The Suffragettes
Deeds, not words
Tour Introduction
This 4-night and 5-day tour explores the militant Suffragette movement in Britain from its origins in a Manchester parlour room through to dramatic acts of civil disobedience in the nation’s capital and beyond.
From Manchester—the birthplace of the Women’s Social and Political Union and home of the Pankhurst Centre—to the iconic protest sites in London of Parliament Square, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, we explore the dramatic locations where the fight for women’s voting rights turned bold and militant.
Stand before Caxton Hall, once the gathering place for the famous “Women’s Parliaments,” and visit Epsom Racecourse, where Emily Davison’s tragic and heroic act marked her as the movement’s first martyr. This tour offers a compelling insight into the struggle, sacrifice and unstoppable determination that defined the Suffragette cause.
Caxton Hall
A special feature of this tour is an evening with Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of the Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, who will talk about the movement, her family and her own work in continuing the legacy.
Highlights
• An evening with Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of Emmeline, accompanied by dinner
• Visit the National Archives to view close up original Suffragette documents in the company of professional archivists
• Explore Manchester, cradle of the Suffragette movement, and The Pankhurst Centre where the WSPU was founded in the parlour of the Pankhurst home
• Stand at Parliament Square, site of numerous Suffragette demonstrations and protests, where the fight for women’s right to vote became highly militant
• Learn about the dramatic campaigns of disruption and violence that were part of the Suffragettes’ strategy at Downing Street, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace
• Visit Caxton Hall (outside only) site of the famous ‘Women’s Parliaments’
• Look over Epsom Racecourse to see where Emily Davison was knocked down by the King’s horse, becoming the movement’s first martyr
Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.
Expert Guide
Prof Sarah Richardson
Sarah Richardson, is a Professor of Modern British History at the University of Glasgow.
A political historian by training she has extensive expertise in the history of gender and political culture, particularly in the pre-history of the women's suffrage movement.
With Dr Tara Morton she established the Mapping Women's Suffrage Project and is a contributor to the 2024 publication, The Routledge Companion to Women's Suffrage.
is active in the public dissemination of her research, contributing to the television programmes Who Do You Think You Are?, Secrets of the London Underground and Secrets of the Royal Palaces, and hosting her own Radio 4 Documentary, Votes for Victorian Women.
Background
The Suffragettes were an active women’s rights movement that emerged from the broader women’s suffrage movement which had gained traction in Britain by the end of the nineteenth century. Frustrated with the slow progress of the movement in 1903 Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) with a view to developing a more militant direction. While earlier suffragists had used peaceful lobbying, the WSPU adopted the motto ‘Deeds, not words,’ embracing direct action to draw national attention to their cause.
Suffragettes organised marches, disrupted political meetings, chained themselves to railings, and staged acts of civil disobedience. Some escalated to property damage and arson attacks on empty buildings in protest at government inaction. Their arrests often led to hunger strikes in prison and, in response, authorities force fed many imprisoned women, prompting public outrage and increasing sympathy for the movement.
During the First World War, the WSPU suspended militant action and supported the war effort, which helped shift public perception. In 1918, after decades of activism, Parliament granted voting rights to women over 30 who met certain property requirements. Full electoral equality came a decade later, in 1928, when women gained the vote on the same terms as men—fulfilling the Suffragettes’ long fought goal.
What's Included
- 4 Star Hotels
- Dedicated Tour Manager
- Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
- Helpful and friendly travel advice
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner
- Buffet breakfast each morning
