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Online Program

Adventures Online: A Look at WWII in London & Normandy

Program No. 24305RJ
Join historians for a deeper dive into the events leading up until D-Day and the invasion of Normandy during this online learning adventure, live from London and Paris.

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DATES & PRICES

Online Program
Learn from the comfort of your own home.
Full Inventory
May 12 - May 14, 2025
Online Program 349
Full Inventory
Nov 12 - Nov 14, 2025
Online Program 349

DATES & PRICES

Online Program
Learn from the comfort of your own home.
Full Inventory
May 12 - May 14, 2025
Online Program 349
Full Inventory
Nov 12 - Nov 14, 2025
Online Program 349

At a Glance

On June 6, 1944, the events of D-Day changed the course of World War II. With historians, delve into the events prior to the Battle of Normandy during this online learning adventure, live from London and Paris! Take an online walk along the streets of Westminster with historian Ruth Polling to learn about the impact of WWII on the city as you stop at notable landmarks like Buckingham Palace, the Churchill War Rooms and Parliament Square. Attend lectures by Dr. Spencer Jones on the history of WWII and get insight into the Allied strategies for D-Day and how the German forces planned to resist. Examine the geography of the Normandy Beaches during an online field trip with Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer as he offers a look into the challenges and successes of Operation Overlord. Get to know your fellow Road Scholars along the way as you share your interest in the events of WWII and join your experts for an afternoon Q&A session that allows you to further study the history of D-Day.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Join historian Ruth Polling for an online field trip through the streets of Westminster to learn about the impact of WWII on the city of London.
  • Get a firsthand look at the geography of the Normandy beaches and countryside during an online field trip with expert Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer that offers insight into the events and strategies behind D-Day.
  • Attend online lectures by Dr. Spencer Jones on the Allied plans for D-Day and how the Germans planned to resist.

General Notes

You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. In keeping with our Traditional On-Site programs, ALL ADVENTURES ONLINE MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (INCLUDING THIS PROGRAM) ARE PRESENTED LIVE; THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT RECORDED. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Spencer Jones
Dr. Spencer Jones is an award-winning historian with a special interest in the First and Second World Wars and the life of Sir Winston Churchill. He is a senior lecturer in armed forces and war studies at the University of Wolverhampton, and serves in the British Army as the regimental historian of the Royal Artillery. His most recent publication is 'The Armchair General World War One: Can You Win the Great War?'

