Tuesday 8th September to 12th September

Buxton and Peak District brochure and booking form here

© Chatsworth House by Marathon | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Wikimedia Commons

Firle Place has been the home of the Gage family for more than 500 years and showcases remarkable collections of Old Masters including portraits by Van Dyck, Reynolds, and Gainsborough, complemented by a curated ensemble of English and European furniture and an impressive array of Sèvres porcelain.' It was the main venue for the 2020 film, Emma.  It is walking distance from Firle village and the churchyard where Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant are buried.

After lunch we drive the short distance to Glynde Place, for a guided tours, followed by tea or coffee and cake.

Credit Firle Place by Robin Webster | Geograph project | CC 2.0

Glynde Place was built in 1569 by William and Anne Morley, is situated at the top of the village of Glynde and has commanding views over the Weald and Sussex Downs. It has passed through three inter-married families and is now the family of Francis and Caroline Hampden and their three children.

Godinton House came to our attention via the Historic Houses website and is described as 'ancient house of Dutch gables set in an early twentieth-century Blomfield garden, with surviving seventeenth century built features'.

Coffee on arrival

Tours of the house are led by expert guides unravelling the 600 years of history and revealing an excellent country house collection of furniture, art, porcelain and curios.” After the house tour, there will be time to explore the gardens, before we finish with a ploughman’s lunch. 

In the afternoon, we visit All Saints’ Tudeley, which is famous for its Marc Chagall windows. 

Image © Marina Brunas Spatz

Farley’s House is the former home of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose. There will  be a guided tours from 10.30am and time to visit the gallery and gardens. There is a café for coffee, snacks and lunch.

We depart around 1pm and proceed the short distance to Michelham Priory, described as “a magnificent Tudor mansion, set on a picturesque moated island, complete with medieval gatehouse, watermill and more.” This also has a café.

© Lee Miller Archives 

Penshurst Place was built in 1341 and is reputed to be “the grandest and most perfectly preserved example of a fortified manor house in all England”.

For our pre-Christmas event, we will be taking the 'Christmas at Penshurst' tour, which starts with mulled wine around the fire in the medieval Baron’s Hall, before a private tour of the house, featuring old traditions and customs.  Our visit finishes with a traditional three-course Christmas lunch in a medieval banqueting room.

Depart  9:30am from Dorking Rugby Club (Kiln Lane, Brockham)

Return by about 4pm.

© Penshurst place

There will be an introductory talk on Tuesday 16th September (evening) for those going on the tour. Please make a note in your diary. More details nearer the time.

Romania tour brochure here

Romania booking form here

The tour is now FULL, but there is a waiting list in the event of a dropout. Please contact the Tour Organiser, Jenny Perks.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A CHANGE OF VENUE FROM YOUR PROGRAMME CARD

BEAULIEU brochure here

In place of our previously announced visit to Dover Castle, we will be going to Beaulieu, whose principal attractions are the Palace House, the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey, the National Motor Museum and an exhibition covering Beaulieu’s role as a top secret ‘finishing school’ for members of the Special Operations Executive during WW2.  These are all covered by our admission tickets.

8.30 am Depart Brockham

10.30 Arrival, time for a quick coffee and comfort stop

followed by

11.15 am Palace House guided tour (Group 1)  

12.30 pm Group buffet lunch in the Brabazon Restaurant

2 pm Palace House guided tour (Group 2)  

Afternoon: free time to explore the other attractions on the site. 

4.30 pm Cream tea in Brabazon Restaurant

5..30 Departure

7.30 (approx) Arrival Brockham

Coach drop-off is at the King Alfred statue, a short walk to Winchester Cathedral, where there will be time for refreshments before our 1-hour guided cathedral tour, which is scheduled to start at 11am.

There is a group buffet lunch booked in the Paul Woodhouse Suite at the Cathedral Refectory Café, where we will be met by the city guides for walking tours starting at around 2pm and finishing in the city centre.  The walking tours last 90 minutes and one of the guides will lead a less strenuous walk for those who prefer it.

After the walks finish, there will be free time to explore further, including a riverside walk and Winchester City Mill (National Trust), before the coach departs from the King Alfred statue at 5pm.

Cost £80 includes buffet lunch, entry fees and quided tours.

