Leiden Delfshaven Lincoln Cathedral Scrooby Church Gainsborough Old Hall Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon Plymouth Tudor House Mayflower Pub, Rotherhithe
Southampton
Are you a Mayflower Descendant? This tour is designed for you and your family and friends! We are delighted to announce that our special guest is Jane Hurt, Governor General of The General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD). You are invited to join other “cousins” on a 13 day tour tracing the lives of our ancestors on this Mayflower-themed tour of the Netherlands and England.
On the tour you’ll gain an understanding of the Pilgrim’s lives before they sailed, by visiting the homes where they lived, the churches they worshiped in, the ancient Sherwood Forest where they walked, and the jail in Boston where they were imprisoned. You will also see the ports of Southampton, Dartmouth and also Plymouth, their final departure point. Other highlights include Stratford-upon-Avon, Windsor Castle, Dorking, and lunch in the Mayflower Pub in London – a favorite for the crew of the Mayflower.
Our tour host is Lisa Shoemaker, Historic Sites Chairperson for the GSMD. She has been tour directing, tour managing and tour guiding since 2008. She leads tours for students, adults, music groups and special interest groups. When not traveling, Lisa loves spending time with grandchildren, gardening, genealogy, volunteering and learning. She recalls being on tour in Plymouth in 2014 and lamenting to a Plymouth tour guide, how exciting it would be to be a Mayflower descendant. A year or two later she learned that she was a descendant. Letting her older sister do all the hard work of submitting all necessary information, they became official members of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Day 1: Sunday, May 29, 2022: Depart North America
We will depart from the USA today. Flight bookings and pre-tour arrangements can be made through Reformation Tours. There is an optional pre-tour night in Amsterdam in a hotel close to Central Station. (IF)
Day 2: Monday, May 30, 2022: Amsterdam, Leiden
When we arrive in Amsterdam, we will transfer directly to the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station where our tour director will welcome us to the Netherlands. In the afternoon we will have an orientation tour of the city, including the Begijnhof, one of Amsterdam’s best-known almshouses and a narrated canal excursion, passing gabled warehouses, noble mansions, arched bridges, and colorful houseboats. We will then travel to Leiden, a delightful Dutch town where the Pilgrims lived for 12 years. We will get to know the group at tonight’s Welcome Dinner. (B/D)
Day 3: Tuesday, May 31, 2022: Leiden
After a leisurely breakfast, we will tour the American Pilgrim Museum, which tells the stories of the founders of New England (subject to availability). It features furnishings from Pilgrim times, as well as maps and engravings from the 16th and 17th century. The Pieterskirk was founded in 1121 and has a small exhibition about the Pilgrims. John Robinson is buried in this church and we will see his home nearby, which is marked with a plaque. The tour will also include seeing the site of William Brewster’s printing shop, the Hooglandse Kerk, and Da Waag, where the Pilgrims first set foot in Leiden. The afternoon will be at leisure to visit the Botanical Gardens, the Museum de Lakenhal, or the many shops. We will enjoy a traditional Dutch meal this evening. (B/D)
Day 4: Wednesday, June 1, 2022: Delfshaven, Harwich
This morning we will visit Delfshaven, the departure point for the Speedwell. We will visit the Pilgrim Fathers’ Church and explore the harbor district. We will then make our way to the Hook of Holland to board our own ship bound for England. The crossing to Harwich takes 6½ hours. The ship has restaurants on board, as well as shops, and a cinema. When we arrive in England, we will check in to our hotel near Harwich. (B)
Day 5: Thursday, June 2, 2022: Harwich, Boston, Retford
Harwich is the port town where the Mayflower was built and where its captain, Master Christopher Jones, was born. We will tour his recently renovated house, the Guildhall, and the Ha’Penny Pier. We will then drive to 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 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 dine in our hotel in Retford. (B/D)
Day 6: Friday, June 3, 2022: Babworth, Scrooby, Austerfield, Gainsborough, Retford
This morning our 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’ll visit St. Helena’s church to see the font where Bradford was baptized and learn about his childhood. In the afternoon we will visit 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 Retford, where we will have the opportunity to tour the Mayflower Gallery in the Bassetlaw Museum. We will dine in our hotel in Retford. (B/D)
Day 7: Saturday, June 4, 2022: Stratford-upon-Avon
After breakfast, we will drive to Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town that was the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare. We will tour Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and Trinity Church. The rest of the day will be at leisure and tickets to the Shakespeare production Wars of the Roses can be arranged. (B)
Day 8: Sunday, June 5, 2022: Droitwich Spa, Worcester, Plymouth
After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to nearby Droitwich Spa to attend the morning service at 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. After a group lunch, we will drive down to Plymouth and dine in our hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 9: Monday, June 6, 2022: 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 Harbor. We’ll also visit the newly-opened Elizabethan House Plymouth and the Plymouth Gin Distillery. We will then have a few hours to explore independently before we meet again for a boat cruise around the harbor. The rest of the evening will be at leisure. (B)
Day 10: Tuesday, June 7, 2022: Southampton
After breakfast, we will travel to Southampton. 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 dine together this evening. (B/D)
Day 11: Wednesday, June 8, 2022: Southampton, Dorking, London
After breakfast, we will have coffee at the Mullins Coffee Shop, located in the ancestral home of William Mullins, in the heart of the old quarter of Dorking. We will then tour the Dorking Museum with Kathy Atherton, followed by a tour of the town. We’re hear about Dorking in the time of the Pilgrims, and view several homes from that time period. We will continue to London and the evening is at leisure. (B)
Day 12: Thursday, June 9, 2022: London
We will have a fabulous view of London from the London Eye this morning, followed by a cruise from Westminster Pier to the Tower of London. The bus will then take us to lunch at 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 afternoon and evening is at leisure. (B/L)
Day 13: Friday, June 10, 2022: London
After breakfast, there will be a group transfer to Heathrow and additional transfers can be arranged. Post-tour travel options are available. (B/IF)
Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.
