Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
London, Paris and Amsterdam by Rail: Westminster, Versailles and the Canals
A proposed 8-day rail itinerary through three capitals: the Tower and Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, the Eurostar to Paris for Montmartre, Versailles and the Louvre, then Amsterdam's canals, the Zaanse Schans windmills and the Rijksmuseum.
8 days · London to Amsterdam · up to 12 guests
Canal houses and houseboats in Amsterdam's canal belt Photo: Kaci Baum kacibaum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amsterdam_Canal_Houses_(Unsplash).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- London to Amsterdam
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
City walking on pavements, cobbles, gravel paths, steps and museum floors: plan on roughly 8 to 12 km on foot on most sightseeing days, with seated breaks at lunch, on boats and on trains. Versailles is the longest day on foot (the gardens are optional). You carry and lift your own suitcase on and off two Eurostar trains and up station steps; vans are proposed for hotel and station transfers, but guides do not porter bags. Not step-free: Montmartre, the Tower walls and windmill ladders involve stairs.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 2 dinners
- Season
- April to October and Christmas
Highlights
Why this trip
- The Crown Jewels and a Yeoman Warder tour at the Tower of London, then the Thames by boat towards Westminster
- Westminster Abbey, the coronation church since 1066
- Windsor Castle's State Apartments and St George's Chapel on a day out by train
- The Eurostar under the Channel from St Pancras to Paris, then Montmartre on foot the same afternoon
- The Palace of Versailles, including the Hall of Mirrors, on a timed-entry visit, and an evening on the Seine
- A group visit to the Louvre, booked in advance with the museum
- A working windmill at the Zaanse Schans, then Rembrandt's Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in London
London Heathrow Airport to your hotel, then an evening walk along the South Bank to Westminster
- Dinner
- Stay in London
- Drive about 1 h
Fly into London Heathrow (LHR), about 25 km west of the centre, and the proposal is a driver to meet you in the arrivals hall for the drive to your hotel, about an hour depending on traffic.
Afternoon
If you land early, the afternoon is yours: a nap, a walk in St James's Park, or the free galleries of the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square.
Evening
In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the week: how the trains work, what to keep in your day bag, which mornings start early and what the border check at St Pancras involves. Then we walk along the South Bank of the Thames to Westminster Bridge as the lights come on, for the view of the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower, the clock tower that holds Big Ben. The welcome dinner is planned at a restaurant nearby, a first chance to meet the people you will share the trains and tables with.
Included
- Proposed pick-up at London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Evening walk along the South Bank to Westminster Bridge
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Activity: The briefing time is set once flights are known. No airport pick-up window is guaranteed for delayed or late flights.
The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey
The Tower of London, then by boat on the Thames to Westminster, then Westminster Abbey and Whitehall
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in London
- By boat
We aim to be at the Tower of London for its opening and to go first to the Jewel House for the Crown Jewels, the Imperial State Crown among them; opening times vary by day and season, and we confirm them when dates are set. The Tower runs Yeoman Warder tours of the walls, the scaffold site and the chapel, and you have time inside the White Tower, the keep William the Conqueror began in the 1070s. The Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Tower Pier a river boat takes us upstream to Westminster, passing under London Bridge and several other bridges, with the City and the South Bank on either side and the London Eye near the end; Tower Bridge is behind us at the start and is not passed under. The crossing takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes depending on the service.
Afternoon
Lunch is planned near Parliament Square. In the early afternoon a Westminster Abbey visit is proposed, subject to service closures and a reserved entry time. The coronation church since 1066 and resting place of Elizabeth I and Isaac Newton permits guiding only by authorised Blue Badge Tourist Guides. Our quote must include that separately arranged guide for a guided group visit; our tour leader cannot simply guide inside. A self-led multimedia visit would be an agreed alternative, not an undisclosed substitution. We finish walking up Whitehall past Horse Guards to Trafalgar Square. The rest of the day is free.
Included
- The Tower of London with the Crown Jewels and a Yeoman Warder tour
- A Thames boat from Tower Pier to Westminster
- Sit-down lunch near Parliament Square
- Westminster Abbey, subject to opening hours and group rules
- Whitehall, Horse Guards and Trafalgar Square on foot
Optional experiences
- The British Museum or the National Gallery in the free late afternoon (both free, donations welcome)
- A West End show in the evening, tickets at cost
Easier option: Skip the Abbey and rest at the hotel, then rejoin the group at Trafalgar Square; the Tower's wall walks can be skipped too.
