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About the tour: The Lancaster Bomber Experience
The Lancaster Bomber is an iconic aircraft of WW2, used on many bombing raids in Germany. Join us on a fascinating tour where we follow the Lancaster story from training to bombing the Dams in Germany. From Sheffield, visiting Derwent Dam, before moving on to the Lincoln area where we visit the International Bomber Command Memorial. Whilst in Lincolnshire we take a runway taxy ride in a real WW2 Lancaster, Just Jane, this unique experience offers the only chance in Europe to be inside a Lancaster Bomber with all four Merlin engines running!
Tour Includes
- 2 nights hotel with English breakfast
- 3 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- Specialist Battlefield Guide
- Battlefield visits as described
- FREE parking at the Leger offices in Rotherham and return drop off service
7 days from £1349 pp
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your tour either online, or by telephone ( 01709 787 463 ), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can:
- Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
- Send payments via online banking.
- Send payments via cheque.
- Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Tour Itinerary
Certain excursions are included in the price of your holiday. If you choose not to go on an included excursion, for whatever reason, no refunds will be made.
Yes, you will receive one with your Travel Documents, which are sent 7-10 days before departure.
We believe that our holidays may not be suitable for children under 8 years old (except for Disneyland Paris bookings) however, we will
consider individual requests on application. Customers aged 18 and under at the time of travel must be accompanied by an adult, parent or
guardian aged over 18 years old.
You can check weather averages here.
Day 1
This tour begins at our hotel in Rotherham where you will be staying for the night. Free car parking is available at the Leger offices in Rotherham together with a free transfer service to your hotel.
Day 2 - Derwent Dam & the International Bomber Command Memorial
Today, we visit the Derwent Dams where 617 Squadron RAF practised attacking the dam towers, which resembled their target in Germany.
We then travel across to the Lincoln area and visit the new International Bomber Command Memorial. This commemorates the thousands of men who died serving in Bomber Command and we take time to see this and see the Visitor’s Centre.
We stay overnight in the Retford area.
- Included meals: Breakfast
Derwent Dam
Included Highlights
- Derwent Dam
- International Bomber Command Memorial, Lincoln
Day 3 - Lancaster Bomber Taxy Ride
Today we visit the Lincolnshire Aviation Centre to see the museum and displays, and in groups of ten people take runway taxy rides in an original WW2 Lancaster Bomber, 'Just Jane'.
Restored to almost flying condition, the aircraft will power up and taxy along the runway: a totally unique experience!
Later we depart for Hull and an overnight crossing to Holland.
Terms and conditions apply, click here for more information
- Included meals: Breakfast
Lancaster Bomber Taxy Ride
More Photos
Included Highlights
- Lancaster Bomber Taxy Ride
- Lancaster Bomber Experience
- Lancaster Bomber Experience
- Lancaster Bomber Experience
Day 4 - Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery
After arrival in Rotterdam we visit the grave of Guy Gibson VC, who commanded 617 Squadron, and died in a Mosquito crash in 1944.
We then visit Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery to see the RAF Bomber Command crews, including Dambusters crewmembers.
We then travel to the Dortmund area for a two-night stay.
Bergen op Zoom
Included Highlights
- Bergen op Zoom
- Guy Gibson Grave
Day 5 - Mohne and Eder Dams
Today we have a full day visiting the Möhne and Eder Dams, attacked in Operation Chastise in May 1943 by 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron.
We discover the story of the raid and look at the dams which were attacked, seeing the local museum.
- Included meals: Breakfast
Eder Dam
Included Highlights
- Möhne Dam
- Eder Dam
Day 6 - Rheinberg War Cemetery
On our final day we visit the graves of men who died in Operation Chastise at Rheinberg War Cemetery and then visit Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, the largest British WW2 Cemetery in Europe, where half of the burials are RAF crews, many from Bomber Command.
We then travel for an overnight stay in Belgium or Holland.
- Included meals: Breakfast
Rheinberg War Cemetery
Included Highlights
- Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
- Rheinberg War Cemetery
Day 7
We return to the UK today. You can choose to be dropped off at one of our regional joining points or at the Leger offices in Rotherham to collect your parked car.
- Included meals: Breakfast
IMPORTANT - Information regarding the Lancaster Bomber Experience
Lancaster Taxy ride Terms and conditions
Taxy riders must be able to board the Lancaster without any assistance and be able to exit the aircraft quickly, should there be an emergency, without any assistance.
Access to the Lancaster is by five steps with a hand rail. Riders have to be able to climb over the main spar, which is 30 inches high and 14 inches deep. There is a step up to this of 12 inches. The head space to climb over the spar in is 30 inches high and 32 inches wide. This area is an arc and the measurements are to the widest and highest points.
Without being able to cross the main spar, the rider would not be able to access the W/OP, Navigator, cockpit or nose areas of the aircraft. One of our 2 emergency exits is in the front of the aircraft and so it is important that the riders can cross the main spar in case the other exit cannot be used. The emergency escape route from the front and rear of the aircraft is by ladder and so riders must be able to use a ladder without assistance.
Anyone undertaking the Lancaster taxy ride experience must be able to hear and follow verbal and visual instructions in noisy surroundings. This experience may not be suitable for anyone who has disabilities affecting mobility, concentration, dexterity and co-ordination.
If we deem the rider unable to move around the aircraft with enough ease and sufficient speed to such an extent that they may put themselves and others at risk during an emergency, then sadly, it would not be possible for them to take part in the taxy ride. If this decision is made by the Centre upon the customers’ arrival, then no refund will be given.
