Trip Itinerary

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

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

Day 1: Monday, October 3, 2016: Departure
We will set off today with our international flight/s to London (IF)

Day 2: Tuesday, October 4, 2016: Arrival in London
Our tour director Frances Carroll will meet us at the airport with our deluxe air-conditioned bus and we will drive to 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 in our hotel.  (B/D)

Day 3: Wednesday, October 5, 2016: London
Our bus orientation tour will include a stop outside Buckingham Palace for photos. We will then tour 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. After some free time to purchase lunch, we will board our bus and head to John Wesley’s Chapel, Wesley’s home and the Museum of Methodism. 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.  Just across the street is the legendary Bunhill Field’s Cemetery, where we can see the burial place of nonconformist Protestants.  After the tour we will return to our hotel, before our pre-show Italian meal in the West End. We will then attend a performance of Les Misérables. (B/D)

Day 4: Thursday, October 6, 2016: London
We will begin today with 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. After time to purchase lunch, 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: Friday, October 7, 2016: Oxford, Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon
On our way into Oxford 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 seeing Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, which starts at 7:15 pm. (B/L/AT)

Day 6: Saturday, October 8, 2016: York
After a leisurely breakfast, we will drive to York.  On arrival we will drop our bags at the hotel and continue into York with free time to purchase lunch. 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.  After the tour we can attend Evensong at 5:15 PM and explore at leisure. We will overnight in York. (B)

Day 7: Sunday, October 9, 2016: 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 3:30pm, followed by a private tour of the cathedral and dinner in the Undercroft Restaurant, located off the west cloister in a beautiful medieval space. We will spend the night in Durham. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Monday, October 10, 2016: 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 view the 16th century castle, we will continue our journey to Edinburgh and dine at our hotel. (B/D)

Day 9: Tuesday, October 11, 2016: Edinburgh
We will begin our full day tour of Edinburgh at the castle, an imposing fortress at the top of the Royal Mile. In the afternoon we will tour 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. We will also have an inside visit of the Palace of Holyrood House, where John Knox met with Mary Queen of Scots. Our guide will also take us to John Knox House, Greyfriar’s Church, and the Royal Mile. We will dine at a traditional Scottish restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Day 10: Wednesday, October 12, 2016: 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!

Apex International Hotel in Edinburgh

London, England
October 4-7, 2016
Copthorne Tara Hotel
Scarsdale Place
London W8 5SY

Stratford-upon-Avon, England
October 7-8, 2016
Grosvenor Hotel
Warwick Road
Stratford upon Avon
Warwickshire CV37 6YT

York, England
October 8-9, 2016
Holiday Inn York Hotel
Tadcaster Road
York, YO24 1QF

Durham, England
October 9-10, 2016
Ramside Hall Hotel
Carrville, Durham
County Durham DH1 1TD

Edinburgh, Scotland
October 10-12, 2016
International Apex Hotel
31-35 Grassmarket
Edinburgh EH1 2HS

Flight Information

We have arranged group flights from Dulles.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel nights in London. We can either assist you with flights or you can book your own once the tour is a guaranteed departure. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

October 4, 2016: Please arrive in London Heathrow in the morning, preferably before 10 AM.

October 12, 2016: You can depart from Edinburgh at any time.

What’s included in the tour price of $4,099?

After March 15, 2016 the price increases to $4,199.

Your Tour Includes

•   Round-trip air from Dulles
•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and moderate 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional tour escort throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Entrance fees included as per itinerary
•   All transfers, as a group
•   Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
•   All taxes and tips

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Single supplement ($750)
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for months beyond return date.
•   Passenger trip cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)

Payment Schedule

•   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 June 2016
•   Final payment is due by July 20, 2016
•   Reservations will be accepted after July 20, 2016, subject to availability

Insurance

The unexpected can happen, so we recommend our travelers insure everything that is pre-paid and non-refundable. If you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a policy covered reason then as travelers you have  “door-to-door” coverage and peace of mind. CLICK HERE to purchase insurance.

To purchase travel insurance you will need to provide the following:

•  Names & ages of travelers
•  Trip cost (this can be adjusted later if you don’t have the air yet)
•  Travel dates
•  Your mailing address, phone, email or fax # for your travel docs delivery
•  Date of your initial tour deposit

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 plus any non refundable 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.

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