Day 1 | Sunday 19 September
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

Day 2 | Monday 20 September
Hampton Court and 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 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 before we embark on our 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 21 September
Michelham Priory and 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. In the afternoon, we return to Hever for a talk in St Peter’s Church, which houses the tomb and brass effigy of Anne Boleyn’s father, Thomas Boleyn, a respected ambassador and statesman during Henry VIII’s reign. The afternoon is free to explore Hever before we will reconvene for dinner in the grounds of the castle. Overnight Hever (B, D)

Day 4 | Thursday 23 September
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. We then continue to the Norman Norwich Castle and Keep, which houses a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the region’s history. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight Norwich (B)

Day 5 | Thursday 23 September
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. We then continue to the Norman Norwich Castle and Keep, which houses a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the region’s history. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight Norwich (B)

Day 6 | Friday 24 September
Salle and Blickling
We continue our exploration of Boleyn Heartland today, travelling first 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. Our next stop is Blickling Hall, an impressive Jacobean manor estate built on the foundations of a ruined medieval manor house 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 25 September
Bury St Edmunds and King’s College
This morning we depart Norfolk for Cambridgeshire, an area historically associated with Henry VIII’s first queen, Katherine of Aragon. Our first stop is Bury St Edmunds to explore the impressive Benedictine Abbey, established in 1020, which served as the burial site for Henry VIII’s sister, Mary Tudor, until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. We then visit St Mary’s Church, where she was reinterred after the Abbey’s dissolution. Next, we travel to Cambridge to admire King’s College Chapel, an outstanding example of late Perpendicular Gothic architecture. Built by Henry VI and completed by Henry VII and Henry VIII, the chapel boasts the world’s largest fan-vaulted ceiling, with walls decorated with carved Tudor roses, portcullises, greyhounds, dragons and the crests of five of Henry’s six wives. Afterward, there is free time for lunch before checking into our hotel, followed by a late afternoon visit to Trinity College, founded by Henry VIII in 1546. Within its grounds, we will see the famous Wren Library, where we will enjoy a special private after-hours tour of its Tudor Treasures, not open to the public. Overnight Cambridge (B)

Day 8 | Sunday 26 September
Cambridge
Henry VIII’s influence on the medieval city of Cambridge still resonates through the centuries, and this morning, following a brief talk, we embark on a walking tour of this extraordinary city. Steeped in over eight centuries of academic and royal history, Cambridge is a place where Tudor power and patronage are written into the very stones of its streets and colleges, and we will stroll past the grand facades of some of the world’s most famous seats of learning. We then visit Great St Mary’s Church, the official University Church of Cambridge. It was constructed between 1478 and 1519, with both Richard III and Henry VII among its notable patrons. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore Cambridge at your own pace, with many fascinating options including the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Overnight Cambridge (B)

Day 9 | Monday 27 September
Peterborough and 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 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. We continue onto the 13th-century red-bricked Buckden Towers, where Katherine of Aragon was held after her divorce from Henry VIII. We then 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 28 September
Sudeley Castle and 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 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 29 September
Worcester Cathedral and Coughton Court
This morning, we embark 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 30 September
Windsor Castle
We travel south to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, whose history spans more than 1,000 years. Windsor played a significant role during the Tudor period and forms a backdrop to key moments in the lives of several of Henry VIII’s wives. Katharine Parr, Catherine Howard and Anne of Cleves all stayed here regularly, while Katherine of Aragon last saw Henry at Windsor before her exile. The castle was also the setting for Anne Boleyn’s ennoblement prior to her coronation. It is the final resting place of Henry’s third queen, Jane Seymour, who is buried alongside Henry in St George’s Chapel, where our visit begins. We then explore the State Apartments, home to some of the finest works from the Royal Collection. After free time for lunch, we continue into the green countryside of East Sussex to Ashdown Park, a 19th-century estate and our base for the final stage of the journey. After checking in, there is time to enjoy the grounds before dinner at the hotel. Overnight Sussex (B, D)

Day 13 | Friday 1 October
The Tower of London
Founded by William of Normandy in the 11th century, the Tower of London has dominated the capital for almost 900 years. Today is devoted to exploring the Tower’s close association with Henry VIII, serving as the setting where the lives of many victims of his reign were cut short, from his queens to trusted ministers and former allies such as Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell. The Tower is not only the burial 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. In this way, the site takes us back to the beginning of Henry’s reign and the optimism and promise it once held. Highlights of our visit include the White Tower, where Henry VIII’s armour is displayed, Beauchamp Tower, the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, the Medieval Palace, the wall walk and the Crown Jewels. We return to our hotel in the afternoon, with the evening at leisure. Overnight Sussex (B)

Day 14 | Saturday 2 October
Leeds Castle
Completing the Tudor narrative, our time in Sussex and Kent focuses on the early and confident years of Henry VIII’s reign. We begin with a visit to Leeds Castle, built across two islands in a lake formed by the River Len and long described as “the loveliest castle in the world”. In the first years of Henry’s rule, the castle was transformed for Katherine of Aragon and hosted the full Tudor court in 1520. We tour the castle with free time to enjoy the grounds before attending the Leeds Castle Medieval Festival, featuring displays of combat and jousting alongside scenes of medieval daily life. In the afternoon, we step away from the crowds for an exclusive talk and afternoon tea in the medieval gatehouse with a castle curator, exploring the queens who once called Leeds Castle home. We return to Ashdown later in the day. Overnight Sussex (B, AT)

Day 15 | Sunday 3 October
Dover
Strategically positioned on the white cliffs overlooking the English Channel, Dover Castle was built in the 12th century and known as the “Key of England”. It was one of the most important castles of Henry VIII’s reign and the setting for significant moments in the lives of four Tudor queens. Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn stayed here before major journeys to France, Jane Seymour visited during her first summer progress as queen and Anne of Cleves lodged at the castle following her arrival in England, prompting Henry to oversee major improvements to its defences and royal apartments. We spend the day exploring the castle’s remarkable history, touring the Great Tower, church and formidable battlements with sweeping views over the White Cliffs of Dover. En route to Ashdown, we stop in the historic city of Canterbury to explore its medieval streets and buildings, visit its magnificent Gothic cathedral and enjoy free time for an early dinner. We return to Ashdown in the evening. Overnight Sussex (B)

Day 16 | Monday 4 October
Ightham Mote and Penshurst Place
We begin with a leisurely morning before departing for Ightham Mote, one of England’s oldest medieval manor houses. Crossing the moat by a small bridge, we enter the historic courtyard before visiting the remarkable medieval Great Hall and chapel, which still bears Katherine of Aragon’s pomegranate emblem. There is free time for lunch and to explore the surrounding gardens before continuing to Penshurst Place. Privately owned by the Viscount and Viscountess De L’Isle, Penshurst is closely linked to Henry VIII’s personal life. It was once the home of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, a rival to the throne whose execution led Henry to convert the estate into a hunting lodge. Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn both visited, before Henry later granted Penshurst to Anne of Cleves. We enjoy a private after-hours tour of the chapel, grounds and estate, before gathering in the 14th-century Baron’s Hall for a champagne reception. The day concludes with a three-course private dinner in the medieval sandstone Buttery. Overnight Sussex (B, D)

Day 17 | Tuesday 5 October
Departure
Our tour ends after breakfast. There will be a group transfer to London’s Gatwick Airport to meet onward flights home. (B)