8.30 am Depart from Dorking Rugby Clun, Kiln Lane , Brockham

10 am Arrive

11 am Cathedral entry for guided tour

12.30 pm Buffet lunch in The Rectory Cafe

2 pm City walking tour (90 minutes)

3.30 pm Free time

5 pm Departure

6.30 pm (approx) Arrive back at Brockham

© Winchester City Council, used with permission.

Marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we will be offering a chance to return to Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the WW2 codebreakers. Our previous visit was in April 2017, but it is understood that there have been many changes since then. In the words of their website:

“Bletchley Park is now a vibrant heritage attraction, with immersive films, interactive displays, museum collections and faithfully recreated WW2 rooms.

“Exhibitions, set within beautifully restored historic buildings, tell the story of this once top-secret operation. Find out more about the brilliant minds and complex machines that made this vital work possible and discover the global impact Bletchley Park had on the outcome of WW2.”

Our arrival time is suitable for a private guided tour for a maximum of about 30 of us, but those taking the private tour will not have time for coffee first. Those of our group who cannot be accommodated on the private tour (or choose to prioritise their coffee) may either take a later public tour or opt to be self-guided.

There are various eating options at the venue, or members are welcome to bring a packed lunch.

29th April to 3rd May (5 nights)

Edinburgh tour brochure here

Edinburgh booking form here

Memory Trail here

Following our successful visit to Waddesdon Manor for the Christmas lights in 2019, we are making a repeat visit this year, although with some changes. As they say on the website:

“Join us this year as Waddesdon transforms into a magical wonderland inspired by classic British tales. Inside the house, be transported as you explore the Mad Hatters tea party and discover Captain Hooks treasure cave. Outside, the Manor’s façade will come to life with bespoke projections and Waddesdon’s spectacular landscape will be lit with a kaleidoscope of colour, lights and music along a light trail through the grounds.”

In addition, there will be a Christmas Fair in front of the house, including 70 artisan stalls and food stands.

Our coach will depart from the rugby club car park at 10am, arriving at the nearby Five Arrows Hotel around 12 noon, ready for a two-course lunch starting at 12:30. We will then proceed by coach to Waddesdon Manor, where the coach will drop us off near the house in time for our scheduled house entry at 2:50pm. We plan to depart at 5:30pm.

Corfu and Albania tour brochure here

Corfu and Albania booking form here

The Vyne was transformed from a cluster of medieval buildings into a Tudor palace between 1500 and 1520.  This was the work of William Sandys, who became Lord Chamberlain to King Henry VIII in 1526.  Now approximately a third of its original size, The Vyne once extended as far as the lake and was described as ‘one of the Principale Houses in all Hamptonshire.'

Chaloner Chute acquired The Vyne in 1653, only to demolish two thirds of it to create space for what is now the north lawn.  The Chute family remained the owners of The Vyne until it was left to the National Trust in 1956.

In 1755 much of the existing formal garden was dismantled by John Chute to make way for a pleasure garden, which was in style at the time.  The new garden was planted informally with trees and several orchards, and the lake was created and much of this still exists today.  John Chute also built the Grade II listed walled garden. The original glasshouses were demolished but, following careful research, one was rebuilt in 2008 in its original location.

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In the early afternoon we will travel from The Vyne to West Green House.  The gardens of West Green House surround one of the prettiest manor houses in England.  It is a garden with a special and distinctive sense of place created over two decades by Marylyn Abbott, a renowned Australian garden designer, whose twin passions for English gardens and international opera have created a unique environment.

 The Opera Gardens combines neo-classical style with contemporary design.  A grand water staircase provides a focal point to the Nymphaeum fountain designed by architect Quinlan Terry.  The magnificent walled garden, faithfully restored to its original lines, is entered through an arbour of wisteria.  An alley of apple trees divides an elaborate potager with its berry-filled fruit cages, annual flowers and colourful vegetables from its signature perennial borders exuberantly planted in subtle hues of mauve, plum and blue.  Beyond these walls, the Lakefield embraces one of England’s most eclectic collections of garden follies.  A path leads from the serenity of the Lake to the Paradise Water Garden and contemporary Garden of the Five Bridges.  It continues through a woodland glade to the terraced Theatre Lawn surrounded by tall tapestry hedges.

Upon arrival, we will be given an introductory talk, followed by a guided garden walk, and finishing with tea or coffee and a cream tea or cake

All images subject to copyright

Edinburgh tour booking form here

The house is steeped in more than 400 years of history, with gardens that offer 40 acres of tranquillity.  Built by Robert Cecil, in the grounds where Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood, Hatfield House is home to centuries of historical treasures collected by the Cecil family.

