CCV Choral Tour of England

The itinerary is the starting point to your tour, but it’s not set in stone. Your group leader may make changes leading up to departure.

Day 1, Thursday July 8: Overnight Flight

Departure from the United States.

Day 2, Friday July 9: London

Welcome to London! Meet your Encore Tour Manager and begin to explore the city's unique neighbourhoods. Learn about London's majestic past and fast-paced present on your guided sightseeing tour. See Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, the Horse Guards Parade, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Finally, enjoy a ride on the iconic London Eye. On your 30-minute “flight” to a height of 443 feet, you'll be amazed at how the London landscape unfolds below you. After check in at your hotel, enjoy an evening at leisure in the British capital. (D)

Day 3, Saturday July 10: London

Get your imagination fired up for today's visit to Oxford, including a tour of Christ Church College, where Lewis Carroll penned Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and also where many memorable scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed (note the Great Hall, the inspiration for Hogwarts Hall). This is also the venue for your first performance. In the evening, enjoy a pre-theatre dinner and theatre performance in London's famous West End.

Day 4, Sunday July 11: London

In the morning, learn about England's royal family with a visit to Windsor Castle. One of the world's oldest and largest occupied castles, it has been home to British kings and queens since William the Conqueror in the 11th century. In the afternoon enjoy a tour inside St. Paul's Cathedral. Sir Christopher Wren's architectural masterpiece is an enduring symbol of London, the seat of the Church of England, and is famed for its dome and Whispering Gallery. If you have time, your ticket includes access to climb to the top of the dome. Dinner tonight is a London classic: fish and chips. Perhaps follow this with an evening stroll under the giant illuminated billboards of Piccadilly Circus. (B,D)

Day 5, Monday July 12: London

Prepare for a fantastic day, which will start with a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare's Birthplace and Shakespeare’s New Place, followed by a step back into Tudor times with a visit to Shakespeare's Schoolroom for an interactive lesson as though you were the Bard yourself—brushing up on Latin, writing with a quill, exploring sonnets, and more. A possible performance may occur tonight depending on availabilty. (B,D)

Day 6, Tuesday July 13: London

All the world may be a stage, but to get an authentic feel of Shakespeare's theatre, it is essential to visit the reconstructed Globe Theatre along the Thames Embankment. Attend a workshop, conducted by actors, that introduces you to both the plays of Shakespeare and the conditions in which Elizabethan actors worked. Then enjoy an afternoon at leisure in London. You may want check out the street markets along Portobello Road in Notting Hill; explore the paths of Hyde Park or the mansions of nearby Belgravia; visit museums in South Kensington; or stroll along the artsy South Bank. In the evening, enjoy a pre-theatre dinner, followed by a Shakespeare play at the Globe Theatre. (B,D)

Day 7, Wednesday July 14: London

The morning is free for last-minute souvenir shopping in Harrods or a visit to the British Museum, home to an astounding 150 million items, including the Rosetta Stone and sculptural friezes from the Parthenon. This afternoon, celebrate your final day abroad with a second performance opportunity at King College and a farewell dinner in a local London restaurant.

Day 8, Thursday July 15: Departure

Transfer to the airport for return flight to the United States. (B)