LONDON
8 Days and 6 nights in London…with an Optional one-day tour to Paris
One week in England’s capital that combines the traditional sightseeing of England’s capital city with tours that will show you hundreds of years of the African presence and contribution to London’s way of life
LONDON – A visit to London is more than a visit to a key European city. It’s an encounter with a living, breathing entity in its own right. The Changing of the Guard, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Square all sites you have heard about. A city full of the character and personality of having been around for nearly 2,000 years. It’s a city of extremes, where dives and luxury coexist almost side-by-side. And where modern and medieval know no boundaries
But this tour is more than just seeing the great sites of London. It will also show you the links between Africa, India and the Caribbean, and explain how history was whitewashed and racism was institutionalized. There will also be a visit Brixton (the Harlem of London) to experience the African culture of this London suburb.
All this on your London stay – Incredible theater, wonderful restaurants, great shopping, and optional one-day tour to Paris and an insight to London’s Black history on this memorable trip.
Inclusions:
- Round-trip transfers between airport and hotels
- First Class hotel Accommodations
- Hotel taxes & service charges at the hotel
- Portage at hotels and airports
- Breakfasts every day
- Lunches and dinners as indicated
- Sightseeing tours, as per itinerary, including entrance fees
- Local guides for sightseeing
Added Features:
- Tour of Brixton
- A Caribbean lunch in Brixton
- Optional one-day tour to Paris including a ride on the Chunnel train
- Welcome dinner at a London Pub
- Farewell dinner cruise on the Thames river
Featured Hotels or similar:
London: Hotel???
Sample Itinerary
Day 1. To London
Depart this evening for London (African American Journeys will be happy to assist you with your flight plans)
Day 2. Arrive London- Tour Begins (D)
Arrival in London and after clearing Customs and Immigrations, we proceed to our reserved accommodations. After we check in at our hotel, we have time to rest and get accustomed to the time change before having our informal “Welcome to England” dinner at a local typical Pub-Style restaurant.
Day 3. In London (B)
We depart after our filling English breakfast for a full morning to experience London’s West End, including a look at Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Square and a guided tour of Westminster Abbey. An architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries, it presents a unique pageant of British history – the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, the tombs of kings and queens, and countless memorials to the famous and the great. It has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 CE, as well as for numerous other royal occasions. Afterwards you can be dropped off in the area or return via our motor coach to the hotel. Lunch on our own. The afternoon is free to explore this most cosmopolitan of cities on your own. Maybe visit some of the museums that reign in London. For modern works, check out the Southwark’s Tate Modern; the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square showcases an impressive array of artists, such as Van Eyck. When it comes to performance art, London is a leader – and many of the city’s theaters are congregated together in the neighborhoods around Covent Garden. But Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, one of London’s main attractions and the most well-known theater, is located in South Bank and still performs Shakespeare’s plays in period dress. .
Day 4. In London – Black History day of touring including Brixton (B/L)
After breakfast we embark on a unique historical tour of London’s Black history. Millions of people have visited London great sites and have no idea of the centuries of African history right in the city on a coach and walking tour. Here you will discover the secret alleyways and enormous buildings a; connected to Africa and the Caribbean in ways that the owners do not want you to know. You’ll find out about Black loyalists and African revolutionaries. Uncover the submerged links between racism, trade, religion, slavery and politics which are still evident in the very streets and buildings that are the oldest part of London. Learn about African Kings, Queen Victoria, African resistance leaders of the 1860’s, Black freedom fighters in the 1700 London, Ancient African architecture, media propaganda of the 1800 and much, much more. In the afternoon, we leave for Brixton where your local guide will introduce you to the colorful and vibrant area of London which is home to a large portion of London’s black community. Known as London’s Harlem, Brixton has become the inspiration to many musicians and artists as well. Your tour will take in Railton Road, the David Greig grocery store, Bettie Morton Gallery, Victorian streets such as Kellet Road, St Mathews Square and Peace Garden, Brixton Road and all famous clubs, cafes and jazz bars. We will see the famous Ritzy Cinema and Electric Avenue, plus visit the largest Caribbean food market in the country at Granville Arcade. Included will be a lunch of delicious local specialties and free time to explore on your own before we head back to our hotel where you have the evening on your own to try some of London’s wonderful restaurants.
Day 5. In London – Free day, or an Optional excursion to Paris (B)
A free day to explore London. London is a world-class city, filled with enough attractions to pique even the pickiest traveler’s interest. There’s Piccadilly Circus for its flashing lights, Big Ben for its stately grandeur, the London Eye ferris wheel for its soaring views, and so on. Those interested in British history tend to enjoy the Imperial War Museum, the Churchill War Rooms and the British Museum, Shopaholics will meet their match along Oxford High Street and in Knightsbridge. The city’s high-end trinity is made up of Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. For cheaper price tags, look in Marks & Spencer or Topshop. Enjoy Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the London Zoo. .
OR
Take an optional full one-day excursion to Paris. An early morning departure for the rail station to board your Eurostar train to travel under the English Channel for the “City of Lights”, Paris [about 2 ½ hours]. Upon arrival, your coach will meet you for a dazzling panoramic tour across this treasured city. See luxury stores that stretch for miles on the world-famous Champs Elysees and spy the towering Arc de Triomphe standing firmly at the western end of the street. You’ll cruise past the Trocadero, a stunning neo-Classical building that houses a national theatre and various museums plus a stop at the Eiffel Tower to stretch your legs. This will give you the opportunity to take those once-in-a-lifetime photos of this beautiful iron lattice tower named after the engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who designed the tower. Which opened on March 31st 1889. A quick lunch at a local restaurant before you board a river cruise boat and sail down the River Seine during an hour-long luxury cruise, floating under classic Parisian bridges and past stunning monuments. An audio guide will also be provided to give an informative commentary about the buildings and attractions you pass. As your unforgettable day in Paris comes to a close, you head back to Gare du Nord rail station to bid the romantic city a reluctant farewell and return to London about 8pm for dinner on your own.
Day 6. In London (B/D)
A free day to explore London. London is a world-class city, filled with enough attractions to pique even the pickiest traveler’s interest. There’s Piccadilly Circus for its flashing lights, Big Ben for its stately grandeur, the London Eye ferris wheel for its soaring views, and so on. Those interested in British history tend to enjoy the Imperial War Museum, the Churchill War Rooms and the British Museum, Shopaholics will meet their match along Oxford High Street and in Knightsbridge. The city’s high-end trinity is made up of Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. For cheaper price tags, look in Marks & Spencer or Topshop. Enjoy Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the London Zoo. Then the late afternoon, we head for the pier to board our ship and cruise the Thames allowing you to see all of London’s best sights from another angle at night, as you sail past the Houses of Parliament, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, the Docklands and the Millennium Dome.
Day 7. To USA (B)
Early breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Arrival the same day.
This is a sample itinerary we could use to help plan a tour for your group.
For more information, please go to: http://africanamericanjourneys.com/form-your-own-group-travel-free