 The gardens date from the early 17th century, when Robert Cecil employed John Tradescant the Elder to collect plants from all over Europe. The trees, bulbs, plants and fruit trees, which had never been grown before in England, have crafted the inspiring and fragrant gardens you can explore today.

We plan to take a guided tour of the house, followed by a group lunch (subject to availability), with free time before and after to explore the gardens.

All images are subject to copyright

Naples tour brochure and booking form here

An 18th-century house with a medieval priory (including an 800-year-old vaulted cellarium) at its heart, which was transformed into a neo-classical home in the 1930s, including Rex Whistler’s extraordinary drawing room murals.  The gallery contains changing exhibitions throughout the year and there is also a permanent collection of 20th-century art.

As you approach the house, an enormous tree catches the eye, seeming to dwarf the building from some angles.  This huge London plane is thought to be the largest of its kind in Britain, and forms part of the National Collection of plane trees which stand in the grounds.

The abundant spring that gave Mottisfont its name is now an ornamental feature of the garden.  Tributaries of the River Test flow through the grounds, where you can spot trout, swans and other waterfowl.  The spring bulb showcase is designed to provide changing displays throughout the season.  Rediscovered and restored in 2018, the innovative kitchen garden embodies Mottisfont’s medieval history and productive past.  Everything planted here is culinary, medicinal or edible, designed to educate and inspire.

Also at Mottisfont – The Derek Hill Collection: a permanent display of 20th century art, including works by L S Lowry, Barbara Hepworth and Graham Sutherland.

 The Old Kitchen Café serves up hot and cold drinks, bakes, sandwiches, snacks and light lunches

Image: The house and garden in spring at Mottisfont, Hampshire 

©National Trust Images/Hugh Mothersole

On the day of the visit

Depart Brockham 8.30am sharp 

Arrive about 10.30am, when the café will be open for refreshments before the house opens at 11:00am. Generally self-guided access to the house and grounds, although we are expecting that one of the volunteer guides will be available to give us an introductory talk. There is also the possibility of a garden guide if there is enough interest.

Depart approximately 3:30pm return approx 5.30pm

Refreshments and lunch available in the Old Kitchen Café (not included in ticket price)

£35 per head for National Trust members
£55 for non-members of National Trust

Christmas Concert and 2-course lunch

Wednesday 27th September to Sunday 1st October

Chester tour brochure here

Chester tour booking form here

Chester is one of England's most beautiful and historic cities with a wealth of sights dating back to Roman times.  The tour will include visits to Liverpool and the Wirral, UNESCO World Heritage site of the Llangollen Canal described as a 'masterpiece or creative genius'. The tour is based at the Macdonald New Blossom Hotel in Chester here

The Purcell club, founded in 1927, is named after Henry Purcell, the famous composer, who was organist of Westminster Abbey from 1679 to 1695. It is a male voice choir formed by members of the Westminster Abbey Old Choristers’ Association. The singers give their services in order to put on these tours and all profits from ticket sales go to support the Abbey and a range of small charities.

We will hear about the history and architecture of the Abbey in some detail, moving from one location of interest to the next. At various points there will be a pause for the Purcell Club to sing suitable musical pieces ranging from the 16th to 21st centuries. On returning to the Nave for the final part of the tour, a short piece will be played by one of the Abbey organists to demonstrate the Abbey’s magnificent organ. The tour ends with the choir singing a piece of suitable solemnity around the Unknown Warrior’s Grave as the lights dim.

Marble Hill was built in the 1720s for Henrietta Howard, mistress of King George II when he was Prince of Wales, as a retreat from court life. She overcame a difficult childhood and disastrous first marriage to become a remarkable figure in Georgian court society.

Henrietta and her home became a magnet for London’s cultural and political élite, including her neighbours Alexander Pope, John Gay and Horace Walpole, on a scale said to rival the royal court.

Both house and garden were designed with advice from the most fashionable gentlemen of early Georgian England, with advice from Alexander Pope and Charles Bridgeman, later royal gardener to George II.

The house is an important and relatively rare example in that it was built for and by a woman and is a textbook example of Palladian architecture, the fashionable style based on classical principles and inspired by the 16th-century Italian architect Palladio.

