London Diaries Tour - THY - January 24 Semester Special 2027 - 4 Nights 5 Days

DAY 1: ISTANBUL - LONDON (SOHO & CHINATOWN EVENING TOUR)

On the first day of our tour, we depart from Istanbul Airport in the morning with Turkish Airlines on the scheduled 08:05 flight. After approximately 4 hours of travel, we land at London Gatwick Airport at 09:10 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, we begin exploring London directly.

During our panoramic city tour, we see from the outside many important landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, one of England’s most iconic buildings, Hyde Park, famous for its lush nature, and Big Ben, one of the country’s emblematic structures, and we gain our first impressions of the city accompanied by our guide’s explanations. We take a short break at Trafalgar Square so we can rest a little and have something to eat. After the city tour, we transfer to our hotel, free time. 

In the evening, for those who wish, we will additionally organize the Soho & Chinatown Evening Tour. (45£)

On this tour, you will experience London’s liveliest, most colorful, and most delicious evening experience. Departing from our hotel in the late afternoon, we head to the Soho & Chinatown area, the heart of London’s nightlife. After a short and comfortable journey by public transport, we begin exploring this special area, which takes on a completely different atmosphere from daytime.

Soho, one of London’s most energetic districts, truly comes alive in the evening. Lights, crowds, music, and movement… The moment you arrive here, you feel much more clearly why London is one of the most important cities in the world.

We begin our walk through Soho’s characteristic streets. In this area filled with small theaters, live music venues, boutique bars, and restaurants, you encounter a different atmosphere at every step. As we listen to the story of the area with our guide, we also witness the real life beyond London’s classic tourist face. Continuing our walk, we move on to Chinatown, one of London’s most striking districts. Streets decorated with red lanterns, restaurants offering the finest examples of Asian cuisine, and a completely different cultural atmosphere… The moment you step here, you may feel as if you have left London altogether. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and overnight at the hotel. 

DAY 2: LONDON (GRAND LONDON CITY TOUR)

After breakfast, we depart from the hotel with our guests who wish to join the full-day extra Grand London Tour. (140 £) 

We begin our full and enriching tour, where we will explore both the historical and modern sides of London. Our first stop is the City of London district, known as London’s financial center. With a deep-rooted history dating back to Roman times, this district has managed to preserve its historical texture despite being surrounded by skyscrapers today.

We begin our walking tour with St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest and most important religious buildings. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, this impressive cathedral is one of the most iconic structures on the London skyline, especially with its enormous dome. 

On the continuation of our tour, we see Tower of London, one of London’s symbols, panoramically. Built in the 11th century, this structure was used throughout history as a palace, prison, and treasury. We take a photo break at Tower Bridge, located right next to it and now one of the symbols of modern London.

Continuing our City tour, we complete the first half of the day with a lunch break at Borough Market, one of the most popular street food stops in London.

After completing our City of London tour, we move on to the City of Westminster district, London’s political and royal center. Our first stop here is Buckingham Palace, one of the most important symbols of the British monarchy. 

In the continuation of our tour, the Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster), considered the political heart of England, and Big Ben right next to it will be seen. 

During our walking tour, we also see Westminster Abbey panoramically. This historic building, where royal coronation ceremonies are held, is one of the most important places in English history.

In the final part of our tour, we allow free time in Covent Garden, one of London’s most lively squares. Guests who wish may visit the surrounding shops, spend time in cafés, or enjoy the city atmosphere.

After meeting at the designated time, we return to our hotel and the tour ends.

DAY 3: OXFORD & BICESTER VILLAGE OUTLET TOUR

After breakfast, we depart from the hotel for the full-day extra Oxford & Bicester Village tour (140 £) with our guests who wish to join. Oxford, one of England’s most established academic cities, is our first stop.

During the walking tour we will conduct with our guide, landmarks such as Radcliffe Camera, one of the city’s iconic buildings, Bodleian Library, one of the world’s oldest libraries, St Mary the Virgin Church with its elegant architecture, and Christ Church College, which also hosted the Harry Potter films, are seen from the outside. Pleasant walks through this historical atmosphere let us breathe in the enchanting ambiance of Oxford. After the guide’s explanations, during the short free time given, guests who wish may also explore the city individually.

