On arrival at Heathrow airport, a private transfer will take you to the Macdonald Hotel, our base for the first three nights of our tour. In the evening join the group for a welcome drink, followed by dinner.

Meals: Dinner

We begin with a visit to Grosvenor Square, the former home of the US Embassy. During World War II when the Chancery was on one side of the square and General Eisenhower’s headquarters on the other, it became known as ‘Little America’; almost the beating heart of the American Armed Forces in Great Britain. The USA’s connections span back even further as the house of John Adams, the second President of the United States, can also be found here. We take a moment to reflect at the monument to the American Eagle Squadron pilots of World War II, the Eisenhower Statue and the 9/11 memorial.

Our next stop takes us to Benjamin Franklin’s House for a fascinating guided tour. Situated in the heart of London and built around 1730, this is the only remaining Franklin home in the world. Still boasting many of its original features, the Founding Father of the United States lived at this property between 1757 and 1775 at a time when he was involved in the mediation between Britain and America.

We continue to Temple Church, built by the Knights Templar in the late 12th century as their English headquarters and hidden away among London’s Inns of Court. During King John’s reign it served as the royal treasury and much later, the church was greatly restored after being heavily bombed in World War II. This architectural treasure is also known as America’s Church in London thanks to its connections with the USA.

A well-deserved lunch awaits at the oldest pub on the River Thames, The Mayflower, located in the London district of Rotherhithe. The restored 16th-century pub is named after the famous Mayflower ship, chartered by the Pilgrim Fathers, whose first stage of the epic voyage began in Rotherhithe. Captain Christopher Jones allegedly moored here to avoid paying taxes further down the River Thames before continuing to Southampton for supplies.

This afternoon we head to the nearby St Mary’s Church, the site of Christian for over 1000 years. Designed by John James, an associate of Sir Christopher Wren, it is renowned for its deep roots in British maritime history. This is the church where Puritans are believed to have prayed before the Mayflower’s departure, and there is a memorial to the ship’s captain, who is also buried in the church grounds. On the 375th anniversary of the voyage, a sandstone sculpture was unveiled, bearing the words: ‘To the memory of Christopher Jones 1570 - 1622, Master of the Mayflower. He landed 102 planters and adventurers at Plymouth Massachusetts 21 Dec 1620. They formed the Mayflower Compact and the first permanent colony in New England.’

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our first stop is the riverside site of Runnymede. Widely regarded as the birthplace of modern democracy, this is the very spot where King John signed the Magna Carta on June 15, 1215. This royal charter provided the foundation of many American constitutional documents, including the United Bill of Rights, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many more, and there is also a memorial to John F. Kennedy here.

We continue to Cliveden for a fascinating guided tour of the luxurious manor, set high above the River Thames upon almost 400 acres of National Trust grounds. Built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, this stately home has remained a pinnacle of glamour for the upper-class. We explore the striking period features and antique interiors while we learn all about Cliveden’s links with America and about the most infamous scandal that shook the British parliament and played out on these very grounds, the Profumo affair. Afterward, we indulge in the quintessentially British tradition of afternoon tea.

Back at the hotel this evening, we are treated to a fascinating talk by a guest speaker.

Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea

We head to the vibrant city of Southampton for a fascinating walk entitled ‘In the Footsteps of the Mayflower’. We visit SeaCity Museum to explore the Gateway to the World gallery and see how the city’s port has developed since the Roman times. Not only has the Mayflower set sail from Southampton, but other famous ships such as Titanic and Queen Mary have departed here. We find out more as we walk through the city’s Old Town, discovering historic vaults and towers and learning about Southampton’s connections to the Pilgrim Fathers.

Next, we board the SS Shieldhall, the UK’s oldest steamship, and retrace the start of the Mayflower’s initial route over 400 years later. A special way to spend the weekend before the Fourth of July; you are also welcome to visit the Engine Room and Boiler Room and can even meet the Captain on the bridge.

Later, we enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant before checking in to Lainston House, where we stay for the next two nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we visit the beautiful medieval city of Salisbury. Set in a quintessentially English landscape, this stunning city is renowned for its rich heritage and medieval cathedral which boasts the tallest spire in Britain. We discover plenty of treasures on our guided tour, including the world’s best-preserved copies of the original Magna Carta.

Later we enjoy a guided walking tour of the city, through the knot of pretty streets threaded together by a unique mix of architectural styles; from lovely half-timbered Tudor houses to handsome Georgian mansions.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner