Clearfield– On June 24, forty-eight students, family members, and chaperones from the Clearfield area left the United States and headed for an 11-day tour of Paris and the United Kingdom.
The crew flew into Charles de Gaulle airport, met their tour director and bus driver, and headed into the heart of Paris to grab some brunch and then take in the view from the Montparnasse Tower. Afterward they headed to the Fragonard Perfume Museum where they were taught how perfume is made, the history of it, as well as various other facts. The tour guide had previously done a study abroad year in the United States, and it was discovered she lived in Houtzdale!
The next day included a sightseeing tour including sights as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides, Champs-Élysées, the Pantheon Paris, and more. After lunch in the Latin Quarter the travelers took a cruise on the Seine River, and then had a few hours to see the art in the Louvre. Many found their way into the room with the Mona Lisa.
On June 26, the group traveled to London via the Eurostar; a train traveling 186 miles-per-hour. Due to a severe delay at the Paris train station, time was very limited for lunch once arriving in London. After lunch they took in the sights of the city from a ride on the London Eye followed by a cruise on the Thames River. From both of these tours travelers could see the Tower of London, London Bridge, the Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and more before having a dinner of Bangers and Mash.
Day two in London was the highlight for most of the group. They started the day touring Windsor Castle, including St. George’s Chapel where the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle took place, as well as the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II and her family, followed by a sightseeing tour of London. This provided a better view of Westminster Abbey, The Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben) and the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace. The tour ended in Piccadilly Circus where travelers were free to do some souvenir shopping and take in the sights. After dinner everyone was entertained by a performance of Six! the musical. The six wives of Henry VIII tell the tales of their lives and, in some cases, deaths.
The final day in London was an excursion to Stonehenge and Salisbury. Travelers were able to see the stone monument erected centuries ago and then spent some free time in Salisbury before touring the cathedral. The cathedral is home to one of the earliest types of mechanical clocks (from around 1386), the grave of the sister of Lady Jane Gray, and one of the best-preserved documents from the Magna Carta.
Sunday, June 20 was spent touring Oxford and the New College. The group was able to see one of the filming locations for Harry Potter, and many chose to purchase sweatshirts as the temperature starting getting colder as the tour headed north. They then journeyed on to Stratford-Upon-Avon for tours of both Anne Hathaway’s cottage and the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The tour director treated everyone to ice cream here to make up for the heat of the Paris train station.
The next day was a big travel day with a few stops along the way. They took a self-guided tour of Warwick Castle, which is one of William the Conqueror’s original castles from 1066, and had the opportunity to watch a demonstration of a trebuchet (a medieval catapult) being fired. Time at this castle was short due to having a tour appointment in Yorkshire to tour the York Minster.
The final destination was Edinburgh, Scotland. The group started with a tour of Edinburgh Castle, which was celebrating its 900th anniversary, where they had the opportunity to see the Scottish crown jewels and the room in which King James I of England was born (son to Queen Mary of Scotts).
The final day in Edinburgh was very exciting for a few lucky travelers. They caught the motorcade of King Charles and Queen Camilla as they were heading out of town. All travelers were treated to a walking tour of the city, including the Elephant House (where Harry Potter was born), Victoria Street (which inspired Diagon Alley), and tickets to the National Museum of Scotland which houses Dolly the Sheep. That evening they went on a Specters of Edinburgh tour, also known as a ghost tour, where they passed through the cemetery that housed the graves of a real life McGonigal, Moodie, and Thomas Riddle.
Thursday, July 4th saw the group heading to Glasgow International Airport to begin the journey home. They were treated to fireworks all throughout the city of New York as they headed out of the city and back to Clearfield.
The next tour that will be offered for students and families will be in June of 2026. Information will be available in the fall, and questions can be forwarded to Mr. Andrew Rothrock at andrewrothrock07@gmail.com.