Canadian advisors explore London with VisitBritain and Air Canada
The views were spectacular for a small group of Canadian travel advisors who recently encountered two towering observation rides as part of a fam trip sponsored by VisitBritain and Air Canada.
First, they ascended the Brighton i360 Tower on the waterfront of Brighton, facing a winter storm that blew in from the English Channel. The spacious circular passenger capsule was evidently unaffected by the gale, as it rose slowly without any apparent wind blown motions.
The capsule, which can hold 200 passengers, docks at 138 metres above the beach, where it sits for about 20 minutes before slowly travelling back down to earth. On less blustery days, passengers can pay a bit extra for excursions outside the capsule, using a tethered safety harness for a heart stopping outdoor stroll far above the ground (Walk 360). The full height of the Brighton i360 is 162 metres.
Those who prefer to remain indoors can take in the views with a drink and a bite served from the circular bar in the centre of the capsule. Even while streaked with rain, the windows provided great views of the city, beach and waterfront far below, including landmarks like Brighton’s famous Royal Pavilion. Tickets should be pre-booked online and are about £20.
The London Eye
The group of advisors took in more elevated sightseeing when they boarded a reserved cabin on the London Eye, the city’s giant observation wheel, situated on the South Bank of the River Thames.
The now-famous millenium wheel was built in 1999 to welcome Year 2000, and was the model for others around the world that have since been constructed in cities including Singapore, Las Vegas, Nanchang and Dubai.
It has 32 passenger cabins that ascend at a stately rate of about 10 inches per second, slowly revealing numerous London landmarks far below. By the time it reaches its peak height of 135 metres, passengers are able to see sites such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard and Westminster Abbey, to name some.
The Canadian travel advisors on this ascent toasted the towering experience with glasses of sparkling wine to mark the ride. Online bookings are required for London Eye tickets, which start at £29.
Tower of London
There was a time when the tallest structure in London – and in fact anywhere in Great Britain – was the Tower of London. This ancient structure on the River Thames served as a defensive fortress early in its life, with the first “White Tower” built by William the Conqueror starting in 1066, finishing in 1098. It evolved over the centuries to become an armoury, a keep for the Crown jewels and an infamous prison. The original White Tower stood 27 metres in height.
Advisors on the VisitBritain fam were treated to a tour that explored these phases of the Tower’s history, with a special emphasis on the eye-popping collection of jewels.
A guided early entrance meant that the group got a small head start on the crowds of visitors who come to see the Tower of London, one of England’s most popular tourist sites.
Entry tickets and a visit time slot can be booked online, or available tickets can be purchased on the day of visiting from the ticket office on Tower Hill. Prices start at £38.30.
London’s Christmas lights
The advisors continued their explorations of London with Christmas in mind, given that the city was aglow with elaborate Christmas lights at its principal shopping districts and streets.
The best way to quickly take it all in was aboard a chartered double-decker coach, which ambled through the crowded streets.
The excursion, operated by Golden Tours, gave advisors an elevated view of festively lit roads including Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, Carnaby Street, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.
And while doing so, the Canadians were treated to warm cider, mulled wine, sandwiches and shortbread, in keeping with the Christmas traditions of Great Britain. The tour, operated by Golden Tours, cost $58 per person, and even included a Christmas carol sing-a-long.
Air Canada currently operates 26 flights per week between Toronto and London Heathrow. Upcoming, the airline will launch four flights per week between Ottawa and London Heathrow for the summer season of 2025. Air Canada also operates flights to LHR from YYC, YVR, YUL and YHZ, depending on the season.
