Art Tour to Britain – The British Masters

This volcanic city is widely regarded as one of Europe's most attractive cities, due primarily to its impressive medieval and Georgian districts and surrounding Lothian Hills. It is as famous for the arts as it is for its long and turbulent history. Both the Old and New towns are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Visit St. Giles Cathedral, which was at the center of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland. Behind the cathedral is John Knox’s Grave, which we will also try to see as it has been paved over in the centuries since his death.

Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse built by James IV and adjacent to the Augustinian Abbey David I established in the 12th century. Our tour of the palace will include the King James Tower, the Throne Room, the King's Bedchamber and the Picture Gallery, with portraits of Scottish monarchs.

Enjoy an evening meal with your group.

St. Giles Cathedral

John Knox, who had been appointed as Minister of Edinburgh, preached at St. Giles Cathedral from 1560 to
1572, and eventually St. Giles would become the first Presbyterian Church in Scotland.

Visit Edinburgh Castle, a place filled with history, legend and lore. Our visit will include St. Margaret's Chapel, the State Apartments, the Great Hall and the Crown Chamber, which houses the Honours of Scotland (Scottish Crown Jewels).

See this excellent collection of paintings by such artists as Raphael, Titian, Velasquez and Rubens. The museum also houses collections of French Impressionist paintings as well as works by English and Scottish artists.

Enjoy an evening meal with your group.

Glasgow was named European Capital of Culture in 1990, something that might surprise many who do not know the city outside of its industrial reputation. It is the largest city in Scotland and the second largest in Britain; it is also filled with unique medieval and Victorian architecture, incredible art, traditional music and a well-respected university. It has been revitalized in recent years and is now a modern city ready to be explored.

This church is so well-regarded that in 1451 the Pope declared that a pilgrimage here would carry the same merit as one to Rome. The present cathedral, built in the 12th century, sits on the site of a monastery founded by St. Mungo, also known as Kentigern, in 550 AD. Explore the structure which features post-WWII stained glass, including the Millenium Window, that is widely regarded as the most technically demanding stained glass window ever produced. Our visit will also include the Chapel of St. John the Evangelist and Blacader Aisle.

We will view important collections of medieval art; tapestries, alabasters, stained glass and English oak furniture; European paintings, including works by Degas and Cezanne; an important collection of Islamic art; and modern sculpture, including works by Epstein and Rodin.

Liverpool is a historic maritime city in northwest England, where the River Mersey meets the Irish Sea. A key trade and migration port from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, it is also, famously, the hometown of The Beatles. Ferries cruise the waterfront, where the iconic shipping and mercantile buildings known as the "Three Graces" stand on the Pier Head.

Visit the Walker Art Gallery, founded in 1873 and housing one of the finest art collections in the North. While the gallery has works by many masters, including Rubens, Rembrandt, Poussin, and Degas; it has a particularly strong collection of British artists, including works by Millais, Turner, Gainsborough, Hockney and Sickert.

Enjoy a brief visit to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, a unique structure that rejected traditional forms in favor of a modern design and is often referred to as the “space-age church.”

Visit Tate Liverpool, housing one of the best selections of contemporary art outside of London. We will see works from the Tate Collection, which comprises the national collection of British art from the year 1500 to the present day, as well as many fine pieces of international modern art.

Built of brick stone and cast iron, this showpiece development on Liverpool's waterfront opened in 1846, saw a long period of decline and has now been extensively renovated and refurbished. In addition to countless shops and restaurants, the area is home to the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Museum of Liverpool Life, the Beatles Story and the Tate Gallery.

Manchester is a major city in the northwest of England with a rich heritage. Even now much of the city's layout is the result of its days as an industrial powerhouse. Beyond even that the city can trace its roots even further to its original foundation as a Roman fortress town.

The building, designed in 1824, contains an extensive collection of British art, most notably pre-Raphaelite artists such as Holman Hunt and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and more recent works by Lucien Freud, Francis Bacon, Stanley Spencer, Henry Moore and David Hockney.

Enjoy some time to explore and shop.

This city has long been an important stopping point on central routes from the north of England to London, but it is more well-known as the home of England's first university. With its spectacular architecture and famous scholars, including some of the world’s most important writers, the university is a uniquely integral part of Oxford and of England as a whole.

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

Discover the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. This incredible estate was built in gratitude to the 1st Duke of Marlborough, who repeatedly defeated the French, most notably at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. The 2100 acres of parkland surrounding the home were landscaped by “Capability” Brown and the interior displays beautifully balanced baroque architecture.

Cambridge was an important Roman town because of its location at the first navigable point on the River Cam. Today, the river is more popular for punting than for trade, usually by the students at the city’s famed university.

We will take a walking tour and view King’s College, Trinity College and Magdalene College, made famous by E.M. Forrester, A.A Milne and C.S. Lewis respectively.

Visit King's College which was founded in 1441 by Henry VI (1421-71) and is one of the 31 colleges in the University of Cambridge. King's has an outstanding academic record and is also world-famous for its Chapel and choir. We will visit the Chapel, famous for its glorious fan vaulted ceiling and considered the most elegant example of perpendicular architecture in England.

Tour Trinity College, most often associated with A.A. Milne, Lord Byron and Sir Isaac Newton. We will have the opportunity to visit the Wren Library which contains the largest portion of Isaac Newton's library including a selection of his papers and scientific instruments.

Visit one of Britain's oldest public museums, displaying works from many of the old masters, including British artists such as Hogarth, Constable and Nicholson.

Try your hand at punting on the Cam. After taking a tour of the college 'Backs, your punt chauffeur will teach you the noble art of punting.

Today, we will travel from Cambridge to London. En route we will stop in Constable Country.

This walking tour follows one of the most picturesque sections of the River Stour, and served as inspiration for many of the paintings created by John Constable.

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.

Enjoy an evening meal with your group.

During our time in London we will explore the areas of Westminster and Whitehall, including Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Horseguards Parade, Parliament Square, Downing Street, St. James’s Park and Buckingham Palace.

Visit Westminster Abbey, 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.

Enjoy 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.

Visit one of Britain's most fascinating and important historical structures. Our visit includes the armories, a display of instruments of torture and execution and the breathtaking Crown Jewels Exhibit.

Spend some free time around Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, two of London's most vibrant and lively areas. Piccadilly Circus is known for its lighted advertisements, while Leicester Square is where stage and screen combine, having provided entertainment to the city since the Victorian era.

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 Tower of London

Begun as a fortress by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London is now primarily associated with the legendary figures imprisoned and executed here over the centuries.

Explore 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.

Enjoy a Walking Tour of Carnaby and Regent Streets. Take some free time to explore and shop.

Visit 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.

Enjoy dinner this evening in Covent Garden, home to some of the city's liveliest restaurants, pubs and cafés.

Attend a West End Theater Performance