Britain Sampler with Paris to Normandy 2025 - 16 Day River Cruise London to Paris

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Britain Sampler with Paris to Normandy 2025

16 Day River Cruise London to Paris



Tour Description:

Join us for an adventure on this guided tour of Britain to sample iconic and inspiringly beautiful locales in England and Scotland. See the classic landmarks in exciting London, including Big Ben, and take an excursion to see the mysterious Stonehenge, and the excavations of the Roman Baths. Your Globus guided vacation in Britain also takes you to Liverpool (home of the Beatles), and Edinburgh, Scotland. Visit York, England, as well as William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, before concluding your England and Scotland vacation tour in London.

Your Britain Sampler vacation segues into a wonderful French river cruise from Paris to Normandy aboard your Avalon Suite Ship®. You’ll board a Eurostar train from London to Paris to embark on your Seine River cruise from the “City of Light.”

You’ll first sail to Vernon, where you’ll choose between two exciting guided visits—Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny or the remarkable Bizy Castle, known as “Normandy’s Versailles.” You may choose to go on an excursion to the historic Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, the Point du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery. In Rouen, best known as the site of Joan of Arc’s persecution, you’ll go on a guided walk through the medieval quarter. From Conflans, join an excursion to the quaint and inspiring town of Auvers-Sur-Oise—the inspiration of famous artists, including Vincent van Gogh—or visit Napoleon and Josephine’s Malmaison.

On this French river cruise, enjoy wine, cheese, and beautiful scenery along the Seine River. Discover the true heart of Paris on a guided walk through the sites of Paris’ rich history, or take a tour showing you the iconic sites of the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and more.

Map for Britain Sampler with Paris to Normandy 2025 - 16 Day River Cruise London to Paris
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Dates & Pricing

Sunday 13 Apr 25 — Tuesday 29 Apr 25Starting at $6,598Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 15 Jun 25 — Tuesday 01 Jul 25Starting at $6,928Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 06 Jul 25 — Tuesday 22 Jul 25Starting at $7,328Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 27 Jul 25 — Tuesday 12 Aug 25Starting at $7,548Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 03 Aug 25 — Tuesday 19 Aug 25Starting at $6,798Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 10 Aug 25 — Tuesday 26 Aug 25Starting at $6,898Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 London: Welcome to England
Day 2 London: Guided sightseeing
Day 3 London–Stonehenge–Bath: Explore prehistoric Stonehenge, see the Roman relics in Bath, welcome dinner
Day 4 Bath–Ludlow–Llangollen–Liverpool: Sightseeing in Ludlow and Llangollen, transfer to Liverpool
Day 5 Liverpool–Grasmere–Gretna Green–Edinburgh: Stop in Wordsworth's village, travel to Edinburgh
Day 6 Edinburgh: Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle
Day 7 Edinburgh–Abbotsford–Jedburgh–York, England: Guided tour of Sir Walter Scott's house in Abbotsford, visit Jedburgh, walking tour in York
Day 8 York–Stratford-upon-Avon–London: Visit of Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon
Day 9 London–Paris (Embarkation): Transfer to Paris; onboard welcome reception
Day 10 Vernon–Les Andelys: Choice of excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle or walk with your Adventure Host; choice of guided walk, or guided hike in Les Andelys; crêpes tasting on board
Day 11 Caudebec: Choice of excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route” or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 12 Caudebec: Choice of full day excursion to Normandy landing beaches, or “A Taste of Normandy” excursion
Day 13 Rouen: Guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit the cathedral or bike tour
Day 14 Conflans: Choice of excursions to Auvers-sur-Oise, or Napoleon and Josephine's Château de Malmaison or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 15 Paris: Choice of guided sightseeing or “Heart of Paris” walking tour to see Paris’ historic sights or walk with your Adventure Host
Day 16 Paris (Disembarkation): Your vacation ends this morning
Notes:
  • In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
  • Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
  • Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
  • Departure April 7th will operate the cruise portion in a revised order: Day 9 Paris, Day 10 Paris, Day 11 Conflans, Day 12 Les Andelys-Rouen, Day 13 Caudebec, Day 14 Caudebec. Normandy excursions, Day 15 Vernon, Day 16 Paris

