A London Bridge Tour

Exploring the Magical Side of London

June 26 – 30, 2010

Open to all ages 6 and up

This exciting tour has been designed to work as a “bridge tour” between our first and third Magical Tours for those guests who would like to add some London days to one of the other scheduled tours. It also may be a stand-alone tour for those who may already be planning to be in the London area, and for those wishing to enjoy a shorter “Harry Potter experience”. Included are some unique features not found in other tours, as well as free time to explore London, and to enjoy the vibrant London Theatre scene. Magical Tours personnel will serve as tour and activity guides as well as a concierge service for those who want to be more free-wheeling. The itinerary is planned to include the most important Harry Potter filming sites, and to capture even more “magic” with some unique activities sure to please any Harry Potter fan. We’ll help you feel comfortable about exploring London on your own as well.

As escorting large groups around London poses particular challenges, This tour is limited to 16 guests!

Special Note: The tour planners for Magical Tours can’t predict the dates and places for special Harry Potter events in Britain next summer, but guests can be confident that our tours are flexible enough to take advantage of any events that may be scheduled during tour dates. As far as possible every effort will be made to include such additions as movie premiers and opening nights, or celebrity appearances to each tour as details are made available to us. The summer of 2010 is sure to hold some great surprises!

ITINERARY

June 26, Saturday – Day 1
Guests traveling into London for the tour should plan to arrive into London’s Heathrow Airport no later than 11:00 AM today. Travelers will be advised concerning the various means of transportation into central London. (For those arriving at Gatwick Airport, Magical Tours will be able to offer recommendations on transferring into central London.) Guests joining this tour from the Origins of Harry’s Wondrous World will make the included short journey from Oxford in the morning, and will be escorted directly to our London hotel. There will be time to freshen up and have lunch on your own before meeting up with the London tour group.

After arrival in London everyone will check into one of the wonderfully located hotel being offered, and then rendezvous with the group at 3:00 PM at the designated meeting place at our London hotel.

Note: The tour price includes four nights in a lovely, well-located family-owned hotel on a quiet, tree-shaded street. Guests will also have the option to select a hotel upgrade at a larger property quite nearby. Please see the pricing section for details.

We’ll have a leisurely London orientation before setting off for a memorable welcome dinner in a unique restaurant not far from our hotel(s), followed by a terrific Ghost Tour to set the mood!

27, Sunday – Day 2
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll have an enjoyable day exploring London together. The Magical Tours guides will escort guests around to the some of the popular attractions the city offers. We’ll take a short trip to Westminster Bridge (as flown over by broomstick in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) for some great photo opportunities. From there we’ll board a boat for a fun cruise on the River Thames, following Harry’s route to Number 12 Grimauld Place. The day will also Include a visit to the famed Westminster Abbey and a ride on the London Eye for a panoramic view of the city. For lunch we’ll enjoy a deluxe picnic in a fabulous London park! After the tour there will be free time for dinner on your own.

Keep in mind that London theatres are “dark” on Sunday; so don’t plan on a play this evening!

June 28, Monday – Day 3
After a nice English breakfast we will set off on a “choose your own adventure” day. Today is a totally free day in London town. Armed only with your knowledge and an all-you-can-travel London Underground pass, a map, and as much information as your guides can furnish, you’ll be off to explore the wonders of one of the world’s most exciting cities. Maybe you’ll want to explore Oxford Street with its world-famous shops; or spend the day in the fabulous British Museum, National Gallery, or National Portrait Gallery (admissions are FREE!). This would also be an excellent day to visit The Tower of London, and must-see destination that definitely deserves at least a half-day or longer to really appreciate it.

Guests are one their own for lunch and dinner. It’s a free evening to take a walking tour, catch a great London play on your own, or just relax at a cozy pub or at the hotel. The Magical Tours staff will be happy to assist in arranging whatever you fancy!

June 29, Tuesday – Day 4
After breakfast all together we’re off on a Harry Potter quest. We will travel to many of the filming locations all around the city. The first stop will be Leicester Square, where all of the world premiers of the Harry Potter films have been held. We’ll see The Millennium Bridge (which the Death-Eaters destroy in the 6th movie), Australia House (the setting for Gringott’s Bank), and Leadenhall Market (depicted in the first film). Of course we’ll also make a stop at the famed Kings Cross Station with Platform 9 ¾ and much more! We’ll see the spectacular St. Pancras Station (as seen in the “flying Ford Anglia” scenes).There will be loads of photo opportunities with YOU in the actual places! We’ll have a lunch together in a wonderful historic pub along the way.

