Loved this trip! Well planned, great speakers, great seats at Wimbeldon and excellent leaders.
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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Lunch: Lunch on arrival day is not included.
Afternoon: At leisure before a welcome meeting and programme overview in the hotel at 5:30 p.m.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Your group leader will lead an orientation of the area.
Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: Field trip to Hatfield House, to explore the childhood home of Elizabeth I. In the morning, we will explore the world of "Real or Royal Tennis." Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis (usually simply called tennis), is descended. It is also known as court tennis in the United States, formerly royal tennis in England and Australia (now real tennis), and courte-paume in France (a reference to the older, racquetless game of jeu de paume, the ancestor of modern handball and racquet games; many French real tennis courts are at jeu de paume clubs). The term real was first used by journalists in the middle of the 20th century to distinguish the ancient game from modern lawn tennis (even though that sport is seldom contested on lawns these days outside the few social-club-managed estates such as Wimbledon). Real tennis players often call the game "tennis" while continuing to refer to its more widely played offshoot as "lawn tennis." Real tennis is still played by enthusiasts or realists.
Lunch: At Hatfield House.
Afternoon: The field trip continues. Discover the treasures of this historic royal home with an expertly guided visit.
Dinner: Excluded.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: In the hotel. Lectures by Richard Evans. Richard is a tennis commentator, broadcaster, journalist and author of books on the history of tennis, the lawn tennis association. Teas, coffees and pastries.
Lunch: Buffet lunch at the hotel.
Afternoon: Free afternoon.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: After dinner talk by Chris Bowers-The Professional Game. Chris will be commentating from Monday for ESPN and has just returned from the French Open at Roland Garros and the Women's tennis tournament at Eastbourne.
Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: The View from the Chair by a Lawn Tennis Association professional tennis umpire at the National Tennis Centre, Roehampton (subject to availability).
Lunch: Excluded.
Afternoon: Free afternoon to maybe watch the Opening Rounds on TV as Novak Djokovic defends his title.
Dinner: Excluded.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotlel.
Morning: A full day at Centre Court, The Wimbledon Championships. Travel by underground to Southfields station (London travel card, underground map and useful information will be included in your welcome packet). Take a shuttle bus to The Wimbledon Experience, where you wil receive your reserved-seating tickets, Wimbledon souvenir map, official programme, complimentary tea, coffee and Danishes. You then have admission to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. For a sporting venue known for its strict adherence to tradition, the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum is impressively futuristic, with its 3D cinema explaining the science of the game and a holographic John McEnroe (yes, seriously) roaming the dressing room. Interviews with players are broadcast on TV screens and an interactive area allows visitors to handle racquets, test their reaction skills in simulation games and have their picture taken with the singles trophies. Tracing the history of lawn tennis, there is memorabilia dating as far back as 1555, while new additions to the collection include outfits worn in the 2011 Championships by winners Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova and an exhibition dedicated to Fred Perry. At the centre of the show are the famous Championship trophies, as held aloft by the game's greatest players. There is also a display dedicated to a proud Wimbledon tradition, the queue.
Lunch: Excluded.
Afternoon: The tennis continues.
Dinner: Excluded.
Evening: Tennis continues perhaps under the roof.
Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: The tennis continues at Wimbledon outer courts.
Lunch: Excluded.
Afternoon: Tennis on Centre Court.
Dinner: Excluded.
Evening: Tennis continues.
Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotlel.
Morning: Free day to enjoy London's many museums, galleries and parks.
Lunch: Excluded.
Afternoon: At leisure.
Dinner: Farewell dinner in the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.
Loved this trip! Well planned, great speakers, great seats at Wimbeldon and excellent leaders.
A wonderful experience in London and Wimbledon! Excellent seats at Centre Court for two days were the icing on the cake. A good blend of free time along with interesting group trips and talks. If Wimbledon is on your bucket list, this is a great way to do it!
If you love Tennis and Wimbledon, this is definitely your program.
An excellent experience for anyone wishing to attend two days at Wimbledon.
Excellent Program! "Seemed" to be expensive with all the free time and meals on your own, but the seats at Centre Court were wonderful! I hope to enroll again.