[printfriendly]Key: IF = In-flight meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1: Sunday, September 8, 2019: Flight to London
We will depart from Boston for our overnight direct flight to London. (IF)

Day 2: Monday, September 9, 2019: Arrival, Southampton
On arrival at Heathrow Airport we will meet our tour director and board our private bus. We’ll drive down to Southampton and have lunch. In the afternoon, our local expert guide will take us on a guided walk describing Southampton as it would have been in John Alden’s lifetime. We will hear about the provisioning of the Speedwell and Mayflower ships and see their departure point. This is now commemorated with a Pilgrim Fathers Memorial, which was unveiled in 1913.  We will tour the Tudor House and Garden, which existed at the time of the Pilgrims’ departure. The Dolphin Hotel has a long illustrious history and one of the earliest references is from 1454. Famous guests included Queen Victoria, Admiral Lord Nelson, and Jane Austen. (IF/L/D)

Day 3: Tuesday, September 10, 2019: Southampton, Dartmouth, Plymouth
After breakfast we will travel to nearby Dartmouth, which is where the Mayflower and the Speedwell had to dock for repairs. We will enjoy a River Cruise and see Bayard’s Cove Harbor. The Pilgrims would still recognize the Tudor Bayard’s Cove Fort, St. Saviour’s Church, Smith Street and other areas around the waterfront. We will have some free time to explore on our own, before we continue on to Plymouth, the Pilgrim’s final port of departure. (B/L)

Day 4: Wednesday, September 11, 2019: Plymouth
This morning our specialist guide will tell us the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims, the ship, and the voyage. We will see the Mayflower steps, the cobbled streets of the Barbican, Sutton Harbor, and tour the Mayflower Museum. The tour will finish with a guided tour of the local Plymouth Gin Distillery with samples for those who wish. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B)

Day 5: Thursday, September 12, 2019: Droitwich Spa, Worcester
After breakfast we will travel to Droitwich Spa, the birthplace of Edward Winslow, a Mayflower passenger and leader in the Plymouth Colony. We will visit St. Peter’s Church and see the Winslow Memorial.  At the end of the day, we will explore the “Faithful” City of Worcester. The town earned this name because of its unwavering support of the king during the English Civil War.  We will tour Worcester Cathedral, where Hugh Latimer, the famous martyr, was bishop. We will see the tomb of King John, who signed the Magna Carta, then dine in our hotel in Worcester.  (B/D)

Day 6: Friday, September 13, 2019: Sherwood Forest, Lincoln
We will continue our drive to the Pilgrim Roots region today. Along the way we will stop at the new Sherwood Forest Visitor Center. Those who wish can have a relaxing stroll in this ancient forest that once covered a vast area. Some of the oak trees are up to a thousand years old. The Pilgrims would have been very familiar with the forest. We’ll arrive in Lincoln in time to attend Evensong at Lincoln Cathedral. This is one of Europe’s finest Gothic buildings and was once the tallest building in the world, with stunning views from the roof and tower. The rest of the day will be at leisure and Lincoln has much to offer, including a wide range of shops, markets, and cultural attractions. (B)

Day 7: Saturday, September 14, 2019: Pilgrim Roots, Lincoln
This morning a local expert guide will take us on a tour of local sites that would have been very familiar to the Pilgrim Fathers. We will start at Babworth church where William Brewster and William Bradford came together under Richard Clyfton’s leadership. We will view Scrooby Manor, Brewster’s home in Scrooby, as well as the village church. In Austerfield we will see the font where Bradford was baptized and learn about his childhood. After a delicious pub lunch, we will continue on to Gainsborough, from where the Pilgrims set out on their final and successful escape attempt. We will tour the medieval Old Hall, where Separatists were able to hold worship services. We will then have some free time to explore before returning to Lincoln. (B/L)

