On March 28, 2026 a group of SPF students (including myself) were chaperoned by English teachers Janette Birkett and Randolph Koetzner, on an educational tour to England.
Spring Break is long awaited as students are eager to relieve themselves of school for a week. Students stay home, while others vacation somewhere. This year, Koetzner and Birkett organized a spring trip to England that was an experience-of-a-lifetime and such a cherishable time to spend with friends.
“My favorite thing was just walking around exploring the beauty of Stratford-upon-Avon and London with our group,” sophomore Sophia Marcovecchio told The Fanscotian.
Following is a day-by-day recap of this unforgettable trip:
Day One: On Sunday, we arrived and met our ACIS tour guide, Harry Bean, getting on the road right away to Windsor Castle. We spent the morning experiencing our first taste of England, trying pastries and exploring the cobblestone streets. After a little bit of relaxing, we explored the grounds of Windsor Castle as well as the interesting rooms inside. Soon, we made our way to the city of Bath.
Day Two: On Monday, we had a lovely tour. Our local guide took us around the old town of Bath, even passing some “Bridgerton” filming spots on the way. As the tour concluded, we entered the ancient Roman baths, for which the city was named.
After exploring, we headed to the Jane Austen Centre where we were able to learn all about Austen’s life and the challenges she faced writing her books. Some of us then split up where the majority of the group went to the Frankenstein Museum, learning about Mary Shelley, her family’s devastating life and how the tale of “Frankenstein” came to be.
Day Three: We wrapped up in Bath finishing our visit at Bath Abbey with its beautiful stained glass windows and history. We got on the road again, this time heading to Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.
The bus took a stop in the Cotswolds, at Bourton on the Water, where the group enjoyed lunch along a river, admiring the town that looked straight from a fairytale.
Finally, we were welcomed to the home of William Shakespeare, Stratford-Upon-Avon and our first visit was to Shakespeare’s school where we experienced what it was like to go to school in the 1500s.
Day Four: The group visited a series of statues that were dedicated to Shakespeare and later the birthplace of Shakespeare, even entering his medieval home. Then we went to the Holy Trinity Church and its graveyards to see Shakespeare’s final resting place. After dinner, we witnessed the wonderful performance of “Henry the V” at the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre.
“I think the [group] enjoyed the production of “Henry the V” and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip,” Birkett said.
Day Five: On Thursday, we drove to Oxford where we visited its prestigious college and some Harry Potter filming locations like the Grand Hall. From Oxford, we would arrive at the final destination of our trip, London. To finish off the day, we received a backstage tour of the Royal National Theatre, exploring behind-the-scenes and techniques of one the most influential venues in the world.
Day Six: To begin our adventure in London, we went on a guided bike tour with stops at Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. For lunch we dined at the famous Borough Market, known today for its TikTok-famous chocolate strawberries. Afterward, we visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, the world’s largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design.
Day Seven: This was the final day of the trip, where we experienced a guided bus tour of London, seeing the Tower Bridge and the London Eye on our way to our final stop, Westminster Abbey. When the tour was finished, we went to King’s Cross Station to see platform 9 ¾ from “Harry Potter.” We then finished the day, and the trip, strong by seeing “Wicked” in the West End.
“I really loved the experience of the city life of London,” Marcovecchio said.
The trip was unforgettable, filled with history, culture and meaningful moments. From Buckingham Palace to walking in Shakespeare’s footsteps, every aspect of the trip was memorable. Most importantly, the memories made with friends is what made the journey truly special.
With the trip’s great success Koetzner and Birkett are planning another trip to the U.K. during Spring Break 2027. An interest meeting will be held by Koetzner and Birkett at SPFHS at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Email [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more about this opportunity.