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones View biography
Dr. Spencer Jones is an award-winning historian with a special interest in the First and Second World Wars and the life of Sir Winston Churchill. He is a senior lecturer in armed forces and war studies at the University of Wolverhampton, and serves in the British Army as the regimental historian of the Royal Artillery. His most recent publication is 'The Armchair General World War One: Can You Win the Great War?'
Profile Image of Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer
Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer View biography
Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer studied French and Spanish literature before going on to get a master’s in European culture at the University of Cambridge. He has traveled extensively and has many years of experience leading educational adventures in France, Spain and Italy. He has recently completed a PhD in 19th-century Spanish literature. In addition to his principal research, he regularly writes for a number of publications on urban history and architecture.
Profile Image of Ruth Polling
Ruth Polling View biography
Ruth Polling graduated at the top of her class as the London Blue Badge Travel Educator of the Year and has been sharing her knowledge of London with curious travelers for over 10 years. London born and bred, she is energetic and passionate about her city and country and sharing their stories. Ruth graduated from the London School of Economics and previously worked in politics for 11 years, both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Program No.
24305
Duration
3 days
At a Glance
On June 6, 1944, the events of D-Day changed the course of World War II. With historians, delve into the events prior to the Battle of Normandy during this online learning adventure, live from London and Paris! Take an online walk along the streets of Westminster with historian Ruth Polling to learn about the impact of WWII on the city as you stop at notable landmarks like Buckingham Palace, the Churchill War Rooms and Parliament Square. Attend lectures by Dr. Spencer Jones on the history of WWII and get insight into the Allied strategies for D-Day and how the German forces planned to resist. Examine the geography of the Normandy Beaches during an online field trip with Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer as he offers a look into the challenges and successes of Operation Overlord. Get to know your fellow Road Scholars along the way as you share your interest in the events of WWII and join your experts for an afternoon Q&A session that allows you to further study the history of D-Day.)
Best of all, you'll...
  • Join historian Ruth Polling for an online field trip through the streets of Westminster to learn about the impact of WWII on the city of London.
  • Get a firsthand look at the geography of the Normandy beaches and countryside during an online field trip with expert Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer that offers insight into the events and strategies behind D-Day.
  • Attend online lectures by Dr. Spencer Jones on the Allied plans for D-Day and how the Germans planned to resist.
General Notes
You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. In keeping with our Traditional On-Site programs, ALL ADVENTURES ONLINE MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (INCLUDING THIS PROGRAM) ARE PRESENTED LIVE; THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT RECORDED. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
Featured Expert
Profile Image
Spencer Jones
Dr. Spencer Jones is an award-winning historian with a special interest in the First and Second World Wars and the life of Sir Winston Churchill. He is a senior lecturer in armed forces and war studies at the University of Wolverhampton, and serves in the British Army as the regimental historian of the Royal Artillery. His most recent publication is 'The Armchair General World War One: Can You Win the Great War?'
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Profile Image of Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer
Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer
Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer studied French and Spanish literature before going on to get a master’s in European culture at the University of Cambridge. He has traveled extensively and has many years of experience leading educational adventures in France, Spain and Italy. He has recently completed a PhD in 19th-century Spanish literature. In addition to his principal research, he regularly writes for a number of publications on urban history and architecture.
Profile Image of Ruth Polling
Ruth Polling
Ruth Polling graduated at the top of her class as the London Blue Badge Travel Educator of the Year and has been sharing her knowledge of London with curious travelers for over 10 years. London born and bred, she is energetic and passionate about her city and country and sharing their stories. Ruth graduated from the London School of Economics and previously worked in politics for 11 years, both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List: 16 Books
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call 800-454-5768
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Activity Note
Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:50 p.m.
Afternoon:
