Catholic

 

CATHOLIC: Sacred Gems

Duration 9 nights/10 days

Based London (2n), Royal Tunbridge Wells (1n), Winchester (1n), Broadway (1n), Peterborough (1n), London (2n)

Day 1

Arrive London and transfer to your central London hotel. Rest, relax, enjoy some sightseeing. Plan an early dinner.

Day 2

Tower of London GuardMorning worship at the Italian Renaissance-style Brompton Oratory. In the afternoon, take a tour of London including Westminster Cathedral, the principal Roman Catholic cathedral in Britain, and the Tower of London - amongst its many prisoners were Sir Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Lady Jane Grey, and Guy Fawkes.

Day 3

Depart London for Canterbury, the 6th century Metropolitan city. Within the cathedral are the tombs of more than half the Archbishops since St. Augustine including the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket. On then to Royal Tunbridge Wells for the night, but not before visiting beautiful Leeds Castle, the fairytale home of the medieval queens of England.

Day 4

Depart for Arundel, visiting the exotic Royal Pavilion in Brighton on the way. Arundel Castle, rich in art treasures, is the home of the Dukes of Norfolk, the premier peers and hereditary Earls Marshal of England and the leading Catholic family in Britain. Explore Chichester before heading to Winchester (1 night), the capital of Saxon England.

Day 5

Depart for Glastonbury - alleged home of the Holy Grail, brought by Joseph of Arimathea in AD63 and burial place of King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere. On to Wells, with its beautiful cathedral and moated Bishop's Palace, before reaching Bath for the night. Bishops Palace Wells

Day 6

Through pre-historic Wiltshire via the ancient standing stones at Avebury, and the beautiful old manor house at Stonor Park where a visit and service of blessing can be arranged. Or, traveling through the Cotswolds to intriguing 15th century Coughton Court, strongly connected with the Gunpowder Plot and where you will find both a Catholic AND an Anglican church. Overnight Broadway (1 night).

Day 7

Opt for a visit to Warwick Castle, the finest medieval fortress in Europe. On then to Cambridge, reaching Walsingham in the afternoon where in 1061 Lady Richeldis de Faverches saw a vision of the Blessed Virgin. Overnight in Peterborough.

Day 8

With a morning in Cambridge, to London in time for an evening at the theatre.

Day 9

Free at leisure in London.

Day 10

Airport transfers and independent extensions.

Partner Site: Tasteful Journeys