Spells & Charms Tour of England and Scotland

June 25 – July 5, 2009

A Family-Friendly Tour for Ages 6 and up

Prices
$2795 for ages 13 and up
$2495 children ages 6 through 12

(Ask about our discount plan for families)

Space for this fantastic tour is limited to 20 travelers!

his super tour has it all ‑ it combines the best of our southern and northern British Harry Potter tours! This carefully designed Harry Potter theme tour offers an exceptional opportunity for fans of all ages to get an insider's view of Harry’s magical world. In southern England expert guides will emphasize revealing the inspirations J. K. Rowling experienced while creating her beloved masterpiece. In both England and Scotland travelers will get a close-up and personal view of numerous filming locations, and plenty of insider secrets! Even for those who aren't big Harry Potter fans this tour offers a unique view of Great Britain not seen by most tourists. Spectacular scenery, fascinating history and lore will be appealing to anyone of any age. For this unique tour overnight accommodations will be in a combination of small hotels and charming Bed and Breakfast inns. B&B's, as they are called, offer unique ways to experience the true flavor of Britain, and provide the comfort of hotels but with a much more personal touch. New for 2009: We’ve added an extra day and night, for a total of 9 nights!

ITINERARY

June 25 (Day 1)
PLEASE NOTE: This tour originates in London and ends in Edinburgh, Scotland! Please make flight arrangements or tour extension plans accordingly. Or take advantage of our free rail travel back to London!

Guests depart on flights to London Heathrow (not included). Guests are responsible for making their own flight arrangements. Magical Tours will assist with transportation information, but flight bookings are the responsibility of each tour participant. There is available transportation between London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, but adequate time must be allowed for the transfer if arrival will be at Gatwick.

The tour ends in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 5th. Flights may be booked to accommodate this itinerary or guests may wish to arrange for a return to London for a tour extension there. Magical Tours will be happy to advise guests on London extension plans.

June 26(Day 2)
Arrange flights to arrive at Heathrow no later than 10:00 AM on June 26th. Our tour group will rendezvous at the Heathrow Terminal 1 International Arrivals area at 12 Noon. (For those arriving into a different terminal, and for those already in London, please make your way to the group meeting point at Heathrow’s Terminal 1.)

To make the most of our afternoon we’ll have an on-the-go lunch aboard our comfortable private coach. We will travel directly to Glastonbury, England, the most magical town in Britain! Its history abounds with tales of King Arthur, The Holy Grail, The Faerie King, witches, wizards, elves, and magic. Mysterious shops and charming sights will captivate you at every turn. J.K. Rowling was born and spent her childhood years in this part of England – not far away. Our tour members will get a true sense of the influences that were critical in the creation of Harry Potter and his magical world.

You simply won’t believe our old-world hotel in the heart of town! You are sure to feel as if you’ve arrived at The Leaky Cauldron! After settling in we’ll have a walking tour of the village and the ancient Glastonbury Abbey, an incredibly historic site - the burial place of King Arthur and Gwenevere. Afterward we’ll enjoy our welcome dinner together at the hotel’s delightful restaurant. Then it’s off to bed at last for dreams of the mythic realm! But be careful! Ghosts are said to be in residence in some of the rooms of this 556 year-old hotel...

June 27 (Day 3)
After a great breakfast at our hotel we’re heading to Gloucester to take in the wonders of Gloucester Cathedral. This magnificent and historic cathedral – one of the most beautiful in Britain – will be very familiar to everyone, as it was used extensively as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. As an added treat we’ll learn all about the recent filming there for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!

After visiting the cathedral there will be time to explore and have lunch on your own along the High Street.

In the later afternoon we'll visit the Wookie Hole Cave. This mysterious cave is said to have inspired JK Rowling's image of the enchanted cave Harry and Dumbledore visit in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We'll then make our way back to Glastonbury where everyone will have a choice of free time for exploring on your own. For those who want an incredible experience we will trek to the top of the enigmatic Glastonbury Tor, one of the most mystic places on earth. For those hardy travelers up to it we'll climb to the top of the enigmatic hilltop. Legend tells that it was the location of King Arthur's stronghold. Another legend says that it is the home of the Faerie King, and that the top of the Tor was a place of fairy visions and magic. Brave travelers will get a chance to see for themselves!

