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kate@specialgrouptours.com

Battle of Britain and the Blitz

5 days / 4 nights - Monday to Friday

The Battle of Britain was fought in the skies of Britain between July and October 1940.

While the German armies consolidated their hold on Western Europe, and Britain was still recovering from the retreat of Dunkirk, thirty-three squadrons of Hurricanes and nineteen squadrons of Spitfires took on the might of the German Luftwaffe.

The incredible skills, daring and courage of just three thousand and eighty Royal Air Force aircrew from throughout he British Empire who took part, ensured that Hitler’s projected invasion on Britain did not take place.

This tour explores sites connected with this momentous time. We visit aviation museums, seeing the aircraft of the time, find crash wrecks, drink in the pubs used by the fighter pilots and gunners, see a range of memorials and tour the actual airfields used.

The tour also visits other historical sights in the eastern counties of England of Kent, Essex and Lincolnshire and takes advantage of time in both these counties and London to look at the history of the Blitz, Hitler’s later attempt to subdue Britain from the skies.

Available at any date for private groups of 2 – 15 people. Price available upon application.

Rates are based upon vehicle and guide hire per day; groups of 7 - 15 would have a per person rate same/similar to one of our scheduled tours of the same length.

Please note, this is a suggested itinerary. It may be revised to suit your individual group needs.

If you do not have a group of traveling companions and are still interested in this custom tour itinerary, you are welcomed to join a waitlist…

We record who is looking for travel companions to make up a tour with them. We need between 6 and 8 persons minimum to operate a tour without it being uneconomic for us or too expensive for you. Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd will be happy to run the occasional special departure IF there is sufficient interest.

If you would like to check on or join a waitlist for this itinerary, please email us for full information: kate@specialgrouptours.com

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Day One - Monday

We depart from central London at 08.30 and spend this first day in the sectors controlled by the 12 (Fighter) group, Duxford and Debden, part of the Hornchurch Sector.

Leaving London, we head northwards into Essex, driving past what remains of the Hornchurch airfield and the more active Stapleford Abbots airfield. Our first main visit today will be at the North Weald Airfield and airfield museum. There's much to see here including the Squadron, airfield museum and the airfield church. Later, we'll visit Blake Hall which housed the ops room for North Weald.

Next, to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford that houses the finest collection of military aircraft and which was, of course, a USA airforce base in WW2.

We'll also be visiting the mediaeval university city of Cambridge before turning north.

Accommodation: Oakham

Day Two - Tuesday

North of Cambridgeshire, in Digby and Wittering Sectors, we can visit RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire is renowned as the 'Home of the Royal Air Force' and on the North Kesteven Airfield trail there's much to rediscover. A particular highlight, however, will be our visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight base at RAF Coningsby. The Flight operates a Lancaster, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes and a Dakota. It is possible to view these still-flying aircraft and watch the technicians at work.

Accommodation: Oakham

Day Three - Wednesday

We make our way back to London. An undoubted highlight of the day will be our visit to Bletchley.

It was here that the Germans 'uncrackable' Enigma Code was broken, allowing the allies to read Axis wireless traffic. The house holds some fantastic and fascinating exhibits.

Later, as we near London, we'll pass the Stanmore Fighter Command HQ, visit Hughenden Manor (war time arial map making and photo research centre) , and the Uxbridge Fighter Group HQ, in addition to seeing Northolt Airfield. A fitting, and memorable climax to our day, will be visiting the superb RAF memorial to the missing at Egham. From the top of this unique, and surprisingly little-known monument, you can see over five English counties.

Dinner is not included tonight.

Accommodation: London

Day Four - Thursday

The southern Hornchurch Sector of Kent is the subject of today's explorations. We have three main visits - to the Battle of Britain museum at Hawkinge, to the memorial at Capel-le-Ferne and to the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial at RAF Manston. There'll be guided tours at each destination and the Manston houses fine examples of a Spitfire TB752 and Hurricane LF751.

The Hornchurch Sector covered the county of Kent, over which many dogfights took place, and we'll be seeing some splendid scenery as we drive through and pinpointing some of the crash sites and the later V1 and V2 rocket targets (over 1400 of which fell on Kent). We'll also be seeing Dover and its famed 'white cliffs'.

Dinner is not included tonight.

Accommodation: London

Day Five - Friday

London Day

We first visit Westminster Abbey to view the beautiful stained glass window dedicated to the pilots of Fighter Command. Then to the RAF church of St Clement in the Danes. We'll also visit Churchill's War Cabinet rooms and experience what it was like sitting in a bomb shelter during the blitz in a fascinating war museum. There will also be time for a visit to the Imperial War Museum for those who wish it.

Accommodation: London (not included in tour rate.  You are dropped at any central London accommodation of your choice. We can arrange accommodation for those who would like us to do so.)

This tour is operated by Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd