Spend a week living at historic Oxford University and sample life as a student at Merton College. Study with renowned Oxford tutors and delve into one of our fascinating courses.
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Smithsonian at Oxford
8 days from $4,995
Spend a week living at historic Oxford University and sample life as a student at Merton College. Study with renowned Oxford tutors and delve into one of our fascinating courses.
Tour Details
TOUR BROCHURE
brochure
WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
- Lyn G.The warm reception we received at Merton College made us feel that we really were Oxford students -- a very special sense of belonging.
- Blanche M.I love Shakespeare; I love to study and to study Shakespeare at Oxford and to see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform is a dream come true!
JOURNEYS DISPATCHES
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Merton College
Oxford, England
Merton College is a vibrant and diverse intellectual community that has been at the forefront of education and research at Oxford University since 1264. Nobel Prize winners and other cultural and scientific icons, such as T.S. Eliot and J.R.R Tolkien, adorn the list of eminent Mertonians. The living experience at this historic college include delicious food, beautiful gardens, historic architecture, and fine accommodation. All rooms have a private bathroom, with one or two single beds, a wardrobe, a bedside table, a chest of drawers, and a desk. All bedrooms include WiFi internet access, telephones, tea-and-coffee-making facilities, but no air conditioning or hair-dryers. Bedding is changed weekly, and the College Lodge is staffed 24-hours a day and open for inquiries from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information about Merton College, please click here to visit their website.
Number of nights: 6
Activity Level 2: Moderate
Expectations: Week-long stay featuring one destination. Light pace with daily activities of four to six hours, but also features independent time for personal interests. Most activities are based at Merton College and are within walking distance. Included day excursion beyond Oxford is by motor coach and may be a full day depending on the course selection and entails walking tours of up to three miles. Throughout the program, walking may be over uneven pavement and cobblestones, and may entail some stairs without handrails and absence of elevators. Note that Merton College does not have elevators and some travelers may need to ascend several flights of stairs in order to reach their rooms. Please reference information in the Accommodations tab for important information.
Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit and comfortable with longer days of touring (both walking tours and coach time).
London Post-Program Option — June Departure
Day 1 — Ham House, London
At the conclusion of our main program in Oxford, transfer to London. En-route visit Ham House, a stately 17th century house before checking into the Millennium Bailey’s Hotel. Tonight, gather for dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day 2 — The Queen’s Gallery, Royal Mews, and Kew Gardens
After breakfast, enjoy a visit to The Queen’s Gallery. Then, stroll through the Royal Mews, one of the finest working stables in existence, and responsible for all road travel arrangements for The Queen. Discover the opulent Spencer House, a fine example of an aristocratic 18th-century townhouse. In the afternoon, visit Kew Palace and Gardens for a tour. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure. Millennium Bailey’s Hotel (B)
Day 3 — Kenwood House and The Wallace Collection
This morning, visit Kenwood House, a beautiful villa belonging to Lord Mansfield, for a guided tour. Then, explore The Wallace Collection on a guided tour, and delve into the history of decorative arts, while admiring pieces dating back as far as the 15th century and as recently as the 18th century. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Millennium Bailey’s Hotel (B,D)
Day 4 — Depart
After breakfast transfer to London and Heathrow Airport for individual flights back to the U.S. (B)
London Post-Program Option — September Departure
Day 1 — Ham House, London
At the conclusion of our main program in Oxford, transfer to London. En-route visit Ham House, a stately 17th-century house before checking into the Millennium Bailey’s Hotel. Tonight, gather for dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day 2 – The Queen’s Gallery, Royal Mews, and Kew Gardens
After breakfast, enjoy a tour of The Queen’s Gallery. Then, take a stroll through the Royal Mews, one of the finest working stables in existence and responsible for all road travel arrangements for The Queen. In the afternoon, visit Kew Palace and Gardens for a special guided tour. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure. (B)
Day 3 – Kenwood House and The Wallace Collection
This morning, visit Kenwood House, a beautiful villa belonging to Lord Mansfield, for a guided tour. Then, explore The Wallace Collection on a guided tour, and delve into the history of decorative arts, while admiring pieces dating back as far as the 15th century and as recently as the 18th century. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day 4 – Depart
After breakfast transfer to London Heathrow for individual flights back to the U.S. (B)
Lectures take place in Oxford. Choose from one of five courses for the June departure: Winston Churchill, The Tudor Age, The Crusades: East and West, The American Revolution—Through British Eyes, and The Archaeology of Britain. Choose from one of two courses for the September departure: “Tragical-Comical” Shakespeare and The Country House in English Society.