More active option: Walk the free afternoon from Trafalgar Square through Covent Garden to St Paul's Cathedral with your guide's map.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free
Activity: Roughly 8 to 10 km on foot (estimate). The Tower's wall walks have steps and cobbles.
Windsor Castle by train
London Waterloo to Windsor by train, Windsor Castle and Eton, then back to London
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in London
- By train
Morning
A direct train from London Waterloo runs to Windsor and Eton Riverside in under an hour, so the plan is a relaxed breakfast and a first-hour arrival at the castle, subject to its opening times. Windsor is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and still a working royal residence. Inside we walk through the State Apartments, hung with paintings from the Royal Collection, and Queen Mary's Dolls' House where it is open, then cross the Lower Ward to St George's Chapel, where eleven sovereigns are buried, according to the Royal Collection Trust, Henry VIII among them. The castle and the chapel can close at short notice for royal events and services, and the chapel is not open to sightseers on Sundays, so we check the official calendar before fixing the day and may swap it with another. The Changing of the Guard takes place on scheduled days only.
Afternoon
Lunch is planned in the town. Afterwards we walk over the Thames bridge to Eton, along a high street of old shops to the gates of Eton College, and take the train back to London in the middle of the afternoon.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- Train from London Waterloo to Windsor and back
- Windsor Castle: the State Apartments and St George's Chapel, subject to opening on the day
- Sit-down lunch in Windsor
- Walk across the Thames to Eton
Easier option: Skip the Eton walk and take an earlier train back to London with your guide's directions.
More active option: Walk part of the Long Walk into Windsor Great Park for the view back to the castle.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free
Activity: Roughly 6 to 8 km on foot (estimate). The castle visit is mostly level, with stairs in the State Apartments.
Eurostar to Paris, Montmartre in the afternoon
London St Pancras by Eurostar to Paris-Nord, then Montmartre on foot
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Paris
- By train
Morning
A van transfer with the bags to St Pancras is proposed after breakfast. Eurostar advises arriving 75 minutes before departure for Standard and Plus tickets, with gates closing 30 minutes before, and there are passport and luggage checks before boarding, so the morning is planned around the arrival time on the ticket. The Eurostar runs under the Channel to Paris-Nord in about 2 hours 20 minutes in our plan (Eurostar advertises 2 hours 16 minutes as its fastest); set your watch forward an hour.
Afternoon
At the station a van is proposed to take the bags to the hotel while we walk to a sit-down lunch on the slopes of Montmartre, a short distance from the Gare du Nord. In the afternoon your guide leads the climb through Montmartre: the steps to Sacré-Coeur and the view over the rooftops, Place du Tertre with its painters, the Montmartre vineyard, the Bateau-Lavoir where Picasso had his studio, and the Moulin de la Galette. We take the metro down to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Evening
The evening is yours. You carry and lift your own case on the trains and station steps.
Included
- Proposed van transfers with your bags from the London hotel to St Pancras and from Paris-Nord to the Paris hotel
- Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris-Nord, seats reserved
- Sit-down lunch in Montmartre
- Montmartre with your guide: Sacré-Coeur, Place du Tertre, the vineyard and the Bateau-Lavoir
Easier option: Take the funicular up to Sacré-Coeur instead of the steps, and wait in a café while the group walks the back streets.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: Montmartre is a hill with steep streets and steps. You lift and carry your own case at stations; guides do not porter bags.
Versailles, then an evening on the Seine
Paris to Versailles by RER train, the palace and gardens, then back to Paris for a boat on the Seine
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Paris
- By train
We take the RER C train out of Paris, about 40 minutes to Versailles, aiming for the palace's 9 am opening on timed tickets. The palace normally opens at 9 am and closes on Mondays; its closing hours, ticket products and group-entry arrangements vary by season and visit type.
Morning
We request a morning group slot, but the ordinary Passport ticket is not evidence that our group or guide has permission to enter together. Arriving early gives a better chance of a calmer first hour, but the Hall of Mirrors, 73 metres long and where the treaty ending the First World War was signed in 1919, is among the busiest rooms and we cannot promise it will be quiet. We then see the King's and Queen's State Apartments. Whether the Royal Chapel can be entered on the day depends on the visiting circuit and access, and is not promised. Versailles has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979. After the palace we plan a walk through the formal gardens towards the Grand Canal, within the opening hours for our date; the musical fountain shows run on set dates only.
