Castles & Kings: London to Paris

Tour begins: 3:00 PM, London Marriott Hotel County Hall.  Welcome to "merrie olde" England for the start of Tauck Bridges' fun and enriching London and Paris family vacation! A transfer is included from London's Heathrow Airport to London Marriott Hotel County Hall. Climb aboard one of London's signature double-decker buses for a private guided tour of this grand capital city; this evening, get to know your fellow family travelers at our welcome reception and dinner.

The 1,000-year-old Tower of London has served as a castle, menagerie, and prison through the centuries. Wander through turreted passageways to the Bloody Tower where prisoners like Sir Walter Raleigh were detained. View the Queen's priceless Crown Jewels before boarding a speedboat for an adventure* on the Thames River, finishing at the London Eye, one of the tallest ferris wheels in the world. Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the city aboard a private observation capsule 450 feet above the river; the remainder of the day is free to explore London as you please.

The home of English kings and queens for over 900 years, stately Windsor Castle is still a residence of the British Royal Family; tour the castle today, providing the Royal Family isn't in residence. As your exciting Tauck Bridges family vacation continues this afternoon to London, join us on a bicycle ride* through the British capital's Royal Parks. After dinner on your own this evening, your family enjoys a special treat... a performance of a hit show in London's West End Theatre District.

Although two million years' worth of history and culture might be a little tough to see in one day, you'll get a taste of what the fascinating British Museum has to offer on a guided tour of this amazing place – housing the world's most comprehensive collection of art and artifacts, from maps to mummies and more, in nearly two-and-a-half miles' worth of galleries. Later, it's spy versus spy on an afternoon "Spy Walk," where you'll become a secret agent and try to save the world... will you rescue the damsel in distress... and what about the white cat? Return to your London hotel for your family's final evening in London, free to spend as you please.

Hop aboard the high-speed Eurostar train from London to Paris which takes you under the English Channel through an underwater tunnel for 20 minutes of your two-hour ride from England to France. Sightseeing with a local guide starts as soon as you arrive in Paris. You'll explore Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine River reached by bridges. The island is the oldest part of Paris, settled in the 3rd century BC, and then by the ancient Romans. Today the island is home to Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, the flower market, Palais du Justice, and the Conciergerie palace, where prisoners were held in dungeons before being taken to the guillotine during the French Revolution. Queen Marie-Antoinette was one of them – and you'll see where she lived tomorrow when you visit the Palace of Versailles. Stroll out for dinner at a Parisian brasserie not far from your hotel which is close to Place de la Madeleine, Place Vendôme, Place de la Concorde, and the Champs-Élysées.

Today takes you about an hour outside the city for a guided visit to Château de Versailles, built by King Louis XIV and the largest palace in Europe, revealing a realm of grandeur and riches beyond imagination; it would cost more than $2 billion to build this sprawling palace complex today! Explore the opulent palace with a local guide and view the exquisite gardens, among the most extraordinary and famous in the world. Following lunch at a Versailles café, return to Paris for a visit to the Eiffel Tower, an afternoon sightseeing tour, and a free evening to enjoy more of Paris as you wish.

Explore the treasures of one of the world's most famous museums this morning – Musée du Louvre, home to Leonardo da Vinci's mysterious Mona Lisa, the 2nd-century Greek sculpture, Venus de Milo, and about 35,000 other works of art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century housed in this former palace – on a guided scavenger hunt and tour that also includes the nearby Tuileries Garden. Following some free time this afternoon, join us this evening for our private, exclusive farewell dinner at a local restaurant where an interactive magic show teaches the kids some amazing tricks.

Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from Fauchon L'Hotel Paris to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or Orly Airport. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for your flight check-in.