More press! Oscar Wilde Tours in the Daily Beast

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip through Italy with Professor Andrew Lear, who was a pleasure to travel with, and who provided fascinating insights about all the places we visited. Whether it was Ancient Rome, the Renaissance, or 1930’s Capri, it was like having access to the latest tea no matter how old the gay gossip was. We definitely saw places such as Paestum and Hadrian’s Villa that we would not have thought to go on our own, and gained new insights about places we had been to before but had not considered through a queer lens (even St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican!). Professor Lear also found us wonderfully knowledgeable local guides, and made sure we ate well throughout the trip. We appreciated his recommendations for additional things to see or eat during the unscheduled down times. We usually like to travel on our own, so this was our first organized tour group trip we had ever been on. I would say if you’re looking to go on an adventure, without all the fuss of planning, and want to experience a country’s highlights with a queer twist, don’t hesitate to book a trip with Oscar Wilde Tours!–Kenneth Hung

This CMBYN northern Italy tour was my 3rd Oscar Wilde tour. That says something right there. First class all the way, from hotels, to food, to transportation, can’t ask for better. I was pleased that the premise of the tour was fulfilled as much as it could be. Fun to see the filming locations for the movie. But there was plenty else to “wow” us each day. I was gratified to obtain a ticket (through Andrew’s guidance) to attend a performance at La Scala (Milan) of “La Traviata.” And in Verona I got to attend a “popera” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at the Roman Arena. (Andrew facilitated those tickets.) Also outstanding were the architectual masterpieces of Andreas Palladio in Vicenza. And my first time in Venice proved to be quite eye-opening including a tour of St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Doge’s Palace. Excellent guides in each experience including our viewing of da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” I could go on, but I won’t.

I have been hoping for an England tour from Oscar Wilde Tours for years and I was very excited to see that wish fulfilled. It did not disappoint at all. The tour could be called the great English literary tour as we went from Shakespeare (Stratford on Avon + The Globe Theatre London), A walking tour of Bloomsbury (London) and then the homes of Virginia & Leonard Woolf, Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, Knole and Sissinghurst for Vita Sakeville West and Harold Nicholson. Bath was the point for all of our Jane Austen segments with visits to the Pump Room for tea and an optional trip to the Theatre Royal where Jane placed bits of her novels (Northanger Abbey and Persuasion). For dear Oscar Wilde we visited his Tite Street Home in London, Brighton where he and Bosie vacationed, Oxford University and Magdalen college where Oscar studied . Then a trip to York and Halifax to see where the fascinating Ann Lister lived and loved and wrote her diaries. All this plus Blenheim, the Royal Pavillion at Brighton and Howards Castle for a bit of Peerage living. Also included were marvelous meals ,an incredible local guide who kept us all together (amazing for a group of 15 and not as easy as one might think) . We had enough free time in London to see several plays and museums on our own although we did have a few museum tours included (a particularly good tour of the V & A with a wonderful guide). If you want to visit England and not just London but also the beauty of the countryside, the stately homes and gardens while enjoying the company of a lively group of fellow travelers, I cannot recommend Oscar Wilde Tours highly enough. Andrew packs your days with fascinating information on the sites visited and the people who lived in those places. Believe it or not, this is just the highlights, there was much more and all of it made for a very memorable trip