England & Scotland

from a Christian Perspective (14 Day)
Wesley, Watts, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Knox

Day 1 Depart USA For London
Overnight flight for London.

Day 2 • Tower of London, Crown Jewels, & St. Paul's Cathedral
Upon arrival, our group will be taken on a sightseeing tour of the thriving city on the Thames. We'll see some of the highlights of London such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. After a visit to two of the city's most beautiful churches, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral, we return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight London (2 nights).

Day 3 • London of the Wesley's and Spurgeon, Windsor Castle 
We'll begin at Wesley's Chapel on City Road, built in 1778. John Wesley's house/museum is right next door. He lived here from 1779 until his death in 1791. His burial place is behind the chapel. Across City Road is the non-conformist cemetery, Bunhill Fields, with the graves of Susanna Wesley, John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and the hymn writer Isaac Watts ("When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"; "Come, Ye that Love the Lord"; "O God, Our Help in Ages Past"). We continue on to the Methodist Plinth, the site of John's Aldersgate Street conversion on May 24, 1738. Other highlights in this area include the charterhouse school where John attended and Spital Yard, home of the Annesley family where Susanna Wesley, youngest of 24 children, was raised. Our morning tour will conclude at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, were Charles Spurgeon held his great revival meetings. This afternoon we drive to Windsor Castle, majestically standing on a chalk cliff and dominating the skyline with its rugged walls and Round Tower. William the Conqueror built both the castle and Tower of London in 1078 as fortresses guarding against attacks from the Thames River. Windsor has been a royal residence since 1110 when Henry I made it his home. We continue through Windsor Great Park to Runneymede, where the signing of the Magna Carta took place in 1215. At Hampton Court Palace, residence of many former kings and queens of the British Empire, we'll tour the gardens, lake and mazes.

Day 4 • Salisbury, Stonehenge, Bath and Bristol
Upon arrival we are met by our guide and board our motor coach. Our first stop is at Salisbury for a visit to the famous cathedral. The builders of the gothic church claimed it to be "so great a church to the glory of God that those who come after us will think us mad even to have attempted it." Once again we are on our way to yet another wondrous sight, the Neolithic monument of Stonehenge which dates to around 2800 BC. Following lunch we head to Bristol where we'll visit Broadmead and John Wesley's chapel. After a visit to the home of Charles Wesley and the Portland Chapel, we visit the fascinating town of Bath. Since the 1st century AD, the steady flow of hot mineral springs has made it a fashionable spa resort for the early Romans and later, the British monarchs. The ancient remains of the city are the finest preserved Roman ruins in Great Britain. Overnight Bristol (1 night).

Day 5 • Stratford-Upon-Avon
Our day begins with a stop at Glouchester. The town has been known for its markets since Roman times and is an inland port on the River Severn. We'll visit the small church of St. Mary de Crypt where Robert Raikes launched the "Sunday School" movement and an early women's missionary movement had its beginnings. It was also from here that George Whitefield, the most outstanding preacher of his generation, lit the fires of evangelical revival. We'll complete our visit to Gloucester at its magnificent cathedral, one of the finest in England and considered the sixth most beautiful building in all of Europe. Founded in 1089 as a monastic church, the cathedral features ancient pillars, exquisite stained glass windows and a great cloister. Our next stop will be in Blandon, the burial place of Winston Churchill, before we continue on to overnight in the delightful village of Stratford (2 nights).

Day 6 • Stratford-Upon-Avon, Hathaway Cottage and Gardens
A full day of sightseeing in Stratford includes visits to the beautiful buildings connected with William Shakespeare and his family . We'll visit Anne Hathaway's impeccably preserved thatched cottage and gardens. At the Harvard House, we will hear the history of the founder of the famous American university. Other Shakespearean sights include a visit to Mary Arden's house (the Bard's mother), and New Place where the writer retired in 1610. Our final visit of the day is at Shakespeare's birthplace. This evening we'll attend a performance of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Day 7 • Warwick Castle, Wedgwood and Chester
The sights of Warwick Castle and the world-famous Wedgwood China Factory will add to the excitement today before arrival in Chester this afternoon, with the remainder of the day at your leisure. Stroll the medieval streets past black and white timbered buildings, seek out the preserved Roman wall and enjoy time for shopping. Other noteworthy attractions include the Abbey Square and 16th century Chester Cathedral. Overnight in Chester (1 night).

Day 8 • Glasgow
This morning you will depart your Chester hotel with your long distance deluxe motorcoach and professional tour escort for a long but lovely drive through the Lake district to Scotland - the Land of Knox. You will have dinner and overnight in Glasgow.
 
Day 9 • Oban/Loch Lomond/Iona Abbey
This morning you will depart Glasgow and drive north along the picturesque shores of Loch Lomond to Oban, where you will board a ferry to the Isle of Mull. You will drive across Mull and take another short foot passenger ferry from Fionnport to St Columba's Island of Iona. Iona the site of the first Christian settlement of Scotland has been known as a place of spiritual power for centuries. You will see many sights on the island and will visit Iona Abbey which is the most visited sight and dates back to the 11th Century. You will then take the ferry back to the mainland and on to Oban for dinner and overnight.
 
Day 10 • Stirling Castle/Perth
We depart Oban and drive through beautiful Highland scenery to the ancient fortress of Stirling and visit one of the most important castles in Scottish history...Stirling Castle. You will then transfer to Perth to see St John's where Knox preached and unleashed the storm of the Reformation. You will have dinner and overnight in Perth.

Day 11 • St. Andrew's/Edinburgh
This morning you will depart Perth and transfer to St Andrew's, home of golf and named after Scotland's patron saint. It was in St Andrew's that the Scottish Protestant reformer George Wishart was executed for supposed heresy in 1546, after John Knox preached in the castle and Parish church here. You will visit the castle and the cathedral before transferring to Edinburgh, the capital city, for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 • Edinburgh Castle
You will be met by your local coach and guide for a tour of Edinburgh including a visit to the impressive Edinburgh Castle, we will drive along the Royal Mile to visit to St Giles Cathedral with its Thistle Chapel, from whose pulpit Knox spent most of his Reformation years preaching.  We will then visit John Knox medieval town house which is the memorial to John Knox. Your tour will end at your hotel in Edinburgh for dinner and overnight.
 
Day 13 • Haddington House/Edinburgh
This morning you will be met by a coach and guide for a visit to Haddington, where John Knox was born and raised, you will visit the gardens of Haddington House (the house itself is not open to the public). You will then be transferred back to Edinburgh for an afternoon at leisure for individual sightseeing and free time for shopping. Dinner and overnight in Edinburgh.
 
Day 14 • Homeward
We bid farewell to this Scotland and take our flight back home.

 



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