Inklings Tour

Join us as we visit the locations where C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the other Inklings lived and worked. This will be an unforgettable tour through the heart of England! Dr. Melody Green, who teaches classes on Tolkien, Lewis, and the Inklings at Urbana Seminary and has extensive experience speaking and publishing on them, will be leading the tour.

Trip Details:

Dates: Fall 2025

Learn more: Email Dr. Melody Green at mgreen@urbanatheologicalseminary.org

Destinations:

Oxford (four nights):

Immerse yourself in the heart of literary history with visits to:

• The Kilns, C.S. Lewis’s fully-restored home, and the C.S. Lewis Nature Center.
• Addison’s Walk, where Tolkien and Lewis held the conversation that led to Lewis’s conversion.
• Merton College, where Tolkien once taught and left his mark on generations of scholars.
• The Oxford Botanical Garden, a carefully cultivated collection of trees beloved by Tolkien.
• Attend a service at the church C.S. Lewis attended for 30 years, with the option of taking communion where he did after his adult conversion.
• Visit the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, where C. S. Lewis preached ‘The Weight of Glory,’ and climb its tower for beautiful views of Oxford and more!

Cambridge (two nights):

Explore the historic sites associated with C. S. Lewis, including:

• Visit the historic Crusader Round Church to watch a documentary about C. S. Lewis in Cambridge
• A tour of C. S. Lewis sites in Cambridge
• Historic Punt rides and more!

London (three nights):

Dive into the literary legacy of the Inklings with visits to:

• Westminster Abbey, where we will see more than 1000 years of English history, culminating on a visit to C. S. Lewis’s memorial stone in Poets’ Corner.
• The iconic Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, immersing ourselves in the world of the Bard.
• Visit the G.K. Chesterton papers where we will see early drafts of his writing as well as some things he owned.

Birmingham (one night):

• Discover the enchanting landscapes of Tolkien’s childhood, including Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog, where Tolkien and his brother roamed and played.