Great Britain
Explore the rich Catholic heritage of Great Britain on this inspiring pilgrimage. From the bustling heart of London—where you’ll visit iconic sites such as Westminster Cathedral, Tower of London, and the historic precincts surrounding Westminster Abbey—to the sacred calm of St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh and the historic ruins of Walsingham Priory, you will immerse yourself in the faith-filled traditions that have shaped the Church across the isles. This journey offers the opportunity to venerate beloved saints and martyrs such as St Alban, St Edmund Campion, St Thomas Becket, St Columba, and St David, while admiring some of Britain’s most magnificent churches and holy sites. Along the way, you will encounter the complex legacy of the Reformation—a turbulent era that challenged, purified, and ultimately strengthened the perseverance of the Catholic faithful throughout England and Scotland. Join us for an unforgettable pilgrimage celebrating the enduring Catholic spirit, historic devotion, and timeless beauty of Great Britain.
Visit: St. Edward the Confessor, St. Thomas More, St. John Fisher, St. Thomas Becket, St. Augustine of Canterbury, St. Mellitus, St. Laurence of Canterbury, St. Oliver Plunkett, St. John of Beverley, St. Cuthbert, St. Bede the Venerable, St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, St. John Henry Newman, Tyburn Convent, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, St. Alban’s Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, St. Augustine’s Abbey, Church of St. Francis Xavier and St. David Lewis, Harvington Hall, Birmingham Oratory, Basilica of St. Chad, Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Padley House, National Shrine of St. Winefride, York Oratory, Shrine of St. Margaret Clitherow, Bar Convent, Durham Cathedral, Lindisfarne Priory, St. Aidan’s Church, Edinburgh Castle, St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral
Your trip includes
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Round-trip airfare from Dulles International Airport
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Non-stop flights
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Coach transportation from your parish to Dulles (IAD) and back.
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All airport taxes and fuel surcharges
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Hotel accomodations:
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2 nights: near or in Canterbury, England
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1 night: Bransfield, England
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1 night: Peterborough, England
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1 night: Sheffield, England
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2 nights: York, England
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2 nights: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Single supplements, while available
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Transfers as per itinerary
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Breakfast and dinner daily
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Wine and mineral water with dinners
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Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
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Tour escort throughout
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Assistance of professional local Catholic guide(s) as appropriate
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Sightseeing and admission fees as per Itinerary
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Mass daily and spiritual activities
Not included:
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Lunches and beverages not mentioned
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Tips to your guide & driver.
Itinerary
Dulles International Airport
Day 1
After a pilgrimage Mass at your parish, transfer by coach bus to Dulles International Airport to catch an evening nonstop flight for an early arrival at Heathrow Airport.
Day 2
Begin your pilgrimage in the heart of London, where centuries of Catholic faith and witness come alive. Your first stop is Tyburn Convent, a place hallowed by the memory of more than 100 Tyburn Martyrs—men and women who gave their lives for the Catholic faith during the Reformation. In this quiet sanctuary, you’ll pray where their sacrifice is honored daily by the Benedictine Adorers of the Sacred Heart. You then continue to Westminster Abbey, one of England’s most historic churches, whose roots stretch back over a thousand years and whose chapels hold the stories of countless saints, monarchs, and martyrs who shaped Christian history.
Next, you visit Westminster Cathedral, the mother church for Catholics in England and Wales, where you will celebrate Mass amid its soaring Byzantine architecture and beautiful chapels honoring saints such as St. John Southworth, whose relics are enshrined here. After lunch near the Tower of London, you’ll explore this iconic fortress, long associated with Catholic heroes like St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher. The day concludes with a peaceful transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight, as you reflect on the profound faith, courage, and legacy of the saints who sanctified this city.
Westminster Abbey, London
Canterbury Cathedral
Day 3
Today’s journey takes you to Canterbury, one of the most sacred destinations in English Christianity and a centerpiece of Catholic heritage. Your visit begins at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church before continuing to the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral, the site of St. Thomas Becket’s martyrdom in 1170. His courageous defense of the Church against royal interference made him one of the most venerated saints in medieval Christendom, and pilgrims have traveled to this holy place for more than eight centuries. Here, you will walk in the very spot where Becket gave his life and where countless miracles were reported through his intercession.
