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On this luxury, whirlwind tour, you will be in awe as you walk in the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and J.K. Rowling in London, Bournemouth, Salisbury, Oxford, Edinburgh, and the Scottish Highlands. Your breath will be stolen by the dazzling beauty of the lands that gave birth to The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter.
Don’t miss this unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience!
London
Platform 9 3/4
Old Harry Rocks
Hotel Miramar
Stonehenge
Radcliffe Camera
The Eagle and Child
Christ Church College
Edinburgh Castle
The Elephant House
The Jacobite Steam Train
Atholl Palace
On this luxury, whirlwind tour, you will not only explore iconic sites relating to J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and J.K. Rowling, but you will also see world-famous sites and experience the most breathtaking scenery that England and Scotland have to offer. In each city, you will stay at high-quality establishments, including the beautiful Hotel Miramar overlooking the sea in Bournemouth and the boutique Old Parsonage Hotel in the center of Oxford. You will dine in some of the country’s finest restaurants, like The Ivy in London and the Atholl Palace nestled in the rolling hills of Scotland. A comfortable luxury coach will transport you from place to place. In addition, all breakfasts, five lunches, and a celebratory dinner are covered in your ticket cost.
During this tour, you will receive guiding from author, historian, and avid fantasy fan Solomon Schmidt, who will present a wealth of information and fascinating stories relating to these authors’ lives and works. You will be provided with wireless headsets that make for easy listening no matter the location – whether you’re standing atop the majestic cliffs of Old Harry Rocks or walking through the enchanting streets of Oxford! Please be advised that although we will be transported around the country in a luxury coach, some days will include a couple miles of easy walking.
Throughout this tour, you will have personal freedom to break away from the group and explore on your own if you wish. For all of the evenings except one, you will also be able to make your own dinner plans and spend time strolling through incredible cities like Oxford and Edinburgh. This tour will be exhilarating, informative, but also relaxing.
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Tour Leader Solomon Schmidt

Solomon Schmidt is a 22-year-old author, historian, YouTuber, speaker, and tour leader. He has written nine books, including eight books in the History Bites® series and, most recently, Legal Gladiator – the authorized biography of renowned attorney Alan Dershowitz. Solomon wrote his first book at the age of 12, graduated high school at the age of 16, and was once described as “the youngest child historian in America.” He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in American history at SUNY Empire State College.
Solomon hosts the History Bites YouTube channel, where he has posted over 150 educational videos and interviews. He has traveled to Tanzania, Norway, Nepal, Iceland, Greenland, Jordan, Australia, and New Zealand to film videos for his channel and has given lectures at nearly 50 conferences throughout the United States. He is also working to help expand education in rural parts of Nepal through the JAPA Workbook Initiative. His work has been praised by Dr. Jane Goodall, Jocko Willink, John Solomon, Natan Sharansky, Amb. Mike Huckabee, Glenn Greenwald, Sec. Mike Pompeo, Steve Doocy, Prof. Alan Dershowitz, Dr. Noam Chomsky, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Mike Tyson, President Donald Trump, and many other noteworthy figures.
In addition to being passionate about U.S. and world history, Solomon is also an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and J.K. Rowling. He has devoted thousands of hours to reading their works, studying their lives, and helping people learn more about them through tours and YouTube videos and lectures. He also developed close friendships with renowned scholars like Dr. Tom Shippey and the late Walter Hooper, both of whom knew Tolkien and Lewis. Solomon’s books on Tolkien, Lewis and Rowling sprang out of his passion to share their stories with others, whether you are a newcomer to their books or a dedicated fan already! He has authored young reader’s biographies on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and has recently written the first complete biography of J.K. Rowling, which is titled A Pen to Change the World and is due to be released by Skyhorse Publishing.

Join Solomon on this unforgettable adventure as he leads you into the real-life worlds behind three greatest fantasy authors of all time.

