Franciscan University of Steubenville
Pilgrimage to England
With: Joseph Pearce (Renowned Writer & EWTN Host)
Spiritual Director: Fr. Nathan Malavolti, T.O.R.
March 10 - 20, 2022
JP031022
Your trip includes
- Round-trip airfare from New York
- Airport taxes & fuel surcharges
- Centrally located hotels as follows: (or similar)
- ~ 2 nights: March 11 - 13: The Grosvenor Hotel, London
- ~ 1 night: March 13 - 14: Hilton Avisford Park, Arundel
- ~ 2 nights: March 14 - 16: Stratford Manor, Qhotels, Stratford Upon Avon
- ~ 3 nights: March 16 - 19: Park Inn by Radisson Petersborough, Peterborough
- ~ 1 night: March 19 - 20: Hilton Gatwick, London Gatwick Airport, Horley
- Transportation by private motor coach with WiFi
- 1 bottle of water per day per person
- Tour Escort throughout
- Breakfast and dinner daily except 2 dinners on your own
- 3 Lunches
- Wine and mineral water with dinners
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
- Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents
Not included
- Private mass on the last day. Theatre Plays (offered as a supplement). Any meals, sightseeing, drinks with lunches if not specified.
Itinerary
Day 1, Thursday, March 10: Depart USA to London
Depart USA for your overnight flight to London. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.
Day 2, Friday, March 11: London
Welcome to London, England! Upon your arrival, you will collect your luggage and meet with the guide and driver who will accompany the group throughout your stay. You'll get acquainted with the beautiful city of London on a guided tour, including a visit to the Tower of London (UNESCO listed site). Later in the evening, you will attend a private Mass at a local church, and then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, and overnight at your London hotel.
Day 3, Saturday, March 12: London
This morning you will enjoy breakfast at your hotel, followed by a full day sightseeing in London. Following a visit to Brompton Oratory for Mass (pending confirmation), you will visit Westminster Cathedral in London, the mother church for Roman Catholics in England and Wales. After lunch, you'll have free time to explore the city. After a delicious dinner at the hotel, you'll leave for a private illumination tour of the city by motor coach, then return to the hotel for a restful overnight.
Day 4, Sunday, March 13: London - West/East Grinsted - Arundel
After breakfast and check out from the hotel, you will depart London for West Grinsted, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation. After Mass in this first Shrine in honor of Our Lady to be established in England since before the Reformation, we'll visit East Grinsted, to see the Priest House that is now a museum. You will then travel to Arundel, with a stop at Shipley on the way. Enjoy an orientation tour of Arundel, followed by dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 5, Monday, March 14: Arundel - Stratford upon Avon
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel in Arundel, visit Arundel Cathedral for Mass, then take a tour of Arundel Castle, an estate that is almost 1,000 years old and was home to the Howard family, which has produced two cardinals and a saint. St. Philip Howard died a martyr for the faith in the Tower of London during the persecution of Catholics in the 16th century. Following lunch at a local restaurant, the group will transfer to Stratford upon Avon, best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Enjoy some free time in this charming medieval town, and then have dinner and overnight at your hotel. Optional: Theatre Play at additional cost.
Day 6, Tuesday, March 15: Stratford upon Avon - Warwick - Stratford upon Avon
Following breakfast at your Stratford hotel, visit Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's cottage. Lunch will be on your own today, then the group will transfer to Warwick to visit the National Trust Baddesley Clinton estate. You'll return to Stratford this afternoon and visit St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, then enjoy leisure time on your own. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 7, Wednesday, March 16: Stratford upon Avon - Worcester - Kidderminster - Peterborough
After breakfast and check out, your group will depart for Worcester to see the stunning Worcester Cathedral (Anglican) and then attend Mass at the nearby Catholic Church. The group will travel to Peterborough from Worcester, with a stop at Kidderminster to see Harvington Hall, which is a moated manor home containing the largest series of surviving priest hides in England. Upon arrival in Peterborough you'll check into your hotel and enjoy dinner and overnight.
Day 8, Thursday, March 17: Peterborough - Walsingham - Castle Acre - Peterborough
After another delicious breakfast, depart from your hotel and transfer to Walsingham, to visit the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. This site was originally founded as a place of devotion to Our Lady in 1061, and was a popular destination for medieval pilgrimages. During the time of the Reformation, the Shrine was handed over to the King's Commissioners and the famous statue of Our Lady of Walsingham was taken to London and burned. After the Catholic Emancipation of 1829, devotion no longer had to be kept secret. Over the next many years, the Shrine was restored and in 1897 it became a place of pilgrimage again. Following your visit to Walsingham, the group will transfer to Castle Acre for lunch. After lunch, you will visit Castle Acre, a quintessential medieval Norman town, and Castle Acre Priory, originally founded in the 11th century. Return to Peterborough for dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 9, Friday, March 18: Peterborough - Oxborough - Ely - Peterborough
Following breakfast at the hotel, the group will depart for Oxborough. Oxburgh Hall is the home of the Bedingfield family, devout Catholics whose faith could not be broken during the Reformation and after. The house is a testament to their endurance through many difficult times. Following Mass at Oxburgh (pending confirmation), your group will depart for Ely, to visit Ely Cathedral and St. Etheldreda's Church. Upon return to Peterborough you will enjoy dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 10, Saturday, March 19: Peterborough - Canterbury - Dover - London
This morning, after breakfast, you will depart for a visit to the famous Canterbury Cathedral. Following the murder of St. Thomas Becket in 1170 in Canterbury Cathedral, it became a major destination for Christian pilgrims. Today it is a UNESCO listed site, and you will enjoy a guided tour where you will learn about the fascinating history of this place. After departing Canterbury your group will stop in Dover to see the dramatic White Cliffs of Dover. You'll then travel on to London to check into your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 11, Sunday, March 20: London - Home
Following breakfast and heartfelt farewells, you will be transferred to the London airport for return flights home.
The benefit of buying airfare with 206 Tours?
- Your transfers are always secured, even if your flights are delayed - round trip transfers to/from the hotel and airport are included no matter what!
- If you purchase your airline ticket on your own, you have to pay in full at the time of booking, and most of the time it is non-refundable. If you book with 206 Tours, full payment is due 60 days prior.
- In the very rare event that a tour is cancelled, you would get all your money back, which would most likely not be the case if you purchased it directly from the airline.
- Your flight arrangement will be followed up on and reconfirmed by 206 Tours.
- 206 Tours can arrange for you to travel before the tour, make a stop-over, or stay later!