Cornwall: On Location with PBS Utah
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Cornwall: On Location with PBS Utah - Sold Out!


June 10-18, 2024
Double Occupancy: $5175 per person
Single Occupancy: $5875 per person
Airfare is not included.

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We still have a tradition certainly in English television…where the important thing is the quality and the challenging nature of the programming.

Rowan Atkinson

PBS Utah logoBack by popular demand, Go Learn and PBS Utah are thrilled to offer you another chance to travel to England’s coast to explore the worlds of your favorite PBS shows like Poldark, Doc Martin, Larkrise to Candleford, and more.

Join us for 9 beautiful days in England’s wild and romantic Cornwall as we roam the hills and beaches where Ross and Demelza held hands; walk the cobbled, narrow streets of Port Isaac on the lookout for our favorite grumpy doctor; tour historic Blenheim Palace; and explore the quaint and lovely Cotswold region. Even better, we’ll be there during the high season, so Cornwall will be wearing all her most beautiful colors and the flowers will be in full bloom!

Tour Highlights Include:

  • Partake in a festive welcome dinner at a local pub, along with a farewell dinner at San Pietro
  • Take a scenic train ride from Paddington to St Austell then taxis to Carylon Bay, along with a discussion about the history of Cornwall
  • Spend an entire day on a Poldark tour
  • Create delicious memories at a traditional Cornish cooking class
  • Take a tour of Doc Martin filming locations in Port Isaac, followed by an afternoon at Tintagel Castle, the legendary home of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
  • Indulge in an afternoon tea/lunch and tour at the Chavenage house, a filming location for Poldark, Larkrise to Candleford, and Tess of the D'Urbervilles
  • Tour Blenheim Palace, often used as a stand-in for historical Buckingham Palace. This includes the popular (but not PBS) Bridgerton spin-off, Queen Charlotte. The tour will be followed by exploring Cotswolds villages in the afternoon
  • Explore on your own during a free day in London, and more!

Daily Itinerary


Day One - Monday, June 10, 2024

South Kensington

Welcome to London! We’ll meet you at the airport today and get you safely to our first hotel: The Rockwell. After you’ve had a chance to check into your room, we’ll embark on a brisk walk to keep jetlag at bay (Must. Stay. Awake.). We’ll explore our favorite neighborhood, the Royal Borough of South Kensington, before making our way to the delightful Hereford Arms for our welcome dinner. Luckily, the pub is near our hotel so it’s a quick walk back and early to bed—we leave for Cornwall bright and early tomorrow!

Hotel: The Rockwell
Meal: D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous (lots of walking)



Day Two - Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Charlestown BeachAfter a full English breakfast at our hotel, we’re heading to the rugged shores of Cornwall by way of a scenic train ride to the coast. At Paddington Station, we board the fast train to the most southwesterly part of England. After arriving in St Austell station, it’s just a short taxi ride to our home base for the next four days (and the very hotel the cast and crew of Poldark stayed while filming), the Carlyon Bay Hotel.

After checking into our rooms, the afternoon is yours for a walk on the South West Coast Path, a dip in the pool or time relaxing on the terrace overlooking the ocean. After enjoying our first dinner in the hotel’s dining room, we’ll meet for a cocktail hour and discussion about the history of Cornwall.

Hotel: Carlyon Bay Hotel
Meals: B, D
Activity Level: Moderate




Day Three: Poldark Day - Wednesday, June 12, 2024

a scene from Poldark episode 1Today is dedicated to Poldark and the Masterpiece series based (and filmed) in stunning Cornwall. Our local guides know every nook and cranny of this part of the Cornish coast, as well as behind-the-scenes details about the making of Poldark. The all-day excursion visits filming locations and follows the footsteps of Ross Poldark’s adventure.

For lunch, you’ll be on your own to choose a place that strikes your fancy. Then, we’ll finish our day back at the Carlyon Bay Hotel for another delicious dinner in the hotel dining room.

