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Private tour of the Tower of London and Ceremony of the Keys

Tower of London St Katherine's & Wapping, London, United Kingdom

When Duke William of Normandy won the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and marched north to London, he struck a deal with the Masters of the then Guilds to protect the City in return for their fealty. The first evidence of that protection was King William I's construction and manning of what became known as the White Tower, to guard London from Viking raiding parties coming up the Thames. Today, that Tower stands in the middle of the much larger Royal fortress and palace; the Tower of London. Every night, the Tower is locked up and made secure in what has become known as the Ceremony of the Keys. That ceremony is open to small parties to watch, by kind permission of the Governor of the Tower. We have been granted this privilege, and also a private tour of the Tower itself, led by a Yeoman Warder. For security reasons, our party is limited to 50 people and we will all need to be at the main entrance to the Tower on its west side by 7.15pm, so the Warders and soldiers can check the attendance list prior to our admission. Once inside, a Yeoman Warder will lead us on a private tour of the silent fortress for about an hour, answering our questions along the way, before taking us the "The Keys", the Warders' private pub. There, we can have a drink and join in a raffle for various Tower-related souvenirs. For historical reasons to do with transactions on military bases and inside Royal palaces (The Tower is both.), both the bar and the raffle operate on a cash-only basis, so remember to bring some notes with you. Then, we will all be led back out into the dark to visit the famous ravens, and to watch the Ceremony...

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£49.00

Carol Service at the Chapel Royal inside the Tower of London and Supper at Watermen’s Hall

Tower of London St Katherine's & Wapping, London, United Kingdom

As well as very kindly granting the Company a private tour of the Tower on 20th November, and ringside seats at that evening's Ceremony of the Keys, the Governor has also given us permission to hold this year's Carol Service in their Chapel Royal. The Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula stands in the north-east corner of the fortress and dates from the reign of King Henry VIII, but it is merely the latest church on the site, which has been holy ground since the Dark Ages. For those who wish to take a general tour beforehand and see the Crown Jewels, it has been agreed that we can buy tickets for entry between 3pm and 4pm, at a cost of £32 each. Then, once the Tower closes, rather than being asked to wait outside for the service, we are going to be allowed to have a drink in the Yeoman Warders' private pub, The Keys, until 6pm. (Note: this is a cash-only bar.) Members and their guests who do not wish to visit the Tower of London before the Carol Service need to come to the main entrance on the western side of the fortress at 6pm.   At 6pm, everyone will led up to the Chapel Royal and given a talk on its history and present day role. The service itself will begin at 6.30pm and should last about an hour. The cost of attending the service (which goes towards the choir etc) is £28.         After the service, Members and their guests can either leave for home, or walk to Watermen's Hall, seven minutes away, for canapés and drinks, with a Christmas theme, the cost of which is £49 per person.     Tower of London, Crown Jewels, The Keys pub 3pm-6pm £32 (plus...

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£28.00 – £109.00

Two “Flights” on the London Eye

London Eye Riverside Building +1 more

The London Eye is the iconic ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames, just opposite the Palace of Westminster. From the top, those travelling in the enclosed gondolas can see all across London and, on a clear day, out beyond the M25. Now in its 25th year of operation, those who take one of the "flights" as they are styled, report that the amazing view during daylight hours is starkly different from what it looks like, gazing down on our nation's capital, all lit up at night. To test this and enjoy that contrast, the Master is leading a party of ten Members and guests on a 6.15pm flight, to see London laid out before them in daylight. Then, our party will repair to a local restaurant for a restorative supper, before returning for the 8.15pm flight, which will begin as dusk falls, enabling everyone to enjoy the full night-time experience. The price of £109 includes both flights, and a light supper with wine, and one of the official souvenir brochures. Dress is casual, with an emphasis on wrapping up reasonably warm, for what may well be a slight evening chill.

£109.00

Visit to Highgate Cemetery and Supper

Highgate Cemetery Swain's Lane, London, United Kingdom

The world-famous Highgate Cemetery, with its iconic tombs (Karl Marx etc) was originally opened in 1839, as part of a commercial venture to provide seven large, modern cemeteries, round the edge of central London. The inner-city cemeteries, mostly graveyards attached to churches, had long been unable to cope with the number of burials and "The Magnificent Seven" were intended to solve this problem, and to turn a profit at the same time. Highgate occupies a spectacular south-facing hillside site on Highgate Hill. Like the other six, it soon became a fashionable place for burials and the Victorian attitude to death and its presentation led to the creation of a wealth of Gothic tombs, buildings and catacombs. Sadly, the cemetery was not well run and fell into such dire financial straits in the Mid-20th Century that most of the staff, including the gardeners were laid off, and it was left unguarded and so was much vandalised. Over decades, the grounds became increasingly overgrown and today they are full of trees, shrubbery, and wildflowers, as well as being a haven for birds and small animals, such as foxes. In 1975, Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust bought the freehold, and order is steadily being restored to what has, despite its troubled history, remained a working cemetery throughout. With its sinuous paths winding up a steep wooded hill and ivy-clad monuments, Highgate Cemetery is a secluded, funerary landscape at its most evocative. We will have a hour's private tour of the Western Cemetery (considered by those who have visited both, to be much the more interesting), after the gates have shut to the public for the day. We will be shown all the key sites there, before slipping across the road to visit Karl Marx's tomb and a few other items on the Eastern...

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£59.00

Livery Tour and Dinner on SS Great Britain – Sold Out

SS Great Britain Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Rd, Bristol

The SS Great Britain is the world’s first great ocean liner and when launched in 1843 she was called ‘the greatest experiment since the creation’. After 40 years as a passenger ship and then a cargo ship, she was severely damaged off Cape Horn and left to rot in the Falkland Islands until 1970, when she was re-floated and bought back to Bristol, where a charity refurbished her and cares for the ship and Brunel’s collections. Brunel’s ship is now Bristol’s number one tourist attraction and has been lovingly restored to her original glory, exactly as she would have been ready for her maiden voyage. She sits in a dry dock on a glass ‘sea’ and dominates Bristol’s historic waterfront. This is a very rare opportunity to dine on the this world-famous ship, as London's Liveries, (led by the Engineers, naturally!), have her for our exclusive use that evening. A welcome drink which will be served on the Weather Deck from 6pm, with spectacular views over Bristol harbour. If the weather is less kind, we will use the Promenade Deck, where the first-class passengers would take their afternoon stroll on rainy days. This is flooded with natural light and has a number of exhibits that we can explore. At 7:30pm we will assemble for Dinner in the First Class Dining Saloon, which has been completely refurbished in the original style. With marbled pillars and rococo mirrors it makes a grand setting. A three-course meal will be served, with wine. There will be entertainment after the meal and further drinks will be available to purchase. We have exclusive use of the Great Britain from 6pm to midnight and are invited to explore it, making the most of this unique venue. The ship is easy to reach by car, public transport or...

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£142.00