ITINERARY

Day 1
LONDON, ENGLAND Welcome to London, Start the Globus part of your vacation. Free time this afternoon. LONDON-BIG-BEN.jpg

Day 2
LONDON The Royal Treatment Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Free time this afternoon. HISTORIC SITES See the legendary landmarks of England’s historic capital city. Walk where voices have rung out for centuries in Parliament Square and where chimes rise high above you with the ringing of Big Ben’s quarter bells. See Westminster Abbey, where royal coronations, weddings, and funerals have made history. LONDON-TOWER-BRIDGE.jpg
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Day 3
LONDON–STONEHENGE–BATH Ancient Stones & Spa Days LONDON Meet your Tour Director and travel companions at 8 am before departing for Stonehenge. STONEHENGE Join a guided visit. BATH Visit the excavations of the Roman Baths. Free time the remainder of the day. 139 mi / 224 km CULTURAL GEMS The traditions of one ancient Roman ritual are in full flow in Bath. Amid the remarkable Roman and Georgian architecture and the best-preserved Roman Baths of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a good spa day is never hard to find in one of the “Best Spa Towns in Europe.” The city of Bath sits above geothermal springs that bubble up from the limestone below. Bath also turns up the heat with some of Britain's grandest Georgian buildings, a mecca for elite 18th-century society. STONEHENGE.jpg
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Day 4
BATH–LUDLOW–LLANGOLLEN, WALES–LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND Welsh Country Beauties LUDLOW Visit the historic market town. LLANGOLLEN Visit the picturesque town. LIVERPOOL Free time the remainder of the day. 204 mi / 335 km CULTURE & TRADITION Explore the charming medieval town of Ludlow on the River Teme. Noteworthy buildings include Ludlow Castle and the impressive St. Laurence’s church. With nearly 500 buildings on the Historic England list, Ludlow’s medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered architecture inspired poet laureate Sir John Betjeman to call it "the loveliest town in England." LUDLOW.jpg
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Day 5
LIVERPOOL–GRASMERE–GRETNA GREEN, SCOTLAND–EDINBURGH Sonnets, Sweets & Scottish Blacksmiths LAKE DISTRICT Take a scenic drive. GRASMERE Visit Wordsworth’s beloved village. Sample the [LF] original Grasmere gingerbread. GRETNA GREEN See where a Scottish blacksmith performed weddings for eloping young couples. EDINBURGH Free time this evening. 237 mi / 390 km LOCAL FAVORITE TIMELESS TRADITIONS Sweeten the day with classic gingerbread in Grasmere baked following an 1854 recipe invented by Sarah Nelson, the Victorian cook who invented the world famous cross between cake and biscuit. GRASMERE.jpg
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Day 6
EDINBURGH Crown Jewels & Castle Views EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon. EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Attend the world-renowned Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performance. (Departures July 29 through August 19 only). MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-year history as "the most besieged place in Great Britain". Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year. EDINBURGH-MILITARY-TATTOO.jpg
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Day 7
EDINBURGH–ABBOTSFORD–JEDBURGH–YORK, ENGLAND Augustine’s Monks & Medieval Markets ABBOTSFORD Take a guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House. JEDBURGH Take photos of the Augustinian abbey ruins. YORK See York Minster on [LF] a guided walk through The Shambles. LOCAL FAVORITE HISTORIC SPOT While strolling the cobblestones of York’s Shambles, it’s easy to imagine the medieval butcher shops and boisterous crowds bartering for beef and bones outside the 14th-century timber-framed windows. The Shambles is one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe, said to have been the inspiration behind Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, and today is a vibrant gathering place with cheerful cafés and quirky boutiques brimming with the sweet aromas of chocolate, pastries, and pies. YORK.jpg
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Day 8
YORK–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–LONDON Mr. & Mrs. Shakespeare STRATFORD-UPON-AVON See Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace. 256 mi / 411 km A LEGEND SLEPT HERE Ah, young love! Even more true, as Shakespeare’s fiancée was eight years his senior. See Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the family home where the bard’s wife-to-be was born and courted by young Will. Built more than 500 years ago, much of the original structure remains. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and family home in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales about his family life, marriage, and children with a close look at fascinating artifacts in a world-class collection assembled by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. STRATFORD-UPON-AVON.jpg
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Day 9
LONDON–PARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION) Transfer to Paris to board your Avalon Suite Ship®. This evening, enjoy dinner on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON PARIS-SACRE-COEUR.jpg