If you’re a fan of Tolkien, Lewis, or Rowling, the History Bites tour is an absolute must. Our guide, Solomon, brought unparalleled knowledge and passion to every aspect of the experience. His biographical storytelling was captivating and his attention to detail was extraordinary. He was always responsive to questions and went above and beyond to make the experience unforgettable. There were times on the trip where Solomon made me feel like a close friend of the authors, immersing us in the places that shaped them into the literary giants they are.

The accommodations were exceptional. We stayed in top-notch hotels, ate at great restaurants, and traveled on the most comfortable charter bus I’ve ever been on. Solomon made the whole trip effortless and ensured we experienced the best of each location visited. It was a truly remarkable trip and an experience I will cherish forever.

- Rob C.

The most organized, safe, well accommodated, and fun tour I have ever taken! Days were filled with incredible sites, excellent food, and enough time to enjoy each place. Met new friends, scholars, and guides that were exceptionally knowledgeable on the three authors we centered on. I do recommend this tour for anyone who seeks to enhance their knowledge library of Tolkien, Rowling, and Lewis. Solomon is a natural born orator and his love and knowledge of these authors will enhance anyone’s education (new to the books or those like myself who have thrived on them for years). Live your dream take the tour.

- Heather G.

You could tell Solomon put his heart into planning this trip. Every day was filled with adventure and interesting stories. I decided to go solo and I felt extremely welcome by everyone. This was truly the trip of a lifetime and I’m so glad I decided to do it. Many core memories were made.

- Caylee M.

This was the trip of a lifetime. Solomon is the most organized and knowledgeable guide. The trip was designed for comfort, as well. The hotels were beautiful and the meals were excellent. The trip has something for everyone...It was a relaxed, beautiful experience. Our college-age son felt it was the best trip we have ever taken.

- Jeff C.

This was an absolutely amazing experience! I have to admit this trip was completely my husband‘s idea. He is a HUGE J.R.R. Tolkien fan, so I was just going along for the ride but Solomon made this a trip I will never forget. He was so warm and welcoming starting on day one that by the end of the week I felt like I was saying goodbye to a lifelong friend. Every day was thoughtfully planned out and full of wonderful sites, food and accommodations. He filled me with knowledge of the 3 authors that gave me a new appreciation for all their works. If you are even a small fan of any of their books you will absolutely love this tour.

- Donna C.

This was a great guided tour that led to an unforgettable experience. We had a knowledgeable guide, who was well informed about our destination, the history, the culture, and the hidden gems...His delivery was not a recitation of facts, but a story told by a storyteller...the comfort and convenience was at the highest level. The seating in the buses was wide and comfortable. The reclining seats made the overall experience that much better. The passion and enthusiasm that Solomon exhibited regarding the subject matter inspired the same feelings in the participants, making the tour enjoyable. If you’d like to travel and see the entire UK, from London, all the way to the beaches of Scotland, and want to learn about the history and hit all the highlights, this is the tour for you.

- Vincent L.

When I take my own personal trips, I am an over planner and like to make sure everything is well planned out. Solomon alleviated all my worries during this trip as he took care of every little detail, including transportation, tickets to see different sites, along with a beautiful narration that was well researched. The particular tour I went on was about the three authors, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, and JK Rowling. I consider myself a huge Tolkien fan and listening to Solomon‘s narration about Tolkien was enjoyable and at times even evoked emotion in me that brought a tear to my eye. While I wasn’t as interested in the other authors, Solomon still made all the information enjoyable and brought out some common themes that made this tour cohesive and allowed me to learn many things along the way. Solomon also selected excellent sites to visit that made the tour impressive even if you were not interested in the authors.

- Mark C.

Best tour ever. This was a well-organized, fun, interesting and all together great tour. I learned so much and saw so much.

– Rich S.

