Please see our Coronavirus page for updates on the current situation.
The trip is hosted by Charles (Chuck) Allers, PhD, who has a genuine passion for Church History, personally, and has taught it at several universities in southern California for the past twenty years. Chuck has also pastored for nearly three decades, and he and his wife reside in San Diego. Please join us as we are treated to the UK, church history, and pleasant Fall weather!
Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Day 1: Friday, September 11, 2020: Flight
Our journey will begin with overnight flights from San Diego to Edinburgh. Pre-tour nights are available in Edinburgh for those who would like to do additional touring in Scotland. (IF)
Day 2: Saturday, September 12, 2020: Edinburgh
On arrival in Edinburgh, our tour director will welcome us and escort us to the waiting motor coach. We will transfer to our hotel and have free time before a group dinner in our hotel. (IF/D)
Day 3: Sunday, September 13, 2020: Edinburgh
St Giles’ Cathedral is often called the Mother Church of World Presbyterianism. We will attend the 10:00 AM service. John Knox first preached here in 1559. It was reported that “he was so active and vigorous it looked as if he was about to break.” After some free time for lunch, we will visit Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriar’s Church, Magdalene Chapel, the Grassmarket, and the Royal Mile. We will dine at a traditional Scottish restaurant this evening. (B/D)
Day 4: Monday, September 14, 2020: Holy Island, Durham
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 for some personal reflection, we will continue our journey to Durham and visit the magnificent cathedral. We will dine at our hotel. (B/D)
Day 5: Tuesday, September 15, 2020: York, Lincoln
We will continue our journey to York, and our guided tour will include a walk atop the ancient city walls and a tour of York Minster Cathedral, the biggest medieval church in England. We will also see the famous medieval street, known as the Shambles. 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. We will end the day in the Lincoln area, where we will be based for two nights. (B/D)
Day 6: Wednesday, September 16, 2020: Epworth and Pilgrim Heritage Sites
One of the expert guides from Pilgrims and Prophets will take us on a day trip focusing on Christian heritage highlights in the region. In the morning, we will visit Epworth and tour the Old Rectory where John and Charles Wesley grew up with their many siblings. In the afternoon, we will visit the great monastic church of Worksop to understand the background of Christianity in England. This was the home of the great puritan preacher Richard Bernard, whose daughter married Roger Williams of Rhode Island. Then we will visit Babworth church where William Brewster and William Bradford came together under Richard Clyfton’s leadership. We will finish the day at Gainsborough, from where the Pilgrims set out on their final and successful escape attempt. We will visit the medieval Old Hall, home of a local puritan, where John Wesley preached 150 years later. We will dine in a local pub with historic connections. (B/L/D)
Day 7: Thursday, September 17, 2020: Lincoln, Bedford, Oxford
After a tour of Lincoln Castle, we will drive down to Bedford where we will learn more about John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, the Christian allegory that is considered to be the most widespread book of all time, second only to the Bible. Originally a poor, barely literate tinker, he became a popular preacher and author. Pilgrim’s Progress was written while he was imprisoned for 12 years for preaching without a license from the Church of England. We will dine together in a restaurant in Oxford. (B/D)
Day 8: Friday, September 18, 2020: Oxford
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 a walking orientation tour, including Christ Church College Cathedral, and the Martyr Memorial, with an emphasis on C.S. Lewis. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B)
Day 9: Saturday, September 19, 2020: London
On the way to London we will visit C.S. Lewis’ home, the Kiln’s (inside visit subject to availability) and Trinity Church in Headington Quarry. Our next stop is 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. Our bus will take us on a panoramic sightseeing tour before we arrive at our centrally-located London hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure. Tickets to a West End show can be arranged (additional cost). (B)
Day 10: Sunday, September 20, 2020: London
We will have a free morning to attend the church of our choice. We will meet up again outside Westminster Abbey for a guided tour. Westminster Abbey has played an 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, including the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II. We will then board a boat on the 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. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B)
Day 11: Monday, September 21, 2020: 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. After the tour, we will attend the 5 PM Evensong in St. Paul’s. We will dine at a local restaurant, followed by a ride on the London Eye. (B/D)
Day 12: Tuesday, September 22, 2020: Return
We will have an included group transfer to Heathrow Airport for the return trip to the USA. (B)
Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.
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!
Edinburgh, Scotland
September 12-14, 2020
Novotel City Centre or similar
80 Lauriston Place
Edinburgh EH3 9DE
Durham, England
September 14-15, 2020
Premier Inn North or similar
Rotary Way
Pity Me DH1 5GB
Lincoln, England
September 15-17, 2020
White Hart Hotel or similar
Bailgate
Lincoln LN1 3AR
Oxford, England
September 17-19, 2020
Oxford Spires Hotel or similar
Abingdon Road
Oxford OX1 4PS
London, England
September 19-22, 2020
Copthorne Tara Kensington or similar
Scarsdale Place
London W8 5SY
Transfers are automatically included if we have booked your flights.
