Trip Itinerary

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

Day 1: Thursday, July 3, 2025: Flight to London
We will depart from the USA. Group flights can be arranged. Reformation Tours can also arrange pre-tour nights in London for anyone who wishes to travel before the tour begins. (IF)

Day 2: Friday, July 4, 2025: Arrival in London
On arrival in London, we will transfer to our centrally located hotel to pick up any early arrivals. In the early afternoon, we will depart for a panoramic tour of London. We will 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, the standard of doctrine for the Church of Scotland and many Presbyterian churches worldwide. After attending Evensong, we’ll return to the hotel for welcome drinks and dinner. (B/D)

Day 3: Saturday, July 5, 2025: Oxford, London
After a leisurely breakfast, we have the option of a free day in London or an optional tour of Oxford ($100), one of England’s famous University cities with a rich Reformation history. We will have a walking tour, including the Martyr Memorial, sites associated with C.S. Lewis, Tyndale, Wycliffe and others. After attending Choral Evensong at 6:05 PM, we will return to London for a free evening. (B)

Day 4: Sunday, July 6, 2025: London
We will attend the 11:15 Sung Eucharist service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, then enjoy a traditional Sunday lunch. The afternoon is at leisure. We will meet up again at Westminster Abbey for the 5:00 Organ Series, featuring Jayson Keeton. (B/L)

Day 5: Monday, July 7, 2025: Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is renowned as the hometown of William Shakespeare. We will tour the top Shakespeare sites, such as Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the Birthplace, and Trinity Church. Tickets can be arranged for a Shakespeare performance this evening. (B/D)

Day 6: Tuesday, July 8, 2025: York
After a relaxed drive, 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 end with Evensong at Minster, the biggest medieval church in England, with 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. (B)

Day 7: Wednesday, July 9, 2025: Edinburgh
We will drive up to Edinburgh via the scenic coast road, viewing Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne. In the afternoon we will walk up the Royal Mile to visit 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. We will dine together this evening. (B/D)

Day 8: Thursday, July 10, 2025: Stirling, Oban
After breakfast we will visit Stirling. We will tour the Church of the Holy Rude, once a royal cathedral where John Knox preached for James VI baptism in 1566. Nearby is the magnificent Stirling Castle, where James VI was educated by Scottish Reformer George Buchanan. After the castle tour, we will visit Glengoyne Distillery to taste some fine Scottish whisky. In the afternoon we will continue on to the Inner Hebrides waters of the Bay of Oban. (B/D)

Day 9: Friday, July 11, 2025: Iona
This morning we will board a ferry to the Isle of Mull, then take another short foot passenger ferry from Fionnport to St Columba’s Island of Iona. Iona, the site of the first Christian settlement of Scotland, has been known as a place of spiritual power for centuries. It was founded in 563 by St. Columba (521-97) and was a leading center for Christian scholarship throughout Europe. St. Columba’s Bay is believed to be the place where he landed, and we will take an optional walk to that beach. Iona Abbey dates back to the 11th Century. We will return to Oban and the evening is at leisure. (B)

Day 10: Saturday, July 12, 2025: St. Andrews, Edinburgh
This morning we will drive across Scotland to St. Andrews, which has been 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. We will pause at his martyrdom site and also remember fellow martyr Patrick Hamilton. St. Andrews Cathedral was once the largest church in Scotland but fell into ruin after John Knox’s sermon inspired by Wishart’s martyrdom. We will have a free evening to enjoy Edinburgh. (B)

Day 11: Sunday, July 13, 2023: Edinburgh
We will attend the morning Holy Communion service at St. Giles at 9:30 AM, followed by 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 afternoon is at leisure to explore Edinburgh. There’s an optional “St. Giles at Six” evening concert before our special farewell meal. (B/D)

Day 12: Monday, July 14, 2025: Return
We will transfer to the airport for our return to the USA. (B)

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!

London, England
July 4-7, 2025
Millennium Gloucester Hotel
4-18 Harrington Gardens
London, SW7 4LH

Stratford-upon-Avon
July 7-8, 2025
Indigo Hotel
Chapel Street
Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HA

York, England
July 8-9, 2025
Radisson York
North Street
York, YO1 6JF

Edinburgh, Scotland
July 9-10, 2025
Apex Waterloo Place
23-27 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh, EH1 3BG

Oban, Scotland
July 10-12, 2025, 2025
Randald Hotel
41 Stevenson Street
Oban, PA34 5NA

Edinburgh, Scotland
July 12-14, 2025
Apex Waterloo Place
23-27 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh, EH1 3BG

Arrival and Departure Transfers

Once the tour is a guaranteed departure our air team can assist you with booking flights and transfers. 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.

Flight Information

*Please do not book non-refundable flights until the tour is a guaranteed departure. Our air team will be happy to assist you with flights.

Arrival: Please arrange to arrive in London no later than 10:00 AM on Friday, July 4, 2025 (Pre-tour night is available)

Departure: You are welcome to depart from Edinburgh at any time on Monday, July 14, 25, 2025.

Pre- and post-tour nights can be booked through us.

What’s included in the tour price of $5,899 + air?

Price based on a minimum of 20 tour participants

Electronic Travel Authorization

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in 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
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   All taxes and tips

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation and related taxes and fees
•   Arrival and departure transfers
•   Single supplement ($1,800)
•   Any meals not dentified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
•   Passenger trip cancellation insurance
•   Baggage handling (let us know if you need assistance)

Payment Schedule

•   The deposit of $350 per person is due at the time of booking through the registration system. As you register you will be given the option to pay by ACH (direct from your bank) or by credit card (3.5% fee). If you prefer, checks can be mailed to “Reformation Tours”, 12316 244th St, Chisago City, MN 55013-9688.
•   Final invoices will be sent in February 2025
•   Final payment is due by March 25, 2025
•   Reservations will be accepted after March 25, 2025, subject to availability

Insurance

There are two levels of insurance offered. Click here to compare. When you fill out the registration form, you will be given quotes for both.

Standard is 4.55% of the trip cost and can be purchased up until 2 days prior to departure, although we recommend purchasing it before.

Enhanced is 7.6% of the trip cost and includes cancel for any reason benefits. It has to be purchased within 14 days of registration.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly, so we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance:

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.

Terms and Conditions

Please click on the button below to register. This is currently a private tour for members and friends of First Presbyterian, Charleston, WV. Please email info@ReformationTours.com to be contacted if space becomes available.

Register for Tour RJK25