Tacoma Concert Band - UK & Ireland Tour 2023

Day One | Friday, June 23rd

Depart the USA on your overnight flight to London

Day Two | Saturday June 24th

Arrive London and meet your coach drivers and tour guides

Depending on the flight arrival times there will be a visit to Windsor Castle.

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It is open to visitors throughout the year.

Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 39 monarchs. Today The Queen spends most of her private weekends at the Castle.

Afternoon set aside for rehearsal at the Heston & District Community Hall.   0.4 of a mile from your hotel.

Dinner will be in your hotel this evening.

Day Three| Sunday, June 25th

09.00hrs          Depart hotel for Blue Badged Panoramic Tour of London

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.

The tour will take in the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace if it is scheduled.  The schedule is released six months in advance and it is weather dependant (if it rains it does not happen).

See the New Guard exchange duty with the Old Guard in the famous Changing the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace.  Changing the Guard is a formal ceremony in which the group of soldiers currently protecting Buckingham Palace are replaced by a new group of soldiers. The ceremony is free to watch.  The guard that looks after Buckingham Palace is called The Queen’s Guard and is made up of soldiers on active duty from the Household Division’s Foot Guards. The guards are dressed in traditional red tunics and bearskin hats.

This afternoon we will have an outdoor concert in St James Park.

St James’s Park is a 23-hectare (57-acre) park in the City of Westminster, central London. It is at the southernmost tip of the St James’s area, which was named after a leper hospital dedicated to St James the Less. It is the most easterly of a near-continuous chain of parks that includes (moving westward) Green Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens. The park is bounded by Buckingham Palace to the west, the Mall to the north, Horse Guards to the east, and Birdcage Walk to the south. It meets Green Park at Queen’s Gardens with the Victoria Memorial at its centre, opposite the entrance to Buckingham Palace. St James’s Palace is on the opposite side of The Mall.

Dinner is at your own arrangement this evening.

20.00hrs          Return transfer to your hotel.

Day Four | Monday, June 26th

09.00hrs          Depart hotel

Today we will do a flight on the London Eye followed by a Thames Cruise.

The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel, and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over 3 million visitors annually.

The Cruise is a 40-minute circular sightseeing boat cruise along the famous River Thames. See London’s most popular landmarks led by expert guides

Afternoon at leisure in London.

17.00hrs          Return transfer to your hotel

Dinner is in your hotel this evening.

Day Five| Tuesday June 27th

08.00hrs          Check-out and depart your hotel.

11.30hrs          Arrive Cardiff – comfort stop enroute

11.30hrs          Arrive Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance, walk through its gates and discover a story 2,000 years in the making.  From the Roman occupation of Britain to the Norman Conquest, through civil war turbulence, a Victorian transformation and even the terrors of World War 2, these walls have seen it all.  In a country world-renowned for its castles, Cardiff’s is proud to be a little different; having not simply survived the centuries but evolved with them in a fashion few others can claim.

The band will have a lunchtime outdoor concert at the Castle

Afternoon guided tour at the Royal Mint Experience

Since opening in 2016, The Royal Mint Experience has become one of the top-rated tourist attractions in South Wales. Our guided tours give you unprecedented access to The Royal Mint and its history. Go behind the scenes to discover a whole world of coinage and experience history at The Royal Mint Experience.

17.00hrs          Depart The Royal Mint

17.20hrs          Arrive  Vale Hotel and Resort x 2 nights

Set in 650 acres of beautiful Welsh countryside, Vale Resort features a luxury spa, 2 championship golf courses and 2 restaurants. The resort is a 15-minute drive from Cardiff.  The elegant bedrooms have air conditioning, a seating area and interactive TV with internet access. Some rooms have a private balcony or scenic views across the Vale of Glamorgan.  With an AA Rosette, Vale Grill serves modern Welsh cuisine featuring fresh local produce. The stylish champagne bar has a grand piano, and there is also a casual bistro and Clubhouse bar.  The Vale Resort Leisure Centre features a swimming pool and spacious gym. Guests can relax in the spa, with its sauna, hot tub, steam room, relaxation lounge, and treatment rooms

Dinner is in your hotel tonight.

