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Christmas in Canterbury
December 20, 2010
Starting at $4,995

Join fellow Smithsonian travelers to celebrate a traditional Christmas in the ancient cathedral city of Canterbury. Explore the medieval city known to Chaucer's pilgrims and meet contemporary pilgrims in town to celebrate the holidays. Experience the cathedral during the feast of Christmas, attending the traditional Lessons and Carols and Christmas Day service, which is presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the frost-covered landscape of Kent, visit Rochester, once home to Charles Dickens, and Leeds Castle, one of the loveliest in England.

Day 1 ~ U.S.; London and Canterbury
Depart the U.S. for London on individual flights. Upon arrival the next day, take a group transfer to the County Hotel in Canterbury. Gather this evening for a welcome reception and dinner to celebrate the beginning of your holiday.

Day 2 ~ Canterbury
Get to know historic Canterbury during a walking tour with your Study Leader. See Roman defensive walls and pavements, and stop at St. Martin's, the oldest parish church in continuous use in England. Follow cobbled streets known to Chaucer's pilgrims and thousands of others who made this city the most popular medieval pilgrimage site in England. Enter the hallowed halls of Canterbury's renowned cathedral, the ultimate symbol of English Christianity. Learn of its history as a powerful Benedictine abbey and hear the story of the murder of St. Thomas Becket and the penance paid by Henry II. View the beauty and genius of its medieval architecture, and marvel at the stained glass, the largest and finest collection of late 12th-century glass in the world. This evening, a local expert discusses Canterbury's magnificent stained glass.

Day 3 ~ London
Visit Spencer House, the spectacular private palace that was once the London residence of the Earls of Spencer. Take a private tour of this meticulously restored 18th-century house, discover the romantic history of the first Spencers, and gain a sense of London during the age of the Grand Tour. Under your Study Leader's tutelage, learn about the collections of the British Museum, founded in 1753 as one of the first public museums in the world. See the Rosetta Stone, the Portland Vase, and the Elgin Marbles, among other ancient treasures.

Day 4 ~ Christmas Eve Day
Enjoy a morning at leisure to soak up the holiday cheer of Canterbury. Return to the cathedral for the traditional Anglican service of Lessons and Carols sung by the cathedral choir. Afterward, join local residents for carol singing in the market square and finish the day with a Christmas Eve feast at your hotel.

Day 5 ~ Christmas in Canterbury
Join worshippers from throughout the world for Christmas Day Eucharist in the cathedral. Hear the joyous choir sing at full capacity and participate in the beautiful Christmas Day service, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and leader of the Anglican Communion worldwide. Enjoy a traditional English Christmas midday dinner of roast turkey and sausages, Yorkshire pudding, and a flaming plum pudding for dessert, and pull a "Christmas cracker." Spend Christmas afternoon with new-found friends?gathering for a walk, board game, or conversation. Conclude your day with a casual supper and traditional mince pies.

Day 6 ~ Leeds Castle and Rochester
Enjoy a Boxing Day tour of moated Leeds Castle, one of the loveliest in England. Of Saxon origin, the buildings were later transformed by Henry VIII from a fortification into an extravagant rural palace. Set within 400 acres of gardens landscaped by Capability Brown, the castle was restored in the 20th century and features fine 18th-century furnishings. In charming Rochester, visit the Romanesque cathedral and discover the city that was once home to Charles Dickens. See the 17th-century house that was the inspiration for Miss Havisham's home, the Guildhall where Pip was indentured, and Watts Charity, now the Charles Dickens Center. This evening, bask in the warmth of new Christmas traditions and new friends at a farewell reception and dinner.

Day 7
Group transfer for the U.S. on individual flights.

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