BASIC TOUR BEGINS
Day 1 – Monday - NEW YORK/ LONDON- This evening we board our widebody aircraft at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York. Dinner will be served on our overnight flight to London.
Day 2 – Tuesday - LONDON - Arriving early in London, we join up with the group arriving from Israel. We tour the city of London, including the magnificent Westminster Abbey, where most of the monarchs of Britain have been crowned, married and buried since 1066AD. Westminster Abbey is also the burial place of David Livingstone. We visit St Paul's Cathedral, with its dome inspired by St Peters in Rome. We visit the Tower of London, begun in 1066 as a fortress for William the Conqueror, which has served for nearly 1000 years as a castle, fortress, prison and palace. We will also view Buckingham Palace and other places of interest as we travel through the city.
Day 3 - Wednesday - LONDON - This morning we visit Hampton Court Palace, beautifully situated in over 60 acres of gardens, a living tapestry of history from Henry VIII through George II. Here we will recall how King Henry broke from the Roman Catholic Church and made himself head of the newly created Church of England. Returning to London, we will visit the British Museum, where many antiquities and artifacts from Israel, Egypt, Greece and Rome are preserved and showcased, including the Cyrus Cylinder, the Rosetta Stone, marble friezes from the Parthenon in Athens, and Egyptian artifacts and mummies. Remainder of the day is free for your private explorations of London.
Day 3 - Thursday - LONDON/ STONEHENGE/ SALISBURY/ BATH - Today we leave London and head west for the mysterious stone circle, Stonehenge, dating back to 3200BC, a site for astrology and pagan worship in pre-Christian Britain. Next we come to Salisbury and its awe-inspiring cathedral, with the tallest surviving pre-1400 spire in the world. Here we recall the artisans and craftsmen who labored to construct amazing buildings for the worship and glory of God. In the Cathedral Chapter House we view depictions of scenes from Genesis and Exodus, and see one of only four surviving copies of the Magna Carta. In the afternoon we visit Bath, where we view Bath Abbey, another beautiful and historic cathedral, and the Roman baths, constructed like the Roman bath houses we see in the Holy Land. Here we recall how the Roman roads and the "Pax Romana" facilitated the spread of the gospel to the far-flung corners of the Roman Empire. We also visit the famous "Pump Room," built in 1790, where 18th century socialites came to "take the waters" for their health. Here in Bath Jane Austen wrote many of her famous novels about the manners and extravagances of Georgian
Day 4 - Friday - BATH/ BRISTOL/ OXFORD - After a short drive from Bath, we come to the busy city of Bristol. Passing the harbor we see a replica of the tiny ship, the Matthew, which carried John Cabot and his son Sebastian to the New World in 1497. Bristol was the home of William Penn, a Quaker and the founder of Pennsylvania. We will see the New Room, the first Methodist chapel, the home of Charles Wesley, and Hanham Mount, where John Wesley preached some of his open air sermons in 1738. We will also view the famous orphanages established by George Mueller (now a technical college). In the afternoon we arrive at Oxford, where we'll have a guided tour of the city and university, including Christ Church from which John Wesley graduated. We'll visit the spot outside Balliol College where three heroes of the English Reformation -- Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer -- were burned at the stake. We'll also view "The Kilns," the home of CS Lewis.
Day 5 - Saturday - OXFORD/ SCROOBY/ AUSTERFIELD/ EPWORTH/ YORK - Today we travel north into Nottinghamshire, stopping first at Scrooby, the "Birthplace of the Pilgrims." Here, in 1606, dissatisfied with the corruption and lax nature of the Church of England, religious separatists broke away from the church and its head, King James I, to commit themselves to a simpler way of life based on the teachings of the Bible. William Brewster, born and bred in Scrooby, was one of their leaders. We also visit nearby Austerfield, home of William Bradford, America's greatest Pilgrim Father. Eventually Bradford and Brewster, with a company of fellow-Pilgrims, set sail for America. From the Separatist churches in America, Congregationalism developed. Next we travel to Epworth and the birthplace of the founders of Methodism. Samuel and Susanna Wesley lived in Epworth for 39 years, and here raised their 17 children, including John and Charles. We'll visit their home, the Old Rectory, and the parish church where Samuel ministered. Next we arrive at York, which was founded as a Roman town in 71AD. Here we will tour the majestic York Minster, which dates from 1220, and see other fascinating sights of this ancient city.
