Shakespeare’s Globe and The View from The Shard have teamed up with CTA to offer members a rare glance across London’s history within a single day. Join an exclusive familiarisation trip to their iconic venues on 4 February 2020 to experience the Long View of London package.

There are a limited number of places available for CTA coach operator and wholesaler members – so book now by emailing reservations@shakespearesglobe.com to avoid disappointment! Please note, booking is limited to a maximum of two places per company and the deadline for reserving your place is Friday 31 January 2020.

William Shakespeare once declared that ‘what is past is prologue’. This visit will give us the chance to discover this for ourselves, as we are immersed in the history of Elizabethan London and performance at The Globe Theatre. We will then bring the city’s story right up to date at The View from The Shard, seeing the city’s transformation for ourselves, and getting a modern perspective of the Globe’s place in history.

The Bankside Shakespeare knew was an exciting and buzzing entertainment district, with activities to suit every interest and budget. This FAM will demonstrate that this is still as true today as it was 400 years ago! With nearby coach drop off points and a huge variety of tour and activity options, including some of the UK’s leading visitor attractions, Bankside is an ideal venue for coach tours, where you can build an itinerary tailor-made for your group! Join us on 4 February to get a taste of what Bankside has to offer!

Itinerary:

11.15am – Our day will begin at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, where we will enjoy a guided tour of this faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse in which Shakespeare worked, and for which he wrote many of his most famous plays! Expert guide-storytellers will vividly recreate colourful stories of the 1599 Playhouse, the London Shakespeare would have known and the Globe reconstruction process in the 1990s. They will also bring the theatre to life, exploring how the ‘wooden O’ works today as an imaginative and experimental space for performance.

The tour will include a chance to see an enlarged print of ‘A Long View of London’, etched by Wenceslaus Holler in 1647. The view was reportedly made from the top of Southwark Cathedral, the tallest building in the Bankside area at the time, and offers a stunning panoramic view of London, including many districts and historical landmarks which can still be seen today.

12.00pm – Do you know the origin of the phrases ‘straight-laced’, ‘loose women’ or ‘pin money’? And what did Shakespeare’s contemporaries use as a stain remover? We will find out the answer to these questions, and many more, as a volunteer is dressed as a character from one of Shakespeare’s plays. Using clothes from the Globe Theatre wardrobe,  we will explore the sorts of clothing Shakespeare and his contemporaries, from all walks of life, would have worn on and off the stage.

12.45pm – Having worked up an appetite, we will then have the opportunity to relax and refuel with a buffet lunch. The Swan Bar is The Globe’s on-site restaurant, where we can enjoy stunning views of the Thames and St. Paul’s Cathedral, with a selection of sandwiches (including a vegetarian option), tart of the day, salad and chips. The buffet will be followed by tea and coffee.

1.45pm – We will then depart the Globe to walk the short distance along the river to The View from The Shard. On the walk, we will be accompanied by Globe Theatre guides who will highlight local points of interest, offering a glimpse back to Bankside’s Elizabethan past!

2.15pm – Upon arriving at The View from The Shard, our story will be brought right up to date with awe-inspiring 360 degree views of the city in this unique setting. We will be whisked up in high speed elevators, travelling at 6 metres per second, to London’s highest observation decks split over two floors – the indoor viewing platform and an open-air sky deck. Once at the top, we will then have the opportunity to celebrate every second on the open air-sky deck, 72 floors up, with a complimentary glass of Champagne. Our day ends with the opportunity to kick back, relax and feel the sun on our faces and the breeze in our hair at the only place to take in over 1,000 years of the capital’s history and all of London’s landmarks at once.

Accommodation:

For those who would like to use this opportunity to continue your stay and explore more of what Bankside and London has to offer, Accor is happy to offer discounted rates for coach operators and wholesalers joining this FAM. To take advantage of this offer:

Go to https://all.accor.com/united-kingdom/index.en.shtml

Enter the destination you require with arrival and departure date.

Enter number of rooms/adults/children

Arrow down on special rates

Under Business Client with a contract enter the following codes then click search:

Client code: SC396089195        Access Code: ST524FR871

Click on the relevant hotel that you want to find accommodation.

You can then book like a normal internet reservation if the star rate is available.

PLEASE DON’T FORGET ON CHECK IN YOU NEED TO PROVIDE PROOF YOU WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY – E.G BUSINESS CARD OR LETTER ON COMPANY LETTER HEAD