Itinerary
Wednesday, June 19, 2013: Los Angeles
MorningLoad coaches and depart San Luis Obispo.
AfternoonArrive at Los Angeles International Airport and check in.
4:45pmDepart Los Angeles for London Heathrow on Air New Zealand. Overnight en route.
Thursday, June 20, 2013: Dublin
11:15 a.m.Arrive in to London Heathrow.
2:15 p.m.Depart London Heathrow for Dublin on Aer Lingus.
3:35pmArrive in Dublin. En route enjoy a panoramic tour of Ireland’s capital city.
EveningDinner as a group, then free evening in Dublin.
Friday, June 21, 2013: Dublin
Morning
Breakfast at the accommodation. Enjoy a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Dublin including all of the major sights such as Dublin Castle, St. Stephen’s Green, Christ Church Cathedral and the River Liffey.
AfternoonLunch in Dublin. Visit Trinity College. (Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, this college was home to many famous students including Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Beckett. The major attractions are the Old Library and the Book of Kells, housed in the Treasury.)
EveningThe rest of this afternoon and evening is free to enjoy Dublin.
Saturday, June 22, 2013: Dublin
Morning
Breakfast at the accommodation. This morning will be free for you to enjoy Dublin at your leisure. Stroll down Grafton Street and enjoy the best in street entertainment and a coffee in one of the many cafes of Dublin. Or, visit O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare and one of Europe’s widest streets. It has often been center-stage in Irish history, attracting the city’s most prominent monuments and public art throughout the centuries.
AfternoonReturn to accommodation to freshen up. Board coaches (with performance attire) and depart for rehearsal at concert venue.
EveningPerformance at Gleeson Hall
Sunday, June 23, 2013: Dublin/Edinburgh
Morning
Breakfast at the accommodation. Check out, load the coaches and travel north to the Port of Belfast. Upon arrival, board the ferry as foot passengers and journey across the Irish Sea to Cairnryan, Scotland (approx. 2.5 hour crossing).
AfternoonArrive in to Cairnryan. Meet local coaches and depart for Edinburgh. Journey through the scenic countryside of Ayrshire, home to Robbie Burns, widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland.
EveningFree evening in Edinburgh
Monday, June 24, 2013: Edinburgh
Morning
Breakfast at the accommodation. Enjoy a Guided Tour of Edinburgh, including such highlights as Prince’s Street, the Royal Mile, and the Scott Monument. Also visit St. Giles’ Cathedral – dating back to 1120, this Cathedral is known as the mother church of Presbyterianism.
AfternoonAfter lunch, visit Edinburgh Castle. (Edinburgh Castle has stood guard high over the city since 1085. The Castle itself, like many of Edinburgh's landmarks, has a chilling past - its hilltop position made it an ideal location for a prison. Many visitors comment on its unique mixture of beauty and foreboding.)
EveningFree evening in Edinburgh
Tuesday, June 25, 2013: Edinburgh/York/Manchester
Morning
Breakfast at the accommodation. Check out, load the coaches and depart for Manchester. Journey through the stunning scenery of the Lake District and past Bowness (a popular Victorian town and home to the World of Beatrix Potter). Make a brief stop at Kendal, famous for its Kendal mint cake and known as the southern gateway to the Lake District.
AfternoonArrive at York and enjoy a visit to York Minster. From Roman times to the present day, the site on which York Minster stands has been at the very center of England’s religious and political life. Walk through York's famous ‘shambles’, the cobbled laneways steeped in history and now boasting a range of fascinating shops.
EveningArrive in Manchester. Free evening in Manchester.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013: Manchester
Morning
Breakfast at the accommodation. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Manchester, the North’s most vibrant city. Your tour will include Manchester city center, the Royal Exchange, Central Library, the Salford Quays and much more.
AfternoonLunch in Manchester followed by some free time. Return to the accommodation to freshen up, board the coaches (with performance attire) and depart for rehearsal at this evening’s concert venue.
EveningPerformance at The Royal Northern College of Music
Thursday, June 27, 2013: Manchester/Oxford/London
Morning
Breakfast at the accommodation. Check out, load the coaches and travel to London. En route make a stop at Oxford, the city of ‘dreaming spires’. Enjoy a tour which will include many major points of interest such as the Sheldonian Theatre, The Ashmolean Museum, and the Bridge of Sighs. Conclude your tour with a visit to Christ Church College. Many scenes from Harry Potter were filmed around Christ Church College. The Great Hall was used for Hogwart’s School dining hall and Bodleian Library was the school library in the film.
AfternoonAfter lunch, continue south to London. En route enjoy a stop at Highclere Castle – the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and also featured as Downton Abbey in the hugely successful drama series of that name.
EveningFree evening in London
Friday, June 28, 2013: London
Morning
Breakfast at the accommodation. Board the coaches and depart on a Guided Sightseeing Tour of many of the major sights in London including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. It was here that Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married. Visitors are still amazed by the magnificent Whispering Gallery.
AfternoonLunch in London followed by some free time. Return to the accommodation to freshen up, board the coaches (with performance attire) and depart for rehearsal at this evening’s concert venue.
EveningPerformance at St. John's Smith Square
Saturday, June 29, 2013: London
Morning/AfternoonFree day in London. Explore Kensington with its wide array of museums – the Victoria & Albert, the Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum (all free of charge to the public). The South Bank is a delightful place to explore with highlights such as Shakespeare’s Globe, the Royal Festival Hall and the Tate Modern. And of course London’s well know spots include Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, not to mention the shops of Oxford Street.
EveningCelebratory group farewell dinner
Sunday, June 30, 2013: London/Los Angeles
MorningBreakfast at the accommodation. Check out of the accommodation, load the coaches and depart central London. Enjoy last minute shopping and sightseeing in London.
AfternoonAfter lunch, board the coaches and depart for London Heathrow International Airport. Check in for flight to Los Angeles, move through security to departure gate.
4:15 p.m.Depart London Heathrow for Los Angeles on Air New Zealand
7:45 p.m.Arrive in to Los Angeles and proceed through immigration and customs.