London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Coventry, Bath, and Warwick England
Day 1
Board our flight to London Heathrow overnight with meal service en route
Day 2
Our flight arrives London Heathrow where we’ll be met outside Customs by our Blue Badge English guide and your USIT tour conductor. After loading our luggage and boarding the coaches, we depart for Oxford, home of one of the world’s greatest universities and a seat of learning since the 12th century. (Lunch on our own in Oxford.) While we are there, we’ll visit one of the 35 colleges that make up the University (adm. incl.). Then we’ll move on to Stratford-upon-Avon, where we visit the Birthplace of William Shakespeare (adm. incl.) possibly the world’s most famous playwright. After touring this provincial city, we can take a little time to explore and then meet again at the coach park near the Shakespeare birthplace to drive the short distance to Coventry for check-in at the hotel. Dinner is provided at the hotel shortly after check-in. After a very long trip, it’s early to bed! Dinner and Hotel (Inc)
Day 3
After a full English breakfast, we’ll visit Coventry for a walking tour with our guides to learn about its dramatic history in the heart of Coventry, and learn about its dramatic history. After the morning service, we’ll visit Coventry Cathedral (adm. Incl.) at 12:30, we hope to sing informally. We’ll have time for some lunch on our own and time to explore and shop a little before returning to the hotel. Time permitting, we may have a drive in the surrounding countryside. Change for dinner at the hotel, 6:30 PM. Dinner is provided at the hotel, and the evening is reserved for a rehearsal at the hotel. Dinner and Hotel
Day 4
After a full English breakfast, we’ll depart mid-morning for the town of Warwick, and upon arrival, we’ll have time to explore the village on our on arrival. There is a delightful church in Warwick where we might perform a formal concert at noon for their lunchtime concert series. Then we’ll walk the short distance to visit Warwick Castle (adm. incl.), one of the mightiest and most impressive castles in Britain. The castle dates back to the 9th century and successive owners have figured in major events in British history. Within the castle walls are both private and state apartments, all sumptuously furnished. In one of the apartments, a House Party has been recreated, with the characters supplied by Madam Tussaud’s Waxworks. The castle has a chilling dungeon, instruments of torture, and even a tower haunted by a ghost. We depart at late afternoon from the Warwick Castle coach park to return to the hotel in Coventry. Dinner and Hotel
Day 5
Today is a full day, so after our full English breakfast at 7:00, we check out of our hotel and depart at 8:00 for Bath, driving through the beautiful Cotswolds, arriving Bath at around 10:30 AM, where we will visit Bath Abbey and the historic Roman Baths (adm. Incl.). Lunch is on our own. Departing from Bath mid-afternoon, we travel to London by way of Stonehenge, where we will stop for a visit and pictures. We arrive late afternoon in London at our four-star air-conditioned hotel, where we will check in and go to dinner, provided at the hotel. Hotel and dinner:
Day 6
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart at 9:00 AM by coach with our guides take us to enjoy a guided tour of the city by coach, including Piccadilly Circus, Oxford St., Parliament, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, and other sights, including going to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard, one of the most observed events in Europe. From there, we transfer to Covent Garden to participate in the 1:00 PM mass and then sing an informal concert at St. Paul’s Church, next to Covent Garden, the scene of the flower girl song from My Fair Lady. After the concert, we’ll have time in the Covent Garden area on our own. We return to the hotel at 4:00 PM to change for dinner and the theater. Dinner is provided at the Strand Palace Hotel, ten minutes’ walk from the theatre. At 7:15, we arrive for our 7:30 West End Show TBD. Return to the hotel by underground after the show.
Day 7
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart at 8:30 by coach for our to visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of London, the masterpiece of England’s great architect Sir Christopher Wren and burial place of famous Britons such as Horatio Nelson and the Duke of Wellington. We’ll hear about its great history with our London guides. Then we take the coaches back to Westminster, where we’ll have free time to visit Westminster Abbey and the Parliament area (on our own). Our next stop is the Embankment, where we board a tour boat at 12:20 for our guided cruise down the Thames River to see London from the water. The boat will take is to the Tower of London (adm. incl.), where we will have lunch on our own before entering the Tower grounds for our guided tour. Built by William the Conqueror in 1070, the Tower was a royal residence until the time of King Henry the 8th, after which it was renowned as a feared and sinister prison. The closely guarded Crown Jewels are on display at the Tower, and you will have the opportunity to see the Royal Apartments of King Edward 1st. Dinner is provided at the hotel. Hotel: London Kensington Forum Hotel
Day 8
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we depart for London Heathrow Airport for our flight home.
