I have been hoping for an England tour from Oscar Wilde Tours for years and I was very excited to see that wish fulfilled. It did not disappoint at all. The tour could be called the great English literary tour as we went from Shakespeare (Stratford on Avon + The Globe Theatre London), A walking tour of Bloomsbury (London) and then the homes of Virginia & Leonard Woolf, Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, Knole and Sissinghurst for Vita Sakeville West and Harold Nicholson. Bath was the point for all of our Jane Austen segments with visits to the Pump Room for tea and an optional trip to the Theatre Royal where Jane placed bits of her novels (Northanger Abbey and Persuasion). For dear Oscar Wilde we visited his Tite Street Home in London, Brighton where he and Bosie vacationed, Oxford University and Magdalen college where Oscar studied . Then a trip to York and Halifax to see where the fascinating Ann Lister lived and loved and wrote her diaries. All this plus Blenheim, the Royal Pavillion at Brighton and Howards Castle for a bit of Peerage living. Also included were marvelous meals ,an incredible local guide who kept us all together (amazing for a group of 15 and not as easy as one might think) . We had enough free time in London to see several plays and museums on our own although we did have a few museum tours included (a particularly good tour of the V & A with a wonderful guide). If you want to visit England and not just London but also the beauty of the countryside, the stately homes and gardens while enjoying the company of a lively group of fellow travelers, I cannot recommend Oscar Wilde Tours highly enough. Andrew packs your days with fascinating information on the sites visited and the people who lived in those places. Believe it or not, this is just the highlights, there was much more and all of it made for a very memorable trip

“Mr. Woilde, we ‘ave come for tew take yew …” One of the greatest thrills on this trip was our visit to Oscar Wilde’s house in Tite Street, Chelsea. Even though it was long ago broken up into flats, Jen, the charming occupant of the ground floor, welcomed us into her home and shared with us much Oscar Wilde lore and many memorabilia. We stayed in a wonderful hotel in London, The Bloomsbury, with sitting rooms decorated à la Duncan Grant, and a first class staff including several tall & handsome Bulgarian doormen, who always wished us a pleasant day when we set out, and inquired after us when we returned. We were within easy walking distance of most of central London and the theatre district, just down the street from the British Museum, and with an easy commute to Heathrow via the Elizabeth Line. Other memorable tour highlights: Oscar Wilde’s College at Oxford (Magdalen); high tea at the Pump Room in Bath, with echoes of Jane Austen, and ascending Beckford Tower, built by an wealthy gay eccentric; Edward II’s 14th century tomb in Gloucester Cathedral, along with some 2004 Jesus paintings in the Lady Chapel that were highly virile; experiencing the over-the-top interior of Brighton Royal Pavilion; pilgrimages to the Bloomsbury group homes in Kent (Monk’s House & Charleston Farmhouse, Sissinghurst & Knole); and, on the York extension, visiting York Minster, Castle Howard (scene of the 1981 “Brideshead Revisited”), and Shibden Hall, Anne Lister’s home outside Halifax. We consumed several delightful meals together, at pubs and inns — British cuisine has come a long way from Blimpie’s! And our local guides (especially Nick!) were, as always, superb. Thanks again to Professor Andrew Lear for his design and execution of a splendid fortnight for us!

I’ve taken wonderful Oscar Wilde tours of Italy, Greece and France, but this was the long awaited tour of England. It was everything I’d hoped for. A wonderful tour into the hidden corners of English history and literature. From Oscar himself to the Bloomsbury group and everyone else. As always, a great collection of fellow travelers. We ate in historic places, saw great art, homes and gardens. Even as I’ve been to some of these, I saw them anew from a different perspective. Go and enjoy!

This was my second trip with Oscar Wilde Tours, and it did not disappoint. There’s so much to see in England, having the LGBT focus is a wonderful way to sample great sights without being overwhelmed. With 16 other gay men on board (at least half of whom were repeat OWT customers), we shared so many fun and enlightening moments. Andrew Lear was in top form, especially apparent in the National Portrait Gallery, and it was obvious that he loves England and its LGBT history. He and our local guides (Nick, thank you!) made sure that every day was pleasurable and intellectually stimulating. And there was just the right amount of free time to see plays, etc. and explore on one’s own. Thanks to Professor Lear’s connections, we were able to tour Oscar Wilde’s Tite Street home, which is not open to the public. I’m so glad I took this trip! David S.

This was an absolutely wonderful trip. There is so much LGBTQ history in England and Andrew and the other guides he chose did an excellent job. History, art, music, theatre all covered. Seeing some of Oscar Wilde’s haunts, a queer tour of the National Portrait gallery, visits to Charleston and Monk’s House, Castle Howard were all highlights for me. I have special food requirements and I felt well taken care of at all of the group meals. I would definitely recommend this trip for anyone with an interest in LGBTQ history in England.