Hotel: Carlyon Bay Hotel
Meals: B, D
Activity Level: Moderate




Day Four - Thursday, June 13, 2024

Pendennis CastleToday we’ll breakfast at the hotel and then make our way to Truro for a culinary class that will have your mouth watering. The Cornish Pasty (pronounced past-ee) is regarded as the national dish of Cornwall. Popular with the working class, they enabled the miners to have a portable and hearty meal and today it accounts for 6% of the Cornish food economy. It seems only fitting to learn to make Cornish Pasties in Cornwall, from a Cornish teacher at the Philleigh Way Cooking School. After we’ll enjoy a traditional Cornish cream tea while they bake.

After our hearty meal, we’ll make our way to the seaside town of Falmouth; you’ll have the afternoon to explore on your own. You may choose to take a ferry ride up the Helford River, visit the National Maritime Museum or explore the Tudor fortress Pendennis Castle.

After spending a glorious afternoon exploring, we’ll once again board our private coach for the journey back to the Carlyon Bay hotel for dinner in the dining room and then the rest of the evening is yours.

Hotel: Carlyon Bay Hotel
Meals: B, D
Activity Level: Strenuous



Day Five: Doc Martin and the Legend of King Arthur - Friday, June 14, 2024

Port IsaacToday we’ll breakfast at the hotel and then board our private coach to make our way to Port Isaac. Port Isaac is known to us as Port Wenn, the home of our favorite misanthrope physician, Doc Martin. The series has been filmed in Port Isaac for the past 9 years and is currently airing its final season on PBS Utah. We’ll spend a leisurely morning exploring this seaside gem and looking out for our favorite filming sites. Afterward, you’ll have time to grab a quick lunch (Cornish Pasty anyone?) before we head to Tintagel Castle.

Tintagel Castle is a medieval fortification located in North Cornwall on the peninsula of Tintagel Island. Originally built around the 12th century, Tintagel Castle has long been rumored to be connected (albeit loosely) to the legendary King Arthur! It has also served as inspiration for many of England’s poets and authors. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the castle’s ruins and park before returning to the hotel for our final dinner in Cornwall.

Hotel: Carlyon Bay Hotel
Meals: B, D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous



Day Six - Saturday, June 15, 2024

Chavenage HouseToday, we breakfast at the hotel and then it’s time to bid a fond farewell to the Cornish coast as we make our way to Gloucestershire by way of Chavenage House. Known to us Poldark fans as Trenwith, the Poldark family home, Chavenage has been inhabited since the time of Oliver Cromwell and is known for its charm and beauty.

We’ll enjoy a lovely tea in the dining room there before a private guided tour of the house where we’ll learn all about the history and provenance of the house and family who live there (as well as many of the popular series filmed there). Afterward, we’ll check into our hotel, the King’s Head, and the rest of the evening is yours to explore Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds.


Hotel: King’s Head
Meals: B, T
Activity Level: Moderate



Day Seven - Sunday, June 16, 2024

Blenheim PalaceToday we’ll breakfast at our hotel and then make our way to Blenheim Palace. Seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace is the only non-royal, non-religious country house in England to hold the title “palace” and has been home of the Spencer-Churchill family for over 300 years. The palace was saved from ruin when the 9th Duke married American railroad heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt at the end of the 19th century, it was the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

You’ll often see Blenheim Palace used as a stand-in for Buckingham Palace in film and television and most recently you’ll have seen it in the popular series (although not PBS) Queen Charlotte. We’ll spend the morning wandering the historic rooms, gardens, and grounds of this impressive estate before grabbing lunch on your own at one of the cafes on the grounds.

Afterward, we’ll take the scenic route back to the hotel traveling through the Cotswolds. We’ll be sure to stop at the most pictureqsque villages on the routes for pictures and reflections before continuing to the King’s Head. The rest of the evening is yours to wander and enjoy your last night in Cirencester.

Hotel: King’s Head
Meal: B
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous



Day Eight - Monday, June 17, 2024

Big BenToday we’ll breakfast at the hotel and then we’re off to London! We’ll board our private coach for the last leg of our journey and make our way back to England’s bustling capital city.

