2024 Dates to be Announced
Prices listed are per person:
Shared Room: $8198
Private Room: $10,498
Physical Challenge
Highlights
Contemplate some of the world’s finest art in culturally rich London.
Journey through royal history as you walk through Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.
Visit the site where Alan Turing cracked the famous “Enigma Code”.
Tour the city of Cambridge and its renowned riverside colleges.
Marvel at the stunning gothic architecture of Ely Cathedral.
Travel back in time as you explore the walled city of York with ancient Roman origins.
Experience a place like no other at over 300-year-old Castle Howard.
Relax in the breathtaking woodlands and moors of Yorkshire.
Overview
This cultural tour begins at the heart of London where we’ll visit the National Gallery Museum. Here, we’ll have the chance to view priceless works of art by the likes of Da Vinci and Michelangelo. We’ll walk where royals have for the past thousand years in Westminster Abbey and explore the place more contemporary royals have called home as well in Buckingham Palace.
From London, we’ll head to Bletchley Park to learn more about the brave scientists who helped crack the Enigma Code during World War II, including gay genius, Alan Turing. We’ll continue to immerse ourselves in the same scenery as other great thinkers have when we head to the city of Cambridge.
This tour is sure to delight admirers of gothic architecture as we will take in the beauty of various cathedrals in this ornate style, including Ely Cathedral, one of the “Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages”. We’ll also head to the walled city of York which was originally built by the ancient Romans. We’ll walk through the quaint “Shambles” lined with small shops, reminiscent of Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter universe. York Minster is also located here and is the largest cathedral completed in the gothic architectural period.
Our journey will then take us on to Castle Howard, an incredibly opulent estate that took over 100 years to complete. After taking in the sights here, we will move on to the Yorkshire Moors, a gorgeous geological region with stunning woodlands and moorlands. This beautiful region was home to the famous Bronte sisters who published such classic novels as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. We will visit quaint towns in the area and admire natural beauty as we take a long walk through the woodlands.
Itinerary
Map:
Day 1: Arrive in London
After landing in Heathrow, travelers will be transferred to our Central London hotel where we’ll have evening cocktails and meet our guide.
Day 2: Central London Walking Tour
This morning, after breakfast, we’ll begin our walking tour of ‘Gay History’, including architectural and art-influenced points of reference. We’ll have lunch at the National Gallery Museum, which is home to some of the finest paintings in the world, including works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. You will also have the option of visiting the British Museum, which houses one of the most comprehensive art collections in existence today.
Day 3: Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace
Today we’ll visit Westminster Abbey, an over 1,000-year-old World Heritage Site, brimming with British history and culture. We will also visit the home of the Queen, Buckingham Palace. Along the way, we’ll learn about important British historical highlights, which will include insight into some unknown-Queer historical figures. We will stop off for lunch at a local pub in Westminster and be free to enjoy the rest of the day.
Day 4: Goodbye London, Hello Cambridge
We’ll say goodbye to London and make our way to the countryside heading North to the famous Bletchley Park. This is the site of the great “Enigma Code” scientists who played a vital role in the Allied victory in World War II. Here we will learn about the Codebreakers, which included the Queer genius, Alan Turing. We will then head to Cambridge and stop to enjoy lunch along the way. Once in Cambridge, we will check in to our hotel and learn about the city’s gay past on a walking tour of the city and its colleges. We’ll end the day with a group dinner at the hotel.
Day 5: Ely Cathedral
Start the day out with an optional Punting Tour (a river tour in a flat-bottomed boat) of the riverside colleges. Today we will visit Ely Cathedral, one of the “Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages”. Known for its size and beauty, it is one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in England.
Day 6: Cambridge to York
Today we make our way to York. Today, we will enjoy a historical tour including The Shambles, a quaint old street with some of its buildings dating as far back as the 14th century.
Day 7: York
Enjoy a day of exploring this walled city, originally founded by ancient Romans. Take a tour of the famous 7th-century cathedral, York Minster. This beautiful building is the largest cathedral completed during the Gothic period. We’ll also have the option of participating in the Anglican tradition of evensong here.
