Half- and Full-Day Tours

• Half- and Full-Day Tours – Introduction
• Half-Day Tours
• • London Orientation Tour and Flight on the "London Eye"
  • City of London Tour
  • Medical London: Florence Nightingale Museum & Old Operating Theatre
  • West End of London Tour
  • Hampton Court Palace
  • Wallace Collection & Foundling Museum
• Full-Day Tours
• • Windsor, Eton and Runnymede
  • Stonehenge and Bath
  • Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick
  • Oxford and The Thames Valley
  • Thames River Dinner-Dance Cruise on the M/V "Symphony"
  • The Dover Street Restaurant & Bar

Half- and Full-Day Tours

Take advantage of being in one of the most historical cities in Europe, and discover the many “faces” of London. Make your choice and experience its immense richness and diversity.

The following programme was created specifically for GASTRO 2009 and is exclusively offered to its participants. Great attention has been paid to its design, with careful selection of the right content for the given time. The programme showcases the different “faces” and “flavours” of the City of London and its surroundings. With the following unique selections we have tried to cater for all personal interests. Choose your favoured programme(s) and prepare to be captivated.

• All tours will be conducted in English.
• All half- and full-day tours will start and end in the City of London – at the Hilton Metropole (further address details will be provided after confirmation of bookings).
• Meeting point for departure: GASTRO 2009 Tours desk in the lobby of the Hilton Metropole.
• A minimum participation of 20 guests is required to operate each tour!

H-1 – London Orientation Tour and Flight on the "London Eye" (Half-day)

Saturday, November 21, 2009 / 09:00 – 12:30
Sunday, November 22, 2009 / 09:00 – 12:30
Monday, November 23, 2009 / 09:00 – 12:30
This tour covers the major landmarks and sights of both the City and the West End of London and includes a flight on the London Eye. The tour incorporates photo-stops only; there are no interior visits. The many sights to be viewed will include the famous shopping avenues of Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street, where you find many of the famous department stores. You will also see the famous historical sights of London, including Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and the Inns of Court. You will be shown the important seats of Government, such as the Houses of Parliament (including Big Ben) and Downing Street, and will see the Horseguards along Whitehall. The tour also includes areas such as Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square (with Nelson's Column), Fleet Street, many of the famous museums, the City (the "financial and business" area) and London’s newest landmark - the London Eye. Of course, no tour of London is complete without seeing Buckingham Palace.

The “British Airways London Eye” is the world’s largest observatory wheel. It is managed and operated by UK visitors’ attraction owner, The Tussauds Group, and was built by a European consortium with over 1400 tonnes of steel provided by British Steel.  The London Eye is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, just down from and opposite the Houses of Parliament, and is accessed via the new Millennium Pier. It has been christened “The Eye” because of the unique views that it offers over London, and it is set to become one of the world’s most popular visitor attractions.  At 135 metres (450 feet) high, the London Eye is the city’s fourth tallest structure.  Its gradual 30-minute 360 degree rotation gives passengers totally new perspectives on some of the capital’s most famous landmarks and provides a bird’s-eye view usually accessible only by helicopter or aircraft, with unrivalled and unencumbered vistas across an approximate radius of 30 miles.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, a flight on the London Eye

H-2 – City of London Tour (Half-day)     

Saturday, November 21, 2009 / 13:30 – 17:00
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 / 09:00 – 12:30
From the West End, you journey into the oldest and most historic part of London, past the Law Courts and down Fleet Street - formally the heart of the country’s newspaper industry. You will see and drive past St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s great masterpiece, before continuing through the City’s financial district to the Tower of London, the highlight of the tour. The Tower is probably London’s most famous landmark and rightly so ... it has stood for over 900 years, fulfilling various functions as a Royal Palace, Prison, Garrison, Mint, and even as the home of the Royal Zoo! Time will be allowed for a visit not only to the Tower but also to see the fabulous Crown Jewels and the many more historic treasures which are now housed there.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fee to Tower of London

