paid museum, a number of free areas with importance to astronomical history , and the Prime Meridian.

You do have to pay to see the official marker of the Prime Meridian inside the gates, or you can look for tick marks on the nearby walls and stone pathways which also indicate where the Meridian runs.

At the end of the day, you can grab dinner here in Greenwich or back in Central London. I lived between The City and East London and love the area. Hopefully after today, you will too! The easiest way to start the day is by catching a bus, or by taking the Northern Line to Old Street station or the Overground to Shoreditch High Street station. By day, you can stroll the streets looking for street art, boutiques, and a spot for brunch. I recommend you try both! My favorite, Dal East had two pieces in London when I lived there, pictured above.

I also strongly recommend you flip a coin and pick a place for a late lunch. Even if you share a dish of Chicken Tikka Masala and naan, this is the place to experience the impact of British Colonialism in India and the delightful back-transfer of culture to the U. From there, catch a District Line train to Monument station. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St.

What can I say about St. I love to admire St. You can also ride the elevator up in nearby One New Change for stunning views from their public rooftop area. They have a restaurant and dinner too, so you can stay on One New Change to watch the sun set behind St. Most flights to North America leave in the afternoon, which gives you time for a roast or one last pub meal before you depart.

If you happen to be flying home from your trip for 7 days in London on a Sunday, be sure to try a Sunday Roast.