Lancaster Bomber
Included Highlights
- Lancaster Bomber Experience - Please read terms and conditions to the left.
Travel Insurance from £35.00 (7 days) (includes insurance premium tax, prices per person). Single Room Supplement from £209.00 (7 days).
The Lancaster Bomber Experience 7 days from £1349pp
Book online OR call our friendly travel advisers on:
01709 787 463
Accommodation
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
All hotel rooms benefit from private bathroom facilities.
Some hotels have tea and coffee making facilities. Please check the tour pages for more
information or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.
Most hotels have a lift, please call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 for more information.
Some hotels have ground floor rooms. Please email for information on individual hotels or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.
Your hotels will supply towels in your room.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
You will stay for one night at the 3-star Holiday Inn Express Rotherham North and one night at the 3-star Best Western Retford.
You will then spend two nights at the 4-star NH Dortmund Hotel.
Overnight crossing from Hull to Rotterdam on board ship with P&O Ferries.
Overnight stay in Belgium/ Holland will be in a city-style hotel.
Please Note: Due to demand, we may use other hotels of a similar standard. Your exact hotel details will be provided with your travel documents.
Holiday Inn Express Rotherham North
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- WiFi Available
- Fully Health and Safety Compliant
- TV
- Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
- Hairdryer
- Bath and/or Shower
- Telephone
- Smoke Detectors in Every Room
Travel Options
Departure times given for each region are approximate. Please check your travel documents to confirm the actual timings.
Front row seats can be reserved for £15pp (up to 6 days duration), £25pp (7 and 8 days duration), £30pp (9 to 11 days) or £35pp (12 days or more) on all European tours. This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on our Executive and Silver Service coaches and for one or two persons on our Luxuria coaches and is subject to availability. In addition to this, seats on the second row can be reserved for a supplement of £8pp (up to 6 days duration), £15pp (7 and 8 days duration), £18pp (9 to 11 days) or £22pp (12 days or more).
Guaranteed front or second row seats cannot be reserved on transfer journeys to/from the UK port. Occasionally, front and second row seats may be on a request only basis.
Please note: children under 15 years of age are not permitted to sit in the front seats of any coach.
On some coaches the legroom on front seats, central view seats and seats directly in front of the washroom may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.
If your tour is cancelled or merged for any reason and front or second row seats or central view seats or table seats are not available on your tour, you will be refunded any supplement paid. No other compensation will be payable.
Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
Central View Seats are available to pre-book free of charge.
Table Seats are available to pre-book free of charge on our Luxuria coaches.
We guarantee that all passengers on the same booking will be seated together on the main tour coach.
Seats on the transfer coaches to and from the interchange are not allocated.
Hot and cold drinks are served on your main tour coach. Prices are approximately £1 or €1.25 Euro per drink. Prices will be confirmed by your driver.
Transfer coaches are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure. The route taken depends on where paassengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.
With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.
All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer vehicles to and from the interchange may not have on-board toilets. When non-British coaches are
used on transfers and tours (air holidays only) an on-board toilet may not be available. However, comfort stops will be made during long journeys.
All coaches feature air-conditioning. Should the air-conditioning system break down for a period exceeding 12 hours,
compensation will be awarded up to a maximum of £10 per fare-paying passenger per tour.
All our coaches and transfer vehicles operate a 'no smoking on board policy'. The use of electronic cigarettes is strictly forbidden.
In the interest of fellow guests, do not take hot food or ice cream on board.
Customers own alcohol cannot be consumed on board our vehicles.
Depending on the location of your pickup point, you may be picked up by coach (not necessarily the on you are touring on), minibus, taxi, National Express or Megabus service. You may then be taken to another centralised pickup location or service station. We operate a passenger interchange at Stop 24 Services, where you will meet the tour coach you are holidaying on and then continue on with your outbound journey. Similarly, on the way home, you may also change transfer vehicles at another location, to take you to your final drop off point.
Your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which
should weigh no more than 20kg when full. We
may refuse to carry larger or heavier cases.
Hand luggage should be stored in the overhead
racks aboard the coach. Nothing should be stored under your seat.
When it comes to getting you to your destination, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you to choose from.
Luxuria Features
- Deluxe armchair-style seats with leather exterior, central arm rests with cup holders and retractable calf rests give you a more comfortable journey.
- Every seat has its own, fully interactive, touch screen T.V. offering a wide choice of entertainment so you can control what you want to watch and when.
- There’s also a selection of double and single seats, including four seats face-to-face with tables. And with a total of 5 single seats available, these are ideal for passengers travelling independently.
- Plug sockets and USB points at each seat mean you can keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey.
- Onboard toilet.
Luxuria Seating Plan
Luxuria Virtual Tour
Find your nearest joining point
We have hundreds of coach joining points throughout England, Scotland and Wales. To find your nearest joining point, search using your postcode below.
*Please note joining points are subject to availability.
Travel Extras
On Single Traveller holidays and coach holidays of 7 days’ duration or more, you don’t even have to think about getting to your local joining point. If you live within 20 miles of one of our free joining points we’ll pick you up from your home and take you to meet your transfer vehicle, then return you back home at the end of your holiday. The cost is from £40 per booking each way for up to four people per booking.
If you live a little further afield, you can also take advantage of this convenient option for an additional charge – please enquire at the time of booking.
Customer Reviews
To book this tour, just give our friendly team a call on 01709 787 463 or book online at www.leger.co.uk
