Explore London, Paris & Normandy.

If you are arriving by air, we will arrange for your transfer to the hotel in London. This evening you will meet the Tour Director and the rest of your tour group at a welome dinner. 

After breakfast in the hotel, we will head for Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It is an official residence of Her Majesty the Queen, whose standard flies from the Round Tower when she is in residence. Lunch will be enjoyed together at a local restaurant in Windsor.

In the afternoon we return to the hotel, where you will be free to adventure out into London and follow your own interests. Your Tour Director will be available to offer suggestions and assistance. 

Today we will enjoy a full day tour of the capital. We will see London’s iconic sights including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. There will be plenty of opportunities for photos!

Enjoy lunch at leisure before heading to Westminster Pier, where we will take the boat to Greenwich with commentary from a local river guide. The coach will collect us in Greenwich to return back to the hotel in time for you to make your own dinner arrangements for this evening. 

It will be an early departure from London this morning. Our coach will take us to Dover for a ferry crossing over the English Channel to Calais and on into Paris. Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant this evening.

Board your coach and transfer to the Eiffel Tower for a 1 hour boat cruise, an ideal way to soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful city and pass the major sights. You will then be transferred to the Montparnasse Tower for the most amazing views over Paris with a glass of champagne on arrival. Take photos from the 56th floor, located 210 metres over Paris. There is also an open air panoramic terrace. The afternoon is at leisure for you to explore Paris on your own, perhaps go up the Eiffel Tower or stay with your Tour Director and explore Paris on foot. 

Today we will enjoy a full day excursion to Versailles. The Chateau and Gardens of Versailles are among the most illustrious of World Heritage sites. Built by the 'Sun King' Louis XIV, the Chateau contains a magnificent collection of furniture and art works. Your ‘passeport’ offers entry to the Chateau, Trianon Palaces, Marie-Antoinette’s Estate and the Gardens. Meet your guide at the Chateau. Enjoy the Gardens, lying west of the palace, the gardens span around 800 hectares and took around 40 years to complete. They are famous for their geometric designs with terraces, tree-lined paths, ponds and canals throughout. 

Today we bid farewell to the most romantic city in the world and head instead for Normandy. The French region of Normandy is steeped in history, from before the time of William the Conqueror in the 11th century to the landings of World War II. With ancient towns and sandy beaches there is much to see and enjoy here - Normandy combines a dramatic coastline with vast beaches, smart resorts and traditional fishing harbours with military and cultural history.

Dinner will be enjoyed at the hotel together tonight.

Today we undertake a personal exploration of the events which happened during WW2, now over 70 years ago. We travel to Sainte Mere Eglise, scene of some tragic landings by the US paras before visiting the Azeville Battery. We will see Utah Beach and Pointe Du Hoc, which was captured by the American Rangers. We also visit the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, a resting place for 9,387 souls. The tour concludes with a drive along Omaha Beach to the Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery, with its original guns still in-situ.

Today we enjoy the beautiful coastal villages of this beautiful region, driving along scenic beaches to Deauville where you will have time to explore, shop, eat and stroll on the promenade overlooking the sandy beach. Next we visit neighbouring Trouville with its little shops and working fishing harbour.

In the afternoon, we will enjoy a tour of the Calvados Experience. Calvados is the local liquor, an apple brandy. We will see how the traditional drink of the region is made and be given to opportunity to taste it for ourselves. Dinner at leisure this evening.

Today is an early departure to enjoy the beautiful view Mont St. Michel against the coastline, Normandy's most distinctive monument. Perched on a rocky island, the abbey rises majestically out of the sea in a beautiful natural bay. During high tide it is almost completely surrounded by water.

We then continue our journey to Bayeux to visit the world famous tapestry which tells the story of William the Conqueror and his defeat of the Last Anglo-Saon King of England and depicts events from the Norman perspective 1064 to 1066. This 1,000 year old embroidery even features the first known depiction of Halley's comet. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight.

Today we say 'au revoir' to France and return to London by ferry for a farewell dinner together. 

The tour ends today. After breakfast we say a fond farewell to the new friends we have made and you will be offered a transfer to the airport if this is part of your travel plans. Why not extend your stay in London to allow for some sightseeing at your own pace?