Luxury Travel to
London
Punting on the Thames, visiting the National Gallery, going up the London Eye, having high tea in a gorgeous tea salon, drinking a pint in a historical pub, shopping in some of the most luxurious boutiques in the world, visiting London’s beautiful parks, savoring a gastronomic dinner…
AAV will take you to the major monuments, to charming neighborhoods, to shops and museums, all carefully chosen according to your tastes and interests. The result? A sumptuous, one-of-a-kind trip designed just for you.
Tailor my trip5 things you don’t know
about London
London calling—and rightly so. This vibrant city, the second-most visited in the world, has been home to so much of world culture– Sherlock Holmes, Peter Pan, the Cure, Paddington Bear, the Royal Family, some of the best museums in the world— and has greatly influenced our collective consciousness. You already know a lot about London’s history, but here are a few things you probably don’t know:
01
London is officially a forest. Trees cover 21% of the city (and the U.N.’s official definition fixes the limit at 20%).
02
Mary Poppins might have been a bad influence. It’s illegal to fly a kite in London’s city parks and to feed the birds in Trafalgar Square.
03
London has hosted the Olympics three times: in 1908, 1948, and 2012. It is the only city in the world to do so.
04
If you love a good Agatha Christie murder mystery, you’ll be surprised to learn that many of the characters’ names are stops on the London Underground.
05
London is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. In fact, there are over 300 languages spoken there.
London travel guide
Where to stay in London?
High-end accommodations are the cornerstone of your luxury vacation—and AAV has found just the right addresses for you, elegant and comfortable, with all those little details which make all the difference.
An Art Deco icon, Claridge’s has set the standard in elegance since 1850. Located in Mayfair, the exclusive neighborhood at the edge of Hyde Park and the West End, the hotel has long been a favorite of the jetset. The rooms and suites are exquisitely decorated, some with balconies and terraces overlooking London’s skyline. You will enjoy Claridge’s spa, its many dining areas, as well as its ArtSpace, showcasing different British artists each season.
The Connaught, also in Mayfair, is another exceptional address. Imbued with history, this is where French President Charles de Gaulle resided during WWII, and also where Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and (then) Prince Charles visited in 1992. The luxurious rooms and suites gracefully navigate between the hotel’s heritage and contemporary comfort, resulting in extraordinary spaces you will love. Be sure to try the restaurant, Hélène Darroze at the Connaught. Three Michelin stars!
In Knightsbridge, the Berkeley is the perfect hotel for those with more modern tastes. Bold design, Italian marble bathrooms, lush fabrics, and unique art elevate the rooms and suites. Choose from stunning city views, Hyde Park views, balconies, and terraces. You will enjoy teatime and the “couture cakes” at Prêt-à-Portea, the amazing pastries by Cédric Grolet, and the surprising “Rising Culinary Stars” sampling menu in the Collins Rooms.
Located on the River Thames, the Savoy has offered exceptional experiences to travelers for over 130 years. This is luxury at its best—rooms and suites with river views, cozy English interiors, a magnificent indoor swimming pool, two gyms, sauna and steam rooms, several dining spaces, three of which are led by Gordon Ramsay. Be sure to have a drink at the Beaufort Bar, with its opulent black and gold décor.
The Goring is the last family-owned luxury hotel in London. For those who appreciate being welcomed and made to feel at home, this is the hotel for you. Along with stunning public spaces, the Goring has its own garden, an amazing hideaway in the middle of the Belgravia. The décor of the rooms and suites is very British, elegant wallpapers, lush velour, tufted upholstery. Adjoining rooms with connecting doors makes this hotel very child friendly.
Close to Hyde Park, the designers of Bond Street and the elegant Park Lane, the Dorchester makes a great home base for exploring London. The rooms and suites are gorgeous, blending elegant, traditional furniture with playful touches. You will enjoy the wellness center with its steam room, gym, personal trainer, experience showers and full spa treatments. For dining, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester. Three Michelin stars!
Tailor my tripBest luxury experiences in London
Notting Hill
The charming neighborhood in the Julia Roberts movie is also home to London’s fashion scene: Paul Smith, Diane von Furstenberg, Sézane… Your AAV personal shopper and stylist will analyse the designers you love to create a unique tour of the established and up-and-coming designers most in sync with your tastes. A bespoke shopping experience in one of London’s trendiest neighborhoods.