Classes will be interspersed with excursions, including the Ashmolean Museum and Christ Church Picture Gallery in Oxford. Each course will also feature an additional special excursion tailored to its theme.
Winston Churchill (June)
Study Winston Churchill’s political career from 1900 to 1955 and gain an understanding of the profound political and social changes that took place in Britain over his lifetime. He was considered by many contemporaries to be a figure trapped by history as much as he was steeped in it. His influence continues, not just through the way he shaped events as a war leader and peacetime politician, and in the example, he gave of a certain political style, but in his voluminous writing about Victorian times and great events in his own lifetime, the First and Second World Wars.
Field Trip: The Churchill War Rooms
The Tudor Age (June)
The Tudor monarchs oversaw seismic political and religious changes that provoked heated debates in their own day and have done so ever since. To some of their subjects they were tyrants; to others they were divinely appointed saviors. This course explores the key political and religious events of 16th-century England and the factions that shaped them.
Field Trip: Hampton Court Palace
The Crusades: East and West (June)
The crusading movement has been a source of controversy since the First Crusade in the 1090s led to the capture of Jerusalem by Christians from Western Europe. This course will try to disentangle reality from myth, and will include looking at the crusades through the eyes of those who lived at the time, as well as of later generations.
Field Trip: Dorchester Abbey and Iffley Church
The American Revolution – Through British Eyes (June)
The American Revolution, one of the most significant events in modern history, is laden with epic symbolism, from the heroic efforts of the Founding Fathers to the repressive actions of a “mad” King George III. At the heart of this narrative is the idea that this revolution was a national fight for freedom and liberty-seeking Americans emerged triumphant against the forces of British tyranny. Yet for all the power of this image, the reality was more complex, and the divide less clear, as we shall discover in examining the revolt through the eyes of Georgian England.
Field Trip: Sulgrave Manor
The Archaeology of Britain (June)
In the 5th century, Britain ceased to be part of the Roman Empire and witnessed profound transformations, including the end of urban life, substantial migration from the Continent, a complete political re- structuring, and abrupt discontinuity in processes of production and exchange: a situation many would call “systems collapse.” Learn about the events of the next half millennium and the rise of many complex developments, including the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, trading sites, towns, churches, and monasteries, punctuated by Viking raids culminating in the establishment of the Danelaw.
Field Trip: the Staffordshire Hoard at the Birmingham Museum
The Country House in English Society (September)
This course examines one of the most fascinating elements of English society – the country house—through the changing lives of the aristocratic elites and the domestic staff who served them. From its Tudor origins and its Regency splendors to the dark days of World War I, the country house system—with all its nuances of class and status—served as a living symbol of wider social values and norms. But over time that culture itself began to dynamically transform, fueled by hopes of a newly equitable England. In that process the very nature of the country house would be transformed too, moving from private retreat to public hands and from home to heritage industry.
Field Trip: Buscot Park
Tragical-comical Shakespeare (September)
This course will focus on two of Shakespeare’s plays in which he explores the relationship between tragedy and comedy. Romeo and Juliet (1595) is so familiar that we often fail to recognize its innovation and daring as Shakespeare tears up the rulebook for writing tragedies. The zest that characterizes Shakespeare’s early career is evident in Romeo and Juliet but The Winter’s Tale (1610), written in his last, great dramatic phase, approaches the mingling of kings and clowns from a different perspective, one that is full of maturity and mastery and which explores the deepest and most difficult of human emotions. Study the plays within their historical context and discover how they have been adapted for stage and screen.
Field Trip: Stratford-upon-Avon and a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
- Lyn G.The warm reception we received at Merton College made us feel that we really were Oxford students -- a very special sense of belonging.
- Blanche M.I love Shakespeare; I love to study and to study Shakespeare at Oxford and to see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform is a dream come true!
For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes an on-tour Provided Insurance Plan through Travel Guard with the price of your tour. This travel insurance plan includes on-tour emergency evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance and worldwide travel assistance. You will receive details on this included insurance with your Tour Confirmation and Tour Bulletins after you book a tour (U.S. Residents only).