The house and estate were saved from destruction and development by an Act of Parliament in 1902, because they lay at the heart of the famous view from Richmond Hill. Marble Hill is the last complete survivor of the elegant villas and gardens that once bordered this part of the Thames.

The house now has a fine collection of early Georgian paintings, including portraits of members of Henrietta Howard’s circle.

© The English Heritage Trust.

Pitzhanger Manor, in the centre of what was then the village of Ealing, was the country house of Sir John Soane, one of Britain’s most influential architects. He bought Pitzhanger in 1800 in the hope of creating a showcase for his collection and his talents, and a family home for a dynasty of architects, starting with his young sons, John and George.

A manor house had existed on the site of Pitzhanger since the 17th century, but in 1768 George Dance was commissioned to build an extension, on which a young John Soane had one of his first architectural apprenticeships. In 1800, when the house came on the market, Soane bought it for £4,500, removing much of the original building but leaving one wing, the extension on which he had worked as a young man.

Soane built his Manor between 1800 and 1804: it is a laboratory of his most innovative designs, and a showcase of his talents: he would invite some of the most influential people of the day to dine at Pitzhanger and used the house to show his clients what he could do for them.

Domestic in scale, Pitzhanger was the Soane family’s country home. He had purchased a home in central London at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, now open as the Sir John Soane’s Museum, and would walk between Pitzhanger and Holborn regularly.

The house and gardens are a lasting testimony to Soane’s skill and imagination as an architect, but the dynasty never materialised. In 1810, when his sons proved a disappointment, Soane sold Pitzhanger, and moved his library and collection of art and antiquities to his London home in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

The house stayed in private hands until it was sold in 1900 to Ealing District Council. It was open as Ealing’s public library, with a new building, now Pitzhanger Gallery, built on the site of Soane’s kitchen block in 1939. Pitzhanger Manor House and Gallery opened as a heritage attraction in 1987, showing contemporary art exhibitions from 1996. It closed in 2015 for a major conservation project to restore the Manor to Soane’s original designs and upgrade the contemporary Gallery.

Acknowledgement  https://www.pitzhanger.org.uk

Wednesday 17th May to Tuesday 23rd May 2023

Netherlands tour brochure here

Booking form here 

Wrest Park is an exceptional rarity – a magnificent house of the 1830s, set in an outstanding restored garden landscape originating in the 17th century. The house itself is an almost unique example of 19th-century English architecture following the style of an 18th-century French chateau. Its grounds are a glorious amalgam of three centuries of English garden design and contain one of the few remaining formal gardens of the early 18th century.

For more than 600 years the Wrest estate was home to one of the leading aristocratic families in the country, the de Greys. Each generation left its mark on the estate. The family reached its greatest prominence when Edward IV made Edmund Grey his Lord Treasurer in 1463 and then Earl of Kent in 1465. More than 200 years later the formal gardens and the canal known as the Long Water were created, then in the early 18th century what is now Wrest’s most exceptional feature – its massive formal woodland garden, enclosed on three sides by canals – was created. Leading architects and garden designers, including Nicholas Hawksmoor, Thomas Archer, Batty Langley and William Kent, created an ordered landscape of woodland avenues, ornamented with statuary and garden buildings. These included Archer’s baroque pavilion, with its trompe l’œil paintings by Mark Anthony Hauduroy.

In 1758, Jemima, Marchioness Grey (1723–97), who had inherited the estate from her grandfather, brought in Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, a leader of the new English landscape style of the time, to soften the edges of the garden and remodel the park, while preserving the heart of the formal layout. Brown himself realised that to do more ‘might unravel the Mystery of the Gardens’.  His work is commemorated by the ‘Capability’ Brown column. Jemima also added a Chinese temple and bridge, the Mithraic altar and a bath house.

When Thomas Robinson, 2nd Earl de Grey (1781–1859), came into the estate, he inherited a large crumbling house of mediaeval origins. Rather than making improvements, de Grey, an accomplished amateur architect, had it demolished, then between 1834 and 1839 had a new house built some 200 metres to the north.

Since 1900, Wrest has had a chequered history. It was rented to the American ambassador for a time and was used as a convalescent home and later a military hospital during the First World War. In September 1916, however, a fire started and rapidly spread; the troops had to be evacuated, and the hospital never reopened. Although it was repaired, Wrest was sold in 1917, after which it fell into decline. From 1948 it was home to the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, later the Silsoe Research Institute. When the institute closed in 2006, English Heritage took over the house, and has begun an ambitious 20-year project to restore the gardens to their pre-1917 state.