We’ll check back into The Rockwell in Earl’s Court and then the rest of the day is yours to spend in as your heart desires. No matter where your interests lie, London will have something for you to enjoy!

We’ll meet up around 6:30 at the San Pietro near our hotel for our Farwell Dinner.

Hotel: The Rockwell
Meals: B, D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous



Day Nine - Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Even the best things must come to an end, and sadly this is the end of our time together. We wish you a safe journey home and hope to see you again soon on our next Go Learn adventure!


Meal: B



Kate Jones

Kate Jones

Kate Jones, a native of England, has been at PBS Utah since 2012 as a development producer. She loves all the British programing and has a special affinity for the locations and characters they portray. Growing up in England, Kate spent her summers in Cornwall exploring its cliffs and coves and enjoying the beauty of the region. Cornwall has always been a magical place for Kate and she is excited to return and share in this magic with you. She is looking forward to bringing you special insights into the locations and history of the British programs that have become so much a cherished part of PBS and PBS Utah.



Ja'Naye Payne

Ja'Naye

Ja’Naye is a graduate of the University of Utah and has worked in public media since 2007. As the Director of Development for PBS Utah and KUER, Ja’Naye is passionate about the quality news, educational programming, and entertainment both stations offer to the broader community. Her favorite shows on PBS Utah include Poldark, All Creatures Great and Small, NOVA, and the PBS NewsHour. Outside of work, you can find her exploring the great outdoors in Utah with her family, reading, and traveling whenever possible.




Details and What to Expect



Cornwall is very primeval: great, black, jutting cliffs and rocks, like the original darkness, and a pale sea breaking in, like dawn. It is like the beginning of the world, wonderful…
—D H Lawrence, Letter 1961

PoldarkPre-Departure

Like all Go Learn journeys, the adventure begins meeting everyone at home. Our PBS Utah host Kate Jones, along with Go Learn, will make sure you have all the information you need before you arrive in London—we'll answer questions about what to pack, how to get around, and our daily itinerary.

About England

Tintagel CastleWe are staying the heart of London, Cornwall, and Gloustershire utilizing public transportation in the cities and enjoying luxury group transportations in the country. Each place visited we will utilize local guides and those in the “know” about the productions filmed on location and finish our days with our conversations around what we learned and what is yet to come. We will meet and interact with individuals who partook in some of the filming, and whether you are a fan of a particular series or not, you will come to appreciate amazing places that where deliberately chosen by location crews for some of the highest quality PBS series. Enjoy!

Activity levels and restrictions

In order to fully explore the sights on our itinerary, we will be walking every day. The sites we will visit are very walkable. Locals walk everywhere—be it to historical sites or just during every-day life—and we will do the same. Be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes! Since we will be waking up early with jet lag, we often will start our days early and continue until sundown. This is an Activity Level 2 trip. Learn more about our .


Doc MartinDates
June 10-18, 2024

Size
Tour is limited to 20 participants

Cost
Double Occupancy: $5175 per person
Single Occupancy: $5875 per person
See for payment and cancellation details.


Cornish PastyIncluded:

  • All guides, tips, and entrance fees
  • 9 nights’ accommodation in carefully chosen hotels
  • Daily breakfast, several additional hand-picked culinary highlights for lunch, traditional English tea, and dinner
  • Full day private Poldark tour
  • Private Cornish cooking class
  • Highspeed train ticket from Paddington Station to the Cornish coast
  • Private coach to transport you around Cornwall and Gloustershire
  • Comprehensive trip insurance, which includes coverage for sickness, accidents, emergency evacuation (for trip cancellation insurance, please see a travel agent immediately after booking with Go Learn!)

2022 group in front of Chavenage House

Not included:

  • Airfare to and from London
  • Meals that are not specifically noted in itinerary
  • Cancellation and lost luggage insurance
  • Any costs outside of the itinerary