Itinerary

December 22 - 26

Depart your home city on Wednesday for London. On Thursday, you will check in to your five-star hotel, the Dorchester, located in the heart of London’s Mayfair district, close to Hyde Park and all of central London’s most famous attractions. While in London we’ll visit the glorious Hampton Court Palace, former home of Henry VIII and a royal residence from the 1520s; get a bird’s-eye view of the entire city from the London Eye; and attend a London Christmas tradition — a caroling performance. We’ll enjoy Christmas Eve dinner at the world-famous Mossiman’s dining club - once a church - which provides an interesting venue for Chef Anton’s unique style of cooking. And on Christmas Day we’ll celebrate together with a champagne reception followed by traditional Christmas dinner at the hotel. Boxing Day (December 26th) brings a scenic drive to Egham and a visit to Great Fosters Hotel, a royal hunting lodge dating back to the 16th century, which is nestled in the heart of the Windsor Forest. In the afternoon it’s on to Kempton Park for the traditional Boxing Day running of the King George VI Chase, one of the most prestigious horse races in England.

Dorchester Hotel

December 27 - 28

This morning our private motor coach will take us for the drive to Chawton, Jane Austen’s 17th-century home. Immerse yourself in Austen’s world as you take a guided tour of her house and grounds. We’ll also pay a visit to the extraordinary Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in all of Europe and a stunning example of Gothic architecture. The following morning we will visit the Beaulieu Palace House. Originally built in the 13th century as the Great Gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey the grand house has remained the ancestral home of a branch of the Montagu family since 1538.

Chewton Glen

December 29 - January 2

While in the City of Light you will stay at the Hotel Le Bristol, renowned for its exquisite French garden. Ideally located on the Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, famous for its fashion boutiques and art galleries, the hotel is only steps away from the Champs-Elysées, Place de la Concorde, Louvre and Orsay museums. While in Paris we’ll take a private tour of Paris, in style — in a chauffeured vintage Citröen 2CV; a guided tour of the National Opera House, the Palais Garnier; and enjoy a light pre-opera dinner at the world-renowned Café de la Paix before attending a performance at L’Ópera. End the year a walking tour of the historic center of Paris, l’Île de la Cité. We’ll take a guided tour of one of the city’s most famous flower markets, visit the diminutive Sainte-Chapelle, and pay a visit to the imposing Conciergerie, a former royal palace and prison that makes up part of the Palais de Justice. In the evening we’ll gather for our festive New Year’s Eve dinner at Alain Ducasse’s Jules Verne Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. Delectable cuisine, world-class wines and an unparalleled view of one of the most famous cities in the world will make for an unforgettable New Year’s celebration capped off with fireworks at midnight over the Parc du Champ de Mars. On New Year’s Day we’ll enjoy a festive New Year’s lunch at Ciel de Paris on the 56th floor of Tour Montparnasse, and afterward ascend the hill of Montmartre via cable car. Explore the famed neighborhood of artists and artisans with your local guide as we make our way to the enchanting Basilique de Sacré-Coeur, the highest point in Paris, to cap off a memorable start to the year before returning home, or on to your next destination, the following day.

Hotel Le Bristol

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