1:00 p.m. Welcome and Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and review the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, Zoom meeting protocols, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions. 1:15 p.m. Lecture. Dr. Spencer Jones will give us a presentation on Allied Planning for D-Day. From the summer of 1940 onwards, Allied planners pondered how they might one day liberate Europe from the Nazis. Numerous options were considered and rejected, exposing a rift between American aggression and British caution. We will learn about this difficult planning process and examine why the Allies eventually agreed on the Normandy landings. The lecture will be followed by Q&A. 2:45 p.m. Break. 3:00 p.m. Introductions. We’ll say hello to one another during group introductions facilitated by our Group Leader. 3:15 p.m. Virtual field trip. Historian Ruth Polling will lead us virtually through the streets of Westminster to explore the impact of the war on the city by the time of the D-Day landings and the new bombing campaign unleashed against London in 1944. In Britain’s center of monarchy and political power, we will learn about the role of the royal family, where key decisions were made, and the experiences ordinary Londoners had lived through since the outbreak of war. Among the highlights we will see are Buckingham Palace; Guards’ Chapel; Queen Anne’s Gate; Churchill War Rooms; Horse Guards Parade; the Women at War Memorial; Parliament Square; the Palace of Westminster; and Westminster Abbey. We’ll also have Q&A. 4:45 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 4:50 p.m. Today’s session will end.
Activity Note
Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:30 p.m.
Afternoon:
1:00 p.m. Lecture. Dr. Spencer Jones will address German planning to resist D-Day. From 1942 onwards, the Germans had considered how to defend occupied Europe from an Allied seaborne invasion. This resulted in the construction of Hitler’s vaunted “Atlantic Wall” that ringed the coast of France, and the deployment of mobile forces to resist any landings. Yet German preparations were hampered by infighting and Hitler’s frequent interference. Dr. Jones will examine the strengths and weaknesses of German defenses on the eve of D-Day. The lecture will be followed by Q&A. 2:30 p.m. Break. 2:45 p.m. Virtual field trip. Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer will lead our experience of D-Day and the Normandy Beaches. The D-Day landings were the greatest seaborne invasion in history, in a location that was the “least worst” option, but far from ideal. We will look at the geography of the Normandy beaches and surrounding countryside, examine strategic sites such as Pegasus Bridge, and discuss the logistics of the operation in greater detail. We’ll also explore the consequences of D-Day for the landscape and “visit” some of the monuments to that heroic day. We’ll also have Q&A. 4:15 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 4:30 p.m. Today’s session will end.
Activity Note
Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:30 p.m.
Afternoon:
1:00 p.m. Virtual field trip. Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer will lead our experience of the Battle for Normandy and the liberation of Paris. D-Day itself was merely the beginning of a much larger and decisive operation. Three months after the landings, Allied forces marched into Paris and liberated the city from German control. We will learn about these events and the path to Paris. We’ll also examine the divisive yet heroic figure of Charles de Gaulle and see some key sites in Paris that still bear the memory of August 1944. With Q&A. 2:30 p.m. Break. 2:45 p.m. Interactive discussion on wartime Britain and the Normandy landings with Spencer Jones, Ruth Polling, and Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer. Our discussion will end with Q&A. 4:15 p.m. Wrap-up and farewells. 4:30 p.m. This concludes our program.
Participant Reviews
4.96
Based on 30 Reviews
Sort By:
Kathleen – Class of 2007 | Stevens Point, WI
The information that was shared about the Normandy invasion went above and beyond what I already knew. I had no idea there were so many failures on the allies' part... and on the Germans'. Also I had never heard of the Ghost Army, which helped deceive the Germans and made the landing at Normandy a bit easier. This class would be a wonderful addition to knowledge about WWII.
— Review left May 31, 2024
Diane – Class of 2021 | Parkville, MD
The presenters and host on this online trip were very knowledgeable and did well delivering the information. I had never studied this period in history before so everything that I knew came from movies and TV shows. I do feel like I have more information about WWII now. The information about D Day was thorough. I was hoping that we would get a peek into Churchill's war rooms. The London walk to see where bombs had fallen and who they affected was very good. However, I had wanted to see where Churchill had worked during the war and what was in those war rooms. I wanted to know who else was there with him and what they did. I guess there wasn't time to include the actual rooms. Ruth did tell us that they were just basement rooms and not a bunker. She and the others did an excellent job teaching about what happened during the war years.
— Review left May 25, 2024
This participant did not give a star rating.
Kimberly – Class of 2024 | San Antonio, TX
This was an extremely worthwhile educational Online Adventure. The speakers were superb. My husband and I signed up for this because we're visiting both London and Normandy later this year and thought this would be an excellent introduction and overview. This exceeded our expectations. The Zoom format was easy.
— Review left May 23, 2024
This participant did not give a star rating.
Timothy – Class of 1997 | Meredith, NH
GREAT program - over-priced for 2 on the same computer.
— Review left May 23, 2024
Janet – Class of 2022 | Venice, FL
The instructors were so knowledgeable, it was as if they had lived during WWII.
— Review left November 30, 2023
Louis | Sturbridge, MA
