Sewanee in London: Sacred Spaces and Timeless Traditions
July 16-25, 2025
The Alumni Office has offered excursions to our alumni and parents throughout the years. Our travelers give the Sewanee-sponsored travel program wonderful reviews for making the trips as unique and special as the Sewanee experience. We have a fantastic excursion to London scheduled for July 16-25, 2025.
The 10-day trip will focus on theatre, art, and Roman history. The guided trip will be led by Professor of Theater Jim Crawford and Professor of Classics Chris McDonough. Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen and first lady Phoebe will join us on this trip, which includes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a concert by University Choirmaster Geoffrey Ward in Westminster Abbey.
Because this trip is a very special opportunity, all spots have been filled. Want to join the waiting list?
Want to learn more?
RATE
$5400 per person, double occupancy. Single room supplement: $800.
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS
- Nine nights at the Bloomsbury Hotel
- Nine breakfasts at the hotel
- Tube Oyster pass
- All group meals appearing on the itinerary
- Discussions related to events led by Sewanee faculty
- Three theater shows
- Fees for museums, tours, and special events as per itinerary
- Gratuities to guides
- Optional pre-trip meetings on Zoom
NOT INCLUDED: Airfare; travel insurance; expenses of a personal nature; any items or meals not specified in the Itinerary or in the Program Inclusions.
DRAFT ITINERARY
Sewanee London Alumni program July 2025, Itinerary Draft
Day 1 Wed. 16 July 2025
● Independent morning arrivals into London, Heathrow airport
● Coach #1 local guide will meet you in arrivals, for those on flights scheduled to arrive between 6:20 and 9:15 a.m. Scenic driving tour of the city.
● Coach #2 local guide will meet you in arrivals, for those on flights scheduled to arrive between 11 and 11:40 a.m. Scenic driving tour of the city.
● 4:00 Check in opens at Copthorne Tara Hotel in London, Kensington: Scarsdale Place, London W8 5SY Tel. +44 (0)20 7937 7211. Professor Jim Crawford will meet folks in the lobby as they arrive, will provide information and will pass out London Oyster Cards with £90 credit – Tube, Zones 1&2
● Jet lag nap, or optional strolls to nearby Kensington High Street shops or Gardens
● 6:00 Meet in the lobby to take a double decker bus--or the Tube-- to Leicester Square station-- for our Pre-paid Welcome Dinner in a private dining room at Browns Covent Garden: 82-84 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4AG
● 7:00 Three course dinner, chosen in advance, includes two glasses of wine.
● 8:00 Welcome from Susan Askew, 10-15-minute presentations on London Theatre with Professor Jim Crawford, and Roman Britain with Professor Chris McDonough
● Overnight in London, the Tara Copthorne Hotel in the Kensington neighborhood
Day 2 Thu. 17 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● 9:00 Meet in the lobby to take the Tube to Tower Hill
● 10:00 Tour of the Tower of London, followed by lunch on your own nearby
● 1:00 Gather at a meeting spot for a walking tour of Roman London with Chris McDonough
● 1:45 Group entrance to the City Wall at Vine Street
● 3:15 Group entrance to the London Mithraeum
● Possible time for a jet lag nap back at the hotel? Dinner on your own.
● 7:30 Operation Mincemeat on the West End, Fortune Theatre: Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, London WC2B 5HH. Nearest Tube station is Covent Garden.
● Overnight in London
Day 3 Fri. 18 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● 8:30 Meet with our Local Coach to depart for a full-day Tour of Bath and Stonehenge (Journey approx. 2.5 hours)
● 11:00 Admission - Stonehenge
Uncover the story of Stonehenge. Take in the unforgettable atmosphere of this World Heritage Site and best-known prehistoric monument in Europe.
● 12:30 Coach to Bath, arrive approximately 1:30, possible quick lunch or snack
● 2:15 Group Admission to the Roman Baths and Pump Room
The Roman Baths are a well-preserved thermae in the city of Bath. A temple was constructed on the site between 60-70CE in the first few decades of Roman Britain. Visit also includes the associated Pump Room.
● 3:45 Prepaid Group Afternoon Tea at the Abbey Hotel: Buffet style, no advance choices required: North Parade, Bath BA1 1LF Tel: +44 (0)1225 461603
● Optional brief Walking tour of Bath, including the Crescent, with Jim Crawford and/or Chris McDonough
● 5:00 Meet with our coach to travel back to London.
● Overnight in London
Day 4 Sat. 19 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● 10:00 Meet in the lobby, take the Tube to Embankment, Professor Jim Crawford introduces the South Bank, and London’s Theatre history in that neighborhood.
● 11:00/11:15 Two staggered groups Tour the National Theater
● 2:00 PLAY: Matinee of Nye at the National Theater
● Dinner on your own
● Overnight in London
Day 5 Sun. 20 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● Morning: optional church services in London, brunch, strolling and/or shopping on your own in the Kensington neighborhood, near the hotel.