This tour was such an experience, it’s hard to put into words. I can sum it up in one, though: amazing. I went into this tour as blind as possible, and I left with such a deep appreciation for not only these authors that I love, but also for a new culture and a sense of fantasy and wonder. I appreciate the efforts made to keep everything scheduled. You see so much, and I'm glad they allowed time to just exist in these places without feeling overly rushed Something else I appreciate is the freedom to just go explore what's out there – you're not in a singular location for too long, and when you touch down, it's so worth it to get your bearings and just go explore! That route not only gave me the experience of learning from Solomon, but also just doing it my way and being an explorer and making my own story in a new place. I took this trip with my best friend, and I definitely can say it's the greatest adventure we could’ve gone on this far. I highly recommend it!

– Jay Y.

This is the best tour I’ve ever been on.

Joe C., 40-year-veteran tour bus driver

This trip far exceeded my expectations. Solomon was extremely knowledgeable. Although my interest was mostly in J.R.R. Tolkien, I found that the more I learned about the other authors, the more captivated I was by their stories as well. The trip was so well put together, and information was so on point. I can honestly say it was the best tour I’ve ever been on.

– Michael P.

One of the best vacations I’ve ever had! Breathtaking countryside and beautiful architecture.Everywhere I looked, there was more impressive and amazing to see! Our tour guide leader, Solomon, was intelligent, well spoken, and kind. Learning about the rich history of the UK and about Lewis, Tolkien, and Rowling‘s lives was fascinating! Very well organized tour and a perfect balance between guided time and free time. All of the accommodations were beautiful, and the food was delicious. I would definitely take this trip again!

- Lisa L.

Once in a lifetime experience! I had such a great time with History Bites Tours. The whole experience was amazing. Solomon did a great job leading, and it was a well organized tour. I was very sad when it was time to depart.

- Judah A.

This trip was a dream come true for me! The whole experience was well organized, and each location was thoughtfully picked. Each place we visited had smooth access and everything was easy. The restaurants especially got us in, handled our group size well, and provided amazing food! Restaurants and tour locations were all great picks. Going into this I had some fear our hands would be held the entire time. Thankfully there was plenty of time for roaming both during the tour itself and within each day afterward. History Bites did a superb job balancing tour and exploration. Solomon was educational and fun! I learned plenty of new and interesting things about the authors and locations we were visiting. Overall, the entire event was well worth the price! I would go on another in a heartbeat!

- David S.

London

July 9 - 10

On Saturday morning, you will begin your experience of London at Parliament Square, where you will have some time to explore the area around Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. You will also have the option of being taken to King’s Cross Station for a visit to Platform 9 ¾ and the Harry Potter Gift Shop.
From Parliament Square, we will make our way to the magnificent Tower Bridge over the mighty River Thames and on to lunch at the Ivy Tower Bridge, where you can look across the water and see the Tower of London on the other side!
After a relaxing lunch, we will head to the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, where J.R.R. Tolkien himself was a frequent guest!
Experience London and stop at Platform 9 ¾!
Platform 9 3/4
Harry Potter Gift Shop
Tower of London
Tower Bridge
Ivy Tower Bridge
Our private dining room for lunch
Big Ben
Westminster Abbey
Buckingham Palace

Bournemouth and Stonehenge

July 11

Get ready for a relaxing morning by the sea on the beautiful Bournemouth coast! Our tour starts in the morning with a drive and a walk to Old Harry Rocks, an incredible vista of enormous chalk cliffs and spectacular ocean views. While there, we will talk about what inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s incredible imagination in his creation of Middle-earth. You will have time to explore the majestic scenery around you or simply relax and soak in the surroundings.
Once our visit to Old Harry Rocks is complete, we will have lunch at a beautiful manor farm and then journey on to the world-famous site Stonehenge. After we arrive, you will have time to visit the ancient monument and take in the beautiful countryside surrounding it.
From Stonehenge, we will continue on to the Old Parsonage Hotel in Oxford! Feel free to stroll through the enchanting streets of the city and have dinner wherever you wish.
See the majestic Old Harry Rocks, stay at the Hotel Miramar, and visit Stonehenge!
Old Harry Rocks
Hotel Miramar
Front Lawn of the Hotel Miramar
Bournemouth Beach and Pier
Stonehenge

