London and Edinburgh Cultural Immersion

Flight from your preferred airport to London.

Welcome to Great Britain! Arrive in London and meet your TFT staff, who will join you for the remainder of your journey. After getting settled into your hotel in the heart of the city, we’ll take a walking tour of downtown London to familiarize ourselves with the main sights, including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street, the River Thames, and of course Big Ben! Finish off the day with your very first taste of British cuisine at one of our favorite local pubs.

We’ll spend today enjoying some of London’s finest traditions, beginning with the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. From there, we’ll enjoy afternoon tea, featuring finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries. No trip to London would be complete without spending an afternoon in some of its world-class museums, so students will have their choice of visiting the British Museum or the National Gallery. After dinner, go on our unique “Blood and Tears Walk” to learn some darker secrets of London’s history.

The impressive Tower of London awaits today. Once home to some of England’s most notorious prisoners and now housing the Crown Jewels, this is a must-see and a student favorite! We’ll receive a guided tour from the Yeoman Warder guards at the Tower before crossing Tower Bridge (also known as London Bridge). After a delicious lunch in the always-busy Borough Market, we’ll explore the Southbank neighborhood and visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Top it all off with a ride on the London Eye, the massive Ferris Wheel that gives the best views over all of London!

On our final day in London, students will be given choices to visit what interests them most. We understand that student travelers have diverse interests and needs, so our staff do their very best to accommodate everyone’s must-sees. Readers of Sherlock Holmes can visit 221B Baker Street; Harry Potter fans can visit Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station; or they can walk in the footsteps of the Beatles at Abbey Road. After a visit to the eclectic Camden Market for some last-minute souvenir shopping, we’ll cap off our time in London with a show at the theater!

A leisurely train ride brings us from London to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. After getting settled in, explore this beautiful city’s top attraction, the Edinburgh Castle. Of course, the views from the UNESCO World Heritage site at Calton Hill aren’t to be missed. For dinner, try traditional Scottish cuisine–Haggis, anyone?

Stroll down the Royal Mile to the Queen’s summer residence at Holyroodhouse Palace. Adventurous travelers will then have the opportunity to climb all the way up to Arthur’s Seat, which boasts the best views over all Edinburgh. After a refreshing picnic lunch, students will be able to spend their final afternoon as they choose, for example visiting the Scottish National Museum or with a Harry Potter-themed tour of the city. We’ll celebrate the end of an amazing trip with an upscale dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, featuring, as always, authentic local cuisine and great atmosphere.

Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.