If you have booked your own flights, we can still provide transfers, as long as we have your flight details on file and a phone number to give to the driver. We will include your transfer information in your final packet. Transfers will be arranged for each arrival, so that you won’t have to wait for other tour members if their flight is delayed. Transfers can be arranged for the day of your choosing, but we can’t arrange transfers if you arrive or depart by train.
Please note that individual transfers are booked through a third-party and you will be responsible to communicate with the company in case of delays.
When this tour is a guaranteed departure, we will be able to start making air reservations. Various flight booking options will be available at that time. Please read our printable guide to booking your flight to better understand these options.
Option 1: We have reserved group air flights on United departing on September 11 for $1,000 per person round-trip. We will continue to monitor options and will switch to another airline if we can get a lower rate. Payment is due with final payment in June 2020. The last day to sign-up for group air is June 7, 2020. We will ticket flights by July 28, 2020.
Flight No. | Date | From | To | Departs | Arrives |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UA 2282 | Sept 11 | San Diego | Dulles | 12:45 PM | 8:31 PM |
UA 978 | Sept 11/12 | Dulles | Edinburgh | 10:40 PM | 10:40 AM |
UA 900 | Sept 22 | London | San Francisco | 10:25 AM | 1:40 PM |
UA 353 | Sept 22 | San Francisco | San Diego | 4:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
Option 2: You may request a flight quote from us by filling out this form. Payment is due at the time of booking. Please note we are currently not purchasing any new flights, as airlines are so affected by the coronavirus.
Option 3: You may book your own flights, making sure you land on the morning of September 12, 2020 no later than 10:00 AM. If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in Edinburgh. You are welcome to depart at any time on September 22. Please wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure before booking non-refundable airfare, and send us a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.
Please note that if you would like to use air miles you will need to book directly with the airline.
We can arrange pre-tour nights in Edinburgh and post-tour nights in London, but due to the volume of tours in 2020, we are not able to arrange additional travel within Europe.
Price based on a minimum of 20 participants
• Transportation: via private, deluxe air-conditioned motor coach
• Accommodations (double-occupancy) in centrally located 4-star hotels
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Professional tour director throughout the tour
• Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
• Entrance fees included as per itinerary
• Guides will use Whisper Headsets throughout the tour
• Arrival and departure transfers
• Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
• All taxes and tips except as indicated below
• Air transportation and related taxes and fees (group air is available from San Diego for $1,000)
• Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
• Single supplement ($725)
• Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
• Upgraded Insurance (Post-departure coverage included)
• Gratuities for tour director and driver
• Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
• Final invoices will be sent in May 2020
• Final payment is due by June 28, 2020
• Reservations will be accepted after June 28, 2020, subject to availability
We offer the Professional Plan offered by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We offer all of our travelers post-departure insurance coverage (up to $500 of coverage.) If you would like to have pre-tour cancellation and trip interruption coverage, the upgrade cost depends on the tour price. It’s approximately the tour cost (minus the $500 that we cover) x 6.14%. To insure your land costs, the price is $3,699 – $500 x 6.14% = $197. To insure your land and air costs, the price is $4,699 – $500 x 6.14% = $258. A quote will automatically be added to your invoice and updated once the air cost is available.
BENEFITS | TRAVEL INSURANCE COVERAGE |
---|---|
Trip Cancellation | Up to 100% of Trip Cost |
Trip Interruption | Up to 150% of Trip Cost |
Trip Interruption (Return Air Only) | $750 |
Missed Connection | $500, after a 3+ hour delay |
Trip Delay | $200 a day, after a 6+ hour delay, up to $1,000 total maximum |
Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains | $500,000 |
Emergency Accident and Sickness | $50,000 max/$750 max for dental/ No deductible |
Security Assistance Services | $100,000 |
Baggage / Personal Effects - Lost, Stolen or Damaged | No deductible, $250 per article limit, combined limit of $500 for valuables, $1,000 total limit. |
Baggage Delay | $300, after a 12+ hour delay |
Accidental Death or Dismemberment 24 Hours | $10,000 |
Worldwide Travel Assistance, Business and Concierge Assistance | Included |
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Waiver (Must insure full, non-refundable cost of Trip) | Must be purchased within 21 days after your initial trip deposit. |
Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any nonrecoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to 100 days before departure: $100 cancellation penalty
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 cancellation penalty plus any nonrefundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.
We look forward to welcoming you on the tour.
You can fill out your reservations online by clicking the “Book Now” tab (under the images).
You can either send a check made payable to “Reformation Tours” to P.O. Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222 or click here to pay by credit card (additional 3.5% fee).
We will continue to assist clients who have previously purchased Roam Right Insurance policies, which can be transferred to tours in 2021 and 2022. If you don’t have insurance, we are now offering clients the opportunity to compare and buy insurance directly:
Click here to e-mail us a question about this tour
Click here for information about luggage, currency, flights, etc.
We offer a free monthly newsletter with a giveaway, tour updates, travel tips etc. Click here to sign up.
Head Office: Hall Gate House, 29cCranfield Road, Kilkeel, Co. Down, N. Ireland BT34 4LJ
US Office: 12316 244th St. Chisago City, MN 55013
Toll Free: (800) 303-5534
Email: info@reformationtours.com