2005 Hymnology Tour to the UK.
September 30 - October 9, 2005.

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Join group leader Prof. Wes Ross of the Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies on a fascinating and lively 8 night tour to the UK in the fall of 2005.

Places visited will include London, the beautiful cathedral city of Salisbury, the university towns of Oxford and Cambridge, John Wesley's first Chapel in Bristol and the John Hughes Chapel in Pontypridd, Wales. Explore Olney & the Cowper Museum; take the 'Mayflower Trail' to explore historic connections with the Pilgrim Fathers in Nottinghamshire. There will be time for personal sightseeing & shopping in London and Oxford. The tour ends with an opportunity to attend Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral & Morning Service at All Soul's, Langham Place, London.

YOUR ITINERARY IN DETAIL

FRIDAY: 9/30
Evening scheduled carrier flight from Boston, USA to London.

SATURDAY: 10/01: LONDON
Morning arrival in London. Meet UK tour director at London's Heathrow airport. Private coach transfer to your hotel excellently located in the heart of Kensington and just 3 minutes' walk from the subway train station at Kensington High St. Orientation tour of London. Afternoon at leisure for independent sightseeing. Welcome dinner.

SUNDAY: 10/02: LONDON - SALISBURY-WELLS-BRISTOL
English breakfast at your hotel. Check out of London hotel and drive west, passing Stonehenge for a view of these ancient stones before continuing to Salisbury for a brief visit. From Salisbury travel to the lovely city of Wells with its beautiful cathedral. Arrive in Bristol late afternoon. Dinner at hotel.

MONDAY: 10/03: BRISTOL - SOUTH WALES - CARDIFF
English breakfast. Morning visit to The New Room, John Wesley's first Chapel with introductory talk, followed by a visit to the Mueller Orphanage. Continue over the Severn bridge into Wales where you visit Pontypridd, the John Hughes chapel and the Rhondda Heritage Park. Dinner at hotel.

TUESDAY 10/4: CARDIFF - OXFORD
English breakfast at hotel. Check out. Travel to Oxford to check into overnight hotel, conveniently located just a few minutes' walk from the city center, and close to all sightseeing locations. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the ancient university with admission to Christ Church College, Carfax Tower, St. Mary's University Church, highlighting the Oxford Christian Writers: C. S. Lewis, J. R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, and their friends. 2 course lunch (drinks not included), at The Eagle and the Child pub in the heart of the city. Free time in the afternoon to visit the Ashmolean, Blackwell's bookstore, or Oxford's famous Covered Market. Dinner at hotel.

WEDNESDAY: 10/5: OXFORD - OLNEY-BEDFORD-CAMBRIDGE-HUNTINGDON
English breakfast at hotel. Visit the market town of Olney, the Cowper Museum and the church pastored by John Newton. We visit the site where the famous Olney Hymn was composed. Trace the life of John Bunyan from his birthplace in Elstow, see Elstow Abbey and the Bunyan Meeting House & Museum. Walking tour of the university city of Cambridge to hear about this hotbed of Separatism during the English Reformation. See Trinity College, Kings College Chapel and walk the famous 'Backs' along the river Cam. Dinner at hotel.

THURSDAY: 10/6: HUNTINGDON - 'MAYFLOWER TRAIL' - BOSTON - SCROOBY
English breakfast at hotel. Today we follow the "Mayflower" Trail. The story begins in North Nottinghamshire where 16th C church congregations in the villages of Babworth, Scrooby & Sturton-le-Steeple wanted to reform the church system in England. These "Separatists" believed in greater freedom of worship and religious tolerance. Learn their story as you travel the trail. Dinner at hotel.

FRIDAY : 10/7: HUNTINGDON - LONDON
English breakfast at hotel. Travel to London & your hotel in Kensington. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy - sightseeing, shopping, theatre etc. Dinner on your own this evening.

SATURDAY: 10/8: LONDON
English breakfast at hotel. Guided visit to Wesley Chapel and House. See Bunhill Fields Cemetery and site of Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle. Visit to Tower of London. The rest of the day at leisure for final sightseeing/shopping etc. Transfer to Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral. Farewell Dinner.

SUNDAY : 10/9: LONDON - HEATHROW AIRPORT
English breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to early Sunday morning worship at All Soul's in Langham Place (8:30AM) continuing on to London's Heathrow airport.

END OF TOUR

Price per person based on a minimum of 19 paying passengers: $2,490 per person, sharing twin room. Single room supplement: $415.
Price includes:

  • Round trip group airfare** on scheduled airline Boston/London, Heathrow
  • 2 nights' dinner & breakfast at the London Millennium Copthorne Tara, Kensington
  • 1 night dinner & breakfast at the Marriott Bristol City hotel
  • 1 night dinner & breakfast at the Cardiff Millennium Copthorne
  • 1 night dinner & breakfast at Linton Lodge Hotel, Oxford
  • 2 nights' dinner and breakfast at the Huntingdon Marriott hotel.
  • Services of a UK tour director throughout
  • Entrances/talks/admissions etc. to sites/museums etc. as listed
  • 2 course lunch at the 'Eagle and Child' in Oxford
  • Admission to the Tower of London
  • Group transfers to/from Heathrow airport/hotel
  • 25 seater or similar mini coach for 6 days' touring
  • Professional guides as listed
  • Coach for full daytime sightseeing on 10/8/05
  • Coach return transfer to/from St Paul's for evensong
  • Coach for 1 early group transfer to London Heathrow airport via All Soul's.
Price does not include:
  • Personal travel insurance (we recommend that you take out insurance to protect yourself against unrecoverable costs connected with the itinerary - please see our booking conditions and cancellation policy)
  • Incidental personal expenses such as telephone, laundry or bar/drinks charges etc.
  • Meals other than those listed on the itinerary.

Payments/Deposits:

1. Per person deposit of $200 must be paid at the time of booking. Please send to: Prof. Wes Ross at BICS, PO Box 1888, Lenox, MA 01240, to make your reservation.

2. Final date for deposits: March 31, 2005. The $200 is refundable - up until the tour is confirmed, so you have nothing to lose. Please make your reservation as soon as possible. As soon as we reach the required number you will be informed that the trip is "confirmed" and a second deposit will be required to purchase the airfare at the best available rate. Once tickets are issued, they are non-refundable, so we suggest you take out insurance to cover yourself for non-recoverable expenses should you be forced to cancel your trip. Details available on request.

3. Final balances will be due no later than 8 weeks prior to departure.

**Airfares will be purchased once the minimum number (19) of tour participants is met.

Note: If the minimum required number of 19 is not reached, there will be an option for the existing group to travel with a revised price based on the actual number of travelers signed up for the tour.

*Tour operated by The English Experience Travels Ltd, N.Wales, PA. Tel: 800 892 9317 or (215) 699 6863. www.english-experience.com ASTA member since 1992.

Please join us for this delightful trip to the UK - we look forward to hearing from you!