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!
Optional Pre-tour hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands ($150 per person in double / $300 in single)
May 29-30
Doubletree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
Oosterdoksstraat 4
Amsterdam 1011 DK
Leiden, Netherlands
May 30 – June 1, 2022
Golden Tulip
Schipholweg 3
Leiden 2316XB
Harwich, England
June 1-2, 2022
Mayflower Premier Inn
Parkeston Rd,
Dovercourt, Harwich CO12 4NX
Retford, England
June 2-4, 2022
Ye Olde Bell Hotel and Spa
Barnaby Moor
Retford DN22 8QS
Stratford-upon-Avon, England
June 4-5, 2022
Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon
Bridgefoot
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YR
Plymouth, England
June 5-7, 2022
Crowne Plaza Plymouth
Armada Way
Plymouth PL1 2HJ
Southampton, England
June 7-8, 2022
The Dolphin
34-35 High Street
Southampton SO14 2HN
London, England
June 8-10, 2022
Millennium Gloucester
4-18 Harrington Gardens
London SW7 4LH
Various flight booking options are available for this tour and we will offer a group air option is we have a minimum of 10 traveling together. Please read our printable guide to booking your flight to better understand these options.
Option 1: You may request a flight quote from us by filling out this form. Payment is due at the time of booking.
Option 2: You may book your own flights, making sure you arrive in Amsterdam by 10:00 AM on May 30, 2022. If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night. You are welcome to depart at any time on June 10, 2022. Please 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- and post-tour nights, but due to the volume of tours in 2022, we are not able to arrange additional travel within Europe.
*Price based on a minimum of 30 participants.
• Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
• Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and moderate 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
• All transfers, as a group
• Baggage handling when available
• All taxes and tips except as indicated below
• Round-trip air transportation
• Pre-tour night in Amsterdam ($150 per person in double / $300 in single)
• Single supplement ($900)
• 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.
• Passenger trip cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)
• Gratuities for tour director, and driver
• Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please click here to pay by credit card or mail a check to Reformation Tours, 64 Fiesta Circle, St Louis, MO 63146
• Final invoices will be sent in January 2022
• Final payment is due on February 28, 2022
• Reservations will be accepted after February 28, 2022 subject to availability
We will continue to assist clients who have a current policy with Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. Policies are now transferable to tours in 2021 and 2022.
If you don’t have insurance yet, we are now partnering with an award-winning company called Squaremouth, which helps travelers search, compare, and buy the best travel insurance for the lowest price. They offer excellent customer support and can help you find the best policy for your trip. Click here for instructions on how to choose a policy.
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 2/27/2022: $100 plus non-refundable deposits
From 2/28/2022 – 4/18/22: $350 plus any non-refundable deposits
From 4/19/2022 no refunds guaranteed. 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.
This tour is now full. Please don’t send your deposit unless you have a confirmed place.
We are planning on adding additional tours, so please fill out the form if you’d like to be notified.
Once this form is submitted, you will receive an instant email confirmation. Please check your spam folder if you don’t see it in your inbox.
You can fill out your reservations online by clicking the “Book Now” tab
You can either send a check made payable to “Reformation Tours” to 64 Fiesta Circle, St. Louis, MO 63146 or click here to pay by credit card (additional 3.5% fee).
We will continue to assist clients who have previously purchased Roam Right Insurance policies, which can be transferred to tours in 2021 and 2022. If you don’t have insurance, we are now offering clients the opportunity to compare and buy insurance directly:
Click here for information about luggage, currency, flights, etc.
Click here to e-mail us a question about this tour
64 Fiesta Circle, St. Louis, MO 63146
Tel: (618) 222-9914
Toll Free: (800) 303-5534
info@mayflower400tours.com
CST # 2093421-30