H-3 – Medical London: Florence Nightingale Museum & Old Operating Theatre (Half-day)

Sunday, November 22, 2009 / 14:00 – 17:30
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 / 09:30 – 13:00
Florence Nightingale is famous around the world for her influence on modern nursing, but she herself was more than a nurse. As one of the most famous women in British history, it is not surprising that Florence Nightingale should have a museum dedicated to her memory. The Florence Nightingale Museum celebrates the woman who almost single-handedly created the modern nursing profession in Britain following her experiences during the Crimean War. She is famous for answering a call from God and helping hundreds of soldiers during the Crimean War – even now she is referred to as the Lady of the Lamp because of her night-time walks tending to sick and wounded soldiers. On her return from this bloody conflict she established the Nightingale Training School for nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital. As a result of her groundbreaking work, her name is synonymous with caring and nursing to this day. This museum features an incredible collection of artefacts from her lifetime, including, in their original form, 53 of the 200 books that she wrote.
Hidden in the roof of a church, a 300-year-old herb garret houses Britain's only surviving 19th century operating theatre. This museum, one of London's most intriguing historical interiors, contains the Operating Theatre in use between 1821 and 1862, in the days before anaesthetic and antiseptic surgery.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fee to Florence Nightingale Museum & Old Operating Theatre

F-1 – Windsor, Eton and Runnymede (Full-day)

Sunday, November 22, 2009 / 09:00 – 18:30
Only a short drive from London is the historic town of Windsor with its imposing Castle, overlooking the River Thames, which is the favourite Royal Residence of Queen Elizabeth II. The original building was started in 1080 by William the Conqueror, but nothing now remains of this wooden structure, which was soon replaced by a stone-built tower that still stands at the heart of the Castle. This was added to by the following Kings and Queens over subsequent centuries, to create the magnificent complex that is Windsor Castle today. You will visit the State Apartments (Court Arrangements permitting; if not, then St. George’s Chapel). Then there will be time to wander through the lanes of the quaint old part of Windsor town or to cross the Thames footbridge to the adjacent hamlet of Eton, where Eton College, England's most pre-eminent boys' “public school” (private!) is situated. Then you will be driven along the banks of the River Thames to nearby Runnymede. It was here in 1215 that King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta - the basis of British democracy ever since, and an integral part of the United States constitution. In the Park stands the John F. Kennedy Memorial, donated by the American Bar Association, and the Royal Air Force Memorial.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fee to precincts of Windsor Castle (Lunch is independent and at your own expense)

E-1 – Thames River Dinner-Dance Cruise on the M/V “Symphony” (Evening)

Sunday, November 22, 2009 / 19:00 – 23:15
Step aboard the Symphony, London's floating glass palace, for an evening's dining, dancing and maybe dreaming against the backdrop of London from the River Thames. See London from a different view. With panoramic windows and exterior floodlights, the Symphony will show you the riverside sights of London: The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The London Eye, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, The Millennium Dome and much, much more.

Services included: Escorted round-trip transfers, Welcome drink, 4-course à la carte dinner with coffee & chocolates, Live entertainment with after-dinner dancing

NB: The dress code for the Dinner Cruise is smart to formal. Gentlemen are encouraged to wear a jacket and tie. Jeans, denim and trainers/training shoes are not allowed. Please note that Bateaux London refuse entry based on inappropriate attire and refunds will not be offered should a guest be turned away for not observing our dress code.