Day 6 - Sunday - YORK/ DURHAM/ LINDISFARNE/ JEDBURGH/ EDINBURGH - Driving north from York we come to Durham and view the ancient cathedral. Next we have a photo stop at picturesque Lindisfarne, the "Holy Island," where a monastery was established in 635AD, soon after Christianity came to Britain. Crossing the border into Scotland, we come to the lovely village of Jedburgh, and view the remains of its beautiful church, founded in 1108 by King David I of Scotland, and the home of Mary Queen of Scots. Next we visit the remains of Dryburgh Abbey, beautifully nestled in a secluded loop of the River Tweed. Christianity was established here by missionaries in 600 AD, and the abbey was built in 1150. Here we can view remarkably well-preserved glimpses of medieval monastic life. The monastic system was used by God to protect and preserve His Word through times of war and destruction. Dryburgh is the burial place of the well-known author, Sir Walter Scott. On to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.
Day 7- Monday - EDINBURGH - Today we tour the historic city of Edinburgh, home of the Scottish Reformation. We visit 900-year-old St Giles Church, "the birthplace of Presbyterianism," where John Knox was minister for many years. John Knox was converted under the ministry of George Wishart, and became a spokesman for the Reformation, even preaching to the Catholic Queen Mary of Scots. We also visit John Knox's home. At the top of the Royal Mile we come to Edinburgh Castle, a miltary fortress since 900AD, situated atop a volcanic crag. The oldest structure in the castle, tiny St Margaret's Chapel, was built ca 1100AD. It was in Edinburgh Castle that Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to King James VI of Scotland, who became King James I of England, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland. In 1611 James I authorized the English version of the Bible, now known as the "Authorized Version" or the "King James Version." After our tour of the Castle we continue along the Royal Mile to Holyroodhouse, palace of Mary Queen of Scots.
Day 8 - Tuesday - EDINBURGH/ ST ANDREWS - This morning we drive across the Firth of Forth, past the picturesque fishing ports of Fifeshire, and on to St Andrews on the northeast coast of Scotland. St Andrew is the "patron saint" of Scotland, and the "Cross of St Andrew" is the flag of Scotland. It was in St Andrews that George Wishart, under whose ministry John Knox was converted, was burned at the stake for preaching the gospel. We will visit the remains of the cathedral, which was begun in 1160 and took over 150 years to complete. During the Scottish Reformation John Knox preached a fiery sermon in St Andrews parish church, whereupon the congregation went immediately to the cathedral and destroyed many valuable objects and furniture, which they saw as relics of "popery." We also view the ancient St Andrews Castle, perched on a cliff overlooking the North Sea. We will also visit the most famous golf course in the world, "The Royal and Ancient."
Day 9 –Wednesday - EDINBURGH/ LONDON/ NEW YORK - This morning we fly from Edinburgh to London, where we board our aircraft for the trip home to the United States. We will have memories of many beautiful and notable places and people -- people to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude for their faithfulness to our Lord and to His Word, passing on to us a Christian heritage.
POST EXTENSION TO PARIS
DAY 9 - Edinburgh / London / Paris - We will go to the airport for our flight to London. This morning we will head to the coast for our fast ferry to France.This afternoon we will arrive in France and transfer to Paris. We will have dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 10 - PARIS - This morning we will visit modern Paris: Place de la Concorde, Champ- Elysées, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe (which stands 164 feet high) and Napoleon's Tomb.
The afternoon will be a visit to historical Paris, including Vendome Square, Tulleries Gardens, the Pantheon, Palais Royal, the Louvre Art Gallery and Notre Dame Cathedral. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 11 - PARIS / FREE DAY - Paris is a great walking city. Today you will have the day to leisurely walk, shop or spend some time in the Louvre.
OPTIONIAL EXCURSION TO VERSAILLES
This morning we drive to Versailles to visit the lavish palace and gardens of Louis XIV. Here you will walk the hall of mirrors and marvel at the sculptured fountains and incredible gardens. Continue on to Chartres to see a masterpiece of medieval cathedral design. The stained glass windows dating from the 12th and 13th centuries are unsurpassed for color and design. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 12 – PARIS / LONDON / NEW YORK - We make our journey home today, cherishing our memories, relishing in what we've learned about the faith of our fathers and the people who have given us such a rich Christian heritage. Upon arrival in New York we will be transferred to our domestic airlines for the flight home.
