Royal Albert Hall - Grand Tour + Thames River Rover Pass

With magnificent views from an open-top bus, Big Bus Tours Istanbul is the perfect introduction to a city that strides two continents -Europe and Asia. This carefully designed tour takes you to the major landmarks and historic sights on both continents, while your personal recorded commentary explains the history and culture of this beautiful city. From the moment the bus departs you will experience a real mix of culture where east meets west. Don't forget your camera to help capture some memorable moments. The hop-on, hop-off facility enables you to get on and off the bus at a number of exciting places to explore at your leisure. You can take a break from your tour whenever you wish to visit attractions and landmarks and re-join the tour at your convenience. Bus:   Operates: 09.45 - 17.00 Frequency: 30-60 minutes        THEIR COMMITMENT : Great value for money  Best bus frequency  Hi Resolution digitally audio-system  Operates 7 days a week, all year long   ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS The City Tour Red Route :The City Tour is the perfect introduction to Istanbul city center, taking you to a number of the city’s most popular attractions in both Europe and Asia.  It provides the opportunity to discover the reminiscence of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires as well as the modern Republic of Turkey we see today. You will discover Istanbul’s distinctive blend of European and Middle Eastern cultures. The tour also journeys across the famous Bosporus Bridge; a suspension bridge connecting Europe and Asia and one of the prominent and most important landmarks of the city. Crossing the bridge provides spectacular views of the Bosporus estuary, Europe and Asia, and is one of the highlights of the city tour. Our Red Route is also the only hop on hop off route in the world that provides you the experience to cross between two continents (Europe & Asia). The red route also offers the following magnificent attraction sites. Stop Numbers: 1.Sultanahmet Square, 2. Galata Bridge, 3. Tophane, 4. Port, 5.Dolmabahçe, 6.Naval Museum, 7.Beylerbeyi Palace, 8. W Hotel (Akaretler), 9.Taksim Square, 10. Hard Rock Cafe, 11. Egyptian Spice Bazaar Golden Horn Tour Blue Route: The Golden Horn Tour is the best way to explore Istanbul’s famous Golden Horn, taking you to a number of the city’s most popular places of interest around this sea inlet in the shape of a horn. The blue route takes you through the historic old town of Sulta nahmet into the quaint suburbs of Istanbul and around the Golden Horn. Along the tour you will learn about the strategic importance the Horn had to the city, as well as seeing the sights and key surrounding landmarks that span over two thousand years. Along the route you can use the hop-on hop-off facility to explore Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sohpia, and the old great wall of Constantinople, Aynalıkavak Palace and a 4th century Roman Aqueduct. There is also a cable car, a miniature town, a Dolphinarium, the Rahmi Koc Museum and the Egyptian Spice Bazaarto discover. Stop Numbers: 20.Sultanahmet Square, 21.Galata Bridge, 22.Patriarchate, 23.Cable Car, 24.Dolphinarium, 25.Miniatürk, 26. Rahmi Koç Museum, 27.Egyptian-Spice Bazaar  

