Spooky Halloween in London!

Guests on London Magical Tours' Halloween Visits

Guests on London Magical Tours’ Halloween Visits

The scariest time of the year is fast approaching!

Looking for ideas of things to do this Halloween in London? Venture into haunted locations, brave London’s bone-chilling attractions or even dare to go on one of London Magical Tour’s special Halloween private London tours to discover tricks and treats for all the family.

Here are our tips for the best things to do in London this Halloween:

The Tower of London - Behind the Scenes Night Tous

The Tower of London – Behind the Scenes Night Tours

1) Bring all the family for London Magical Tours’ range of Harry Potter related tours, including the Harry Potter Royal London highlights with a visit to Platform 9 3/4 and the inspiration for the real Diagon Alley.

2) Enjoy a private Pick and Mix Tour to discover the bloodiest setting in English history: the Tower of London. Join your London Magical Tours guide for a special visit through this royal fortress to hear stories of torture and imprisonment – you may enjoy come face to face with the infamous Tower ghosts on the out of hours behind the scenes London VIP Tours

3) Wishing to visit the best of the English countryside this Halloween? Hampton Court Palace is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon of ghoul stories. Tiptoe your way through the ancient courtyards and dark corriders of the most famous palace of King Henry VIII and discover who it is that can be heard scratching the doors outside the King’s bedroom chamber on the Private Magical Hampton Court Tours.

For further details and full list of ideas this Halloween, visit the London Magical Tours website: https://www.londonmagicaltours.com

 


Charles I. Charles II. And now King Charles III

Children enjoying their visit to Windsor Castle - with King Charles III!

Children enjoying their visit to Windsor Castle – with King Charles III!

On Saturday the 6th of May 2023, the nation will be partying to congratulate our new King Charles, Philip, Arthur, George – also known as King Charles III for short.

As the third King to hold the name Charles, we thought it would be a good time to step back in time to remind us of those previous royals to have shared the same name.

Back in the 16th century, King Charles I was the only monarch to have been decapitated for his ideas of absolutism, following in the ancient belief that kings were chosen by God to reign over their people – the Divine Right.

King Charles II, son of Charles I, was invited to take the throne on the condition that he would rule alongside Parliament, following the end of Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth. He came back from France, where he had been in hiding and became known as the “Merry Monarch”.

After over three and half centuries, things are somewhat different today. Although he shares the same family line of those previous Kings, Charles III is the eldest son of our dear late Queen Elizabeth II, a much admired world leader, who was known for her intelligence and benevolent nature.

King Charles III has come a long way from his days as Prince of Wales. He is greatly admired for his environmental work, as well as his charitable endeavours, including the great success of the Prince’s Trust.

Here at London Magical Tours, we invite you to come visit the UK this summer to continue celebrating  – and to share with you the changes that continue to make England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland such special nations to visit.

Please click on the links below for more details on our private london tours and private Windsor tours to discover more about King Charles III and his family.

God save the King!

 

 

 


Looking forward to Easter 2023 in London!

Traditional Afternoon Tea with plenty of Easter treats for our London Magical Tours Visitors

Traditional Afternoon Tea with plenty of Easter treats for our London Magical Tours Visitors

If you were to ask a Londoner what is the capital like during Easter, they will undoubtedly inform you “it’s bloody brilliant mate!” And rightly so! From picnics in the dazzling sunshine to Easter eggs hunts, there is truly something for everyone during the Easter break in London.

Easter weekend this year starts on Good Friday on the 7th of April 2023 and runs through to Easter Monday on the 10th of April 2023. Here are some of our favourite activities to make sure this Easter is the best one yet:

Hyde Park:

Our top pick is to make the most of the sunshine and enjoy a day out in London’s premiere park. In a previous life, Hyde Park was the private hunting grounds of King Henry VIII – today the park is open up to all the general public.  To get in the spirit of Easter, why not enjoy a picnic or even venture out on your own boat and explore the glorious Serpentine lake.

The Passion of the Christ Ceremony:

With a cast of over 100 actors (including horses, donkeys and doves), this open-air re-enactment of the story of Jesus is a must on Good Friday. Featuring volunteers who have come to London from all over the globe, it is truly a spectacular way of celebrating the story of Easter in London’s Trafalgar Square (large screens are also put on display to ensure nobody misses the story!)