Day Six| Wednesday June 28th

10.00hrs          Depart your hotel

10.30hrs          Arrive Rhondda Heritage Park

The Black Gold Experience Underground Tour is led by our guides who all worked the coal mines of the Rhondda Valleys and have tales to tell of life underground and the history of the Black Gold that was shipped from the Rhondda around the globe.  The tour ends with a ride on DRAM! Our virtual coal dram which has a few surprises!    During your visit, why not take a free tour around our exhibitions – did you know coal from the Rhondda was used to power the Titanic?

12.30hrs          Transfer to Cardiff

13.00hrs          Arrive in Cardiff

Time at leisure in the City.

15.00hrs          Transfer to your hotel

15.30hrs          Arrive at the Vale Resort

17.00hrs          Depart hotel

17.45hrs          Arrive Aberdare

This evening we will have an exchange concert with the Lewis Merthyr Band and the Cwnbach Male Choir.             The Welsh Band and Choir will perform first.  After Tacoma’s performance there will be a joint performance at the end.

Founded in 1852 and located in the heart of the town of Aberdare, in the picturesque Cynon Valley, St Elvan’s has recently undergone an extensive £2 million renovation and is now reopened as a vibrant new space featuring concert and conference facilities, an exhibition gallery, meeting rooms, heritage tours together with a licensed cafe

After the concert there will be refreshments and even time for a few drinks with our Welsh hosts.

10.45hrs          Depart Aberdare

11.30hrs          Arrive your hotel

Day Seven | Thursday June 29th

09.30hrs          Check-out and depart your hotel

12.15hrs          Arrive Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England’s largest houses, was built between 1705 and 1722, and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

The palace is named after the 1704 Battle of Blenheim, and thus ultimately after Blindheim (also known as Blenheim) in Bavaria. It was originally intended to be a reward to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough for his military triumphs against the French and Bavarians in the War of the Spanish Succession, culminating in the Battle of Blenheim. The land was given as a gift, and construction began in 1705, with some financial support from Queen Anne. The project soon became the subject of political infighting, with the Crown cancelling further financial support in 1712, Marlborough’s three-year voluntary exile to the Continent, the fall from influence of his duchy and lasting damage to the reputation of the architect Sir John Vanbrugh.

Following the palace’s completion, it became the home of the Churchill (later Spencer-Churchill) family for the next 300 years, and various members of the family have wrought changes to the interiors, park and gardens. At the end of the 19th century, the palace was saved from ruin by funds gained from the 9th Duke of Marlborough’s marriage to American railroad heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt.

16.00hrs          Depart The Palace

17.00hrs          Arrive Crowner Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon

Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon is a riverside hotel near Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon town centre. The hotel offers modern rooms, a heated swimming pool and a riverside terrace. Stratford-upon-Avon Train Station is just 1.6 km away.  The hotel’s 259 rooms offer views of the river and garden. Each room has a work space and free WiFi. Executive rooms provide guests with bathrobes and a minibar.The hotel is a 5-minute stroll along the River Avon to the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Swan Theatre. This hotel is set in landscaped gardens beside the River Avon,

Dinner is in your hotel this evening.

Day Eight| Friday June 30th

We start the day with a walking tour of Stratford-upon-Avon.  You day will include visits to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Shakespeare’s Birthplace and the Holy Trinity Church.

William Shakespeare’s birthplace is one of the most evocative attractions in the world and undoubtedly the centrepiece of any visit to Stratford-upon-Avon. See Shakespeare’s home as he would have lived in it as a 10 year old boy. Based on meticulous research, the birthplace’s parlour, hall, bedrooms, kitchen and buttery are furnished in authentic 16th-century style. Dwell in the chambers where he and his seven brothers and sisters were born and view the glove makers workshop where as a boy, Shakespeare would have watched his father work.  Investigate the window where 19th century pilgrims to the Birthplace scratched their signatures and hunt out the famous. Explore the house which features stunning room displays, highlights of which include traditional linen wall hangings, a textile hung bed and rare pieces of everyday furniture. The Shakespeare Exhibition illustrates Shakespeares life and career in both Stratford and London. It includes a first edition of Shakespeare’s collected plays and a model of London’s Globe Theatre. 

A 2 hour walk around the Stratford streets that ‘brings Shakespeare back to life’ – Shakespeare’s life story set in the context of historic Stratford.  All seven ages of this man of Stretford are explored in depth with a little help from the writings of ‘our myriad-minded Shakespeare’.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage  Located a mile and a half outside of Stratford-upon-Avon in Shottery, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a thatched house nestled in an idyllic cottage garden. The building was the childhood home of William Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway. She was born there sometime around 1556 and it is assumed she stayed there until her marriage to Shakespeare in 1582.  One of the oldest buildings held by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the felled timber in Anne Hathaway’s Cottage’s cruck frame dates back to 1463. Since that date, thirteen generations of Hathaways (over 368 years) have lived there, and the surrounding land was used as a working farm until well into the nineteenth century.

