Travel > United Kingdom
Crown and Covenant: A Jewish Journey of Discovery, Memory, and Learning to the UK
Dates: July 12-23, 2026
Prices (in US dollars): TBA
Guided by expert educators, you’ll visit iconic landmarks like Bevis Marks Synagogue, the British Museum, and the Bodleian Library, while uncovering hidden gems such as community-built synagogues, and vibrant local Jewish communities. Celebrate Shabbat in Oxford, study rare manuscripts, and enjoy meaningful learning, warm camaraderie, and beautiful landscapes along the way.
Alongside these powerful Jewish touchpoints, the journey also immerses you in the broader story of England. Walk in the footsteps of Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, explore the historic Oxford University, and take in world-renowned cultural institutions like the British Library, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Ashmolean Museum.
Marvel at the majesty of Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster, and Lincoln Cathedral, a trio of iconic churches that speak to England’s spiritual and architectural legacy. With a blend of Jewish and national history, this journey offers a richly textured view of the people, places, and events that have shaped England over the centuries.
Come learn, reflect, and connect through this inspiring journey across England’s Jewish and cultural landscape.
Please notify me when registration opens!
Highlights:
- Bevis Marks, the UK’s oldest synagogue, and Sandy’s Row, tucked in the heart of London’s Jewish East End
- Walk in the footsteps of medieval Jewish life in Lincoln, York, and Canterbury, where echoes of synagogues, homes, and legends still line the cobbled streets
- Witness resilience and memory at Clifford’s Tower, site of the 1190 York tragedy
- Explore the Cairo Geniza with a special visit to Cambridge University, where sacred fragments unveil 1,000 years of Jewish life
- Go behind the scenes at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library, viewing rare Jewish manuscripts in a private viewing
- See the remains of a medieval mikveh in Lincoln, offering a rare and tangible connection to the Jewish community that lived there before the 1290 expulsion. This mikveh is one of the few physical remnants of Jewish life in medieval England.
- Celebrate Shabbat in Oxford, blending learning, community, and renewal in one of England’s most iconic academic cities
- Experience Jewish legacy and leadership at Montefiore’s synagogue and mausoleum in Ramsgate
- Reflect on representation and identity in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s hometown, and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
- Encounter treasures of the Jewish world at the British Library, from ancient scrolls to modern texts
- Glide through Cambridge on a private punting tour, ending your journey with celebration, reflection, and community
For the itinerary and other details, please see the tabs below. On a mobile device, use the menu icon (☰) to open other tabs.
Crown and Covenant: A Jewish Journey of Discovery, Memory, and Learning to the UK
July 12-23, 2026
(Itinerary subject to change)Day 1: Sunday, July 12, 2026
Arrive in London at your leisure, where your journey of discovery begins.
A private transfer to your hotel can be arranged upon request.
Take time to settle in and refresh, then join the group for a private orientation session; a chance to meet fellow travelers, share expectations, and set the tone for the days ahead.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local London restaurant.
Overnight: London
Day 2: Monday, July 13, 2026
Breakfast at the hotel.
Begin the morning with a meaningful hour of shared learning in our private study space, a chance to reflect together before we step into history.
Set out on a sightseeing tour of London.
Visit Westminster Abbey and enjoy a guided tour of the British Museum, where timeless treasures offer windows into ancient worlds.
Enjoy lunch at leisure, perhaps sampling local fare or soaking in the neighborhood’s atmosphere.
The evening is yours to explore, unwind, or simply savor the rhythm of London.
Overnight: London
Day 3: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Breakfast at the hotel.
We’ll begin the day with an hour of shared study in our private space at the hotel, an opportunity to connect ideas before encountering them firsthand.
Journey through London’s Jewish East End.
Step inside Bevis Marks Synagogue, the oldest in the UK and a symbol of Jewish continuity since the 1700s (pending construction completion).
Lunch at leisure at Spitalfields market.
Tour of the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels.
The evening is yours: enjoy dinner at leisure and time to wander, rest, or discover more of London’s charm on your own.
Overnight: London
Day 4: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Breakfast at the hotel.
Begin the day with a visit to Marble Arch Synagogue with an opportunity for shared study at the synagogue.
Lunch at leisure.
Visit to Wiener Holocaust Library for a learning session on the UK Jewish impact of the Holocaust.
Dinner and evening at leisure.
Overnight: London
Day 5: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Begin the day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, fueling up for a rich day of discovery.
Depart for Oxford, via Stratford upon Avon.
Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace and Holy Trinity Church.
Lunch at leisure in Stratford upon Avon.
Continue to Oxford for overnight.
Dinner and evening at leisure.
Overnight: Oxford
Day 6: Friday, July 17, 2026
Begin your morning with a relaxed breakfast at the hotel.
Shared study session at the hotel.
Depart the hotel for Bodleian Library to enjoy a tour of the manuscripts.
Lunch at leisure.
Tour of Oxford’s Jewish history.
Attend Shabbat services with the local community, a time for reflection, connection, and rest.
