THE PILGRIM HISTORY TOUR

15 Days - England, Wales and Holland 

Day 1: DEPART USA
Overnight flight to London.

Day 2: LONDON
We arrive in London early this morning and are transferred to our hotel. After checking in, there is ample time for exploring the city on your own.
Overnight in London (3 nights)

Day 3: WESTMINSTER ABBEY, BUCKINGHAM PALACE, SOUTHWARK
Our day begins at Westminster Abbey one of the most outstanding churches in London. The church is a cornucopia of history and was founded in 1065. Since 1066, nearly every British sovereign was crowned and entombed in Westminster. It is also the home of the King James translation of the Bible. Second finest to Westminster Abbey is the Southwark Cathedral, next on our itinerary. John Harvard, Puritan founder of the famous New England university was baptized at Southwark in which the cathedral bears a chapel in his honor. The cathedral is also the burial place of Lancelot Andrewes, translator of the King James Bible. At the Clink Prison Museum we'll see the frightful instruments of torment used on Separatist prisoners. We'll visit the home berth of the Pilgrim's ship at the Mayflower Pub jetty. The remainder of our day will be visiting such favored London attractions as Buckingham Palace, the House of Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall.

Day 4 ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, TOWER OF LONDON
Following breakfast we head out to St. Paul's Cathedral, the largest church in the city. It is hailed as the seat of the Bishop of London and "parish church of the British Commonwealth". St. Paul's was designed by the famous architect, Christopher Wren. Next, we visit Wesley's Chapel on City Road, built in 1778. John Wesley's house/museum is right next door. He lived here from 1779 until his death in 1791. His burial place is behind the chapel. Across City Road is the non-conformist cemetery, Bunhill Fields, with the graves of Susanna Wesley, John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and the hymn writer Isaac Watts ("When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"; "Come, Ye that Love the Lord"; "O God, Our Help in Ages Past"). Other highlights in this area include the charterhouse school where John attended and Spital Yard, home of the Annesley family where Susanna Wesley, youngest of 24 children, was raised. Our morning tour will conclude at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, were Charles Spurgeon held his great revival meetings. This afternoon's sightseeing is at the number one tourist attraction in London, the Tower of London. The stronghold reflects England's long history, presented in detail by the Beefeater guards, and houses the spectacular crown jewels. We'll also get a close up view of the Tower Bridge.

Day 5 STONEHENGE AND SOUTHAMPTON
We leave the city this morning and travel through England's countryside to the circle of megalithic stones known as Stonehenge. At the Cathedral in Salisbury, we'll view the original copies of the Magna Carta of 1215 AD. Our next stop is in Southampton, where the Mayflower sailed from England in 1620. The town is also the birthplace of hymn writer Isaac Watts. We'll walk along the old city walls and through the same gate the Pilgrims used to board their ships. After a stop at the Mayflower Memorial, we continue our journey to Portsmouth. Here we'll visit a museum containing thousands of items from King Henry VIII's warship, the Mary Rose, which sank in 1535.
Overnight in Bristol (3 nights)

Day 6: DARTMOUTH AND PLYMOUTH
The quaint resort town of Dartmouth the first stop on our itinerary today, was home to Puritan John Flavel. It is also an important stop as the Mayflower and its companion ship, the Speedwell, made an unscheduled stop for repairs to leaks on the latter. We'll see the Mayflower Stone on the quay wall in Bayard's Cove. It was actually from Plymouth that the Pilgrims finally set out on their journey alone. We'll visit the Island House, where the hopeful travelers spent their last night in England, and the memorial at the Barbican, from where the ship finally left. En route to Bristol, we'll stop at Burrington Cove and the gorge which inspired hymnist August Toplady to compose "Rock of Ages".

Day 7: CARDIFF, WALES & BATH
This morning we'll visit Wale's most notable castle in Cardiff before leaving for Oxford, England.  Following lunch we head to Bristol where we'll visit Broadmead and John Wesley's chapel. After a visit to the home of Charles Wesley and the Portland Chapel, we visit the fascinating town of Bath. Since the 1st century AD, the steady flow of hot mineral springs has made it a fashionable spa resort for the early Romans and later, the British monarchs. The ancient remains of the city are the finest preserved Roman ruins in Great Britain.

