England: Focus on Literature

Flight from your preferred airport to London.

Welcome to Great Britain! Arrive in London and meet your TFT staff, who will join you for the remainder of your journey. After getting settled into your hotel in the heart of the city, we’ll take a walking tour of downtown London to familiarize ourselves with the main sights, including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street, the River Thames, and of course Big Ben! Finish off the day with your very first taste of British cuisine at one of our favorite local pubs.

The impressive Tower of London awaits today. Once home to some of England’s most notorious prisoners and now housing the Crown Jewels, this is a must-see and a student favorite! We’ll receive a guided tour from the Yeoman Warder guards at the Tower before crossing Tower Bridge (also known as London Bridge). After a delicious lunch in the always-busy Borough Market, we’ll explore the Southbank neighborhood and visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Top it all off with a ride on the London Eye, the massive Ferris Wheel that gives the best views over all of London!

We’ll spend today enjoying some of London’s finest traditions, beginning with the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. From there, we’ll enjoy afternoon tea, featuring finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries. No trip to London would be complete without spending an afternoon in some of its world-class museums, so students will have their choice of visiting the British Museum or the National Gallery. After dinner, enjoy a modern show or musical in the buzzing West End Theatre District, one of Shakespeare’s plays at a classic theater, or something totally different!

This morning, pay a visit to Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station, before heading out to the nearby town of Leavesden, where all eight Harry Potter movies were made. This experience is always a student favorite! Walk through the Great Hall, see the original costumes from the films, ride a broomstick, enjoy a fresh butterbeer, and even visit Ollivander’s Shop in Diagon Alley. After lunch, we’ll return to London and have time to explore the fantastic Camden Market to hunt for souvenirs.

What better way to give students an appreciation for British literary culture than by bringing them to the home of the Bard himself? Take a short train ride out of London to the quaint town of Stratford-Upon-Avon, where William Shakespeare was born, lived, and is now buried. At his birthplace, local Shakespeare experts will perform snippets from any of his works upon request, and students will really get a feel for what life was like in Elizabethan England. Students can visit Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare’s final resting place, and explore this charming village. After returning to London, we’ll visit 221B Baker Street for Sherlock Holmes fans before enjoying an upscale final dinner to celebrate the end of an amazing trip.

Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.