TOUR OVERVIEW
With so much to offer, we can tailor tours to suit your interests. We can visit Willloughby, the home of Captain John Smith. You can tour the home villages and churches of ‘Mayflower’ Pilgrims like William Brewster and William Bradford. A highlight is sure to be Boston, the magnificent church where John Cotton preached before his escape to Massachusetts.
But we will also take you off the obvious tourist trail to places like Sempringham, where the great migration was planned in 1629, and Alford – home of Tom Paine and the turbulent Ann Hutchinson who so shook up the Massachusetts community. We can stop at Belleau, where Roger Williams came to discuss religious liberty with Sir Henry Vane – who had fled Massachusetts only to be executed by Charles II! Williams’s writings developed ideas that became the First Amendment – but he got his ideas from his father in law’s friends who became the first Baptists; so we include where they came from, and also the great priory church where Williams’s wife originated.
All this and choral evensong at the wonderful Lincoln Cathedral.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
THE GREAT MIGRATION TO MASSACHUSETTS
BOSTON: JOHN COTTON'S CHURCH
Boston has many links to America other than its name! You can see where the ‘Mayflower’ Pilgrims were betrayed on their first escape attempt and visit the cells where they were imprisoned. Most of all we love the window showing Cotton, Anne Bradstreet the American poet– and their enemy Archbishop Laud!
THE 'CHURCH IN THE WOODS'
BIRTHPLACE OF SCROOBY MAYFLOWER CONGREGATION
Richard Clifton’s ministry at Babworth in the 1590s was the catalyst for radical puritans like William Brewster and William Bradford to seek a better Church. When Clifton was ejected for nonconformity, they formed their own congregation and left for Holland….the rest is history! It is amazing that such turbulent events began at this tranquil church, set in the woods. (Subject to restrictions on vehicle access)
POCAHONTAS, TRUTH AND FICTION
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH'S HOME VILLAGE
The famous story of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas has entered American mythology and suffered something of a distortion at the hands of Disney. But he was a real and remarkable person, commemorated in his home village, and our guides will help you sort the fact from fiction.
TOUR DETAILS AND PRICING
WHATS INCLUDED IN THE TOUR
Tour Guide for 1-3 days
Entrance to churches at Boston, Sempringham, Belleau, Willloughby, Babworth/Scrooby etc. Entrance to Boston Guildhall Museum. Choral Evensong at Lincoln Cathedral.
LOCAL EXCURSIONS & EXPERIENCES
We can arrange additional local excursions & experiences as part of your tour. Please ask for details & prices when you make your booking enquiry.
Cream Tea at Hodsock Priory
Traditional English Bell Ringing
Real Ale Beer Tasting
Lincoln Cathedral Choral Evensong
Antiques Market
Sherwood Forest 'Red Bus' Tour
BOOKING DETAILS
Price:
Full Day £160 (minimum for up to 7 persons).
Then £28 a head up to a maximum of up to £400 for a full coach. Additional per head fee required for Boston Guildhall and Boston Stump (Church)
Itinerary Duration:
6 Hours
Transport:
Transport not included but can be arranged.
Pickup Location:
Retford or locations within 25 miles; main line stations at Newark, Retford, Doncaster or Lincoln
Group Size:
Any size between individual and coach. Maximum of 25 is preferable, but more can be managed.
Refreshments & Meals:
Lunch and afternoon cream tea etc can be included as an addition. Please allow around £7-£10 a head depending on requirements.
Accessibility:
Some old churches have limited accessibility.
Fitness Level:
Low, but note that access to some buildings requires use of steps.
Advanced Booking:
Min. of 7 days advance booking. Winter bookings possible but sites are unheated and some lack electricity.
Travel Trade Information:
We offer a commissionable rate for travel trade.
BOOKING ENQUIRY
Please use the form to tell us a little more about your plans including dates and group numbers and we will be happy to create a sample tour itinerary and budget. Most of our tours are offered on a full or half day. And we can combine tours to create a 1,2,3 or 4 day tour to suit your schedule.
We will arrange transport, accommodation and additional day and evening events if required. Look forward to hearing from you.
Or give us a call on +44 (0)7470 366689