TUDOR ENGLAND

Day 1 | Sunday 10 May
Arrive London
Our tour begins this afternoon in the lobby of our hotel, where after meeting our tour leader, we walk to the nearby National Portrait Gallery. Here we will have a chance to gaze upon the exquisite portraits of Tudor individuals we will come to know so well throughout our tour, from the famous portraits of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Katharine Parr to Thomas Cromwell and, of course, Henry VIII himself. We then return to the hotel for welcome drinks and light nibbles. Overnight London (Light Dinner)

Day 2 | Monday 11 May
Hampton Court & Hever Castle
We board our coach this morning, bound for our first destination: Hampton Court. Recognised as one of the most eminent of Henry VIII’s palaces in England, Hampton Court played a significant role in the lives of all six of Henry VIII’s wives, serving as a backdrop for both joyful and tragic events. It functioned as a royal estate where they resided, celebrated, and encountered pivotal moments, from marriage and childbirth to imprisonment and death. Here, we will enjoy a guided tour of the Tudor kitchens and State Apartments. There will also be time to explore the more modern Georgian apartments, which still provide glimpses of their Tudor foundations. After free time for lunch, we depart for Hever in Kent, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and our base for the next two nights. We check into the luxurious Astor Wing adjacent to the castle, and there will be time to freshen up and enjoy the grounds of Hever before we embark on our special after-hours tour of the castle. Our tour concludes with welcome drinks and a private dinner in the Great Hall – a truly once-in-a-lifetime event. Overnight Hever (B, D)

Day 3 | Tuesday 12 May
Michelham Priory & Anne of Cleves House
We depart this morning for Michelham Priory, an Augustinian Priory which dates back to the 13th century, featuring a beautifully preserved medieval barn, Tudor kitchens, and stunning gardens. Here we will learn about its turbulent past as well as three of its famous Tudor owners- Thomas Cromwell, Anne of Cleves, and Thomas Culpepper, who was executed for adultery with Catherine Howard. We continue onto Anne of Cleves House, a medieval estate given to Anne of Cleves at the end of her short-lived marriage to Henry VIII, where we will have the opportunity to explore the estate’s well-preserved interiors and Tudor garden. After free time for lunch, we return to Hever, where Lauren will give a talk in St Peter’s Church, which houses the tomb and stunning brass effigy of Anne Boleyn’s father, Thomas Boleyn, a respected ambassador and statesman during Henry VIII’s reign. There will be free time to enjoy the afternoon at Hever, and as the sun sets, we will reconvene for a BBQ on our private terrace overlooking the glorious grounds of the castle. Overnight Hever (B, D) 

Day 4 | Wednesday 13 May
Kentwell Hall & onto Norwich
Kent and Norfolk both have strong ties to Anne Boleyn, and we continue the Boleyn story today as we head northeast to Norfolk, first stopping for a morning coffee in the delightful village of Ingatestone before arriving at Kentwell Hall, a true gem nestled in the Suffolk countryside. Framed by its original rectangular moat, Kentwell is one of the finest Tudor houses in the country and still retains much of its 16th-century grandeur, and we will enjoy a private guided tour of its grand rooms, including the preserved Tudor kitchen, Great Hall, and Minstrel’s Gallery. After a break for lunch and free time to enjoy the Tudor-style grounds, we continue onto Norwich and our charming and historic accommodation - The Maids Head Hotel, once a 17th-century coaching inn. After checking in, we will enjoy a dinner together in the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, WinePress, which offers modern British cuisine. Overnight Norwich (B, D)

Day 5 | Thursday 14 May
Norwich
Norwich, the well-preserved, ancient capital of East Anglia, is deeply rooted in centuries of history, and features a number of Tudor treasures. We devote our day to exploring its rich heritage, learning about its wealth and prosperity generated from its vibrant wool and cloth trade, as well as its links to the Boleyn family. Beginning with a lecture on the Boleyns of Norfolk in our hotel this morning, we then embark on a walking tour of the city, ending at Norwich Cathedral. Built in 1096 using stone native to Normandy, the Cathedral is not only the best-preserved Norman Cathedral in England, but it also boasts the highest Norman tower and largest monastic cloister. The Boleyns were important benefactors of the Cathedral, and we will have a chance to see the Boleyn Chantry Chapel, as well as what remains of the tombs of Anne Boleyn’s grandfather and great-grandmother. After a break for lunch, we continue to the Norman Norwich Castle and Keep, which houses a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the region’s history. The rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight Norwich (B)

