At Sterling Travel we are happy to design incentive programmes around your needs. Listed below are some sample programmes which may give you some ideas:

SAMPLE 2-NIGHT DELUXE INCENTIVE PROGRAMME

DAY 1 : Be met by your guide at the Eurostar berth at Waterloo Station, board your London red double-decker bus for transfer to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard, and then to the historic "Prospect of Whitby" tavern for a traditional menu lunch (Luggage sent to the hotel in advance). Continue for a two-hour London Panoramic/Orientation Tour, with photostops only, no interior admissions. Check-in at your hotel with time to relax, before a welcome drink and finger sandwich reception, then transfer to a West End Theatre for the evening performance of a selected "hot" musical show. Continue on by coach to "Simpsons-in-the-Strand" for a typical post- theatre dinner, before return transfer to the hotel

DAY 2 : Morning at leisure for independent activities before leaving at mid-day to drive by coach to the "Tower Arms", a typical pub en route to Windsor, for a light bar snack lunch with drinks (Luggage again sent in advance). Arrive at Windsor Coach Park and commence a walking tour of Windsor including visits to Windsor Castle Precincts, the State Apartments, and St.George's Chapel, with some free time in the town or nearby Eton for shopping. Rejoin the coach for the short transfer out to Oakley Court Hotel (a unique 4-star country house hotel) for afternoon tea to be served on arrival in the hotel's Drawing Room. Transfer by coach to nearby Great Fosters at Egham, an authentic former Elizabethan hunting lodge, for a Reception in the Lounge, followed by a Private Medieval Dinner in the Anne Boleyn Room with a banquet menu, wines, and musical entertainment by a costumed duo of minstrels. Then return
transfer to the hotel

DAY 3 : Morning of outdoor sporting activities in the beautiful grounds at Oakley Court, splitting into small groups to rotate between target archery, laser clay pigeon shooting, & hands-on falconry (with professional instruction, guest competition, full insurance, protective overalls, and small marquees all included), culminating in a stunning "birds of prey" display and prize-giving. Board the river vessel "Windsor Monarch" at Oakley Court's private landing pier for Thames cruise downriver, with a light buffet luncheon served on board and cash bar facilities available, past Windsor Promenade and Eton, to Runnymede, to join the waiting coach for departure transfer to Heathrow/Gatwick Airport


SAMPLE 3-NIGHT FIRST CLASS LONDON INCENTIVE PROGRAMME

DAY 1 : Arrive mid-afternoon at Heathrow/Gatwick Airport, be met by guides and board coaches for transfer into Central London with an en route Panoramic/Orientation Tour , with photostops only, no admissions, before checking in to the selected 3-star hotel (Luggage transferred separately). Transfer by red double-decker London buses to a Welcome Pub Evening at the "Trafalgar Tavern" in Greenwich, featuring a substantial traditional English pub speciality supper buffet with wine and local ales and typical participatory pub games, such as darts, "shove ha'penny", quoits, bar billiards, etc., introduced and organised by a costumed Cockney Pearly King & Queen

DAY 2 : Morning "City of London" Tour, visiting the business area of the "square mile" and with interior visits to Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece of ecclesiastical architecture, St.Paul's Cathedral, and then the famous Tower of London, with its colourful Beefeaters and Crown Jewel House. Traditional "fish and chips" lunch is included at the quaint "Sea Shell" restaurant in Lisson Grove. Afternoon at leisure for independent activities. This evening dinner and greyhound racing at Wembley Stadium, with race(s) sponsored by the hosting corporation whose representative presents the award(s) to the winning dog's owner and trainer

DAY 3 : Morning "West End of London" Tour with interior visits to Westminster Abbey and the Greek & Egyptian Galleries of the British Museum, before drop-off at Harrods, London's premier department store, or Portobello Road, its famous open air street market, or back at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure again. Then transfer by coach to a gala farewell reception and dinner-dance in the Louis & Pompadour Suites at the Cafe Royal, a complex of assembly rooms in Regent Street made famous by literary figures headed by the infamous Sir Oscar Wilde at the turn of the century, with a formal banquet menu and a trio of musicians to play throughout the evening

DAY 4 : Drive to Hampton Court, on the River Thames just outside London, the magnificent Palace and Gardens, built by Cardinal Wolsey and given to King Henry Vlll in an unsuccessful bid to appease him. After the visit, adjourn to the nearby "Mitre" for included lunch, before continuing out to Heathrow/Gatwick for the homeward flight

