Preachers and Hymns that Changed the World: 12 Days In Great Britain with Dr Heath Lambert May 5 - 16, 2025

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12-Day Journey to England & Scotland

DAY 1 (MAY 5) Depart USA for London, England.

DAY 2 (MAY 6) Arrival in London – Arrive in London. We are met by our tour managers Transfer to the hotel. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Welcome dinner and overview of the journey. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 (MAY 7) London on the footsteps of the Reformers – London goes beyond any boundary or convention. It contains every wish or word ever spoken, every action or gesture ever made, every harsh or noble statement ever expressed. It is illimitable. It is Infinite London.” (Peter Ackroyd). In the morning we will enjoy a panoramic tour of London, incl. Big Ben, Tower of London (inside), Westminster Abbey, London Eye, Parliament, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace (all outside). Within the city-tour we discover the Bun Hill Fields Burial Ground which is a Nonconformist burial ground. It’s the final resting place of John Bunyan, Isaac Watts, Daniel Defoe and William Blake, along with many other leading intellectuals, radicals and clergymen from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. In the late afternoon we visit St Paul’s Cathedral. During the years of religious turmoil in the 16th century that led to the Reformation in England, Paul’s Cross in the churchyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral became a focus of national theological debate. Sermons were given by both those who sought reform and their conservative opponents. The cathedral went through a long period of change. We will discover Lon-don’s greatest church through the eyes of the Reformers. Dinner and overnight in London.

DAY 4 (MAY 8) Canterbury a religious Capitol and Leeds Castle – This morning we drive to Canterbury. We will be informed about the year 1534 when King Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church in England and took control of church affairs. From the year 1536 his officials went around the country closing monasteries and claiming their wealth for the crown. Located in the Canterbury Cathedral the shrine of St. Thomas was especially problematic for King Henry VIII. By this time, Becket was being remembered as someone who lost his life standing up to the royal authority – something Henry did not want to encourage. Becket was declared a banned saint and in the year 1538 Becket’s shrine was destroyed. On the way back to London we stop at Leeds Castle which has a great history. It has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian man-sion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century. It has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain. Return to London Dinner and overnight.

DAY 5 (MAY 9) Stonehenge/Salisbury/Bath – In the morning we leave London and discover Salisbury Cathedral, one of the leading examples of Early English Gothic architecture. We visit the Salisbury Methodist Church which is rich in history. 250 years ago, two men came on horseback and preached in Salisbury. One was the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, who visited Salisbury 40 times The other was Sir Francis Asbury, the Founder of American Methodism who came to Salisbury in 1771. As a result of these visits and the people these preachers inspired, the Methodist Church of Salisbury was-born. We continue to Stonehenge. As iconic as it is mysterious, Stonehenge holds over 4500 years of English history. Take a trip back in time and explore this ancient engineering masterpiece. Dinner and overnight in Bath 

DAY 6 (MAY 10) Bath/Oxford/Stradford upon Avon – In the Unesco world heritage site Bath we go on a city tour. For the last 2,000 years, its natural thermal springs, which give the city its name. Bath is home to a wide variety of historical attractions like the Roman Baths. It is also home to some of the most impressive Georgian architectural triumphs in the entire UK. In the afternoon we drive to Oxford the world's famous University town. We will get to know the most important sights like Christ Church College where Charles and John Wesley were undergraduates. We see the Lincoln College where John Wesley presided over the holy club. We proceed to Oxford Castle which is at the site of the prison where the Wesley brothers visited the poor convicts. We drive north to the beautiful city Stradford upon Avon where Shakespeare himself was born and died. Dinner and overnight in Stradford Upon Avon Centre.

DAY 7 (MAY 11) Stradford upon Avon/Sheffield/Windermere – In the morning we have a guided city tour on the footpath of the World’s greatest Poet. The effects of the Reformation were not as violent in Stradford as other parishes. Catholicism had flourished, but the townspeople were quick to accept the frequent changes in religion that characterized the 1600. We continue our journey to the town Sheffield which John Wesley visited lots of times. We see the famous Cathedral where a stained-glass window in the Chapter House depicts John Wesley preaching in the square. After the lunch we continue north to the lake district national park. This is where modern tourism was born, in the shimmering lakes and hushed mountains whose radiant beauty inspired poets and painters to turn nature into art. Peter rabbit is one of the most famous characters created by author and conservationist Beatrix Potter. Beatrix Potter's love of the Lake District came from an early age, when she and her family holidayed in the area. Dinner and overnight in Windermere.

DAY 8 (MAY 12) Cruise Windermere/Gretna Green/Glasgow – We board our boat on the beautiful lake Windermere, the largest natural lake of England. We continue north to pass the border and the Hadriatic wall to Scotland. On a city tour we find out about the Scottish Reformation. Dinner and overnight in Glasgow.

DAY 9 (MAY 13) Inveraray/Oban/Glasgow – This morning we start our adventure into the Scottish Highlands. We discover Inveraray Castle the residence of the Duke of Argyll. The Castle, nestled on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyll, serves as the fictional location of Duneagle Castle in the famous TV series “Downton Abbey”. We arrive at the beautiful city Oban, also known as the “gateway to the Hebride Islands”. We are going to taste the “water of life” throughout a Whiskey tasting at the Oban distillery. Return to Glasgow and overnight.

