London Theater

Join a licensed local guide for an in-depth look at London, from Buckingham Palace, the official residence of King Charles III, to lively Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park. See the Changing of the Guard (season permitting), Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament. Cross the iconic Tower Bridge and admire St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s architectural masterpiece. Continue to Windsor Castle, the world’s largest inhabited castle, to explore the grand State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Doll House, and the Gothic beauty of St. George’s Chapel.

Step inside the Tower of London, a vast 18-acre fortress of 20 towers, winding staircases, and hidden passages on the Thames. From the 11th to 16th centuries it served as royal palace, treasury, and prison. Learn the fate of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two wives of Henry VIII executed here, see the Crown Jewels with their dazzling 530-carat diamond, and hear stories brought to life by the Beefeaters who still guard its gates.

End the day with a night at the theatre in London’s West End, the UK’s answer to Broadway. Enjoy one of nearly 40 world-class productions surrounded by lively restaurants, shops, and cafés. Please note: Performance dates may vary based on availability.

Indian food has been part of British life for nearly 400 years, and today curry dishes rival fish and chips in popularity. Sit down to an authentic Indian dinner, sampling a variety of fragrant, spice-filled dishes that show why this cuisine has become one of the nation’s favorites.

Uncover the mystery of Stonehenge, the ancient circle of massive stones built around 3000 B.C. and believed to be a sacred site or early astronomical calendar. Continue to the medieval city of Salisbury to visit its stunning cathedral, home to the tallest spire in Britain and one of four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta, displayed in its beautiful 13th-century Chapter House.

Vendors selling sandwiches, open-air seating, and boisterous crowds—it sounds more like a ballgame than a Shakespeare play. In Elizabethan England, the Globe Theatre was a lively, noisy gathering place where audiences laughed, heckled, and cheered. This faithful 1990s reconstruction brings that experience to life. Learn how actors perform in natural daylight, interacting with the “groundlings” just as in Shakespeare’s time, and how costumers hand-stitch garments from antique fabrics. Discover how minimal scenery challenges directors to rely on language, imagination, and audience connection. Please note: Workshops are limited to students and a small number of accompanying adults; others will enjoy a guided tour of the Globe.

Create a prime time TV show fit for sixteenth-century England. Compare Shakespeare’s world to our own and see his timeless work in a fresh light.

Take a stroll along London’s lively South Bank, where art, history, and riverside views come together. Admire the Tate Modern’s striking architecture, cross the sleek Millennium Bridge, and soak in panoramic views of the Thames. Wander through Borough Market to sample local and international flavors, and spot landmarks like the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe along the way.

Soar 450 feet over London on the world’s highest Ferris wheel. The London Eye, the city’s fourth tallest structure, lifts visitors above the River Thames for spectacular views. Its futuristic glass capsules provide unobstructed 180-degree panoramas, and on a clear day you can see as far as Windsor Castle, 25 miles away.

End the day with a night at the theatre in London’s West End, the UK’s answer to Broadway. Enjoy one of nearly 40 world-class productions surrounded by lively restaurants, shops, and cafés. Please note: Performance dates may vary based on availability.

Explore the oldest English-speaking university in the world. Founded in 1096, Oxford got a big attendance boost in 1167, when a tiff between the English and French kings caused all English students to be expelled from the University of Paris. With a local guide tour one of the 39 colleges that make up the university (colleges you may visit include Brasenose, Christ Church or New College), then continue on to Stratford. Your guide will take you to William Shakespeare's childhood home, furnished in a style typical to the Elizabethan period. Then tour the thatched cottage where his wife, Anne Hathaway, lived before her marriage.