In the Footsteps of John Wesley

Welcome to England

Upon arrival your private transfer will meet you at Heathrow Airport and take you on a panoramic your of London; taking in all of the famous landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge before taking you to your central London Hotel (the 4* Copthorne Tara or similar) where the rest of the evening will be spent at your leisure.

London and John Wesley

After a traditional English breakfast at your hotel, your driver and guide will meet you and take you on a Methodist tour of London.  You will visit John Wesley’s Chapel, considered by many to be the ‘Mother Church of World Methodism,’ John’s house in London, the Museum of Methodism and Bunhill Fields Burial Ground where Sarah Wesley and other non conformists are buried.

After some time for an independent lunch you will travel to Westminster Abbey; since 1066 it has been the location of the coronation of every English and British Monarch, it has witness royal weddings and is the resting place for kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers, poets, heroes and villains – it is where history happens and you will spend the afternoon exploring it.

You will then return to your central London hotel where the rest of the evening is free to spend at your leisure.

Epworth and Wesley family

After breakfast at your hotel you will travel northwards towards Epworth, the birthplace of John and Charles Wesley, via Cambridge. After spending some free time exploring the beautiful University town of Cambridge you will continue on towards Epworth where you will learn about John’s childhood.  You will visit the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, the tomb of Samuel Wesley in St. Andrews Church and spend some time at the Old Rectory (the Wesley family home until 1735.)

You will then head to your hotel (the 4* Principal Hotel, York) and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure exploring the York area.

York Minster

After a traditional English breakfast at your hotel you will enjoy a walking tour of York; a city with Roman roots and a Viking past, where ancient walls surround contemporary, independent shops and vibrant eateries. Take in the iconic sites of the medieval city, including the Shambles and the Castle before enjoying an independent lunch.

After lunch you will head to the majestic York Minster to enjoy a guided tour; with over 2000 years of history it is one of the world’s magnificent cathedrals, a masterpiece in stained glass and stone.  You will then return to your hotel to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Stratford upon Avon and William Shakespeare

After breakfast you will head towards Oxford, stopping in the historic Strattford – upon – Avon/.  Take a step back in time to Elizabethan England and explore the hometown of ‘The Bard.’ Walk in the footsteps of Shakespeare and view his birthplace.  The half timbered house is where the famous writer was born and grew up.,  Captivating costumed guides will show you around the house he spent his childhood years and tell you tales of its colourful history.  You will also visit:

• Anne Hathoway’s Cottage: A picturesque farmhouse surrounded by beautiful gardens where Shakespeare’s wife spent her childhood.
• Mary Arden’s Farm: This was the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother.  Today you can experience all the sights, sounds and smells of a working Tudor farm, just as it would have been when Shakespeare was a boy.
• Shakespeare’s New Place: The Bard’s family home from 1597 until his death in 1616. When he bought New Place he was already an established playwright and it is believe that he wrote his later plays here, including ‘The Tempest.’
• Hall’s Croft: The house was the home of Shakespeare’s daughter, Susanna Hall, and her husband, Physician John Hall from 1613-1616. The oldest part of the existing house was constructed in 1613 and therefore would have been newly build when the Hall’s took up residence.

You will then continue your journey to your Oxford Hotel (The 4* Holiday Inn, Oxford or similar) where you will spend the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Oxford and the Methodist Story

After breakfast you will enjoy a walking tour of the incredible city of Oxford; with more than 1,000 years of history it is home to some of the oldest colleges in the world.  On this walking tour you will visit Lincoln College where a young John Wesley presided over the ‘Holy Club’ and learn about the group of students who were jeeringly know as ‘Methodists’ – a name that was happily embraced. (This group is now estimated to contain around 80 million people worldwide.) You will also see the Memorial Room and College Chapel before visiting the spectacular Christ Church College where John Wesley graduated in 1724.  He was admitted here as a Commoner in 1720 and said to have been an earnest but sociable student.  At Christ Church, Wesley is commemorated by a floor plaque at the foot of the pulpit from which he once preached.

The rest of the evening will be free for you to spend exploring the wonderful city of spires at your leisure.

George Whitefield and Bristol

After breakfast your group will head towards Gloucester, famous for its stunning cathedral and known as the home of the great Methodist Evangelist, George Whitefield.  After spending some time touring and exploring this incredible city your next stop will be Bristol.

In the port city of Bristol you will visit John Wesley’s Chapel – the oldest Methodist building in the world.  Now known as the ‘New Room’ it was originality built in 1739 after John was asked by the members of two religious societies in Bristol to create a ‘new room” where they could meet. Many of the features of Methodism, including its ‘class system’ (a way of Christians encouraging each other) first appeared at the New Room.  Regular worship is still held here and the site is also home to a 12 room, hands on museum telling the story of the Wesleys and their in Bristol and beyond.

You will also see the former house of Charles and Sarah Wesley before returning to London to spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Free and Easy in London

After a traditional English breakfast you will spend the day exploring London at your leisure. Why not visit the spectacular Tower of London with more than 1,000 years of gruesome, royal and fascinating history, or spend the day browsing the vast selection of shops in the capital, or perhaps see the city from the river on a wonderful boat cruise down the Thames.

We would be happy to offer more suggestions and organise additional activities for your free day in London.

Home time

After a farewell breakfast at the hotel, your private transfer will take you to Heathrow Airport for you to commence your journey home.