Overnight: Oxford
Day 7: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Breakfast at the hotel.
Shabbat serviced followed by a group lunch.
Afternoon at leisure, with the option to join a punting tour in the early afternoon.
Evening: at leisure or the option of an evening ghost tour of Oxford.
Overnight: Oxford
Day 8: Sunday, July 19, 2026
Breakfast at the hotel, followed by checkout.
Depart Oxford and enjoy a shared study session on board the coach.
Tour of Jewish Lincoln.
Visit to Lincoln Cathedral.
Lunch at leisure.
Continue to York for overnight.
Dinner and evening at leisure.
Overnight: York
Day 9: Monday, July 20, 2026
Breakfast and learning session at the hotel.
Sightseeing walking tour of York, visiting Clifford’s Tower, York Minster and other sites of interest.
Early afternoon tea.
Train to London (First Class).
Dinner and evening at leisure in London.
Overnight: London
Day 10: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Start the day with breakfast before departing from the hotel.
Tour of Ramsgate Montefiore Mausoleum.
Visit Dover Castle with the wartime tunnels, and the white cliffs World War 2 Battle of Britain memorial.
Return to London for dinner and evening at leisure.
Overnight: London
Day 11: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel.
Learning on the bus, as we travel, delve into a guided learning session on the Cairo Geniza.
Arrive in Cambridge, where the majority of the Cairo Geniza collection is housed at the University Library.
Lunch at leisure with time to explore Cambridge’s charming cafes and shops on your own.
Farewell dinner with the group.
Overnight: London
Day 12: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Departure
Enjoy your final breakfast at the hotel, savoring one last morning together before we part ways.
Check out and depart at your convenience.
A private transfer to the airport can be arranged for you upon request.
The Melton tour to the UK will be led by Dr. Katherine Aron-Beller. Melton Travel is open to adults of all ages.
While Melton oversees the educational aspects of our tours, it's important to note that we are not a travel agency. For the logistics of this trip, our travel partners in England will be responsible.
Please note that Melton is not liable for any financial loss due to reasons beyond our control, such as health-related cancellations. We highly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation and health-related issues, including COVID, within a few weeks of paying your nonrefundable deposit.
Thank you for your interest in travelling with Melton. We eagerly await the opportunity to learn and explore together with you.
The Melton Travel Team
Price Includes:
- 10 nights' accommodation/9 days of touring
- Touring via deluxe air-conditioned coach
- 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners
- All tips (except for housekeeping)
- All educational programming and entrance fees
- Audioguides
- Porterage
- 2 bottles of water daily on the bus
- Tips for local service providers including guides, drivers and wait staff
Hotels:
- London: Coming soon
- Oxford: Coming soon
- Lincoln: Coming soon
Note: We will do our best to assist you with extensions both before and after the seminar.
Not Included:
- Air Travel
- Travel Insurance
- Transport to/from the airport
- Tips for housekeeping
- Personal expenses
Need to Know
A non-refundable deposit is due upon registration. If the trip is cancelled, the registration fee will be refunded.
The final balance will be due approximately 100 days before the trip begins. All cancellations must be submitted in writing. After the final balance is due, there will be no refunds, nor will there be refunds for unused services. Please purchase travel insurance within 21 days of making this deposit.
Meals are included as indicated in the itinerary. Group rates are per person and a minimum of 15 fully paying participants.
A Melton educator will be with the group throughout the tour.
Activity level: Participants should be comfortable getting on and off a bus multiple times a day, as well as walking and standing during site visits. Some days may be more physically demanding than others. If a day’s activities are too challenging, our staff and educators will do their best to arrange for the traveler to stay with the driver, relax at a nearby café, or arrange for a taxi, with costs covered individually.
All gratuities are included.
Baggage: Melton shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at the time of the incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company. Regarding airline baggage allowance, different carriers have different regulations for business and coach, please check with your individual carrier about permitted number of pieces, weights, and dimensions. Melton is not responsible for fees levied by any air carrier for the transport of personal belongings of any kind.
Not Included
- Air Travel
- Travel Insurance
- Transport to/from the airport
- Tips for housekeeping
- Personal expenses
Melton Travel recommends Forbes Advisor for the most up-to-date travel insurance comparisons. Consider travel protection for:
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains
- Trip Delay
- Baggage & Personal Effects
- Baggage Delay
Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within 21 days (about 3 weeks) from the time you make your initial trip deposit, the entire non-refundable amount of the trip must be insured, and you must be medically able to travel at the time the premium is paid. However, the travel protection plan itself can be purchased any time prior to departure.
Additional Information
Airline Security Measures: Your name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket, or you may be denied boarding. If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification are required for that airport.
Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.
Holidays and Museum Closures: Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or state and local holidays observed in the destinations being visited.
Photography During Tours: We will occasionally use photographs taken by fellow guests or your trip director for promotional purposes. If you prefer your photo not used in any marketing activities, please notify us at the start of your tour.
For more information, please contact us here.
Or call: 1–646–921–0747, Ext. 4