The Best of England and Wales: Shakespeare to Snowdonia, Castles to Colleges

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United Kingdom

• Your passport must have 1 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

• Your visa can be secured electronically. You may use the services of our designated visa service, Passport Visa Express, please see details on the process and the price at Passport Visa Express. If you prefer you may secure your electronic visa on your own, see the notes below for details.

Please note: American & Canadian passport holders traveling to or through the United Kingdom will need authorization via the UK Government's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Visa. The application is available online and via the UK ETA App at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta#apply-for-an-eta. You will need your passport information to complete the form. Once received, the application is expected to be processed within three business days. Once you have received confirmation, it will be valid for two years or until your passport expires (whichever occurs first). You must apply before entering the UK.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on October 7, 2026

Meet the group at Macdonald Hotel Windsor in Windsor

Start of Trip:  12:30 p.m. Lunch; 3:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 5:00 p.m. Orientation; 6:30 p.m. Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: A taxi from the airport to the hotel should cost approximately GBP35 to GBP45, a journey of approximately 12 miles. Buses between Heathrow and Windsor town center (routes 703, 8 and 9) depart from the bus stands outside Terminal 5. Journeys take between 50 minutes and 1.5 hours depending upon route, 703 being the fastest. Tickets should cost GBP6.50 if purchased on the bus (cash, contactless cards and mobile device payments are accepted). Buses used on these routes have plenty of luggage space. There are free trains and buses within the airport to reach Terminal 5. We do not advise travelling by rail to the hotel, as this would require changing trains twice.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Trains available to Windsor

Your trip ends on: Monday, October 19, 2026 in Manchester at Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

End of Trip: 10:00 a.m. after breakfast; 12:00 Noon hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: The Holiday Inn Manchester Airport is located a 5 minute walk from Manchester Airport Terminal 2. For those departing from Terminal 1, use the travellator between terminals which will take approximately 20 minutes. For those departing from Terminal 3, the hotel is approximately a 30 minute walk via terminal 2. At peak times T1 and T3 may be slower as you can only use lifts to change levels with a suitcase.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.