© The English Heritage Trust.

Hughenden is best known as the country home of Victorian Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, and more recently as a top-secret map-making facility during the Second World War. Set in an unspoiled Chiltern valley with views of ancient woodlands and rolling hills, Hughenden offers a restful retreat from the pressures of everyday life, just as it did for Disraeli and his wife Mary Anne.

The origins of the estate date back beyond the first records in the Domesday book. In more recent history the land was farmed, and the dwelling was a humble farmhouse. Charles Savage, a wealthy London merchant, acquired the estate in 1738 and converted the Tudor farmhouse on the hill into a gentleman’s residence. The new manor was a fashionably symmetrical Georgian building with a white stucco finish, surrounded by naturalistic landscaping typical of the period. A sundial on the flint walls of the entrance to the walled garden is dated 1749, with the inscription 'Hora passus' meaning time passes.

In 1771, Hughenden passed to Savage’s relatives, the Norris family. When distinguished scholar and antiquary John Norris inherited the house in 1816, he set about Gothicising the interior to reflect the fashion of the time, with elaborate mouldings, arched doorways and panelled ceilings. The manor's exterior remained a typical example of simple Georgian classicism and was described as the ‘prettiest place in the county’. In the 1820s, Norris established the parkland, planting limes, chestnuts, walnuts and sycamores.

Following the death of Norris, the 750-acre estate came on the market in 1846 at a price of £35,000. In September 1848, borrowing heavily to do so, Disraeli purchased the manor. The newly elected Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire now had all the necessary attributes to become a leading political figure. Later, as prospective leader of the Conservative Party, he needed a suitable country seat.

The Hughenden Manor we know today was remodelled in 1862. Mary Anne Disraeli took the lead in the transformation of Hughenden and in 1862 consulted controversial Gothic revivalist architect Edward Buckton-Lamb, who set about turning the white stucco house into a red brick manor. He added chimneys, parapets with battlements and pinnacles, and elaborate window surrounds. The grounds were redesigned at the same time and Mary Anne established an Italianate style garden with a parterre, statuary and terraces. Benjamin Disraeli enjoyed walking in the garden and feeding his peacocks, as befitted a gentleman at home in his country estate.

After the death of Benjamin Disraeli, the estate passed to his nephew, who began making alterations to the house in the early 20th century, installing modern plumbing and electricity, and in 1904 a new west wing was built. Following his death, the manor, with its contents and 189 acres, were sold to W.H Abbey in 1937, a fan of Benjamin Disraeli, who entrusted the manor to the Disraelian Society. It was opened to visitors as a museum for the first time in 1937.

During the Second World War, Hughenden was requisitioned by the Air Ministry and became a top-secret map-making base, codenamed ‘Hillside’, with over 100 men and women, both military and civilian, producing target maps for the RAF at nearby Bomber Command HQ. Disraeli’s belongings were packed away. Only his study remained untouched and was locked for the duration of the war. This operation was so secret, it only came to light 60 years later after a chance encounter one of Hughenden’s house volunteers had with a visitor.

The Abbey family and Disraelian Society passed Hughenden to the National Trust in 1947. At the time, there was no sign of its wartime role, and the garden was little more than a hay meadow. After decades of little change, the Trust began a careful campaign of restoration in 1983. With the use of old photographs, inventories and written descriptions, the manor’s interiors were returned to their Victorian glory and the gardens re-established in a 19th-century ‘gardenesque’ style with a formal parterre and pleasure grounds.

Acknowledgement to National Trust website

Madrid tour 12th to 18th October 2022 brochure here

Althorp House was built in 1508, by the Spencer Family, for the Spencers, as it has remained for the last 500 years. Althorp contains one of the finest private collections of art, furniture and ceramics in the world, including numerous paintings by Rubens, Reynolds, Lely, Gainsborough and Van Dyck.

8.30 am Depart Rugby Club car park, Kiln Lane Brockham

11.15 am Arrive Althorp House

Individual entry tickets to house and park will be issued on the coach. No guided tours are provided by Althorp, but there is a one-way walking system through the house with information boards and knowledgeable room attendants. 

Refreshments and lunch available in the Stables cafe and picnic area with tables and chairs are also available.

