Tailored Itineraries
Private Group Tours
Luxury Vehicles
- Free Cancellation
- 15+ Years Experience
- Private Group Tours
Get the most from your 5-day vacation in England with our itinerary that combines the best private sightseeing tours of London with the best driver-guided day trip opportunities to explore the folklore, natural beauty, and Royal Palaces and Estates in England.
To receive a bespoke version of this itinerary, custom-tailored to your group’s tastes and requirements, simply complete our contact form below and our team of tour planners will get started crafting a complimentary itinerary for you.
Our 5 Day private tour from London includes:
- Private Guides
- Luxury Transfers
- Expert Insight
- Free Cancellation
- 15+ Years Experience
Day 1: London City Highlights Tour
Your first day in England will be spent discovering the highlights of the Capital city as you explore the best Royal locations and quintessentially English sites of London.
Your private guide for the day will collect you at your accommodation, or at a convenient meeting point as you start your 5-day tour of England in style by visiting The Queen’s official London residence, Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace & St James’ Park Tour
As you approach the palace your guide will first take you through the grounds of the splendid St James’ Park where your guide will regale you with tales of the characters who adorn the park in sculpture forms such as Queen Victoria, The Duke of York, The Queen Mother Memorial and more to explore alongside the beautiful gardens and wildlife including Pelicans, birds, and ducks.
When you reach Buckingham Palace itself, your guide will take you inside to explore the 19 lavish staterooms and splendid Palace Garden. State Rooms visited on the Buckingham Palace tour include:
- The Throne Room
- Ballroom
- Music Room
- White Drawing Room
- Grand Staircase
- Treasures of the Palace
- Marble Hall,
- Picture Gallery
- State Dining Room
Of course, no trip to Buckingham Palace would be complete without taking the opportunity to view the Changing of the Guard with the Queen’s Yeomen Warders, better known as the “Beefeaters” famously resplendent in their bright red coats & tall bearskin hats.
Before departing for the next location on your 5-day England itinerary, you will have the opportunity to eat like Royalty as you enjoy a light lunch in the Cafe at the Palace in the Mews Courtyard.
Houses of Parliament, Big Ben & Westminster Abbey Tour
We begin this section of your guided tour at the gorgeous gothic style of Westminster Abbey, the coronation site of all British monarchs since 1066, the burial site of 17 Kings and Queens, and the wedding venue for 16 Royal weddings (the latest being between Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.
Just a short walk from the Abbey you will see what is perhaps England’s most iconic and defining sight, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
On your private guided tour of the seat of British democracy, you will visit:
- Westminster Hall
- The Queen’s robing room
- Chamber of the House of Commons
- Chamber of the House of Lords
The London Eye
To conclude the first day of your 5-day tour of England, you can make the short walk to the South Bank of the River Thames where you will be lifted 135 meters into the London sky as you take a seat aboard the largest observation wheel in the world.
The London Eye offers a panoramic vista of London with a spectacular view overlooking the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and The Shard amongst other famous sights.
Day 2: Tower of London experience, Tower Bridge Tour, Lunch at the Shard, & Tate Modern Gallery
The second day of your five-day tour of England begins with your guide collecting you from your accommodation in the morning as you make your way towards the Tower of London, a 900-year-old fortress with a fascinating history.
Throughout the centuries the Tower of London has been both a royal residence indeed the Crown Jewels have been on display here since 1661, and a prison with many infamous ‘guests’ spending their sentence including Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes, and Rudolph Hess.
Alongside enjoying skip-the-line access to the tower, your guide for this tour will be one of the Queen’s Yeoman Warders. Exhibits to explore in the Tower include:
- The Crown Jewels
- The White Tower
- Chapel of St Peter in Chains
- Battlements
- Medieval Palace
- Bloody Tower
- Torture at the Tower exhibition
- Fusiliers Museum
- Royal Mint exhibition
Guided tour of Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge, constructed in Neo-Gothic style in the late 19th century, is not only one of the most visually striking and gorgeous bridges in the world but also a technological marvel!
To allow ships to pass the central section was designed as a hydraulic-powered bascule (French for seesaw) system, with each end weighing over 1,100 tons, impressively lifting up to an angle of 83 degrees.
