The London Quilting Escape: Festival of Quilts 2027 with Gudrun and Mr. HP (July 24 - August 1, 2027)

Nine days in England, built for quilters. Not a general tour with a quilt show bolted onto the end.

This is a GE Quilting Escape, hosted start to finish by Gudrun Erla and Mr. HP.

You start in London, with the textile world most tours walk straight past. William Morris at Kelmscott House, where he lived and designed by the Thames. A private curator tour at the Fashion and Textile Museum, following Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell's work from the first painted sketches to the finished bolts. Then the London everyone comes for: Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, the London Eye, a proper pub lunch, and a theatre evening.

Then west to Stonehenge and on to Bath. Georgian streets on foot, a drive through the South Cotswolds, and afternoon tea at Blenheim Palace with a talk shaped around what this particular group cares about. North through the Cotswold villages to Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare's Birthplace and a backstage tour at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Costumes up close, how the sets get built, and the superstitions they still keep.

And then Birmingham, and two full days at the Festival of Quilts. Admission included, both days, no queue to sort out on your own.

Trip highlights
- 8 nights across London, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham
- Two full days at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC, admission included
- A private curator tour at the Fashion and Textile Museum
- William Morris at Kelmscott House
- Afternoon tea at Blenheim Palace, with a talk built around the group
- Shakespeare's Birthplace and a Royal Shakespeare Company backstage tour
- Stonehenge, Bath, and the Cotswolds
- Three group dinners, with all coach travel and guiding throughout
- Hosted start to finish by Gudrun and Mr. HP

Day by day
Sat Jul 24, London. Arrive, settle in, welcome dinner.
Sun Jul 25, London. Morning at leisure, William Morris at Kelmscott House, the London Eye.
Mon Jul 26, London. Westminster Abbey, pub lunch, the Tower of London, theatre in the evening.
Tue Jul 27, to Bath. Fashion and Textile Museum curator tour, lunch, Stonehenge, on to Bath.
Wed Jul 28, to Stratford. Bath walking tour, the South Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace and afternoon tea, north through the Cotswold villages.
Thu Jul 29, to Birmingham. Shakespeare's Birthplace, a walking tour of Stratford, the RSC backstage tour, then Birmingham and a group dinner.
Fri Jul 30, Birmingham. Festival of Quilts.
Sat Jul 31, Birmingham. Festival of Quilts, then the farewell dinner.
Sun Aug 1. Transfer back to London and home.

Come for the quilts. Stay for the people. You will be traveling with quilters who understand exactly why you would cross an ocean for a quilt show.

What it costs

All prices are per person, land only. You book your own flights.

Reserve your spot with a 35% deposit. We invoice the balance in two installments: 35% on January 11, 2027, and the final 30% on April 26, 2027.

Sharing a room, $5,795 total
- Deposit: $2,028
- January 11, 2027: $2,028
- April 26, 2027: $1,739

A room to yourself, $7,995 total
- Deposit: $2,798
- January 11, 2027: $2,798
- April 26, 2027: $2,399

Traveling with someone?
Book both spots in one order and we will room you together. Add both names at checkout. Prefer to pay separately? Book your own spots and add each other's name and email so we can match you up.

Traveling solo?
You are in good company. Take a room to yourself, or choose to share and we will match you with a roommate. [PLACEHOLDER - ATLI: what happens if we CANNOT find a roommate match? Do we absorb the single supplement or charge it? This must be answered here before publish. Charging an unwarned supplement is a chargeback and trust risk.]

What's included
- 8 nights hotel accommodation [PLACEHOLDER - HOTELS TBD: the Rev 2 accommodation cost does not reconcile to the Rev 1 hotel list. Confirm the four properties with Harpa before naming them]
- Breakfast daily [PLACEHOLDER - confirm breakfast at the Bath and Stratford hotels]
- Festival of Quilts admission, both days
- Welcome dinner, a group dinner in Birmingham, and the farewell dinner
- Entrances and guided touring as listed above
- All coach travel and guiding throughout the tour
- Transfer from Birmingham back to London on the final day
- [PLACEHOLDER - WHICH LUNCHES ARE INCLUDED?]
- [PLACEHOLDER - NEC TRANSFERS: the Birmingham hotel is city centre and the Festival is at the NEC. Harpa's quote has no NEC transfer line. Confirm whether daily transfers are included or guests take the train]

What's not included
- International airfare. This is a land-only trip, you book your own flights
- Travel insurance. We strongly recommend it on a trip booked this far ahead
- Theatre tickets on the Monday evening
- [PLACEHOLDER - ARRIVAL AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Rev 1 excluded these, the final itinerary shows transfers to hotel. Confirm which is true]
- Meals not listed above, personal expenses, and tips beyond included gratuities

Good to know
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months past the return date
- The pace is comfortable, but there is real walking, on cobblestones and in historic buildings with stairs. Every sightseeing stop is optional and the hotel is always there
- If we do not reach the minimum group size needed to run the trip, you get a full refund
- [PLACEHOLDER - CANCELLATION POLICY: what happens if a guest cancels, and by when? Reference the Rhine terms]
- The group is capped at 36 travelers

Questions before you book?
Nobody books a trip like this without talking to a person first. Email Atli at [email protected] and he will walk you through it.