England: From Churchill To Potter – 8 Days

Departure

Today you’ll start your England adventure to make unforgettable memories with your group.

Arrival, London

Upon arrival in London, you’ll meet your Tour Manager and head into the city. After a short break for breakfast you’ll begin a guided tour of the city. You’ll see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, London Bridge and more. After your tour you’ll head to your hotel for check in and a break before dinner.

London

This morning, you’ll take a drive outside of London to Chartwell, the much-loved Churchill family home and the place from which Sir Winston drew inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. You’ll have a chance to visit the house, gardens and studio. After your visit you’ll head into central London for a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. You’ll take a guided tour here and learn about Shakespeare’s career as a playwright in London. You’ll learn about how and why he became popular and how his legacy lives on today. After the tour you’ll take a break for lunch and then continue to the Tower Bridge and then to the Tower of London. This historic castle on the North Bank of the Thames River was founded in 1066. Throughout the centuries it has served as a castle, a prison, an armory, the Royal Mint and more. Today it is home to the Crown Jewels. After your tour you’ll have dinner.

London

In the morning, you’ll head to the Churchill War Rooms. This is a part of the Imperial War Museum and will allow you to discover the original cabinet war rooms, the wartime bunker that sheltered Churchill and his government during the “Blitz.” You’ll explore the historic rooms and experience the secret history that lives underground. Here you will discover the stories of those who worked underground as London was being bombed above them, and then find out more about the life and legacy of Winston Churchill in the interactive Churchill Museum. After your visit you’ll continue to the Imperial War Museum. The museum is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day. It seeks to provide for, and to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and ‘wartime experience’. The museum is undergoing renovations until the summer of 2014 which may cause some exhibits to be temporarily closed. After a break for lunch you’ll head down to the South Bank of the Thames River for a ride on the famous London Eye. You’ll see fantastic views of the city of London from this 443 foot tall ferris wheel that is now one of the UK’s most popular attractions.

London to Oxford

After breakfast, you’ll head to Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio. You’ll have a chance to go behind the scenes and see the detailed sets, costumes, props and animatronics that went into making the most successful film series of all time. After your visit you’ll continue the drive to Oxford. This fascinating city established in the 9th Century and home to many prestigious universities and colleges for the past 800 years has a multitude of interesting places to visit. You’ll take an afternoon tour and learn about the history of Oxford and its university as you walk through the heart of the historic city center. You’ll learn about the numerous famous authors that lived in Oxford including C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Lewis Carroll. You’ll also see some of the well-known “Harry Potter” sites from which some of the movie sets were modeled. After your tour you’ll have some free time before dinner.

Oxford

Today you’ll visit Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Blenheim Palace was built as a gift to the First Duke of Marlborough in the early 18th Century to celebrate the victory over the French in the War of the Spanish Succession. Over the years Dukes made improvements and the 11th Duke (the current one) committed his life to the preservation of this great house and it is now a World Heritage site. The most famous member of the family, Sir Winston Churchill, was born there in 1874. After your visit you’ll return to Oxford where you’ll visit Oxford Castle for the “Oxford Castle Unlocked” tour. You’ll learn about the history of the centuries old prison and how it operated throughout the ages.

Oxford

To start the day, you’ll drive over to Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace and childhood home of William Shakespeare. Here you’ll visit and tour the home of Shakespeare. You’ll also have a chance to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespeare’s burial place. In the evening you’ll have dinner in Stratford and then see a play at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Departure

Today your England adventure will come to an end as you start your journey back home with your group.