Celebrating some of the world's greatest literary figures, this unique tour takes you on a journey from Shakespeare to Samuel Johnson, Tolkien to Oscar Wilde. Discover Dickens' London and Joyce's Dublin, explore the inspiration for seminal works and breathe in the hallowed scent of ancient libraries. You'll visit the locations that have captured the imagination of millions around the world. Except you're not reading. You're seeing them in private on exclusive behind-the-scenes tours.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
London – Inspiring Introductions at the British Library
Land in London and head to the essential start of your literary tour. With its 400 miles of shelves, the British Library is the world's second largest. You could get lost here for days, immersed in the scent of ancient manuscripts and wooden frames. A local guide helps navigate through the pages, revealing handwritten Beatles lyrics and two original copies of the 800-year-old Magna Carta (there are only four in existence), the world's seminal declaration of liberties. Just about every book ever published in the UK has a home in the British Library. With advance notice, your guide can request any rare and unusual books you are interested in. From historic copies of Jane Austen to tales of migrating Europeans, there's a chance to see books that even the most specialist of book shops has never laid eyes upon. Airport transfers are included today and you'll have chance to rest and freshen up before the library visit. The evening is at your leisure. Consider learning more about your England travel agency, and see how they are able to personalize your itinerary to your particular interests and desires.
What's Included:
Day 2
London – Exploring London's Celebrated Literary Haunts
Day 3
London – A Shakespeare Masterpiece at the Globe
Day 4
London – Walking Through Charles Dickens' London
Day 5
Oxford – Blenheim Palace and the Incredible Bodleian Library
Day 6
Oxford – Through the Eyes of C. S Lewis, J.L. Rowling, Oscar Wilde and More
Day 7
Stratford-upon-Avon – Discovering Shakespeare's Birthplace
Day 8
Birmingham to Dublin – First Impressions of the Irish Capital
Day 9
Dublin – The City of James Joyce
Day 10
Dublin – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Take a walk through Charles Dickens' London with an author as your private guide
- Stay in the hotel that inspired Agatha Christie and Rudyard Kipling, as well as discovering the literary London haunts of Samuel Johnson and Arthur Conan Doyle
- Connect with Shakespearean English with two wonderful theater performances
- Wander through the chapels and libraries of Oxford, places that have inspired hundreds of scenes from Tolkien, Pullman, Oscar Wilde, C. S. Lewis, and more
- Discover Shakespeare's birthplace and admire how it seems completely unchanged since the literary great was alive
- Explore James Joyce's Dublin and follow the seminal sites found in his classics
- Stay in some of England's finest luxury hotels and indulge in the quainter side to the country, like afternoon tea and visits to historic palaces
Detailed Description
England sometimes baffles America with its quirky spellings and unusual phrases, but there was a famous literary setting here long before Columbus even set sail. This is the home of Shakespeare, the poetic cornerstone in a line of authors that have shaped imaginations around the world. They span the genres, and their inspirations are very real; Tolkien's surrealist tones came from Oxford chapels and dining halls, a Dickensesque London takes you down atmospheric alleyways, while Davy Byrne's Pub is just like what you might have pictured when reading Ulysses. You travel from the “city of dreaming spires” to where Shakespeare sat and wisely penned “but love is blind, and lovers cannot see.” You breathe in the musty scent of the millions of books that fill the Bodleian and British libraries. And you celebrate the seminal destinations from some of the world's greatest ever literary figures.
Begin your England vacation in London and the five-star Brown's Hotel, the inspiration for Agatha Christie and Rudyard Kipling amongst others. Tour the city of eclectic imaginations, including the world of Conan Doyle and Samuel Johnson. As the pages turn, you journey through the centuries, taking a walk down the memory lane of Dickens and the 17th-century sonnets of Shakespeare. The 10-day tour is dappled with the quaint touches of royal England, ensuring you indulge in the classic scenes from a Jane Austen novel, like afternoon tea and glamorous stately homes. There's also many free afternoons so you can also explore your own chapters.
Move on to Oxford and its inspiring university halls, places where Oscar Wilde and C. S. Lewis sat and mused with their fountain pens. Some of the buildings have such a strong Harry Potter resonance that it's hard to decide who's been plagiarizing. Seductive and often surreal, the city offers a showcase into an England that features in the travel reverie of many first-time visitors. There's something unquestionably and insatiably English about it all, even if you can't quite grasp why. Nearby Stratford-upon-Avon reveals the same tones of quintessence, the birthplace of Shakespeare looking remarkably like it did back in the early 17th century. On a literary tour, it's an absolute must, one enhanced by a performance at the town's celebrated theater.
From England to Dublin, you complete the tour with James Joyce and the turn-of-last-century inspiration for Ulysses and Dubliner. Just like the lanes of Dickens' London, you're guided through the city by a local author, unraveling the fabled destinations from the annals of world literary history. Throughout these entire ten days, you enjoy private luxury transfers, indulgent five-star accommodations, and guides with a distinct specialism. With literature as your focus, you discover the hidden sites that have become iconic images in the eyes of millions around the world.
Starting Price
$6,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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