Afternoon
Lunch is planned in the town or the grounds. We aim to be back in Paris by mid-afternoon, which is free time.
Evening
In the evening we board a boat on the Seine for an hour on the river as the monuments are lit.
Included
- RER train to Versailles and back
- The Palace of Versailles on timed-entry tickets, subject to availability and group rules: the Hall of Mirrors and the State Apartments
- The gardens of Versailles
- Sit-down lunch near Versailles
- An hour on the Seine by boat in the evening
Optional experiences
- The Musée d'Orsay in the free afternoon (closed Mondays), ticket at cost
Easier option: See the palace, then take an early train back to Paris with your guide's directions and skip the long garden walk.
More active option: Ask to stay longer at Versailles for the Trianon estate instead of returning with the group for free time in Paris. This requires the appropriate ticket, date-specific opening checks and an agreed independent return in time for the Seine boat; it is not an extra visit fitted into the standard morning.
Free time: Mid-afternoon free, dinner free
Activity: The longest day on foot: roughly 12 km including the gardens (estimate), much of it on gravel.
The Louvre in the morning, then the train to Amsterdam
The Louvre, then Paris-Nord by Eurostar to Amsterdam Centraal via Brussels and Rotterdam, then the canals by boat
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Amsterdam
- By train
The Louvre admits groups only with a reservation, made through the museum's online group request, which also covers permission for the leader to speak to the group; the museum sets the entry slot, visits are limited to three hours and groups must leave together.
Morning
We therefore plan a morning visit, but we cannot promise a 9 am opening slot or a quiet gallery. Where the museum requires an accredited leader inside, a local licensed guide may lead that visit instead of our guide. We pick the highlights with the group on the day, among them the Winged Victory of Samothrace on its staircase and the Venus de Milo, with the Mona Lisa as time and crowds allow; its room is often crowded at any hour.
Afternoon
We aim to leave the museum around midday and have an early sit-down lunch near the Palais-Royal, then a van is proposed to take the group and the bags to the Gare du Nord for the train we confirm from the timetable when dates are set. The Eurostar runs north to Amsterdam Centraal in about 3 hours 20 minutes (the stops vary by train), with your guide handling tickets and platforms. A van is proposed to take the bags to the hotel.
Evening
If the train arrives on time, we board a boat in the early evening for an hour on the canal belt, the ring of 17th-century canals that UNESCO listed in 2010. If the arrival does not allow the boat trip, we plan it for late afternoon on day 7 instead, replacing that free-time window rather than adding to it. The quote must allow time between the Rijksmuseum, boat and farewell dinner; if no workable sailing is available, we agree an alternative rather than promise all three. The rest of the evening is free.
Included
- A group visit to the Louvre, booked in advance with the museum, subject to its approval and slot
- Sit-down lunch near the Palais-Royal
- Proposed van transfers with your bags from the Paris hotel to Paris-Nord and from Amsterdam Centraal to the Amsterdam hotel
- Eurostar from Paris-Nord to Amsterdam Centraal, seats reserved
- An hour on the Amsterdam canals by boat (evening of day 6 if the train is on time, otherwise late afternoon of day 7)
Easier option: Skip the Louvre visit and arrange a meeting point with the guide before the train. The museum requires booked groups to leave together, so an independent early exit is not offered as part of the group visit. Any separate transport or price adjustment must be agreed in the quote.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: About 3 hours 20 minutes on the train. The canal boat is only run on day 6 if the train is on time; otherwise it moves to day 7. You lift and carry your own case on the train and on station steps.
Zaanse Schans windmills and the Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam Centraal to the Zaanse Schans by train and back, then the Rijksmuseum, then the Keizersgracht to the Jordaan
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Amsterdam
- By train
A local train from Amsterdam Centraal reaches Zaandijk Zaanse Schans in about 17 minutes. We plan an early start to be among the windmills on the river Zaan before the busiest part of the day, though the first windmills open only between 9:00 and 10:00 (De Kat at 9:00, Het Jonge Schaap at 9:30, De Huisman at 10:00), and the opening hours of individual mills and the museum change by season. The Zaanse Schans is a village of green wooden houses and windmills on the Zaan, once one of the first industrial landscapes in Europe, with hundreds of wind-powered mills. We go inside at least one working windmill that is open to visitors to see the mechanism, and walk the village. Windmill and museum entries are charged separately on site (individual mills €7.50, combined ticket €15, per the official prices, to be re-checked), so the quote must include them.
