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York Minister
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Magna Carta
Starting at $8,995 per person
Join the Great Courses Journeys and historian Dr. Robert Bucholz for an in-depth exploration of pivotal events and figures that defined one of England’s most transformative periods. From the grandeur of the Tudor court to the rebellions that shook the Stuart dynasty, you’ll uncover the power, drama, and intrigue that shaped this fascinating era. Begin in London, the political and cultural heart of England during the Tudor era. Delve into the complex lives of monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I with visits to Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London, and explore how these royal figures navigated power, authority, and intrigue. Visit the university city of Oxford, where centuries of learning have left a profound legacy, and experience Shakespeare's London as you trace his life through its historic streets to the iconic Globe Theatre. Continue to York, a key location in the Wars of the Roses, the English Civil War, and the ongoing power struggles between the Tudors and Stuarts. End in Lincoln, home to Magna Carta, a document that altered the course of history and continues to resonate in current discussions of legal and political liberty around the globe. This examination of the interplay of power, politics, and rebellions that changed the course of English history will provide a deeper understanding of how the actions of these commanding figures continue to shape our world today.
with Robert Bucholz or Carol Symes
British Dynasties: Exploring the Tudors and Stuarts
DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICING
Visit Burghley House, one of England’s grandest 16th-century state homes, built to honor Queen Elizabeth I, and admire the stunning State Rooms, priceless art, and the enchanting Garden of Surprises.
Explore the towering Lincoln Cathedral, once the tallest building in the world, and delve into the history of the Magna Carta at Lincoln Castle, gaining insights into its impact on modern democracy.
Explore the opulent halls of Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s favorite royal residence, and delve into dramatic tales of Tudor power, betrayal, and intrigue.
Stand in the presence of history at Westminster Abbey, the iconic site of royal coronations and royal tombs.
Discover the rich history of Oxford, from its medieval past to modern-day traditions, with a visit to New College where Dr. Bucholz will share his personal experiences as a student.
Highlights
October 10-18, 2026
May 23-31, 2026
Carol Symes is an Associate Professor of History, Theatre, Classics, and Medieval Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has taught courses extensively in Medieval England, Medieval civilization, Shakespeare, and Shakespeare’s England. Professor Symes’s research focuses on medieval and premodern media of communication, including histories and performance texts. She is the founding executive editor of the journal The Medieval Globe, on the interconnectedness of the Medieval world. An ongoing research project of hers, Shakespeare in Chains, explores how the experience of enclosure, vagabondage, criminalization, and incarceration shaped the actors, audiences, and plays of Tudor-Stuart England. A professional actor and theater practitioner, she trained at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, England. Professor Symes’s book A Common Stage: Theatre and Public Life in Medieval Arras earned the American Historical Association’s Herbert Baxter Adams Prize, among other honors. She is also co-author of the bestselling Western Civilizations. Professor Symes earned her PhD in History from Harvard University. For The Great Courses, she created The Medieval Legacy.
Carol Symes
Robert Bucholz
Robert Bucholz is Professor of History at Loyola University Chicago, where he has taught since 1988. He is a leading authority on the history of the British court, the social history of early modern England, and the emergence of London as global cultural center during and after the 16th century. Professor Bucholz has appeared frequently as a public speaker and in local, national, and international media outlets to comment on historical and royal topics ranging from the Tudors to the Titanic, Plague and Fire in London to royal births, weddings and funerals. Professor Bucholz is also the project director of the Database of Court Officers, which contains the career facts of every person who served in the British royal household from the Restoration to the death of Queen Victoria. He earned his D.Phil. in Modern History from Oxford University. He is the author or coauthor of books on English history, including Early Modern England: A Narrative History and The Augustan Court: Queen Anne and the Decline of Court Culture. His Great Courses include A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts, The Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Western World, and London: A Short History of the Greatest City in the Western World.
Journey Experts
Robert Bucholz
London, England
Arrive on individual flights into London and transfer independently to your hotel. In the late afternoon, gather for an engaging introductory lecture on early modern London by your expert, Professor Bucholz. This talk will set the stage for the days ahead, offering insight into London’s transformation from a bustling Tudor capital to a global powerhouse. In the evening, get to know your fellow travelers during a Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant.
