On the Pilgrim Trail Across England, 400 Years After the Mayflower

In two years time the 400^th anniversary of the Pilgrims landing in New England will be celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ahead of this anniversary, I jetsetted to the Old World — in considerably less time and much, much more comfort than the Pilgrims could have ever imagined — to discover the places they left in pursuit of a new life in present-day America.

My first stop was Harwich (population 17,684) in Essex, a county to the east and north of London on the North Sea coast.

The town was the home of Christopher Jones, who captained the Mayflower on its voyage across the Atlantic. It’s also widely believed to be where the ship was built, though definitive proof is elusive.

While much has changed in the ensuing centuries Harwich pleasantly surprised me.

Not only is the footprint of the historic old town basically the same as it was during the time of the Pilgrims in the early 17th century — many of the old wooden buildings remain, albeit behind a brick Georgian-era façade — but Harwich remains a bustling center of maritime activity with cruise ships, ferries to the Netherlands and container ships. Jones and the Pilgrims with ties to Essex and neighboring Suffolk would certainly recognize the town today.

Despite being an easy drive from London it isn’t a stop on the tourist trail for many Americans, at least outside of…