Afternoon
We are back in Amsterdam for a sit-down lunch near Museumplein.
Evening
In the afternoon we visit the Rijksmuseum and its Gallery of Honour, with Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid, on timed tickets and subject to the museum's group rules. In the evening we walk past the Westerkerk and along the Keizersgracht to a farewell dinner in the Jordaan.
Included
- Train from Amsterdam Centraal to the Zaanse Schans and back
- The Zaanse Schans with your guide, including the inside of at least one working windmill
- Sit-down lunch near Museumplein
- The Rijksmuseum on timed tickets, subject to group rules
- Farewell dinner in the Jordaan
Optional experiences
- The Anne Frank House or Van Gogh Museum by prior arrangement, timed ticket at cost and subject to availability. These are alternatives to free time, not additional promised visits; do not book a slot until the Rijksmuseum, any rescheduled canal boat and dinner timings are agreed.
Easier option: Skip the windmill's steep ladder and wait on the quay; rest at the hotel between the Rijksmuseum and dinner.
More active option: Climb to the windmill's stage for the view along the Zaan where the mill allows it, then walk in the Vondelpark in the free hour.
Free time: Late afternoon free before the farewell dinner (the canal boat runs here if it was moved from day 6)
Activity: Roughly 8 to 10 km on foot (estimate). Windmill interiors have steep ladders.
Depart Amsterdam
Your hotel to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam Centraal
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
The last morning is unhurried. Have breakfast, take a final walk along the canal outside your hotel, or go back to a market, a museum or a café you found during the week. If you are staying on in the Netherlands, your guide can point you to the trains for Haarlem, Utrecht, Delft or the Hague. For those flying home, a driver is proposed to take you from the hotel to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), about 20 km and half an hour away, at a time set by your flight; the train from Amsterdam Centraal is just as quick if you would rather make your own way.
Evening
Your guide checks everyone's departure plans the evening before. We do not guarantee that an early flight can be reached comfortably: a flight leaving from late morning onwards fits the plan, and if you need an earlier one, tell us and we will quote the transfer or an extra night.
Included
- Proposed drop-off at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Free time: Morning free
Activity: Departure timing depends on your flight; none is guaranteed.
- London3 nights
- Paris2 nights
- Amsterdam2 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Rain is possible in every month in all three cities. April and May are fresh, with gardens in flower at Versailles and tulips in the Netherlands; June to August bring long light and the biggest crowds; September and October are calmer and softer. December is cold and dark by late afternoon, with Christmas lights in all three capitals. Some older hotel rooms lack air conditioning in a heatwave.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- First-time visitors to Europe who want three capitals in a week without coach days
- Travellers who prefer trains and want the Channel crossing by Eurostar
- Anyone who wants the headline sights booked, timed and included
- Solo travellers who want company at lunch and freedom in the evening
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who need step-free access: Montmartre's steps, the Tower walls and windmill ladders are part of the route
- Anyone who cannot lift and carry a suitcase on trains and station steps
- Travellers wanting more than two or three days in each city; see our London and Paris city stays
- Those who want the Rhine and the Alps in the same week
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- London3 nights
- Paris2 nights
- Amsterdam2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- Proposed: 7 nights in central hotels of at least a 3-star-plus standard: 3 in London, 2 in Paris, 2 in Amsterdam
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
- Hotels are named in the written quote; none is confirmed yet
Transport
- Proposed airport transfers: pick-up at London Heathrow (LHR) and drop-off at Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
- Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris-Nord and from Paris-Nord to Amsterdam Centraal, seats reserved (group seating together is not guaranteed)
- Trains from London to Windsor and back, Paris to Versailles and back, and Amsterdam to the Zaanse Schans and back
- Proposed van transfers between hotels and stations in each city; you carry your own luggage
- Public transport tickets on city touring days
- A Thames boat from the Tower to Westminster, an hour on the Seine in the evening and an hour on the Amsterdam canals
Your guide
- Proposed: a See Sight Tours guide for the trip, who helps with tickets, trains and platforms (guide and supplier not yet confirmed)
- Proposed local guiding: an authorised Blue Badge Tourist Guide at Westminster Abbey, an appropriately authorised guide at the Louvre, and a registered guest guide or museum guide for any guided Rijksmuseum visit; subject to availability and written confirmation
Activities
- Proposed entries, subject to each site's availability, closures and group rules, and to the written quote:
- The Tower of London with the Crown Jewels, and Westminster Abbey (London)
- Windsor Castle and St George's Chapel, with a walk to Eton (Windsor)
- Montmartre on foot, the Palace and gardens of Versailles, and a group visit to the Louvre (Paris)
- At least one working windmill at the Zaanse Schans and the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
Meals
- Proposed: 7 breakfasts
- 6 lunches: in London, Windsor, Montmartre, Versailles, Paris and Amsterdam
- 2 dinners: a welcome dinner in London and a farewell dinner in Amsterdam
- Restaurants are not yet chosen
Not included
- International flights to London and home from Amsterdam
- The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), visas or EU travel authorisations, if your passport needs them
- Travel insurance
- Dinners on days 2 to 6
- Drinks
- Tips
- Optional activities: the Musée d'Orsay, the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and theatre tickets
- City tourist taxes charged by hotels, unless the written quote says they are included
- Personal expenses
Local fees
- City tourist taxes at hotels, if charged on the spot.