SAMPLE 7-NIGHT TOP DELUXE LONDON INCENTIVE PROGRAMME

DAY 1: After landing at Heathrow Airport, clear Immigration and proceed with your luggage through Customs into Arrivals, where your guide and uniformed Claridge's chauffeurs wait to escort you to their fleet of limousines for the journey into Central London. Your home for the next 7 nights is Claridge's in the heart of Mayfair, steeped in history and the epitome of a traditional British deluxe hotel much favoured by by royalty & other distinguished visitors. The Welcome Evening will be held in the Ballroom, with cocktails and a buffet of delicacies specially created by the hotel's internationally famous chefs, during which a representative from Claridge's senior staff will talk about the history of the hotel from its origins in 1812 to the present day

DAY 2 : Today is a full day/evening excursion to Bath and the Thames Valley. This tour takes you out to the West Country, stopping first at Salisbury to visit the famous 13th century cathedral, well known for its unusual and graceful spire, which is the tallest in Europe, and housing one of the original copies of the Magna Carta. Driving across Salisbury Plain, you then visit Stonehenge, the mysterious prehistoric stone circle which has fascinated and perplexed historians throughout the ages. Finally you reach Bath, the county town of Avon and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The city centred round the warm springs and Roman baths but fell into decay after the decline of the Roman Empire, before its renaissance during the 18th century under the benevolent hand of the local squire, Ralph Allen and talented local architects, John Wood the Elder and his son, when the city was laid out in Classical Georgian style. Your guide will recommend a choice of eating establishments and there will be time for souvenir shopping in Bath's pedestrian shopping precinct. From Bath you then journey into the upper reaches of the Thames Valley for dinner at Richard & Kate Smith's picturesque riverside Victorian hotel, the "Beetle & Wedge" at Moulsford-upon-Thames, once the home of the author, Jerome K.Jerome ("Three Men In A Boat"). The setting for the evening is the delightful and informal Brasserie-restaurant, an old wood-framed former boathouse, with a terrace along the river bank

DAY 3 : This morning you will enjoy an extended tour of the City London. Driving through the West End with its major landmarks of Buckingham Palace, Pall Mall, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, you reach the "other half" of London, the oldest & most historic part, past the Law Courts and down Fleet Street, formally the heart of the country's newspaper industry. You will visit St.Paul's Cathedral, Wren's great masterpiece, before continuing through the City's trading and financial district to the Tower of London, the highlight of the tour and probably London's most famous landmark, offering over nine hundred years of history and the dazzling Crown Jewels. A typical pub lunch is provided at the characterful "George Inn"‚ the only "galleried" tavern in London, the last survivor of the 15th century inns that once lined Southwark and Borough High Street. Returning to the hotel, the rest of the afternoon & evening at leisure for independent activity

DAY 4 : This morning's tour takes in London's "Monarchy & Democracy". Westminster, once a country village lying to the west of the main city, was where King Edward the Confessor built a chapel during the 11th century. The original building was replaced and much enlarged over the following centuries and the Abbey was chosen as the burial place for most of the medieval Kings of England. The importance of Westminster in the history of British royalty has never been in question - indeed only two monarchs have not been crowned there since the reign of Edward II. Your first interior visit will be to the Royal Chapels inside Westminster Abbey. Then you will move on to view the other aspect of British Government, the two Houses of Parliament, House of Lords and House of Commons, located beside the Abbey in the complex known as the Palace of Westminster, standing on the site of an earlier royal palace. From the earliest times, the Hall at Westminster was the central, highest Court of Justice, and it is natural the "Mother of Parliaments" be located there today. A special visit is arranged at the House of Commons and the opportunity to watch Parliamentary proceedings in action, accompanied by a sitting Member whose in-depth knowledge of proceedings in "the House" makes for a truly fascinating tour! For lunch, at which your MP host will now become guest of honour, you will transfer to Belgravia to "Drones", a highly fashionable, chic restaurant, that was the brain-child of the late English actor, David Niven. Balance of the afternoon is again at leisure. This evening is Theatre Time! In order to make this as relaxed and unrushed an evening as possible, it commences with your coach transfer to the Strand for a starter and main course in the River Restaurant at the Savoy Hotel, before you make the short walk across the Strand to the Adelphi Theatre to see Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End "blockbuster" musical show, "Sunset Boulevard". After the show, you can stroll back to the Savoy, where dessert, coffee, and friandises will be served in the River Restaurant again in a leisurely fashion & there will be the opportunity to dance to the hotel's resident jazz band, to complete what should be a tremendous evening! The coach will then transfer you back to your own hotel



