The Vancouver Opera Guild invites you to join its exciting tour to England travelling through the beautiful countryside from London to Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex enjoying memorable opera at venues along the way.
GLYNDEBOURNE * GARSINGTON * GRANGE PARK * ROYAL OPERA * THE GRANGE FESTIVAL
Performances at Garsington, The Grange Festival, Glyndebourne and Grange Park commence around 5:00 p.m. and feature a 90 minute dining interval between the two acts. One picnic dinner and three dinners have been included for these evenings.
OPERA TICKET ORDERS HAVE TO BE FINALISED BY THE END OF JANUARY.
WE THEREFORE CANNOT GUARANTEE AVAILABILITY OF OPERA TICKETS FOR RESERVATIONS RECEIVED AT A LATER DATE.
PLEASE BOOK EARLY.
TOUR SCHEDULE
(subject to minor change)
Tue. June 21:London
The tour starts at the Strand Palace Hotel in London today. There will be a welcome reception at the hotel this afternoon.
Overnight accommodation at the hotel.
Wed. June 22:London - Oxford
Leave London this morning for Oxford. On arrival take a guided city walking tour viewing the various university buildings and the Radcliffe Camera building and including entrance to Magdalen College.
Accommodation at the Mercure Eastgate Hotel for three nights.
Thu. June 23:Oxford - Highgrove Excursion
Day excursion to Highgrove House near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, the family home of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The two hour garden tour takes you through the series of highly individual gardens that bring to life the prince’s own horticultural ideas and gives insight into his creativity and imagination.
Fri. June 24:Oxford – Garsington Opera
Free day in Oxford. Mid-afternoon departure for Stokenchurch and a performance of Dvořák’s Rusalka by Garsington Opera at the Wormsley Estate.A picnic dinner is included during the long intermission. Return to Oxford following the performance.
The opera was founded in 1989 by the late Leonard Ingrams and his wife Rosalind at Garsington Manor, near Oxford.It moved to the Wormsley Estate, home of the Getty family, in 2011.Performances take place in the spectacular 600 seat Opera Pavilion which sits within the rolling landscape of the Chiltern Hills.
Sat. June 25:Oxford – Salisbury
Morning departure by coach from Oxford to Salisbury. Stop in Winchester enroute and take a guided city walking tour including entrance to the beautiful Cathedral. Afternoon at leisure in Salisbury.
Accommodation at the BW Red Lion for three nights.
Sun. June 26:Salisbury – The Grange Festival
Morning at leisure in Salisbury. Mid-afternoon departure for Alresford and a performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Yeoman of the Guard by The Grange Festival.Dinner is included during the long intermission.
The Grange, one of the most celebrated neo-classical mansions in Britain, is located in stunning countryside in Hampshire and is owned by the family of John Baring, Lord Ashburton. Operas are performed in the 550 seat conservatory of the 17th century mansion.
Mon. June 27:Salisbury – Avebury Manor & Wilton House Excursion
Avebury Manor & Garden is a National Trust property consisting of an early 16th century manor house and its surrounding garden.The delightful garden is arranged as a series of ‘rooms’, each with a different character. Also visit nearby Wilton House, a stunning Grade 1 listed country mansion that has been home to the Earls of Pembroke for centuries.
Tue. June 28:Salisbury – Brighton - Glyndebourne
Leave Salisbury this morning for England’s south coast and accommodation for three nights at Jury’s Inn.
Leave the hotel mid-afternoon for the short transfer to Glyndebourne and a performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. Dinner is included during the intermission.
Glyndebourne is an opera house in the heart of the Sussex countryside. It began with a love story in 1934 when founder John Christie met soprano Audrey Mildmay and is now one of the most celebrated opera houses in the world.
Wed. June 29:Brighton
Morning at leisure and an opportunity to walk along the famous pier.
This afternoon an excursion to Petworth House. Inspired by the Baroque palaces of Europe and nestled in the South Downs, Petworth House displays one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust. The estate includes a garden designed by ‘Capability’ Brown, deer park, café and gift shop.