DAY 8: OXFORD AND NORTHAMPTON
We'll be presented with a history of the 800 year old university at the Oxford Story. Afterwards, we'll take an escorted bus trip through the city.  We continue to Northampton and the rest of the day is at leisure.  Overnight Northampton (2 nights)

Day 9 OLNEY, BEDFORD AND CAMBRIDGE
We leave Northampton this morning for Olney, home of 18th century hymn writers John Newton and William Cowper. After a visit to the Cowper and Newton Museum, we'll be treated to an escorted walking tour of the town. In Bedford, we'll visit the Sutcliff Baptist Church named for pastor John Sutcliff. William Carey, the father of modern missions was a member of Sutcliff's congregation. This afternoon we leave for Cambridge via Bedford where we'll stop to see the statue of John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress and the Meeting House. In Cambridge we'll be given a guided tour of the town in the comfort of our motor coach. We return to Northampton in time for dinner.
Overnight Northampton

Day 10 BOSTON, GAINSBOROUGH AND NOTTINGHAM
We depart Northampton for Boston and the Guildhall Museum which contains the courtroom and cells where the Pilgrims were tried and held. The town is home of John Cotton, where he was pastor of St. Botolph's Church before leaving for New England. On our way to Gainsborough we'll make a stop along the River Witham at the Pilgrim Father's Memorial. Upon arrival in Gainsborough we'll visit the Old Hall, where John Smyth and others (including some of the Mayflower Pilgrims) worshipped. An informative exhibit is on display at the Hall.

Day 11 EPWORTH, AUSTERFIELD, SCROOBY AND BABWORTH
Still on the Pilgrim's trail, we begin our day in Epworth, home of John Wesley. Along with the Old Rectory, where the famous preacher was born, we'll visit his father's tomb at St. Andrew's Church. Next we travel to Austerfield, birthplace of William Bradford (who was later governor of the Plymouth Plantation). A local guide will take us to St. Helena's Church and then on a walking tour of Scrooby and St. Wilfred's Church, from which the Pilgrim's separated, and the Scrooby Manor House. It's onto Babworth and the quaint All Saints' Parish Church, home of Richard Clyfton and the Pilgrim movement.
Overnight Nottingham

Day 12 NOTTINGHAM, KINGSTON-UPON-HULL AND ROTTERDAM
This morning is at leisure in Nottingham. After lunch we drive to Kingston-Upon-Hull and the Church of St. Andrew in Immingham. The monument across from the church commemorates the Pilgrim's escape to Holland in 1608. We'll travel by ferry, via the same route as the Pilgrims to Rotterdam, Holland. Dinner and overnight is on board.

Day 13 ROTTERDAM, DELFT, LEIDEN AND AMSTERDAM
After breakfast on board, we arrive in Rotterdam this morning and are driven to Delfshaven. We'll visit the Dutch Reformed Pilgrim Father's Church. In Delft, the "City of Tiles", we'll enjoy a visit to the city's oldest pottery factory and visit the main square. We leave Delft for Leiden and the American Pilgrim Museum. Our group will walk by the site of William Brewster's printing press. We'll visit St. Peter's Dutch Reformed Church and the burial place of Pilgrim pastor John Robinson. The area is also the site of Robinson's house. This afternoon we are transferred to Amsterdam.  Overnight Amsterdam (2 nights)

Day 14 AMSTERDAM
Today we are given a guided tour of Holland's capital city, which includes Anne Frank's House, the diamond factory and the Rijksmuseum, housing impressive art works such as Rembrandt's self-portraits. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Amsterdam is a wonderful city to tour on foot. Visit the American Hotel, where World War I spy, Mata Hari, held her wedding reception in 1894. The Van Gogh Museum features over 600 pieces of his works. Tonight see the city illuminated against the night sky on a canal cruise.

Day 15 DEPART AMSTERDAM FOR USA
Arrival home by mid-day.