Ancestry England
Trip summary statistics
9days
Heritage Journey: American Airfields in England
Ancestry, London, Cambridge, Canterbury
Uncover your heritage on a custom journey exploring wartime sites tied to your roots.
Explore iconic London, from the Tower of London to Churchill’s secret bunker.
Step into history at UNESCO’s Canterbury Cathedral, and roam Dover Castle's storied halls.
Honor the fallen at Cambridge’s American Cemetery with insights from your private guide.
Experience a trip reflecting your history from your Destination Expert and a genealogist.
* Please note: USD per person, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.
A travel experience like no other
This sample itinerary was created by experts and is meant to inspire your next trip. It is ready to be customized to suit your interests, tastes and budget so you can connect with local cultures and experience authentic travel on your own terms and departing whenever you choose.
Ancestry to LondonGet In and Get Some Rest
- Bronze Heritage Research Package | 30 hrs
- Private Transfer from London Heathrow Airport
- Airport Meet & Greet Service
- Admission: The London Eye - Fast Track
LondonStrolling the Magical Streets
- Central London Walking Tour (4 hrs) - Private Tour
- Afternoon Tea at the Ivy Chelsea Garden
LondonA Journey Back in Time
- Bulldog Bunkers and Blitz Spirit (5 hrs) - Private
London to CambridgeLest We Forget
- London-Cambridge - via Cambridge American Cemetery (8 hrs) - Vehicle/Driver-Guide
- Self-Guided Stroll of Cambridge
Cambridge to AncestryWalk in Your Relatives’ Footsteps
- Private Duxford & Norfolk Wartime Aviation Tour | 8 hrs
- Full Day Ancestral Home Visit with Professional Genealogist Guide
Cambridge to CanterburyCity Streets and Tasty Treats
- Cambridge-Canterbury - via Canterbury City Tour (with Lunch, 8 hrs) - Vehicle/Driver-Guide
CanterburyA Healthy Dose of History
- Dover Castle, Western Heights & Battle of Britain Memorial (8 hrs) - Private Tour
Canterbury to LondonCross an Item off the Bucket List
- Canterbury-London - via Churchill’s Home at Chartwell, 8 hrs - Vehicle/Driver-Guide
LondonUntil Next Time…
- Private Transfer: Heathrow Airport
ANCESTRY TO LONDON
Get In and Get Some Rest
Your AncestryProGenealogists® research service includes 30 hours of dedicated pre-trip planning and research into your family's origins. An expert genealogist has prepared a written report and images of the records found that inform your personal journey ahead.
Your private driver meets you on arrival at London Heathrow Airport and transfers you to your accommodation.For your added comfort, a Meet & Greet assistant will be waiting for you in the Arrivals Hall of the airport after you pass through customs. They'll direct you to your transfer, assist in the hotel check-in process, and take you through your travel documents.
See London at its most cinematic with Fast Track access to the London Eye, perfectly timed for the glow of evening. Glide skyward in a climate-controlled capsule as the city begins to sparkle below, revealing a sweeping panorama of illuminated landmarks along the River Thames and across the skyline. Rising 443 feet above the South Bank, this near 30-minute rotation offers an unhurried, front-row view of London’s glittering skyline, with time to spot iconic landmarks from above and see the capital shining in full evening glow.
Where you’ll be staying
King Deluxe Room
LONDON
Strolling the Magical Streets
Be sure to wear some quality walking shoes as you depart on foot with a private guide for a half-day walking tour of Central London. One of the world's great cities, London manages to shine in the grayest weather, and its diversity defies a simple definition. Depending on the location of your hotel, and your particular interests, your guide will happily tailor the tour so you can get the most out of your day. Wander the magical streets, gardens and markets, and be a Londoner for a day. Walk through renowned Trafalgar Square, explore Soho, and check out some stalls at historic Covent Garden Market. See the Monarch's residence, Buckingham Palace, take some photos of the iconic Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and stumble upon Hyde Park’s lively Speakers’ Corner.
Enjoy a selection of savories and sweets in an afternoon tea experience at The Ivy Chelsea Garden.
Where you’ll be staying
King Deluxe Room
LONDON
A Journey Back in Time
Embark on an exclusive journey through wartime London, following in the footsteps of Winston Churchill, spies, and the homefront effort. With your private guide, explore the top-secret corridors of the Churchill War Rooms and Cabinet War Rooms, where Churchill and his staff took shelter during the Blitz. Discover the Churchill Museum and gain insight into the man behind the legend, exploring the pressures and influences that shaped his leadership. Walk through London’s streets, passing 10 Downing Street and St James’s Palace, where the United Nations was born. Visit James J. Fox tobacco shop, home to a basement museum filled with Churchill memorabilia. End the day exploring a secret Underground station that played a pivotal role during WWII, uncovering hidden spaces and gaining a deeper understanding of Churchill's legacy.
Where you’ll be staying
King Deluxe Room
LONDON TO CAMBRIDGE
Lest We Forget
After checkout, meet your private driver-guide for a transfer to Cambridge, experiencing the nearby Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial en route. Donated by the University of Cambridge, this 30-acre American Military grave site lies on a gentle slope, framed by woodland. It's home to the remains of 3,811 U.S. war dead from WWII, and the names of 5,127 others are recorded on the Walls of the Missing. Stroll the grounds and take some time to pay your respects at this solemn site. Afterward, visit the 4,000 square foot visitor center where you'll have an opportunity to discover a number of interpretive exhibits, with photos, films, personal stories, and even interactive displays. Conclude your day on arrival to your new hotel in Cambridge.
Enjoy some free time to explore the charming town of Cambridge on your own. Why not take a stroll to see some of the campuses of its world-famous university? Wander through its breathtaking botanical gardens set across 40 acres, or visit the Fitzwilliam Museum and marvel at its collection of rare art and antiques.
Where you’ll be staying
Superior King Room
CAMBRIDGE TO ANCESTRY
Walk in Your Relatives’ Footsteps
Spend a full day inside Britain's wartime aviation history, from IWM Duxford to Norfolk. The American Air Museum documents the US and UK alliance from WWI to today through 19 original aircraft and interactive exhibits, with particular depth for those tracing ancestral ties to American fighter pilots. The day can be shaped around a relative's service in the air war. The afternoon ends in the Norfolk countryside, where the airfields that supported Allied missions still mark the landscape, quiet reminders of the people who flew from this ground.
Discover your family's past with an on-site Ancestry Genealogist guide who knows the region's records, local historians, and communities. Guided by your Research Report, you’ll explore the places your family once called home. On this day you may walk the land they farmed, visit the church they attended, or meet distant relatives still living nearby. What you find goes deeper than any document ever could.
Where you’ll be staying
Superior King Room
CAMBRIDGE TO CANTERBURY
City Streets and Tasty Treats
After checking out, you'll join your private driver-guide for an onward transfer to Canterbury, touring the UNESCO-listed cathedral city on arrival. Canterbury is a Roman walled town with open spaces (gardens) formed after the destruction of the religious houses during the reformation. Stroll through charming lanes, and admire the stunning Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest Christian structures in England, originally dating back to the 6th century, and later rebuilt in the 11th century. Spot the ruins of St. Augustine's Abbey, and discover the 600-year-old Westgate Towers, the country's largest surviving city gate. Enjoy some traditional English fare as you're treated to a delightful fish and chips takeaway lunch, just like the locals. Conclude your day at your Canterbury hotel.
Where you’ll be staying
Desirable Room
CANTERBURY
A Healthy Dose of History
Set out with your private driver-guide on a day tour to Dover, discovering the Dover Castle, Western Heights, and the Battle of Britain Memorial. Known as the 'Lock and Key of England,' due to its geographical position as the UK's closest point to mainland Europe, Dover is famed for its picturesque, chalky white cliffs. While in Dover, you'll visit the 11th century Dover Castle, a massive medieval construct which was built by William I following his invasion of England in 1066. While you make your way through the castle's defensive walls, enjoy the view out to sea, spotting France on the horizon, only 30 miles away. A rare, restored WWI anti-aircraft gun has been relocated to Dover Castle, and is on display for visitors. Nearby, discover some of Britain's most impressive fortifications at the 19th century Western Heights, with its North Bastion and Drop Redoubt fort. Finally, pause for a visit to pay your respects at the Battle of Britain Memorial, a monument honoring the aircrew who flew in the 1940 Battle of Britain military campaign during WWII. Conclude your day on arrival back to Canterbury.
Where you’ll be staying
Desirable Room
CANTERBURY TO LONDON
Cross an Item off the Bucket List
Today, you'll make your way back to London in the company of your private driver-guide, taking time to visit Chartwell en route, Winston Churchill's famed country house. Now owned by the National Trust, Chartwell was Churchill's home for over four decades, and its rooms are preserved in the same way they were when he and his wife lived there. Explore the house, discover his painting studio, and enjoy the lovely views from the landscaped garden. For many war history buffs, or those with British heritage, this is often a true bucket-list experience.
Where you’ll be staying
King Deluxe Room
LONDON
Until Next Time…
Meet your private driver and vehicle for an airport transfer.
LONDON
Royal Horseguards
The majestic chateau-style Royal Horseguards Hotel resides over the River Thames, just three blocks from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and within a half-mile of West End theaters. From glittering chandeliers to contemporary design, this central hotel opposite the London Eye reflects a proud heritage, and fully restored Victorian elegance. High ceilings, deluxe furnishings, full air conditioning and double-glazed windows make every guest room at the Royal Horseguards a quiet, and comfortable retreat. Have a meal at the award-winning One Twenty One Two restaurant, pop in for a drink at the Equus bar serving cocktails named after famous guests, or enjoy a quintessential Afternoon Tea in the relaxing lounge.
CAMBRIDGE
University Arms
Located on Cambridge's historic Regent Street, the University Arms hotel is undeniably British. Classic Edwardian interiors are combined with bespoke, leather-padded writing desks, low ottomans and tiered chandeliers in playful colors and rooms full of natural light. The result is ambitious, beautiful, and full of life. A total of 192 guestrooms and suites feature an eclectic style, and boast views over Parker’s Piece, historic Regent Street, and the hotel’s inner courtyard. Books are a consistent and prominent feature across the hotel and its rooms, an homage to Cambridge's status as a world-class university city. Dine on site, enjoy afternoon tea, or take to the bar for a drink in a classic tavern ambiance. Voted one of the top 5 hotels in the UK outside of London by CondeNast Traveler readers, book your Cambridge stay in confidence at University Arms.
CANTERBURY
ABode Canterbury
ABode Canterbury is a unique and stylish hotel in the heart of the city, located within the ancient city walls, and just minutes from the UNESCO-listed Canterbury Cathedral. Individually-designed guestrooms and suites offer distinctive style championing both quality and comfort, while original features add character to the overall composition. On-site dining options range from casual bar bites to fine dining, and even private dining at the Chef's Table, if you're so inclined. ABode Canterbury stands as the ideal base for your exploration of this historic city.
Made to Order
- Choose from a range of places to stay, from impeccable five-star hotels to equally outstanding boutique ones.
- Tailor your trip to include a wide variety of activities, from the must-see's to the lesser-known, local experiences, and even the exclusive ones you may not know about.
- With no fixed dates or set schedules, you can explore on your terms.
- Whether you're celebrating one of life's big moments or looking to fulfill a personal journey, we always work with you to ensure we're creating a trip-of-a-lifetime.
What's included
- A fully customized itinerary based on your interests and schedule
- 24/7 in-destination support from our local office
- Regional flights between stops in your itinerary (unless otherwise indicated)
- All accommodation stays, tours and transfers for scheduled activities are covered, unless otherwise listed in the itinerary
- A private driver for tours and transfers (in some countries our local private guides also act as your driver - your Destination Expert will discuss with you if applicable)
- Local private guides or shared tours that take you through your itinerary highlights and experiences, your final itinerary will confirm the type of tour
- A greeting at the airport or at your accommodation from one of our representatives – your expert will confirm your meet and greet location with you
- Breakfast each morning at your hotel, plus any meals indicated in the itinerary
- One suitcase and one carry-on per person for trip transfers
What's not included
- Your international airfare – please do let your expert know if you'd like to receive pricing from our Air Team
- Travel insurance, which we offer and can be purchased after you've booked your tour
- Visas (unless noted)
- Tips for services and experiences
- Lunches, dinners and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), unless specified in the itinerary
- Excess baggage charges, and where applicable, baggage not included in your fare
- Personal charges such as laundry, phone calls, SIM cards or room service
- Early check-in or late check-out from hotels (unless otherwise specified)
- Additional sightseeing, activities and experiences outside of your itinerary
- Optional enhancements like room or flight upgrades, or local camera or video fees
- Passport fees, immunization costs, and local departure taxes (when applicable)
Protect your travel
- We recommend travel protection. Between missed connections, lost or delayed luggage, or medical emergencies, you want some peace of mind that your travel investment is well protected.
- No matter who you buy from, please consider purchasing a travel protection plan before you travel. Still unsure? Consider these frequently asked questions.








