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

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

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

During our panoramic city tour, we view from the outside many important landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, one of England’s most iconic structures, Hyde Park, famous for its lush greenery, and Big Ben, one of the country’s symbol buildings, and, accompanied by our guide’s explanations, gain our first impressions of the city. 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, we will have the Soho & Chinatown Evening Tour, which we will organize as an extra for guests who wish to join. (45£)

On this tour, you will experience London’s most vibrant, colorful, and delicious evening experience. In the late afternoon, departing from our hotel, we head toward 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 the 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 will understand much more clearly why London is one of the world’s most important cities.

We begin our walk through Soho’s characteristic streets. In this area full of 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 that lies 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 serving the finest examples of Asian cuisine, and a completely different cultural atmosphere… The moment you step here, you may feel as though you have left London. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and overnight at the hotel. 

2.⁠ ⁠DAY: LONDON (BIG LONDON CITY TOUR)

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

We begin our full, enriching tour to discover both the historical and modern sides of London. Our first stop is the City of London area, known as London’s financial center. With its deep-rooted history dating back to Roman times, this area 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 massive dome. 

As we continue our tour, we view the Tower of London, one of London’s symbols, from the outside. 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.

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

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

As we continue our tour, the 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 view Westminster Abbey from the outside. This historic building, where royal coronations are held, is one of the most important sites in England’s history.

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

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

3.⁠ ⁠DAY: 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 take with our guide, landmarks such as Radcliffe Camera, one of the city’s symbols; 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, will be seen from the outside. With pleasant walks through this historic atmosphere, you can breathe in Oxford’s enchanting ambiance. After the guide’s explanations, during the short free time given, guests who wish may also explore the city individually.

After our Oxford visit, with a journey of approximately 30 minutes, we move on to Bicester Village Outlet, one of England’s most popular shopping destinations. Here, visitors are offered the opportunity to shop and spend time in boutiques that sell products from world-famous luxury brands at outlet prices. The spacious open-air shopping area offers a very enjoyable environment for both shopping and relaxing.

At the end of the day, we return to London with shopping bags and wonderful memories. Overnight at our hotel.

4.⁠ ⁠DAY: CAMBRIDGE CITY TOUR

After breakfast at the hotel, we join the Cambridge tour, which will be organized as an extra for our guests who wish to participate. (120 £)

During 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 structure is especially known for its magnificent King’s College Chapel. In the continuation of our tour, we have the opportunity to view other important colleges affiliated with Cambridge University from the outside. During this time, we share interesting information about how world-famous scientists such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawking studied at this university.

During our walking tour, we follow the River Cam flowing 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 very 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 cafes, browse small boutique shops, or experience the university atmosphere on their own.

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

5.⁠ ⁠DAY: LONDON (WINDSOR TOUR) - ISTANBUL 

After breakfast at the hotel, we complete our check-out procedures. In the morning, a Windsor Tour will be organized as an extra for guests who wish to join. (35£) After the breakfast we will have at the hotel in the morning, we vacate our rooms and begin our last day in London. On this special day, unlike central London, 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. This charming town, located on the banks of the River Thames, is one of England’s most impressive places with both its natural beauty and historical character.

During our tour, we view Windsor Castle, one of the world’s largest royal palaces still in active use, from the outside. This magnificent structure, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family, is one of the most important symbols of England’s history.

As we walk through the town’s stone streets, we enjoy pleasant moments among small boutique shops, cafes, and the traditional English atmosphere. During the free time given, guests may wish to shop, take a walk along the river, or spend time in stylish cafes.

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 comes to an end. Looking forward to seeing you on your next trip!

WHY IS LOCAL TRANSPORT PREFERRED IN LONDON?

In a large and historic city like London, using public transport allows you to visit more places in a short 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 Londoners use 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 included in the program to take place. It should be noted that if the number of participants falls below this, the relevant tour may not be operated.

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

On extra tours, local transportation such as metro, train, bus, and ferry may be used. In this way, not only is time loss caused by traffic avoided, but there is also an opportunity to witness the real life of the city more closely.