United Kingdom

Day 1 Edinburgh
Arrive in Edinburgh and have an orientation tour of the city. Visit the St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland) with its famous Thistle Chapel and the Scot Monument. Mass in hotel. Overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 2 Edinburgh – Glasgow (80km/1h)
Morning Mass at Our Lady at the Bridge of Dee in Aberdeen, described as Our Lady at the Brig, is mentioned in 1459. Near to the chapel was a well dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, where miraculous favours were obtained. In the cathedral were four altars of Our Lady, each with her image, one being of silver. Visit Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyrood House, the Queen’s home and prestigious Edinburgh University, Greyfriars and the Mound.
Proceed to Glasgow after lunch. An orientation tour of Glasgow, a city rich in history, steeped in culture and alive with its own unique character. We will see many points of interest including the University, Victoria Park and the Botanic Gardens, St. Mungo’s Cathedral (Church of Scotland) and Provand’s Lordship, which is the oldest house in the city that was built in 1471. Overnight in Glasgow.

Day 3 Glasgow – Durham (270km/3h) – Grindleford (210km/2,30h) – Sheffield (20km/30min)
Mass in St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Glasgow Metropolitan Cathedral). Proceed to Durham. Though a small city, its combination of University, natural beauty and stunning cathedral make it a must stop along our way. We visit the famous Durham Cathedral (Anglican) that contains a shrine to St. Cuthbert.Proceed to Grindleford to visit Padley Chapel. This was a secret site for mass since Penal times and was disguised as a barn. Two priests were martyred when they were caught there.Proceed to Sheffield. Overnight in Sheffield.

Day 4 Sheffield – Holywell (150km/2h) – Shrewsbury (130km/2h) – Birmingham (100km/1,30h)
Mass at St. Marie’s Cathedral in Sheffield. Proceed to Holywell to visit a sacred spring associated with St. Winefride’s Well, the modern day ‘Lourdes of Wales’. The story of St. Winifrid goes back to the 7th century and is considered one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Wales’. We then move on to visit Shrewsbury Abbey. Proceed to Birmingham. Overnight in Birmingham.

Day 5 Birmingham – Cardingan (260km/4h) – Gloucester (250km/3h)
Proceed to Cardingan to visit Our Lady of Taper Church of Cardingan National Shrine of Wales. According to the legend, a statue of Our Lady and Child was found beside the River Teifi, in southwest Wales, with a burning taper (candle) in her hand. The present St Mary's church dates back to around 1158, making the shrine more than 800 years old. Mass at Church. Proceed to Gloucester. Overnight at Gloucester.

Day 6 Gloucester – Evesham (50km/1h) – Stratford (30km/30min) - Upon - Avon – Oxford (90km/1,30h)
Visit Gloucester Cathedral (Anglican), in the north of the city near the river, originates in the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter in 681. It is the burial place of King Edward II of England. The Cathedral (mainly its cloisters) was used for corridor scenes in the films Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Then proceed to Evesham to visit and have Mass at the Church of St. Mary & St. Egwin. The name of this renowned sanctuary perpetuates the vision of Our Lady to a poor herdsman and later to St. Egwin, the Bishop of Worcester.
Then we head into the beautiful and enchanting area of the Cotswolds, passing through the villages of Mickleton, Chipping Camden and Moreton in Marsh as we continue to Stratford upon Avon, where we visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the birthplace of his wife.Then proceed to Oxford. Overnight in Oxford.

Day 6 Oxford – Bath (130km/2h) – Glastonbury (40km/1h) – Stonehendge (90km/1,30h)– London (140km/2h)
Morning Mass at St. Aloysius Church.
This morning we explore Oxford, “city of dreaming spires,” centre of scholarship for over 1000 years. We visit the ancient university and hear about its history and traditions.
We proceed to Uffington to see the White Horse of Uffington. This stylized image on the ground measured from nose to tail 113m. It was mysteriously created between 1200 and 800BC, dating it to the Bronze Age. We then proceed on our way to Bath, one of the most beautiful Georgian cities in England. We visit the Roman Baths, view the Abbey and see the charming squares and crescents as well as the River Avon and delightful Pulteney Bridge.
We proceed on to view the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. Its religious significance dates back to the earliest Christian times and the stories of Joseph of Arimathea’s arrival in England after Jesus’ death, bringing with him the Holy Grail, the cup with which Jesus drank at the last supper. Time to wander around, viewing Glastonbury Tor, the sanctuary called Chalice Well and Wearyall Hill. Finally, we visit the legendary Stonehenge, ancient monoliths placed in position nearly 2 000 years before the birth of Christ and which were once used to calculate the eclipses and equinoxes. We then proceed to London. Overnight in London.

Day 7 London – Walsingham (200km/3h) – Norwich (50km/1h)
We drive to Walsingham, known as England’s Nazareth. It was the 11th century, a local man reported seeing a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the earliest reported visions of Our Lady. Back then in the middle ages this was the major Marian shrine in Europe, and today it is the National Shrine of Our Lady for England. We have mass at the shrine. We have a guided tour of the shrine and village. Overnight in Norwich.

Day 8 Norwich – Bury St. Edmunds (70km/1,30h) – Cambridge (50km/1h)– Aylesford (130km/2h)– London (60km/1,30h)
Norwich is the home town of a mystic named St. Julian of Norwich, whose book Divine Love is a masterpiece of Christian Mysticism. The saint who died in 1413, uttered the famous words of wisdom: “All things shall be well, all things shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” In this place, we shall visit his humble cell. From Norwich, we head south to St. Edmunds, the burial place of King St. Edmund the Martyr. Mass to be celebrated at the Church of St. Edmundsbury.We then proceed to the famous University of Cambridge. Some time on our own to wander and browse.We then visit the ancient Carmelite Priory and Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Simon Stock at Aylesford. Return to London. Overnight in London.

Day 9 London – Rochester (50km/1h) – Canterbury (50km/1h)– London (100km/2h)
After breakfast we drive to the ancient city of Canterbury and its famous Cathedral associated with St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Beckett who was martyred there, and which is the centre of the Anglican/ Episcopalian communion. After a short visit, proceed to Rochester to visit the Cathedral where Bishop St. John Fisher was martyred. Mass at St. John Fisher Church. Overnight in London.

Day 10 London
Panoramic drive through London’s major sites: Mayfair, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard ceremony (if held), the Houses of Parliament and the Big Ben. A highlight will be a visit to the impressive Westminster Abbey and Mass at Westminster Catholic Cathedral. Visit also St. Paul’s Cathedral. Overnight in London.

Day 11 London
We start our morning with Mass at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart & Tyburn Martyrs in Hyde Park Place. Then followed by free and easy the whole day for shopping or strolling around one of many London’s beautiful parks. Overnight in London.

Day 12 London
Final departure.