OVERVIEW
A wonderful tour of England discovering the life and works of theologian and author C.S. Lewis as well as other well-known Christian authors including JRR Tolkien, GK Chesterton, John Bunyan and preacher Charles Spurgeon.
The tour commences in London where we will visit significant Christian sites including Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral. We continue to Oxford where Lewis, Tolkien and others worked and lived. We will see Lewis’s home, local church and of course Oxford University where he taught. Lewis, Tolkien and others known as The Inklings met in Oxford pubs to critique each other’s work and enjoy fellowship together.
C.S. Lewis loved spending time in the Cotswolds and Selah is thrilled to include a 2 day Christian retreat in this tour at a beautiful centre for Christian healing. This will give you time to enjoy the English countryside and have ”Selah time” with God and your travelling companions as you go deeper in your faith.
Following on from our retreat in the Cotswolds we continue to Cambridge where Lewis was (finally) made a professor. This stunning university town is also considered the “seat of the English Reformation” and enjoys a rich Christian history.
Seeing we are in the Northern Hemishpere, it makes sense to get into the spirit of Christmas with a trip to the Continent to explore the world famous Christmas markets. We visit markets and towns in Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland. An unforgettable end to our tour.
Dr Rory Shiner studied Arts (English and Anthropology) at the University of Western Australia and theology at Moore College in Sydney. His PhD is on the life and work of Australian scholar and church leader Archbishop Donald Robinson. He is senior pastor of Providence City Church in Perth, where he lives with his wife, Susan, and their four boys. He has written books on Union with Christ, Jesus’ resurrection, and the Apostles’ Creed. His most recent book, Forgiven Forever, is an exploration of what the Bible says about the death of Jesus. Rory is the Chair of the TGC Australia Council.
Rory is a life-long devotee of the writings of C. S. Lewis, and has spent several (short, happy) stints as a visiting scholar at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. He is excited to be sharing his passionate interest in Lewis, Chesterton, and mid-century German theologians (especially Bonhoeffer and Barth) with the tour!
ITINERARY
Hotel: The Bailey's Hotel, London
Included Meals:
After lunch (own expense), time permitting, we visit the Metropolitan Tabernacle, the church pastored by Charles Spurgeon for 38 years.
Explore the bookshop before a guided visit of Westminster Abbey followed by 5pm Evensong.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
HOTEL: The Bailey's Hotel, London
Included Meals:
GK Chesterton wrote a book called Everlasting Man which led the young atheist C.S. Lewis to becoming a Christian.
Pass by Chesterton’s homes and grave site at the Shepherd’s Lane Cemetery, as well as St Teresa’s church where Chesterton worshipped.
Enjoy lunch (own expense) in Beaconsfield before continuing to Oxford.
On arrival in Oxford for a 3 night stay we will check in to the hotel before attending St Aldates’s service (or Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral) at 6pm, followed by dinner at the hotel.
HOTEL: Mercure Oxford Eastgate Hotel, Oxford
Included Meals:
Lunch will be at the King's Arms Hotel (soup, fish ‘n chips & dessert), the oldest pub in Oxford built in 1607 & still standing in its original position.
After lunch you have free time and can make your own way back to the hotel (a 10-minute walk). Dinner is at leisure/not included tonight.
HOTEL: Mercure Oxford Eastgate Hotel, Oxford
Included Meals:
Next, visit the nearby Trinity Church where CS Lewis worshipped for over 30 years and is his final resting place.
Afterwards, we will return to central Oxford for free time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.
Dinner is at your own expense tonight.
HOTEL: Mercure Oxford Eastgate Hotel, Oxford
Included Meals:
Both Lewis and Tolkien enjoyed regular getaways to the Cotswolds. We will check out of our Oxford hotel and travel to the Cotswolds for a 2-day retreat at the Harnhill Centre of Christian Healing. On the way we will stop at a lovely village for lunch (own expense) and arrive at Harnhill in the afternoon.
