Things To Do: Halloween and Bonfire Night 2016

September 22, 2016September 22, 2016 London Magical Tours

We are very much looking forward to what London has to offer over the next few months.

With Halloween and the Bonfire Night festivities on the way, here is a round up of our favourite upcoming events that should not be missed if you’re visiting London.

Halloween 2016: Monday 31st October

Get your face paint and fancy dress on – Halloween in London is easily one of the best nights out for kids and adults alike. There are loads of great things to do from:

– Picking your own pumpkin and carving it into a scary face down at Strawberry Farm

– Exploring the witches den and creating your own potions in Hyde Park’s Education Centre at the family-friendly open day.

– Getting make up tips so that you can perfect your ‘scary face’ at the London Dungeon.

Young visitors learning about London on a private tour

Bonfire Night 2016: Saturday 5th November

Bonfire night, otherwise known as “Fireworks Night” or “Guy Fawkes Night”, is the anniversary of the 5th November 1605, when Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the House of Parliament came to a spectacular end. In London and throughout the UK, we celebrate the occasion by lighting the night with spectacular firework displays!

bonfire

London Magical Tours’ London Night Tours are an experience not to be missed and are a great way of viewing London with children this Halloween and Guy Fawkes night.

As night falls over London, the city’s old Victorian lamps become lit. From the bright lights of the West End, to illuminated icons like Waterloo Bridge and the spectacular Houses of Parliament: discover the best of London with your own professional tour team. Come and join us!

The Advantages of Private Tours

August 30, 2016August 30, 2016 London Magical Tours

Discovering a city with a own Tour Guide and, in addition, your own chauffeur: Magical

Discovering a city with your own Tour Guide and, in addition, your own chauffeur: Magical!

The Magical Tours brand offers the exclusivity of providing guests their own tour team on its private tours. That’s one person to lead the excursion, your professional tour guide, and in addition, there is also your own chauffeur to drive and take care of the road and parking.

Want to know about the advantages of this service? Here are a a few reasons to go down the private route:

Flexibility

If you have ever been on a tour on a large bus, then you have first hand experience at how unflexible this type of tour can be. Private Tours shine because they offer a personal experience. You are able to, for example, ask for specific requests and stops during your visit. Your tour guide is there exclusively for your party: you can ask as many questions, take photos and seek the best place to have refreshments – all at your leisure, ensuring a memorable time is had by all.

Why join the masses on a sub par experience?

Away from the crowds

With a Private Tour, you are accompanied by your very own tour guide and chauffeur, who are there to meet your sight-seeing needs. Having a team at your disposal means that you can be taken to the famous landmarks away from the hustle and bustle, beyond the crowds of tourists. It is like having a knowledge friend taking you on an adventure through some of the world’s best cities. What’s more, you can go off the beaten path into areas that even many locals themselves are unfamiliar with.

Guests smiling as they skip the lines – even on a rainy day!

Safety

Your safety and comfort should be the utmost priority. Learning all about a city should be a pleasurable and fun experience. Unfortunately over recent years, safety in large cities is becoming an increasing major concern. Our chauffeurs have all gone through the highest background checks. Your chauffeur will be with the vehicle at all times, belongings can stay safe while you are out sightseeing. Why risk your safety any other way?

Transport

A huge benefit of going on the Magical Tours brand of private tours is that you are provided with an additional chauffeur, travelling in a vehicle exclusively for your party. This means there are no parking worries and no extra fees to be paid when visiting. Your chauffeur and guide simply take you on an adventure around the capital and while your tour guide explores the landmarks with you, the chauffeur is attending the vehicle at all times.

Great Value

Some people hear the words Private Tour and automatically think this will be cost prohibitive. Yet this could not be further from the truth. Families are normally very surprised at how much better value for money is offered by private tours, especially when there are several members in a party to spread the cost. Once all the extra costs are taken into consideration, private tours can often work out at a better per person price than going on a shared tour with other strangers. And for those really looking for an exclusive experience, options are available to upgrade to our VIP Level Tours.

Visiting London or Paris soon? Read more about our Private London Tours and Private Paris Tours to help make your next vacation one to really remember!

2 Birthdays for a very special Queen – Happy Birthday to Her Majesty!

April 13, 2016June 9, 2021 London Magical Tours

The month of April is not only the first full month of British Springtime, but it also marks a special day for her Majesty. Thats right, this month Queen Elizabeth will be celebrating her 90th birthday!

The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on the 21st of April and her official birthday on a Saturday in June. Not many are fortunate to have two birthdays a year!

The tradition of having 2 birthdays dates back to the time of King Edward VII, who’s real date of birth fell in November. Naturally, he preferred to celebrate it during the sunnier months of Summer and decided to hold his birthday parade, known as the Trooping of the Colour, during May or June.

