MAY 2027 Great UK Textile Tour :: DEPOSIT
- 14 in stock
13-day Tour:: Great UK Textile Tour
FRI May 7 to WED May 19, 2027
Tour Deposit: $2,500
Total Tour Cost: $13,575 Single Occupancy
Tour limited to 14 participants
Tour Leaders: Victoria Stone & Patricia Belyea, co-owners of Okan Arts
Join Okan Arts on an extraordinary textile journey through Scotland and northern England. With just a small group of fellow textile enthusiasts, you experience Britain in a way that feels personal, exclusive, and wonderfully unrushed.
From tartan and lace to quilting, spinning, weaving, mending, and leatherwork, you discover Britain’s textile traditions through the people who keep them alive. Meet renowned makers and artists, explore private collections and working studios, and learn new skills in intimate hands-on sessions. Along the way, wander medieval streets, visit castles and cathedrals, tour a renowned garden, explore a living-history village, and enjoy the grand tradition of High Tea.
The journey unfolds through some of Britain’s most evocative places, from Edinburgh’s Old Town and the Scottish Borders to the Northumberland coast, County Durham, Beverley, and York.
Stay seven nights in a five-star hotel near the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, one night in a restored 13th-century country manor, and four nights in a five-star hotel in York’s famed Shambles district — all single occupancy. Enjoy the excitement of each day’s adventures and the luxury of time to yourself each night.
ITINERARY
B=Breakfast L=Lunch T=High Tea D=Dinner
DAY 1 Arrive at EDI | Transfer to downtown Edinburgh
DAY 2 Edinburgh: Tapestry Workshop | Royal Mile Walkabout BD
DAY 3 Galashiels: Visible Mending Workshop | Great Tapestry of Scotland BL
DAY 4 Earlston: Drop Spindle Spinning Workshop | Private Manor Garden Tour BL
DAY 5 Glasgow/Fintry: Lacemaking Lesson | Paper Weaving Workshop BL
DAY 6 Stirling: Tartan Weaving Workshop | Stirling Castle B
DAY 7 Edinburgh: Leather Bag Workshop | High Tea | Free Afternoon BT
DAY 8 Northumberland Coast: Berwick-upon-Tweed Walkabout | Willow Weaving Workshop B D
DAY 9 County Durham: North Country Quilting Masters | Beamish Historic Village B
DAY 10 Beverley: Exclusive Visit with Philippa Naylor | Beverley Walkabout BL
DAY 11 York: Curator Tour of The Quilters’ Guild Collection | Dorset Button Workshop BD
DAY 12 York: York Minster Ecclesiastical Sewing Tour | Free Afternoon B
DAY 13 Transfer to York Station (YRK), Leeds Airport (LBA), or Manchester Airport (MAN) B
NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Edinburgh: 7 nights in a 5-star hotel in Edinburgh Old Town
Durham: 1 night in a restored 13th-century country manor house
York: 4 nights in a 5-star hotel in York’s historic Shambles area
All bookings are single occupancy.
INCLUDED TRANSFERS
DAY 1: Private car transfer from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to hotel
Day 13: Private car transfer from hotel to York Train Station, Leeds Airport (LBA), or Manchester Airport (MAN) to continue on your travels
Daily adventures are by private Sprinter van. Traveling from Edinburgh to York, we relax in an executive midi-coach.
To read a blog post about elite quilter Philippa Naylor +click here
To read a blog post about weaver Katherine Cowtan +click here
To read a blog post about quilting expert Jean Leader +click here
To read a blog post about Beamish and North Country quilts +click here
To read a blog post about invisible mender Flora Collingwood-Norris +click here
To read a blog post The Quilter’s Guild Collection +click here
Your Mobility
Okan Arts tours take you into vibrant cities, historic neighborhoods, rural areas, and working studios. In the UK, you can expect cobbled and uneven streets, stone pathways, stairs, curbs, and plenty of walking. Some historic buildings and private studios may have limited accessibility or no elevator.
To experience this tour to the fullest and keep up with the rest of the group, we request that you are able to:
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Walk up to two miles throughout the day, often in several outings
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Walk comfortably on cobblestones, uneven pavement, stone paths, and hills without a cane or walking sticks
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Ascend and descend stairs, sometimes steep
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Manage curbs and changes in pavement height
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Get on and off our coach independently, including climbing several steps
Food in the UK
British food is generally familiar and accommodating, and many restaurants are accustomed to working with common food allergies and dietary restrictions. However, we cannot guarantee allergen-free meals or prevent cross-contact.
If you have severe allergies or significant food restrictions, please assess your comfort with eating in restaurants and traveling with a group where some of the meals are arranged in advance.
Tour Contract
Within 24 hours of paying your Deposit, you will receive an online link to the Tour Contract via email. You must return the completed and signed Tour Contract to Okan Arts within one week to finalize your tour booking.
Cancellation
Your Tour Deposit is non-refundable. That said, if you need to cancel and Okan Arts fills your place, you will receive a refund of your Tour Deposit less $250.
If your place is not filled, you will forfeit 100% of your Tour Deposit.
Okan Arts recommends that you purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance with Trip Cancellation Coverage.
Trip of a Lifetime
With Okan Arts, you travel with like-minded textile and quilting enthusiasts who want to be inspired by the people, places, and traditions that make Japan and the UK so rich in textile culture.
Okan Arts offers more than thoughtfully designed itineraries and knowledgeable tour leaders — we care deeply that every traveler has an extraordinary experience!
Small groups capped at 14 to 16 participants, with two Okan Arts leaders
Insider experiences that take you behind the scenes to meet textile artists, makers, designers, and craftspeople
Hands-on workshops and opportunities to learn from talented makers
Exceptional accommodations with single occupancy in 4- and 5-star hotels
All breakfasts and additional special group meals as indicated in the itinerary
Transportation and transfers during the stated tour days, so you can relax and enjoy the journey
Thoughtful pacing that leaves room to explore, connect, and enjoy the places we visit
YOUR TOUR LEADERS
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Included
- A 13-day textile journey with exclusive visits, special experiences, and hands-on workshops as stated in the Itinerary.
- 12 nights at 4- and 5-star hotels, single occupancy.
- All breakfasts (B). Plus lunches (L), high tea (T), and dinners (D) as stated in the Itinerary.
- The first alcoholic drink at a group meal where alcohol is offered.
- All transportation and transfers during the stated tour days.
- Two Okan Arts co-leaders.
Not Included
- International airfare.
- Passport.
- Visa fees, when necessary.
- Travel insurance.
- Emergency medical travel insurance — required
- Personal expenses, shopping, taxis, and meals when you are on your own.
- Additional alcoholic drinks at group meals.
In Their Words
Perfect planning down to the last detail. Perfect balance between listening and participating. Perfect time leaving in the morning and getting back in the afternoon. — Alice G, Honolulu HI
I really appreciated all the information we received before the tour began. The roster with everyone’s photo was a great idea and very helpful. — Pennie H, Seattle WA
Every day was exceptional. I expected a great trip, but you still surpassed my expectations. — Sally P, Philadelphia PA
I had the best time ever on our tour! So many wonderful memories were created and I thank you for that. Big hugs! — Karen M, Windsor ON
One aspect of the trip that I hadn't anticipated beforehand was how much fun it would be to travel with a group of skilled artisans, who were appreciative and enthusiastic about each of our workshop adventures. — Gretchen Y, Washington DC