In addition, you may want to consider purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment from unforeseen events, such as missed flight connections, lost luggage, and cancelled plans. There are many plans you can consider. For your convenience, you may visit www.TravelGuard.com/SmithsonianJourneys or call Travel Guard at 1.800.208.6142 to learn more.
Our Mission
Smithsonian Journeys engages travelers in the mission of the Smithsonian – “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Like the Institution, our tours enrich our guests’ lives and satisfy their curiosity about the world around them. Your participation benefits the work of Smithsonian’s 19 museums, national zoo, and nine research centers, helping to preserve our national treasures and shape the future through science, research, and exhibitions.
What Is Included in the Tour Cost
- Expertise of Oxford Tutors.
- All accommodations (based on double occupancy).
- Meals as indicated on the tour page, including special welcome and farewell dinners (B-breakfast; L-lunch; R-reception; D-dinner).
- All sightseeing and visits as noted in each itinerary.
- Pre-tour information, including a reading list.
- Baggage handling for one bag plus one carry-on bag per person.
- Service charges and gratuities.
- All on-tour transportation, unless otherwise noted.
- On-tour emergency evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance and worldwide travel assistance (U.S. Residents only).
What Is Not Included in the Tour Cost
- Round-trip international airfare and air and departure taxes.
- Transfers to and from your home to the program site and transfers to and from the airports, unless specifically noted
- Passport fees, visas, and visa photos as required.
- Personal items such as wines, liquors, a-la-carte orders, meals other than specified.
- Room service and valet/laundry service.
- Expenses incurred by our tour operators in making individual travel arrangements in conjunction with the tour.
- Other items not specifically mentioned as included.
- Optional Travelers’ Protection Plan: Unexpected events before or during a trip may leave you with cancelled plans, lost luggage, or unforeseen medical expenses. This optional plan offers an affordable package of benefits and services that can provide coverage and assistance for the unexpected. Visit TravelGuard.com/SmithsonianJourneys to learn more.
Registration
Space is reserved in the order of receipt of phone or web reservations.
To submit a request for a reservation, please order using our secure online process, or call 855-330-1542 to speak with a Reservations Specialist, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Submitting an online request does not guarantee space on a tour. You will be notified of your status when your request has been received and processed. Please note: No new registrations can be accepted within 30 days of most tours. Some tours are more restrictive; please see individual tour pages for these exceptions.
To complete your request, the following is necessary:
Required Information
For all international departures, passport information including the following, in accordance with the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program as well as by our international travel partners: your full name as it appears on your passport, date of birth, and gender (for further information, please visit www.tsa.gov). In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, or if you use a different passport than originally cited, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue.
Payments
Deposit of $500 per person, per tour, payable by check to the tour operator or by major credit card, is required to reserve a space on a tour program. Deposits are applied to the payment of the program price.
Balance due upon invoicing at least 95 days prior to the program. If payment is not received by the final payment due date, your place cannot be guaranteed on the tour.
Late Registration
Any registration received within 95 days of departure is considered a “late registration” and must be subject to special confirmation. Payment in full must be made immediately by credit card or by check and sent by overnight mail to the tour operator before confirmation is possible.
Once confirmed, cancellation penalties apply as set forth below. If confirmation is not possible, all payments made will be refunded in full.
Late registration confirmation procedures apply to any participant who is transferred from the wait list to the program within the designated late registration period for that program.
For additional information, please call a Reservations Specialist at 855-330-1542, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) or visit www.SmithsonianJourneys.org/Contact.
A Note About Costs
Tour costs are based upon current airfares, tariffs, currency values, and on the basis of a minimum number of participants. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, they are subject to change. Should actual enrollments fall significantly below minimum numbers, a surcharge may be added. Due to fluctuations in oil prices, a fuel surcharge may be added to your tour fee (e.g. internal flights, cruises, etc.). Details and costs will be advised prior to departure.
Wait List
If the program(s) of your choice are fully subscribed, you will be placed on a wait list. If you choose to withdraw from the wait list, please notify us.
Please note that we are unable to keep you apprised of your status on the wait list. We will call you only if a space becomes available, but you are welcome to call us at your convenience to inquire about your status at 855-330-1542.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Per person cancellation fees are based on date of notice to Smithsonian Journeys.