Oxford

July 12 - 14

Oxford. It’s been called the City of Dreaming Spires and is home to the thousand-year-old Oxford University. J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis lived here for most of their lives. Professor Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings while living at 20 Northmoor Rd, and just a short drive away is The Kilns, home of C.S. Lewis and his brother Warren for over thirty years. It was here that Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia and housed refugee schoolchildren during World War II…sound familiar?
Tolkien and Lewis both taught at Oxford University and spent countless hours walking through the beautiful countryside surrounding the city. They were also members of an informal writer’s group called the Inklings, who met often at The Eagle & Child pub in central Oxford.
Harry Potter filming locations are sprinkled throughout the city, including Duke Humfrey’s Library, which became Hogwarts Library, and the magnificent Christ Church College. Christ Church houses the Bodley Tower Staircase, which was the location for Professor McGonagall’s introduction to the new students in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In addition, the dining hall of the college served as the inspiration for the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
You will visit all of these sites and more during our two-and-a-half days in Oxford. The Old Parsonage Hotel, where you will stay for all three nights in Oxford, is a five-star establishment with a fine restaurant, and it is conveniently located near the city center, just a short walk from many restaurants, shops, and iconic sites, including Tolkien’s church.
On Wednesday, we will make our way north through some stunning countryside to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland and home of J.K. Rowling!
Stroll through Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires! Enter the literary world of Tolkien & Lewis and explore Harry Potter filming locations!
20 Northmoor Road
Tolkien’s grave
The Kilns
C.S. Lewis’s grave
The Eagle and Child
Duke Humfrey’s Library
Christ Church College
Bodley Tower Staircase
Christ Church Dining Hall
Magdalen College, where C.S. Lewis taught
Merton College, where Tolkien taught
Radcliffe Camera, famous landmark and library of Oxford University
Old Parsonage Hotel
Inside the Old Parsonage

Edinburgh

July 15

After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our whirlwind tour through Edinburgh, the home city of J.K. Rowling and capital of Scotland. Just a short walk away is Greyfriars Kirkyard, which contains a number of mysterious tombstone names: McGonagall, Sirius Black, Tom Riddle. From there, it’s on to the enchanting Victoria Street in the city center, which houses the Museum Context Harry Potter store. Nearby is The Elephant House, where Rowling spent hours putting pen to paper to complete parts of Harry Potter. Following these sites, we will take a scenic walk through the city to the Balmoral Hotel, where Rowling checked in to finish the final Potter book. During our walk, we will go back in time and learn about Rowling’s inspiring journey from being a struggling single mother on welfare to one of the most influential women in the world.
In the afternoon, we’ll head to the mighty Edinburgh Castle, which looms over the city and is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest castles in the world. You will be able to roam this amazing historic site using handy self-guided touring devices.
Once our time in Edinburgh is complete, we will drive through the wondrous Scottish Highlands to our hotel in Fort William in preparation for our incredible ride on the Jacobite Steam Train the next day.
Travel to Edinburgh, the home of J.K. Rowling, and visit historic Edinburgh Castle!
Greyfriars Kirkyard
George Heriot’s School
Victoria Street
Elephant House
Balmoral Hotel
View from Edinburgh Castle

