A British Pilgrimage

Day 1:

On arrival at the airport you will be met by your driver guide who will take you to your hotel. If your arrival time permits you will then enjoy a short orientation sightseeing tour with your driver guide and perhaps a visit ot the British Museum or a ride on the London Eye from which you can get a fantastic bird's eye view of the city and beyond.   Overnight in central London.

Day 2:

A full day’s sightseeing in London including the Tower of London, the medieval castle which served as a fortress, a royal palace, a prison, a place of execution and torture, an armoury, treasury, and since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. See the iconic Tower Bridge before visiting St Paul's Cathedral, London’s leading church designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren. During the afternoon walk along the River Thames past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben to visit Westminster Abbey - one of the most important religious buildings in the British Isles and final resting place of 17 monarchs. Move on to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column. Overnight in central London.

Morning visit to Windsor and the Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world and one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. The royal palace, magnificent chapel and park cover an area of 26 acres. Head west to Salisbury to see the cathedral with the tallest church spire in the UK, one of the finest medieval places of worship which has been a pilgrimage site for many centuries. Whilst in the south of England “a must see” is the mystic circle of Stonehenge, a historic pilgrimage site and even now a major gathering place for the ancient cult of the Druids. Overnight in the Bath area.

Day 4:

During the morning explore the regency city of Bath, the town prized by the Romans for its unique hot thermal springs. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Baths and Pump Room followed by a visit to Bath Abbey “where earth and heaven meet”. Your journey will continue on to North Wales and en route we visit a typical small country church, so characterisitic of the British landscape and heritage'
Overnight in North Wales.

Day 5:

In the morning travel through the magnificent scenery of the Snowdonia National Park to visit the impressive medieval castle of Caernarfon, before moving on to Holyhead for the ferry to Dublin, capital of the Republic of Ireland. Overnight in central Dublin

Enjoy a half day’s sightseeing in Dublin including Trinity College with the famous medieval manuscript, the Book of Kells, followed by a visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland. The site of the Cathedral is said to be the earliest Christian site in Ireland, where St. Patrick baptised converts. During the afternoon travel south to the wild mountains of Wicklow and visit Glendalough, one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century.
Overnight in central Dublin

Day 7:

In the morning travel west to visit the Celtic monastery at Clonmacnoise , founded in the 6th century, to admire the oldest High Cross in Ireland, before continuing to Ireleland's National Marian Shrine at Knock.   Here,  Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist are said to have appeared at the south gable of Knock Parish Church. The apparition was witnessed by fifteen people, young and old. Overnight in the Knock area.

Day 8:

After breakfast head for Armagh, an ancient religious site of worship of both Celtic paganism and Christianity. The city was Ireland’s spiritual capital for 1,500 years and  the seat of both the Protestant and Catholic archbishops. Here in 445 AD, according to tradition St Patrick founded what is now the Cathedral. To continue our search for Ireland’s patron saint we then travel to his burial place, Downpatrick” and the famed Struell Wells, a set of four holy wells pre dating St Patrick and still used today by pilgrims seeking a holy cure. Evening walking tour in central Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland.
Overnight in central Belfast

Day 9:

In the morning we will cross the Irish Sea by ferry to Scotland, head east and on to the historic capital city,  Edinburgh. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy as you wish.
Overnight in central Edinburgh

Day 10:

Full day’s sightseeing tour of Edinburgh taking in the many  famous places in this wonderful city, including  The Castle, perched majestically on its rocky hilltop, the Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the royal family when in Scotland, as well as many other fascinating sights. Overnight in central Edinburgh

Day 11:

Our journey takes us to the north coast of Northumberland and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the very font of England's Christian heritage.  See the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, home to St Cuthbert and birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels. The stones from the Benedictine Priory destroyed by Henry VIII were used to build the unforgettable Lindisfarne Castle. In the afternoon there’s a visit to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens in north Yorkshire - a UNESCO World Heritage site. Overnight in the York area.

Day 12:

During the morning we’ll visit the medieval town of York, originally founded by the Romans and the capital of the Viking kingdom in the 9th century, with its famous and imposing Minster. Then on to Lincoln to visit St Mary’s Cathedral, highly regarded by architectural scholars as one of the most precious pieces of gothic architecture in the British Isles.  At the end of the day we will travel to Norfolk.
Overnight in the Little Walshingham area.

Day 13:

After breakfast visit the Marian Shrine in Little Walshingham, then travel south to the fine medieval city of Canterbury. En route we enjoy sightseeing in Cambridge, home to one of the world’s oldest universities. King’s College and King’s College Chapel are well worth a visit.
Overnight in the Canterbury area.

Day 14:

This morning enjoy time sightseeing in Canterbury , the second most visited city in Britain, renowned for  Canterbury Cathedral – one of the most important English churchs, and seat of the Archbishop of England. Afterwards we’ll enjoy a short visit to some of Kent’s famous gardens - Sissinghurst Castle Gardens and Squerryes Court Manor House and Gardens to round off your pilgrimage with a very English flavour!
Overnight in central London

Day 15:

Free time in London before transfer to London Heathrow.