Day 8: Sunday, September 15, 2019: Boston, Cambridge
This morning we will visit Boston, a port town on the East coast. In 1607, a group of pilgrims had walked 60 miles from Scrooby to Boston to meet a ship to take them to Holland. They were betrayed and instead of a new life, they were arrested and taken to the Guildhall. We will see the cells where they were held, as well as the Pilgrim Fathers memorial at Scotia Creek. St. Botolph’s Church, known as “Boston Stump”, is one of England’s largest parish churches. Rev. John Cotton urged members of his congregation to join the Massachusetts Bay Company, and he helped found the city of Boston in the 1630s. The Puritan Path leading to the church is in his honor. We will continue on to Cambridge, where we will be based for two nights. William Brewster entered the Peterhouse College at Cambridge University at age 14, but left the following year to work for William Davison.  We will have free time to explore Cambridge before dining in our hotel.   (B/D)

Day 9: Monday, September 16, 2019: Fenstanton, Henlow
Today’s day trip will focus on the John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley connections. We will begin at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church in Fenstanton. This is where John Howland’s parents are buried and we’ll see the plaques, as well as the Howland Bell which was presented to the church by the Pilgrim John Howland Society in 1981. We’ll have lunch in the King William IV pub, then continue on to Henlow. Elizabeth Tilley was born in this village and there is a plaque commemorating her baptism and her parents’ wedding in St. Mary the Virgin’s Church. We will have leisure time to enjoy the town, before returning to Cambridge. (B/L)

Day 10: Tuesday, September 17, 2019: Harwich, London
Today’s day-trip is to Harwich.We will see where its Master, Christopher Jones, lived and was twice wed. We will follow the Maritime trail and see the Ha’Penny Pier and Visitor Centre, St. Nicholas Church, the Guildhall and The Redoubt Fort, which was built in 1808 as a large circular fort to protect the harbor from a Napoleonic invasion. We’ll have a traditional fish and chips lunch, then continue our journey to London. (B/L)

Day 11: Wednesday, September 18, 2019: London
We will have a morning tour of London’s South Bank, including Southwark Cathedral and the Globe Theater. We will conclude our tour with a pub lunch in the Mayflower Pub in London, which was well known to the crew of the Mayflower. We’ll see the original 1620 mooring point of the Mayflower and anyone with a personal connection to one of the passengers can sign the Descendant’s Visitor Book. The rest of the day will be at leisure and London Show tickets can be pre-booked (additional fee). (B/L)

Day 12: Thursday, September 19, 2019: Fly
After breakfast, we will travel to Heathrow. Post-tour travel options are available. (B/IF)

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

Southampton, England
September 9-10, 2019
Holiday Inn
Herbert Walker Ave
Southampton SO15 1HJ

Plymouth, England
September 10-12, 2019
Crowne Plaza
Armada Way
Plymouth PL1 2HJ

Worcester, England
September 12-13, 2019
Bank House Hotel
Bransford
Worcester WR6 5JD

Lincoln, England
September 13-15, 2019
Ye Olde Bell Hotel
Barnby Moor
Retford DN22 8QS

Cambridge, England
September 15-17, 2019
Royal Cambridge Hotel
Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1PY

London, England
September 17-19, 2019
Millennium Gloucester Hotel
4-18 Harrington Gardens
London SW7 4LH

Flights will be arranged for this tour once it is a definite departure. We can either assist you with flights or you are welcome to book your own, but we do ask that you wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure before you book non-refundable airfare. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

What’s included in the land tour price of $2,999?

Price based on a minimum of 20 participants

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional Tour Director throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Guides will use Whisper Headsets throughout the tour
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   All transfers as a group
•   Baggage handling when available (1 piece per person)
•   Basic travel insurance (upgrade to full-coverage available)
•   All taxes and tips other than for tour director and driver

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation 
•   Single supplement ($750)
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
•   Upgraded passenger trip cancellation insurance ($500 of basic coverage included)
•   Tips for tour director and driver

Payment Schedule

•   Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
•   Final invoices will be sent in May 2019
•   Final payment is due on June 25, 2019
•   Reservations will be accepted until June 25, 2019 subject to availability

Insurance

We offer coverage with the Professional Plan offered by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We include $500 coverage in your tour price and you are welcome to upgrade to cover the full tour premium. The cost of the tour insurance is the tour cost (minus $500) x 6.14%. A quote will be automatically added to your invoice.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.