List of Tours

City Walking Tour

Date: 11 June

Price: 25 GBP

Time: 15:00-18:00

Starting at the Tate Modern (Blackfriars tube station), UK ELA and EELA members can explore London’s financial and legal epicentre together with an afternoon walking tour of the City of London. (The tour will include many of the institutions we will refer to in our City panel on Friday.) Cross the Millennium (‘wobbly’) Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral. From there, venture through the heart of the City of London, passing the Bank of England before looping behind St. Paul's to the Central Criminal Court (the ‘Old Bailey’), where many of the UK’s most famous cases were tried, including the historic Mangrove Nine ‘systemic racism’ case. Continuing to Chancery Lane and Fleet Street, participants will discover the charm of Holborn and Lincoln's Inn Fields, finishing at the Old Bank of England pub for well-deserved refreshments hosted by UK ELA. (NB this is an extra tour before the main conference designed to give participants an opportunity to see the City on a working day.)

Historic London Walking Tour

Date: 12 June

Price: 42 GBP

Time: 16:30-19:00

We hope all participants will join us on a walk through history. Starting at the Royal Lancaster Hotel and ending at Westminster Abbey College Garden for our traditional Welcome Drinks, we will walk across Hyde Park past Downing Street and Buckingham Palace and down to the Houses of Parliament and the new Supreme Court. The route takes us past many of the places where labour laws took root. . (National associations’ representatives will meet a little earlier to walk together, see programme.)

Hampton Court

Date: 13 June

Price: Accompanying persons tour

Time: 09:00-16:00, lunch provided

Capacity: 40 pax

Guests will travel west of London to visit England's finest Tudor Palace, Hampton Court - a majestic red-brick building boasting dizzying chimneys, elaborate interiors and a rich, diverse history. Built in 1514 on the banks of the River Thames by Cardinal Wolsey and subsequently 'gifted' to Henry VIII in order to regain favour, this huge palace was a royal residence for 200 years and as such, contains an enormous array of treasures, including huge ancient tapestries and great works of art by masters such as Mantegna and Verrio. Guests can visit the State Apartments with their outstanding collection of period furniture, the Great Hall, England’s last medieval hall, which is sumptuously decorated with Henry VIII’s most splendid tapestries and the beautifully crafted Chapel Royal which features a stunning colourful ceiling layered with history.

Complementing the Palace's superb architecture are vast, beautifully landscaped gardens that were first laid out in the 17th century. Spend time enjoying the incredible riverside setting and explore England's oldest tennis courts, the famous maze (made out of box hedges dating from 1714), the Orangery and the palace’s famous 200 year old vine which still bears fruit.

PS if you have a quiet moment you might wish to watch the BBC drama ‘Wolf Hall’ set in Hampton Court times https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002473m/wolf-hall.

Hampton Court is located approximately 60 minutes drive from London.

River Cruise to Greenwich

Date: 12 June

Price: 235 GBP, lunch provided

Time: 09:00-15:00

Capacity: 40 pax

Travel by boat, by the Tower of London and under Tower Bridge before heading downstream via London Museum Docklands, before disembarking at Greenwich Pier. Explore the Cutty Sark, Greenwich’s famous tea-trading clipper ship that was once the fastest ship of its day, before heading into the winding passages of Greenwich village and covered market area. Discover London’s maritime history at the Maritime Museum or Royal Naval College, where guests can experience Sir Christopher Wren’s Painted Hall, before having lunch in one of Greenwich’s many eateries or pubs. Afterwards, discover Greenwich Park, part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site and home to famous buildings including the Royal Observatory and Queen’s House. Take in fantastic views from General Wolfe’s Lookout and search the dense parkland for Queen Elizabeth’s Oak. Estimated to be 1000 years old, Queen Elizabeth I was said to picnic under this famous tree, and Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn supposedly danced around the tree during courting days.

Greenwich is located approximately 45 minutes by boat from London.

Harry Potter Studio Tour (with Neasden Temple)

Date: 14 June

Price: 195 GBP

Time: 14:30-18:00

Capacity: 40 pax

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides a fantastic opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter films. This unique tour takes you behind-the-scenes, showcasing a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world. The studio tours give visitors the opportunity to explore on their own and gain a unique and fascinating in-depth experience into the magic of filmmaking first-hand. Take in two soundstages and a backlot filled with original sets, animatronic creatures and breathtaking special effects. This is a must see for Harry Potter fans. The studio tour takes approximately three hours.

We will also stop off at Neasden Temple on the way, an extraordinary modern achievement that visitors to London rarely see.

Churchill War Rooms behind the Glass Experience

Date: 14 June

Price: 145 GBP

Time: 14:30-18:00

Capacity: 30 pax

A tour of Churchill War Rooms offers an unparalleled opportunity to walk back in recent history. A unique facility comprising of the most important surviving part of the underground emergency accommodation which was provided to protect Sir Winston Churchill, his War Cabinet and the Chiefs of Staff of Britain's Armed Forces against air attacks during the Second World War. The rooms are situated in the basement of the Government offices on Great George Street beneath a slab of protective concrete and were in operational use from August 27th 1939 to the Japanese surrender in 1945. Within the War Rooms, the Churchill Museum is the only major museum in the world dedicated to this important historical figure and features a permanent exhibition depicting the chapters of his life, including some of the social reforms introduced around that time, offering a truly exciting, high tech and interactive addition to this fascinating attraction. Exclusive Access tours give guests a ‘behind the glass’ experience. Up close, guests will see the marks made by Churchill as he scratched away at the arms of his chair in the War Cabinet Room and the rationed sugar lumps left behind in the Map Room by Wing Commander Heagarty when he and his staff finally left the site after 6 long years.

Covent Garden and Royal Opera House

Date: 14 June

Price: 290 GBP

Time: 16:00 - 23:00

Capacity: 30 pax

Embark on a walking tour of Covent Garden offering a blend of history, culture, and vibrant street life. Starting at the Covent Garden Market, visitors can explore the area’s rich heritage as a former fruit and vegetable market, now home to artisan shops, cafés, and boutiques. Street performers will entertain crowds in the central piazza, adding to the lively atmosphere. Your tour will take in Neal's Yard, known for its colourful buildings and quirky shops, as well as historical landmarks, hidden courtyards, theatres, and traditional English pubs.

Afterwards, guests have the option to attend a ballet or opera performance at The Royal Opera House, one of the world’s leading venues for both. The Royal Opera House combines grand historical architecture with modern renovations, creating a stunning performance space. With its renowned acoustics and elegant interiors, including iconic red and gold auditorium, the Royal Opera House is a fantastic place to experience opera at its best.

Cost subject to confirmed ticket price, seat selection and subject to availability.