- Cancellations within 7 days of booking (if not within final payment date): full refund.
- Cancellations after 7 days of booking: $500 retained (entire deposit).
- Final payment due: 95 days prior to departure.
- Cancellations made less than 95 days prior to departure: no refund.
- Cancellation by the Smithsonian: full refund.
- No refund for unused portions of the tour, including but not limited to, missed meals, hotel nights, and sightseeing.
Please understand that there will be no exceptions to our cancellation policy.
Air Service
For tour packages that include round-trip international airfare, rates are based on economy class from designated departure cities as shown. Airfares from other cities are available upon request. Airline upgrades at additional cost may be available on request for the international portion of your flight.
Since international and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time, we recommend that if you choose to make your own airline reservations, you do not purchase nonrefundable tickets or those with high penalties for changes.
Neither Smithsonian Journeys nor the tour operator has any liability for any loss resulting from tour cancellations or changes in international gateways, travel dates, or airline schedule changes. If an air schedule requires an overnight stay in a gateway city, the cost of the overnight will be at your expense. For tour packages that include round-trip international airfare, we will be happy to help with arrangements. Please note that seat assignment on your international flight is usually done at airport check-in. The tour operator is unable to guarantee any seat assignments.
When planning our tours that include international round-trip airfare, the tour operator contracts with those airlines that they feel provide the level of service, routings, and value necessary for your entire trip. While another airline may offer a more direct connection, it may be at a price unavailable at the lower group rates that enable us to offer you the best possible travel value. Please note that frequent flyer mileage credits are issued at the discretion of the airline(s) and may not be available for the flights on your tour. If you prefer to make your own airline reservations, “land only” pricing is available on most of our tours.
Individual Arrivals and Group Transfers
A designated group flight is not included on most tours. However, transportation from the arrival airport to the ship/hotel is included in your tour cost if you arrive in time to meet the scheduled group transfer. Your first tour bulletin will thoroughly explain the details of the options available for your individual flights.
Air Tickets Purchased Independently of the Tour
We urge you to check airline cancellation penalties before purchasing airline tickets since international departure times and flights can change. Tours also can be canceled due to low enrollments. Neither Smithsonian Institution nor the tour operator accepts liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased independently in conjunction with a tour.
Travel Insurance
For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes an on-tour Provided Insurance Plan, through Travel Guard, with the price of your tour. On-tour emergency evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance and worldwide travel assistance (U.S. Residents only). It also includes up to $25,000 medical and up to $500 dental expense coverage, and 24-hour worldwide travel and medical assistance. Please click here to view complete coverage details.
Please visit www.TravelGuard.com/SmithsonianJourneys or call Travel Guard at 1-800-208-6142 to learn about additional (optional) coverage.
Travel Documents
For all international departures, a passport valid for at least six months after the completion of your tour, and with at least six blank visa pages, is required for U.S. citizens on all tours in this catalog. If your tour requires a visa or other entry documents, we will send you the appropriate information after you make a reservation. You are responsible for obtaining these documents. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please contact your embassy or consulate to ensure you obtain the proper documentation.
Physical and Medical Considerations
Please note that these tours require that participants be in good physical condition. You must be capable, without assistance, of walking a minimum of two miles over uneven terrain and of climbing stairs that may not have handrails. Participants should have sufficient stamina to keep pace with an active group of travelers on long days of touring. If you have any questions about your ability to participate in a tour, please call us at 855-330-1542. Some tours have additional notes regarding physical and medical considerations, which are noted on the Tour Information link.
Itinerary or Program Modifications
Smithsonian strives to improve tour itineraries and their features. If improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary itineraries and to substitute hotels. Every effort will be made to carry out the program as planned but alterations may still occur after the final itinerary is sent. Please note that weather conditions may force changes to the advertised sailing schedule on cruise programs. The ship’s captain has the authority to change the ship’s schedule.
Accommodations
Smithsonian chooses hotels based on a combination of their location, service, atmosphere, and price. On adventure tours and programs in out-of-the-way places, best-available hotels are used. In most cases, hotels have elevators and meeting rooms for Smithsonian lectures. Program prices are based on two persons sharing a room with a bath.