Day 8: Castle Howard
After checking out of our York hotel, we’ll be traveling to Castle Howard, “One of the top 10 buildings you must visit in your lifetime” The Telegraph, 2018. This sublime estate is truly a place like no other, taking over 100 years to build to completion. After marveling at the opulence and sheer beauty of Castle Howard, we will then journey into the Yorkshire moors. The famous Bronte sisters called this hauntingly beautiful region home. Along the way, we will stop off in the bohemian town of Hebden Bridge and check in to our hotel in Harrogate.
Day 9: Hardcastle Crags Hiking (3-4 hours)
This morning we will have a leisurely walk through the breathtaking National Park of the Yorkshire Moors. We’ll explore the gorgeous woodland areas and interesting wildlife at Hardcastle Crags, West Yorkshire. After our rejuvenating nature walk, we will have lunch at a local pub on the moors.
Day 10: Manchester
Today can be free to enjoy on your own. Tonight we will meet up for our farewell dinner.
Day 11: Farewell or stay longer in Manchester
Today we will part ways as some travelers fly out of Manchester or head out by train. For those with later departures, there is an optional visit to the famous Gentleman Jack House, home of Anne Lister, pioneering businesswoman and “the first modern lesbian”.
Price Includes
Main Tour
Price includes: Airport transfers on arrival and departure days; 10 nights of lodging accommodations in double occupancy, with private bath; including hotel service charges, and government taxes; All breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 7 dinners; All activities mentioned in the itinerary; Gratuities for porterage and included meals; Service of knowledgeable local guides; Services of a knowledgeable HE Travel tour host (with a minimum number of participants); HE Travel provides complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage.
Not included: Airfare to and from starting and ending points; meals not listed above, Gratuities for guides, HE host, and hotel staff; Personal items including alcoholic beverages, snacks, laundry, and telephone calls.
Manchester Post-tour
$1398 Shared Room Per Person Price
$1898 Private Room (for solo travelers who wish to enjoy a private bedroom and bathroom)
Price includes: Airport transfer on departure day; 2 nights of lodging accommodations in double occupancy, with private bath; including hotel service charges, and government taxes; All breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner; All activities mentioned in the itinerary; Gratuities for porterage and included meals; Service of knowledgeable local guides; Services of a knowledgeable HE Travel tour host (with a minimum number of participants); HE Travel provides complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage.
Not included: Airfare from ending point; meals not listed above, Gratuities for guides, HE host, and hotel staff; Personal items including alcoholic beverages, snacks, laundry, and telephone calls.
We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance to protect your vacation investment in case of unforeseen circumstances such as flight delay, illness, or injury. Click Here to learn more about our Insurance partner.
Extensions
Stay longer and join our Scotland Adventure Tour
Take a journey to marvelous Scotland and enjoy the many adventures that await you. The landscape is gorgeous and the wildlife is majestic. Spend a week mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, zip-lining, and more. The charming villages we stay in along the way will take you back to a simpler time.
Stay longer for a 2-night Manchester Post-Tour – September 29 to October 1, 2023
Extend your stay and enjoy 2 nights in Manchester. This includes your transfers, breakfasts, and an afternoon city tour.
When you take two tours Back-to-Back, you are eligible for a discount. Contact us for details about visiting Scotland and the United Kingdom!
FAQ
- What if I am traveling alone?
- Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it’s usually because they’re looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn’t have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you’ll be traveling with friends. You don’t need to pay the single supplement if you’re traveling alone. We’ll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself. For selected trips, including cruises, we will charge half the single supplement if you request a roommate but we can’t match you with someone.
- What is the physical activity level of this tour?
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Physical Activity Level
This trip offers daily sightseeing with a moderate amount of walking on uneven pavement and paths in cities, villages, the countryside, and historic sites. Someone who cannot walk long distances could enjoy most aspects of the tour but may want to stay near our vehicle instead of joining longer walks.
- Where does the tour start and end?
- This tour starts in London(fly into Heathrow-LHR) and ends in Manchester.
- What will the hotels be like?
- All hotels on this tour will be in 4-star accommodations in each of the cities. All in centrally located and beautiful areas of the city.
- Additional Questions
- For answers to your additional questions, please email info@hetravel.com or call 305-294-8174