Trip Itinerary

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

IF = In flight meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, AT= Afternoon Tea, D = Dinner

Day 1: Departure
We will set off today with our international flight/s to London (IF)

Day 2: Arrival
Our tour director will meet us at the airport with our deluxe air-conditioned bus and we will begin the tour at Hampton Court Palace. In 1604, James I commissioned the King James Version of the Bible during the Hampton Court Conference and we will discuss this in the room where it happened. In the Chapel Royal, we will hear how Henry VIII’s decision to allow production of the Bible was influenced by his last wife, Catherine Parr. After the tour we will have time to stroll through the beautiful gardens and try and find our way to the center of the maze. After checking into our hotel, we will enjoy our welcome dinner (B/D)

Day 3: London
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 John Wesley’s Chapel, Wesley’s home and the Museum of Methodism. Just across the street is the legendary Bunhill Field’s Cemetery, where we can see the burial place of nonconformist Protestants. Our bus orientation tour will include a stop outside Buckingham Palace. A Blue Badge Guide will take us on a tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. The cathedral is one of the most prominent of London’s landmarks and stands near the River Thames. We will have a pre-show meal in the West End, then attend a performance of Les Miserables. (B/D)

Day 4: London
Our Blue Badge Guide will give us a guided tour of Westminster Abbey this morning. Westminster Abbey has played in integral part in the history of London and the UK. Kings and Queens have been crowned here since 1066 (William the Conqueror) and it’s been the setting for many special occasions such as the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Our guide will also tell us about the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. We will travel up River Thames, giving us excellent views of the Tower and Tower Bridge. 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. We will dine at a local restaurant, followed by a ride on the London Eye. (B/D)

Day 5: Oxford, Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon
On our way into London, we will see C.S. Lewis’ home, The Kilns (subject to availability). Oxford is 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 lunch in Oxford, followed by a walking orientation tour including Christ Church College Cathedral, and the Martyr Memorial. In the afternoon we will drive through the Cotswolds, stopping for Afternoon Tea in a quaint village. We will check-in to our hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon before the Shakespeare play, which starts at 7:30 pm. (B/L/AT)

Day 6: York
After a leisurely breakfast, we will drive to York. In the afternoon our walking tour will include a walk atop the ancient city walls and a tour of York Minster Cathedral, the biggest medieval church in England. Christianity has an early heritage in York. By 306 when Constantine The Great was proclaimed Emperor in York, it is believed there was a small Christian community. In 312 he issued a general edict of toleration for the Christian Church and York became a center of Christianity. The rest of the day is at leisure to attend Evensong, shop or relax. We will overnight in York. (B)

Day 7: Whitby, Durham
We will begin our day with a drive to Whitby, a delightful seaside town that has the very best fish and chips in the UK. After our delicious lunch we will continue on to Durham, voted “Best city in the UK by Condé Nast’s Traveler magazine readers. Durham Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site and regarded as the finest Norman building in Europe. We will attend Evensong at the cathedral at 3:30 pm, then tour the cathedral, followed by a private tour and dinner in the medieval Prior’s Hall, originally the Prior’s Dining Room when the Cathedral was a Benedictine Monastery. We will spend the night in Durham. (B/L/D)

Day 8:  Lindisfarne, Edinburgh
On the way to Lindisfarne, we will visit Alnwick Castle (pronounced “annick”) and/or gardens. Downton Abbey fans will recognize it as Brancaster Castle, featured in the 2014 Christmas special as the lavish location for the Crawley family’s Northumberland shooting party hosted by Lord Sinderby. Holy Island is accessible by causeway, so our visit time will be dictated by the tide schedule. Lindisfarne, known today as Holy Island, is a tidal island off the Northumbrian coast. St. Aidan was sent here as a missionary from Iona and established a monastery in around 630 AD. Vikings destroyed the original monastery and monks fled from the island. The present Lindisfarne Priory is a dramatic ruin, modeled after Durham Cathedral. This is where the famous Lindisfarne Gospels were produced. Even secular historians refer to Lindisfarne as “the most holy place in England.” After time to see the 16^th century castle, we will continue our journey to Edinburgh and dine at our hotel. (B/D)

Day 9: Edinburgh
Our full day tour of Edinburgh includes an inside visit of the Palace of Holyrood House, where John Knox met with Mary Queen of Scotts. Our guide will also take us to St. Giles Cathedral, where John Knox first preached in 1559. It was reported that “he was so active and vigorous it looked as if he was about to break also includes John Knox House, Greyfriar’s Church, Magdalene Chapel and the Royal Mile. Our guide will tell us about the Reformation in Edinburgh: John Knox, the Covenanters and how the saints stood strong for Jesus and true doctrine. Our tour of Edinburgh Castle will include tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to the 1100s. We will dine at a traditional Scottish restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Day 10: Return
We will return to the US after a wonderful time learning about the Christian heritage of the United Kingdom (B)

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!

If you are interested in a quote for your group, please CLICK HERE to tell us more about your tour requirements or call (800) 303-5534.