England 12 days, 11 nights

Itinerary – Touch down in London, clear customs, and meet your tour manager – your literary adventure begins!

Take a leisurely walk around Bloomsbury to learn about the unparalleled literary heritage of the area. You will visit Russell Square, where T S Eliot worked for 40 years. Today, Bloomsbury Square houses a plaque commemorating the Bohemian and avant-garde members of the Bloomsbury Group, such as Virginia Woolf, E M Forster, Vita Sackville-West, Lytton Strachey, and J M Keynes.   See Bedford Square, the site of the Dickens House Museum, where Charles Dickens briefly lived (48 Doughty Street) and where he completed the hugely popular Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.

Overnight:  London

Meals:  Lunch and Dinner (depending on arrival time)

Itinerary – The day begins with a panoramic tour of London.  Take in all the main sights, including the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge.  There will be numerous opportunities to stop for photos along the way.

Next up is the British Library, one of the world’s great knowledge institutions, holding over 150 million items from every age of global civilization, from historical documents to the latest information for business and research.  You will view the ‘Treasures’ Collection, which includes an 11th-century Old English manuscript of the Beowulf epic; the 1215 Magna Carta, the basis of civil liberty and democracy; and the beautiful Tyndale Bible,  amongst many others.

This afternoon, stop at  Westminster Abbey, an architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries. It also presents a unique showcase of British history – the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, the tombs of kings and queens, and countless memorials to the famous and the great. It has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 and for numerous other royal occasions, including the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.  Spend time at Poet’s Corner; see several poets’, playwrights’, and writers’ graves or memorials.

Overnight:  London

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Set off this morning for a full-day excursion to Kent, ‘the Garden of England,’ and East Sussex, which has its own literary heritage.

The first stop is Canterbury. Here, meet your local guide and visit the stunning Cathedral, a major center of medieval Christianity and the destination of Chaucer’s pilgrims. After the Cathedral, have free time in Canterbury to explore this ancient city in small groups.

Visit Rochester on the return trip to London.  The town was the favorite of Charles Dickens.  He lived nearby at Gad’s Hill, Higham, the setting for many of his novels.  Enjoy free time in Rochester in small groups.

Overnight:  London

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Check out this morning and depart for Jane Austen’s Hampshire.  The first stop will be the charming village of Steventon and the 12th-century Steventon Church, where Jane worshiped.

It was at Steventon Rectory that Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775, and where she was to remain for the first twenty-five years of her life.  While at the church, see a bronze plaque dedicated in her honor.

The village of Steventon itself lies nestled in a quiet spot between two main thoroughfares from Basingstoke: the Andover road at Deane to the north, where stage coaches to and from London halted twice a day, and the Winchester road to the south near Dummer, which was known as Popham Lane. Like Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Jane was a keen walker and often walked to Popham Lane, where the family collected their letters at what is now known as the Wheatsheaf Inn.

Travel to Winchester, this is where Jane moved to in early 1817 when he became ill and where she would die on July 18th, at the age of 41. Visit the magnificent Winchester Cathedral, see Jane’s tomb in the north aisle, the brass plaque, and her memorial window.

Overnight:  Southampton Area

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Depart Southampton this morning and journey to Bath.  On the way, stop to visit the mystical and monumental site of Stonehenge. 5,000-year-old Stonehenge is Europe’s most famous prehistoric site. The alignment of the stones indicates that sun and moon worship took place here, but the rituals themselves are still shrouded in mystery.

The ancient city of Bath retains much of its Georgian charm, and Austen fans will recognize many streets and squares from her novels. View the magnificent Royal Crescent, arguably the most attractive street in the country.   And take afternoon tea at the Pump Rooms, as described in Austen’s Northanger Abbey, which adjoin the beautifully preserved and fascinating Roman Baths.

Overnight:  Bath Area

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Start the day with a short visit to Oxford. The ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ is world famous for its University and prominent place in history.  For over 800 years, it has been a home to royalty, scholars, and writers.  Oxford today is a bustling cosmopolitan town.

Visit Christ Church, one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford.  Most recently, Christ Church was the filming location for scenes from J K Rowling’s Harry Potter films.  Visit the dining hall (the Hogwarts Great Hall) and see the Cathedral.

You will also make a stop at the Eagle & Child Pub, where J R R Tolkien and C S Lewis regularly met and read out passages from their books.

This afternoon, visit Stratford-upon-Avon. In Stratford.  Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace, the 16th-century half-timbered house of glove-maker John Shakespeare, where the young William was born and brought up. Today, the home houses an exhibition of the life of the world’s greatest playwright.  Stop to pay your respects at Shakespeare’s grave in Trinity Church.

Overnight:  Stratford-upon-Avon Area

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – After breakfast, check out and depart for the Lake District, commonly known as ‘the Lakes.’   This mountainous area in Western England has outstanding natural beauty, famous not only for the scenery but also for its associations with Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth, and the other ‘Lake Poets.’

Spend some time in the charming village of Haworth in the midst of ‘Brontë Country.’ You will visit the family home of the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily & Anne. It was from here, now known as the Bronte Parsonage Museum, where they wrote their most famous novels, including Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Wander around the traditional shops that have changed little in the past 100 years.  Also, enjoy the magnificent views of the Moors.

Overnight:  Lake District

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Today’s adventure continues at Dove Cottage, the final home of Lakeland poet William Wordsworth.

Enjoy a cruise on the steam yacht Gondola.  Sail across Lake Coniston to John Ruskin’s house, Brantwood.

This afternoon, visit Rydal Mount, another of Wordsworth’s residences, where you will enjoy a guided tour of the house followed by a poetry reading.

Overnight:  Lake District

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary –  Leave the Lake District behind and depart for Yorkshire.  Stop to visit Fountains Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage site. No other site in Europe contains such a tremendous variety of historic monuments in one place. The 12th-century Cistercian Abbey, the Georgian Water Garden, the Medieval Deer Park, the Elizabethan Hall, and the Victorian Church offer you a unique appreciation of English heritage.

Continue to York. This afternoon is free to explore York in small groups.

Overnight:  York

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Begin making your way back to London this morning, but first stop to enjoy some free time in Cambridge.   Cambridge was established as a University town in the 11th century and has remained prominent since Roman times.   Student life dominates the city as well as being a thriving market center.

During your free time, admire the famous King’s College and its beautiful chapel, founded by Henry VI in 1441.  Take time to see the Bridge of Sighs and wander along the ‘Backs’ where summer sees the students punt along the river Cam.

Continue to London.

This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.

Overnight:  London

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Bid goodbye to England this morning as you depart for the airport and your flight home.