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.
You will have the opportunity to travel with Solomon Schmidt, the historian and author of 10 books who has been described as a “prodigy” by world-famous figures (see his Bio). He wrote the definitive biography of J.K. Rowling, and through his books on Tolkien and Lewis, he interviewed and developed extraordinary friendships with people close to those legendary authors.
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
Scottish Highlands
Glen Nevis
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.
Tour Leader Solomon Schmidt
Solomon Schmidt is a 23-year-old historian, tour leader, YouTuber, and author of ten books. These include eight books in a series called History Bites, as well as biographies on Alan Dershowitz and J.K. Rowling. Solomon wrote his first book at the age of 12 and was described by national media as “the youngest child historian in America.” He has spoken at conferences throughout the US and has traveled to all seven continents to film videos for his History Bites YouTube channel, including in: Tanzania, Norway, Nepal, Iceland, Greenland, Jordan, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica. His work has been praised by Dr. Jane Goodall, Mike Tyson, and many other noteworthy figures.
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 readers’ biographies on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and his latest book, A Pen to Change the World, is the first complete biography of J.K. Rowling. It contains groundbreaking revelations about Rowling’s life and books based on exclusive interviews, as well as many never-before-seen photographs of Rowling and her family. Through his work on Tolkien and Lewis, Solomon also interviewed and developed friendships with leading Inklings scholars like Dr. Tom Shippey and the late Walter Hooper, who knew Tolkien and Lewis.
Join Solomon on this unforgettable adventure as he leads you into the real-life worlds behind the three greatest fantasy authors of all time. You can learn more about his work at solomonschmidt.com.
Solomon filming on Elephant Island, off the coast of Antarctica
Solomon interviewing Mike Tyson
Solomon speaking about the friendship of Tolkien and Lewis
Solomon speaking about the life and work of J.K. Rowling
Dr. Jane Goodall and Solomon
Dr. Tom Shippey and Solomon
The late Walter Hooper and Solomon
Solomon in front of J.K. Rowling’s former home in Porto, Portugal
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
Big Ben
Westminster Abbey
Buckingham Palace
Tower of London
Tower Bridge
Ivy Tower Bridge
Our private dining room for lunch
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 pastoral 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. It was during one stroll together through the picturesque Addison’s Walk at Magdalen College that they had a deeply meaningful conversation that would change the destiny of Lewis’s life. Both men were also famously 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
Addison’s Walk
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.
You can feel free to spend your evening wandering the magical streets of the city or however you wish! There are many wonderful historic and scenic sites to view as you meander through Edinburgh, along with terrific restaurants and dessert places.
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
Scottish Highlands and Fort William
July 16
From Edinburgh, we will be setting off to the delightful town of Fort William, in preparation for our incredible ride on the Jacobite Steam Train the next day. Our route will take us on a wondrous journey through the world-famous Scottish Highlands!
Our ride through the Highlands will be stunning and relaxing, with a lovely spot for lunch along the way. We will also visit scenic viewpoints and Harry Potter filming sites en route. Once we arrive in Fort William, guests who wish can follow the tour itinerary on a visit to Glen Nevis, a beautiful valley which features locations from Potter and the beloved film Braveheart.
Fort William is located by a loch and is situated close to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK. The Highland town is charming and cozy, with great restaurants where you have the option of trying local foods.
Take a relaxing ride through the Scottish Highlands, with visits to scenic sites and memorable movie locations!
Scottish Highlands
Scenic viewpoint in the Highlands
Town of Fort William
Glen Nevis
The Jacobite Steam Train and Edinburgh
July 17-18
On Saturday 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!
An easy ride will take us to our hotel in Edinburgh for the night, and your breakfast is included for the following day, July 18.
