[printfriendly]Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1: Monday, August 31, 2020: Depart North America
We will depart from the USA today. Pre-tour arrangements can also be made through Reformation Tours. (IF)

Day 2: Tuesday, September 1, 2020: Windsor
On arrival in London, transfers will be included to nearby Windsor. Our Reformation Tours’ tour director will meet us in our hotel, which is just outside the gates of Windsor Castle. The afternoon will be at leisure to explore Windsor, with an optional tour of Windsor Castle. We will have a Welcome Reception in the hotel, followed by dinner. (IF/D)

Day 3: Wednesday, September 2, 2020: Southampton, Winchester
After a hearty British breakfast, we will board our bus and drive to Southampton, where we will have free time to purchase lunch. In the afternoon, our local expert guide will take us on a guided walk describing Southampton as it would have been in 1620, when the Pilgrims arrived from Leiden. We will hear about the provisioning of the Speedwell and the Mayflower 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. We will continue on to our hotel in Winchester and dine together.  (B/D)

Day 4: Thursday, September 3, 2020: Dartmouth, Plymouth
After breakfast we will travel to Dartmouth, where the Mayflower and the Speedwell had to dock for repairs. 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, where we will be based for two nights. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Day 5: Friday, September 4, 2020: Plymouth
We will have breakfast in our hotel, then spend a full day exploring Plymouth. Our specialist guide will tell the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims, the ship, and the voyage, before they finally set off on September 16, 1620. We will see the Mayflower steps, the cobbled streets of the Barbican, and Sutton Harbour. We will then have a few hours to explore independently, before we meet again for a boat cruise around the harbor. We’ll visit the new Box Museum, then the rest of the evening will be at leisure.  (B)

Day 6: Saturday, September 5, 2020: Stratford-upon-Avon
After breakfast we will travel north to the picturesque Cotswolds, where we will have free time to buy lunch and browse the shops. We will arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon mid-afternoon and the rest of the day will be at leisure to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Trinity Church, etc. Shakespeare was a contemporary of the Pilgrims and so it’s a good place to go to understand what their lives and language were like. Tickets to a Shakespeare production can be arranged. (B)

Day 7: Sunday, September 6, 2020: Droitwich Spa, Worcester, Lincoln
After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to nearby Droitwich Spa to visit St. Peter’s Church where Edward Winslow was baptized. He served three terms as governor of Plymouth Colony. Winslow was educated at King’s School, which was part of Worcester Cathedral at that time. We will have a tour of one of England’s loveliest Cathedrals, followed by time to purchase lunch in the Cloister cafe.  We’ll end the day with dinner in our hotel in Lincoln. (B/D)

Day 8: Monday, September 7, 2020: Lincoln
We’ll begin the day with a visit to Lincoln Castle, built in 1068 by William the Conqueror, where we will see a copy of the Magna Carta in a special exhibit area with 2 movies. The Castle also has 2 historic prisons and the most unusual prison chapel. We will also tour Lincoln’s Medieval Cathedral, which dates back to 1072.  It was the world’s tallest building from 1300–1549. The rest of the day will be at leisure and Lincoln has lots of shops, ranging from high street stores to luxury boutiques. It also has an aptly named Steep Street which is only accessible by foot in some parts, as the gradient is so extreme. There’s even a handrail! Evensong at the Cathedral will be at 5:30 PM and includes young choristers from many local schools. (B)

Day 9: Tuesday, September 8, 2020: Retford, Babworth, Scrooby, Gainsborough, Lincoln
This morning expert guide and researcher Sue Allan 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. In nearby Retford, we will spend time at the newly opened Mayflower Gallery in the Bassetlaw Museum. We will view Scrooby Manor, Brewster’s home in Scrooby, as well as the village church. In Austerfield, we’ll enjoy lunch in the Mayflower Pub, then visit St. Helena’s church to  see the font where Bradford was baptized and learn about his childhood. We will then continue on to Gainsborough, from where the Pilgrims set out on their final and successful escape attempt. We will tour the medieval Old Hall, home of a local puritan.  After time to browse the excellent gift shop, we will return to Lincoln. (B/L)

