We look forward to welcoming you on our trip to England and Morocco!
Extending Your Stay In England or Morocco
If you would like to extend your stay in England or Morocco, we would be happy to assist you in arranging additional pre-nights at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London or post-nights at the Selman Marrakech in Marrakech. A Travel Arrangements Form will be included with the flight notification email for you to request your pre or post-nights. Please note: The Terms and Conditions of the main trip also apply to any extra arrangements made.
Below is your preliminary itinerary. Please note that the order of activities, the time of events, and some scheduled activities may change. We do our best to adhere to the promised itinerary but we greatly appreciate your flexibility and understanding when changes do occur. There is no refund for joining a trip late or leaving early.
Itinerary Snapshot
This Itinerary Snapshot will provide you with a one-page itinerary, highlighting key sites visited on the trip, a breakdown of the meals provided, and a chart of what is included in the cost of the trip.
Sunday, September 22 | London
Arrive in London and transfer to The Royal Horseguards Hotel, which once served as headquarters for the British Secret Service. It is said that Winston Churchill used secret tunnels in the hotel to access the Cabinet War Rooms and Parliament. This afternoon, gather as a group to see Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms. It is from this underground “safe place,” still pristinely preserved, that Churchill and his intelligence forces conducted the war during the London Blitz. Gather for a welcome reception in the historic setting of the Harmsworth Room which showcases the 1940s electric generator wall that previously served as the War Room’s power supply. Enjoy dinner as a group at a nearby restaurant.
The Royal Horseguards (Reception, Dinner)
Monday, September 23 | London
Begin the day with a guided tour at the center of British political life, the Houses of Parliament (pending final confirmation). During WWII, the Palace of Westminster was hit by bombs on fourteen occasions, causing damage to this national treasure. Today, you can see the results of reconstruction efforts starting immediately after the war. Lunch will be served in the Churchill Room of the House of Commons. Next, visit Harrow on the Hill, the public school Churchill attended from 1888 to 1892. Take a guided tour to include the speech room where Churchill addressed the boys during the Second World War. This evening, enjoy dinner at the National Liberal Club where you will be joined by TFAS Alumni.
The Royal Horseguards (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Tuesday, September 24 | Cambridge / Bletchley
Depart this morning for Cambridge, home of Churchill College. Churchill College is the official British memorial to Churchill and it houses the Churchill Archives Centre. Spend the morning exploring the Churchill Papers archives with an introduction and lecture with the Director. The archives hold everything from Churchill’s wartime speeches and letters to Stalin to a priceless collection of more than one million documents written by or belonging to the former British Prime Minister. Enjoy lunch at leisure amongst the charm and ambiance of historic Cambridge. Next, travel to Bletchley Park and discover the real story behind the Enigma code breakers, credited with shortening the war by successfully deciphering the encryption used by the Wehrmacht to safeguard its messages. Listen to an explanation of the decoder, as seen in The Imitation Game, and learn about Churchill’s morale-boosting visits to Bletchley to speak with the code breakers. Travel back to London for an evening at leisure.
The Royal Horseguards (Breakfast)
Wednesday, September 25 | Chartwell / Oxford
Depart this morning for Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s country house. Here, the rooms are decorated exactly as they were in his lifetime, with personal belongings reflecting his interests and career. Stroll the terraced garden and enjoy the lakes created by Churchill, the water garden where he fed the fish, and learn the story of the renowned brick wall that he built—amid much publicity! In the art studio, admire Churchill’s paintings that depict his favorite pastime. This afternoon, travel to Oxford and check in to the MacDonald Randolph Hotel—an Oxford institution. After getting settled, enjoy a lecture by an Oxford tutor on Churchill’s life accompanied by refreshments. Dinner is at leisure.
MacDonald Randolph Hotel (Breakfast, Reception)
Thursday, September 26 | Oxfordshire
Spend the day exploring Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. The family seat of the Churchills, it was designed for the first Duke of Marlborough by architect Sir John Vanbrugh in the early 18th-century and is considered one of England’s great treasure houses. Begin with coffee and pastries and a private welcome in one of the drawing rooms. See where Winston Churchill was born, and visit a newly reinvigorated permanent Churchill exhibition and a trail taking you to some of Churchill’s most cherished places on the estate. Before returning to Oxford, pay your respects at Churchill’s grave in nearby Bladon. Enjoy dinner as a group in a local restaurant.
MacDonald Randolph Hotel (Breakfast, Reception, Dinner)
Friday, September 27 | Oxford / Casablanca
Fly to the strategic WWII port city of Casablanca. This important city was selected for the famous Anfa Conference of 1943 where Allied Leaders, including Churchill, Roosevelt, and De Gaulle, met to hash out war strategy and immediate priorities. Transfer to the Sofitel Tour Blanche this afternoon. Gather for dinner at Rick’s. Made famous in the classic film Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Rick’s is a fictitious cafe brought to life by a former American diplomat 14 years ago.
Sofitel Tour Blanche Hotel (Breakfast, Dinner)
Saturday, September 28 | Casablanca / Marrakech
This morning, stroll through Casablanca’s Habous district and the Mechouar, the ceremonial meeting place outside the Royal Palace. Visit the Hassan II Mosque, the tallest religious structure in the world, and admire the interplay of modern architecture with traditional influences. View the residential neighborhood where the original Hotel D’Anfa once stood, site of the Casablanca Conferences. Afterward, drive to Rabat, Morocco’s capital city and the residence of its monarch, on the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy unspoiled views of palm-lined boulevards, colonial architecture, and tranquil streets. Visit the palace, Dar al-Makhzen; the Hassan Tower, started in the 12th century and intended to be the tallest minaret in the world; and other major sites of Rabat. Enjoy lunch at Villa Mandarine before continuing on to Marrakech. Churchill’s most memorable stay in Marrakech took place directly after the Casablanca Conferences when he convinced Roosevelt to join him in “simply the nicest place to spend an afternoon.” Settle into the elegant Palais Selman and enjoy dinner on your own, perhaps overlooking the pool or in one of its fine restaurants.
Selman Marrakech (Breakfast, Lunch)
Sunday, September 29 | Marrakech
When Churchill and Roosevelt were in Marrakech, the two world leaders stayed at a villa not far from the tranquil Majorelle Garden, a 12-acre botanical garden built over 40 years by the painter Jacques Majorelle; Yves Saint-Laurent saved it from becoming a hotel in the 1980s. Visit the gardens, surrounding neighborhood, and landscapes that inspired some of Churchill’s finest paintings. Afterwards, explore some of Marrakech’s important buildings and gardens during visits to the 14th-century former Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Bahia Palace and gardens, and the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest in the city. Soak up the colorful chaos of Djemaa El Fna, the city’s main square where snake charmers and magicians captivate and enthrall passersby. Lunch is at DarMoha, a Moroccan nouvelle cuisine restaurant located in a charming riad, the Moroccan-style building set around a courtyard. This evening enjoy a festive farewell dinner at stunning La Mamounia, Churchill’s favorite hotel in Morocco. While staying there, he was known to wander from balcony to balcony, following the sun in order to capture the vibrant colors of the sunset as realistically as possible. Several of his paintings of La Mamounia’s historic gardens are on display in England.
Selman Marrakech (Breakfast, Lunch, Reception, Dinner)
Monday, September 30 | Return Home
Transfers to Marrakech airport for individual flights home.
(Breakfast)
In the Footsteps of Churchill: From England to Morocco 