Day 1 — Depart the U.S for London

Depart the U.S. for London on individual flights.

Day 2 — London, Oxford

Arrive in London this morning and transfer to Oxford. Settle into your en suite dormitory lodgings at Merton College, the university’s first self-governing college, established in 1264. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner and plenary talk. (R, D)

Days 3–7 — Oxford

Delve into life as a student during morning classes in your chosen course at Merton College. Meet for lunch at the dining hall and in the afternoons, enjoy an organized excursion, expert lectures, or free time to get acquainted with the university and the town. Take part in an Oxford tradition with a High Table dinner, typically prepared for university fellows and their guests. 

Excursions: Take a guided tour of the historic and cultural highlights of Oxford town, and gain insights into the British educational system and the university’s role in it. Hear the story of James Smithson, a leading British scientist who attended Oxford—and later became the founding donor of the Smithsonian Institution. Alternative afternoon excursions are available for return travelers. In addition, take a field trip tailored to your specific course:

• The Rise & Fall of the British Empire: Travel to Sezincote House in Gloucester, constructed in 1805 when British India was becoming the “jewel in the crown” of the world’s largest empire.
• The Monarchy and the British Constitution, 1660-2023 :  Visit Windsor Castle in Berkshire, the royal residence associated with the English and then the British royal family, and learn about its rich architectural and cultural history.
• Secrets and Spies: Britain and the Second World War: Tour Bletchley Park, an estate outside London where the famous codebreakers of World War II worked to crack the Germans’ Enigma code—as depicted in the acclaimed movie The Imitation Game.
• Life, Legacy, and Literature of Charles Dickens: Visit the Charles Dickens Museum, a typical Georgian terraced house where Dickens lived while writing Oliver Twist.
• The Archaeology of Great Britain: Venture to the intriguing World Heritage site of Stonehenge and Avebury and learn about the latest theories about the sites’ significance  and recent archaeological finds.  
• Jane Austen in Context: Travel to the village of Chawton to tour the Jane Austen House Museum, set in a cottage where the author lived for the final eight years of her life. Continue to the nearby Chawton House Library, a historic Elizabethan home that houses the Centre for the Study of Early Women’s Writing.
• Keeping the Homes Fires Burning: Visit the Imperial War Museum and gain insight into the experiences of everyday people during the war; and tour the Churchill War Rooms, top-secret underground headquarters where Churchill and his network determined the course of World War II.

On your final evening, gather with your fellow Smithsonian students for a farewell reception followed by a celebratory dinner. (5B, 5L, 1R, 5D)

Day 8 — Oxford

After breakfast transfer to Heathrow Airport for individual flights back to the U.S. (B)