Cost £45              Contact Lizzie Ackers 01306 885310

Photo credit althorpestate.com

Tour: 23rd - 27th June 2022 

We will visit Holy Island, Lindisfarne Priory, Lady Waterford Hall, Etal Castle and the site of the Battle of Flodden, Alnwick Castle and Cragside followed by a journey along the Northumberland Heritage Coast and a visit to Bamburgh and Warkworth Castles. 

Throughout the tour we will be accompanied by the historian Julian Humphrys. 

Outline details of the tour can be downloaded here

The image shows Bamburgh Castle

Acknowledgement to Historic Houses 

Set in the Cotswolds it was described as a ‘Heaven on Earth’ by William Morris, he loved the Manor house and adjoining farm buildings as a work of true craftmanship, totally unspoilt and unaltered, and in harmony with the surrounding countryside.

Here you will experience the beauty and seclusion that inspired many of Morris’s most important designs and writings as well as influencing his ideas on conservation.  We shall enjoy lunch in the garden tea room, tour of the house and explore the gardens and village.

Acknowledgement to Historic Houses

Salisbury Cathedral is a truly remarkable building, a testimony to the faith and practical skills of the medieval craftsmen who built it, but it is much more than a historical monument. It is a living church and a place of prayer with daily services and a thriving congregation, enjoying a reputation for musical excellence. As the Cathedral Church of the Salisbury diocese, It is Mother Church of several hundred Church Of England parishes in Wiltshire and Dorset.

Photo accreditation to By JackPeasePhotography - no changes made

Details of visit

08.30 Leave Brockham Rugby Club car park

10.30 Arrive Salisbury: short walk for refreshments

11.15 Guided city walking tour, finishing at Cathedral Close

12.30 Lunch break (cost not included) 

13.30 Cathedral visit

14.45 Visit to Arundells (Edward Heath's house in Cathedral Close) 

16.15 Leave for return to Brockham

Cost £38 per person

Pitzhanger Manor was the country home of Sir John Soane, one of the most influential architects in British history. Soane designed many extraordinary buildings, but Pitzhanger is almost unique as a building designed, built and lived in by Soane.

The Musical Museum is home to a wonderful collection of self-playing musical instruments. From tiny music boxes to the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ in our concert hall, you can learn about the history of music reproduction, and hear an impressive array of self-playing pianos, orchestrions, pipe organs and violin players.

Details of visit

8.45 a.m. Leave Brockham Rugby Club car park

Coffee on arrival (included) followed by guided tour of Musical Museum with demonstrations

1 p.m. approx. Ploughman’s lunch (included)

Leave for return to Brockham by 2 p.m. (approx)

Cost £55 per person. Entrance to Pitzhanger Manor will be refunded

Photo accreditation: Pitzhanger.org.uk

Tour: 8th - 11th September 2021

Wrest Park is a rarity – a magnificent house of the 1830s set in a restored garden landscape originating in the 17th century, and one of the few places in the world where visitors can see the evolution of landscape gardening over the last 300 years.

The house itself is a near unique example of 19th-century English architecture following the style of an 18th-century French chateau. Its grounds contain one of the few remaining formal gardens of the early 18th century.  Recent work includes new visitor facilities, new interpretation in the mansion, the restoration of the rose garden, the Italian garden, the French Parterre, and a new sculpture gallery. Most recently the Ladies' Lake was restored to its former glory with reinstated paths and repairs to the waterworks.

Our virtual walk down Edinburgh's Royal Mile begins with a panorama at Castle Rock before delving into the medieval life and architecture of the 'Closes' and homes of Scottish Enlightenment writers and artists. We will see a cathedral and the World's End before our walk ends at Holyrood Palace in its Royal Park.

Virtual Tour of Birmingham on Zoom

Ian Jelf - Blue Badge Guide

With a population of more than a million, Birmingham is Britain's second city, a thriving place for the arts and entertainment as well as being a great manufacturing centre. But how did a small impoverished Anglo-Saxon settlement on the banks of a tiny stream manage to become so? On our walk through the city Ian Jelf aims to give us some of the answers, together with a few surprises on the way. This visit will give a taste of what we will see on our History and Art in the Birmingham Area Tour from 8th to 11th September.

8th - 11th September 2021 Tour (actual)

We shall visit Compton Verney, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Soho House, and Birmingham Arts Gallery, which houses treasures of many centuries including Pre-Raphaelite and Impressionist collections. We will also visit the Jewellery Quarter, and the Black Country Living Museum. On the way back we hope to visit Harvington Hall and have a private tour of Ragley Hall. Full details will be available later.