Thu. June 30:Brighton – Grange ParkOpera
Morning at leisure.Afternoon departure to West Surrey for a performance of Verdi’s Otello by Grange Park Opera starring Sir Simon Keenlyside.Dinner is included.
Grange Park Opera relocated to West Horsley Place in Surrey in 2017.In 11 months, founder Wasfi Kani CBE and her team built a five storey opera house seating 700.West Horsley Place is a 350-acre estate with a glorious sprawling 14th century house surrounded by formal gardens.
Fri. July 1:Brighton – London
Return to London today.
This evening a performance of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte by the Royal Opera at Covent Garden.
Overnight at the Strand Palace Hotel.
Sat. July 2:Tour departure
Depart London today, or you may choose to extend your stay.
Tour includes:
- Accommodation for 11 nights
- Welcome reception and daily breakfast
- One picnic/three dinners at Garsington, The Grange Festival, Glyndebourne and Grange Park
- Five opera tickets
- Guided tours as described in the itinerary
- Entrance fees where applicable
- Coach and driver for tours and transfers
- Gratuities to drivers and guides
- Vancouver Opera Guild Tour Director$300 donation to the Vancouver Opera Guild ($400 for non-members)
Not included:
- Airfare (Great Expeditions will be pleased to assist with airline reservations)
TOUR COST
Guild Members: Cdn. $7,175 per person sharing
Non-Guild: Cdn. $7,275 per person sharing
Single supplement:Cdn. $1,775
RESERVATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 per person is required at time of booking. Balance of payment is due by April 11, 2022
CANCELLATIONS
All payments are non-refundable unless space can be resold.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that tour members purchase trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect themselves against money loss in the event of cancellation due to personal or family illness. We also offer comprehensive insurance which includes trip cancellation/interruption plus excess hospital/medical benefits, baggage and travel accident. Some exclusions for pre-existing conditions do apply. Insurance premiums are age banded. Please ask for an insurance quote at time of booking.
For further information, please contact:
Elisabeth Dawson 604-922-8008 or
Genny MacLean (Great Expeditions) 604-738-5535
PRICES
Prices quoted in this brochure are in Canadian dollars based on a full tour, and foreign exchange rates in effect at time of printing (November 2021).We reserve the right to adjust the tour cost if there are substantial price changes.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
This paragraph defines our responsibility with respect to all our tours.Please read it carefully.Payment of deposit represents an acceptance by purchaser of the following terms and conditions.Great Expeditions, its owners, outfitters, agents and employees, gives notice that all arrangements for accommodation, transportation and/or, all related travel services, have been made by Great Expeditions only as agent, upon the express condition that Great Expeditions shall not be liable for any injury, damage, delay, mishap, inconvenience or irregularity occasioned through the default of any company or individual engaged in providing the arranged accommodation.Great Expeditions cannot be responsible for negligent conduct or financial irresponsibility of these suppliers, since they maintain no control over them.Such passenger conveyance, hotel accommodation, etc. is subject to the laws of the state or country where provided.In addition, Great Expeditions assumes no liability resulting directly or indirectly from any of the following causes:acts of God, detention, annoyance, weather, quarantines, strikes, civil disturbance, theft, government regulations, etc. over which it has no control.Great Expeditions reserves the right to substitute hotels and leaders and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary or advisable.The right is also reserved to cancel any trip prior to departure upon the refund of all payments received which shall release Great Expeditions from any further liability.Great Expeditions reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person or member of any tour should such person’s actions or general deportment impede the operation of the tour or the rights or welfare or enjoyment of other members of the tour, and it is agreed a refund of the amount recovered from suppliers of unused land services is the limit of Great Expeditions responsibility.
CARRIER’S RESPONSIBILITY
No carrier shall have or incur any responsibility or liability to any passenger or for property accompanying passengers, except for its liability as a common carrier.In particular, Great Expeditions advises the customer that any air carrier’s liability may be limited by its tariffs, conditions of carriage and international conventions and agreements.
B.C. Reg. 2629