SHORE EXCURSIONS

After disembarkation and collection of your luggage, you'll start your tour with a drive towards central London. The panoramic drive around London will take you past many of the city's magnificent and historic highlights: faithful Big Ben and the Victorian Gothic buildings of the Houses of Parliament; the 11th century Westminster Abbey, London's greatest Gothic church where British Kings and Queens are crowned; Downing Street, home of the British Prime Minister; bustling Piccadilly Circus; and Trafalgar Square with its 185-foot Nelson's Column.

The old City of London is where it all began, a historic square-mile enclave, which has been the nation's major commercial and financial center for centuries. As you tour these ancient byways, you'll pass the Stock Exchange, the monument to the Great Fire of London of 1666, the Lord Mayor's mansion house and the Bank of England, founded in 1694. Admire the awesome dome of grand old St. Paul's Cathedral, second only in size to St. Peter's in Rome. Built between 1675 and 1720, this magnificent Baroque structure is the crowning achievement of architect Sir Christopher Wren. Before heading to Heathrow International Airport, you'll have some free time near The Tower of London.

After disembarkation and collection of your luggage, you’ll start your tour with a drive towards Salisbury, home to one the finest medieval cathedrals in Britain, which dates back to the 13th century. Its spire, the tallest in England, soars to over 400 feet. The cathedral contains a remarkable range of monuments, including the oldest working clock in Britain and an original copy of the Magna Carta signed at Runnymede in 1215.

You’ll then drive to a prehistoric monument of unique importance - Stonehenge. It is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. Radiocarbon dating reveals this incredible monument was built over many years, beginning over 5,000 years ago and continuously evolved over a period of 10,000 years. Some of the stones came from the Preseli Mountains in Wales, over 219 miles away and probably dragged by ropes on sledges with rollers. Although research tells us how Stonehenge was built, we still don’t know why so it remains one of the most enthralling mysteries in the world.