DAY 5 : Today's extended half day takes you a short drive from London to the historic town of Windsor with its imposing Castle, overlooking the River Thames, that is the favourite Royal Residence of Queen Elizabeth II. The original wooden building, started in 1080 by William the Conqueror, was soon replaced by a stone tower which still stands at the heart of the Castle and has been added to by following kings and queens to create the magnificent complex that is Windsor Castle today. You will visit the Precincts, the State Apartments, and St.George's Chapel. There will be time to visit Queen Mary's Dolls House or the Royal Mews, if you wish, or wander the lanes of the quaint old part of the town with its Wren-designed Guild Hall, or stroll down to the rivers and across the footbridge into Eton, home of England's most famous boys' public school, with its little High Street full of antiques, art, books, bric-a-brac shops. Lunch will be provided in the relaxing "Orangery" of Sir Christopher Wren's Old House Hotel, overlooking the Thames on Windsor Promenade. Returning to London, you drive alongside the banks of the Thames to nearby Runnymede, where in 1215 King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta, the basis of British democracy ever since and an integral part of the US constitution. In the grassy parkland stands the JFK Memorial, donated by the American Bar Association, and the RAF Memorial. After some time at leisure, this evening your coach will transfer you to Temple Pier on Victoria Embankment, where you will board the river cruiser, the "Symphony", one of the vessels that has plied the River Seine in Paris recently bringing to England the concept of the Parisian "Bateaux Mouches". Cruising down the Thames, under Tower Bridge and to Greenwich, to see the panoramic skyline vista of the landmarks of London from a unique angle, you will enjoy a superb Gallic cuisine meal and music for dancing

DAY 6 : Today you are on your own! Free to explore London & its landmarks, sights, bye-ways and alley-ways independently, or to arrange for a round of golf on the world-famous Wentworth Championship Course (near Ascot/Sunningdale), or to enjoy the Optional Oxford Tour that is offered for those who prefer to have their day organised. Oxford is seat of the most ancient university in Britain, one of the most famous and interesting towns in Europe. The beautiful grouping of its "dreaming" spires and towers, as seen from a distance, is renowned, not less the noble architecture of its colleges with their quaint quadrangles, the "streamlike windings" of its famous High Street and the imposing edifices of the Ashmolean Museum and Radcliffe Camera. The history of the university, the unique academic system, and all its quirky traditions will be explained as you visit a some of the individual colleges and also the "Oxford Story", a Disneyesque experience that takes you back in time to the origins of the city, then precipitates you through the different ages of the University's development, achievement, and famous students and tutors, right up to the present day. This evening's unique private venue is the War Cabinet Rooms, used by Sir Winston Churchill, his Ministers, and the Chiefs-of-Staff throughout World War ll. This subterranean complex of fortified bunkers secreted under Whitehall only opened again in 1985 after having been sealed of at the end of the War. It is a veritable "time-warp", having been left exactly as it was during those ominous days of the "Battle of Britain". Not only the private accommodations, but also the conference rooms, map rooms, and Cabinet Office can be seen, together with action photographs, personal souvenirs and memorabilia of the leaders of the time, and even the special scrambler telephone private line that was the communications link between Whitehall and President F.D.Roosevelt in the White House! As you progress down into the War Rooms, you will be greeted and addressed by the Curator. An open bar will be set up for cocktails, which you may take round with you, and substantial heavy hot and cold hors d'oeuvres (rather than the rations of the day!) will be served at strategic points throughout the corridors. Documentary tape-cassettes & head-sets are provided so that you can move around freely, stopping to hear commentary on what you are seeing as you wish. At about 7.30 pm, your coach will then transfer you to the Duchess Theatre in Catherine Street for the evening performance of "Don't Dress For Dinner", a gloriously outrageous West End Comedy. After the show's curtain call, the coach will return you to the hotel or you may prefer to stay in the West End to indulge yourself in a post-theatre snack at one of the little varied nationality speciality restaurants that abound in the streets of Soho or Covent Garden

DAY 7 : You are again free to explore London on your own or to do some last-minute shopping. This evening's Gala Farewell Party is held in the Wine Cellars of the Cafe Royal. Located at the foot of Regent Street, it is a purpose-built complex of assembly rooms, started late last century by an émigré bankrupt Frenchman and his hardworking seamstress wife. The Grill Room on the ground floor was originally a coffee shop that at the turn of the century became the regular haunt of the Bohemian element of London, epitomised by the infamous author, Oscar Wilde. The Cafe's Cellars are probably London's most impressive, with wall-to-ceiling racks of vintage champagnes and fine wines, providing a unique venue for an intimate candle-lit soiree. The evening has been structured so that you will be welcomed by the Cafe Royal's Cellar Master, Mr. Maurice Lee, as you arrive . A table will be laid out with the wines for sampling and he will give a short talk on the history of the building, the Cellars and its contents, about the wines and port that you will be sampling, both at the tasting and with your dinner, showing a comparison of wines produced from grapes grown in French vineyards & those of Southern California or Australia.

DAY 8 : Today, alas, concludes the programme and you depart by coach to the airport for your flight home