H-4 – West End of London Tour (Half-day)

Monday, November 23, 2009 / 13:30 – 17:00
Today's tour covers in depth one half of London, the West End. Westminster was once a country village lying to the west of the City of London, where King Edward the Confessor built a chapel during the 11th century.  The original building was replaced and much enlarged over the following centuries, and the Abbey was chosen as the burial place for most of the medieval Kings of England. The importance of Westminster in the history of British Royalty has never been in question - indeed only two monarchs have not been crowned there since the reign of Edward II. After visiting the Abbey, you will be able to view the other aspect of British Government - the two Houses of Parliament, located beside Westminster Abbey in the complex known as the Palace of Westminster, standing on the site of an earlier Royal Palace. From the earliest times, the Hall at Westminster was the central and highest Court of Justice, and it is a natural progression for the "Mother of Parliaments" to be located there today.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fee to Westminster Abbey

F-2 – Stonehenge and Bath (Full-day)

Monday, November 23, 2009 / 08:30 – 18:30
This tour passes through the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, and Wiltshire, into the West Country. The first stop is Stonehenge, the mysterious prehistoric Stone Age monument which has fascinated and perplexed historians through the ages. Finally you will reach Bath, the county town of Avon and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It was first named Aquae Sulis by the Romans, who used its natural warm springs for bathing, and the baths that they built rival some of those in Italy itself. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the city fell into decay, but the same warm springs resulted in its renaissance during the 18th century under the benevolent hand of the local squire, Ralph Allen, who was the model for "Squire Allworthy" in Henry Fielding's novel, "Tom Jones". Making use of two talented local architects, John Wood the Elder and his son, the town was laid out in classical Georgian style. Happily, much of their work remains, including the magnificent Royal Crescent and the intriguing Pulteney Bridge with shops standing on it, designed by Robert Adam. Lunch is independent but your guide/escort will recommend a choice of establishments and there will be time for souvenir shopping in the Bath pedestrianised shopping area before returning to London via the motorway.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fees to Stonehenge and the Roman Baths in Bath (Lunch is independent and at your own expense)

H-5 – Hampton Court Palace (Half-day)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 / 13:30 – 17:30
Hampton Court Palace lies to the South West of London, on the banks of the River Thames, surrounded by parkland and beautiful gardens. It was built by Cardinal Wolsey in 1514 and later presented by him to Henry VIII in an attempt to gain the King's favour. It has been occupied by many members of the Royal Family since, and a substantial enlargement to the original building was added by Christopher Wren. The Palace is no longer used as a Royal residence, but remains as a superb example of Tudor and Wren architecture, with extensive grounds that include a famous maze and ancient vine. Henry VIII's Tennis court, still in use to this day, may be visited, and within the Palace you will have a chance to tour the State Apartments. These have recently re-opened after restoration following a dreadful fire, and have been reinstated as they were in the Georgian period, with fine collections of tapestries, clocks and paintings. The original kitchens and Chapel may also be visited.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fee to Hampton Court Palace

F-3 – Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick (Full-day)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 / 08:30 – 18:30
On this full day excursion, you will drive north along the motorway directly to Warwick, the country town on the banks of the River Avon with its pleasant blend of Tudor and Georgian architecture. The 14th-century Warwick Castle is one of the few English original medieval fortresses to have been continuously inhabited. Built on a crag, it is a treasure house of paintings and furnishings. As well as visiting the castle itself, you will see the two exhibits designed by Madame Tussaud’s waxworks, which recreate life in olden times – “Kingmaker”, which depicts life in the castle at the time of the Wars of the Roses, and “House Party”, which faithfully recreates a weekend house party held at the castle by Lord Brook at the turn of the last century.

After the visit, you will drive to nearby Stratford-Upon-Avon, a very pretty town, made famous by the quill of the "Bard of Avon". The son of a prosperous leather merchant, William Shakespeare left his native town whilst in his early twenties but in the next 25 years he was to make it one of the most famous places in World Literature - and it was to Stratford that he returned when he retired. You will be able to see his birthplace and also his wife’s house, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, an architectural masterpiece of a thatched country farmstead of its period, still containing the settle on which he and Anne did their courting!

