Corinthia London: Stay of Distinction

Corinthia Hotel London lies in the heart of the capital. Facing the River Thames, it is within easy walking distance of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the National Gallery and the London Eye. A short stroll will take you to Buckingham Palace, West End theatres, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and the grand shopping thoroughfares of Regent Street and Bond Street. This grand Victorian building, dating from 1885, has been given new life with fine rooms and stylish suites offering state-of-the-art 21st Century luxury.

If everyone in your group wants to do something different then this tour is for you. This 4 hour tour will take you around London seeing the sites but will follow the footsteps of Shakespeare, The Beatles, James Bond and Sherlock Holmes. The tour begins with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. You will see where Shakespeare lived in London, several statues dedicated to him, and the alleyways and streets he wandered, plus your registered tour guide will tell you tales of the man and his life. Whilst travelling through London you will of course come across 221b Baker St. You will also see where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle really did live and practice medicine, and follow Holmes on clues all over London from the books to the films.

You will then enter the world of James Bond, and see Ian Fleming's house, MI6, and MI5. You will see the various James Bond film location sites all around town, plus find out about real spies, how they worked and where they met.

It is then on to the Beatles section of this tour. Imagine it's the 1960's in swinging London and you are following the Fab Four - John, George, Paul and Ringo seeing where they lived worked and played. You will see Abbey Road, Pauls London office, John and Yoko's flat, Brian Epstein's home plus a lot more. This fun packed tour will please one and all.

At 135 meters (approximately 443 feet), the London Eye is the world's largest cantilevered observation wheel. It was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects and was launched in 2000, and has since won over 85 awards for national and international tourism, outstanding architectural quality and engineering achievement. The observation wheel turns slow enough for people to embark while it is moving, and a complete turn takes about thirty minutes. Thanks to the construction of the glass capsules on the outer side of the rim, you will have a great 360-degree view of London. Many famous landmarks are clearly visible, including Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. On a clear day, you can see as far as 40 kilometers (approximately 25 miles). Make sure to reserve a specific time in advance as all entries now require a fixed-time reservation. A helpful hint? It's less crowded at night and the views on a clear night are even more spectacular.

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel by your private driver and guide, and make your way to Windsor. Built high above the River Thames, Windsor Castle has been home to the Royal Family for 900 years and is still an Official Residence of the Queen. We visit the magnificent State Apartments* (please note these can be closed to the public without notice), still used for State occasions and Royal receptions. Take some time to explore the castle grounds and the fourteenth-century St. George's Chapel, one of the most beautiful examples of medieval church architecture in England and a burial place of kings and queens, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour. Next you are on to Oxford, a city of Dreaming Spires and home to the world's most famous university. Its colleges date back to the 13th century, an inspiration to generations of scholars including President Bill Clinton, and the authors J R R Tolkien, Lewis Carroll and C S Lewis. Your guide will take you on a walking tour to see Christ Church college, the Bodleian Library and the Sheldonian Theatre.

Early this morning you will meeting your tour representative at the London St Pancras Station to collect your tickets and information pack. The journey to Paris takes just 2 hours and 15 minutes. On arrival at Gare du Nord station, you will be able to join the Hop-on / Hop-off tour of Paris. The day is yours to explore this wonderful city. Hop off the bus at the Louvre to visit this world famous art gallery, or the Eiffel Tower for some wonderful views. Go shopping on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, see the Arc de Triomphe and visit the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral. Please ensure you return to Gare du Nord station at least 1 hour before your scheduled return ticket time (to allow for check in and customs).

IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you bring your valid passport and (if applicable) the appropriate visa.