LONDON & THE BRITISH EMPIRE

A tailored small group journey exploring History, Theatre, Art, & Food

TOUR DATES

May 30 to June 8, 2026

TOUR PRICE

$500 per person, excluding flights, airport transfer, and hotel accommodation

TOUR DEPOSIT

A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on the tour. The remaining balance will be required by March 1. To book, please contact Boise State Osher Director Dana Thorp Patterson.

GROUP SIZE

Minimum of 10. Maximum of 16.

ITINERARY

Flights from the United States arrive in London in the early morning. At 5pm on the evening of Saturday 30 May, meet your tour leader and fellow travelers in the lobby of Marrable’s Farringdon Hotel for introductions. Dinner follows in a nearby restaurant.

The tour will spend the next 9 days and 10 nights in London. Likely site visits and activities include SkyGarden, the Old Royal Naval College, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Museum in Docklands, Dr. Johnson’s House, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Maritime Museum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum, alongside a walking tour of Imperial London led by Kim Dewdney, a Thames River Cruise with Dr. Janet Dickinson, a London Slavery Walk led by Dr. William Pettigrew, a walking tour of the Legacies of the British Empire led by Manasi Pophale, as well as behind-the-scenes museum visits led by Celine McDaid, Dr. Liberty Paterson, Dr. John McAleer, and an Indian cookery lesson with celebrity chef Monisha Bharadwaj.

The tour also includes six evening group dinners, three West End shows, and select other evening activities. There will be two free half-days and Wednesday 3 May will be entirely free.

 The tour ends at 9pm on the evening of Monday 8 May.

INCLUSIONS

The tour price includes all scheduled site visits, guided tours, guest speakers, three theatre shows, five evening group meals (including Brasserie Zedel, Daquise, Dream Xi’an, Ottolenghi Islington, and Darjeeling Express, or equivalent), and the services of the expert Tour Leader throughout. It also includes all public transport in London. Please note that it does not include flights, airport transfers, hotel accommodation, or tipping.

FLIGHTS

Travelers make and pay for their own flight arrangements and transfer arrangements from Heathrow and can choose to arrive before the May 30 program start date, and stay later than the June 8 program end date.

HOTEL

Travelers make and pay for their own hotel arrangements. However, we recommend you consider either Yotel London City (mid-range) or Marrable’s Farringdon Hotel (premium mid-range), as they are close to one another in a convenient location and each have air-conditioning.

Overview

This exciting international travel tour focuses on the people, places, and policies that shaped the development of the British Empire, the single largest trans-cultural phenomenon in the world since 1500. During our visits to political and cultural sites in London we will examine how ideology, migration, technology, and resistance shaped the expansion and eventual retrenchment of British imperial power in the Atlantic world and the Indian sub-continent.

From the curry houses of East London, to the city’s surviving docklands, to the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Samuel Johnson House, we will be out and about each day. With the nation’s capital as our classroom, we will explore the complex workings and legacies of the British Empire from the perspective of its nerve center. The tour illuminates the experience of empire for subjects both in the colonies and the metropole and will pay particular attention to the maritime origins of empire, the lives of Black Britons and the abolition of slavery, and the rise and fall of the British in India.

Tour Leader Dr. Richard Bell has a particular expertise in the history of the British Empire and will provide background on the history, culture, and architecture of London, as well as tailored walking tours throughout, spanning famous sights and hidden gems alike. In addition, expert scholars will conduct several gallery visits. There will also be plenty of free time to relax and for individual sightseeing, enjoying the beauty of the British capital in the early summer.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

U.S. citizens will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before traveling to the UK, a new requirement that started in 2025. The ETA is a pre-travel electronic screening and costs around £16 (about $20), is valid for two years, and is applied for online or via the UK ETA app. You will need a valid U.S. passport, your personal and travel information, and a debit or credit card to pay the fee.

WEATHER

London is likely to experience pleasant summer weather with mild temperatures averaging around 20-21°C (70-71°F), plenty of sunshine, and a moderate chance of occasional rain showers. We recommend you pack a mix of light clothing for warmer periods and a jacket or light rainwear for cooler or wet spells. 

FITNESS REQUIREMENTS

This tour is appropriate for travelers in good health with good mobility. To participate, you should be able to comfortably participate in up to three hours of physical activity per day, including walking at an easy pace, with only short breaks.

CONTACT

For program questions contact Tour Leader Dr. Richard Bell or Boise State Osher Director Dana Thorp Patterson.