After our visit to Oxford, with an approximately 30-minute journey, we head to Bicester Village Outlet, one of England’s most popular shopping destinations. Here, guests are offered the opportunity to shop and spend time in boutiques offering products from world-famous luxury brands at outlet prices. The spacious open-air shopping area provides a very pleasant environment for both shopping and relaxing.

At the end of the day, we return to London accompanied by shopping bags and beautiful memories. Accommodation at our hotel.

DAY 4: CAMBRIDGE CITY TOUR

After breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we join the Cambridge tour, which will be organized as an extra for those who wish. (120 £)

Throughout our journey, which will take approximately 1.5 hours, our guide will provide information about England’s education system, university culture, and the history of Cambridge.

Upon arrival in Cambridge, we begin our walking tour and first visit King’s College, one of the city’s most important symbols. Founded in 1441 by King Henry VI, this historic building especially stands out with its magnificent King’s College Chapel. In the continuation of our tour, we have the opportunity to see other important colleges affiliated with Cambridge University panoramically. At this time, we share enjoyable information about world-famous scientists such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawking having studied at this university.

During our walking tour, we follow the River Cam that passes through the city and discover Cambridge’s most impressive views. For guests who wish, there is also the opportunity to join the boat tour known as “punting,” which is quite popular in the area (extra). After our tour, we give free time in the city center. During this time, our guests can spend time in charming cafés, browse small boutique shops, or experience the university atmosphere on their own.

At the designated meeting time, we gather again and begin our return journey to London. Depending on traffic conditions, we arrive at our hotel in the evening and complete our tour.

DAY 5: LONDON (WINDSOR TOUR) - ISTANBUL 

After breakfast at the hotel, we complete our check-out procedures. With our guests who wish, an extra Windsor Tour will be organized in the morning. (35£) After breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we vacate our rooms and begin our final day in London. On this special day, unlike London city center, we head to Windsor, one of England’s most elegant and historic towns.

After a short journey, we arrive in Windsor and begin our walking tour. Located on the banks of the River Thames, this charming town is one of England’s most impressive places with both its natural beauty and historical character.

During our tour, we see Windsor Castle panoramically, one of the largest royal palaces in the world still in active use. This magnificent structure, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family, is one of the most important symbols of English history.

As we walk through the town’s stone streets, we enjoy pleasant moments accompanied by small boutique shops, cafés, and a traditional English atmosphere. During the free time provided, guests may choose to shop, take a walk by the river, or spend time in elegant cafés.

This calm and elegant atmosphere will be one of the most enjoyable and relaxing moments of the tour after London’s busy pace. After meeting at the designated time, we head to the airport.

With Turkish Airlines’ flight, we return to Istanbul at 17:25. With our arrival at Istanbul Airport at 00:15, our tour ends. We hope to see you on your next journey!

WHY IS LOCAL TRANSPORT PREFERRED IN LONDON?

Using public transportation in a large and historic city like London allows you to visit more places in a shorter time by avoiding city traffic and time loss. Tours by metro, train, and bus also let you feel London’s dynamic life on site.

With these tours, you not only see tourist spots, but by traveling on the same routes used by Londoners in daily life, you experience the city not as a tourist but as a “traveler.” So this is not just a transportation choice, but the most natural way to experience London.

Also; 

The hotel where accommodation will be provided is located in the Heathrow area, and public transportation must be used to reach the city center. 

Accommodation includes breakfast served at the hotel. The breakfast content may vary regionally depending on the hotel’s policy; in European standards, it is generally served in continental style.

A minimum participation of 15 people is required for the extra tours in the program to be carried out. It should be noted that if the number of participants falls below this threshold, the relevant tour may not be operated.

Extra tour programs and days may be changed by the guide and the operator. 

Local transportation such as metro, train, bus, and ferry may be used on extra tours. In this way, both time loss caused by traffic is prevented and the opportunity to witness the city’s real life more closely is gained.