Cities of Light

Fly to London and take a ride to the historic town of Oxford, about an hour away. Check in to your centrally located hotel and relax this evening. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Oxford so you can make the most of your visit.

This afternoon, journey through the rolling Hampshire countryside to Highclere Castle, the “real Downton Abbey.” Built in the Victorian Gothic style by Sir Charles Barry, who also built the Houses of Parliament, this is the country seat of the distinguished Earls of Carnarvon. You will be welcomed with a cup of tea before touring the castle’s public rooms. After lunch, drive through the enchanting Cotswolds, stopping in Bampton, the filming location of the fictional Downton Village. (B, L)

Enjoy a walking tour of the colleges of the oldest university in the English-speaking world—Oxford University. One of the world’s most prestigious establishments, it has educated Nobel Prize winners, monarchs and world leaders, authors, and actors. Afterward, visit Blenheim Palace, the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, for a tour of its grand State Rooms. Upon your return to Oxford, you may enjoy lunch at your leisure. (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to St. Pancras International Station in London. Board the high-speed Eurostar train, which will take you to Paris in less than three hours to begin your itinerary. (B)