Manchester United VIP Tour

Day 1: Touching Down in North England

This morning you land on the outskirts of Manchester, one of the main cities of northern England and home to one of the most successful soccer teams in England, the famed Red Devils of Manchester United[Manchester U link]. After being transferred to your elegant and centrally located hotel, you'll have the chance to hit the streets and explore some of the hidden treasures of this one-of-a-kind city. Visit the Catholic church of St. Mary's, the oldest Post-Reformation Catholic church in the country and home to one of the greatest pieces of art in the entire city: the glorious Adams Stations of the Cross. It has been lauded by British notables, including the Duchess of Kent and the late Queen Mother.

Then marvel at the modern lines and elegant grace of the Trinity Bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, before visiting the Portico Library and Gallery. It's home of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, where speakers have included the father of atomic theory [link to John Dalton article] and the famous Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. The evening can see you in one of Manchester's best restaurants and chicest bars, from the incredible view of the skyline at The Modern to the delicious Spanish offerings at La Tasca.

Day 2: A Fully Guided Tour of the Theatre of Dreams

After a delicious and filling breakfast at your hotel, a private driver will pick you up and take you to famous Old Trafford, called the 'Theatre of Dreams' by legendary midfielder Bobby Charlton and home to one of the most successful soccer teams in the entire world. You'll enjoy a delicious lunch in the Red Cafe at the heart of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand before checking out the informative and fascinating exhibits at the Manchester United museum, like Peter Oldfield-Edwards's meticulous scale model of Old Trafford and artifacts from the greatest Man U players and seasons. You'll also get the chance to marvel at the incredible hardware the club has acquired in their century of existence in the monumental trophy room before heading down to the locker rooms and the team dugout area. There you'll make your way out onto the pitch, filled with the excitement of all of your wildest sporting dreams coming true. After browsing the offerings at the club's megastore ' filled with everything Manchester United, from kits and warm-up suits to balls and boots ' you'll be returned to your fashionable hotel in the city center, ready for another night on the town in marvelous Manchester.

Day 3: Match Day in Manchester

A leisurely morning gives you plenty of time to get yourself prepared for one of the most memorable experiences you've sure to ever have: the glory and grandeur of a Saturday game at Old Trafford. You'll be taken to the unparalleled National Football Museum, directed by Man U legend Sir Bobby Charlton and home to more than 100,000 items and artifacts from the broad and sweeping history of the world's most popular game. You'll be greeted by an incredible statue that recreates Tom Finney's famous, waterlogged romp through the defenders at Stamford Bridge, and you'll be led through the more than four floors of exciting exhibits, detailing the history of the game and its most famous leagues, clubs and players. Check out the game ball from the first ever World Cup final, the shirt Maradona wore when he scored his infamous 'Hand of God' goal in 1986, an original turnstile from Wembley Stadium and the first ever rule book, complied in 1863.

After this incredible exploration of the sport's august past, you'll be whisked to Old Trafford to enjoy match day in high-style, from champagne and canapes upon your arrival to a 4-course lunch right before kickoff. You'll then be led to your seats in the heart of the elegant South Stand where you'll feel the hum of more than 70,000 rabid fans ready to cheer United to another league victory, joining in the chants and the songs as they urge the boys in red to ever greater heights of athletic achievement. After the match, you'll have small plates and drinks waiting for you while the crowd files out and you reminisce on your unbelievable days in one of the true cathedrals of world soccer.

Day 4: From Cottonopolis to the Capital City

After breakfast, board the train from Manchester to London, arriving in the capital just in time for lunch, where a private car will be waiting to take you to see some of the most famous sights in London. Make your way down the banks of the River Thames to catch a glimpse of some of the most prominent landmarks in the city, from the Neo-Gothic Palace of Westminster, the site of Parliament and the clock tower that houses Big Ben, to the soaring dome and sumptuous interior of St. Paul's Cathedral, the masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren that has dominated the London skyline for more than 300 years.

You can also tour the venerable Westminster Abbey, the United Kingdom's most important religious building where royalty are crowned and the country's greatest names are laid to rest, from writers like Chaucer and Dickens to monarchs like Queen Elizabeth and King Edward I, or explore the grounds at the ancient and venerable Tower of London. Get an informative and fascinating tour of the castle from one of the renowned Beefeaters, try to get the notoriously unflappable Coldstream Guards to crack a smile, and ogle at the incredible opulence of the Crown Jewels, where you'll find swords and scepters of state as well as some of the largest gemstones in world, set in the headpieces of the Kingdom's monarchs and consorts.

This evening, you can take in a show or musical at London's vibrant West End, the best-known theater district this side of Broadway, or grab a drink at the famous bar of the luxurious Savoy Hotel.

Day 5: Walking the Home Grounds of the Champions of Europe

Today you visit the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, seeing some of the best sites of Central London before turning to Fulham to tour iconic Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC[link] and one of the most beautiful grounds in England. Start with a mid-morning stroll through Hyde Park, walking along the banks of the Serpentine and hearing a local speech from an impassioned orator at the renowned Speaker's Corner, before turning to Knightsbridge, the home of Harrods, the world's most famous department store.

Check out the exhibits at the absorbing Natural History Museum ' home to more than 70 million specimens and an incredible collection of dinosaur skeletons ' before making your way to enjoy a one-of-a-kind tour of Chelsea's home stadium. You'll walk through both dressing rooms, check out the dugouts and the post-game pressroom, and even walk down the tunnel to the dreams of thunderous applause and undying adoration. You can also visit Chelsea FC's museum where the spoils of some of the club's most successful campaigns are housed, as well as the relics of some of the team's best-loved athletes. After this exciting tour, you can return to Chelsea to enjoy one of the best restaurants of the neighborhood, like Gordon Ramsay's fantastic Aubergine to the Chelsea Brasserie and Bar, where fine French food meets expertly-crafted cocktails.

Day 6: The Green Fields of the Three Lions

One final visit to one of English soccer's most celebrated stadiums awaits you today, as well as discovering the unmatched exhibits at some of London's highest-rated museums. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, and then head toward Trafalgar Square, the heart of London's museum district where you'll first enter the gorgeous anteroom of the British Museum, housing some eight million artifacts from the greatest civilizations in human history. Check out the magnificent friezes that came from the Athenian Parthenon, known as the Elgin Marbles, and the remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visit the marvelous gallery dedicated to Egyptian sculpture like the bust of Ramessess the Great and the colossal statue of Amenhotep III, and ogle at the most famous translation tool in the world, the iconic Rosetta Stone.

Next, marvel at the immense collection of the National Gallery, housing a wide swath of art from the mid-13th century to 1900, from Renaissance masters like da Vinci and Hans Holbein the Younger to the incredible landscapes of J.M.W. Turner to the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces of Monet and Van Gogh.

Following a morning of high culture and a delicious and filling lunch, you'll head to famous Wembley Stadium, the home to the English national team and the second-largest stadium in Europe. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the Three Lions dressing rooms, walk through the players' tunnel on to the sacred turf that has seen its share of magic moments, and preen victoriously in front of the Royal Box with the World Cup trophy that England took home in 1966. Your final night in London can be spent at famous Piccadilly Circus, London's response to Times Square and one of the liveliest stretches of city in the country.

Day 7: Departing the United Kingdom

After a relaxing morning, a private driver will take your from your hotel to the airport in plenty of time to board the flight that will take you home. Your bags will be filled with the mementos from this truly unique vacation, and your head filled with the memories of a week that would fill the dreams of every soccer fan.