Christian Heritage of England and Scotland

What will we see each day?

Our itineraries are designed to be not too full - or too empty! Each day we'll have breakfast at our hotel, followed by the day's activities. In the evenings, you'll have the opportunity to join the devotional time. Enjoy browsing the proposed itinerary. Back to top

Day 1: Thursday: Flight
Our adventure begins as we meet at JFK in New York and depart on our scheduled international flight, and wing our way over the Atlantic to London, England. IF

Day 2: Friday: Arrival in London
After months of expectancy, we’re here in Europe. After months of expectancy we’re here in Europe. After collecting our luggage we’ll meet those who have traveled independently and board our deluxe motor coach. We’ll begin with a drive-by bus orientation tour of London, including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, Marble Arch, Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and much more. We’ll end the tour with a visit to the magnificent Westminster Abbey where royalty are christened, married and buried, and where the King James Bible was translated. After the arrival at your hotel, there will be time to relax and unpack before a welcome meal at the hotel. IF/D

Day 3: Saturday: London

Our tour today will begin at the John Wesley’s Chapel, Wesley's Home and the Museum of Methodism, which provides an excellent history of the denomination, from Wesley to the present day. John Wesley (1703-1791) has been called the most influential Protestant leader of the English speaking world since the Reformation. Here we’ll see the small room he used for his quiet times of prayer, his home, his burial site and monument. Just across the street is the legendary Bunhill Field’s Cemetery, where we can see the burial place of Susanna Wesley, Isaac Watts, John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe, and other eminent nonconformist Protestants.

Our bus will then drop us at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where we’ll have time to buy lunch in the crypt. St. Paul’s is a marvelous building designed by Sir Christopher Wren and recently renovated to its former splendor. After a guided tour and time of reflection we’ll walk to the famous River Thames. We’ll cross the Thames and step back in time as we tour the reconstructed Globe Theater, complete with thatched-roof, live Shakespeare plays and one of the best cafes in town! Our final stop is the incredible Southwark Cathedral, where Christians have been worshipping since 1207. We’ll see the tomb of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, one of the translators of the Authorized Version of the Bible. John Harvard, founder of the great American university, was born in Southwark and baptized here in 1607. The cathedral's Harvard Chapel has been lavishly decorated as a result of gifts from members of that university. The evening will be free to see a London show. B

Day 4: Sunday: London

This morning we have the privilege of fellowship at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, where Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) held his great revival meetings. Spurgeon was a Baptist preacher who preached to 6,000 people a day and at least three times as many on a Sunday. During his lifetime he preached to an estimated ten million people. It’s still a thriving congregation in the center of London. After the service our bus will drop us off at Westminster pier and we will sail down the Thames to the Tower of London, where we’ll disembark for our tour of the Tower including the Crown Jewels. Our bus will transfer us back to the hotel for dinner. B/D

Day 5: Monday: Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford
One of England’s oldest and most mysterious landmarks is Stonehenge, where we’ll stop for a brief photo stop. We’ll arrive in Bath in time for lunch and our suggestion is the magnificent Pump Rooms. We’ll then have a tour of the Roman Baths and the Royal Crescent, arguably the most attractive street in England. The rest of the afternoon will be free to visit the Jane Austin Museum, the Museum of Costume or just enjoy strolling around the city. We’ll transfer to Oxford in time for dinner and we’ll be based there for two nights. B/D

Day 6: Tuesday: Oxford
A local guide will lead us on a walking tour of Oxford, including the Reformers Monument and the Cathedral. Founded by Cardinal Wolsey as Cardinal's College in 1524, this twelfth century church is one of the oldest buildings in Oxford and one of the smallest Anglican cathedrals in England. It is also the only church in the world to be both a cathedral and a college chapel. The college buildings took over the site of St. Frideswide's Monastery, which was suppressed by Wolsey to fund his college. The monastery dated back to the earliest days of Oxford as a settlement in the 9th Century AD. The cathedral has a famous men and boys' choir, and is one of the main choral foundations in Oxford. Famous alumni include: Charles and John Wesley, Lewis Carroll, William Penn, Albert Einstein and John Locke. The afternoon and evening will be free to enjoy Oxford. B

Day 7: Wednesday: Gloucester, Stratford
Passing through the delightful Cotswolds today, we’ll stop in Gloucester to tour the Cathedral and St. Mary de Crypt Church. This is where the evangelist George Whitefield was baptized and where he preached his first sermon. Our guide will share about his involvement in the “Great Awakening.” We’ll also see the statue of George Raikes, who ministered to street children in Gloucester and began the Sunday School movement. In the afternoon we’ll pass through more scenic Cotswold villages on our way to Shakespeare’s Stratford-Upon-Avon. We’ll check into our hotel, then have free to explore his hometown. Open-top bus tours are available. This evening we’ll dine at our hotel, then watch a live Shakespeare play! B/D

