The Heart of England Student Tour

Day 1

Flight to London

Flight to London:  You depart from home today for the overnight flight to London

Day 2

Arrival in London. Exploring Wessex and the Winchester of Arthurian Legend.

Arrive in London: You will be met by your Tour Manager and transfer to the Wessex region.

Winchester: We will visit England’s ancient capital of Winchester, closely associated with Alfred the Great where we will see King Arthur’s Round Table in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle. We will also tour the Norman Cathedral where we can see the tomb of the write Jane Austen.

Day 3

Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral

Stonehenge: This morning you travel to Stonehenge, the world-famous stone circle which is approximately 5,000 years old. The unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BC and in the early Bronze Age many burial mounds were built nearby.

Old Sarum: We continue to Old Sarum where we cross the drawbridge and enter the site where a Celtic hillfort as well as Roman, Saxon and Norman strongholds once stood.

Salisbury Cathedral: At Salisbury we climb the Cathedral Tower for a magnificent view over this charming medieval city before visiting the Cathedral’s 13th century octagonal chapter house that possesses one of the four surviving Magna Carta texts.

Day 4

Roman Bath then travel to Stratford-upon-Avon. See Anne Hathaway's Cottage and a Shakespeare Play

Bath:  In the 1st century AD the Roman’s took advantage of the natural thermal spring and made the town England’s first spa resort with baths, a temple and a theatre. We will visit the baths and marvel at the engineering skills that allowed the Romans to build such a sophisticated complex. We also explore Georgian Bath with visits to Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent and the Circus.

Stratford-upon-Avon:  We travel to the Cotswolds to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, the world’s most famous playwright.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage:  You visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.  This beautiful sixteenth century cottage was the early home of Shakespeare’s future wife and provides a unique insight into family life in Shakespearean times.  You will see original furniture including the Hathaway bed and uncover five centuries of stories of the thirteen generations of family who lived here in this picturesque cottage.

Shakespeare Play:  Dinner is at a city center restaurant after which we see a Shakespeare play at the Royal Shakespeare Theater.

Day 5

William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon. Explore Warwick Castle then travel to York

Shakespeare’s Stratford:  This morning we visit the Shakespeare Center which contains a museum dedicated to the Bard’s life. We then continue with a visit to Shakespeare’s birthplace. We then visit Holy Trinity Church where the Bard is buried under the epitaph “Blessed be the man who spares these stones and cursed be he who moves my bones”.

Warwick Castle:  On our way to York, we stop to visit Warwick Castle, the finest preserved medieval fortress in England. There are collections of historic paintings, furniture and arms in the State Rooms and Great Hall. The Castle also has dungeons, a torture chamber, a rampart walk, and a ghost tower.

Day 6

Medieval York and the Vikings

York Walking Tour: This morning you enjoy a walking tour of historic York which will include the famous York Minster, the thirteenth century city walls and the picturesque Shambles with its half-timbered Tudor buildings.

Jorvik Center: After lunch you visit the Jorvik Center, a museum which depicts life when the Vikings ruled this part of Britain over 1000 years ago. Time Cars take visitors on a journey back to medieval times with the sights, sounds and smells as they might be imagined in 948 AD.

Ghost Walk: This evening after dinner we will enjoy a chilling Ghost Walk to discover the spooky and supernatural in York’s most haunted locations.

Day 7

Explore Cambridge and its University Colleges and go punting on the River Cam

Travel to Cambridge: This morning you travel to Cambridge, known throughout the world as a center for learning. Cambridge University is one of Europe’s great educational institutions.

Cambridge Walking Tour: During our walking tour we will see many of the historical colleges including King’s College and Trinity College. We will also be able to go punting on the River Cam.

Travel to London: In the afternoon we continue our journey to London.

London Walking Tour: On arrival you have a walking tour which includes many of the most famous sights including Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.

Day 8

Exploring the Sights of London

Westminster Abbey: Our morning sightseeing begins at Westminster Abbey where English kings and queens have been crowned since 1066. We visit the Royal Chapels which hold the tombs of monarchs from past centuries and also visit Poet’s Corner to see the memorials to famous literary figures.

Houses of Parliament: We walk past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and take a trip on a boat up the River Thames to the Tower.

Tower of London: The Tower is one of London’s most famous landmarks and over the centuries many famous people have been imprisoned and even executed here, among them Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII. You will be able to see William the Conqueror’s magnificent bastion and also the Royal Crown Jewels.

Piccadilly and Leicester Square: This evening you have dinner in the center of London and will be able to explore the lively Piccadilly and Leicester Square area.

Day 9

British Museum and St Paul's Cathedral. Farewell Dinner in Covent Garden

British Museum: This morning you visit the British Museum to see its famous collection of antiquities including the Elgin Marbles which were originally on the Pantheon in Athens, and its collection of Egyptian mummies.

St. Paul’s Cathedral: After time for lunch, you visit Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. St. Pauls was rebuilt by Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666 when Charles I was on the throne. We make an ascent of the dome to the famous Whispering Gallery for an impressive view of the concourse below.

Covent Garden: This evening dinner will be in the lively Covent Garden district and you have the option of going to the theater to see a play or musical.

Day 10

Flight Home

Flight Home:  This morning you transfer to the airport for your flight back home.