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fees to Shakespeare's Birthplace & Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Warwick Castle (Lunch is independent and at your own expense)

E-2 – The Dover Street Restaurant & Bar (Evening)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 / 19:30 – 23:30
The Dover Street Restaurant & Bar is one of the premier jazz venues in London. Set in the heart of London’s fashionable Mayfair, Dover Street offers a combination of fine French/European cuisine and nightly live music ranging from Jazz & Blues to Latin & Soul with dancing to a resident DJ until 03:00. With a unique atmosphere that is equally suited for both individual diners and larger groups, the Mayfair restaurant is intimate enough for romantic dinners and stylish enough for corporate events and for companies to entertain their clients. As well as playing host to numerous personalities from the worlds of stage, film, television and sport, Dover Street is a favourite spot for theatre-goers; its enviable West End location makes it an ideal pre-theatre restaurant. With last orders for food at 02:00 and dancing until 03:00, Dover Street is a late night venue that offers some of the best live jazz in London.

Services included: Escorted round-trip transfers, 3-course à la carte dinner with coffee (Drinks are independent and at your own expense)

H-6 – Wallace Collection & Foundling Museum (Half-day)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 / 14:30 – 18:00
The Wallace Collection is a national museum in an historic London town house. In 25 galleries are unsurpassed displays of French 18th century painting, furniture and porcelain with superb Old Master paintings and a world class armoury. This world-class collection of art was largely put together by the Fourth Marquess of Hertford, a recluse who lived in Paris. He was helped by his illegitimate son, Richard Wallace, who eventually inherited the collection. They were able to buy many of the paintings, porcelain and furniture that make up the collection cheaply in post-Revolutionary France, because of its politically dangerous associations. Richard Wallace finally moved the collection to England due to the unstable situation there, and added many examples of Renaissance ceramics, bronzes, armour, and jewellery over the years. His wife finally left the collection to the nation in 1897. The Foundling Hospital was founded by philanthropist Thomas Coram and artist William Hogarth in 1739 "for the maintenance and education of exposed and deserted children". The museum tells the story of the first hospital of its kind to be opened in London and looks at its supporters, Thomas Coram, the artist William Hogarth and the composer George Frideric Handel. The museum houses the hospital’s extensive art collection, with works by Hogarth, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Wilson, Hayman, Highmore, Roubiliac and Rysbrack. The museum also tells the story of the 27,000 children who stayed at the hospital until it closed in 1954.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fees to Wallace Collection and the Foundling Museum

F-4 – Oxford and The Thames Valley (Full-day)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 / 08:30 – 18:30
This full-day excursion visits England's oldest university town. Oxford, a thriving city, an Episcopal see, and the seat of an ancient university, is one of the most famous and interesting towns in Europe. The beautiful grouping of its "dreaming" spires and towers as seen from a distance is renowned, as are the noble architecture of its colleges, such as Christ Church, Brasenose and Balliol, and the "streamlike windings" of its famous High Street. Learn all about the history of the "Town" and "Gown". After leaving Oxford, we shall head for Henley, which is best known for its Royal Regatta held every July since 1839. For about a mile at Henley the river is straight, providing an ideal course for what has become a major international event. It became 'Royal' in 1851 when Prince Albert became Patron of the Regatta. As well as a sporting event it is a major social event, retaining much of the 'garden party' feel of Edwardian times. The town became established in the 12th century as a river crossing and port for the supply of timber and grain along the river to London. The present five-arched bridge over the river was built in 1786 with the church of St. Mary close by. The church has a 16th century tower built with decorative flint and stone chequerwork. Although restored in the 19th century, the 13th century and nave arcades can still be seen. Many buildings in Henley are designated 'of special architectural interest', including a 14th century chantry house, connected to the church, and the Speaker’s house, the home of William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons (1629-1640), who was a signatory to the warrant for the execution of Charles I. The main street has many Georgian frontages built onto older buildings. There are many coaching inns, including the Red Lion, which, so legend has it, has accommodated Charles I, Boswell and George III. Our last stop is in Marlow. Marlow is a pleasant Georgian town, situated on a beautiful stretch of the River Thames, midway between Reading and Windsor.

Services included: Deluxe coach, Licensed guide, Entrance fees to one of the Oxford colleges (Lunch is independent and at your own expense)