TUDOR ENGLAND TOUR
This short theme tour
introduces participants to perhaps one of Britain’s most iconic historical
periods - and in doing provides an interesting variant on the 'Homes and
Gardens' theme. Certainly, and thanks in part to Hollywood, the main characters
of the age have become known far outside their immediate 16th Century English
world. There cannot be many places around the globe where the exploits of Henry
VIII, William Shakespeare, 'Bloody' Mary, Francis Drake and the Virgin Queen
Elizabeth are unknown. Fortunately, the Tudor monarchs left behind them a
fabulous selection of palaces and castles. And there are many other lesser
homes standing to help us understand life
for the
common man, supplemented by the words of gifted poets and playwrights. This
tour, while featuring life and events during the Tudor period (1485 to 1603) is
a fascinating way for anyone to see the UK, whether it’s for the first time or
on a repeat visit (as we’re sure there’ll be places even a regular visitor will
not yet have seen). On this tour we have tried to encompass not only the great
and most commonly visited sites associated with the period, and with the recent
film 'The Golden Age', but in true Back-Roads Touring Co. style 'be a Brit
different' by includinging a range of lesser-know ones.
DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR YEAR 2008
|
Tour Code
|
Depart London |
Return London |
|
TUD |
Saturday
|
Tuesday |
|
TUD 01 |
24 May
|
27 May
|
|
TUD 02 |
26 Jul
|
29 Jul
|
|
TUD 03 |
11 Oct
|
14 Oct |
Prices: GBP £460 pp twin share / GBP £485 single room
/ Child (12 and under) GBP
£329
What your tour price
includes
-
Your
accommodation for 3 nights while on the tour is included in your tour price,
and this includes both full breakfasts and dinners;
-
Your price also
includes all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, services of
driver/guide-companion and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish
to give your guide;
-
Airport transfers
and accommodation pre and post tour is not included but can be reserved at a
specially discounted price.
SUMMARY - Tentative
Itinerary
NIGHTSTOP
DAY
ONE - SATURDAY
Departing
London at 08.00, we first drive to Burghley House in South Lincolnshire. This
sumptuous stately home was home for the great Cecil family, This largest and
grandest house of the first Elizabethan age was completed by William Cecil, Lord
Burghley in 1587. Today, eighteen state rooms are filled with wonderful
paintings, furniture and fine art. The kitchens are truly amazing! We'll next
take a brief stop at Kirby Hall, another of England’s greatest Elizabethan and
17th-century houses. Begun by Sir Humphrey Stafford in about 1570, it was
purchased six years later by Sir Christopher Hatton, one of Queen Elizabeth’s
‘comely young men’ and later her Lord Chancellor. Kirby Hall’s exceptionally
richly decorated Great Hall and state rooms remain intact. Sir Christopher
Hatton the Fourth added the great gardens (described as ‘ye finest garden in
England’) in the late 17th century. They are now partly restored and laid out in
an elaborate ‘cutwork’ design.
Finally, to the battlefield which marked the demise of the House of York and the
ascendancy of the Tudors; Bosworth. Here, in 1485, Henry Tudor slew Richard III
(his offer of a ‘my kingdom for a horse’ not being quite enough!). It’s an
interesting site and we’ll take a guided walk of the battlefield.
Our night
stop is close to the magnificent ruined castle of Kenilworth. Though the castle
has a history preceding the Tudor period, it has connections with John Dudley,
the Duke of Northumberland, who became virtual ruler of England at the time of
the rule of the pre-teen King, Edward. It was Dudley who tried to put Lady Jane
Grey on the throne, and who was beheaded to the Tower for his efforts by
‘Bloody’ Mary. Warwickshire in accommodation
dating from Tudor times!
DAY TWO - SUNDAY
Today,
we’ll change our focus and look at Tudor literature, medicine and how the common
folk lived. What finer place to use as our ‘classroom'! Then, Stratford upon
Avon and nearby Warwick.
Patently,
the great bard, Shakespeare, provides one major theme to the day, but we’ll also
learn about daily life during the late Tudor period as we take visits to some
of the houses associated with his life and family. Amongst many other
fascinating things, you’ll hear how we come to use the phrase ‘to let one’s hair
down’ as a synonym for having fun!
We’ll also
see Harvard House which was the home of Katherine Rogers, mother of John
Harvard, whose bequest made possible the foundation of Harvard University. Built
in 1596, it is a fine example of an Elizabethan town house and also the home of
the Museum of British Pewter.
Nearby, in
Warwick, we’ll visit the Lord Leycester Hospital. Robert Dudley (another one!),
Earl of Leicester, and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, converted the
picture-book buildings of the dissolved Warwick Guilds into a retreat for old
soldiers and it has continued to serve that purpose until the present day.
DAY THREE - MONDAY
We turn
south and drive to Oxford. Many of the colleges here were endowed during the
Tudor period by such as Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII. We will see
Christchurch, originally known as Cardinal College, and then King Henry VIII’s
college.
Next,
touring through the magnificent Cotswolds. This sheep farming region was an
important source of wealth throughout the Tudor period. We'll stop at Northleach,
a typical village of the area and see the chapel built to commemorate the
marriage of Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York. One other reason for coming here
is to visit Sudley Castle, a place with connections running through the Tudor
Dynasty and court circle. It was the home of three queens; houses the marble
tomb of Katherine Parr, the wife of Henry VIII who survived and a place where
scandal left its impression on the young mind of the future Queen Elizabeth I.
The Cotswolds
DAY FOUR - TUESDAY
We’ll start
the day seeing the imposing ruins of the first abbey to be dissolved by Henry
VIII. Then, to perhaps the jewel in the Tudor crown, Hampton Court Palace. We’ll
be taking time to explore in detail, having lunch here beside the Thames. The
gardens, kitchen and external architecture are all absolute gems.
Our final
visit of the day, and tour, will be to Hever Castle, in Kent. For many this is
the prettiest of all Tudor palaces and certainly redolent with its history.This
was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, mother of Elizabeth, and later given to
another of Henry’s wives, Anne of Cleeves as part of her divorce settlement.
Our tour ends in London where you’ll be dropped
at one of our main hotel drop off points.
TOUR
EXTENSION DAYS
The
following days are special days for those who might like to extend their time in
the UK and see more of our Tudor heritage. They would be offered to all
participants on the 4-day tour but may have to be booked as customised day tour
packages if there were insufficient takers from the main tour.
Tudor London and
Greenwich
The city is full of
Tudor History, from the Tower of London, to Ely and Winchester Palaces. Our day
would concentrate on exploring both the main city and the areas around
Greenwich.
Cost:
dependent on the number of participants.
Windsor and
Portsmouth
We’d begin our day at
Windsor Castle. Here, a highlight will be the tomb of Henry VIII in St George’s
Chapel.
The object
of our explorations would specifically be Tudor Maritime history with a visit to
Henry VIII’s ill-fated warship, the ‘Mary Rose’. We’d also see some of the
coastal Tudor fortifications.
Cost:
dependent on the number of participants.
