Big Bus Washington D.C. - Deluxe Ticket

Monuments @ Nite guided bike tour is the ultimate Washington DC highlights tour. Spend a few hours exploring the monuments and memorials as the sun sets over the National Mall; your guide will share unique facts and history at each stop before allowing a few minutes for exploration and photos. No other tour in DC will get you an up close look to as many sites in the same amount of time. Those on foot will envy you! ​ On this tour, you will see: The Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial, WWII Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Albert Einstein Memorial and the White House.
Inclusions: Guided tour includes comfort bike rental, helmet, snack, bottled water, safety lights, and reflective vest
NOT included: Gratuities

The Queen's Gallery was built in the shell of the former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon’s School at the entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The buildings were constructed in the 1840s with funds from the Duchess of Gordon, but fell into disuse in the late 19th century. Benjamin Tindall Architects were appointed project architects for the new Queen’s Gallery in October 1999. Their central visual theme was a celebration of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, expressed through a series of arches and screens that lead visitors from the Gallery entrance to the exhibition spaces beyond. Their design complements the original 19th-century architecture, elements of which were incorporated into the new spaces. Unsympathetic later internal alterations were removed, and a new exposed steel and concrete floor inserted to reflect the original ‘gallery’ of the Church.   A new stone arched entrance was created at the centre of the Horse Wynd frontage, opposite the new Scottish Parliament building. The use of a stone archway, with a courtyard beyond, is a traditional entrance device in Scottish architecture. The main walling is of Catcastle stone, the dressed work and lettering is of Stainton stone and the base is of Kenmay granite. ‘THE QUEEN’S GALLERY’ lettering above the entrance is the work of John Neilson, a calligrapher and carver. The letters were cut from single pieces of stone. Above sits Scotland’s heraldic lion, designed by Jill Watson. The lion sedant is based on a small red lion that sits at the feet of Mary, Queen of Scots on her tomb in Westminster Abbey. (The Palace of Holyroodhouse was once home to Mary, Queen of Scots.)   The monumental entrance doors of oak have gilded bronze hinges by Jill Watson. Continuing the heraldic theme, the main hinges are decorated with the Scottish lion and unicorn. The beasts are set against the adjacent urban scene of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the rural scene of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags. The upper hinges are made as golden boughs of flowering native trees – chestnut and laburnum, oak, rowan and hawthorn. The stone archway is decorated with a carved and gilded garland of Scottish flowers, including daisies and thistles, created by Graciela Ainsworth, an Edinburgh-based sculptor, carver and conservator. Over the old entrance to the former church is a stained-glass window by Christian Shaw.  The design shows a perspective drawing of the interior of a gallery. At night, the shape of the archway is reflected by the glass lights by Keiko Mukaide set into the paving. The artist has given the tiles a water flow pattern, mirroring the stream of visitors walking in and out of the Gallery. Inside, the reception desk by Hamid van Koten is made from curved pieces of Scottish elm with kilned glass and patinated copper. The pendant lights were designed and made in Edinburgh by Ingrid Phillips. Dividing the reception from the main Gallery area is a patterned glass screen by Jacqueline Poncelet. The screen’s bronze handles by Jill Watson incorporate figures looking at art in a gallery.   The dramatic central stair of native timber leads to the Gallery spaces above. The complex shape was designed by the architects with Charles Taylor Woodwork, who were responsible for the construction. Lights set into the first floor illuminate the curved balustrading.  

Discover the romantic town of Paris in only 40 minutes ! The Little Train of Paris Montmartre offers a tour in the heart of Montmartre, with a return from la Place du Tertre. It also includes a full commentary with music.  This is a lovely way to go up Montmartre if you get on the train at Place Blanche and use it to go up to Place du Tertre. It is a steep way up to Montmartre and this is a great, and fun, alternative!   The Circuit:

Place Blanche Place du Tertre Place Constantin Pecqueur
Moulin Rouge Espace Dali La Halle et le Marché Saint-Pierre
Basilique du Sacré Coeur Musée Montmartre Anvers
Amphithéâtre / Arènes Le Lapin Agile Retour Place Blanche
Église Saint-Pierre Cimetière Saint-Vincent  
  The Highlights: Charming way to discover the famous district of Montmartre Circuit of 14 stages to make your tour as detailed as possible Please note that the ticket for the Paris Montmartre Little Train is valid from December 1st 2018 until 12/31/2019

Packed with ever-changing experiences of the Pacific Coast and Vancouver Island, this tour is a must-do for those who have not yet visited Victoria. Highlights & Inclusions: BC Ferries Fees: Scenic 1.5-hour cruise through the Gulf Islands and Active Pass
Victoria City Tour: Government Street, Chinatown, Inner Harbour
Butchart Gardens Admission: Magnificent series of themed gardens
Ample Leisure Time: Enjoy Victoria’s rich architecture, enchanting ocean views, and artisan cafes

Included Free hotel pick up at 09.30 or 14.00 Professional tour guide (during the city tour) Air-conditioned vehicle 1 drink of your choice (during the boat tour) Audio guide in 30 languages (on the boat)   Not included Hotel drop-off Transfer to the pier Entrance fees Tips

TOWER BRIDGE Over 100 years ago, the Victorians built a bridge that has become one of London's most famous landmarks. High level walkways were built to allow people to cross the Thames whilst the Bridge was lifted to let tall ships sail past. Today these Walkways act as viewing galleries, giving visitors the most spectacular views across an ever changing London skyline. Visitors enter Tower Bridge Exhibition via the North Tower. They are then transported by lift to the top of the Tower (47 metres above the Thames) where they have a unique opportunity to see the Bridge’s steel skeleton from within. A short film explains the history and provenance of the Bridge and then there is the chance to admire the spectacular views – from both covered Walkways. On the east Walkway there are fantastic views of the Docklands and from the west Walkway you can see the new GLA building, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, the city, the Pool of London and Big Ben and the London Eye in the distance. Interactive computerised kiosks and graphic panels explain the significance of the views to visitors, as well as providing more information on the history and building of the Bridge. The interactive material and graphic panels are written in seven languages and an audio loop for the hard of hearing is also in place for the video show. There is another film to view in the South Tower before descending for the short walk to the historical Engine Rooms, included in your ticket price. Victorian Engine Rooms These provide a fascinating insight into late 19th century engineering. Installed for the completion of Tower Bridge in 1894, these huge, and beautifully maintained, coal-driven engines were used to power the thousands of bascule Bridge lifts performed until 1976. Although lifts are now operated by electricity, the original steam engines are still in place. The Engine Rooms give visitors a chance to experiment with models demonstrating the technology behind the Bridge. There are also some amazing photographs of the Bridge throughout its lifetime – including a revealing picture of the heavy steel structure of the Bridge as the stone cladding was installed over it.