Signature: The Legacy of WWII in London & Normandy

Welcome to London–arrive at Heathrow Airport and transfer to your hotel. In the evening, meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and be immediately immersed in wartime history at the Churchill War Rooms, a fortified bunker deep underneath Whitehall from which Winston Churchill directed the British war effort. Wander through the historic rooms and the adjacent Churchill Museum, examining maps and items from Churchill's life. Your tour is guided by a former IWM Operations Director, providing deep context to the war. Continue with a welcome reception and dinner inside one of the museum's unique spaces.

Set out on a powerful walking tour curated and led by people affected by homelessness. This experience provides intimate, human insight into the resilience and challenges of London life. Next, board your coach for a panoramic tour of London’s WWII highlights, viewing Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Visit inside St Paul’s Cathedral, a symbol of London’s defiance during the Blitz. After free time for lunch near Borough Market, explore the decks of the HMS Belfast, a crucial survivor of the Imperial War Museum fleet, gaining firsthand insight into naval warfare. Enjoy a free evening to explore London on your own.

Depart London for the countryside to immerse yourself in a world of intrigue and espionage at Bletchley Park. You'll discover the untold story behind the Enigma code breakers, who successfully deciphered the encryption used by German forces — a crucial insight into the pivot of the war. Lunch is at your leisure at the Canteen. Afterwards, travel to Portsmouth to visit the D-Day Story Museum. Your experience includes a private discussion with the museum curator, gaining unparalleled, personal insight into the invasion history and artifacts before touring the exhibits. The day concludes with an expert lecture on the transition from resistance to attack.

Today, you cross the English Channel by ferry to Caen, tracing the route of the invasion forces. Your exploration of Normandy begins at the Pegasus Memorial Bridge, dedicated to the 6th British Airborne Division, who executed the famous coup de main raid. Walk the poignant sands of Sword Beach, one of the five critical landing points for the Allied invasion, reflecting on the scale of the operation and the thousands of soldiers who arrived here. You'll then transfer to your hotel in Bayeux, a town steeped in history.

Continue your exploration of Normandy and WWII history with the airborne assault. You'll visit the village of Sainte-Mère-Église, where paratroopers dropped amid gunfire on the night of June 5th. See the church steeple where one paratrooper was famously entangled. Continue to Utah Beach, one of the American landing sites, and visit its museum. Your tour traces the path of resilience: Visit Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, one of the first liberated villages, and see the memorial for Easy Company. Head to La Fière Bridge, site of an important battle led by the 82nd Airborne Division. Afterwards, venture into the field where Easy Company Commander Thomas Meehan and his crew perished when their 47 crashed under enemy fire — a powerful connection to the history recounted in Band of Brothers .

The day begins with an expert discussion on the stories of sacrifice from the beaches to the hedgerows before boarding US Army trucks for the drive to the German artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer. Then, visit the dramatic Pointe du Hoc, where US Rangers used hooks and ropes to scale 30-metre-high (100ft) cliffs — walk along pathways still cratered by mortar blasts, viewing the concrete bunkers. Wander the poignant sands of Omaha Beach, site of the bloodiest fighting during the invasion. A guide uses wartime pictures to bring the operation to life. You'll pause for a minute of reflection on the sand. Conclude your tour at the serene American Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, taking in the moving sight of row upon row of small white grave markers.

Join your expert for a discussion about Paris and its transition from a toehold to liberation before departing Normandy for Giverny. Visit the sanctuary of artist Claude Monet, restored in the late 1970s, where the pink rendered house and the flower and water gardens are perfectly preserved, immersing visitors in the artist and gardener’s world. Afterwards, continue to Paris. Join your National Geographic Expedition Leader for an optional discovery walk, providing an initial orientation of the French capital before enjoying the rest of the day at leisure.

This morning, you will discover another side of Paris. Depart on a guided journey into a ‘city within a city’, exploring historic, glass-roofed passageways filled with 19th-century charm. A local guide highlights this captivating, intimate glimpse into Parisian life. Next, travel to the upscale Marché du Président Wilson, a bustling Saturday market known for fresh seafood, pastries, and cheese. Enjoy a walking exploration of the market, followed by free time for lunch on your own near the Eiffel Tower area. The expedition concludes with a special farewell dinner in town, celebrating the end of your journey from resistance to liberation.

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