Ancient Wessex to Modern London

Our 24-hour tour director will meet us at the airport and remain with us until our final airport departure. We will have use of a private coach and driver while touring for the next six days.

Winchester was once the capital of ancient Wessex as well as the administrative center for the Anglo-Saxon kings until the Norman Conquest. The city is connected with Arthurian legend and is the resting place of one of Britain’s most beloved authors, Jane Austen.

See King Arthur's round oak table which is attached to the wall.

See the historic medieval cathedral possessing the longest nave in Britain. This incredible structure is the resting place of many important British figures, most notably the author Jane Austen.

For the next two nights, our base will be in the Wessex area. Breakfast and dinner will be included at the hotel.

Arrive in Bath and visit a world-class collection of contemporary and historical dress including 150 dressed figures to illustrate the changing styles from the late 16th century to the present day.

First associated with the Celtic King Bladud, and later established by the Romans in the 1st century, the Roman Baths are amazing. Step into the Pump Room, a set of elegant chambers built above the old Roman baths. The core of the Pump Room is the Grand Chamber, which looks down onto the old Roman Baths. We may have the opportunity to sample some of the spa’s natural spring water.

We will see: the spectacular façade of Bath Abbey; Pulteney Bridge, featuring wonderful views of the city and the River Avon; the Circus; and the Royal Crescent, one of Britain’s finest streets.

Your first concert performance is today in Bath. Venue options include The Pump Rooms, Bath Abbey at Bath, the Assembly Rooms, St. Michael’s with St. Paul’s Church, and St. James’s Memorial Hall of Bath Spa University.

On the way to Oxford, see the famous large circle of stone lintels and megalithic pillars-one of the most impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain. Constructed approximately 5,000 years ago, Stonehenge symbolizes mystery, power, and endurance.

Old Sarum is where a Celtic hill fort, as well as Roman, Saxon, and Norman strongholds, once stood. There is evidence that humans have inhabited the site since 3,000 BC and it is mentioned in some of the earliest records of the country.

The charming city of Salisbury was founded in the 13th century after the settlement of Old Sarum was abandoned. The surrounding lush fields and rivers were a marked improvement over the former arid hill-top location. Today, Salisbury has largely preserved its medieval, Tudor, and Queen Anne architecture, giving the city a delightful elegance.

One of the finest medieval cathedrals in Britain, the Cathedral is well known for having the tallest spire in the country, which we may climb if we wish. Our visit will be highlighted by the Cathedral’s 13th century octagonal Chapter House, which displays the finest of four surviving original texts of the Magna Carta.

We will continue to the Oxford area, our base for the next night. Breakfast and dinner will be included at the hotel.

Take a walking tour to view many of the colleges that make up Oxford, as well as the Sheldonian Theater and the Bodleian Library. Each of the buildings we pass has a long history and is associated with notable literary alumni, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Lewis Carroll, Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis, and Evelyn Waugh.

Oxford’s largest and grandest Renaissance College, which was founded in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey. The college’s Christ Church Cathedral is the smallest in England.

Your second concert performance is today in Oxford, Venue options include Christ Church College Chapel, Oxford Cathedral, Trinity College, and St. Edward’s School. Additional venues used are Wychwood School, Donnington County School, or the very receptive St. Michael’s at the North Gate Church.

London is the largest city in Europe: quite a feat, considering its location on a relatively small island. London's location is perfect for an administrative, communications, and trade center, as the Romans realized when they founded their city in AD 1st century. London is filled with countless historic and cultural treasures that meld seamlessly in this exciting, contemporary city.

For the next three evenings, we will enjoy the convenience of our centrally-located London hotel, where daily breakfast will be included.

We will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in London.

The place where English kings and queens have been crowned since 1066. Our Blue-Badge Guided Tour will include the Royal Chapels, containing the tombs of the English monarchs, as well as Poets’ Corner, featuring memorials to many famous British literary figures.

A relaxing way to view many of London’s most magnificent sights. Our trip will take us past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and under the famous Tower Bridge.

One of Britain’s most fascinating and important historical structures, the Tower of London begun as a fortress by William the Conqueror, the Tower is now primarily associated with the legendary figures imprisoned and executed here over the centuries. Our visit includes the armories, a display of instruments of torture and execution, and the breathtaking Crown Jewels Exhibit.

This evening we will dine in a local restaurant near to Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, two of London’s most vibrant and lively areas.

The British Museum is one of the most comprehensive collections of art and artifacts in the world. Highlights of our visit will include the Rosetta Stone, the discovery of which led to the deciphering of hieroglyphs, the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon in Athens, and the Sutton Hoo Treasure.

This Cathedral is Sir Christopher Wren’s Renaissance-style masterpiece. Our visit will include an ascent to the Whispering Gallery, an acoustic marvel in which the faintest whisper can be heard clearly on the opposite side, plus time at the American Memorial Chapel. If we are lucky, we will be here when the massive organ fills the entire cathedral with breathtaking music.

We will enjoy our evening meal together in a local restaurant.

Your third concert performance is today in London. Venue options include St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar, St. James in Piccadilly, and St. Sepulchers—all of which are excellent musical venues for sacred repertoire. For groups that prefer a smaller ecclesiastical venue, options include Church of St. Anne and St Agnes, St. Dunstan’s College, Dulwich College, Ruislip Garden School, Branch Hill House Residential Home, the North Hall at Covent Garden, Ingestre Residential Home, the Great Southwark Cathedral, Royal Hospital Chelsea, American School, King’s College School, Kneller Hall, Royal Military School of Music, George Inn, Hinde Street Methodist Church, Chelsea and Westminster Arts, St. George’s Church in Tolworth, Blackheath Halls, St. John’s Hospice, and Holy Trinity Church on Prince Consort Road. Outdoor venues include Tower Bridge Park Parade, Parliament Square, or Covent Garden.

Our rewarding and enjoyable tour comes to an end as our tour director accompanies us to the airport on our final day.