Enjoy a leisurely stroll around one of England’s most beautiful cities - taking in some hidden corners and quirky spots you might have over looked before. George VI said that the History of York is the History of England: join Sarah Cowling, a Blue Badge Guide, in uncovering the many layers that make up this fascinating city.

Blue Badge Guide and lecturer Anna Warrillow will be giving a talk on some of the highlights to be found in the British Museum. Included will be some old favourites, such as the Lion Hunt Reliefs which greeted visitors to the Palace of King Ashurbanipal, as well as some objects that perhaps aren’t so familiar, such as the Leaping Bull from Crete, or the Holy Thorn Reliquary which houses a relic from the Passion of Christ. Find out about the origins of the museum, enjoy the close up detail of these objects and hear their stories.

Althorp House was built in 1508, by the Spencer Family, for the Spencers, as it has remained for the last 500 years. Althorp contains one of the finest private collections of art, furniture and ceramics in the world, including numerous paintings by Rubens, Reynolds, Lely, Gainsborough and Van Dyck.

Wrest Park is a rarity – a magnificent house of the 1830s set in a restored garden landscape originating in the 17th century, and one of the few places in the world where visitors can see the evolution of landscape gardening over the last 300 years.

The house itself is a near unique example of 19th-century English architecture following the style of an 18th-century French chateau. Its grounds contain one of the few remaining formal gardens of the early 18th century.  Recent work includes new visitor facilities, new interpretation in the mansion, the restoration of the rose garden, the Italian garden, the French Parterre, and a new sculpture gallery. Most recently the Ladies' Lake was restored to its former glory with reinstated paths and repairs to the waterworks.

14th – 20th May 2020

MADRID, ARANJUEZ, TOLEDO AND SEGOVIA

At the core of Madrid is a maze of streets with medieval buildings, world class art galleries, and fascinating museums. We will visit the Prado, the Royal Palace, the Escorial, and Toledo. We will also visit Segovia, with its magnificent Roman aqueduct, and medieval Avila. The full itinerary can be seen here

The estate was originally owned by the Monastery of Westminster and granted to Robert Palmer by King Henry VIII in 1540. It has been a well-loved Elizabethan family home, and only three families have lived here since its foundation stone was laid in 1577 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Hon. Clive Pearson bought the House and Estate in 1922. He and his wife Alicia found the House and Garden in sad repair, and together they revived and restored both with great sensitivity and care. They opened the House to visitors in 1948.  

Pitzhanger Manor was the country home of Sir John Soane, one of the most influential Architects in British history. Soane designed many extraordinary buildings, but Pitzhanger is almost unique as a building designed, built and lived in by Soane.

The Musical Museum is home to a wonderful collection of self-playing musical instruments. From tiny music boxes to the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ in our concert hall, you can learn about the history of music reproduction, and hear an impressive array of self-playing pianos, orchestrions, pipe organs and violin players.

Our Blue Badge guide will give us an in-depth description of the Palace’s history.

18 Stafford Terrace was, from 1875, the home of Punch cartoonist Edward Linley Sambourne, his wife Marion, their two children and their live-in servants. The house gives an insight into the personal lives of the Sambourne family, and also provides a rare example of what was known as an 'Aesthetic interior' or 'House Beautiful' style. The Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century advocated the use of foreign or 'exotic' influences in the decoration of the home.  

This year we are combining a Society Christmas Lunch with our December visit to Waddesdon Manor, Bucks, home to the Rothschild Collections of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. 

This event is now sold out but if you would like to go on the waiting list please contact Jane Bourgeois, jbourgeois@btconnect.com

Thursday 12th September – Monday 16th September 2019

Tour of Arundel Castle, a restored medieval castle established in 1067. From the 11th century the castle has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk and is the principal seat of the Howard family to the present day.

 After lunch at Arundel castle we drive to Lancing College Chapel, the main place of worship for the school.  The chapel is in the English Gothic style and has one of the tallest vaulted ceilings, and a massive rose window, the largest in England

The itinerary is available in Documents or by clicking on this hyperlink. 

In 1842, Charles Darwin and his family moved to Down House and here he developed his ground-breaking theories of evolution. Much of the significance of the house lies in the authenticity of the rooms, of which Darwin’s Old Study is the best example. We also visit the gardens, where the greenhouses are stocked with the same plant specimens that Darwin ocultivated for his botanical research projects.

