Activities

• Future Events

Saturday, May 20 - Evening departure from U.S.

Sunday, May 21 - AM arrival at Heathrow Airport, London. Coach ride to the university city of Oxford. Visit "The Oxford Story." Lunch in Oxford, then to hotel in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Remainder of the day is free.

Monday, May 22 - Tour of Stratford-upon-Avon, including Shakespeare’s birthplace, grammar school he attended as a boy, New Place where he retired in 1611, and Holy Trinity Church where he is buried. Lunch on your own. Then short coach trip to Shottery to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage where she was courted by William. Then to Wilmote to visit the farm house of William’s mother, Mary Arden. Return to Stratford. After dinner, twilight cruise on the River Avon.

Tuesday, May 23 - Full day of touring the Cotswolds, including a host of lovely traditional villages: Broadway, Upper and Lower Slaughter, Chipping Campden, and Bourton-on-the-Water. The afternoon tour will conclude with a visit to Mickleton, where the Graves family lived for many years. Attendence at a performance of The Royal Shakespeare Company in the evening.

Wednesday, May 24 - AM departure for Yorkshire. Check into hotel at Tong (close to East Bierley, southwest of Pudsey), and eat lunch. In afternoon, tour the parishes of Birstall and Hartshead, including hamlets of Drighlington, Popeley, Wyke, Cleckheaton, Oakenshaw, and Liversedge. Tour Oakwell Hall. Talk by Dr. George Redmonds after dinner.

Thursday, May 25 - Tour the Yorkshire Dales. Visit Eccleshill, Wharfsdale, Beamsley, Bolton Priory, Barden Tower. Eat lunch in Skipton, then on to Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage Museum.

Friday, May 26 - Head north to York. Tour various attractions in York before and after lunch. Overnight in Cleckheaton.

Saturday, May 27 - To Bakewell. After checking into hotel, visit Chatsworth. After lunch, visit Graves manor, Beeley Hill Top, where a buffet dinner will be served.

Sunday, May 28 - Tour the Peak District. Evensong at Beeley Church followed by buffet dinner at the the Village Hall.

Monday, May 29 - Market Day in Bakewell. Then on to Horbling and Kirkton, both locations of Graves families. Overnight in Peterborough.

Tuesday, May 30 - AM tour of Peterborough Cathedral. Depart for London. Pub lunch in London followed by a tour of the city. Elizabethan Banquet at Hatfield House. Overnight London.

Wednesday, May 31 - AM visit to Gravesend. Civic reception at the Borough Council offices with the mayor, and a walking tour of the city. After lunch, return to London for free afternoon and evening.

Thursday, June 1 - After breakfast, by coach to Heathrow Airport for departure to U.S.

Lodging Summary:

• May 21-23 - Grosvenor House Hotel, Warwick Rd., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6YT
• May 24-25 - Tong Village Hotel, The Pastures, Tong Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD4 0RP
• May 26 - Prospect Hall Hotel, Prospect Rd., Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 3HD
• May 27-28 - Rutland Arms Hotel, The Square, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE4 1BT
• May 29 - The Bull Hotel, Westgate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1RB
• May 30-31 - Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, London SW7 2RS