This is a private group (i.e. you & your friends), dates by arrangement. We are very happy to amend the suggested schedule to fit in visits to areas that you particularly want to see (perhaps because of family links).

Supplement for different hotel in Normandy:

We have selected small independent 3-star hotels for their comfort, cleanliness, central location, and welcoming staff; they offer a typical small French hotel experience which almost all of our clients really appreciate. However, these hotels have modest-sized rooms, and do not have lifts (elevators), or English-language channels on the TV. If you would like these features, then we can offer these with rooms in chain hotels - for £40 (around $80) per person extra (i.e. £20 per person per night x 2 nights in Bayeux)

Your Guide:
The Tour is escorted by Dr Andrew Thomson, Director of Dr Thomson's Tours, with a History Ph.D. from the University of Kent - his Ph.D. topic was the experiences of U.S. troops in France in 1944-45 (you can consult an abstract of the thesis on this site). He is a knowledgeable and expert guide, highly experienced in tours of this kind. See More About Us

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from Canterbury (by train from London) or Paris, for 2 to 5 people, travelling in an air-conditioned Citroën C8

Normandy from Canterbury:

Day Zero: (optional)
Travel by train from London to Canterbury, met by Dr Andrew Thomson, transfer to Guest House (1 night).
90-minute personally-guided Walking Tour of Historic Canterbury. Time free for Cathedral, museums, etc.

Day One:
Leave Canterbury, travelling in comfortable Citroën C8 or rental car - 7.40 a.m. British time (BST)

Personally-guided Normandy Battlefield Visits -
a sample 3-day itinerary

These are private tours for family / friends groups of up to 5 people, offered by Dr Thomson’s Tours – see Introduction and More About Us for details about us and how we operate our tours. Using a minivan, the sample tour outlined here is led by Dr Andrew Thomson, with a start in England –

Related links:

• World War II Tours
• Detailed Canadians in Normandy itinerary
• Group Tour: Normandy - 1066-1944
• Detailed Battle of the Bulge itinerary
• Photo Gallery: Normandy Beaches
• Photo Gallery: Battle of the Bulge
• Photo Gallery: Market Garden

either with a night before in historic Canterbury (90 minutes by train from London), or by getting the first train of the day down to Ashford International Station to meet Dr Thomson – or we can meet you at your hotel in Paris and start from there.

Above: crossing the Pont de Normandie, which we go over to cross the River Seine at Le Havre
Below: our favourite hotel in Bayeux, the Argouges

OR by train from London Charing Cross - 6.25
Arrive Ashford International Station; met by Dr Andrew Thomson - 7.55

Check-in by car at Channel Tunnel - 8.20
Depart on Eurotunnel train-transporter - 8.50 (35 minute journey)
Arrive Calais - 10.25 French time
Drive to Normandy: 3 hours 15 mins to Juno Beach + break of 45 mins
Juno & Gold beaches - 2.30 - 3.15
Visit Omaha Beach (Easy Red sector) - 3.45
Walk / drive up bluffs to visit American Cemetery overlooking the Beach - 4.15 - 5.00
Visit Pointe du Hoc, where the Rangers scaled the cliffs - 5.20-6.00
To Bayeux for Hotel - check-in to Hotel (2 nights) - 6.30

Day Two:
Leave Hotel - 9.00
Visit Utah Beach - 9.30-9.50
Visit Sainte Mere Eglise - pass Band of Brothers landing areas - 10.15-11.00

Possibilities from this point on - choices from:
Museums: Airborne Troops Museum (Sainte Mere Eglise), Utah
Beach Museum, Battle of Normandy Museum (Bayeux) Pegasus
Bridge Museum
Band of Brothers action around Carentan (drive through)
German Cemetery (with striking exhibition)
British Cemetery, Bayeux
German gun batteries at cliff at Longues
Bayeux Tapestry - & time in ships in Bayeux
360 degrees cinema at Arromanches (excellent 20 minute film)
Additionally any of the above could be done the next morning instead of the Memorial Museum, Caen

Day Three:
Leave Hotel - 9.00
Visit Pegasus Bridge (site not museum) - 9.30-10.00
Visit Mémorial Museum in Caen; Lunch - 10.15-1.15
Drive back to Calais 2 hours 45 minutes + 30 minute break - arrive around 4.30
Depart on EuroTunnel crossing - 5.20
Arrive England - 4.55 BST
Train back to London leaves Ashford International around 5.30, into London around 6.45 p.m.

Looking out of a bunker down onto the Fox Green section of Omaha Beach

Above left: the main street in Bayeux
Above right: the observation bunker for the German guns on the cliffs at Longues (used in the filming of 'The Longest Day')

Normandy from Paris:

Day One:
Meet at your Hotel; Depart Paris - 9.15
Drive to Normandy: 3 hours to Juno Beach + break of 45 mins
Juno & Gold beaches (& lunch) - aprox. 1.00-2.30
Visit Omaha Beach (Easy Red sector) - 3.00 - 3.30
Walk / drive up bluffs to visit American Cemetery overlooking the Beach - 3.45 - 4.30
Car along to Omaha Beach Dog Green Sector - 4.45 - 5.00
Visit Pointe du Hoc, where the Rangers scaled the cliffs - 5.15 - 6.00
To Bayeux for Hotel - check-in to Hotel (2 nights) - aprox. 6.00

Day Two:
Leave Hotel
Visit Utah Beach
Visit Sainte Mere Eglise - pass Band of Brothers landing areas
Possibilities from this point on - choices from:
Museums: Airborne Troops Museum (Sainte Mere Eglise), Utah
Beach Museum, Battle of Normandy Museum (Bayeux) Pegasus
Bridge Museum

Band of Brothers action around Carentan (drive through)
German Cemetery (with striking exhibition)
British Cemetery, Bayeux
German gun batteries at cliff at Longues
Bayeux Tapestry - & time in ships in Bayeux
360 degrees cinema at Arromanches (excellent 20 minute film)

Additionally any of the above could be done the next morning instead of the Memorial Museum, Caen

Day Three:
Leave Hotel - 9.00
Visit Pegasus Bridge (site not museum) - 9.30 - 10.00
Visit Mémorial Museum in Caen; Lunch - 10.15 - 1.30
Drive back to Paris 2 hours 30 minutes + 30 minute break ;
back in Paris 4.30

Pointe du Hoc

In the distance, remains of the Mulberry Harbour off the coast today