English & Scottish Reformation

Arrive at London Heathrow Airport and during your transfer to your hotel enjoy a first orientation of London followed by a welcome dinner and tour briefing.

Overnight in London.

Tour of London. Possibly taking part in a service at Westminster Abbey or St. Paul’s Cathedral. Visit the main touristic sites of London and enjoy a lunch cruise on River Thames.

Visit The London Tower – 900 years of fascinating history as royal castle, fortress, prison and place of execution. Late afternoon and evening for your own activities

Overnight in London.

Leave London for good and travel to Oxford, where we will tour the university and recount the lives and place where three famous martyrs died under the leadership of “Bloody Mary”. Have lunch on your own in the centre. An hour drive will bring us to Stratford, where we will make a photo stop at Shakespeares House. Architectural highlight of today is the Cathedral of Coventry, built right next to the historic cathedral which was bombed out in WW II.

In the early evening we will arrive near Derby at the Breadsall Priory Marriott Hotel & Country Club – a priory built in the 1300 and remodeled into a Historic Hotel.

This morning we visit the tiny village of Scrooby where the separatist movement under William Brewster started that led to the Mayflower set sail to America.

Today’s highlight is the visit of the glorious York Minster, the largest medieval cathedral in Northern Europe. We will spend the night in York.

We have a leisurely drive through Northern England and the softly rolling hills of the Scottish Southern Uplands. We will take a lunch in a very special place – the cathedral of Durham, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the famous rose window and have lunch in the basement of the historic Durham Cathedral, which played an important role in the history of the Reformation.

In the afternoon we arrive at the banks of the famous Firth of Forth on which Edinburgh is situated, our destination for the next two nights. We visit Holyrood Palace – the official residence of the British Kings in Scotland.

Edinburgh – the home of John Knox and Presbyterianism. We will see St. Giles Cathedral, the John Knox House, and the mighty fortress Edinburgh Castle. Time for own activities like strolling on the Golden Mile.

Overnight in Edinburgh.

We drive across the Firth of Forth to St. Andrews, the country’s oldest seat of learning and where golf originated . We take you to what is left of the fortress founded in 1200 and the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, founded in 1160. This was the largest church in Scotland before its destruction during the reformation.

John Knox studied at the University of St. Andrews. He was captured by the French at the castle and carried away into slavery in 1547.

Overnight in the St. Andrews area.

A full day to enjoy a beautiful place – St. Andrews. The golfers may spend the whole day out on the golf course, others may relax in the dunes by the Atlantic Ocean, go swimming, whatever you like.

Today it is countryside and history. We will visit the ruins of Linlithgow Palace which was a royal residence for 200 years and also birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Onward to Stirling, powerful castle and for a long time main residence of the Scottish Royals. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. We also visit the famous Church of the Holy Rude where King James VI was crowned and John Knox preached a sermon.

Tonight we stay at another historic castle hotel in Dunblane.

This morning you do not only see the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond – you will go on a cruise of that famous lake, the home of the Colquhoun Clan. Watch out for wildlife and there is a chance a chance to see deer and osprey.

The Vikings left a 9th Century Hogback stone in the churchyard of St. Kessog Church in Luss, dedicated to one of the very first Christian martyrs in Scotland.

Enjoy a scenic drive along Scotlands most beautiful lake before we arrive in Glasgow. We take you to the main sites including the mighty cathedral. Afternoon free for own activities. Tonight savor a good Scottish Farewell Meal.

After breakfast transfer to Glasgow Airport and board your flight home.

End of the Tour.

Arrive at London Heathrow Airport and during your transfer to your hotel enjoy a first orientation of London followed by a welcome dinner and tour briefing.

Overnight in London.

After breakfast a very knowledgeable local guide takes you on a half day city sightseeing of London. Have lunch on your own in the centre before you go south to Canterbury. Discover one of the most stunning cathedrals of Great Britain with a cathedral guide. Spend some free time in the historic centre before your tour director takes you back to your London Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in London.

Full day for your own activities to explore the sights and museums of London. Your tour director is there for you to assist you with pre-planing. Today the main tour arrives – everybody meets for tour briefing and dinner at 6 pm.

Overnight in London.