• Our unique Connections Program
• Return airfare from Toronto (YYZ)
• Airport transfers 
• Private motorcoach transportation
• 9 nights accommodation (1 in-flight)
• 9 breakfasts, 6 dinners
• Local professional guides and all entry fees and passes for the listed highlights
• Services of a Professional Tour Director

Prices are in Canadian dollars, are per person, and include HST.

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

• Guided tour of London
• Admission to The Tower of London with self-guided entry to: The Crown Jewels, The White Tower, Chapel of St. Peter, Medieval Palace, Bloody Tower, Fusiliers Museum, and the Royal Mint
• Sightseeing cruise on the Thames
• Westminster Abbey
• Royal Botanical Gardens and Kew Place
• Windsor Castle
• St. George's Chapel
• West End Broadway show (TBA)
• Ferry from Dover to Calais
• Guided tour of Paris
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Musée d'Orsay
• La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre
• Cooking class
• The Louvre
• The Eiffel Tower with 2nd floor lift ticket
• Dinner cruise on the Seine

Notre Dame Cathedral

This beautiful Gothic church was originally completed in 1260. Over the centuries, the walls have witnessed many historical events and Notre Dame has been an important symbol of the city of Paris. In 2019, the world was shocked to see this historic landmark in flames, and the president of France promised to restore the cathedral. The beautifully restored cathedral reopened on December 7, 2024, with over 1500 world leaders in attendance. You, too, can experience Notre Dame: a symbol of French resilience and an architectural masterpiece.

Springtime Splendor

May is a lovely time to enjoy London and Paris, with moderate, comfortable temperatures.  Whether strolling the parks and gardens, enjoying the views from atop landmark lookouts, or taking a break at an outdoor café, spring blooms will re-energize and bring out the joie de vivre!

Get to know the heart of both cities

Become acquainted with London and Paris during an overview city tour with a local guide. Then, during your free time, step out from your centrally located hotel with confidence, and explore and experience the local culture and cuisine.

London is Calling

This world-class city has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites*, and with two thousand years of incredible history, almost every building and street has a story to tell. With stunning architecture and a diversity of cultural experiences: museums, galleries, theatre, and attractions, there is truly something for everyone. 

* (The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Maritime Greenwich.  “These sites tell the story of a global city and its impact on our world.”  Visits to three of these sites are included!)

Day 1: Fly to London, England

This is a big travelling day.  Enjoy your overnight flight from Toronto to London Gatwick Airport.

Stay: n/a (in flight)

Day 2: Arrive in London

This will be a low-key day as you get your bearings in London.  Enjoy an included dinner and get to know your fellow travellers.

Stay: The Holiday Inn Kensington High Street, London, England (4 nights)

Meals: B (on the plane), D

Day 3: A Full Day of Exploring London 

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel, and be sure to wear comfortable shoes, since this is a full day of exploring!  Today's highlights include The Tower of London, The Crown Jewels, the Chapel of St. Peter, The Royal Mint, a cruise on the Thames, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and a walk through St. James Park to Buckingham Palace.

Meals: B

Day 4: Royal Botanical Gardens, Windsor Castle, and St. George's Chapel

You’ll want to be wearing comfortable shoes today!  Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, began as a royal palace in the early 18th century, and not only does it have beautiful and amazing collections of plants in gardens and greenhouses, it has grown to be world-renowned for plant and fungi research. Today will also include a short jaunt outside London to Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel.  The castle has been the official residence of the English monarch for over 900 years, and St. George’s Chapel, built in 1475, serves as a place of worship for the royal family and has been the place for many royal weddings and funerals.

Meals: B, D

Day 5: Free time in London

This is your day to follow your interests.  There are so many interesting things to see and do.  Museums, galleries, and historical sites abound, and you can take your shopping experience to a whole new level with a visit to Harrod's or Selfridges. In the evening, depart from the hotel for a pre-show dinner, and enjoy a West End Broadway show (TBA)

Meals: B, D

Day 6: Travel to Paris

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll depart from the hotel and take the ferry from Dover to Calais.  Enjoy a free afternoon in Paris, and then enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant.

Stay: Mercure Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse, Paris (4 nights)

Meals: B, D

Day 7:  A Full Day of Sightseeing in Paris

This is a special day, indeed, since you will be one of the fortunate ones to visit the recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral.  Also included on the agenda are visits to Musée d'Orsay and La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre.

Meals: B, D

Day 8:  The Louvre

Today it's back to school for a cooking class.  Learn how to make authentic Parisienne Macarons.  Then it's a visit to the largest and probably the most famous museum in the world: The Louvre.  Aside from the Mona Lisa, what priceless works of art are on your list to see? 

Meals: B

Day 9:  Eiffel Tower and Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a free morning, perhaps to do some more shopping or sightseeing. In the afternoon, visit the Eiffel Tower, and experience a delightful farewell dinner cruise on the Seine in the evening.

Meals: B, D

Day 10: Journey Home

After breakfast, depart for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The flight to Toronto will land in the mid-afternoon, local time. Hopefully, you have made dinner plans and can share the stories from your adventures in London and Paris with friends or family.

Meals:  B

This tour includes round-trip airfare from Toronto and our Connections Program, making it easier to get to the airport. Because the actually starts in London and ends in Paris, it is possible for guests from anywhere in the world to join this tour with a flight that meets up with the group in London. Thus, other flight arrangements can be made, and the price will be adjusted accordingly.  Please contact us to discuss your airfare and pre-and post-tour accommodation options.

PACKING NOTES:

• We recommend comfortable rubber-soled shoes for the walking tours, cobblestoned streets and uneven ground, and running shoes or boots are required for the tour of the slate mine. 
• The weather in London and Paris in the springtime can be changeable, so being able to dress in layers is recommended. 
• Pack a waterproof jacket.  It may or may not be needed for rain, but it may protect from cool winds on the sightseeing cruises.
• During this tour the two types of currency used are: Euros and Pounds.
• Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your scheduled departure from the Schengen area.  See also the Canadian government website for current travel advice and advisories:  https://travel.gc.ca/