DAY 10 (MAY 14) Edinburgh the heart of Scotland – In the morning we drive to Edinburgh where we visit the most important sights like Holyrood palace, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh castle, the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Victorian new town”, The college of Divinity with Knox Statue, St. Giles where he preached and John Knox house. Edinburgh is known for its dark past, and this evening walking tour is the original one to showcase the city's historically sinister and spooky side. We discover the hidden ‘wynds’ (alleys) and closes of the Old Town as we learn their mysteries and horrors. We visit the ghost-ridden Greyfriars Kirkyard; and explore the city’s underground vaults to uncover their spirits and secrets. The night tour is led by a creepily costumed guide.

DAY 11 (MAY 15) Day at Leisure or Daytrip to St. Andrews – Day at leisure in Edinburgh or drive to St. Andrews the birthplace of the Golf sport and an important sight of the Scottish Reformation. That Protestantism became Scotland’s main religion was in part due to committed preachers like George Wishart and John Knox, who actively recruited and enthused the most influential and powerful sections of Scottish society to the Protestant cause. Knox, like many others, had been both exposed to the Reformation and grew to support this new theology, as opposed to the traditional Catholic foundations of Scotland’s religion. Patrick Hamilton, a fellow St Andrews reformer and Protestant martyr, and George Wishart, a priest who had fled to Scotland in 1538 to escape accusations of heresy, both inspired Knox’s conversion to Protestantism, and the three men all became close friends. Return and overnight in Edinburgh.

DAY 12 (MAY 16) Edinburgh/USA - Transfer to Edinburgh Airport for your return flight home with luggage packed with keepsakes and your heart full of memories! 

NOTE: Schedule is subject to change due to various factors and the tour guide’s discretion. 

PRICING:

• $5,695 per person based on double occupancy. 
  
• Single room supplement - $1,495
• $500 per person with registration to secure space.
• 50% of the total amount is due on or before November 5, 2024
• Balance due on or before February 5, 2025

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

* Flight times, flight numbers, equipment, gates, and seats are subject to change. For the most current information check the airline website.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE REGISTERING

PASSPORTS: Passports must be valid with an expiration date of at least six months beyond the return home date of the tour. Participants with non-US passports are responsible for country-specific entry requirements. If you do not have a valid passport or need to renew your passport, enter "RENEWING" or "APPLIED FOR" when completing registration.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The $500 per person deposit is nonrefundable. Other payments exceeding the $500 per person are refundable in full up to ninety days prior to departure. After this date, refunds for unused accommodations and services will be limited to the amount received from and/or credited by all carriers, sightseeing operators, and hotels. All funds, including the deposit, are non-transferable.

AIR: The Standard Tour includes round-trip, economy-class airfare from the departure city listed in the itinerary. All group seating is assigned by the airline and cannot be changed by Signature Tours. Seat changes can only be made during check-in at the airport. Upgrades such as Comfort, Premium, Business, or First Class are not available with the standard tour. Participants who wish to upgrade or purchase a specific seat should choose the Land Only option when registering. Frequent flyer, TSA Precheck, and Global Entry numbers can only be added at check-in.

LAND ONLY: Participants who wish to arrange their own air should choose the Land Only option. $1000pp will be deducted from the standard tour price when selecting this option. Participants arranging their own air should notify Signature Tours at least 6 months prior to the departure date. Land Only Passengers arriving with or before the group are welcome to join the group bus at no additional charge. For those not traveling with the group, Signature Tours can provide contact information to arrange a private transfer.

GROUND/TRANSFERS: The group will be met on arrival by a Signature Tours representative and transferred to the hotel/airport. Land Only participants not traveling with the group are responsible for scheduling ground transfers.

HOTELS: Superior first-class hotels throughout. Priced based on two people per room with a private bath and shower.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A limited number of single rooms are available at additional supplement prices. Signature Tours and/or the group leader will make every attempt to pair single participants requesting a roommate. However, the single supplement fee will be charged for each person occupying a single room, whether by choice or circumstance.

MEALS: Breakfast and dinner are provided daily. Lunch is provided on days as noted in the itinerary. 

SIGHTSEEING: Entrance fees to all places listed in the itinerary are included, as well as an expert English-speaking guide.

LUGGAGE: Space is limited on the tour buses. Participants are allowed one suitcase weighing 50lbs or less and will be transported in storage under the bus. Participants are allowed one backpack/daypack or personal bag to carry on the bus during the tour. These requirements will meet most airline carrier restrictions. See the carrier website for airline-specific baggage restrictions and requirements. Medical devices are not included in these restrictions. 

TIPS, SERVICE CHARGES, AND TAXES: Tips, service charges, and taxes ARE INCLUDED in the selling price. Taxes, as imposed by national and/or local governments, that are not included at the time of booking are the responsibility of the participant.

NOT INCLUDED: Excess baggage fees, passport fees, visa fees, food or drink items not listed on the regular table menu for included meals, and items of a personal nature such as room service, laundry, etc. Any service not indicated in the itinerary and/or the above list of included features.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: This tour requires a substantial amount of walking. Many of the sites are not accessible by wheelchair, and the uneven terrain is not feasible for rollators. Signature Tours reserves the right to refuse individuals who may require special attention beyond what the tour guide and tour host can provide.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is not included in the purchase price. For your convenience, we offer travel insurance through Travelex Insurance Services. For more information and rates, please review the product flyer or Click Here to enroll in the plan.
* Travelex Insurance Services, Inc CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC # 16535).

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