In the afternoon we’ll have a real treat for Harry Potter fans, young and old! We’re invited into London’s Old Operating Theatre. Here, in this medieval setting, we’ll tour the famous medicinal herb garret and have a real lesson in Herbology!

For our “farewell to London” we’ll have an early “pre-theatre” dinner together at a truly unique restaurant everyone is sure to love! Afterward everyone will go their separate ways to the London play of their choice (included in the tour price) to complete an unforgettable London Theatre Evening!

June 30, Wednesday – Day 5
The tour ends after breakfast. Guests may choose from several options: 1) Travel to the airport for flights out, 2) Remain in London for more time on their own, 3) Set out on their own for points beyond London, or 4) Continue with the Magical Tours staff to join The Seeker’s Quest tour group. For those not continuing on with the next tour, guests will be responsible for their own airport transfers or other travel arrangements to other destinations.

This limited size private tour will fill quickly. Don’t miss out!

Tour participants will have friendly, extremely knowledgeable guides for the entire tour. We do our best to make each of the places we visit come to life. Hotels and most restaurants on tour have been selected for their very specific location or high level of “atmosphere” or unique character. The small group size allows us to personalize the experience in a way large groups simply cannot do.

Our travel adventure encompasses a genuine affection for an enduring classic of literature, as well as for a beautiful and historic country. This is much more than just a “Harry Potter” tour – anyone would love this unique view of London. We want you to be a real part of it all – not just a tourist passing through. If you want a complete, personalized, worry-free escorted tour of Harry Potter’s London – a magical journey - this is it!

Complete Prices

$1195.00 Adult (13 +)
$995.00 children 6 – 12

SPECIAL PRICE: Guests who will be adding the London Bridge Tour to our Tour # 1 or #3 will receive a discount of $150 per person!

(NOTE: The MAXIMUM for this small group tour is 16 persons.) All prices are based on Double Occupancy. Single supplement available on request.

Hotel Upgrade: The hotel included in the tour price is a small, very comfortable, family-owned hotel on a very quiet street in one of the city’s most conveniently-located neighborhoods. There is no elevator. For guests who prefer a larger classic and elegant hotel in the same area (with an elevator), we are offering a very good rate. The additional cost for this four night upgrade is:
$ 169.00 per adult
$99 per child

The MINIMUM size for this tour is 6 persons.
* Child fare based on 1 or 2 or 3 children ages 6 – 12 sharing accommodations with parents as
the schedule requires. Adjoining or connecting rooms may be available upon request.

Tour Includes: All 4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners; all ground transportation in central London including London Underground tickets and taxis as required, 4 nights of overnight accommodation (based on double occupancy) in very specially–selected hostels and hotels, admissions to all attractions included in the tour itinerary, a ticket per person to the London play of choice for Tuesday night – June 29th, full time knowledgeable guide services, and standard gratuities. There will be no additional charges for tours and events offered by Magical Tours/Your Man in Europe.

Not Included: Airfare to, and returning from London; airport transfers in and out of central London; optional travel insurance; extra beverages (meals will include 1 beverage and will be budgeted accordingly); a la cart or premium menu selections beyond the established meal allowances; between meal snacks; gratuities for extra services such as baggage porters, or for superior service (normal gratuities are included in the trip cost); souvenirs; and privately arranged activities. Hotel room upgrades are also not included. Additional London theatre tickets and transportation to and from unscheduled venues are extra.

Please Note: This tour is designed for fans of the Harry Potter books and films – young and old. The nature of the tour, which may include young children, makes the inclusion of alcoholic beverages with meals a matter of discretion.

Also: All overnight accommodations, as well as van travel will be NON-SMOKING. The minimum age for this tour is 6 years.

DISCLAIMER: This themed tour is not an official 'Harry Potter' event and is not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Harry Potter book publishers or J.K.Rowling and her representatives.

All rights to the series of “Harry Potter” books are the property of J.K. Rowling and her publishers including Scholastic Press, et al. Film rights and image trademarks are the property of Warner Brothers, Inc. Any references to trademarked and copyrighted materials are not intended as anything more than an effort to bring well-known imaginary figures and places in literature into the context of an actual travel experience in Great Britain.

Though the places we will visit are quite real and historically significant, the theme of this tour is based upon entirely imaginary characters and places. When the tour itinerary refers to such imaginary characters or place names, there is no intent to imply that they are real people or places, or that they pertain to factual events. Such references are intended to create whimsical associations between possible inspirations for the stories and/or filming locations used for the movies, and the very real places we will visit.

Copyright 2008 -Your Man in Europe/Magical Tours