As everyone will likely be on different schedules dinner this evening will be on your own at your choice of delightful restaurants in Glastonbury.

June 28 (Day 4)
After breakfast we’re off on an exciting journey to begin exploring J.K. Rowling’s childhood home territory. We will experience adventures that influenced the creator of the Harry Potter series as she was growing up nearby. The first stop is the hidden village considered by many to be “Godric's Hollow”. This tucked-away corner of England is highly favored by the major Harry Potter cast members and the location of the house used as James and Lily’s home! At the nearby Lacock Abbey we’ll visit important and very familiar Harry Potter filming sites depicting interior scenes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We’ll enjoy a fabulous lunch together in one of the most enchanting restaurants in all of Britain (and one you’ll doubtless see in scenes in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!) It is, after all, right across the street from Professor Slughorn’s house!

After lunch it’s on to the world’s longest hedge maze. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire only the School Champions were allowed to enter the maze for the third challenge; but here everyone gets to join in the fun of having our own adventure quest, and maybe even getting lost in this giant maze. Dinner will be on your own at your choice of the cafes, snack bars, and restaurants near the hedge maze.

In the evening we conclude a very full day by traveling to our next charming hotel in Oxford.

June 29 (Day 5)
Welcome to Oxford, the "City of Dreaming Spires", and one of the most important filming locations for the Harry Potter movies. Our boutique hotel is wonderfully located right in the heart of this old university town.

After a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we’re off to see the sights. We will visit the dining room which was the model for the Hogwarts Great Hall, the famous grand staircase, the trophy room, the “hospital wing”, the library Harry visited in his invisibility cloak, and more! After our group tours, lunch will be on your own today. You may want to plan to eat at the ideal spot in Oxford: the small pub where great literary figures gathered in years past. In this charming little place, C.S. Lewis first read aloud his work, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; and J.R.R. Tolkien first entranced listeners with his reading of The Hobbit.

After lunch there will be free time for exploring the city. A real favorite is The Ashmolean Museum, the oldest public museum in the world and a storehouse for astounding antiquities from around the globe. You may want to take an open air bus tour around the city, or just get in some last-minute shopping. You might just enjoy a relaxing afternoon at our amazingly handy nearby hotel.

In the evening we’ll have dinner together in a nice restaurant near our hotel. Oxford, a huge university town, has wonderful evening activities including live concerts, as well as quite a nightlife if you’re up for it.

June 30 (Day 6)
Right after an early breakfast we’re off on our journey to Edinburgh, Scotland by First Class train. Edinburgh is the present-day home of J.K. Rowling. Lunch will be an onboard treat. After our arrival we'll check into our comfortable hotel right in the very heart of the old town, and then have a fun walking tour to orient you to the delights of the city. Later it's on to our welcome dinner in the restaurant where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the first Harry Potter book.

After dinner, for those who are strong of heart, we’ll have a ghost walk into one of the scariest places in the world: deep in the underground Vaults of Edinburgh. If we emerge safely, we’ll scurry back to our comfy hotel, and hide under the covers.

July 1 (Day 7)
What a day this will be! After our first hearty Scottish breakfast we’re off on a tour of the magnificent Edinburgh Castle designed just for Magical Tours guests! We’ll see the castle that is said to have inspired Hogwarts, and where J.K. Rowling herself hosted the Half-Blood Prince book release celebration. This will be an experience you will never forget!

After a wonderful luncheon together we’re off for another activity you won’t believe: an up-close and personal encounter with owls! You will get to handle and learn about flying owls, and to try your hand at really flying different kinds of owls just like those that appear in the Harry Potter movies! In the evening we’ll return to Edinburgh for dinner on our own at one of the many restaurants along the Royal Mile within easy walking distance of our hotel.

July 2 (Day8)
Bright and early we depart Edinburgh by train to journey through the Scottish Highlands to Fort William. This train ride is regarded as one of the finest rail journeys in the world! Within easy view of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak, we disembark for our stay in “Harry Potter country”.

