London Travel (LA145) - Spring'25

To enroll in LA145 English Origins of American Law, you must submit two applications.

• One is electronic and is found on the Cronin Center Study Abroad “short term program” website.
• The other is a one-page hardcopy application, which must be obtained directly from Prof. Salimbene.

Both applications must be submitted by October 15, sooner the better.

Although this course is a spring 2025 course, the application process takes place during September and October 2024. Prerequisites are that a student should have completed GB110 or LA100. Both upperclassmen and underclassmen are invited to apply. Professor Salimbene has sole discretion as to who will be enrolled in the course. See below for more information about the selection process. 

To pre-register, you should make an appointment with Professor Salimbene whose office is in Morison 133. During the appointment, you will be given a hardcopy application form to complete and return. This is in addition to the electronic application. 

Cost of the trip is $3,323 This includes a $125 administrative fee and airfare. It is an estimate dependent on the final airfare. A $500 deposit is due when you complete the STP application on the Study Abroad website. The deposit is non-refundable. If, however, the trip is cancelled by Prof. Salimbene or by the university, or if your application is not selected, the deposit will be refunded. 

If you are not selected for the course, however, you can be placed on a waiting list. A student can be moved from the list into the course anytime up until the date the course is to begin in January. 

Class enrollment is limited to 12 students. Students will be selected using several criteria. Among others, the criteria often, but not always, favor:

• seniors over other students 
• good academic performance in prior relevant course work 
• valid academic and professional objectives for taking the course
• students who have not previously traveled to London
• Law Minors 

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Salimbene directly. If you have any interest in the course, do so at the earliest opportunity.

He may be reached:    

• in person in Morison 133 (Tuesdays/Fridays)
• by e-mail at fsalimbene@bentley.edu     

London is one of the world’s great cities. Its founding goes back to Roman times when it was known as “Londonium.” It was primarily, however, as the imperial city of the great British Empire that London grew to the height of its importance and influence in the world. From the Eighteenth to the first half of the Twentieth Century, London was in many senses the capital of world politics, diplomacy, and finance. 

Today, London retains many of its imperial characteristics even though Britain is now a much less influential country. Palaces, cathedrals, and monuments to the past are everywhere. As one student who traveled to London recently commented, "You’re just overwhelmed by history." London is history, but it is also a vibrant, exciting place that beckons the adventurer and the traveler as well as the poet and the musician. 

Most importantly for you, London beckons, educates, and entertains Bentley students every spring break. In fact, since 1992, when the first group of Bentley students taking this course traveled to London during spring break, more than 350 have since visited this great city. There is plenty of time for sight-seeing and partaking in the particularly English way of life, whether it’s sailing on the Thames, a street market in Camden town, or high tea at 4:00 p.m. We even manage a guided walk through the alleys and side-streets once stalked by Jack the Ripper. 

Combined with these less academic activities are visits to Parliament and the Law Courts. For instance, in the years since 1992, we have met with many different members of Parliament. For instance, we’ve met with Dennis Skinner, MP, a dyed-in-the-wool socialist who represents a coal mining district in Derbyshire. Before being elected to Parliament, Mr. Skinner worked as a miner. As a socialist, he had a lot to tell us about the “evils of capitalism.” Also, we met with Ann Taylor, a member of Tony Blair's Cabinet in the early 2000s.  Since Blair’s premiership, we have continued to meet with Members of Parliament, always an enjoyable encounter. Recently, we’ve been meeting with Tonia Antoniazzi, MP, Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

There is just too much to talk about in this short introduction, so to expand beyond this introduction to London, cut and paste or click on an item below and explore on your own. 

• http://www.londonlive.co.uk/
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/london 

Below is the sequence of meetings and assigned materials and submissions. In addition to the academic components of these meetings, meetings will include explanations and expectations related to the practical aspects of our travel together. Together these will constitute pre-departure orientation.

Note: The syllabus is subject to change during the semester if, e.g., weather affects the university schedule or assigned materials and resources become unavailable.

Session 1- An Introduction to Early Common Law

Session 2 – The Social Hierarchy of Medieval England

Session 3 - Protecting Interests in Land

Session 4 – The Conflict between the Royal and the Ecclesiastical Courts

Session 5 – Early Common Law and Crime

Session 6 – Magna Carta

Session 7 – The Common Law in the United States

London and Environs Itinerary 

While Sunday is an orientation day and Friday is a free day, the other four days each have a theme related specifically to the course material.

Canterbury

Runnymede and Windsor Castle

Houses of Parliament

The Crown Court (The Old Bailey)

Timeline for Course and Travel

Class is tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays, 6:30-9:10pm.