Included Meal: Dinner
Accommodations: Leonardo Royal London City
Hampton Court Palace
Begin with a deep dive into Tudor history at Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s favorite residence and a masterpiece of royal grandeur. Explore the opulent State Apartments, walk beneath the hammer-beamed ceiling of the Great Hall – still adorned with the king’s original tapestries —and hear dramatic tales of the power, betrayal, and courtly intrigue that shaped the lives of England’s most infamous royal family. Throughout the visit, Professor Bucholz will provide fascinating insights into the palace’s role beyond the Tudor era and the expectations of 18th-century courtiers. After lunch at the Tiltyard Café, return to London for a guided tour of the Tower of London. Once a formidable royal palace and later a notorious prison, the Tower’s notorious past includes the tragic story of the Princes in the Tower, and the imprisonment and execution of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of Henry VIII’s doomed queens. Dinner and the remainder of the evening will be yours to enjoy at leisure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Leonardo Royal London City
National Portrait Gallery
Visit Westminster Abbey, the site of every coronation since William the Conqueror as well as the final resting place for many monarchs, including Mary, Queen of Scots; Queen Elizabeth I; and King James I of England and Scotland. Afterward, indulge in a quintessentially British tradition —– a traditional English tea at the Cellarium Café, nestled within the Abbey’s historic precincts. Savor delicate finger sandwiches, warm scones, and rich clotted cream, and enjoy a tutorial on “proper” tea etiquette.. Continue to the National Portrait Gallery, where portraits of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Queen Elizabeth I offer a glimpse into their personalities, power, and enduring mystique. The rest of the day will be free to explore London at your own pace.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea
Accommodations: Leonardo Royal London City
New College, Oxford
Enjoy a full day excursion to the historic university town of Oxford, a place of learning and tradition for over nine centuries. A guided walking tour will uncover the complex layers of Oxford’s medieval past, from the women who helped build the city’s reputation as a university town to the often-tense relationships between scholars and townsfolk, to the historic Jewish quarter where remnants of the old city can still be seen today. Step back in time during lunch at Turf Tavern, a former malt house and public house that has been a favorite haunt of students and professors alike since 1382. In the afternoon, visit New College, which, despite its name, is one of Oxford’s oldest and most architecturally stunning institutions. Adding a personal touch to the visit, Professor Bucholz will share stories from his own time as a student at the college, offering insight into its history and modern-day traditions. Return to London, where dinner and the rest of the evening will be yours to enjoy.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Leonardo Royal London City
Globe Theater
Step into the world of Shakespeare’s London with a walking tour that brings the Bard’s era to life. Trace his life and legacy from Guildhall and Leadenhall to the innerworkings of Shakespeare’s Globe, the faithful reconstruction of the original Elizabethan playhouse where Shakespeare’s works were first performed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men in 1599. Lunch today will be at The George Inn, London’s last remaining galleried coaching inn, where weary travelers once stopped for a pint and lively conversation. In the afternoon, a local historian will offer a glimpse into the lives of figures both famous and forgotten from the Tudor era. Dinner and the rest of the evening will be at your leisure, where you may choose to attend a performance of a Shakespeare play. (This experience will be offered at an additional cost; details on the production and location will be announced at a later date.)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Leonardo Royal London City
Burghley House
Bid farewell to London and depart for the historic walled city of York. Along the way, stop for a visit to Burghley House, one of the largest and most opulent 16th-century state homes still standing. Built to honor Queen Elizabeth I, this grand “prodigy” house was designed to showcase the wealth and ambition of the elite with magnificently decorated State Rooms, priceless works of art, gilded furniture, and an enchanting Garden of Surprises inspired by Elizabethan fascination with astrology, astronomy, and Classical civilizations. Arrive in York and gather for dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Hilton York
Streets of York
Begin with a guided walking tour of York, a city that has witnessed more than 2,000 years of history, from its Roman origins to its time as a Viking settlement, and later as a key battleground for the Anglo-Saxons, Normans, Tudors, and Stuarts. Weave through cobblestone streets and hear stories of how the city played pivotal roles in both the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War, where the country was divided in a struggle for power. Visit York Minster, an awe-inspiring Gothic cathedral that ranks as one of the largest in Europe. After lunch in a local restaurant, gather at the Priory Street Centre for a lecture on Tudor royal propaganda and learn how the monarchy used art, rhetoric, and ceremony to shape public perception and secure political power. Dinner and the rest of the evening will be at your leisure in York.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hilton York
Lincoln Cathedral
Travel to Lincoln, an historic city in England’s East Midlands region. The day begins with a visit to the Lincoln Cathedral, which held the title of the world’s tallest building for more than two centuries. Continue to Lincoln Castle, and follow in the footsteps of former inmates in the Victorian Prison and view Magna Carta, the iconic document that paved the way for modern democracy. As you explore, Professor Bucholz will share his insights into Magna Carta, explaining why its influence still resonates today. There will be time for those who choose to walk along the castle’s great stone walls for panoramic views of the city and countryside. Please note that access to the castle walls requires climbing a spiral staircase with 64 steps. Return to York and raise a toast to your journey through England’s history during a Farwell Dinner in a local restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hilton York
Hilton York – York (3 nights)
Ideally located inside the historic city walls and across from Clifford’s Tower, Hilton York’s contemporary rooms are outfitted with flat-screen televisions, a writing desk, tea and coffeemaking facilities, and luxury toiletry products. A fitness center offers a range of free weights and cardio equipment, or guests may choose to relax with medieval views and local gins at the onsite Tower’s Bar and Restaurant.
Leonardo Royal London City – London (5 nights)
The Leonardo Royal London Hotel offers a stylish and comfortable stay in the heart of the city, blending modern amenities with a welcoming atmosphere. Its prime location is just across the bridge from Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market and within walking distance to major attractions like the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, and is surrounded by a myriad dining choices from casual eateries to upscale options.
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