Day 8: Thursday: Lutterworth, York
Our first stop is Lutterworth, where John Wycliffe translated the English Bible, and trained his “Lollard Preachers.” We’ll meet some of the church as we tour Wycliffe’s St. Mary’s Church. Over a cup o’ tea and a delicious English scone, we’ll enjoy their fellowship and words of welcome and a few testimonies. Hear the stories of God’s deliverance in WWII and through the decades since. We’ll then drive north to the walled city of York, where we’ll dine at our hotel. B/D

Day 9: Friday: York, Edinburth
We’ll enjoy a morning orientation tour of York today and visit to York Minster. The first Minster was built on this site in around 623 AD. No-one knows when Christianity first arrived in the city but by 306 when Constantine the Great was proclaimed Emperor in York it is probable there was a small Christian community among those who proclaimed him. In 312 he issued a general edict of toleration for the Christian Church. However, by the year 314 York already had its own bishop, implying that the Christian community had been meeting there for some time, probably since long before their faith was officially tolerated. After a free after-noon to enjoy York, we’ll dine at our hotel. B/D

Day 10: Saturday: Edinburgh
On our drive north into Scotland, we'll have a brief stop at Hadrian’s Wall. We’ll then visit Haddington, where John Knox was born and raised. We’ll take a tour of the gardens (the house itself is not open to the public). On arrival in Edinburgh we'll visit the 15th century house where John Knox leader of the Scottish Reformation and founder of the Presbyterian Church lived for a short time before he died. Today it is a museum that holds an ex-hibition about his life. We’ll dine at our hotel this evening. B/D

Day 11: Sunday: Edinburgh
We’ll begin this morning with a panoramic tour of Edinburgh, often referred to as the "Athens of the North!" After the tour we have the opportunity to attend a church service or have free time. Following lunch we visit Edinburgh Castle, perhaps the best known and most visited of historic Scotland’s buildings. We’ll enjoy the stunning views from the castle before a visit to St. Giles Cathedral to which Knox was appointed minister of the church. Tonight we’ll dine at our hotel. B/D

Day 12: Monday: Return
We’ll fly out of Edinburgh today with many fond memories of our time in the British Isles. B/IF

Three day Scottish extension $600

Day 12: Monday: St. Andrews, Perth
We'll begin our day in St. Andrews on the east coast of Scotland. This was a center for Christian evangelism at an early date and was the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland. It was at St. Andrews University where Knox became the disciple of reformist George Wishart, who was arrested and burned on the orders of Cardinal Beaton. Our tour will also include the Castle and the Cathedral. On our way to Oban, we will make a brief stop in Perth at St. John’s Church where Knox preached the sermon “Vehement Against Idolatry” in 1559. We'll end the day in Oban. B/D
Day 13: Tuesday: Mull and 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. Iona Abbey is the most visited sight and dates back to the 11th Century. We’ll then take the ferry back to the mainland and on to Oban for dinner and overnight. B/D

Day 14: Wednesday: Stirling
Our drive back across Scotland will take us past the delightful Lake Lomond. We'll also stop in Stirling to see the Church of the Holy Rude. It was here in 1566 that John Knox preached at the baptism of James VI. We'll also visit Stirling Castle where James VI was educated by the Scottish Reformer George Buchanan. Just south of Stirling, we'll visit the Bannockburn Heritage Center, which is on the site of the battlefield where Robert the Bruce defeated the English on June 24, 1314. Our farewell meal will be at our hotel in Stirling. B/D

Day 15: Thursday: Return
We’ll fly out of Edinburgh today with many fond memories of our time in the British Isles. B/IF

= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Please note that that Reformation Tours reserves the the right to alter itineraries without notice should it become necessary. All prices are calculated at the exchange rate in effect at the time of this quotation. Should currency fluctuations necessitate an adjustment in tour price, this will be reflected in the final invoice.

View Larger Map

Rowena Drinkhouse is Vice-president of Reformation Tours, which she runs with her husband Frank. She grew up in the South of England and is very familiar with all the places on the itinerary. She is looking forward to introducing the group to "real England", including a proper cup of tea!

Frank and Rowena have two children, Rosie (13) and Joshua (10) and they will probably be joining the tour for the Scottish extension as it's on their list of places they want to see!