Our Highland home will be an absolutely enchanting B&B overlooking the breathtaking Loch Linnhe.

Shortly after check-in we’ll enjoy a very nice lunch together in the town. In the afternoon we'll begin our exploration tour of the Highlands of Scotland. We'll visit many film locations used in the Harry Potter movies, including the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, prominently featured in Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix . We'll have time to see the sights you really want to see before returning to town for a "Welcome to the Highlands" dinner together at a charming loch-side restaurant.

The late evening brings yet another unforgettable adventure. We’ll set out on foot into the Forbidden Forest – very near the site of Hagrid’s Hut in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – by lantern light! If we escape the forest, we’ll make our way down a woodland path to a wayside inn for a warming drink. Then, at last, it’s back to our snug, warm B&B for a good night’s sleep.

July 3 (Day 9)
After breakfast, we begin another amazing adventure. Today we'll ride The Jacobite, a historic steam train like the one used in all the movies, traveling along the very same route where the Hogwarts Express scenes were filmed . Steaming along through the rugged mountains, we'll ride over the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct , which was featured in several of the Harry Potter films. We can have fun imagining we're following the same way Harry and his fellow students took on their journeys to their magical school. This Highland rail adventure between Fort William and the rugged seacoast village of Mallaig is rated as another of the greatest rail journeys in the world! Lunch will be an onboard treat.

After our return to Fort William there will be some options: either an exciting hike to Steall Falls or free time in the town for a more leisurely dinner on your own before making your own way back to our nearby B&B. The hikers will need to pick up a quick dinner on their own before leaving on the trek into the mountains.

The hike to Steall Falls has been a real favorite of previous Magical Tours guests. It's a pretty rugged three-hour (or thereabouts) trek into some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery; and It's the setting for Harry’s Dragon challenge in the Tri-wizard Competition in Goblet of Fire! Those up to the challenge will venture there to see if all the dragons have cleared out!

July 4 (Day 10)
Happy 4th of July!

We’ll have one last leisurely breakfast before our train leaves for Edinburgh. There will be a bit of free time in the town for last-minute shopping or sight-seeing before our noon departure. Everyone will have time to pick up lunch items to have on the train journey, or if preferred, sandwiches and snacks will be available for purchase “from the trolley, Dears…” The awesome train journey will be a last chance to take in the magnificent Highland scenery.

After our arrival back at our centrally-located Edinburgh hotel we’ll enjoy our farewell dinner together in a nearby restaurant on the Royal Mile, followed by a great Trivia Contest that will feature some terrific prizes!

July 5 (Day 11)
After one last breakfast at our hotel the tour ends. Everyone will be assisted with transfers to the airport. There are several choices for transportation from central Edinburgh to the airport, depending upon departure time; but all such arrangements and costs are the responsibility of individual guests.

After this magical experience you’ll never think of the Harry Potter books and movies in the same way because – for a little while, at least – you will have lived in Harry’s world yourself!

NOTE: Many of our guests have inquired about the possibility of extending their time in Britain. For those interested in doing so our Magical Tours staff will be pleased to offer advice for planning independent tours. It is strongly recommended that tour extensions be added at the end of the group tour, rather than before the tour begins!

This limited size private tour will fill quickly. Don’t miss out!

Reservations and deposits for all tours must be received by MAY 15th, 2009

Prices for the Spells and Charms Tour, June 25 – July 5, 2009:

$2795 for Ages 13 and Up
$2495 for Ages 6 – 12

A $500 deposit is required with each reservation. Final payment is due by May 30th, 2009

See the “Extended Payment Plan” on our Magical Tours website for details on payment options.

NOTE: The MAXIMUM for this small group tour is 20 persons, and the MINIMUM is 12. All prices are based on double occupancy.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: The additional cost for single occupancy accommodations will be $595. We are pleased to work with guests to avoid this charge through the “roommate plan”. As guests sign up for tours we will keep single travelers advised on possible room sharing options. Single guests will have the opportunity to contact each other in advance to see if they would be comfortable sharing twin or triple accommodations during the tour. The extra charge is payable if such arrangements do not work out, or if the guest prefers private rooms.

