About the Tour
Eva Schubert, renowned history podcaster, will take you through the cobblestoned streets of London and back in time. We will be looking at London during the reign of its most notorious king: Henry VIII. He overturned the social order in England by creating the Church of England and putting himself in charge of it. He oversaw the Dissolution of Monasteries, which inspired a mass uprising. And of course, he married six different women and killed two of them, with all the drama that created. If Henry VIII wasn’t dramatic enough, three of his children wore the crown as well, making Tudor England a frequently terrifying place.
Eva will be your guide to seeing the city through the lens of its storied past. We will be visiting the Tower of London, where so many unhappy prisoners, including Queen Anne Boleyn, waited to learn their fate. You will stand in the hallowed halls of Westminster Abbey, where kings are crowned, and marvel at the beauty of St. Paul’s Cathedral. We will journey to Hampton Court, Henry’s summer palace, and to Canterbury — one of England’s most famous pilgrimage sites. You will even have the option of making the pilgrimage yourself, walking from London to Canterbury accompanied by stories from Chaucer’s famous Canterbury tales retold for your enjoyment. This pilgrimage ends with a stay within the precincts of the Cathedral complex – a rare treat.
Our goal is not only to experience the drama of the Tudors, but also a slice of everyday life in the England of their time. We will visit the Globe Theatre, as many ordinary people did, and the stunning city of Bath, with its incredible Roman bathing complex and abbey. We will even explore magnificent Windsor Castle, where the ghost of Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth I, is said to walk the halls. You will see how everyday rituals like pilgrimage and prayer for ordinary people changed during this tumultuous time, and step into the world of the Tudors.
In addition to stepping back in time, you’ll take in English gardens, enjoy the quintessentially British tea and scones, and walk along the Thames. Enjoy the pulsing life of a world class city with centuries of stories as you walk the streets of London!
This tour will have a number of guides, including local specialists and your Geek Nation representative who is devoted to your comfort. It will be led by Eva Schubert, creator of Villains and Virgins history podcast, Tudor nerd, and college instructor. She specializes in bringing history to life, with vivid portraits of people of the past and their world.
Pre-tour Pilgrimage: Experience the London to Canterbury pilgrimage! Pilgrimage was a staple of medieval Christianity, and no pilgrimage site in England was more famous than the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral, which houses the bones of the martyred Archbishop Thomas a Becket. This pilgrimage journey inspired Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”, and you will find out why these stories are still remembered today. We will walk in the footsteps of generations of pilgrims, with many a tale to lighten our steps until we reach Canterbury.
Another possibly for history buffs is our Signature Battlefield Series: Feudal Japan and the Battlefields of Sekigahara, Kawanakajima and Beyond
Optional Pre-Tour Add-on
Day 1 - London, England (Saturday, May. 23, 2026) / Pre-Tour Welcome Day
After your flight, stretch your legs and take in the skyline of one of the world’s great cities. We will gather to begin our Pilgrimage and Pre-Tour into Tudor England with a welcome dinner. You will also meet your guides, and guest host Eva Schubert.
Overnight Location: London, England
Day 2 - United Kingdom (Sunday, May. 24, 2026) / Pilgrimage London to Rochester
After a leisurely morning to recover from jet lag, you will have a chance to explore a bit of London before making your way to Rochester for traditional English tea. Visit the ancient cathedral, founded in 604 AD, and trace the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims who stopped here.
Overnight Location: Rochester, England
Day 3 - United Kingdom (Monday, May. 25, 2026) / Pilgrimage Rochester to Thurnham
Our pilgrim road begins, covering 19 kilometers at a relaxed pace. Your bags will be transported for you, leaving you free to walk with ease. Enjoy views of the eastern weald of Kent, an ancient stretch of meadow and woodland famous for its natural beauty. Wander past the remains of Thurnham castle, where fortifications have been built since Roman times.
