Castles & Crowns

471 Days until departure

March 19, 2027 - March 27, 2027

Trip ID: Schulze-8066

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Day 1 Overnight Flight to England (London)

Day 2 Hello London

Meet your tour director and check into hotel

Day 3 London

Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, , , St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace

Details: London guided sightseeing tour

Join a licensed local guide for an in-depth look at London, from the royal haunt of Buckingham Palace (the official London residence of King Charles III) to the slightly more democratic Speakers’ Corner of Hyde Park, where anyone can pull up a soapbox and orate to his heart’s content. You’ll see the changing of the guard (season permitting), the clock tower of Big Ben with its 14-ton bell, and Westminster Abbey, where almost every English king and queen since William the Conqueror has been crowned. After a stop at the Houses of Parliament, continue on to the magnificent St. Paul’s Cathedral, the masterpiece of London architect Christopher Wren.

Details: Trafalgar Square

See Trafalgar Square, often used for community gatherings and political demonstrations.

Details: Piccadilly Circus

Visit Piccadilly Circus, a shopping and entertainment area brightly lit with video displays and neon signs.

Details: Tower of London visit

Get up close and personal with the Tower of London. Towers, rather. Twenty stone towers, as well as tunnels, winding staircases and narrow passageways comprise this huge fortress covering 18 acres on the banks of the Thames. A royal residence from the 11th - 16th centuries, the Tower also served as a jewel safe and a prison. The headless skeletons of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard (Henry VIII's former wives who were executed here) are believed to be buried here. The Crown Jewels are housed here, including the largest cut diamond in the world (530-carats). Beefeaters (guards) lead tours through the Tower.

Day 4 London

Optional $99

Details: Windsor Castle guided excursion

See how the King relaxes on this guided tour of the royal weekend estate, originally built as a fortress in the 11th century under William the Conqueror. Visit the East Terrace Gardens, marvel at the Gothic St. George's Chapel, or peek into the rooms of Queen Mary's doll house with its gallery of pint-size perfect furniture. Get decorating tips for your own country estate (or dorm room, as it may be).

Day 5 London--Shakespeare Country

Travel to Stratford via Oxford

Details: Oxford guided sightseeing tour

Explore the ancient university city of Oxford from an American perspective, with a local guide tour one of the 39 colleges that make up the university (colleges you may visit include Brasenose, Christ Church or New College). Visit the Bodleian Library. Discover why the college bell is still rung 101 times at 9:05 p.m.

Details: Bodleian Library visit

Visit one of the oldest libraries in Europe, the Bodleian.

Details: Oxford University college guided visit

Explore the oldest English-speaking university in the world. Founded in 1096, Oxford got a big attendance boost in 1167, when a tiff between the English and French kings caused all English students to be expelled from the University of Paris. Many came back to Oxford, and since then the university has been home to many of England’s most illustrious thinkers and writers, including Sir Walter Raleigh, Roger Bacon -- and Dr. Seuss. With a local guide tour one of the 39 colleges that make up the university (colleges you may visit include Brasenose, Christ Church, or New College).

Details: Anne Hathaway’s Cottage visit

The cottage provides a rare insight into the life of a family in Shakespearean times, and many of the original furnishings are preserved inside the house.

Details: Shakespeare's Birthplace visit

Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, a half-timbered house preserved to reflect family life in the 16th century that also contains a museum dedicated to his life. The modern Shakespeare Centre was built next door to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Bard's birth. Next, you’ll visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage. The cottage provides insight into the life of a family in Shakespearean times and many of the original furnishings are preserved inside.

Details: LEAP Prime Time Shakespeare!

Produce a prime time TV show for sixteenth century England! Compare Shakespearian times to our own and see the Bard's work in a new light.

Day 6 Shakespeare Country--Yorkshire

Farewell dinner

Details: Travel to York

Visiting York is like walking thorough a living museum. Its medieval structures are impressively preserved in its timbered houses and winding, cobbled streets surrounded by the remains of the city walls. Founded by the Romans in 71 CE, York was, for a long time, a strategic point used by both Saxons and Vikings.

Details: York tour director-led sightseeing

Charming York combines medieval mysteries with modern flair. Gothic buildings and cobblestone streets lead to bustling shopping districts; ancient stones make up the now-picturesque city walls. Explore the birthplace of Guy Fawkes with your Tour Director.

Details: York Minster visit

Visit York Minster, which traces its origins from the early 7th Century, and features stained glass from the Middle Ages.

Day 7 Yorkshire--Edinburgh

Durham Cathedral visit

Roman Army Museum visit

, St. Giles Cathedral

Details: Travel to Edinburgh

Set on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since 1492. You can't help but imagine yourself in "auld lang syne" (times gone by) as you wander the cobblestone streets, craggy coast, and lush green spaces of Scotland. Today's Edinburgh is a hub for banking, and also well-known for festivals and universities that bring the city both tourists and acclaim. Described as one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the world, the Old and New Towns in Edinburgh became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

Details: Drive along Hadrian's Wall

Take a scenic drive along portions of Hadrian's Wall.

Details: LEAP Who Rules?

Meet great Britons from history. Debate their merits and contributions to decide who is the greatest of them all!

Details: Edinburgh city walk

The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh has steep streets and stone buildings zigzagging up hills and down into small valleys, and the brooding Edinburgh Castle looms over the whole thing. Follow your Tour Director for an orientation along the Royal Mile which is located at the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town and stretches from Holyrood Palace to the Edinburgh Castle.

Details: Royal Mile (Old Town)

Walk the Royal Mile, one of the most famous and scenic city walks in Europe.

Day 8 Edinburgh

Edinburgh guided sightseeing tour

, Georgian New Town, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Sir Walter Scott Monument

Palace of Holyroodhouse visit

Scottish Steps dance class

Details: Royal Mile (Old Town)

Walk the Royal Mile, one of the most famous and scenic city walks in Europe.

Details: Edinburgh Castle visit

Perched high on a volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle makes for an imposing and impressive sight. Explore this medieval castle, learn about its significance in Scottish history and appreciate its magnificent panoramic views of the city below.

Details: LEAP Scottish Steps

Learn the art of Scottish dancing at a social gathering, or Ceilidh, (pronounced “Kay-lay”). Dance to live music as an instructor shows you some traditional steps.

Day 9 Flight home from Edinburgh

Tour Includes

Round-trip airfare and other transportation described in the itinerary
Basic Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation Insurance during trip
Up to three college credits upon course completion (grades 9-12) or high school credit (grades 6-12)
Centrally located three- and four-star hotels
Plentiful daily breakfast to start the day energized and ready to go
Appetizing, culturally representative, three-course dinner daily
Full time, multilingual, WorldStrides tour director who is LEAP-trained in experiential education
Local guide at sites and on city tours as described in the itinerary
LEAP! Learning through Exploration and Active Participation; trademarked immersive approach of learning by doing
Entrances and transportation to sites and activities described in your itinerary
Local guide and local bus driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
24/7 On Tour Emergency Support
Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, any required passport or visa fees, optional excursions, or recommended Tips for the Tour Director or multi-day Bus Drivers. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid tips, or other individual/group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.

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Castles & Crowns

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