In June 2025, National English Honor Society student members and Chapter Advisors set off on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through England—a ten-day literary tour that brought the pages of beloved texts to life and deepened their appreciation for the power of storytelling.
The tour began with eager travelers gathering at New York City’s JFK airport, their suitcases packed with books, notebooks, and anticipation. Upon arriving in London, the group explored the neighborhoods of Bayswater and Hyde Park, shaking off jet lag with good food and fresh air.
Their first full day in London was exhilarating. From walking through the ancient Roman streets of the City of London to viewing cutting-edge art at Tate Modern, students immersed themselves in both history and contemporary art and culture. A highlight was a behind-the-scenes tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre—led by a Globe actor—where the group witnessed performers warming up for Romeo and Juliet. Visits to Charles Dickens’ home and the literary treasures at the British Library capped off a day that left everyone tired but inspired.
Day two offered a blend of both poetry and pageantry. The group visited Buckingham Palace and found quiet moments to journal and analyze poetry in St. James’s Park. Later, they stood among the tombs of literary greats in Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey, viewed iconic portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, wandered Covent Garden, and enjoyed a dazzling West End performance of Phantom of the Opera.
From the bustle of London, the group traveled to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. At Shakespeare’s Birthplace, a timber-framed house where he spent his early years, travelers reflected on how a boy from a small Warwickshire town became the most influential playwright in history. They then visited New Place, the site of his final home, where gardens and exhibits offered insights into his later life. A particularly moving stop was Holy Trinity Church, where the group stood at Shakespeare’s grave and read his famous epitaph warning against disturbing his bones: “Bleste be the man that spares thes stones / And curst be he that moves my bones.” One student remarked how surreal it felt to stand at the resting place of such a towering literary figure.
Next came Cambridge, where Girton College welcomed students into the archives to handle priceless literary relics—including a Shakespeare Folio, Darwin’s journals, suffragist letters, and a medieval Book of Hours. Courses on “Translating the Middle Ages” and “Researching Shakespeare” brought academic rigor to the journey, followed by a visit to the People’s Portraits collection and Lawrence Room to meet “Hermione,” the world’s only known Egyptian mummy of a female literature teacher. The following day, the group toured Cambridge’s historic colleges and viewed the city from the river on a punting expedition, before exploring the renowned Fitzwilliam Museum.
In York, students experienced the dynamic blend of academic engagement and historical depth that defines this ancient city. At York St. John University, a small but vibrant institution nestled in the heart of the city, participants took part in immersive, hands-on workshops. Students rotated through sessions in media production, acting, and literary analysis, collaborating with university faculty and gaining a firsthand look at how English studies can evolve across disciplines. For many, the workshops offered a new lens on storytelling—whether through performance, critical thinking, or digital expression. The following day allowed for a visit to Castle Howard, the grandest stately homes and the iconic filming location of Brideshead Revisited. Surrounded by classical architecture and sweeping gardens, students explored both the literary significance and cinematic legacy of the estate. The afternoon was left open for independent exploration of York, where cobbled streets, the towering York Minster, and remnants of Viking and Roman walls offered an unforgettable taste of medieval charm.
From there, the tour journeyed into the heart of Yorkshire to visit Haworth and Halifax, immersing students in the rugged landscapes and literary legacy of the Brontë sisters. At the Brontë Parsonage Museum, students walked through the rooms where Jane Eyre, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and Wuthering Heights were written. Original manuscripts, personal belongings, and family letters brought the sisters’ voices to life in moving ways. Afterwards, the group ventured onto the Yorkshire moors, braving the same windswept paths that inspired Emily Brontë’s prose. One student remarked that they could see and feel Wuthering Heights all around them. In the afternoon, the group continued to Shibden Hall, the home of Anne Lister, the 19th-century diarist whose bold life and groundbreaking journals have earned her the title of Britain’s “first modern lesbian.” Touring the house and learning about Lister’s unapologetic intellect and independence made a deep impression, with many travelers describing it as both empowering and emotionally resonant.
Returning to London, students visited the Tower of London, where history came alive with stories of Anne Boleyn and Sir Walter Raleigh. That evening, they returned to the Globe to see a gripping performance of Romeo and Juliet—complete with actors leaping into the audience and standing among the crowd.
Though their final night was brief, the impact of the tour was lasting. As the group departed from Heathrow, they carried home far more than souvenirs: they returned with deeper knowledge, fresh inspiration, and friendships forged through a shared love of literature.
Plans are already underway for next year’s tour—look out for more information soon!
More from NEHSXpress: July 15, 2025
NEHS 2026 Convention
NEHS Honor Roll 2024-2025
Author Talk Webinar Series 2025-2026
Updates to Awards, Grants, and Scholarships for 2025-2026