On your guided tour you will enjoy stunning panoramic views of London as you look down on the citizens of London as you walk across the see-through glass floor between the iconic towers.
Lunch overlooking London from the Shard
Whilst we typically suggest lunch and meal options with our guests while we are on tour, ascending The Shard – the tallest building in London, to enjoy a bite to eat or glass of Champagne whilst looking out across the London skyline from the 32nd floor, is simply essential!
Tate Modern Gallery Tour
Our final stop for day 2 of our four-day tour of London is an absolute must for any art lovers!
The Tate Modern houses Britain’s national collection of international modern and contemporary art. As well as the array of thought-provoking exhibitions, the permanent collection contains work by masters such as Pablo Picasso, Damian Hirst, Salvador Dali, and Andy Warhol among others too numerous to mention
There is no fee to enter the Tate Modern, however, a guided tour experience with your personal art historian will elevate the experience to a whole new level and provide the level of context and description required to gain a deeper appreciation of the works rather than confronting them cold.
Day 3: London - Dover - Canterbury - London
Having spent the previous 2 days exploring the best of London, it’s now time to join your driver-guide as you discover the best day trips from the Capital to give you a deeper understanding and appreciation of the legendary towns, locations, and areas that have contributed to defining English culture and character.
Your driver-guide will collect you from your accommodation in the morning as you step into our air-conditioned executive class vehicle to set off for the English coast and the White Cliffs of Dover
Visiting the White Cliffs of Dover
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow, just you wait and see
The White Cliffs of Dover – Vera Lynn (1940)
The White Cliffs of Dover are not just an awe-inspiring sight and incredible coastline walk, they have historically enjoyed a significant role throughout British history and have come to symbolize hope and peace for generations of British citizens.
The raw power and beauty of the chalk-white cliffs towering over the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean are one of the most poetic sights in all of England. Reaching a height of 350 feet (110m) the sheer face of the cliffs is truly an unforgettable sight to see in person.
While here you can stroll along the coastline and admire the stunning vista and flowers, birds, and butterflies that inhabit the area. You may wish to explore the Fan Bay Deep Shelter which is an underground tunnel complex built in 1940 and linked to the gun battery located above to protect England’s coast during WW2.
Dover Castle
With a history dating back to the 11th century, Dover Castle has a unique significance in British history. Over the centuries the Castle was given the name “The keys to England ” such was its importance throughout history, from the era of the Roman invasion, through Saxon and Napoleonic times, all the way up to its current standing.
England’s largest military castle, Dover Castle played a key role in the defense of England in both World War 1 and 2. On your private guided tour, you can explore the wartime tunnels including a visit to those from where the evacuation of Dunkirk was commanded.
Canterbury Cathedral
Your driver guide will deliver you to the historic town center in Canterbury as you explore the centennial walls and cobbled streets.
Your first destination in Canterbury will be a guided tour around the gorgeous Gothic architecture and stunning stained glass windows of Canterbury Cathedral, a pilgrimage site since the middle ages and known as the mother church of the Anglican Communion worldwide.
Church of St Martin & ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey
Believed to be the oldest church in the English-speaking world, St Martins Church has a history dating back to 600AD. On your tour, you will be able to see where different sections of stone have been cut back to reveal Roman, Saxon, and Medieval influences throughout the centuries.
The ruins of a Saxon church constructed in 597 AD, St Augustine’s Abbey was used as the burial ground for Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent. Currently, you can immerse yourself in a virtual reality experience where you can don the headset to feel how things would have looked to visitors back in the 16th Century!
Day 4: Windsor Castle private tour & Hampton Court day trip
Today you will visit 2 of the most popular Royal sites in the UK as your driver-guide collects you from your London accommodation and delivers you to Windsor Castle and Hampton court for your guided tour experiences.
Your chauffeur will be a qualified local expert, so the tales of royal scandal and intrigue can begin straight away as you set off on the 50-minute drive from London to Windsor Castle.
Windsor Castle Tour
Windsor Castle is one of the most beloved sites in all of the UK and the private residence of the Queen and where the Monarch is known to spend most of her weekends.