Overnight Location: Thurnham, England
Day 4 - United Kingdom (Tuesday, May. 26, 2026) / Pilgrimage Thurnham to Lenham
Our 13 kilometer walk today takes us through the town of Hollingbourne with a stop at historic Leeds Castle. The castle features an outdoor maze and underground grotto. The day ends in the medieval village of Lenham, where there has been a market since the 11th century.
Overnight Location: Lenham, England
Day 5 - United Kingdom (Wednesday, May. 27, 2026) / Pilgrimage Lenham to Chilham
This is our longest walking day, passing through the village of Boughton Lees, with its 13th century All Saints Church. Then we head through Kings Wood, which has sheltered pilgrims since medieval times. We’ll end the day in the town of Chilham, with views of Chilham Castle, once owned by Henry VIII.
Overnight Location: Chilham, England
Day 6 - United Kingdom (Thursday, May. 28, 2026) / Pilgrimage Chilham to Canterbury
After breakfast, spend the morning walking the last 11 kilometers of the road to Canterbury. Take in the Roman era section of the city wall and enjoy lunch in the lively city streets. Visit the spectacular Cathedral and the monument of murdered archbishop Thomas a Becket. Watch the sun go down over the oldest cathedral in England and take in over 1400 years of history. Tomorrow we return to London.
Overnight Location: Canterbury, England
Day 7 - United Kingdom (Friday, May. 29, 2026) / Return to London
Today Pre-Tour participants have the opportunity to further explore Canterbury for the day or return to London for a free day there. Remember to return to the hotel early though for our Welcome Dinner.
Overnight Location: London, England
Main Tour
Day 1 - United Kingdom (Friday, May. 29, 2026) / Welcome to Tudor England!
Check into your hotel. Meet your guides, fellow tour participants and guest host Eva Schubert. Enjoy a welcome dinner as we begin our journey into the Tudor period.
Eva’s take: I am very excited to hear your favorite stories and questions about the Tudors!
Overnight Location: London, England
Day 2 - United Kingdom (Saturday, May. 30, 2026) / Tower of London and St. James's Palace
We will spend the day afoot, with a tour of the infamous Tower of London where so many prisoners spent their last days. Then we head to St. James’ Palace, built by Henry VIII and used as a royal residence by Elizabeth I.
Eva’s take: The grim history of the Tower has more than a few unquiet spirits.
Overnight Location: London, England
Day 3 - United Kingdom (Sunday, May. 31, 2026) / London to Hampton Court Palace and a River Cruise
We will be following the footsteps of Henry VIII and his court to his summer palace of Hampton Court. All six of Henry’s queens stayed here, and the ghost of one of them is still seen in its halls. The palace is surrounded by stunning gardens, and was the site of great feasts and entertainment. At the end of the day, you will have the option of taking the boat back to London on the Thames, just as the king often did.
Eva’s take: If you ever watched “A Man for All Seasons” you’ll know all about this boat ride. Hampton Court is amazingly beautiful. You can’t get closer to the Tudors than this!
Overnight Location: London, England
Day 4 - United Kingdom (Monday, Jun. 1, 2026) / Westminster Abby, St. Paul's, The Globe Theater
We will tour the halls of Westminster Abbey, where for centuries kings and queens of England have been crowned and married. From there, we will visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, a London landmark and the site of some very dramatic events. Then it’s on to Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, where England’s most famous playwright made his name,
Eva’s take: So many epic moments in English history occur in Westminster Abbey. It is an astonishing place full of names you will recognize. The Globe is its own pilgrimage for any Shakespeare fan.
Overnight Location: London, England
Day 5 - United Kingdom (Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2026) / Canterbury Cathedral
We will take the train to Canterbury, which has the oldest and most important Cathedral in England. Here we will marvel at the stained glass and architecture, while discovering how Henry VIII radically overhauled Christianity and reorganized the Church. Enjoy the opportunity to wander through the charming stone streets, ancient city walls, riverside gardens, and unique boutiques of the medieval town center.