Extras
- Room of your own
- Price on request
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
The proposed price basis covers seven nights in central hotels, breakfast daily, six sit-down lunches, a welcome and a farewell dinner, both Eurostar journeys, the trains to Windsor, Versailles and the Zaanse Schans, airport and station transfers, a See Sight Tours guide, the listed included entries (not optional activities) and three boat trips. All of this is proposed: hotels, suppliers, entries and group rules are confirmed only in a written quote.
How big is the group?
The plan is for 7 to 12 guests; the minimum needed for a departure to run is not yet set. Group sizes at individual sites are subject to each site's rules.
Who leads the trip?
The proposal is a See Sight Tours guide travelling with the group, helping with tickets, trains and platforms. The guide and suppliers are not yet confirmed. Where a site such as the Louvre requires an accredited or licensed local guide for groups, one would lead that visit.
Is this a good first trip to Europe?
It is designed for first-time visitors: three capitals in eight days without a coach day, timed tickets where sites use them, and a guide to help with trains and checks. Two or three nights in each city means three hotel bases and only two hotel changes. Entries and timings are confirmed in the written quote.
How fit do I need to be, and do I carry my bags?
Moderate fitness: roughly 8 to 12 km of walking on most sightseeing days, with breaks, steps at Montmartre and gravel paths at Versailles. Vans are proposed between hotels and stations, but you lift and carry your own case on and off two Eurostar trains and on station steps; guides do not porter bags. Pack one case you can manage.
I am travelling solo. What does a room of my own cost?
The single supplement is indicatively CAD 1,005 on top of the shared price, and the written quote shows the final amount. Whether we can match you with another solo guest is decided case by case and confirmed in the quote.
When is the best time to go?
April to October is the proposed season, with a possible December departure for the Christmas lights. Spring brings gardens and tulips, summer the longest light and the biggest crowds, autumn calmer days. Rain is possible in any month. The Versailles fountain shows run on set dates only.
Do I need a visa or travel authorisation?
Requirements depend on your nationality, immigration status, exemptions and travel date. Check official UK guidance for whether you need a visa or ETA, and current EU guidance for entry to France and the Netherlands in the Schengen Area. We do not quote an unverified authorisation fee or start date. Eurostar runs passport and luggage checks before boarding in London.
How does the Eurostar work, and how long are the trains?
Eurostar advertises fastest journeys of 2 hours 16 minutes London to Paris and 3 hours 20 minutes Paris to Amsterdam; actual trains depend on the date. The London departure requires passport and luggage checks. Follow each ticket's arrival instructions: the Paris–Amsterdam leg has different boarding procedures. Group seating together is not guaranteed.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
A private version is proposed for your party only on a date you choose, from an indicative CAD 10,025 per person sharing, subject to site closures such as Versailles on Mondays and Louvre group restrictions on Tuesdays, plus Christmas closures. A private trip could swap Windsor for a Cotswolds day. For independent travel without a guide, ask us for a quote.
How does booking work?
Tell us your preferred dates and send a request. A request is not a booking and takes no payment. We check availability and send a written quote with the price, taxes, inclusions, operator details and booking conditions before you accept anything. Acceptance alone does not guarantee supplier confirmation. The current planning price is an indicative CAD 5,570 per person sharing.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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