STEM Trip to Britain – Technology and Cryptology in England

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 five days.

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. Our base for the next night will be Cambridge (area), where breakfast and dinner will be provided at the hotel.

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.

Enter Trinity College and view the Great Court from the Queens Gate. We will also enter the Wren Library, where medieval manuscripts, early versions of Shakespeare's works, and books once belonging to Sir Isaac Newton are kept.

Visit Cambridge University's Botanic Garden, where species of beautiful plants from all over the world are displayed and tended, many for the purpose of scientific research.

We continue on our journey from Cambridge to Milton Keynes (area). Our base for the next three nights will be Milton Keynes, where breakfast and dinner will be provided at the hotel.

Today we will visit Bletchley Park and the National Codes Centre. This building, which now serves as a museum, originally housed the "ultra-secret" codebreaking team of England. Their success in deciphering Nazi communications led to the victory of the Allied powers in World War II. We will visit the various "Huts" where groundbreaking computer science and mathematics occurred.

Return to Bletchley Park to take part in a code workshop. We will learn what goes into making and breaking codes using mathematics. The exact nature of the workshop will be determined by the programs offered by Bletchley Park at the time of travel.

Today we will travel from Milton Keynes to London. For the next three evenings we will enjoy the convenience of our centrally-located London hotel, where daily breakfast will be included. 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.

In London, the cost of public transport is included for all group sightseeing. Escorted by our Tour Director, we will be able to experience the city in the same manner as the local people.

Visit the Royal Air Force Museum, dedicated to the history of aviation and the British Royal Air Force in particular. It contains over 100 exciting displays of aircraft from around the world, including some very early aircraft designs and war planes, as well as the latest modern day jets and military aircraft.

During our time in London we will explore the areas of Westminster and Whitehall, including Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Parliament Square, Downing Street, St. James's Park and Buckingham Palace. We will enjoy our evening meal together in a local restaurant.

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 Thames River Cruise, 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 the Tower of London, one of Britain’s most fascinating and important historical structures. 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

Discover the iconic Tower Bridge, one of the enduring symbols of London. During our visit we will enjoy the Tower Bridge Exhibition and learn all about the bridge’s construction and history before continuing to the Victorian Steam Engine Rooms. We will also enjoy stunning views of London from the high-level walkways above the Thames.

Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, 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.

Explore the London Science Museum. The Science Museum was founded in 1857 with objects shown at the 1851 Great Exhibition held in Hyde Park’s Crystal Palace. Today the museum is world renowned for its historic collections, awe-inspiring galleries, and innovative exhibitions.Enjoy dinner this evening in Covent Garden, home to some of the city’s liveliest restaurants, pubs and cafés.

Attend a West End Theatre Performance.