NOTE: Prior to the trip, you will have two opportunities to meet the rest of the Company. At a special screening of The Fellowship of the Ring on campus and at a backyard firepit in Highland Park. As the trip draws near, we'll pick dates convenient to your schedules.
DAY 1 (Thurs, May 16): Arrive Heathrow. Meet at Cafe Nero, Terminal 2. Charter bus to Oxford for four nights at Premier Hotel. Short, informal walking tour of Oxford: Radcliffe Camera (temple to Morgoth), Bridge of Sighs, Lewis’s lamppost, Aslan’s door. Dinner @ White Rabbit (included), followed by visits to two historic Oxford pubs: Turf Tavern & The Bear.
11:30 AM, Depart Heathrow (meet at Cafe Nero, Terminal 2, minivans in front WHSmith)
1:00 PM, Arrive Premier Inn, drop off bags
1:30 PM, Short Walking Tour, Oxford literary sights
3:00 PM,Check in, Premier Inn (don't go to sleep!)
4:00 PM, Reconvene in lobby
4:30 PM, White Rabbit, Early Dinner (included)
5:30 PM, Visits Historic Pubs, Turf Tavern & The Bear
DAY 2 (Fri, May 17): Hotel Breakfast (included). Morning discussion. Tour of Christ Church College campus. Tour of Bodleian Library/Duke Humfrey's Library (included). Evening Group Reading.
9:00 AM, Breakfast10:00 AM, Depart Hotel for Christ Church
10:40 AM, Tour of Christ Church
11:40 AM, Stop at Alice's Shop (quaint Alice in Wonderland store
12:30 PM, Lunch @ Vaults & Garden Cafe (not included)
1:30 - 4:00 PM, Free Time (suggested Botanic Gardens, Ashmolean, Museum of Natural History, Pitt Rivers Museum)
4:00 PM, Tour of Bodleian Library
4:45 PM - 8:30 PM, Bus to Wolvercote Cemetery (Tolkien's Grave)/Hike (30 min) to Trout for a pint and/or dinner, (not incl) then hike (1 hr) to town through the mystical Port Meadow
9:00 PM Optional visits to historic Old Bookbinder's Alehouse, Lamb & Flag (favorite of the Inklings), and Jericho Tavern (Radiohead's first gig)
DAY 3 (Sat, May 18): Hotel breakfast (included). Morning discussion. Bus to lunch at
The Bell Inn (The Prancing Pony) in Moreton-on-Marsh (Bree), optional 35 min hike to/from Four Shire Stone (Three Farthing Stone), bus from Moreton-on-Marsh to Edward's Church in Stow-on-the-Wold (Doors of Durin). Reverse route home. Free time/Independent Dinner. Group reading at White House Tap. Optional historic Oxford pub, Crown.
10:00 AM, Depart Premier, 10 min walk to Oxford station, GWR to Moreton-on-Marsh,
11:00 AM, Free Time/Optional hike to Four Shire Stone (35 min)
12:30 PM, lunch at The Bell Inn
1:30 PM, Hike (Evenlode Rd/Church Lane) to Edward's Church, Stow-on-Wold (Doors of Durin)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM, Free Time, Stow-on-Wold
3:45 PM, Return Hike to Moreton-on-Marsh
5:00 PM, Train back to Oxford Station
6:00 - 7:30 PM Free Time Dinner
7:30 - 9:00 PM, Group Reading (White Room Tap)
9:30 PM, Optional historic pub, The Crown (Shakespeare's favorite Oxford watering hole) and Varsity Club (rooftop bar with view of university spires)
DAY 4 (Sun, May 19): Hotel breakfast (included). Morning discussion. 35 min wall to Cherwell Boathouse, punting to Victoria Arms, pints/lunch at Victoria Arms, Free time to write/rest/explore. Punt back to Cherwell Boat House. Independent dinner. Group reading. Optional outing to river pub.
8:30 AM, Breakfast9:30 AM, Depart for Cherwell Boat House
10:00 AM, Hire Punt
10:30 AM, Arrive at Victoria Arms (via punt)
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Free Time/Lunch (not included)
1:00 PM, Return to Cherwell Boat House
1:45 PM, Arrive back at Premiere Inn
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Free Time (4:40 PM, Optional Screening, La Chimera, Phoenix Picturehouse, Jericho)
7:45 PM, Group Reading (White House Tap)
9:30 PM, Optional pub outing, Head of the River
DAY 5 (Mon, May 20): Hotel breakfast (included). Free Writing/Exploring time.Charter bus to Bath. Check into Premiere Hotel. Free Writing/Exploring Time. Independent dinner. Group Reading after dinner. Optional drinks at The Raven.
DAY 6 (Tues, May 21): Hotel breakfast (included). Morning discussion. Independent lunch. Free Writing/Exploring Time. House of Frankenstein (included). Independent dinner. Group Reading after dinner.
9:00 AM, Breakfast.
