Decoding England’s World of Computation: Art, History & Science

July 22 – August 4, 2026 (14 days | 20 guests)

Capacity: 20

The Trip

Discover England with Carleton Professor of Computer Science David Liben-Nowell as we explore how computation has shaped art, history, and science. This Carleton-exclusive program follows a carefully curated itinerary that blends cultural treasures with unique insights into the history of computing, codebreaking, and innovation. Along the way, we will uncover the human stories, historic sites, and cultural landmarks that reveal the lasting impact of computation on society.

Tour Highlights

• Begin in Manchester with a walking tour featuring the Alan Turing Memorial, the John Rylands Library, and the Science and Industry Museum. Visit Paradise Mill to see restored jacquard looms that influenced early computing.
• Enjoy a day in Liverpool, including a panoramic tour and leisure time at Albert Dock.
• Cruise Ullswater in the Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by stunning scenery.
• Stop at The Bowes Museum to see the 18th-century Silver Swan automaton, then visit Coventry Cathedral before continuing to Stratford-upon-Avon.
• Tour Bletchley Park, the WWII codebreaking center, and the National Museum of Computing before settling into Cambridge.
• Spend four nights in Cambridge with guided visits to King’s College, Trinity College, and the Centre for Computing History. Enjoy afternoon tea, punt on the River Cam, and dine at a Cambridge University College.
• Conclude in London with visits to the Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the London Science Museum, Borough Market, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tower of London.

You may think computation is just about numbers and algorithms, but this tour will show you the fascinating ways it has influenced art, history, and science; how it aided the Allies during World War II; and, how it has generally helped to shape the modern world. Come join us in discovering how, as Alan Turing once said, “those who can imagine anything, can create the impossible,” by reserving your space on this Carleton-exclusive tour, limited to just 20 guests.

Faculty Leader

David Liben-Nowell has been a Carleton faculty member in Computer Science since 2005, after receiving a BA (CS and philosophy) at Cornell, an MPhil at Cambridge, and a PhD at MIT. On campus, he teaches broadly in the CS curriculum, particularly introductory and theoretical computer science. Inspired in part by celebrations of the centenary of Alan Turing’s birth (1912), David developed an off-campus studies program on the History of Computing, which ran for the first time in 2019. That program continues – most recently going in Fall 2025 – but this will be the first time that David has gotten to explore England and these topics with a group of Carleton alumni. David is always enthusiastic about returning to England (particularly Cambridge), and he is also always happy to talk about computational social science (his research area), constructing crossword puzzles, or differing usage of the word “quite” on each side of the pond.

Tour Prices (12 nights)

Per person, double occupancy
18-20 participants $8,945
16-17 participants $9,545
14-15 participants $9,945
Single Supplement $2,095
Single room supplement will be charged when requested or required (limited availability).
With fewer than 14 participants, a small group surcharge may be applied.

Itinerary

Wednesday, July 22, 2026: Depart home
Thursday, July 23: Arrive Manchester, England | Transfer to hotel | Welcome reception
Friday, July 24: Manchester: Walking tour, Science and Industry Museum | Welcome dinner
Saturday, July 25: Macclesfield: Paradise Mill and the Silk Museum | Liverpool: Panoramic tour, PM at leisure at Albert Dock | Manchester
Sunday, July 26: Lake District: Cruise on Ullswater, Penrith
Monday, July 27: Barnard Castle: The Bowes Museum | Coventry: Coventry Cathedral | Stratford-upon-Avon
Tuesday, July 28: Bletchley: Bletchley Park, The National Museum of Computing | Cambridge
Wednesday, July 29: Cambridge: Walking tour, King’s College, Trinity College
Thursday, July 30: Cambridge: Centre for Computing History, Afternoon tea, PM at leisure
Friday, July 31: Cambridge: Punting on the River Cam, PM at leisure, Dinner at a Cambridge University College
Saturday, August 1: London: Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast
Sunday, August 2: London: Royal Observatory Greenwich, PM at leisure
Monday, August 3: London: London Science Museum, Borough Market, Tower of London | Farewell dinner
Tuesday, August 4: Fly home

Download the brochure for the complete detailed itinerary.

Additional Information

For more information or to reserve your space, please call 800-811-7244 or email Carleton College Alumni Adventures. To make a reservation online click here.