London Law Student Tour

Day 1

Flight to London

Flight to London: You depart from home for the overnight flight to London.

Day 2

Arrival in London and introductory Tour

Arrival in London: Your tour director will meet you at the airport on arrival this morning and you transfer by private bus to your hotel for check in and time to relax, followed by a welcome lunch.

London Introductory Tour: In the afternoon you have an introductory tour. Your first stop will be Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen, and where you may be able to see the Changing of the Guard. You then continue down The Mall to Trafalgar Square. You walk through Leicester Square, the entertainment hub of the West End and can explore China Town, Carnaby Street and Covent Garden.

Evening: Dinner this evening will be in the vibrant district of Covent Garden.

Day 3

The Royal Courts of Justice and the Middle Temple

Royal Courts of Justice: This morning you your first visit is to the Royal Courts of Justice where you have a guided tour. As well as its ordinary work in matters of civil litigation, today it is much favored by wealthy Russian oligarchs to settle their scores and where their wives come to divorce them! It is also the place where high value celebrity libel cases are heard such as the recent case with Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
Lunch: Lunch will be at The George Pub, an historic Elizabethan style timber fronted building located directly opposite Royal Courts of Justice. The pub dates back to 1723 and exudes character.

The Inns of Court: In the afternoon you have a guided tour of one of the majestic Inns of Court at Middle Temple. You will feel as if you are going back in time as you walk down cobbled lanes flanked with gas lamps, and you might expect Sherlock Holmes or Harry Potter to come around the corner at any moment. Middle Temple Hall is one of the finest Elizabethan Halls in the country. Generations of nobility have dined in the Hall including Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake, and it is said that the first performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night took place here in 1602.

Evening: Dinner this evening will be at a city center restaurant.

Day 4

The Old Bailey, the Jack the Ripper Tour and the Shard

The Old Bailey: This morning you visit the Central Criminal Court, more commonly known as the Old Bailey on account of the street on which it is located. The Old Bailey deals with major criminal cases, mainly from the Greater London area. There are eighteen courts covering serious cases such as murder, terrorism and drug related crimes. Your guide will explain about the Court processes and then there will be an opportunity to watch one of the trial proceedings from the public viewing gallery.

Jack the Ripper Tour: In the afternoon you head to the Whitechapel district of London to do the Jack the Ripper walking tour. Whitechapel is part of London’s East End, the rougher side of the city, and in 1888 when the famous murders took place this was a dangerous place to live.

The Shard: Before dinner take a trip to the top of the Shard, London’s highest building at 1,012 feet, where you have a spectacular view across the city.

Day 5

The Supreme Court, The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Hall

Supreme Court: This morning you visit the Supreme Court for a guided tour and to learn about the workings of the Court. You learn about the work of the Court and this can be customized to fit your specific areas of interest and learning. We may also be able to watch the ‘hand down’ of judgments.

Whitehall: After leaving the Supreme Court you walk through Parliament Square where you can see the statue of Winston Churchill. You then walk along Whitehall where many Government offices are located and you can see 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister.

Lunch: Lunch will be in the Red Lion Pub on Whitehall, a favorite of politicians, their advisers and journalists.

Houses of Parliament: This afternoon you visit the Houses of Parliament, the British equivalent to Congress. Parliament is divided into two House – the Lower House is the House of Commons where elected Members of Parliament (MPs) sit. The Upper House is the House of Lords where appointed and hereditary Lords preside.

Westminster Hall: You will also visit Westminster Hall which is a much older building but connected to the Houses of Parliament. The Hall dates to the 11th Century and many important events have occurred within its walls. Most famously, King Charles I was put on trial here after the English Civil War and sentenced to death.

Day 6

Tower of London, The Clink and Thames Riverboat Trip

Tower of London: This morning you visit the historic Tower of London, a vast palace and fortress which dates back to William the Conqueror in 1066. Over the centuries the Tower of London has been a place where enemies of the Monarch were imprisoned and often executed. Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn was beheaded here in 1536. One of the highlights of the Tower is the chance to see the British Crown Jewels including the Imperial State Crown which is worn by the monarch for the State Opening of Parliament.

Tower Hill: Outside the Tower you can see the spot where for centuries public executions of the nobility took place. Of those who have met their end here, perhaps the most famous was Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas More.

Lunch at Borough Market: You walk across Tower Bridge to Borough Market, a traditional old-style London Market which has now become a very trendy part of the city, and where you have lunch. There has been a food market on this spot for over 1000 years and today it is the beating heart of London’s eclectic food scene.

The Clink: After lunch you visit The Clink, a prison museum based at the location of the historic gaol bearing that same name and which operated from the twelfth century until 1780. Although somewhat touristy, a short visit is a worthwhile experience for the very graphic depictions on crime and punishment in Elizabethan England.

Thames River Trip: You take a trip on a river boat trip traveling along the River Thames from London Bridge to the South Bank.

Day 7

City of London Police Museum and Historic Bus Trip

City of London Police Museum: This morning you take a tour of the City of London Police Museum. The City of London Police are a separate branch of the police force, responsible for policing the Square Mile since 1839. Being located in the City, it is also the UK’s leading police force for fraud and economic crime. The Museum takes you on a unique journey which includes such varied topics as Jack the Ripper, bomb damage during the WW2 Blitz, and being at the forefront of technology to counter terrorism and cybercrime.

Historic London Bus Trip: You ride the Number 15 Route Master bus, the only route remaining that still uses the old traditional London buses. The route starts at Tower Hill and ends at Trafalgar Square. You can then walk across the River Thames via the pedestrian bridge to the South Bank, London’s arts centre with its vibrant cafes, street entertainment and music.

Free Time:  This afternoon you have free time to explore London on your own

Theater Visit: This evening you have the option of going to see a West End Show such as The Lion King or Wicked.

Day 8

Flight Home

Flight Home: This morning you transfer to the airport for your flight back home.