1) What is the cost of the trip and what is included?

For spring 2025, the cost is $3,323. This will only change if the airline changes the price of our reserved seats. Any change will likely be small. Below is the list of items included in the price of the trip:

• 7 nights hotel
• 7 cooked breakfasts
• 7 additional dinners or lunches
• roundtrip non-stop air fare
• transfer Heathrow airport to and from hotel on arrival and departure
• London bus and tube pass
• rail journey to Canterbury
• rail journey to Windsor
• Thames boat ride to The Tower of London
• London Eye
• theatre ticket
• Windsor Castle
• Tower of London
• Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum
• Canterbury Cathedral
• Middle Temple
• Jack the Ripper Walk

2) How much spending money should I bring to London?

Because of the inclusion of all scheduled activities in the price, the amount of your out-of-pocket costs will depend on you. On average, you may need about $35-$40 a day. This is a very rough estimate. How much one spends is a highly personal thing. Some students simply spend more than others. Having said all of this, it always is a good idea to have a credit card with you too.

3) Should I bring cash, travelers’ cheques, or my ATM card?

Students have had success using their ATM cards in London. Remember, however, that if you use your ATM, both the dispensing bank and your home bank may charge fees. You also may not be able to access your savings accounts from England, but only your checking account so have enough money in it. In addition to ATMs, before leaving Boston you can purchase travelers’ cheques either in dollars and convert them into pounds sterling when we arrive in England, or you can purchase them in pounds sterling before you leave Boston and not need to convert later.

4) Do I need a passport?

Yes. If you don’t have one already, it’ll take about four to six weeks to obtain one. You can begin the process by having a passport photo taken at a CVS.. Then take the photo plus any official identification to the Waltham Post Office on Main Street. The post office will charge a fee of $130 for your passport. You should check with the Study Abroad Office for more information and assistance.

5) Do I need a visa?

Not if you travel on a U.S. passport, but you may very well need one if you are traveling on a passport issued by another government. To obtain a visa requires that you contact the British Consulate in New York City. For information and procedures go to the consulate web site at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/ . The Study Abroad Office can help with this.

6) What should we expect for weather in England?

Average temperatures in London in mid-March range from the high 40s daytime to the high 30s nighttime, but during the last few trips, we have seen wide variations from snow one year to mid-60s and sun the next. Nonetheless, you should always be prepared for rain, so pack a collapsible umbrella.

7) How should we dress?

For most days clean, casual clothing is in order, jeans or slacks, sweaters, jackets, and comfortable waterproof shoes or sneakers. Some events, however, will require dark jacket and trousers plus a tie for male students, and a dark pant or dress suit for females in addition to dress shoes for all. Also, more generally, do not wear clothing or hats that identify you as an American, e.g., baseball caps, sweats or jerseys with typically American references; they are not allowed on the trip, e.g., leave Bentley garb at home.

8) How long is the nonstop flight?

About six hours eastbound and about seven hours return.

9) What time will we get back to Boston on Saturday, March 16?

Early evening.

10) What is the rule about drinking?

The UK allows drinking at 18 years of age. This does not mean, however, that immoderate drinking will be tolerated on the trip. Students who abuse the privilege will be sent home—clear and simple. And because trip tickets are not interchangeable, any student sent home early will be required to purchase a new ticket at their own expense.

11) What about meals?

The hotel will provide a large breakfast with your choice of hot and cold items. You can eat as much as you want. The trip will also provide one other meal each day, usually dinner. Because of the daily schedule, however, dinner will often be scheduled late in the evening.

12) Can we go out at night on our own?

The short answer is "no" (except on your free day). Days and evenings are tightly packed with scheduled events. You should expect to be with the group for all events. The group usually returns to the hotel twice each day—late afternoon for about 90 minutes and then again about 11:00 p.m. Upon returning to the hotel at the end of the day, students who wish, can socialize in the hotel lounge.

13) Will we have any free time while we're in London?

Yes, the last full day and evening of the trip is scheduled as free time. This is the only free time on the trip. You will, however, also have the opportunity to explore Canterbury and Windsor in small groups of two or three when we travel to these destinations during the week. There is also usually some down time back at the hotel late afternoon each day.

14) How are students selected for the course?

Because there is a limit of 12 students, it may be that not all applicants will be accepted into the course. The selection process considers the student’s class level, GPA, letter of intent, prior travel experience, recommendations, and other factors. For instance, freshmen are encouraged to apply, but a senior will often be selected over a freshman; someone who has never traveled to London will be selected over someone who has traveled there; a law minor might be selected over someone who is not minoring in law. There are no set criteria, however. You should not hesitate to apply.