You then continue to St. Augustine’s Abbey, founded in the 6th century by St. Augustine of Canterbury, the first Archbishop of Canterbury and “Apostle to the English.” This ancient monastic complex marks the birthplace of English Christianity and the site where early missionary bishops and Anglo-Saxon kings were laid to rest. If time permits, you may also visit St. Augustine’s Church, a modern shrine dedicated to the revival of Catholic life in England. After this rich immersion in the roots of the Faith, you return to your hotel for dinner and overnight, carrying with you the enduring witness of Saints Thomas Becket and Augustine of Canterbury.
Day 4
Begin your day in the ancient town of St. Albans, home to St. Alban’s Cathedral—the site of Britain’s first Christian martyr. Here, pilgrims will walk in the footsteps of St. Alban, a courageous convert who sheltered a persecuted priest and ultimately gave his life in witness to Christ. The cathedral, rich with centuries of prayer and devotion, offers the opportunity to connect with the very roots of English Christianity and to honor the enduring legacy of the nation’s protomartyr.
Afterward, journey west into the serene countryside of Wales to visit the Church of St. Francis Xavier and St. David Lewis in Usk. This quiet but deeply holy site honors St. David Lewis, a beloved Welsh Jesuit priest martyred in 1679 during the anti-Catholic persecutions. Together with St. Francis Xavier—one of the greatest missionaries in Church history—this church invites pilgrims to reflect on courage, missionary zeal, and steadfast fidelity to the faith. Following your visit, you continue to your hotel for dinner and a restful overnight.
St. Alban's Cathedral
Harvington Hall
Day 5
Begin your morning at Harvington Hall, one of England’s most remarkable houses of the recusant era. This beautifully preserved manor is renowned for its numerous priest holes—ingenious hiding places that sheltered outlawed Catholic priests during the Reformation. As you walk through its quiet halls and hidden chambers, you’ll encounter the heroic stories of Jesuit missionaries such as St. Nicholas Owen, the master builder of these secret refuges who ultimately gave his life in defense of the faith. Harvington Hall stands today as a powerful witness to the endurance, bravery, and unwavering devotion of English Catholics who risked everything to preserve the sacraments.
Your pilgrimage continues to the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Birmingham, a vibrant spiritual home founded in the tradition of the joyful and humble “Apostle of Rome.” Here you will be connected to the legacy of Blessed John Henry Newman, who lived, prayed, and ministered within the Birmingham Oratory’s walls. You then visit the Basilica of St. Chad, the first Catholic cathedral built in England after the Reformation and a symbol of the Church’s rebirth. Celebrating Mass in this sacred space offers a moment of deep renewal before transferring to your hotel in Peterborough for dinner and overnight.
Day 6
Begin your day by journeying to one of England’s most cherished spiritual destinations—the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham. Known as “England’s Nazareth,” Walsingham has been a place of profound Marian devotion since 1061, when the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Lady Richeldis and asked her to build a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth. As you walk the grounds of the Basilica and the nearby Anglican Shrine, you will be entering centuries of uninterrupted prayer, pilgrimage, and healing grace. Walsingham has long been a symbol of England’s deep love for Our Lady and continues to draw pilgrims seeking renewal, intercession, and peace.
Your visit to the Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham offers time to honor Mary under one of the most beloved titles in the British Isles. Here, pilgrims reflect on the Incarnation, on the humility of the Holy House, and on Our Lady’s enduring presence in the life of the faithful. After praying in this tranquil and holy place, you begin your scenic transfer north, stopping for lunch along the way, before arriving in Sheffield for dinner and an overnight stay.
Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
Shrine of St. Winefride
Day 7
Your day begins with a meaningful visit to Padley House, a place hallowed by the witness of the Padley Martyrs—Blessed Nicholas Garlick, Blessed Robert Ludlam, and Blessed Richard Sympson. These courageous priests were arrested here in 1588 for ministering secretly to England’s persecuted Catholic faithful and were later executed for their steadfast devotion to the Mass and the sacraments. As you stand within the quiet grounds of Padley House, you will be invited to reflect on the bravery of those who risked everything to keep the faith alive during one of the most turbulent periods in English Catholic history.