The special day for Her Majesty will be marked by gun salutes all around London at mid-day: in Hyde Park, Windsor Great Park and at the Tower of London. Make sure you are here for the celebrations and book your Private London Tour to make sure you have the best seat in the house!

We wanted to send a huge birthday greeting to Her Majesty for being such a great ambassador for the United Kingdom and for all the great work she has done over all these years. Thank you for being a brilliant Queen!

Young visitors on our tours have also been celebrating: here are a few words and drawings made by children on our family friendly London tours, congratulating the Queen.

Isn’t this beautiful? One of our young visitor’s painting of the Queen celebrating her birthday – Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria (from left to right)

God Save the Queen – Great work from Clarie Robertson, age 12 on her visit to London

We have a winner! Children’s Art Competition 2015 Prize Winners

December 22, 2015December 22, 2015 London Magical Tours

As we near the end 2015, we delight in being able to announce the winners of this year’s Children’s Art Competition for both the over 10 and under 10 years old categories.

Children on London Magical Tours’ trips and excursions are given the chance to enter this fun competition which is run annually, drawing or writing all about their favourite London experience.

Smiling faces! Children with their entries for the 2015 Art Competition

The London Magical Tours judges had a very difficult decision to make given the quality of this year’s entrants: it was no easy feat choosing from the hundred of standout entries. In the end though, they managed to narrow it down to a select group of finalists.

So without further ado, here are the winner and runner up entries for the Children’s Art Competition 2015:

Winner 10 Years and Over: Goes to Joan Matthew age 11, Massachusetts. Written during one of our Magical Christmas Tours in December, Joan tells “Father Christmas” all about her action packed day in London, including when she got to see Her Majesty The Queen. What a lovely letter!

Winner Under 10’s: What an amazing effort from Aiden Zinke from Maryland – aged just 6! His beautiful description of seeing the Cullinan Diamond at the Jewel House inside the Tower of London warmed the hearts of all the judges.

Childrens Art Competition Under 10

Congratulations are due for all the prize winners. Stand out entries to have also made the final four included:

Claire Robertson age 12, from Texas. The judges loved reading how Claire recalled seeing the horses at the Royal stables (the Royal Mews) and how much of a highlight this was for her personally, as well as this wonderfully colourful piece of art by Claudia Sitjar age 5, from Barcelona, Spain.

Children Art Competition Colouring Entries

A huge thank you to everyone who entered for such great effort and work. Gifts and prizes are on their way to the lucky winners.

Would you like to enter next year’s competition? Read all about our London Tours for children with London Magical Tours for a fun and educational day out.

London’s Best Christmas Lights

November 23, 2015November 23, 2015 London Magical Tours

The Victorians practically invented Christmas !

Love Christmas? If you don’t already know it – London is spectacular at Christmas. Cards, carols, crackers – even Dickens. Yes, Dickens’ Christmas Carol of Scrooge and Tiny Tim fame. The Victorians practically invented Christmas as we know it.

If you are lucky enough to be visiting London during the festive season you’ll certainly be in for a treat: from the bright lights of Regents and Oxford Street, to the ice rinks and Christmas trees spread all across town, here’s a quick rundown of some of our favourite London festive lights to help get you in the spirit.

Covent Garden Plaza:

Steal a kiss under the mistletoe by the famous christmas tree of Covent Garden for that perfect Hollywood moment. Don’t forget to take a visit to the market for some great gift ideas and enjoy a fun stroll down the Candy Cane walk, amongst the fragrances of roasting chestnuts and mulled wine.

Regent Street& Oxford Street

Look out for the traffic free weekends taking place throughout December at what is one of the world’s best locations for Christmas lights. Thanks to ACT Lighting Design (the team who have previously worked on the Champs Elysees, Paris), Regent Street will look absolutely spectacular once again this year. Expect music and special guest appearances throughout the season – and would Christmas in London really be Christmas without a visit to Hamley’s toy store?

Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street are putting on a Christmas party for shoppers this year. Shops, bars and restaurants are also offering savings, so make sure to grab a bargain while enjoying the light shows. And if that was not enough, live music and DJs are sure to keep everyone on high festive spirits throughout the season in this quirky London neighbourhood.

The Royal Exchange

For a more traditional christmas tree, the huge tree at the Royal Exchange found in the City of London is hard to beat. What’s more, the East London Chorus choir will be supplying Christmas Carols for all at its official switch on this year.

If you’re looking to learn about Christmas in London and take in the beautiful holiday lights (along with many off the beaten path secrets), London Magical Tours is offering the chance to discover the best of the holiday season during their London Christmas Lights Tours through November and December until the 6th of January 2016. Make sure to book your visit and make this a christmas for all the family to remember!