HOTEL: Harnhill Centre, Cotswolds
Included Meals:
HOTEL: Harnhill Centre, Cotswolds
Included Meals:
Along the way we will stop at the town of Bedford, the hometown of John Bunyan who authored The Pilgrim’s Progress in 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious, theological fiction in English literature. It has been translated into more than 200 languages and has never been out of print. We enjoy a 2 hour guided tour of Bedford and all things Bunyan including the John Bunyan Museum, Moot Hall and Elstow church including a talk about the life of John Bunyan. Continue to Cambridge.
HOTEL: Hilton Hotel, Cambridge
Included Meals:
Free time for lunch before we meet our guide at the Round Church who will take us on a Oxford University Tour.
The Tour explores the role of Christianity in the history of the University of Cambridge, including the founding of institutions of higher education, the development of modern science, movements for the rule of law and religious freedom, and the campaign to abolish the slave trade. The tour also discusses Cambridge’s role in the Reformation and C.S. Lewis’s time in Cambridge. As our visit is during exam term when colleges are generally closed to the public, it is probable that we won’t be able to enter any colleges, but will still be able to see some of their beauty and explore some of their history from outside their gates. The remainder of the day is free before Evensong at Kings College at 5.30pm, followed by dinner at the hotel.
HOTEL: Hilton Hotel, Cambridge
Included Meals:
Hotel: Hilton Hotel, Cambridge
Included Meals:
Depart from St Pancras station on the Eurostar to Bruges (via Brussels). Arrive in the late afternoon for dinner and after dinner, hit the Bruges Christmas markets in the city centre Markt, open until 10pm.
Hotel: The Navarra, Bruges
Included Meals:
Tonight we will enjoy the Cologne Christmas Markets with a sparkling array of Christmas markets, including the splendid and popular Christmas market around the Cathedral, the Market of Hearts, and many different theme-oriented Christmas markets presided over by the local Heinzelmännchen as well as angels, fairy-tale figures or mariners.
Hotel: Novotel, Cologne
Included Meals:
Hotel: Hotel Leonor, Strasbourg
Included Meals:
Hotel: Hotel Leonor, Strasbourg
Included Meals:
Basel was awarded “Best Christmas Market” in 2021, so tonight you will have the ability to judge for yourself!
Hotel: Odelya Hotel, Basel
Included Meals:
We will then travel to Zurich for our final night. Tonight we will enjoy a traditional Swiss meal for our farewell dinner, and of course the opportunity to explore more Christmas markets!
Hotel: Hotel Helvetia, Zurich
Included Meals:
Included Meals:
Highlights
- ”Christian London”: St Paul’s Cathedral, British Library, Westminster Abbey, Metropolitan Tabernacle
- Beaconsfield: hometown of GK Chesterton
- Oxford: the Kilns, Trinity Church. Oxford university, pubs and hangouts
- Guest lectures in Oxford & Cambridge (TBC)
- 2 day retreat in the Cotswolds
- Cambridge
- Bruges, Belgium
- Cologne, Germany & its spectacular cathedral
- Strasbourg – best Christmas markets in the world?
- Alsatian lunch
- Fondation Beyeler art museum in Basel
- Farewell Swiss dinner in Zurich
TOUR INCLUDES
Travel with
like-minded people
Christian
Tour Leaders
Option of land
only package
Option of upgrading
to single room
Meals
Sights and entry
fees listed
OUR PRICING
| Category | Description | Twin PP | Single |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour cost per person | Earlybird discount | $13,459.00 | $17,549.00 |
| UK tour only | 14-24 November; Earlybird | $7,595.00 | $9,865.00 |
| Christmas market tour only | 24 -30 November; Earlybird | $5,999.00 | $7,820.00 |
Earlybird discount applies for bookings made by 30 November 2024. After this the tour price increases by $250 per person.
Flight costs and schedules will be released some time in late December 2024.