You then continue to the National Catholic Shrine of St. Winefride in Holywell, one of the oldest and most revered pilgrimage sites in Britain. Known as the “Lourdes of Wales,” this shrine honors St. Winefride, a 7th-century Welsh virgin-martyr whose miraculous spring has been a source of healing and grace for over a thousand years. Here, you will celebrate Mass and have the opportunity to pray at the holy well that has drawn pilgrims for centuries. After your visit, you travel on to the historic city of York for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 8
Begin your walking pilgrimage through the historic city of York, a place rich with Catholic heritage and the courageous witness of the English martyrs. Your first stop is the York Oratory, a vibrant center of prayer and devotion rooted in the spirituality of St. Philip Neri, known for his joy, humility, and love of the sacraments. From there, you continue to the Shrine of St. Margaret Clitherow, the “Pearl of York,” a wife and mother who was martyred in 1586 for harboring priests and remaining faithful to the Catholic Church during a time of fierce persecution. Standing in the very street where she offered her courageous witness provides a powerful moment of reflection on fidelity, sacrifice, and the quiet heroism of lay saints.
Your day continues with a visit to the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, England’s oldest surviving Catholic convent, founded secretly in 1686 by the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here you will encounter remarkable stories of hidden chapels, coded communication, and the perseverance of the Catholic community through centuries of suppression. After this inspiring morning, enjoy a free afternoon for rest, quiet prayer, and exploration of York’s historic beauty before returning to your hotel for dinner and another peaceful overnight.
York Oratory
Durham Cathedral
Day 9
Your morning begins with a visit to Kiplin Hall, the ancestral home of George Calvert, the First Lord Baltimore. A convert to Catholicism during a time of intense religious division, Calvert’s legacy would ultimately shape the founding of Maryland as a refuge for Catholics seeking freedom to worship. Walking through the halls and grounds of his estate offers a window into the faith, vision, and perseverance of a man whose Catholic convictions helped pave the way for religious liberty in the New World. This quiet yet deeply meaningful stop grounds the day in the enduring themes of faith, heritage, and hope.
You then continue to Durham Cathedral, a masterpiece of Norman architecture and one of the most important Christian sites in northern England. Here rest the relics of two towering saints: St. Cuthbert, beloved monk and miracle-worker of Lindisfarne, and the Venerable Bede, the great historian and Doctor of the Church. After venerating these holy saints, your journey leads to the sacred island of Lindisfarne, where you will visit the priory and celebrate Mass at St. Aidan’s Church—the birthplace of English monasticism and the launching point of the Northumbria mission. Filled with the spirit of the early Celtic saints, you then travel north into Scotland, arriving in Edinburgh for dinner and overnight.
Day 10
Begin your day by visiting Dunfermline Abbey, one of Scotland’s most treasured holy sites and the resting place of St. Margaret of Scotland, the beloved queen known for her charity, holiness, and profound influence on the spiritual life of the nation. Here you will walk in the footsteps of a saint who transformed Scottish religious practice, strengthened the Church, and lived the Gospel with remarkable humility and grace. The abbey’s serene setting invites prayer and reflection as you venerate the tomb of this revered queen, whose legacy continues to inspire Christians throughout the world.
Returning to Edinburgh, your pilgrimage continues with a visit to Edinburgh Castle, where the ancient origins of Scotland’s Christian heritage still echo through its storied halls. You then proceed to St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, the spiritual heart of the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh. This beautiful cathedral offers a prayerful setting to honor the saints and martyrs who shaped the faith in Scotland, including St. Margaret, St. Columba, and numerous lesser-known witnesses to the Gospel. Together, these sacred places illuminate the deep Catholic roots of Scotland and the enduring witness of its holy men and women.
Day 11
Depart Edinburgh on a convenient mid-morning nonstop flight to Washington Dulles. Upon arrival in the United States, you’ll be met by your motorcoach for the final leg of your journey, returning together to the parish from which you first set out—bringing your pilgrimage full circle.
AMDG Travel Disclaimer
From time to time, local religious or national holidays, weather, traffic conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances may require adjustments to the sequence of activities or result in the omission of certain sites or events. While every effort will be made to operate the itinerary as planned, it should be understood that the itinerary serves as an indication of the planned schedule rather than a binding guarantee of specific stops or events.