London’s Best Chocolate Shops:

Whether you are on an Easter egg hunt with the family or simply looking to indulge your sweet-tooth, you are sure to find the perfect chocolate treats in London. Our top pick would be a visit to Charbonnel et Walker in Bond’s street ‘Royal Arcade’. Here you will be transported back to 19th century Victorian England, with the shops of the arcade filled with Easter goodies. With so many chocolate flavours (ranging from salted caramel to vodka or even afternoon tea favoured chocs) it will certainly be difficult to find your personal favourite.

Daffodils and Easter Egg Hunts:

Whether exploring London’s very own Green Park, St. James’s Park or even the garden’s at Hampton Court, you are sure to find a sea of yellow in during the spring, with over 1 million daffodils in bloom. Unusually, the park has no “formal” flower beds; rumour has it that King Charles’ II wife had them all removed after he was caught picking flowers there for another lover – ouch!

Easter Egg Hunts:

London Magical Tours are offering Easter Egg Hunts as part of their tours (take a look at some of our guests enjoying their Easter holidays in London in the video below!).

Combine your Private London Tour, Private Windsor Tour or even your Private Hampton Court Tour with an Easter Egg hunt! Our favourite is exploring Hampton Court Palace with its acres of palace gardens and its fantastic maze – it’s a sure way to make this Easter 2023 an unforgettable experience! (*non- chocolate rewards are also available on request).

 

 

We hope you gathered  a few ideas of how to make the most of your Easter 2023 visit to London. 

What are some of your favourite Easter activities?

Share your Easter 2023 by tagging us in your next social media post @londonmagicaltours using the hashtag #londonmagicaltours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Spring 2023: Visiting Paris

There is so much to see and do in Paris and with the warmer months of sunshine approaching, we thought we would take a closer look at what visitors have in store this Spring 2023 .

Spring time in Paris begins on the 21st of March and continues on until the 21st of June. On average, there are approximately 11 hours of  daily sunshine in Paris during March, and this number increases all the way to 16 hours per day by the end of May – no wonder that visitors really do love this time of year!

 

The Cherry Blossoms: Spring time in Paris

The Cherry Blossoms: Spring time in Paris

 

Many of the famous Paris landmarks are transformed by the backdrop of spring, especially ones that are filled with the blossoming of cherry trees. Make the most of your spring-break by filling your itinerary with some of our favourite unforgettable highlights:

The City Parks: 

Nothing beats a walk in one of Paris’ parks, gardens and squares with the sun shinning during the spring time. Some of our must see areas of nature flaunting its beauty include the Luxembourg gardens, the Martin Luther King Park (to avoid the touristy areas) and the central courtyard of the Petit Palais, where in addition to cherry trees, you will find palm trees, fountains and Beaux-Arts-style columns.

For those who wish to travel a little outside of Paris, the gardens in Versailles and Monet’s Garden in Giverny are a must. These (along with Paris’ famous park locations) can be explored by Paris Magical Tours who offer a variety of tours that include your own personal tour guide and chauffeur all from the luxury of your own private vehicle.

Eiffel Tower:

A visit to Paris wouldn’t be complete without a great photo by the iconic Eiffel Tower and the landscape from the Champ-de-Mars park. If you want to make the experience even more special, reserve your own private Paris tour that can include the full VIP treatment with champagne.

 

Paris Magical Tours Visitors Enjoying  the scenery at the Eiffel Tower

Paris Magical Tours Visitors Enjoying the scenery at the Eiffel Tower

The River Seine:

Exploring the River Seine which runs through the heart of Paris makes for a wonderful day out. Whether you are on foot or by boat, it is a great chance to marvel at the famous landmarks fro Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Louvre Museum.

Night at the Museums:

The Nuit des Musées, is the one night a year (typically on the 3rd Saturday in May) that Paris’ museums stay open until late into the night.

There are over 150 museums and galleries in Paris taking part during this special night part including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Pompidou Centre, Grand Palais and Museum of Modern Art. Special one-off events are put on including activities for kids, film screenings, concerts, performances and more.

Join the Easter Celebrations:

Easter for many is what spring-time is all about and celebrating the occasion at one of Paris’ gothic churches can be a memory you will cherish for a lifetime. What’s more, these famous churches and chappelles such at the stunning gothic Saint-Chapelle are often filled with the music from the likes of Pachelbel, Handel and Vivaldi.

