Day 1
Transfer by shuttle bus from Heathrow Airport to your central London hotel. Your base for this wonderful 5 day winter break is the 4* Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, situated in one of London’s most exclusive areas, South Kensington, just 2 minutes walk from Gloucester Road tube station and convenient for visiting all of London’s top attractions. This distinctive, contemporary hotel has a warm ambiance and many features to make guests feel at home. Once you’ve settled in, set off to explore the capital adorned in all its festive splendour. Your package includes a hop on-hop off London Sightseeing Tour valid for 48 hours from the first time you use the service, so to get the most out of it, ensure you use your pass on two consecutive days – you can get on and off the bus as many times as you like.
Day 2
This City Break includes admission to 3 of London’s fabulous Historic Royal Palaces; The Tower of London, Kensington Palace and the Banqueting House. You can spend the day visiting these fascinating attractions steeped in the turbulent history and intrigue of the British Monarchy, or you may prefer to split them over several days. This tour also includes a Thames Cruise – you can relax and admire London’s iconic landmarks from the unique perspective of the river. Open air ice skating rinks spring up all over the Capital during the festive season, including those at Somerset House, the Tower of London and Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park – a really fun way to spend the evening, before getting some sleep ready for an early start tomorrow.
Day 3
Today, escape from the hustle and bustle of the city on a Full Day Coach Tour to the rural idyll of the Cotswolds in the heart of England, taking in a visit to magnificent Blenheim Palace en-route. This spectacular stately home in the delightful village of Woodstock near Oxford, is the birthplace and childhood home of Sir Winston Churchill. Visitors will be awestruck by the stunning Christmas decorations, as the Palace will be dressed throughout in sparkling crystal and white, with shimmering snowflakes in keeping with its ‘White Christmas’ theme. Your tour then takes you to some of the most charming and quintessentially English villages in the Cotswolds, before returning to London and your hotel.
Day 4
Your package also includes a guided London Walk - there are 3 different walks to choose from: Changing of the Guard, Royal Weddings or Jack the Ripper. After your walk, you can sit back and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of London in all its festive splendour from your Flight on the London Eye - yet another fantastic attraction we've included for you.
On your last night and there's a special treat in store, with a pre-theatre dinner followed by tickets to see a top London Show, to ensure this fabulous festive break ends on a high note.
Day 5
Make time for some Christmas shopping before travelling to the airport for your homeward journey (transfer included in package price). Your hotel is just a short distance from Harrods, so take the opportunity to stock up on distinctive Christmas Gifts for loved ones or simply treat yourself to some well-earned luxuries as a memento of your stay. Alternatively, if time permits, why not visit the Cologne Christmas Market on London's Southbank for unique hand-made gifts, or London's newest and most ambitious retail project. The iconic £1.8 billion Westfield Stratford City Shopping Mall will be the gateway to the London 2012 Olympic Park and is the largest urban shopping centre in Europe.