John Wesley & C.S. Lewis: Lions of English Christian Faith | Oct. 3, 2023

8 days

England

Starting from $3598* Taxes & Fees Apply

Join us for eight days in England on a John Wesley & C.S. Lewis: Lions of English Christian Faith tour starting at $3,598* from New York, NY, on October 3, 2023. You will see London, a tour of Oxford, Bristol, Churchill War Rooms, BBC Studios, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and much more.

What’s Included

All Inclusive Pricing
Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
First Class Hotels
Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
Guided Tours
Hotel Gratuities
International Airfare from NY
Overseas Airport Transfers
Meals included as shown in itinerary
Entrance fees to sites visited (as listed in itinerary)

^ Additional Baggage & Optional fees may apply.

† If air purchased through EO.

Download Brochure

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 October 3 – Depart the USA

Depart on your international overnight flight.

Day 2 October 4 – London to Oxford

Arrive in London and begin your journey north to Oxford. On the way, stop at the site of Wynyard School. Here, Jack (C.S. Lewis) and his brother, Warren, attended a miserable boarding school. Check into your hotel for overnight, and journey out for dinner at the Trout Inn. (B)

Day 3 October 5 – Oxford

This morning, you will enjoy a walking tour of Oxford. Stop at University College, the oldest college in Oxford (1249). Jack received a scholarship to attend here in 1916, and after entering the Officers Training Corps, was later sent to France in World War I. Walk through the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Here, the Oxford Martyrs were tried for heresy, and John Wesley preached until his views were rejected. Continue to Christ Church College and visit the dining hall where John Wesley and other alumni are honored on the walls. Walk through the Sheldonian Theater, where scholars have graduated or been granted honorary degrees since 1669. John and Charles Wesley, and C. S. Lewis were among the many famous people to have celebrated their degrees here. Included in the tour here is a visit to the Bodleian Library, the main research library for Oxford with 12 million items. Stop at the Eagle and Child Pub, where C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and other writers met on occasion as part of the “Inklings” club. Spend the afternoon in the Ashmolean Museum, the world’s first university museum. The museum contains a vast and unique collection, ranging from pieces by Da Vinci and Picasso to a Stradivarius violin and Cromwell’s death mask. Return to your hotel for overnight. (B)

Day 4 October 6 – Oxford

This morning, you will visit Magdalen (pronounced “Maudlin”) College, where C. S. Lewis was a fellow for most of his academic career. Here, Jack worked through his beliefs from Atheism to Theism to Christianity, as well as become the prolific writer and apologist known today. From here, travel to The Kilns, Lewis’s home. Built in 1922, the Lewis brothers moved into the home in 1930. This would remain Jack’s home until his death in 1963. Stop at Churchill Hospital that was built in 1940 to treat air raid victims. The hospital was the site of the Christian marriage between Lewis and Joy Davidson Gresham in 1957. You’ll visit Holy Trinity Church, the church Jack and Warren attended in life and are buried in the graveyard here. The Narnia window in the church is of special interest. This afternoon depart Oxford in time for afternoon tea in a village in the Cotswolds, home to thatched roofed cottages and shops. Finish your day in Bristol for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 5 October 7 – Bristol & London

This morning, you will visit one of Wesley’s early centers of ministry, the “New Room.” This oldest Methodist building in the world is unusually attractive in its basic simplicity. Then, visit the home of Charles Wesley, the famous hymn writer. After lunch on your own, continue to London for a driving tour. See Trafalgar Square, Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and other historic sights. Time permitting, attend evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the masterpiece of architect Christopher Wren, built after the Great Fire of 1666. John Wesley often worshiped here. On the day of his conversion, Wesley came here for an afternoon, service and was deeply moved by the choir’s anthem, “Out of the Deep Have I Called Unto Thee, O Lord.”(B)

Day 6 October 8 – London

This morning, walk through the Churchill War Rooms, learning about how this nerve center led British efforts in World War II. From here, you will stop at the BBC Studios. C. S. Lewis was asked to broadcast during the war, and his series of talks were later edited to become the book Mere Christianity. This afternoon, you will explore the Tower of London. Learn about its many prisoners who suffered for their beliefs amidst its 900+ year history. (B)

Day 7 October 9 – Wesley’s London

John and Charles Wesley left their marks on the town of London. You’ll have a lecture at City Road Chapel, site of Wesley’s home and grave. Across the street in Bunhill Fields Cemetery, Susanna Wesley is buried along with other famous personages such as John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe. Walk on to Aldersgate Street, where on May 24, 1738, John Wesley had his “Warming of the Heart” experience. You will walk past the entrance of “Little Britain,” where Charles Wesley had his conversion experience just three days earlier. This afternoon, tour Westminster Abbey, begun by King Edward the Confessor in the 11th century. It is the traditional coronation place for British monarchs, and the royalty and famous of England are buried or memorialized here. Across the street from the cathedral is the Methodist Central Hall. Still a church, it was an early site of the initial meetings of the United Nations. (B)

Day 8 October 10 – Return to the USA

Return home with memories of the Legacies of John Wesley and C. S. Lewis or stay on for a London On Your Own or Wales Extension.

Enhance Your Journey

London on Your Own extension Starting from $588

October 10-12, 2022 - $588*

Tuesday & Wednesday, October 10 & 11 – London On Your Own
Explore, shop and experience London on your own. Hotel, breakfast and a two-day London Pass included. (B)

Thursday, October 12 – Return to the USA

Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.

*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.

Wales Extension Starting from $1448

October 10-14, 2022 - $1,448*

Tuesday, October 10 – Stonehenge / Tintern Abbey / Chepstow Castle / Cardiff
Today, journey to the mystery of ancient Stonehenge. Experience their new welcome center, and then you can choose to walk or ride a tram (additional cost) to see this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk among the ruins of Tintern abbey, whose roofless walls bathe the interior with sunlight. It is one of the most picturesque ruins in Wales. See Chepstow Castle, built by the Normans in 1067 on the frontier of England and Wales. Finish the day in Cardiff, Wales’ capital city. (B, D)

Wednesday, October 11 – Cardiff Castle / Brecon Beacons National Park / Brecon
This morning, visit Cardiff Castle, where a stronghold has existed since Roman times. Its towers and gardens are a journey through Wales and English history. Drive through a portion of Brecon Beacon National Park, home to the Black Mountains and Marshes. Dinner and overnight in Brecon. (B, D) Thursday,

October 12 – Snowdonia National Park /Ffestiniog Railway / Liverpool
Drive through Snowdonia National Park, home to the tallest mountain in Wales (Snowdon). Enjoy a visit to the Ffestiniog Railway. Finish your day in Liverpool for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Friday, October 13 – Liverpool / Beatles Museum / Manchester
Enjoy a tour of the city and visit the Beatles Museum, dedicated to the Fab Four and the music of the 1960’s. Finish your day at your hotel in Manchester for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Saturday, October 14 – Return to the USA

Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.

*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.

Departure Dates

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

From $3598* Sold Out!

*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.