SOLD OUT – join the waitlist here
We’ll stand in Caroline Herschel‘s back garden, where she discovered the planet George! We’ll devour Sally Lunn buns and marvel at the little nook above the fireplace where the recipe was found. We’ll walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans who asked the goddess Minerva to curse their enemies in the most creative ways. We’ll follow farmer Martin Green to the very spot where he discovered the grave of Cranborne Woman. We’ll stand where Eleanor of Aquitaine was imprisoned for 16 years. Ancient libraries, soaring spires, archeological wonders, strong women, unforgettable stories… that’s the What’sHerName experience!
- June 2, Bath: Katie’s Bath by night walking tour, with a stop for dinner at Sally Lunn’s
- June 3, Bath: Caroline Herschel home and No. 1 Royal Crescent
- June 4, Bath: Free morning; Ancient Roman baths and curse tablets
- June 5, Cranborne Chase: Martin Green’s Down Farm in Dorset
- June 6, Salisbury: Salisbury Cathedral, medieval library and archeological museum
- June 7, Wiltshire: Ancient sites day trip to Old Sarum and Stonehenge
- June 8: Departure day
For more details and a complete itinerary WE’VE GOT THE GOODS HERE
Price: $1970 per person
Includes: hotels, guides and special episode guests, ground transportation and tickets to everything on the itinerary, tips for drivers and all special guests, fun surprises
Does not include: your transport into Bath and out of Salisbury (happy to advise… public transport is straightforward!), meals, free time stuff
What to expect
This is not your typical commercial tour…nothing like it, really! We never use travel agents, instead making all the arrangements ourselves. It’s the best way we know to ensure authentic, eco-friendly, off the beaten track experiences. Katie’s husband Marc is our resident “Smoothness Operator” who does all the logistical legwork for us all the time, so we all get to float on without a care. (Katie and Marc have taught University Study Abroad courses for over a decade…we gotchu.)
We love traveling this way: all the benefits of group travel without any of the downsides. Our judgement-free group swiftly becomes a happy little traveling village. It’s magic every time!
Time to soak up a place, to hear your own thoughts, and to connect with real people is paramount. We stay in small, characterful hotels and avoid tourist traps. We aren’t high fashion and we’re not here to impress. We’re here to have an adventure!
Expect plenty of free time to explore at your own pace. Expect to learn a lot about stuff you didn’t realize was so amazing. Expect to eat a lot of incredible things, and to find your tribe. We can’t tell you how often we’ve heard someone say, “I was really nervous about doing a group tour, but this has been one of the best things I ever did!” You found us through What’sHerName, and they did too– these are Your People.
Based on our experience, you can also expect to do a lot of laughing, crying, and life-changing.
Anyone from anywhere is most welcome to join!
THIS TOUR IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT. YOU MAY JOIN THE WAITLIST HERE.
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FAQs
Which airport should I fly into?
Either London Heathrow, or Bristol Airport. From the airport, you’ll hop on a train or a bus to get to Bath. Our hotel is right across the from the train station in the heart of Bath. You’ll get yourself to our hotel on the first day, where we’ll all assemble. Plan to arrive by the afternoon of June 2. On departure day, for most comfort, choose a flight that leaves the evening (not morning) of June 8 or later.
I have diet restrictions. Will I find things to eat?
Sure! The cuisine is as varied as anywhere. Pubs, restaurants and grocery stores abound.
Does the $500 deposit go toward the cost of the trip?
Yes, absolutely. You’ll get invoices from our admin (our sister, Meredith!) leading up to the trip. You will pay via Square with credit/debit card.
I see there’s a lot of walking on this trip. I’m nervous I won’t be able to keep up?
Yes, we’ll be hoofing it across town and back again on various days. Historic buildings can have lots of steep stairs, and the Cranborne Chase involves a fair amount of walking through fields. (It’s also very possible we could be doing all this walking in the rain.) You certainly don’t need to plan on walking ten miles every day, but some days might reach that. You can always opt out of any activity, though, and meet up with the group later!
I’ve never been abroad before. Is this a good trip for me?
Oh, absolutely. You’re in very good hands. Start your passport application early!
How much should I budget for spending money?
So hard to say. Some get by on $30 a day, others average more like $300. You can plan on prices for food, transport, etc., to be roughly the same as prices in the US, if that helps.
What can I read to get excited for the trip?
There are SO many good books, directly relevant to Bath and Salisbury! (* indicates a must read in our opinion)
- *Caroline Herschel’s memoirs (there’s a free audiobook on Librivox, or do the free download at Gutenberg Project)
- *A Time Traveller’s Guide to Regency Britain by Ian Mortimer
- William Golding’s The Spire – about the building of Salisbury cathedral, England’s tallest spire
- Sister Novelists and The Making of Jane Austen by Devoney Looser
- Persuasion and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
- Sarum by Edward Rutherford – an epic for the ages, set at Stonehenge and Old Sarum
- The Ela of Salisbury Medieval Mystery series by J.G. Lewis
- Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman – a fantasy set in Bath and its mirror city, Aquae Sulis
Will you offer partial trip options? I live nearby so wouldn’t need a hotel.
We hope to be able to add partial trip options for folks who want to join in the activities, but not the hotel. If this is you, let our admin Meredith know at info@whatshernamepodcast.com. Space will depend on how many full participants we have.
How do you match roommates?
When you register, you can let us know your gender preferences, which we will do our absolute best to match. We rotate roomies with each hotel, to avoid getting sick of each other. You will of course have separate beds. If you’re traveling with someone and want them as a roomie the whole time, you can enter that at registration as well. Most people come solo, so don’t sweat it! You’ll come away with so many new friends.
So just to confirm. I’d arrive in Bath the afternoon of June 2, and depart Salisbury anytime on June 8?
Yep! See you there!