Our private tour allows you to explore the Castle’s grand State Apartments, where the Queen hosts Heads of State on official visits, ceremonies take place, and honors are awarded.
The State Apartments can also be considered works of art in themselves, gilded as they are with artwork from the Royal Collections, including paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens.
St George’s Chapel Tour
Inside Windsor Castle, your guide will deliver you to St George’s Chapel.
You will likely be familiar with images from the inside of the chapel, even if this is your first time ever visiting England! This is because images from the many Royal Weddings that have taken place here have been beamed all over the planet. One of the most recent beings between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before they stepped down from their roles as Senior Royals.
Hampton Court Private Tour
Once the home of King Henry VIII, your guide will take you to explore both the Tudor palace and the Baroque palace of William III at Hampton Court.
Henry the 8th and the Tudors were known for their extravagance, and on your private tour of Hampton Court this will be on full display as you visit:
- The huge Tudor Kitchens where luxurious feasts were prepared
- The Great Hall: As you may imagine they are draped with fantastically intricate and storied tapestries, and served as the location of many magnificent Tudor feasts – which created some fabulous tales that your guide will reveal to you.
- See and hear the story of the wives of Henry the 8th, including the tales of Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon
- The Chapel Royal, where Henry VIII was married… on several occasions!
- The Apartments of King William the 2nd provide valuable insight into court life centuries ago.
- The 16th Century Astronomical clock
It is also worth saying that Hampton Court Palace is a fantastic, fun venue for all the family with actors and performers, a maze, playground, great exhibits, and some of the finest gardens in the country, and we can schedule as much time to dedicate to each of these activities as you desire.
Day 5: Full-day tour of the Cotswolds
When you think of quintessentially English village life – the image in your mind is likely directly from the Cotswolds. Fields of Lavender in full bloom, stoic medieval castles, country houses, and villages populated with golden honey-hued stone architecture and thatched roofs. Entering the Cotswolds is truly like the words of a Rudyard Kipling poem have come to life.
Your driver-guide will collect you from your central London accommodation as you begin the 2-hour drive to your first destination in Burford, one of the most picturesque medieval towns in all of England.
Known as the Gateway to the Cotswolds, Burford is lined with medieval buildings many over 500 years old. Stroll down the old high street towards the River Windrush and visit the Church of St John the Baptist before enjoying a classic English-style lunch and tea in Burford House.
Your next stop is the village of Bibury, once described by the poet William Morris as “The most beautiful village in England”. Highlights here include Arlington Row and the famous old weaver’s cottages that date back to 1380 and have become one of the most photographed areas in Britain. You will also want to visit St Mary’s Church with its gorgeous Norman-era arches, 13th-century entrance, and Saxon chancel columns.
Your driver will then take you to the “Venice of the Cotswolds”, the riverside town of Bourton-on-the-water. Here you can take the time to admire the small stone cottages and bridges before arriving at your final destination of the day, Stow-on-the-Wald. After enjoying the boutique antique stores we will book you in for a traditional English meal with fresh local produce before you rejoin your driver guide to embark on the journey back to London for the evening.
Step 1:
Fill out the form with the destinations & wish-list for your perfect trip. Our specialists will be happy to provide additional ideas & inspiration for your vacation
Step 2:
You will then receive a tailor-made tour itinerary which can be revised an unlimited number of times to ensure total satisfaction and the perfect vacation in England
Step 3:
Your guide will meet you at the pre-arranged starting point. You can count on us for 24/7 in-country support and everything else necessary for a wonderful & seamless tour
Customize your 5-day England Tour Itinerary
The above itinerary has proved to be a hit for many of our clients who love the variety and different aspects of life in England that it includes. However, it is inevitable that it will not suit everyone’s tastes or requirements, that is why we offer a complimentary bespoke version of our 5-day itinerary.
Whether this involves small changes such as concluding the tour with a transfer to the airport rather than your accommodation, or if wholesale changes are required like you wish to stay in Liverpool or Manchester rather than London, we will design a completely new version of our 5 day England itinerary just for you.
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