Journey to the coastlands of Scotland aboard 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
• 9 nights’ lodging in 4- and 5- star hotels
• 9 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 Tours t-shirt
• Copy of A Pen to Change the World: The Life of J.K. Rowling by Solomon Schmidt (one per couple/family)
• Copy of The Life & Works of J.R.R. Tolkien History Bites by Solomon Schmidt (one per couple/family)
• Copy of The Life & Works of C.S. Lewis History Bites by Solomon Schmidt (one per couple/family)
*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: © Fabio Flgel/EyeEm/Getty Images https://www.history.com/articles/london-england
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. Glen Nevis: © Scotland – The Big Picture https://www.scotlandbigpicture.com/nrn-partners/glen-nevis-estate.
11. London: © Hotels.comhttps://ca.hotels.com/go/england/best-scenic-walks-london.
12. Harry Potter Gift Shop: https://www.kingscross.co.uk/harry-potters-platform-9-34
13. Big Ben: © The Constructor
14. Westminster Abbey: HistoryExtra https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/brief-history-westminster-abbey-london-henry-iii-service/
15. The Tower Bridge View Room: Tripadvisor https://www.privatediningrooms.co.uk/restaurant/ivy-tower-bridge/
16. Ivy Tower Bridge: Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d12670367-Reviews-The_Ivy_Tower_Bridge-London_England.html
17. Hotel Miramar: https://www.bournemouth.co.uk/accommodation/hotel-miramar-p403
18. Hotel Miramar front lawn: Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186262-d295803-Reviews-or10-Hotel_Miramar-Bournemouth_Dorset_England.html
19. Old Harry Rocks sky view: © Kevmrc https://www.kevmrc.com/old-harry-rocks-england
20. Bournemouth Beach and Pier: https://www.bournemouth.co.uk/things-to-do/bournemouth-beach-p1242373
21. Stonehenge: © Encyclopedia Britannica
22. Eagle and Child: © Raymond Knapman https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1996370
23. Duke Humfrey’s Library: © Mark LaFlaur
24. Christ Church College: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/harry-potter-sets-christ-church-college-oxford
25. Christ Church Dining Hall: https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/visiting-christ-church/hall
26. Addison’s Walk: © Miles Underwood https://www.churchandculture.org/blog/2020/10/15/addisons-walk.
27. Bodley Tower Staircase: https://onestepwanderer.com/harry-potter-oxford/
28. Merton College: https://travelguide.michelin.com/europe/united-kingdom/great-britain/england/oxfordshire/oxford/merton-college
29. The Old Parsonage Hotel: https://www.oldparsonagehotel.co.uk/
30. Inside The Old Parsonage Hotel: ©dynarghdesign https://www.parsonagegrill.co.uk/
31. Edinburgh Castle: © Jack Delany https://medium.com/@jack.delaney/edinburgh-castle-guide-8cf8876f1966
32. Greyfriars Kirkyard: © outdooractive.com
33. George Heriot’s School: https://www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/george-heriots-school-band-concert-s1-3-choir
34. Victoria Street: https://edinburgh.org/blog/harry-potter/
35. Balmoral Hotel: © Booking.com
36. View from Edinburgh Castle: © Jack Delany https://medium.com/@jack.delaney/edinburgh-castle-guide-8cf8876f1966
37. Scottish Highlands horizontal image: © CHUNYIP WONG https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?phrase=three+sisters+of+glen+coe&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gettyimages.com%2Fphotos%2Fthree-sisters-of-glen-coe
38. Town of Fort William: © along dusty roads https://www.alongdustyroads.com/posts/things-to-do-in-fort-william-scotland
39. The Jacobite front view: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/tours/glenfinnan-mallaig-the-jacobite-steam-train-0bc4c2a1
40. Fort William and Ben Nevis: https://www.blythedale.co.uk/ben-nevis-scotland/
41. Mallaig: © VisitScotland/Allan Jamieson https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/mallaig-p236601
42. Atholl Palace 1: © TripAdvisor
43. Atholl Palace 2: © trivago.ae
44. Scenery around the Atholl Palace: Copyright holder is unknown
45. 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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