Fort William and The Jacobite Steam Train

July 16

Fort William is a beautiful town located by a loch in the Highlands and situated close to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK. On Friday morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the Fort William Railway Station for the start of our amazing ride on The Jacobite Steam Train.
This spectacular journey will take us 84 miles through the Scottish Highlands, past inspiring vistas of lush meadows, thick forests, crystal lakes, and rolling hills. Around lunchtime, the train will stop in the lovely town of Mallaig, where you will be free to have lunch at any place of your choice and spend time exploring the town. From there, we’ll return to the train station for the last leg of our trip back to Fort William.
To Potter fans, The Jacobite is also known as Hogwarts Express, and during your ride, you will pass by stunning Potter filming locations, including a loch-side setting used for Hogwarts Castle.
Whether you are a Harry Potter fan or not, though, riding on The Jacobite is a once-a-lifetime experience that you will never forget.
After arriving back in Fort William and before heading to our hotel for the night in Edinburgh, we will drive to Pitlochry, Scotland, to celebrate the tour with a memorable last dinner at the Atholl Palace, a luxurious establishment nestled in lush, green forests and hills. The perfect end to an incredible week!
Journey through the Scottish Highlands on The Jacobite Steam Train, AKA Hogwarts Express!
Fort William
The Jacobite Steam Train
Mallaig
Atholl Palace
Scenery around the Atholl Palace
Dining at the Atholl Palace

Included In This Tour

• 8 nights’ lodging in 4- and 5- star hotels
• 8 breakfasts*
• 5 lunches*
• 1 dinner*
• Travel on a dedicated luxury coach throughout the tour
• All entrance and guides fees stipulated in the itinerary
• Ticket for The Jacobite Steam Train
• Wireless headset
• History Bites hat
• History Bites t-shirt
• Copy of A Pen to Change the World by Solomon Schmidt (forthcoming)
• Copy of The Life & Works of J.R.R. Tolkien History Bites by Solomon Schmidt
• Copy of The Life & Works of C.S. Lewis History Bites by Solomon Schmidt
*Alcohol not included
Please note: airfare is not included
 

Pricing

$5,995 per person*
*Based on double occupancy. Single-person accommodations are available upon request for an additional fee of $1,799.

Payment Policy:

1st Installment – 25% of tour price due at registration.
2nd Installment – additional 25% of tour price due by February 9, 2027.
Outstanding balance – remaining 50% of tour price due by April 9, 2027.
or
Pay total amount of tour price due by April 9, 2027.

Cancellation Policy:

100% refund up to April 8, 2027.
Since we prepay hotels, meals, transportation, and entrance fees in advance, we are unable to offer refunds after April 8, 2027.* However, you may transfer your tour ticket to another person by notifying History Bites Tours.
*A full refund will be given should there be government restrictions that make traveling to the UK impossible.
Travel insurance is highly recommended.
In the unlikely event that costs for hotels, food, transportation, etc., increase substantially, tour prices will be increased. Should tour costs increase more than 5%, tour members will have the option of accepting the increased ticket price or receiving a full refund. History Bites Tours reserves the right to cancel this tour.
Please note: Tour venues subject to change. History Bites Tours shall be under no obligation or liability to any person as a result of any inaccuracy, misdescription, or changes to any tour by History Bites Tours or any other party.