A themed tour
Are you a history buff? A Harry Potter fan? A Sherlock Holmes afficionado? A follower of the Royal Family? AAV will curate a tour just for you, where the entire day (or days) are dedicated to your passion. You will see sites open to the general public and, with AAV’s insider access, places known only by a lucky few.
Beautiful gardens
The English are known for gardening, and some of the finest examples are in London. Your AAV local guide will take you to the Chelsea Physic Garden– dating back to 1673, the oldest botanical garden in London; the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Hill Garden and Pergola in Hampstead Heath, a secret jewel…
London for families
Travelling with your kids? We’ve got you covered. AAV will arrange for family-friendly luxury hotels, plays and musicals for younger and older children alike, visits to the Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition in Covent Garden, street art tours, or even white water rafting in the former Olympic course. Let us help you make their trip memorable.
When is the best time to visit London?
So much of what makes London grand is indoors—the museums, the pubs, the shopping — so there isn’t really a bad time to visit the British capital.
London in winter:
There is nothing quite like Christmas in London: meeting Santa at Hamleys, an amazing toy store (seven floors of fun and games!); the Winder Wonderland festival in Hyde Park; seeing the Christmas decorations at Harrods; shopping in Camden Market; and seeing the Kew Gardens lit up with fairy lights, illuminated tunnels and sparkling trees. Magical!
London in spring:
Spring is a wonderful time in London. The weather is mild, but you don’t have the crowds you’ll see in summer. Once you’ve seen the main monuments, consider taking a moment to see the historic Oxford-Cambridge boat race end March or early April. The Chelsea Flower show, held end May, is amazing to see with more than 4000 hectares of floral displays.
London in summer:
Summer is high tourist season in London, mainly due to the warmer temperatures and longer days. The Royal Ascot, where you can see Britain’s nobility showing off their finest clothes and hats, takes place in June. In July, there’s Wimbledon, with the world’s best tennis players. In summer, London’s rooftop bars are particularly enjoyable, or check out one of the city’s beer gardens.
London in autumn:
With all the parks and gardens around London, autumn is especially pretty and a great time to see the autumn colors. The London Film Festival, with movies from over 900 international film makers, is held in October. And, as you can imagine, the Brits do a great job on Halloween! They do an even better job, though, on Guy Fawkes night, when fireworks light up the skyline.
Travel tips about
London
The Tower of London, London Bridge, the British Museum, London Eye, the National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Covent Gardens, the theater on the West End, 80 Michelin-starred restaurants, avant-garde fashion designers … there is so much to see and do in London that it can be difficult to know where to start. AAV will help. With our local guides and insider access, we curate a unique vacation for you, handling all the details so all you have to do is enjoy.
01
Millenium Bridge
Spanning from the Tate Modern to St. Paul’s Cathedral, this was the first bridge to be built in London for over a century. As its name suggests, it opened in 2000. Cross the bridge from the Tate Modern side—the cathedral dome comes into view little by little, as you progress over the bridge. Stunning!
02
Best selfie ever
Head to God’s Own Junkyard, a place somewhere between a shop and a museum, with a collection of neon signs, some of which were used in Captain America and Eyes Wide Shut. It’s crazy, it’s extravagant—and a great backdrop for your selfies.
03
Not your ordinary ferris wheel
When in London, be sure to take a ride on the London Eye, a behemoth measuring in at 135 meters tall and weighing more than 1000 tons. The 32 capsules each take 30 minutes to go around once, so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular city views.
04
High Tea
No visit to London would be complete without having high tea at least once, and one of the most iconic venues is the Savoy. Delicate crab meat and keta caviar sandwiches, traditional cucumber sandwiches, sweet scones with Devon clotted cream, Royal biscuits… Oh so British!
05
Watch A Fish Called Wanda
This crazy movie about jewel thieves and con artists double-crossing one another takes you to many different neighborhoods of London—so a great preview to your trip. And, thanks to the Monty Python members in its cast, it’s also a fun example of British humor.
Plan
your trip
If you wish to schedule a time to speak about the trip you have in mind, please click on the “Tailor my trip” button and fill in our form. We will get back to you very shortly after reception of your request.