If you are visiting Paris during the spring time, and wish to join the Easter celebrations (Easter Sunday is on the 9th of April 2023), then look no further than the services provided by the major churches in Paris. The Easter ceremony can be heard in French at the  Sacré Coeur Basilica and the Église Saint Germain des Prés, or for English speaking visitors there are English-language services at Paris’ American Cathedral,  Trinity International Church, American Church,St Joseph’s Catholic Church and Scots Kirk.

Versailles:

Take a full day trip just outside of Paris to visit the beautiful Palace of Versailles. With the Versailles Palace Tour , enjoy a guided tour, stroll through the statue filled gardens and even watch the musical fountain show. The show takes place on Saturdays and Sundays (from 3 May–28 June also on Tuesdays). Explore the complete route around the gardens, ending up at the Neptune fountain in time for the grand finale.

 

We hope you enjoyed reading about some of our favourite Spring themed places to visit in Paris in time for the season. The weather in Paris certainly can be quite unpredictable and this is why we recommend to pack the essentials –  sunglasses, a scarf and an umbrella to always be prepared come rain or shine!

We would love to see how you welcome in this spring –

Tag us in your next social media post using the hashtag:

 #parismagicaltours

 

 

 


Spring 2023: Visiting the United Kingdom

As February 2023 draws to a close, there is a sense of excitement as we wave goodbye to the colder winter months and welcome the sunshine and first blossoms of spring.

Today in the UK it is Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Pancake day! As the start of Lent begins officially tomorrow Wednesday 21st of February, here on the London blog we are taking a closer look at just what Spring has in store for our London visitors!

Looking at the best places to visit during Spring 2023? Well look no further, below are some of our favourite destinations!

Looking for the best places to visit during Spring 2023? Well look no further, below are some of our favourite destinations!

Baker Street:

With the recent BBC television series Sherlock, there has been demand to visit Baker Street home of Arthur Conan Doyles detective Sherlock Holmes. For  visitors of London who are keen Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts or are just simply looking for a London adventure, the Private Sherlock Holmes Tours are a real treat this spring season.

Hampton Court Palace:

First time visitors of London are usually keen to visit Buckingham Palace and rightly so! But did you know that just 1 hour from central London is another historic palace? Hampton Court was the home of King Henry VIII and today visitors from all over the world come to visit its grounds. Spring time at Hampton Court is just spectacular, with its gardens starting to blossom and its Maze proving a grand adventure for adults and children alike! London Magical Tours offer a fantastic day out with their Hampton Court Palace Private Tours

Exploring the United Kingdom as we welcome the Spring has never felt better!

Exploring the United Kingdom as we welcome the Spring has never felt better!

Greenway House:

Exploring Englands’ countryside has to be up there with one of the best things to do during the spring and summer months. Often referred to as “the loveliest place on Earth’ – Greenway House, located in Devon in the South of England, is the beloved former holiday dedicated to one of the world’s best selling novelists, dame Agatha Christie. New for 2023 is the  The Magical Agatha Christie Tour (12 hours) and offers the complete full day experience which is not to be missed.

The All Lawn Wimbledon Tennis Tour:

Get ready for Wimbledon with a visit to the All Lawn Tennis Club this Spring 2023

Get ready for Wimbledon with a visit to the All Lawn Tennis Club this Spring 2023

Nothing is as quintessentially British as Wimbledon in the sunshine. Get ready for the tennis season 2023 by exploring Wimbledon. Why not venture on your very own Wimbledon Tennis Tour, that includes visiting the surrounding town of Wimbledon Village, the Tennis Championship grounds and even make time for a traditional British meal.

Stonehenge:

Exploring the countryside during Spring 2023

Exploring the countryside during Spring 2023

Stonehenge is arguably the most important prehistoric site in the United Kingdom. Just how was this feat achieved, a perfect circle with stones weighing up to 50 tonnes, all without machinery? Visiting the plains of Wiltshire is a sure way of welcoming in the spring sunshine! Take on Stonehenge with your very own Private Stonehenge Tour this spring.

Make the most of your next   trip to London!

Make the most of your next trip to London!

We hope you have enjoyed reading about our favourite places to visit during Spring 2023 and look forward to your visit! 

We would love to see how you welcome in this spring –

Tag us in your next social media post @londonmagicaltours using the hashtag #londonmagicaltours