2025 Wesley & Methodism Heritage Tour to Great Britain

The quiet English countryside and green, rolling hills will delight you as you travel to remote Epworth in the Fen Country. Here, Samuel and Susanna Wesley raised their children in the Old Rectory while he served the parish church for 39 years. You'll become familiar with the upbringing and early life of John and Charles Wesley when you visit their childhood home.

London was the site of many dramatic scenes during John Wesley's life. Here you'll see City Road's Wesley Chapel, the site of Wesley's home and grace. Across the street, in Bunhill Fields Cemetery, Susanna Wesley is buried along with other famous people such as John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe. You'll walk on Aldersgate Street, where on May 24, 1738, John Wesley had his "heart strangely warmed" experience. You'll see where Charles had his conversion experience in "Little Britain." You explore St. Paul's Cathedral and so much more.

Learn about the educational background of the Wesley Brothers, John, Charles, and Samuel Jr., when you visit Christ Church College at Oxford University. See Lincoln College and St. Mary's Church where John Wesley preached a powerful sermon just days after his Aldersgate experience.

Visit the often missed Parish Church of Llanlleonfel (meaning Church of the bare moor) where the wedding of Charles Wesley and Sarah Gwynne, of the Manor of Garth, took place in April 1749. 

John Wesley’s New Room is the oldest Methodist building in the world. Founded in 1739 by John Wesley, the New Room became the cradle of the worldwide Methodist movement. It is home to the original 18th century Chapel, as well as a Museum of John & Charles Wesley's life and work in Bristol. 

Wesley’s Chapel was built in 1778 by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. It was the first Methodist preaching house to allow for the celebration of Holy Communion.

Uncover the incredible story of one of the world’s most famous places. This must-see monument is a powerful testament to human ingenuity, imagination and creativity, and a visit today offers something for everyone to enjoy. 

 The British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. Over 6 million visitors every year experience the collection, including world-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, and Egyptian mummies. 

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of King Charles the 3rd when he is in Scotland. It's steeped in history and a must for anyone who wants to discover more about Scotland's past.

Come and unlock the splendour within the finest Georgian town house in England. A classical architectural masterpiece of its age, Fairfax House was originally the winter home of Viscount Fairfax. Its richly decorated interior was designed by York’s most distinguished eighteenth-century architect, John Carr.

At Chatsworth House explore over 25 rooms in the stately home, including the Painted Hall, State Rooms and Sculpture Gallery. Discover the history of the Devonshire family and how seventeen generations have each contributed to the creation of one of Derbyshire's finest country houses. 

 The Tower of London is a 1,000 year old castle that protects the Crown Jewels. Throughout its long history, it was a secure fortress, a royal palace, and an infamous prison. Kings and queens demonstrated their power from here, shaping society and influencing our world.

Famed for its soccer team and music scene, which has produced the likes of The Smiths and Oasis, this center for sports and the arts is a down-to-earth and friendly city. The so-called Capital of the North has overcome industrial decline and bombing (in WWII and by the IRA) to become a confident and cosmopolitan city of over two million people.

Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.

Founded by William the Conqueror, the university city of Durham maintains the grandeur of its medieval heyday. Its UNESCO-listed castle and cathedral tower over the tree-lined banks of the River Wear, while its steep lanes are lined with elegant townhouses and cafes.

 York is a walled city in northeast England that was founded by the ancient Romans. Its huge 13th-century Gothic cathedral, York Minster, has medieval stained glass and 2 functioning bell towers. The City Walls form a walkway on both sides of the River Ouse. 

Birmingham is a major city in England’s West Midlands region, with multiple Industrial Revolution-era landmarks that speak to its 18th-century history as a manufacturing powerhouse. It’s also home to a network of canals, many of which radiate from Sherborne Wharf and are now lined with trendy cafes.

Warwick is a town on the River Avon, in England’s West Midlands region. It’s known for the medieval Warwick Castle, founded by William the Conqueror. The Collegiate Church of St. Mary has a tower with city views and a Norman crypt. The timber-framed buildings of 14th-century Lord Leycester Hospital cluster by the city’s West Gate.

Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town in England’s West Midlands, is the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare. Possibly the most famous writer in the English language, Shakespeare is known for his sonnets and plays such as 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Hamlet'. The Royal Shakespeare Company performs his plays in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and adjacent Swan Theatre on the banks of the River Avon.

London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex, and the entire city. 

Salisbury is a medieval cathedral city in the southern English county of Wiltshire. It’s 9 miles south of the iconic prehistoric stone circle at Stonehenge, which stands on the grassland of Salisbury Plain. The city’s ornate 13th-century cathedral has a 123m spire, a working 14th-century clock and an original copy of the Magna Carta (the Great Charter), a key document from 1215 A.D.

Bristol is a city straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England with a prosperous maritime history. Its former city-centre port is now a cultural hub, the Harbourside, where the M Shed museum explores local social and industrial heritage. 

Caerphilly is a town and community in Wales. As the largest town in the Borough with the second largest fortress in Europe, Caerphilly town centre showcases itself as a destination with lots to offer, being only eight miles from the Welsh capital.