You will hear the story of Lord Norbury, the infamous and sadistic ‘Hanging Judge’ who presided over the trial of Robert Emmet. Hated in life, in death he returned to continue his reign of terror. You will learn the legend of Scaldbrother, the infamous medieval thief whose buried treasure may still lie in a labyrinth of tunnels under Smithfield. Not to mention Billy the Bowl, the 18th century murderer, born without legs, who once terrorized Stoneybatter and Grangegorman. If you are feeling brave enough, we will take you down Hendrick Street, once the site of two of the most haunted houses in Dublin. Between them, nos. 7 & 8 Hendrick Street were home to no fewer than six different ghosts. Demolished in the 1960’s, the houses are long gone, but the ghosts...? And what of the haunted hospital? Ghostly nurses have been seen all the way down the block. Could they be the reason for office chairs spinning by themselves in an adjacent building? Or electronic toys turning on and off by themselves? You might want to steel your nerves before venturing with us to Croppie’s Acre. This long-abandoned site was used as a football pitch in the 20th century. Shocking when you consider that it is a mass grave – the final resting place of hundreds of rebels executed after the 1798 rebellion. If you are of a sensitive disposition, you may well come away feeling disturbed. Sometimes, the spirits here attempt communication! You will also hear tell of the mummies of Saint Michan’s Church, surely the most macabre tourist attraction in Ireland, and a major inspiration to the young Bram Stoker, native of Clontarf and author of Dracula. As if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, you will also visit the site of a 21st century apparition of the Virgin Mary. Thousands of passers-by claim to have seen the image on the wall. Can you? And do be careful who you step on as we pass through the deconsecrated graveyard. The gravestones may have moved, but the bodies haven’t... Testimonials: "It was one of the best ghost tours I’ve been on. The whole group felt the temperature drop as we were leaving Saint Mary’s Abbey. It was really weird." Alison, San Francisco, California "I liked that it took the subject seriously. These are real haunted places, and sensitive people on the tour definitely seemed to be experiencing something. Hendrick Street was interesting. One woman in the group who said she was psychic refused to go near the old funeral parlour" Paul, Dallas, Texas "I’ve been in the Edinburgh vaults a couple of times, and never felt anything. What I liked about the Northside Ghost Walk is how ordinary some of the places are – shops, museums and parks that people use every day without realising what has happened there. I’ve never really been a believer, but I swear I saw someone walking through Croppie’s acre, and I got some really weird stuff in my photos there." Sarah, Edinburgh, Scotland "Thanks a bunch, guys! I live on Hendrick Street, and after your tour I think I’m gonna have to move!" Ciaran, Dublin "I highly recommend this tour to anyone who likes ghost stories. Don’t expect cheesy attempts to scare you – you’ll get true stories backed up by the true history behind the places. Some of these places will make your skin crawl!" Lisa, Washington D.C. "I’m the biggest skeptic in the world, but something is just wrong with Hendrick Street!" John, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Sunday Lunch Menu   Available throughout October and November Bateaux London Sunday Lunch Menu   Spiced cauliflower veloute shallot bhaji, curry oil (v) --------------------------------------------- Roast beef Duck fat potatoes, roasted carrot, winter greens, Yorkshire pudding, pan jus Veggie wellington roast potatoes, winter greens, sauce epice (v) --------------------------------------------- Vanilla & Bergamott crème brulee shortbread --------------------------------------------- British artisan cheese Millers toast, oatcakes, chutney, grapes - £8.00 -------------------------------------------- Tea & Coffee Petit fours   Bateaux Windsor reserves the right to change menus and beverage prices as required without prior notice.  Bateaux Windsor does not certify that products are free from nuts or traces of nuts. (V) denotes vegetarian dish.

Highlights: Admire the exceptional building that houses Train World Brussels, a masterpiece in Belgian railway architecture. Stroll through the beautiful Garden that connects the station to a new industrial Hangar Visit an authentic railway cottage Marvel at steam engines, including the Pays de Waes, the oldest remaining steam engine in Europe Travel through two royal carriages, one from the time of Leopold III and Baudouin and another from the time of Leopold II and Albert I The venue is accessible to persons with reduced mobility Ticket Includes: Entrance to Train World Wireless internet Access to facilities:  Gift shop and restaurant/brasserie Optional: the Ticket: Adult - Audio Guide includes an Audio Guide Ticket Excludes: Food and drinks 

A former convent and theatre, the Liceu hasn't always resembled the opera house we see today. Its history is full of ups and downs and mysteries that make this cultural icon a key venue which we invite you to discover on a guided tour of the building. You'll walk through its most representative areas, starting with the historic lobby, in the eclectic Catalan Renaixement style. From there, you'll continue to the auditorium, an exact replica of the impressive horseshoe-shaped hall designed by the architect Miquel Garriga i Roca in 1847. You'll go up to the Hall of Mirrors, an imposing room with a ceiling decorated with allegorical paintings and texts referring to art and music. You'll discover the new foyer, the area where people used to relax during the interval and currently a multi-purpose room which hosts small-scale performances. You can also visit the Cercle del Liceu, a private club and one of the most important examples of Catalan and Spanish art nouveau.

Vehicles: Buses used for excursions are of the highest standard available. All buses are air-conditioned and equipped with a microphone. Dress Code: The United Arab Emirates has conservative dress traditions. Men and women should ensure shoulders and knees are covered when in public, especially in souks, shops and villages. Photography: Normal tourist photography is acceptable, but it is considered offensive to photograph Arab women. It is also courteous to ask permission before photographing men. Photographs of government buildings or military installations are not allowed. Conditions: The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any part of this tour for reasons of government decisions, public holidays, weather conditions, or similar.