Historic London Weekend

Overview

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This new long weekend trip to the capital of the United Kingdom will be an authentic Expat Club experience with an attractive, complete and smoothly planned schedule. We will see many great landmarks, visit several historic places, including the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, and the British Museum. A local guide will show us around Westminster and Whitehall on Saturday to tell us more about the local architecture, history and of course politics, while on Sunday he will take us through Covent Garden. We will be travelling with a diverse group of international people Brussels (everyone welcome), enjoy good English food and have some fun.

The last weekend of March, at the beginning of Spring, is a great time to get to know this amazing metropolis a bit better. It will also be a historic moment to visit London, because the United Kingdom will leave the EU on Friday evening at 11pm (midnight on the continent). Despite that this is a sad moment that brings along much uncertainty for the great majority of expats in Brussels, in particular for British expats, we choose to go there anyway, because London, like Paris, is always a great idea.

Program

Like any Expat Club trip, our London trip is carefully planned. Still, all times and program parts may be subject to change in case of various circumstances (e.g. weather, strikes, train delays, etc). We will do our best to give you the optimal experience. Thank you for your kind understanding.

Friday 29 March
07h45 – Meeting time at Midi Station
08h52 – Eurostar train to London
09h57 – Arrival St Pancras
10h00 – Pick up 3-day tube passes
11h00 – Drop luggage in hotel
12h00 – Lunch in the rooftop bar Savage Garden
14h00 – Tower Bridge (with private guided tour)
16h00 – Tower of London (including Crown Jewels & audio guide)
20h00 – Medieval dinner & show
23h00 – Official departure United Kingdom from European Union

Saturday 30 March
09h00 – Westminster Abbey
11h00 – Houses of Parliament (with guided tour)
12h30 – Lunch time
14h00 – Guided tour Westminster, Whitehall, Buckingham
16h30 – Free time
19h00 – The Shard observatory platform with sunset
21h00 – Free time

Sunday 31 March
10h00 – British Museum (with guided tour)
12h30 – Guide tour to & through Covent Garden
13h00 – Lunch
14h00 – Free time (you can visit other parts with the group)
18h00 – Pick-up luggage in Hotel
19h00 – Gathering at St Pancras station
19h34 – Return to European Union by Eurostar
22h38 – Arrival in European Capital Brussels

Visits & options

For this trip we arranged several fantastic visits, many of them already included in the price (note that London is super expensive, so please take into account that you won’t have to pay for many entrance fees and guided tours).

Tower Bridge (included)
This is definitely one of the most iconic bridges in the world. It is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London. Tower Bridge is sometimes confused with London Bridge, situated half a mile upstream. Entrance fees and a private guided tour are already included.

The Tower of London (included)
This medieval castle is officially Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London. It is located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It is also home for the famous Crown Jewels. Entrance fees and audio guide are already included.

Medieval banquet dinner & show (optional)
On Friday evening we are organising a lovely medieval banquet dinner. Eat great food, while enjoying an awesome show with many dressed up characters, artists, music and dance. Some drinks are already included. Just awesome!!! This dinner is optional, but you must reserve in advance because it is mostly fully booked on weekend nights.

Houses of Parliament (included)
We will be visiting the Houses of Parliament on Saturday morning. Follow in the footsteps of the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament as she leaves the Robing Room and passes through the Royal Gallery to take her seat on the gilded throne in the stunning Lords Chamber. From the Central Lobby, the heart of Parliament, enter the intriguing rooms of the Commons before standing in the Chamber itself, home to the Speaker’s Chair, the green benches and some lively political debates. Entrance fees and a private guided tour are already included.

Lunch Saturday
After our visit to the Houses of Parliament on Saturday morning, we will enjoy a lovely professionally guided tour in the afternoon. But before that we will have lunch in a famous pub right in the middle of the Westminster district. They are known for their award-winning pies. Pre-ordering this lunch is required since we need to reserve the seats. Normally almost everyone joins for such lunches. Drinks are not yet included.

Guided tour Westminster (included)
London is so big and there is so much to see. We want to make sure you won’t miss some really important parts. So, after our visit to the Houses of Parliament and lunch, we’ll meet a professional Blue Badge guide on Saturday afternoon to see places like Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street, Trafalqar Square and Buckingham Palace.

The Shard (optional)
With 95 floors and 309 meters, The Shard is a supertall skyscraper, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, on the Southbank of the Thames. It has a 360˚ degrees viewing platform, which we will visit on Saturday evening for sunset around 19h30.

British Museum (included)
Few museums can match the prestige and size of the British Museum. With 8 million works, it is dedicated to human history, art and culture. It is so big that you have to make a decision on what to see. The Egyptian section? The Greek & Roman section? The Asian section? Or the African section? Good news for you, because we have arranged an official guide for a comprehensive introduction tour along the museum’s biggest pieces.

Transportation

For this trip we arranged seats in the direct, comfortable and super-fast Eurostar train to and from London St. Pancras Station. We have excellent departure times both ways, so we can optimally enjoy 3 days in the city.

Departure Friday to London at 08h52
Departure Sunday to Brussels at 19h34

Accommodation

For this trip, we arranged rooms in the great 4* DoubleTree by Hilton, a stone’s throw from the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge and the “Gherkin” building. There are 2 metro stations within a few minutes walk, with a straight connection to St. Pancras station and Westminster.

The rooms are spacious (22 m²) and very comfortable, while the hotel has a nice lobby and a great rooftop terrace and restaurant. In this hotel you can choose between:

• Single room (normally with 1 large bed, surcharge applies)
• Double room (1 large bed, for couples or parent/child only, no surcharge)
• Twin room (2 single beds, for 2 friends travelling together, or for single travellers who would like to share a room to avoid the single surcharge).

Are you travelling alone?
We have a perfect solution! For solo travellers who would like to avoid the single room surcharge, Expat Club offers a service to pair you up with a roommate so you can share a room. You do not pay a supplement, and we will find you a room partner. We do not assign you one, but you can choose whom you would like to share the room with during the outbound journey to London. This solution worked very well during our last trips. Note that all room types are limited, so the earlier you book, the better we can help you get the room you want.

Terms & comments

• The trip by train will be carried out by Eurostar.
• The trip is carefully planned. Still, all timings are tentative and may change if required by circumstances.
• The trip is sold as a package. You cannot go with your own transportation or arrange your own accommodation. If there are specific things that you do not want in the package, please let us know and we may consider a discount.
• You are personally responsible for obtaining a good travel and/or cancellation insurance that covers you for unforeseen emergencies and medical expenses before or during the trip. 
• You are personally responsible for using the hotel room in an appropriate way. Any missing or broken items will be billed after the trip.
• Expat Club cannot be held liable for long delays that influence the program (e.g. missed guided tours), neither can Expat Club be held liable for any unforeseen events that influence the course of the trip, including, but not limited to technical problems with the Eurostar, strikes, weather etc.
• Expat Club cannot be held liable for personal injuries during the trip. Joining this trip is safe but still at your own risk.
• The deadline for cancelation with a refund is 8 weeks.
• If you do not find a room partner on your own, we will find one for you (male/male, female/female). During the outbound trip we will connect you with others in the same position. If you decide to take a single room during the trip, then you will have to fully pay for it yourself. If you book this option, you are never forced to pay for a single room.