Singles and Roommates
Hotel rooms are always reserved for single travelers; however, the number of single rooms available on a tour may be limited. Therefore we recommend that you register early. Please note that a single supplement will apply for a single room. If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room, we will do our best to find someone of the same gender and smoking preference to share with you. If you are matched with a non-smoking roommate, it is mutually agreed that you cannot smoke in your hotel room. When a roommate cannot be found, the single supplement will be charged.
Children
All tours, except family programs, are designed for adults. Some may be suitable for older children. Regardless of age, children must pay full price unless otherwise noted, and a parent or guardian must accompany those under 18.
Special Travel Arrangements
Participants may wish to extend their stay in the group hotel. Please note that the tour operator can assist you in making post-tour arrangements only. We regret that we are unable to help with pre-tour arrangements.
Photography
Participants on tour may be photographed for the educational and promotional purposes of the Smithsonian Institution. Photographs may be printed in publications and posted on websites to promote Smithsonian Journeys. Travelers who prefer that their image not be used must advise the tour manager at the beginning of the tour.
Smoking Policy
For the comfort of all participants, we ask that there be no smoking during all group activities, including excursions and meals. On certain cruises, there is no smoking aboard the ship. Your pre-tour bulletins will provide further information.
Preparing for Your Journey
Prior to departure, you will receive Tour Bulletins containing both general and tour specific information to help you prepare for your travel experience. These bulletins will include:
- Passport and visa instructions
- Flight information
- Weather, clothing, and packing suggestions
- A suggested reading list
- General information about the countries you will visit, e.g. the food, customs, medical precautions, and currency.
- Information about your Smithsonian Journeys Expert and tour staff
- Baggage tag(s) and name badge(s)
- Final itinerary
- Participant list
RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
Read Carefully: Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer
Smithsonian Journeys are managed by professional tour operators hired as independent contractors. The use of tour operators allows the Smithsonian to offer its members a wide array of educational travel opportunities. The tour operator acts only as an agent for the respective suppliers by making arrangements for transportation, accommodations, and other services. Neither the Smithsonian Institution nor the tour operator shall be held liable for personal injury, death, property damage or accident, delay or irregularity arising out of any act or omission of these suppliers. The Smithsonian Institution and the tour operator reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of tour participants.
The Smithsonian Institution and the tour operator also reserve the right, without penalty, to withdraw the tour announced, to decline to accept any person as a participant in a tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at any time, when such action is determined by tour staff to be in the best interests of the health, safety or general welfare of the tour group or the individual participant, subject only to the requirement that the recoverable portion of the total amount paid that corresponds to the cost of unused services and accommodations be refunded, if any. If your tour does not include airfare, your Tour Bulletins will provide information about when participants are recommended to purchase airline tickets. The Smithsonian Institution and the tour operator accept no liability for the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets to/from the tour departure city if a tour is canceled or otherwise modified subsequent to the participant’s purchase of those tickets. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.
Dates, schedules, program details, and costs, although provided in good faith based on information available at the time of publication of the brochure or catalog, are subject to change and revision.
AS A CONDITION OF ACCEPTANCE OF ANY APPLICATION, EACH APPLICANT MUST AGREE TO THE STATEMENT SET FORTH BELOW:
The undersigned has read carefully the Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer set forth above, the schedule of activities for this tour, as well as the terms and conditions of application and participation as set forth in the tour brochure(s), and recognizes and accepts any risk associated with the tour and the conditions, including the refund policy, set forth in the tour brochure(s). The undersigned further acknowledges that there are many risks and uncertainties inherent in any travel tour, including but not limited to the hazards of various modes of transportation, forces of nature, acts or omissions of foreign governments, terrorism, war or insurrection, theft, illness, and damage to person or property due to the negligent acts or omissions of tour staff or others. In consideration of, and as part payment for, the right to participate in the tour, the undersigned, on behalf of himself, his dependents, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, agrees to release the Smithsonian Institution, its Regents, officers, employees, representatives or agents, the United States, and the tour operator and its officers, employees and agents, from liability for personal injury, death, property damage or loss suffered by any person in connection with this tour, even if caused by the negligence (but not the reckless, willful, or fraudulent conduct) of tour staff or other related persons or entities. In addition, by registering for this tour, the applicant certifies that he or she is mentally and physically capable of full participation in this tour.
By registering for a Smithsonian Journey, the participant agrees to the Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer and the Terms and Conditions herein.
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