Day 10: Wednesday, September 9, 2020: Boston, London
On our way into London, we will stop in Boston, a port town on the East coast. In 1607, a group of pilgrims walked 60 miles from Scrooby to Boston to meet a ship they had hired 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 in the Guildhall. 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 have lunch in Boston, then continue our journey into London and the evening will be at leisure. Tickets to a West End show can be arranged. (B/L)

Day 11: Thursday, September 10, 2020: London
We will have a fabulous view of London from the London Eye this morning, followed by a round-trip cruise from Westminster Pier. The bus will then take us to lunch in the Mayflower Pub in Rotherhithe. This used to be called the Shippe Inn and was well known to the crew of the Mayflower. We will see the original 1620s mooring point and we’ll have the opportunity to sign the Mayflower Descendants’ visitors’ book. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B/L)

Day 12: Friday, September 11, 2020: Departure day
After breakfast, transfers will be arranged to Heathrow or Gatwick.  Post-tour travel options are available. (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!

Windsor, England
September 1-2, 2020
Macdonald Hotel
23 High Street
Windsor SL4 1LH

Winchester, England
September 2-3, 2020
Winchester Royal Hotel
St Peter Street
Winchester SO23 8BS

Plymouth, England
September 3-5, 2020
St. Mellion
Saltash
Cornwall PL12 6SD

Stratford-upon-Avon, England
September 5-6, 2020
Crowne Plaza
Bridge Foot
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YR

Lincoln, England
September 6-9, 2020
BW West Retford Hotel
24 North Road
Retford DN22 7XG

London, England
September 9-11, 2020
The Copthorne Tara
Scarsdale Place
Kensington London W8 5SY

Arrival and Departure Transfers

Transfers are automatically included if we have booked your flights.

If you have booked your own flights, we can still provide transfers, as long as we have your flight details on file and a phone number to give to the driver. We will include your transfer information in your final packet. Transfers will be arranged for each arrival, so that you won’t have to wait for other tour members if their flight is delayed. Transfers can be arranged for the day of your choosing, but we can’t arrange transfers if you arrive or depart by train.

Please note that individual transfers are booked through a third-party and you will be responsible to communicate with the company in case of delays.

Flight Information

When this tour is a guaranteed departure, we will be able to start making air reservations. Various flight booking options will be available at that time. Please read our printable guide to booking your flight to better understand these options.

Option 1: For 10+ traveling together, we can provide a group air booking. Payment is due with final payment in June 2020.

Option 2: You may request a flight quote from us by filling out this form. Payment is due at the time of booking. Please note we are currently not purchasing any new flights, as airlines are so affected by the coronavirus.

Option 3: You may book your own flights, making sure you land on the morning of September 1, 2020 no later than 10:00 AM.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in London. You are welcome to depart at any time on September 11. Please wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure before booking non-refundable airfare, and send us a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

Please note that if you would like to use air miles you will need to book directly with the airline.

We can arrange pre-tour and post-tour nights in London, but due to the volume of tours in 2020, we are not able to arrange additional travel within Europe.

What’s included in the land tour price of $3,599?

Price based on a minimum of 25 participants

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Arrival and departure transfers
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and 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
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   Baggage handling when available
•   Basic travel insurance (upgrade to full-coverage available)
•   All taxes and tips except as indicated below

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation (Reformation Tours can assist in booking flights)
•   Departure transfers (can be arranged through Reformation Tours)
•   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
•   Gratuities 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 2020
•   Final payment is due on June 17, 2020
•   Reservations will be accepted after June 17, 2020 subject to availability

Insurance

We offer the Professional Plan offered by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company.  We offer all of our travelers post-departure insurance coverage (up to $500 of coverage.) If you would like to have pre-tour cancellation and trip interruption coverage, the upgrade cost depends on the tour price. It’s approximately the tour cost (minus the $500 that we cover) x 6.14%.  To insure your land costs, the price is $3,599 – $500 x 6.14% = $191. A quote will automatically be added to your invoice and updated once the air cost is available.

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 100 days before departure: $100 cancellation penalty
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 cancellation penalty 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.