Day 10
VERNON Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host. ACTIVE Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet’s charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Bizy Castle—called “Normandy’s Versailles” for its magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables. DISCOVERY While sailing, enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration. This afternoon, enjoy a beautiful cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys. LES ANDELYS Serenity on the Seine ACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC VERNON.jpg
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Day 11
CAUDEBEC Ancient Abbeys Along the Seine ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route—where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine. This afternoon, you may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC CAUDEBEC.jpg
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Day 12
CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION TO NORMANDY Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Normandy’s WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Take a full-day Guided Tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Join “A Taste of Normandy” Guided Tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. See the famous Bayeux Tapestry, visit the beautiful village of Beuvron en Auge and taste Calvados at a local distillery. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship. EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN NORMANDY-OMAHA-BEACH.jpg
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Day 13
ROUEN The Cathedral of Our Lady and a Heroine for France ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—site of Joan of Arc’s martyrdom-and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS ROUEN.jpg
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Day 14
CONFLANS The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison*—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. Perhaps, join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles—home to a succession of French kings. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship. EVENING CRUISE TO PARIS *Château de Malmaison is closed the 1st Sunday of each month and on 21st September. On these dates, this excursion will be replaced by a visit to Château de Chantilly CONFLANS.jpg
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Day 15
PARIS Cafés, Cathedrals, & Canvases in the City of Lights ACTIVE Experience the Seine river by foot with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating Guided Walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided City Tour, that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées. Stroll through Paris on your own, or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS PARIS-EIFEL-TOWER.jpg
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Day 16
PARIS (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. PARIS-MACARONS.jpg

Accommodations

LondonLondonBathLiverpoolEdinburghYorkParis
Park Plaza Waterloo
Superior First-Class

Hotel as shown or similar

6 Hercules Road London United Kingdom

The 494-room property is situated within walking distance of top London attractions, including the London Eye, the London Dungeons and the Imperial War Museum. The Florentine Restaurant serves a Brasserie-style menu; the bar features the best of British bubbles and craft beers as well as a range of signature cocktails; and for a relaxing cup of coffee, head to the illy Caffè bar. The hotel also boasts a fitness centre and a heated swimming pool. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available for guests throughout the hotel.
Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

FAQ Avalon Cruises Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Pavlus Travel tells you there's a wide World out there just waiting to be explored on river cruises by you, and Avalon Waterways like Pavlus Travel knows there is more than a river cruise for you and your family to see it all. Why not experience local cities, villages, and countrysides your way with a wide selection of active excursions and activities brought to you by Avalon River Cruises that put you right in the middle of it all. Borrow a bike to ride through the streets of Amsterdam, grab a Nordic walking stick to capture the castle with a hike up the vineyard off the Rhine River, or paddle a canoe along Austria’s river shores. Pavlus makes it easy to turn sightseeing into doing your adventure in real time. You’ll find all the guidance and gear you from Avalon Waterways staff to embark on an expedition of your own. From a complimentary yoga class aboard your Avalon River Cruise to a jogging tour of Vienna or an optional kayaking excursion. Know that Pavlus Travel discounts Avalon River Cruises be they in Europe or the Far East. You'll enjoy every Avalon River Cruises Ship.