Destination: Birmingham Festival of Quilts

Way back in May of 2021 I announced on my blog that I was planning to lead a trip to England and Wales, with a focus on the Birmingham Quilt Show. Sadly, a fresh pandemic scare caused that show to be canceled. At that point I started thinking about all the wonderful quilting adventures I’ve had, and I realized that I’d reached a point where I was ready to step down from leading trips, and start being one of the travelers in the “back of the bus” 😊. So, when Kristi Mirocha, my dear friend and skilled travel planner, announced she was planning a trip to the British show ~ I was one of the first to sign up! We’ll be traveling from July 31 – August 11, and oh the sites we’ll see!

Here’s the information directly from Kristi’s trip flyer:

We are so excited to be able to offer this small group trip in 2024. The aim of this tour is to see the best of local sights, offer textile-related exploration, take in the local culture, and provide free time for you to explore as you wish to make this trip truly your own. With the numbers expected for this summer’s travel overseas, the hotels have offered us 15 rooms at this time. Don’t delay if the phenomenal Festival of Quilts or the beautiful country of Wales has been on your bucket list!

These are some of the wonderful destinations included in the trip:

And here’s the itinerary:

Wednesday, July 31, 2024 • Departure ~ Our journey begins as participants travel to London, England.
Thursday, August 1, 2024 • London ~ Upon landing in London and clearing customs, travelers will transfer to our London Heathrow airport hotel. Depending on your arrival time, the day is yours to explore or rest. This evening, we will enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Friday, August 2, 2024 • Birmingham ~ After breakfast we depart for Birmingham, stopping to explore along the way. We will travel the leisurely lanes of the Cotswolds, past bubbling brooks and quaint villages, stopping to explore as our schedule permits. We end the day in Birmingham, our home for the next three nights.
Saturday & Sunday, August 3 & 4, 2024 • Birmingham ~ We participate in the excitement and learning of the Festival of Quilts.
Monday, August 5, 2024 • Aberystwyth ~ After leaving Birmingham, we head westward, enjoying the scenery of Northern Wales, exploring castles and seaside villages and end the day in Aberystwyth.
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 • Aberystwyth ~ Our focus today is Welsh patchwork and other textile arts. Numerous stops featuring fabric, yarns, and haberdashery.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 • Swansea ~ We enjoy a tour of Southern Wales as we make our way to Swansea, our home for the next two nights.
Thursday, August 8, 2024 • Swansea ~ Today finds us touring Southwestern Wales before we return to Swansea and dinner on our own tonight.
Friday, August 9, 2024 • London ~ We depart for London after breakfast, visiting sights enroute, leaving time for a panoramic tour of London to get our city bearings.
Saturday, August 10, 2024 • London ~ This morning, we tour various city sights before setting you free to explore London as you wish before a farewell dinner together.
Sunday, August 11, 2024 • Transfer to Heathrow airport today for the flight home.

Click here for the flyer with all the details, along with the form to sign up and join us on this once in a lifetime advernture!