England and France Luxury Tours

Where to Go

• 

  London

  One of Europe’s most cosmopolitan and culturally diverse cities, London boasts some of the continent’s most instantly recognizable sights: from the Houses of Parliament and the castle-like Tower Bridge to the 300-meter-tall Shard and the vibrant nightlife of Shoreditch and Liverpool Street. Explore the riverside for old Dockland ambiance watched over by the towering skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, or taste the cultural and culinary sights of Covent Garden and Soho. Parks and green spaces abound in central London, with Hyde Park boasting lakeside trails and St. James Park a surprising home to a gaggle of pelicans — a moment’s walk from regal Buckingham Palace, the seat of the British Royals

• 

  Bath

  The Georgian grandeur of Bath is superb, its UNESCO-listed old town wrapped around a collection of antique sights like the Roman baths, the Holburne Museum, and the Bath Abbey, all readily walkable. Take a morning stroll over Pulteney Bridge and sip a coffee or a tea in one of Great Pulteney Street’s chic cafes, or take a punt along the river to idyllic Bathampton. From Bath, the superbly pretty villages of the Cotswolds (Castle Combe, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stanton, etc) are a short journey away, as is lively Bristol and its iconic street art.

• 

  Lake District

  The cinematic landscapes of the English lakes are world-renowned, with the verdant dips and drops of the fells, hills, and canyons splashing into vast lakes like Windermere — a haven of waterside hotels, chic restaurants, and plenty of boating options for those hoping to get out onto the water. Walkers and view hunters are drawn to picturesque Ullswater and Scafell Pike (England’s highest peak) — incredible with its mountaintop views, while travelers looking for English heritage often find themselves on Coniston Lake to ride its charming steam gondola, as well as on the various heritage railways that steam across the countryside.

• 

  Paris

  Perhaps Europe’s most instantly recognizable city, Paris abounds with architectural beauty and cultural elegance. Trace the iconic curvature of the river Seine and the Champ de Mars towards the graceful figure of the Eiffel Tower for a romantic Parisienne evening. Spend an afternoon below the glittering pyramid that sits atop the Louvre. Sip coffee in busy St Germain cafes at lunch and eat dinner in the chic restaurants of Canal Saint-Martin in the evenings.

  Paris is an iconic shopping destination with a little of everything. At the luxury end, a promenade along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is all you’ll need, while the bohemian Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen is ideal for those searching for what’s considered by many to be the world’s largest flea market.

• 

  Bordeaux

  Bordeaux offers up a confection of honey-hued villages and vineyards cut into idyllic rolling hills, an iconic destination for a road trip but equally well-suited to cyclists. Stop at wine heavyweights like Saint-Emilion and visit a local vineyard to sample a world-class blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon before exploring the cobbled streets and ancient sights of the village. But the real jewel is Bordeaux city. Take a tram to the Grand Théâtre, walk to Place des Quinconces to see the Girondins monument, and then take an evening stroll to the Mirror d’eau, a sublime reflecting pool on the banks of Gironne and a good spot for an evening vin rouge in a cafe surrounded by grandeur. Various 15th-century gates — the Grosse Cloche and the Cailhau gate, etc., announce the historic center with a stunning fairytale charm: all bells and elongated spires leading to snug alleyways and bustling squares.

• 

  The French Riviera

  Few destinations boast the glamor of the French Riviera, a beacon for the most discerning travelers since the Fitzgeralds and Murphys popularized it as a summer resort in the 1920s. Across the Riviera, sweeping white sands bend into natural coves, yachts bounce in myriad marinas, eventually sailing into the stunning azures of the Mediterranean, while chic resort towns boast some of the south of France’s best restaurants. Nice is the largest town, with stunning white sand beaches alongside cultural sights such as the exquisite Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice and the Promenade des Anglais. But Antibes is a must for culture lovers with its Musée Picasso, 16th-century ramparts, and equally beautiful beaches like Plage de la Salis.