Trip Itinerary

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

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

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

Day 2: Edinburgh
When we arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland, our Reformation Tours’ Tour Director will be waiting to greet everyone. We will begin our tour with a bus orientation of the city’s highlights, including Haddington, before we check-in to our centrally-located hotel. The afternoon is free for shopping, strolling down the Royal Mile or visiting the Museum of Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Art Gallery has a very significant collection of art with a strong Biblical message. We will have an optional excursion to the royal palace of Holyrood where in 1561 John Knox had discussions about Christianity with Mary Queen of Scots. Our welcome dinner is at our hotel this evening. (IF/D)

Day 3: Edinburgh
This morning we have the opportunity to attend morning worship at 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 the pulpit in bits and fly out of it.” An expert local guide will join after lunch for a walking tour of Edinburgh, including 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. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 4: St. Andrews, Oban
Today we will journey to St. Andrews, a spiritual center in Scotland for centuries. During the Reformation, St. Andrews University was third in significance after Oxford and Cambridge. In the now ruined castle, we will see the Bottle Dungeon where George Wishart was imprisoned before being burned at the stake, and pause at his martyrdom site, also remembering fellow martyr Patrick Hamilton. St. Andrews Cathedral was once the largest church in Scotland, but fell into ruin after John Knox’s sermon, which was inspired by Wishart’s martyrdom. We’ll see a monument to Robert the Bruce, the first king to unite the Scottish people and the wide sandy beach made famous in the film Chariots of Fire. We will then drive across Scotland to the Inner Hebrides waters of the Bay of Oban. (B/D)

Day 5: Mull and Iona Islands
A grand day awaits us as we sail to Mull and then to St Columba’s Island of Iona, which was founded in 563 by St. Columba (521-97) and was a leading center for Christian scholarship throughout Europe. After visiting the Abbey and free time, we will head back to Oban. Dinner is on our own to sample from many of the delicious restaurants. This evening we may like to join in live Scottish folk music and dancing, at the Skipinnish Ceilidh House. (B)

Day 6: Highlands, Stirling
Scotland is famous for its whisky and we will take a tour of Oban’s distillery this morning, which includes a taste of their famous single malt with some crystallized ginger. Continuing on to Stirling, we’ll tour the magnificent Stirling Castle, where James VI was educated by Scottish Reformer George Buchanan. Nearby is the Church of the Holy Rude, once a royal cathedral where John Knox preached for James VI baptism in 1566. (B/D)

Day 7: Hadrian’s Wall, York
After bidding farewell to Scotland, we will stop at Hadrian’s Wall at Vindolanda, site of a Roman fort. We will then continue on to York, and will enjoy a walking tour of York’s quaint old town and walk atop the ancient city walls, arriving in time to attend Evensong service in 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. We will overnight in York. (B)

Day 8: Bedford, Oxford
In Bedford 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 arrive in Oxford in time to enjoy Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral, then we will end our day with dinner at the classic British pub, The Eagle and Child, frequented by C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and their literary group, the Inklings. (B/D)

Day 9: Oxford, London
Oxford is also one of England’s famous University cities with a rich Reformation history. The early English reformer, John Wycliffe, was a professor at the university as was the famous Christian writer C.S. Lewis. Other well-known students included Bible translator William Tyndale and the great revivalist preacher George Whitefield. Our walking orientation tour will include Christ Church College Cathedral, and the Martyr Memorial. After time for lunch, we will drive to Hampton Court Palace, where James I commissioned the King James Version of the Bible during the Hampton Court Conference in 1604. We will then continue on to London, and check into our hotel. (B/D)

Day 10: London
We will have the option of morning worship at Crown Court Presbyterian Church in Covent Garden this morning. This Scots Kirk was established before 1711 and has a rich history. We will join the congregation for coffee and fellowship after the service. The afternoon is free to explore the city and we can assist in booking theatre tickets (not included in price). (B)

Day 11: London
We will begin our tour of London with a guided tour of the Tower of London, including the magnificent Crown Jewels. We will then sail down the Thames to Westminster Abbey where most British Kings and Queens have been crowned since 1066. It’s the final resting place for many monarchs, heroes and poets. We will join in Evensong at 5:00 PM and then see fantastic views from the London Eye. (B)

Day 12: Canterbury, London
We will take an optional day trip to Canterbury today to visit the magnificent Cathedral. We will hear about Thomas Becket’s murder in 1170 and see a number of royal tombs. The afternoon is free to explore this delightful town, take a boat ride on the river, or visit the ancient ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey. Canterbury also offers a Roman museum and a Canterbury Tales exhibit. We will return to our hotel for our farewell meal. (B/D)

Day 13: 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)

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