Day 6 | Friday 15 May
Salle & Blickling
We continue our exploration of Boleyn Heartland, travelling this morning to Salle Church in the northwest of Norfolk, considered to be one of the finest historic churches in England. The Boleyns largely funded the church’s construction in the 14th-century, and we will explore the treasures within, including the imposing 15ft Sacrament Font and its intricately carved wooden cover as well as its medieval Rood Screen. Above our heads, the soaring roof of the church still bears subtle blues, greens and golds, a testament to its wealth and prosperity, while below our feet towards the high altar lie the tombs of Anne Boleyn’s forebears - Geoffrey and Alice Boleyn, their resting places marked by monumental brasses. We then depart for Blickling Hall, an impressive Jacobean manor estate built on the foundations of a ruined medieval manor house which was formally owned by the Boleyns, and is more than likely where Anne was born. After touring the Hall and enjoying a group lunch in the historic Buckingham Arms, we pay a visit to the small but vibrant 14th-century church adjacent to the estate. Returning to Norwich, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Norwich (B, L) 

Day 7 | Saturday 16 May
Bury St Edmunds & onto Cambridge
We depart Norfolk this morning bound for Cambridgeshire, a region closely linked to Henry VIII’s first queen, Katherine of Aragon. En route to the medieval city of Cambridge, we will stop at Bury St Edmunds to view one of the oldest Benedictine Abbeys, founded in the 11th-century, and up until the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the resting place of Henry VIII’s favourite sister, Mary Tudor. We then proceed to St Mary’s Church, one of the largest and most historic church buildings in the country, where Mary Tudor was reinterred in 1538. There will be free time for lunch and to enjoy its medieval landmarks, before we depart for Cambridge. After checking into our hotel followed by free time, we reconvene in the evening and walk to Trinity College, founded by Henry VIII in 1546. Within the grounds sits the famed Wren Library, where we will gather for a very special private after-hours tour of its Tudor Treasures, not usually open to the public. The rest of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Cambridge (B)

Day 8 | Sunday 17 May
Cambridge
Henry VIII’s influence on the medieval city of Cambridge still resonates through the centuries, and this morning after a brief talk, we embark on a tour of Cambridge’s most famous college, King’s College. Both Henry VIII and his father contributed enormously to Kings College, and we will be able to explore the grounds and the Tudor imprints that remain. Inside the stunning chapel, largely completed by Henry VIII, we will see the imposing vaulted ceiling and walls adorned with carved Tudor roses, portcullises, greyhounds and dragons, the royal crests of five of Henry’s six wives, as well as a magnificently carved Rood Screen, carved in honour of Anne Boleyn’s coronation in 1533. We will then pay a visit to Great St Mary’s church, the building of which was largely funded by Richard III and Henry VII. Afterwards, there will be free time for lunch and to enjoy the afternoon in Cambridge, with many fascinating options including the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and Fitzwilliam Museum. Overnight Cambridge (B)

Day 9 | Monday 18 May
Peterborough & Buckden Towers
Today we depart for Peterborough Cathedral, home to two queens - Mary Queen of Scots, who was reinterred in Scotland, and Katherine of Aragon, whose tomb we will visit as part of our tour. The Cathedral itself has a fascinating history; founded as a Benedictine Abbey in 966 CE, it was damaged by fire in 1116, and was gradually reconstructed as a Norman Church, before being finally designated as a Cathedral in 1542. The Cathedral is a spectacular testament to medieval Gothic architecture, from the trio of arches of its Great West Front, to the preserved 13th-century painted ceiling, the largest of its age in all of Europe and the only one of its kind in England. After free time for lunch, we continue onto the 13th-century red-bricked Buckden Towers, where Katherine of Aragon was held after her divorce from Henry VIII. After touring the remains of this once moated and fortified estate we depart for Weston Manor House, a sumptuously appointed 15th-century estate in the heart of Oxfordshire and our base for the next three nights. Dinner this evening will be in the hotel. Overnight Oxfordshire (B, D)

Day 10 | Tuesday 19 May
Sudeley Castle & Winchombe
The dramatic events that engulfed the first tumultuous decades of Henry’s reign shaped our view of the era for centuries to come, often overshadowing Henry’s later queens, and today is devoted to Katharine Parr, Henry’s sixth wife. Journeying into the lush landscape of the Cotswolds, we visit the privately owned Sudeley Castle which became Katharine Parr’s home after Henry’s death, and we will enjoy a guided tour of the castle, including the remains of the Banquet Hall and the original 15th-century west wing. We then pause for a special lunch in the Orangery before having free time to explore the award-winning gardens. Sudeley is the only private castle in England to have a Queen buried within its grounds, and we will visit Katharine’s marble tomb, housed in the tranquil St Mary’s Chapel at the heart of the estate. In the afternoon, we return to our hotel, stopping en route at the bustling, historic, honeycombed stone Cotswold town of Winchcombe, surrounded by stunning hills and countryside. The remainder of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Oxfordshire (B, L)

Day 11 | Wednesday 20 May
Worcester Cathedral & Coughton Court
We embark this morning for Worcester Cathedral, sitting along the bank of the River Severn. Worcester Cathedral boasts resplendent medieval cloisters and a Norman crypt, and it is also the resting place of Arthur Tudor, the first husband of Katherine of Aragon, whose untimely death changed the fortunes of his younger brother, the future Henry VIII. After free time for lunch, we continue to the 15th-century Coughton Court, an exquisite Tudor country house belonging to the Throckmortons, a conservatively Catholic family deeply involved in Tudor politics, with connections to both Katherine of Aragon and Katharine Parr. Coughton Court provides a unique opportunity to step into the Tudor World, with its magnificent gatehouse and beautifully panelled drawing and dining rooms. The estate also houses Tudor treasures, and we will be able to view a cope personally embroidered by Katherine of Aragon. We return to our hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Oxfordshire (B)

