Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast,  L = Lunch, D = Dinner 

Day 1: Flight to Edinburgh
We will set off on our overnight flights to Edinburgh, Scotland. (IF)

Day 2: Edinburgh
On arrival in Edinburgh, we will meet our tour director and board our air-conditioned bus for the transfer to the hotel to meet up with the pre-tour travelers. We will begin with an orientation tour of Edinburgh. At the top of the Royal Mile lies the magnificent Edinburgh Castle. Our tour of this imposing castle will include tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, Edinburgh’s oldest building, which dates back to the 1100s. After checking in to our centrally located hotel, the afternoon will be at leisure. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (IF/D)

Day 3: Edinburgh
This morning (Sunday) we will have the opportunity to attend church in Edinburgh and meet local believers. In the afternoon we will have a walking tour of Edinburgh, including St. Giles Cathedral, Greyfriar’s Kirk, the John Knox House, and a tour of Holyrood Palace, where John Knox discussed Christianity with Mary Queen of Scots. The rest of the day will be at leisure to enjoy Edinburgh. (B)

Day 4: York
After crossing the border into England, we will continue on to York. Our local guide will take us on a walking tour of York, including the Medieval “Shambles”, and a walk on the ancient city walls. We will tour the Minster, which is the biggest medieval church in England and has an impressive collection of medieval stained glass, including a sixteenth century rose window. The term “Minster” usually refers to a church in a monastery, but this cathedral was never part of a monastic institution, so it doesn’t have cloisters. The rest of the day will be at leisure and we recommend Afternoon Tea at Betty’s. (B)

Day 5: Gainsborough, Bedford, Cambridge
John Smyth attended school in Gainsborough and later become a pastor of a Separatist congregation. We will visit Gainsborough Old Hall, one of the best-preserved medieval manors in England, formally owned by the Protestant Hickman family. We will learn more about Smyth in the nearby village of Sturton-le-Steeple. This was also the birthplace of John Robinson, who pastored the Mayflower Pilgrims in the Netherlands. In Bedford, we will learn more about John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress. He was arrested and imprisoned for 12 years, for preaching without a license from the Church of England. We will see the plaque where the county gaol stood in the 17th century and tour the Bunyan Meeting Church and Museum. We will continue on to Cambridge and the evening is at leisure. (B/L)

Day 6: Cambridge, Moulton, Oxford
Our morning tour of Cambridge will begin with a visit to the Round Church, Cambridge. Cambridge is a center of Protestant scholarship for leaders including Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, and Bishops Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer. We will see Latimer’s Pulpit in The Church of St Edward, King and Martyr.  In Pembroke College we will see Ridley’s Walk and hear about martyrs who attended the college. During the Reformation, the White Horse Inn was a favored meeting place and we will see the plaque showing its location. On the way to Oxford we will visit Moulton, where William Carey, the “Father of Modern Missions” once lived. We will see his cottage, now a museum, and the church where he preached.  We will continue on to Oxford and dine together this evening. (B/D)

Day 7: Headington, Oxford
Today we will have the option to visit Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey was filmed (subject to availability).  In the afternoon we will tour Oxford, one of England’s famous University cities with a rich Reformation history. The early English reformer, John Wycliffe, was a professor at the university. Other well-known students included Bible translator William Tyndale and the great revivalist preacher George Whitefield. We will have a walking tour including Christ Church College Cathedral, and the Martyr Memorial, with an emphasis on C.S. Lewis. We will dine together this evening. (B/D)

Day 8: Stonehenge, Bath, Lacock, Oxford
Today we can choose to have a free day in Oxford with time in the Ashmolean Museum, or a day trip to some top cultural sites. We will begin our day at Stonehenge, Europe’s most famous prehistoric monument. The tour includes a visit to the museum and the stones. We will continue on to Georgian Bath, one of the most attractive cities in England, with strong connections to Jane Austen. There will be time to tour the Roman Baths Museum and see the famous Royal Crescent. On the way back to Oxford, we will stop for a coffee break in Lacock. Owned by the National Trust, this is a quintessential English village. It’s been used for numerous period dramas including Pride and Prejudice and Downton Abbey, as well as movies like Harry Potter. The evening will be at leisure. (B)

Day 9: Oxford, London
We will have a full day with an expert Christian guide, beginning with a tour of key Biblical artifacts in the British Museum. After free time for lunch, we will do a walking tour focused on many significant Christians who ministered in the city, including William Wilberforce, John Newton, John Wesley, etc. The evening will be at leisure and tickets can be arranged to a West End show. (B)

Day 10: London
We will attend a morning service at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, where Spurgeon preached for many years. We will then have a group lunch and fellowship time. In the afternoon we will have a guided tour of Westminster Abbey, where most British kings and queens since 1066 have been crowned. It’s the final resting place for many monarchs, heroes, authors, and poets. This is also where 151 theologians met in the 1640s to draw up the Westminster Confession of Faith, which is the standard of doctrine for the Church of Scotland and many Presbyterian churches throughout the world. We will then board a boat for a round-trip cruise on the River Thames, giving us excellent views of the Tower and Tower Bridge. (B/L)

Day 11: London
We will start the tour with a tour of the Tower of London.  The Tower has a fascinating and also rather grisly history and we will hear about the various inhabitants through the centuries. We will also see the glittering Crown Jewels. In the afternoon we will visit John Wesley’s Chapel, Wesley’s home and the Museum of Methodism, followed by a tour of his home. John Wesley (1703-1791) has been called the most influential Protestant leader of the English-speaking world since the Reformation and his brother Charles wrote hundreds of amazing hymns. We will tour the legendary Bunhill Field’s Cemetery, where we can see the burial place of nonconformist Protestants. Following the tour, we will attend Evensong in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Our Farewell meal will be in a restaurant close to our hotel. (B/D)

Day 12: Depart
We will transfer to the airport for our return to the USA. Additional days in London or other cities are available on request. (B/IF)

 Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

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