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Image credits:
1.     Stonehenge: © albo/Fotolia https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stonehenge
2.     London: ISTOCK/MAMMUTH https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/70705/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-big-ben
3.     Old Harry Rocks: Visit Dorset https://www.visit-dorset.com/things-to-do/old-harry-rocks-p1306933
4.     The Jacobite and scenery: © West Coast Railways https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/steam-train-trip
5.     Christ Church: © Lee F. Mindel, FAIA https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/harry-potter-sets-christ-church-college-oxford
6.     Elephant House: Travel Top6 https://traveltop6.com/united-kingdom/edinburgh/cafes/the-elephant-house
7.     Platform 9 ¾: Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186338-d2350633-Reviews-Platform_9_3_4-London_England.html
8.     C.S. Lewis: https://www.britannica.com/biography/C-S-Lewis
9.     J.K. Rowling: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/contributor/author/j.k.-rowling/
10.   London: DFDS
11.  Harry Potter Gift Shop: https://www.kingscross.co.uk/harry-potters-platform-9-34
12.  Ivy Tower Bridge: Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d12670367-Reviews-The_Ivy_Tower_Bridge-London_England.html
13.  The Tower Bridge View Room: Tripadvisor https://www.privatediningrooms.co.uk/restaurant/ivy-tower-bridge/
14.  Big Ben: © The Constructor
15.  Westminster Abbey: HistoryExtra https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/brief-history-westminster-abbey-london-henry-iii-service/
16.  Hotel Miramar: https://www.bournemouth.co.uk/accommodation/hotel-miramar-p403
17.  Hotel Miramar front lawn: Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186262-d295803-Reviews-or10-Hotel_Miramar-Bournemouth_Dorset_England.html
18.  Old Harry Rocks sky view: © Kevmrc https://www.kevmrc.com/old-harry-rocks-england
19.  Bournemouth Beach and Pier: https://www.bournemouth.co.uk/things-to-do/bournemouth-beach-p1242373
20.  Stonehenge: © Encyclopedia Britannica
21.  Eagle and Child: © Raymond Knapman https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1996370
22.  Duke Humfrey’s Library: © Mark LaFlaur
23.  Christ Church College: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/harry-potter-sets-christ-church-college-oxford
24.  Christ Church Dining Hall: https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/visiting-christ-church/hall
25.  Bodley Tower Staircase: https://onestepwanderer.com/harry-potter-oxford/
26.  Merton College: https://travelguide.michelin.com/europe/united-kingdom/great-britain/england/oxfordshire/oxford/merton-college
27. The Old Parsonage Hotel: https://www.oldparsonagehotel.co.uk/
28. Inside The Old Parsonage Hotel: ©dynarghdesign https://www.parsonagegrill.co.uk/
29.  Edinburgh Castle: © Jack Delany https://medium.com/@jack.delaney/edinburgh-castle-guide-8cf8876f1966
30.  Greyfriars Kirkyard: © outdooractive.com
31.  George Heriot’s School: https://www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/george-heriots-school-band-concert-s1-3-choir
32.  Victoria Street: https://edinburgh.org/blog/harry-potter/
33.  Balmoral Hotel: © Booking.com
34.  View from Edinburgh Castle: © Jack Delany https://medium.com/@jack.delaney/edinburgh-castle-guide-8cf8876f1966
35.  The Jacobite front view: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/tours/glenfinnan-mallaig-the-jacobite-steam-train-0bc4c2a1
36.  Fort William and Ben Nevis: https://www.blythedale.co.uk/ben-nevis-scotland/
37.  Mallaig: © VisitScotland/Allan Jamieson https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/mallaig-p236601
38.  Atholl Palace 1: © TripAdvisor
39.  Atholl Palace 2: © trivago.ae 
40.  Scenery around the Atholl Palace: Copyright holder is unknown
41.  Dining at the Atholl Palace: © https://www.offpeakluxury.com

This tour is not authorized, prepared, approved, licensed, or endorsed:
by the Tolkien Estate, Middle-earth Enterprises, New Line Cinema, Weta, WingNut Films, Amazon, Embracer Group, or any other individual or entity associated, with and bearing the sole rights to the name TOlKIEN and to Tolkien’s books or movies and shows based on his books.

This tour is not authorized, prepared, approved, licensed, or endorsed:
by the C.S. Lewis Company, Netflix, Walt Disney Pictures, Walden Media, 20th Century Fox, New Line Cinema, MGM, WingNut Films, Warner Bros., Embracer Group, Middle-earth Enterprises, the Tolkien Estate, or any other individual or entity associated, with and bearing the sole rights to C.S. Lewis’s books or movies and shows based on his books.

This tour is not authorized, prepared, approved, licensed, or endorsed:
by J. K. Rowling, Warner Bros., the Walt Disney Pictures, Walden Media, 20th Century Fox, C.S. Lewis Company, Netflix, or any other individual or entity associated, with and bearing the sole rights to the HARRY POTTER books or movies and shows.

Have Questions? Contact us at solomon@historybites.com

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