Eva’s take: Canterbury is an absolute jewel of a city! There is so much to experience.
Overnight Location: London, England
Day 6 - United Kingdom (Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026) / London to Bath
Prepare for amazement today, when we take the train from London to the historic city of Bath. We will visit one of the best preserved Roman bath complexes anywhere, before we visit Bath Abbey, which suffered under Henry’s reign. Enjoy wandering the streets of this unique city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Eva’s take: The Roman baths in this city are simply amazing!
Overnight Location: Bath, England
Day 7 - United Kingdom (Thursday, Jun. 4, 2026) / Bath to Windsor Castle and back to London
Today we visit Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. It also houses a very impressive armour collection, including some worn by Henry VIII, and art by Tudor court painter Hans Holbein.
Eva’s take: We have a very special local guide to give us the inside tour of this incredible castle.
Overnight Location: London, England
Day 8 - London, England (Friday, Jun. 5, 2026) / Farewell Day
Wake up in London, enjoy an English breakfast, say your goodbyes, and catch your flight home.
Eva’s take: London is unforgettable.
Tour Notes
NOTE: We do a load of walking this tour. Please note that we can walk as much as 8 kilometers a day in our attempt to show you as many Tudor relevant spots as possible. Please keep this in mind. Further, there are steps. So going up and down hill is common. Further, we will often be outside so umbrellas, hats and good footwear are a must.
NOTE: Attendance of special guests and celebrities is subject to change due to scheduling conflicts and conflicting professional or personal obligations.
NOTE: The UK offers a variety of food and culinary choices… While in destination this tour, however, explores a variety of English cuisine and not all restaurants can accommodate all dietary needs. We will try our utmost in destination to accommodate everyone’s dietary needs, but some restrictions apply.
What's Included
All accommodations, Welcome & Farewell and most other dinners, breakfasts, some lunches and most entry fees and private guided tours as per the itinerary.
NOTE: Two Twin Beds is the norm in the UK. While we will request Kings and Queens, please note that couples may find their rooms have two beds.
NOTE: Some museums have limited entry and/or private tours available. Also, entry schedules for all museums are known to change. Geek Nation Tours will do our best to accommodate these changes and to book early. That said, we can not guarantee entry to any museum or destination until 2 months prior to departure.
What's Not Included
Airfare, some local taxi and subway fares. Lunches for the most part will be the responsibility of the tour participants. This includes and lunches needed for the pilgrimage.
NOTE: This tour will make extensive use of the local train and underground. Geek Nation Tours will help with the booking process, but it is the tour participants responsibility to reserve, confirm and arrive in a timely manner to all destinations. Train costs are not included in the tour price.
NOTE: This tour will also make extensive use of taxies and Uber. Geek Nation Tours will help with the booking process, but it is the tour participants responsibility to reserve, confirm and arrive in a timely manner to all destinations. Uber and taxi costs are not included in the tour price.
NOTE: The Leeds Castle optional stop during the pilgrimage is not included in the Pre-tour price. In addition, no entry fees to local destinations are include in the Pre-Tour.
Tour Price
Single-Occupancy Upgrade: $999.00 USD
Don’t have a friend to get the double occupancy rate? That is what Geek Nation Tours does. Book as a double occupancy and we will match you up a roommate… This way you get the best of both worlds – someone to BS about the con with – and more cash to spend!
Tariff Pricing Note: We live in very tumultuous times. Tariffs have created an environment where pricing is difficult at best and at times impossible months ahead. Geek Nation Tours, therefore, reserves the right to change prices at any time. All tours will now have prices reevaluated two months prior to departure and solidified at that time. We are so sorry for the instability this causes, but unfortunately it cannot be helped as it has been postulated that the tourism industry as a whole will see many price increases. While GNT strives to give the best price along with the best service and experience, we may be forced to increase tour pricing in the future.
Non-Geek Spouse Argument
But think of the History and the food!
