Touring Central & Northern England
Leave London to the ancient university city of Oxford and its dreaming spires. Through the wonderful countryside of the Cotswolds and its lovely towns and villages such as Chipping Camden, the Slaughters, Moreton in the Marsh etc. We come to STRATFORD UPON AVON the birthplace of William Shakespeare. We would attend a performance of one of his plays that evening.
On to Worcester and the Royal Porcelain Factory to see this beautiful china being made and to visit the museum. We travel through the lovely countryside of the counties of Herefordshire and Shropshire with their picturesque half timbered towns and villages such as Much Wenlock and Ludlow. We overnight in the Roman/Medieval walled city of CHESTER.
Explore Chester and then travel northwards, possibly via Liverpool, the city of the Beatles, to one of the most famous areas of Britain, the Lake District. Via Grasmere, which is synonymous with William Wordsworth and on to ULLSWATER.
A day exploring the Lake District with visits of Muncaster Castle and Holker Hall the home of the Cavendish family with its beautiful gardens, one of which was the Sotheby’s Garden of the Year. Back to ULLSWATER.
We cross over the spine of the England, the Penines and the Northumberland National Park following in part Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman barrier built to keep out the warring Scots. We are now in Catherine Cookson country and carry on to the university town of DURHAM with its Norman Cathedral and Castle.
Turning south to the North York Moors, James Herriot country around Thirsk. We visit the dramatic ruins of medieval monasteries at Rievaulx. Castle Howard is one of the great 18th century treasure houses of England built by Sir John Vanburgh. We overnight in the beautiful city of YORK.
Spend time exploring York and visiting Jorvik the fascinating Viking archeological site, a must for younger visitors. But York is so much more. Winding streets, a magnificent Gothic Cathedral, 16th, 17th and 18th century architecture. Nearby is Harewood House one of Robert Adam’s greatest achievements with furniture by a local carpenter, Thomas Chippendale and a park designed by Capability Brown. Another night in YORK.
Onto to England’s industrial heartland and Leeds with the magnificent Royal Armouries to the Peak District. One of the greatest country mansions Chatsworth is the home of the Dukes of Devonshire is on our route as is Hardwicke Hall an amazing Elizabethan house. We overnight in the delightful spa town of BUXTON.
Through lovely countryside to Calke Abbey a baroque mansions virtually unchanged since the 18th century and only recently open to the public. On via Stamford an 18th century architectural gem of a town and Burghley House built for Elizabeth I ‘s treasurer and still in the same family, it contains over 400 old master paintings. FOTHERINGAY has the ruins of the castle where Mary Queen of Scots was executed.
Via Ely and its magnificent Norman/Gothic Cathedral and on to the University City of Cambridge where we could take a punt ‘along the backs’, before ending our tour back in LONDON.
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