80 years since DDay in Normandy. Ever wonder how it happened? This program is a superb, live, scholarly historical discussion with graphs and photos from both English and French backgrounds. You will be invited to ask questions and interact with speakers and participants. D Day is the fulcrum of the 6 year battle against Hitler.
— Review left November 30, 2023
Lillian | Harrisburg, PA
This was an interesting look into the history of D-Day and the liberation of Paris. The instructors were all very knowledgeable and professional.
— Review left November 30, 2023
Joseph – Class of 2016 | Atkinson, NH
Excellent. Highly recommended.
— Review left November 29, 2023
This participant did not give a star rating.
Paul | Bloomington, MN
Extremely knowledgeable presenters. Thoughtful answers to questions from the group. Can’t wait to do this again! Paul, Minneapolis
— Review left May 10, 2023
Martin – Class of 2004 | Yonkers, NY
Would recommend this program to anyone with an interest in history of these regions and that time period.
— Review left May 4, 2023
Kate – Class of 2004 | Yonkers, NY
Three excellent presenters. Personal and family memories of World War II from other program participants were particularly poignant.
— Review left May 4, 2023
Keith – Class of 2015 | Richmond, Canada
OK
— Review left June 11, 2022
William – Class of 2022 | Harpers Ferry, WV
Informative program by skilled historians.
— Review left June 9, 2022
Betty – Class of 2015 | Austin, TX
Whether you have visited Normandy or haven't had the opportunity yet, this program gives you a rich historical background that will mean so much when you do visit. Thank you Road Scholar for these excellent online opportunities to learn more.
— Review left June 8, 2022
Elizabeth – Class of 2021 | Blacksburg, VA
Virtual class about the Normandy invasion offered the big view of what was going on many fronts all over France and what generals were doing what. Even if you plan to travel there, this would give you a leg up and trying to understand what was going on where.
— Review left August 28, 2021
Bill | Downey, CA
It is an excellent program to learn about activities surrounding several days immediately before and after D-Day. Very well presented by all three instructors. July 2021
— Review left July 16, 2021
Mary – Class of 2007 | Beaumont, CA
This program is a great preview for a regular trip to the beaches of Normandy. With the information given by the three instructors, you would be well prepared to truly understand what D-Day was all about.
— Review left July 16, 2021
Rhoda – Class of 2013 | Tampa, FL
This program was so very interesting. I felt so much more connected to these events, rather than just viewing them as long-ago history. Presenters were wonderful.
— Review left July 15, 2021
natalie – Class of 2021 | Roseville, CA
Excellent and engaging!
— Review left July 15, 2021
Richard – Class of 2022 | Lexington, VA
I was shattered by the depth and illustrations presented. Remembered seeing a few of the pictures seventy years ago, but this brought them to greater life than the Newsreels had at the time. Recommend the preparation, presentation, and care that obviously went into this Road Scholar 'Trip'. One of the best I've taken.
— Review left July 15, 2021
Laurel – Class of 2005 | Clovis, CA
I have a very limited knowledge of WWII. This program clearly presented D-Day and Normandy. The presenters were highly knowledgeable, enthusiastic and great at answering questions. An A+ program
— Review left July 15, 2021
Mark | Ocean View, DE
The program followed the planning and execution of D Day in great detail and just standing in a sense on the beach and just inland was ere.
— Review left June 15, 2021
Larry – Class of 2012 | Vestavia, AL
The interactive online program on World War II and Normandy presented an amazing amount of historical information in an interesting, balanced manner that allowed participants to become acquainted with the principal military and civilian perspectives of both sides in the conflict.
— Review left June 6, 2021
Diane – Class of 2010 | Ellicott City, MD
Fascinating program with excellent presenters. Highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in WWII.
— Review left June 6, 2021
Janet – Class of 2007 | Newburgh, IN
Excellent program! If you are interested in WW II, particularly D-Day, this is the program to attend. The instructors are experts in their fields and present their material effectively. There is ample time to ask questions of the instructors and share thoughts with fellow participants. I recommend signing up for any program that Dr. Spencer Jones gives.
— Review left June 4, 2021
Lisa – Class of 2019 | Ashland, OR
Excellent, in-depth program of lectures, "on-site" visits and Q&A opportunities.
— Review left June 3, 2021
Joanne – Class of 2021 | Nanaimo, Canada
A great opportunity for anyone with an interest in history to learn in depth about D-Day. The time flew by!
— Review left June 3, 2021
Dorris – Class of 1998 | Fort Collins, CO
A great class with great instructors and host. Highly recommend.
— Review left June 3, 2021
Martha – Class of 2021 | Cary, NC
The program World War II and Normandy is an amazingly thorough look at the years of WW II leading up to the breathtaking invasion at Normandy, and the subsequent fighting that eventually ended with victory for the Allied nations in the European theatre. My husband and I strongly recommend watching the three days to learn the details of the planning and politics that took place among our great generals and their soldiers, sailors and airmen, and a clear look at the enemy’s positions in planning and strategy.
— Review left June 3, 2021
Kathleen – Class of 2012 | Nipomo, CA
This was an amazing trip for me. While I've learned about WWII all my life, I've never put all the pieces together and this program did it for me!
— Review left June 3, 2021





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