TOUR INCLUDES: All nine (9) breakfasts throughout, six (6) lunches, and five (5) dinners; all ground transportation including airport transfers and First Class rail travel, nine (9) nights of overnight accommodation (based on double occupancy) in very specially–selected small hotels & B&Bs & private apartments, admissions to all attractions described in the tour itinerary, full time knowledgeable guide services, and standard gratuities. There will be no additional charges for tours and events offered by Magical Tours/Your Man in Europe.

NOT INCLUDED: Airfare to, and returning from Great Britain, optional travel insurance, extra beverages (meals will include 1 beverage and will be budgeted accordingly); a la cart or premium menu selections beyond the established meal allowances; between meal snacks; gratuities for extra services such as baggage porters, or for superior service (normal gratuities are included in the trip cost); souvenirs; and privately arranged activities. Room upgrades, where available, are also not included. NOTE: All overnight accommodations, as well as railroad, coach, and mini-bus travel will be NON-SMOKING.

ITINERARY CHANGES: Guests are advised that the tour itineraries are subject to minor revisions both prior to and during the tours. Normally such changes involve slight alterations in the order of activities, rather than significant changes such as canceling a planned tour item.

From time to time additional events are added to the schedule; but if circumstances require leaving out a planned activity guests will be advised as early as possible, and a different event of equal or superior value would be introduced as a substitute. Our tour parties are small enough to make possible quick shifts in the plans to adjust for unanticipated conditions, such as bad weather or transportation interruptions beyond our control.

THE DIFFERENCE: Magical Tours does not operate “Big Bus Tours”. There will be no wake-up calls at 5 AM to herd onto the buses, or marathon cross-country slogs with a busload of exhausted people. For all long-distance travel we use the comfortable and efficient British Rail system; and for short distance local touring we use private mini-buses or vans. Our guests will travel at a relaxed pace, and have friendly, extremely knowledgeable guides for the entire tour – not just a bus driver and contracted tour guides. We do our best to set the mood, to weave a spell, and to make yours a total experience. These are also not just film-location “drop-by” trips. Each of the places visited will come to life through carefully planned presentations. Hotels, bed & breakfast inns, and private apartments, as well as most restaurants on the entire journeys have been selected for their highly prized locations or high levels of “atmosphere”, or both! The small group size allows us to personalize the experience in a way big groups simply cannot do.

For those who haven’t experienced British rail travel there is simply no contest between long stuffy confining bus journeys and the openness, freedom and comfort of First Class train travel. Our travel adventures are not just more mass tours organized by a big commercial tour company to capitalize on a movie fad. The trips encompass a genuine affection for an enduring classic of literature, as well as for beautiful and historic countries. This is much more than just a “Harry Potter” tour – anyone would love these unique views of England and Scotland. We want guests to be a real part of it all – not just tourists passing through. We don’t supplement the price during the trips through endless additional charges for “extra” tours and arrangements you must handle on your own.

If you want a complete, personalized, worry-free escorted tour of Harry Potter’s England – a magical journey – you’ve found the source!

DISCLAIMER: These themed tours are not official 'Harry Potter' events and are not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Harry Potter book publishers or J.K.Rowling and her representatives. All rights to the series of “Harry Potter” books are the property of J.K. Rowling and her publishers including Scholastic Press, et al. Film rights and image trademarks are the property of Warner Brothers, Inc. Any references to trademarked and copyrighted materials are not intended as anything more than an effort to bring well-known imaginary figures and places in literature into the context of an actual travel experience in Great Britain. Though the places we will visit are quite real and historically significant, the theme of this tour is based upon entirely imaginary characters and places. When the tour itinerary refers to such imaginary characters or place names, there is no intent to imply that they are real people or places, or that they pertain to factual events. Such references are intended to create associations between possible inspirations for the stories and/or filming locations used for the movies, and the very real places we will visit. Since “Hogwarts”, “The Forbidden Forest”, etc. are not real places, we cannot possibly actually visit them…but we can have fun pretending…

Copyright 2008 -Your Man in Europe/Magical Tours