Enjoy art, architecture and ambiance in London and Paris. Ride the underground to an English café then take a stroll through Hyde Park. See Da Vinci's masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, in Paris's Louvre and then see the famed Eiffel Tower sparkle when is lit up at night.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - London

Begin your vacation by relaxing aboard a transatlantic overnight flight bound for Great Britain.

Day 2 - London

Touch down in London, England's irresistible capital. A Go Ahead representative greets you as you clear customs and accompanies you to your hotel for check-in. You'll have the rest of the day to unpack, settle in and begin your explorations of London.

Day 3 - London

It was Samuel Johnson who provided the definitive word on London, when he said that anyone who is tired of London is tired of life itself. There’s never enough time to take in all the wonders of Europe’s largest city, but you’ll have the chance to scratch the surface in the next few days, which you can enjoy completely at your own pace. Today you might wish to take in the British Museum, which houses an astonishing collection of antiquities, including the Elgin Marbles and the Rosetta Stone. Or you may opt for a sightseeing tour of London to see Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street and St. Paul’s Cathedral. (B)

Day 4 - London

For art, you can take in the exhibits at the National Gallery and the Tate Galleries today. Stroll through Kensington Gardens to view some of London’s most famous statues, or enjoy a taste of nostalgia at Pollock’s Toy Museum, an 18th-century townhouse displaying delightful toys of the Victorian era. Or you can take an optional excursion to Oxford and Stratford, to see Britain’s oldest university and Shakespeare’s birthplace. (B)

Day 5 - London

If London’s literary side interests you, you can plan a stop at the Dickens House Museum and tour the newly reconstructed Globe Theater, a replica of where Shakespeare himself often appeared on stage. Or choose an optional excursion to Windsor Castle, for a guided visit to the world’s largest inhabited castle. (B)

Day 6 - London

For shoppers, a leisurely visit to Harrods—15 acres of tempting merchandise, ranging from silk scarves and soap to the world’s most meticulously decorated cakes—is a must. Alternatively, opt for an excursion to see the legendary and mythic landmark of Stonehenge, followed by a visit to Bath, England’s most restorative city. (B)

Day 7 - London

Sample London’s dazzling array of ethnic cuisine from Greek to Indian, as well as the basic but ever-popular English pub food. Take in a show or two in the bustling theater district. For more casual entertainment, simply watch the street performers at Covent Garden. Or discover England’s medieval past on a full-day optional excursion to Canterbury to see its glorious Gothic cathedral and the thousand-year-old Leeds Castle. Tonight, you might also opt to get a bird’s-eye view of London atop its newest and one of its most stunning attractions, the London Eye. This excursion includes dinner. (B)

Day 8 - Paris

This morning, transfer to Waterloo Station. Here, you’ll board the Eurostar, Europe’s quarter-mile-long, high-speed train that whisks its passengers below the English Channel and resurfaces in France. Relax aboard comfortable, state-of-the-art transportation, arriving at Gare du Nord in Paris just three hours later. Upon arrival, a Go Ahead representative greets you and oversees check-in at your Paris hotel. (B)

Day 9 - Paris

Paris is one of Europe’s most romantic and elegant capitals. Take a stroll along the Champs-Élysées, perhaps the world’s most famous avenue, and enter a milieu of haute couture in the chic boutiques of the Opéra district. Or you may choose to embark on an optional sightseeing tour of the city, which takes you past the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. You can also opt to journey to Versailles this afternoon, where you can glimpse the grandeur of life as a member of King Louis XIV’s court. (B)

Day 10 - Paris

Paris’ department stores and outdoor markets are world-renowned, and there’s no place better than the Left Bank to browse for antique books. Explore the vibrant Latin Quarter today, home to the Sorbonne, and then stop at the Luxembourg Gardens, where Hemingway was inspired to write A Moveable Feast. Alternatively, choose the path to spiritual enlightenment on an optional excursion to see the soaring arches of Chartres Cathedral. Also, tonight you may opt to partake in an Evening in Paris, a sumptuous dinner followed by a cruise along the Seine. (B)

Day 11 - Paris

Paris also has a wide range of excellent art museums, and you’ll have plenty of time to visit them. First choice is usually the Louvre. At night, savor the best of Paris’ gourmet tradition, and take in some world-class entertainment at the cabaret. Or else follow the road to enchantment on an optional excursion to Claude Monet's idyllic and inspiring retreat, Giverny. (B)

Day 12 - Paris

Take a path towards the surreal today and take in the Picasso Museum in the quiet Marais district. You might also consider a climb to Montmartre, where you can watch artists painting the scenes of today. Be sure to lave eave time for a relaxing stop at an intimate café to sip café au lait and watch the world go by—one of Paris’ most celebrated traditions. Or if a historical journey is more your speed, you may choose to join an optional excursion to the D-Day beaches of Normandy, where the Allied troops landed in 1944. (B)

Day 13 - Paris

A Go Ahead representative escorts you to the airport for your return flight home. (B)
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be provided.)