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM, Morning Lesson
11 AM - 12:30, House of Frankenstein
12:30 - 7:00 PM, Free Time Explore/Read/Write
7:00 - 9:00 PM, Raven: Group Reading, Writing Exercise, Frankenstein Quiz
DAY 7 (Weds, May 22): Hotel breakfast (included). Charter bus to Glastonbury. Hike up to the Glastonbury Tor. Lunch at George & Pilgrim's (a 700 year-old, haunted inn on High Street) with Liz Williams (celebrated fantasy/sci-fi writer and the foremost authority on paganism in England). King Arthur's Grave, Glastonbury Abbey (included). Drive home through Cheddar Gorge, explore Glittering Caves (included). Independent dinner and free time.
8:00 AM, Breakfast
8:45 AM, Bus Departs for Glastonbury.
10 AM, Bus Arrives in Glastonbury
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Hike up to Glastonbury Tor (hike is a little steep in parts but short, 30 min max, and worth it)
11:30 AM, Chalice Well
12:00 NOON - Glastonbury Abbey/King Arthur's Grave
1:00 PM, Lunch @ Georges & Pilgrim w. Pagan scholar, Dr. Liz Williams (include)
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM, Free Time to explore shops
2:30 PM, Depart for Cheddar Gorge
3:00 PM, Arrive Cheddar Gorge/Gough's Cave
4:15 - 5:00 PM, Cake and Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate at Gough Cafe (included)
5:05 PM, Bus departs for Bath
6:15 PM, Arrive in Bath, Free Time
DAY 8 (Thurs, May 23): Hotel breakfast (included). Morning workshop. Independent lunch. Free Writing/Exploring Time (suggested: Roman Baths, Bath Cathedral Clock Tower). Independent dinner. Group reading after Dinner.
9:00 AM - Breakfast
10:00 AM, Morning Discussion/Lesson
10:30 AM, Workshop (3 students)
1:00 PM, Free Time to Write/Read/Explore
7:00 PM, Group Reading @ The Raven
DAY 9 (Fri, May 24): Hotel breakfast (included). Morning Workshop. Independent lunch. Free Writing/Exploring Time (suggested: Jane Austen Center, The Crescent). Independent dinner. Evening activity TBD.
9:00 AM - Breakfast
10:00 AM, Morning Discussion/Lesson
10:30 AM, Workshop (3 students)
1:00 PM, Free Time to Write/Read/Explore
7:00 PM, Group Reading @ The Raven
DAY 10 (Sat, May 25): Hotel breakfast (included). Bus to Devonshire (included). Lunch at Three Crowns Inn in Chagfor with Teri Winding (World Fantasy Award Winning author/artist/Tolkien scholar), Brian Stroud (conceptual artist for The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth), artist Alan Lee (concept designer for the Peter Jackson films). Special visit to Brian/Wendy Stroud's house and studio. Bus back to Bath. Independent dinner and free time.
8:00 AM, Breakfast
8:45 AM, Bus Departs for Chagford
11:30 AM, Bus Arrives, Free Time
12:30 PM, Lunch at Three Crowns w. Terri, Alan, and Brian
2:00 PM, Special visit to Brian and Wendy's studio
5:00 PM, Depart Chagford
7:45 PM, Arrive in Bath, Free Time
DAY 11 (Sun, May 26): Hotel breakfast (included). Charter bus to Lacock, a charming Cotswold town where much of Harry Potter was filmed. Free time back in Bath. Independent dinner. Group reading.
9:00 AM Breakfast/Morning Lesson
10:30 AM, Depart Bath
11:15 AM, Arrive Lacock, Free Time to Wander/Write
4:00 PM, Depart Lacock
4:45 PM, Arrive Bath, Free Time
7:00 PM, Group Reading @ The Raven
DAY 12 (Mon, May 27): Hotel breakfast (included). Morning workshop. Independent lunch. Free Writing/Exploring Time. Independent dinner. The Demeter (tentative, included), play about Dracula.
DAY 13 (Tues, May 28): Hotel breakfast (included). Morning workshop. Independent lunch. Independent dinner. Group reading (w. tips on reading in public).
DAY 14 (Weds, May 29): Hotel breakfast (included). Free/Writing/Exploring time. Independent lunch. Free/Writing/Exploring time. Independent dinner. Publicized group reading at Bath's famed bookstore Topping & Co.
DAY 15 (Thurs. May 30): Sunrise visit to Stonehenge (included). Independent lunch. Free
Writing/Exploring Time. Independent dinner. Group Reading after dinner.
DAY 16: (Fri. May 31): Hotel breakfast (included). Public direct bus (403, 2hr) to Heathrow.
*
Included transportation: Bus from airport to Oxford. Bus to/from Bell Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold, bus to Market Place, cab to/from Uffingdon. Bus to Bath. Bus to/from Stonehenge. Bus to/from Glastonbury & Cheddar Gorge. Bus to Devon. Bus to Lacock. Public transportation Bath to Heathrow (for those returning that day)
Included meals: Welcome dinner @ The White Rabbit (Oxford), group lunch at The Bell Inn (Moreton-on-Marsh), group lunch at George and Pilgrim's (Glastonbury), group lunch at Chagford Inn (Devonshire).
Included admissions: Bodlein Library/Duke Humphrey's Library, Christ Church College tour, House of Frankenstein, Inner Circle Stonehenge, Glastonbury Abbey, the Glittering Caves @ Cheddar Gorge