Day 12 | Thursday 21 May
Windsor Castle
We depart south for Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, with a history spanning 1000 years. Windsor played a major role during the Tudor period, serving as a backdrop to moments in each woman’s life. Katharine Parr, Catherine Howard and Anne of Cleves stayed there often, and it was where Katherine of Aragon last saw Henry before being exiled, and was the setting for Anne Boleyn’s ennoblement before being made queen. It is also the final resting place of Henry’s third queen, Jane Seymour, who is buried with Henry in St George’s Chapel, where we begin our day. We will then wander through the magnificent State Apartments, which house some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection. After free time for lunch, we continue our journey into the green countryside of East Sussex and our base for our final leg- the 19th-century estate of Ashdown Park. After checking in, there will be time to enjoy the grounds before we reconvene for dinner in the hotel. Overnight Sussex (B, D)

Day 13 | Friday 22 May
The Tower of London
Founded by William of Normandy in the 11th-century, the Tower has dominated the capital for almost 900 years. We spend today exploring the Tower’s links to Henry VIII, as the fortress where the lives of so many victims of his reign, from his queens to trusted ministers and friends such as Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell, were cut short. It is not only the resting place of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, but also where Katherine of Aragon and Henry VIII spent the night in the Royal Apartments before their joint coronation in 1509, and thus the Tower also takes us back to the beginning of Henry’s reign, and the glory and promise it once held. Highlights of our day will include; the White Tower, where Henry VIII’s armour is on display; Beachamp Tower, the chapel of Peter ad Vincula; the Medieval Palace; wall walk; and of course, the Crown Jewels. Returning to our hotel in the afternoon, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Sussex (B)

Day 14 | Saturday 23 May
Leeds Castle
Coming full circle in the Tudor story, our time back in Sussex and Kent is devoted to those first glorious years of Henry’s reign, and we begin the day with a visit to Leeds Castle. Built across two islands in a lake formed by the river Len, Leeds Castle has the reputation of being “the loveliest castle in the world”. In the first years of Henry VIII’s reign, he transformed it for Katherine of Aragon, and the whole court stayed there in 1520. We will tour the castle with free time to enjoy the grounds, and experience the Leeds Castle Medieval Festival, an exhilarating display of combat and jousting, and an array of medieval chivalric events, as well as everyday living. We then leave the hustle and bustle behind for an exclusive afternoon tea and talk in the medieval gatehouse by a castle curator on the Queens who called Leeds Castle home. We return to Ashdown in the afternoon where the rest of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Oxfordshire (B, Afternoon Tea)

Day 15 | Sunday 24 May
Dover
Strategically located on the famous white cliffs and overlooking the vast English Channel, Dover Castle, built in the 12th-century, and called the “Key of England” was one of the most important castles of Henry VIII’s reign. It also served as a backdrop for significant moments in the lives of four Tudor queens: Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn stayed here before important journeys to France; Jane Seymour visited on her first summer progress as queen; and Anne of Cleves lodged here after her arrival in England, for which Henry oversaw significant renovations of its defences and royal apartments. We devote our day to exploring the extraordinary history of the castle, touring the Great Tower, church, and imposing battlements with its spectacular views over the White Cliffs of Dover, followed by free time for lunch. En route to Ashdown we stop in the historic city of Canterbury, where we will have time to explore its quaint medieval streets, buildings and its stunning gothic Cathedral, followed by free time for an early dinner. We return to Ashdown in the evening. Overnight Sussex (B)

Day 16 | Monday 25 May
Ightham Mote & Penshurst Place
We have a leisurely start to the day before we depart for Ightham Mote, one of the oldest medieval manors in all of England. Crossing the moat on a small bridge, we enter the historic courtyard, moving on to view the spectacular medieval Great Hall and Chapel, which still bears Katherine of Aragon’s pomegranate emblem. There will be free time for lunch and to further explore the lush surroundings before we depart for Penshurst Place. Now privately owned by the Viscount and Viscountess De L’Isle, Penshurst has deep connections to Henry’s personal life. It belonged to the ill-fated Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, a rival to the throne. Following Stafford’s execution, Henry converted it into a hunting lodge, where both Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn visited, before Henry gifted it to Anne of Cleves. We will enjoy a special private after-hours tour of the chapel, grounds, and estate. We then finish in the 14th-century Baron’s Hall with a champagne reception followed by a three-course private dinner in the medieval sandstone Buttery, a fitting end to our tour. Overnight Sussex (B, D)

Day 17 | Tuesday 26 May
Departure
Our tour ends after breakfast. There will be a group transfer to London’s Gatwick Airport and then to Paddington Station. (B)