In  November/December 2020,  join fellow poultry enthusiasts for an educational,  cultural, and fun international poultry adventure hosted by McMurray Hatchery.  

Glean new insights and ideas from our creative neighbors across the pond who are incorporating poultry, gardens, and sustainability into their backyards and small homesteads; attend the National Poultry Show of Great Britain; visit unique urban and rural poultry farms; and experience some of England’s cultural, scenic and historic treasures. In addition, McMurray  Hatchery staff will be traveling with the group to offer their own insights and experiences and will act as a resource throughout the tour.  

The tour begins in England’s capital city of London — a cosmopolitan city full of history and grandeur. While in London visit Hen Corner and Mudchute City Farm to discover London-style urban backyard farming and urban flocks.   

Tour activities include a  guided  tour of  London with photo stops at Buckingham  Palace,  the Houses of Parliament, and Trafalgar Square; entrance to the world-renowned Tower of London; and free time for sightseeing on your own.        

The tour then heads north to the Midlands with a  stop en route in Stratford-Upon-Avon,  the birthplace of William Shakespeare, on the way to Telford — home of the British National Poultry Show.

At the National Poultry Show attend educational sessions,  peruse vendor booths, view the 7,000+  chicken, duck, goose, turkey and egg exhibits and socialize with your UK compatriots. 

The final leg of your tour takes you to Oxfordshire.  The City of Oxford is the county’s crowning glory and the dignified home of one of the world’s oldest and most famous universities — Oxford University, and also the home of PBS's Inspector Morse.

While in Oxfordshire get a taste for the rural English countryside in the Cotswold Hills and their beloved limestone villages — where you will tour a variety of smallholdings (homesteads), family farms and hatcheries, many of which are entirely free-range.   

The final day of your tour takes you to perhaps the world’s most famous prehistoric monument -Stonehenge. This unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BC and is a must-see for any traveler to England. 

Arrive in London and check-in to our hotel in the Wembley area of London. After check-in, you are free for the rest of the day. Relax and recover from your travel day, explore the local area, visit Wembley Stadium or take the London Underground to Central London (highly recommended). Travel and Play can assist you with London Underground passes, Wembley Stadium bookings and recommendations for what to see in the London area.

Visit Mudchute City Farm on the Isle of Dogs in central London. Tom Davies, the farm manager will provide a guided tour of the facility and talk about his own experiences showing Poultry in the UK. Tom sits on the board of the Rare Breed Survival Trust and the national council for the British Waterfowl Association. 

In the afternoon we transfer North to Brentford and visit Hen Corner. Sara Ward, the owner of Hen Corner has transformed her Victorian terrace house into an urban smallholding allowing her to have the best of both worlds. Nestled in West London, they are living the good life complete with 20 hens, three colonies of honey bees, a fruitful kitchen garden, and micro-bakery.  

Sarah will cater lunch and let you taste some English delicacies, talk about Urban poultry farming in London, discuss how she started her business and then provide a tour of her smallholding. 

In the A.M., Visit the Tower of London, a historic castle built in 1066 and located on the North Bank of the River Thames. 

In the afternoon, participate in a guided walking tour (weather permitting) of London viewing the iconic London sites of Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Westminster Cathedral, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, Downing Street, and Trafalgar Square.   

In the evening you are free to explore London on your own.        

Transfer from London to the National Poultry Show in Telford, with a stop en route in Stratford-Upon-Avon — the birthplace of William Shakespeare. There is the opportunity to visit Shakespeare's birthplace home, or just walk around this amazing 16th century smallholding market town.  

In the afternoon visit a local hatchery, farm or smallholding in the West Midlands and then head to Telford. 

In the evening you are free in Telford. Your hotel is a five-minute walk from Telford City Center and the Telford Christmas Market. 

Spend the day at the National Poultry Show of Great Britain perusing the 7000+ exhibits and vendors. Participate in one of the educational sessions or judging workshops, and speak to the breeders and club officials representing some of the UK's top poultry breeds.      

Spend the morning viewing the breed winners at the National Poultry Show, visiting the vendor booths, and enjoy one last look at all the entries. In the afternoon visit Blitz Hill Victorian Village, an open-air museum that recreates the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian England.

Travel to Gallantry House Farm, which is about 20 miles North of Telford, to meet with a Derbyshire Redcap breeder. Redcaps are one of the rarest breeds across the world and a current preservation project for McMurray Hatchery. 

Transfer to Oxford with a stop en route at Warwick Castle — an 11th century castle built by William the Conqueror in 1068.

Once in Oxford, the evening is free for you to explore the city of spires.

Visit the Rare Breed Survival Trust for a presentation about what the organization is doing for rare breed poultry conservation in the UK.

In the afternoon you are free in Oxford to pursue your own interests.  You could:  

Visit the World Famous Oxford University – Most of the university building are open to visitors. 

Visit Ashmolean museum one of the oldest museums in the world. 

There are 8 additional amazing museums in Oxford and as with most museums in England – entrance is free. 

If you enjoy churches and cathedrals - Visit Christ Church Cathedral built in 1160..

If you watch PBS and Inspector Morse or Endeavor – You can follow a Morse tour.  Inspector Morse was filmed in Oxford. 

Oxford Christmas Market is also open and Oxford is an amazing city to just wander around.  

Tour an English hatchery or smallholding in the morning. In the afternoon the group will visit Stonehenge, perhaps the most famous prehistoric monument in the world, before transferring back to an airport hotel near London Heathrow Airport.  

Transfer to London Heathrow Airport. Return Flight Home.