● 12:15 Meet in the lobby to take the Tube to the Tottenham Court Road station.
Afternoon visit to the British Museum: see the Elgin Marbles and other classical highlights with Professor Chris McDonough.
● 4:00 Take a double decker bus or Tube to Westminster Abbey: nearest Tube stops are Charing Cross or St. James station.
● 5:00 Sewanee Choir Master, Organist Geoffrey Ward in Concert at Westminster Abbey
● 6:30-8:00 Reception with the Sewanee Club of London, Old Queen Street
● Overnight in London
Day 6 Mon. 21 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● 9:00 Meet in the lobby, take the Tube to Mansion House station
● 10:00 Tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral
● 11:45 Cross the pedestrian Millenium Bridge, lunch on your own nearby
● 1:45 Tour of Shakespeare’s Globe, discuss Romeo & Juliet with Jim Crawford
● 3:00 Visit the nearby Tate Modern Museum
● 4:00: Special Exhibition tickets at Do Ho Suh’s Exhibition: Walk the House
● Dinner on your own in the South Bank
● 7:30 Play at Shakespeare’s Globe: Romeo & Juliet
● Overnight in London
Day 7 Tue. 22 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● 9:00 Meet in the lobby, take the Tube to Embankment station.
● 10:00 Tour of Westminster Abbey including the West Window of Henry VII's Lady Chapel, dedicated to Sir John Templeton in honor of his restoration of the chapel
● 12:00 Take the Tube back to Kensington, lunch on your own
● 1:30: Meet in hotel lobby to walk to the Victoria & Albert Museum.
See classical artifacts with Chris McDonough, Theatre Collection with Jim Crawford
● 3:00/3:30/4:00 Staggered timed entrances to the Cartier Exhibition at the V&A
● 5:00 Take the Tube to Green Park station
● 5:30 Prepaid Group Dinner at The Kings Head in Mayfair: 10 Stafford Street, London W1S 4RX
Tel: +44 (0)207 493 0337. Two course dinner, chosen in advance, includes two glasses of wine.
● 7:30 MUSICAL: Hadestown on the West End, Lyric Theatre: 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES.
● Overnight in London
Day 8 Wed. 23 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● 8:30 Coach departs from the hotel for full day in Oxford: See the architecture that inspired Sewanee’s campus!
● 10:00 Arrive in Oxford, begin with personalized tour of Magdalen College, arranged by Norman Jetmundson.
● 11:30 Walking tour of Oxford highlights: High Street, Colleges, Radcliffe Square, Bodleian Library. Flexible for lunch, walking around, shopping in Oxford.
Free Admission available to the Ashmolean Museum.
● 3:30 Corpus Christi College: Tour of the College, Talk by Sewanee alum,
And Oxford Philosophy Professor Jeff McMahan
● 4:30 Coach back to London
● Overnight in London, dinner on your own.
Day 9 Thu. 24 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● 8:45 Meet in the lobby, take the Tube to Westminster station.
● 9:45 Board Thames Cruise with City Cruises to Greenwich.
Boat departs at 10:00
● 11:30 Visit the Royal Observatory Greenwich
● Afternoon free in Greenwich for lunch, shopping, and additional sightseeing
● 2:55 Board the cruise for the return trip. Boat departs at 3:10
● 4:30 Cruise arrives at Westminster Pier, 20-minute walk, or take the Tube to Covent Garden.
● 5:00 Group Farewell Dinner at Masala Zone Covent Garden: Sharing platters, no advance choices required. Two glasses of wine included. Masala Zone Covent Garden, 48 Floral Street, London WC2E 9DA Tel: +44 (0)20 7379 0101
● 7:30 PLAY: Giant at Harold Pinter Theatre Panton Street, London SW1Y 4DN.
Nearest Underground station is Piccadilly Circus.
● OR 7:30 BALLET: The National Ballet of Japan’s production of Giselle:
Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London WC2E 9DD Tel. +44 (0)20 7240 1200.
● Overnight in London
Day 10 Fri. 25 July 2025
● Breakfast at hotel
● Sewanee will arrange for cabs or Ubers to take people in groups from the hotel to Heathrow airport: with Jim Crawford for those on flights departing between 12:30 and 1:50, or with Susan Askew for those with flights departing between 3:10 and 4:00.
Some are choosing to stay on in London, and will be on their own from this point on.
● Fly home safely! EQB!
Local guide for airport transfer
If necessary due to unforeseen circumstances, there may be reasonable changes to the itinerary.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND REGISTRATION
A deposit of $1000 per person is required to reserve your space on a first-come, first-served basis. An additional interim payment of $1500 will be due on April 15, 2025. Final payment of your remaining balance is due May 15, 2025. This installment schedule allows Sewanee to pay hotel and vendor deposits and thus ensure the best experience for all. Payment can be made by credit or debit card.
INSURANCE
We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance from your local insurance agent, which is available for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement.
Need more information?
Call or email McGriff Alumni House at 888.867.6884 or email alumni@sewanee.edu.