 Holy Trinity Church, is the church where William Shakespeare was baptised, where he worshipped and where he is buried. We are delighted to welcome the thousands of visitors who come each year to view his final resting place. We are also an active parish church serving the needs of local people. In fact, Christians have been worshipping God on this site for over 1,000 years

15.00hrs          Depart Stratford-upon-Avon

17.00hrs          Arrive at hotel

Dinner in your hotel tonight

Day Nine| Saturday July 1st

08.30hrs          Depart hotel for Liverpool

09.45hrs          Arrive The Beatles Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool

Be transported on an incredible immersive journey as we tell the story of how four young lads from Liverpool were propelled to the dizzy heights of fame and fortune from their humble childhood beginnings.

Replicas of the Casbah, Mathew Street, Abbey Road Studios and The Cavern authentically capture the early ’60s, allowing you to personally experience the very places that helped make The Beatles the greatest band in the world.  Hear the story unfold through our complimentary ‘Living History’ audio guides.  With special exhibitions, authentic memorabilia and exclusive photographs, there’s all this and much more at this award-winning attraction.

After our museum visit we have time at leisure in Liverpool and perhaps an opportunity to the vist The Cavern.

13.30hrs          Depart Liverpool

14.45hrs          Arrive at your hotel – to prepare for the concert

16.30hrs          Depart hotel

17.30hrs           Arrive Shrewsbury

This evenings concert will be an exchange concert with the Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band

Venue – Severn Theatre, Shrewsbury

Dinner is at your own expense this evening.

Day ten| Sunday July 2nd

10.30hrs          Check-out and depart your hotel

13.15hrs          Arrive Holyhead  – comfort stop en-route

14.10hrs          Depart Holyhead on Irish Ferries Ulysses

17.25hrs          Arrive Dublin

18.15hrs          Arrive at Ashling Hotel Dublin  x 3 nights

Overlooking the River Liffey, The Ashling Hotel is beside Heuston Station in Dublin. This 4-star hotel has beautifully decorated interiors, spacious rooms with free Wi-Fi, and a stylish bar.  The Ashling is located just a 5-minute walk from Dublin Zoo and the Guinness Storehouse. A 5-minute journey on the LUAS tram brings you to the lively Temple Bar area.  Decorated in warm tones, rooms have comfortable beds with crisp white duvets. Rooms include flat-screen TVs and in-room safes.  Chesterfields Brasserie serves cooked breakfasts in the morning, a lunchtime cavery and fine Irish and international cuisine in the evening.

Dinner will be in your hotel this evening

Day eleven| Monday July 3rd

We start the day with a Panoramic City of Dublin

Dublin, capital of the Republic of Ireland, is on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. Its historic buildings include Dublin Castle, dating to the 13th century, and imposing St Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191. City parks include landscaped St Stephen’s Green and huge Phoenix Park, containing Dublin Zoo. The National Museum of Ireland explores Irish heritage and culture.

And part of the day we will the EPIC Museum

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, located in Dublin’s Docklands, covers the history of the Irish diaspora and emigration to other countries. It was designed by the London-based design firm Event Communications, and was voted as “Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction” at the 2019, 2020 and 2021 World Travel Awards.

We spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure in Dublin before we head out to Howth for an evening of song, dance and dinner at the Abbey Tavern.

A world famous Traditional Irish Pub, Restaurant and Entertainment Venue with a unique 16th century location.  With its original stone walls, flagged floors, blazing turf fires and friendly staff, a truly warm welcome awaits you in one of Dublins’ best and most iconic venues.

Day twelve| Tuesday July 4th

We have the morning at leisure in Dublin before we head over mid-afternoon to set-up at the Royal Irish Academy of Irish  (new auditorium) for a concert with the Dublin Concert Band.

The Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, Ireland, is one of Europe’s oldest music conservatoires, specialising in classical music and the Irish harp. It is located in a Georgian building on Westland Row in Dublin.

Dinner at your own arrangement this evening.

Day thirteen |Wednesday July 5th

Safe Home (Slan Abhaile!)

Please note that the itinerary is subject to change.

Tour extension to start