 There will also be a visit to Standen

Two timed viewings of the Van Gogh exhibition have been booked, at 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m., after which we will go to the V & A, for free time, lunch (not included) and exploration of this museum.

The Bodleian Library is the main research library for the University of Oxford and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe.

 Our two timed tours will start in the ornate medieval Divinity School, the university's earliest teaching room. A superb specimen of English Gothic architecture, it was founded around 1423. We will also visit two grand chambers at the far end of the Divinity School – Convocation House, which hosted the English Parliament three times and the Chancellor’s Court.

 After free time for lunch we will have a tour of The Ashmolean Museum, built to house the ‘cabinet of curiosities’ collected by Elias Ashmole which had been given to the University in 1617. The museum is home to one of the best collections of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, majolica pottery and English silver.

The National Theatre creates more than 20 new productions every year. We have a chance to discover the secrets that bring these amazing productions to life. Whatever the time of year, there is always something to experience as our guides will take us behind-the-scenes.  We visit the props department, we go behind the stage to see what is being built and we hear the extraordinary logistics of set creation and assembly in this huge and complicated building. 

After lunch at the Mayflower pub on the Thames we will have a guided tour of the Brunel Museum

In December the Palace will be decorated to welcome Christmas in true Tudor Style, and our visit is timed to enjoy the events that the Palace will be putting on throughout December, including carolling in the courtyards and a special Elizabethan Christmas.

 Our visit will include a private guided tour and lunch at the Palace.

Tickets £45

A more detailed and printable itinerary is in Documents

A printable Booking form is in Documents

NORTHUMBRIA AND DURHAM

Thursday 13th September to Monday 17th September 2018

Thursday 13th September 2018

 08.00 hrs coach departs Dorking Main Station

45min comfort stop en route

1300 hrs arr Brodsworth – visit Brodsworth Hall and Gardens (EH)

                    Non-EH Members at Extra Cost - £8.33 per person Group rate (2017 price)

1500 hrs depart Brodsworth Hall and Gardens after Lunch break

Durham – Marriott Hotel Royal County 3 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast – Dinner at 1900 Hours

Friday 14th September 2018 

Full Day in Durham

 Guided tours of Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle College, and Prince Bishop River Cruise (included)

Saturday 15th September 2018

 0930 hrs dep Durham – Marriott Hotel Royal County after Breakfast

0945 hrs photo stop for Angel of the North (15 min)

1100 hrs arr Alnwick

Visit The Alnwick Garden and Alnwick Castle (included), and Alnwick Town

1600 hrs dep Alnwick after Lunch break

Sunday 16th September 2018

 0930 hrs dep Durham – Marriott Hotel Royal County after Breakfast

1015 hrs arr Barnard Castle – visit The Bowes Museum

1400 hrs       Silver Swan performance (included)

1415 hrs dep The Bowes Museum

1430 hrs arr Staindrop – visit Raby Castle

1700 hrs dep Raby Castle

Monday 17th September 2017

0930 hrs dep Durham – Marriott Hotel Royal County after Breakfast& Check-out

1230 hrs arr Chesterfield - visit Hardwick Hall (NT)

                    Non-NT Members at Extra Cost - £13.10 per person Group rate (2017 price)

1430 hrs dep Hardwick Hall  after Lunch break

45min comfort stop en route

1900 hrs arr Dorking Main Station

PUGLIA - ITALY

19th June – 26th June 2018 – seven nights / eight days

Follow the link to our Document store for full printable details of the Itinerary, Booking, and Insurance.

From £1599.00 per person (based on two sharing a twin room, single supplements will apply)

Puglia, also known as Apulia, is a treasure trove of art, history, and nature. Located on a strip of land in south-eastern Italy this region of Italy Puglia is a unique destination. This tour combines a great variety of terrific historic and scenic sightseeing with the addition of superb local food. Highlights include Matera, famed for its cave dwellings; the beautiful Baroque city of Lecce; spectacular Castel del Monte, Trani and the beautiful coastal village of Monopoli.

ITINERARY

Day 1

Private Coach transfer to London Gatwick from Dorking to take flight to Bari. On arrival we will transfer to hotel in Alberobello (approx. one hour). This evening we will have a Welcome Drink and dinner included at the hotel.

Day 2 – Full day in Alberobello

Today after breakfast we will have a morning guided tour of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its “trulli,” curious white conical buildings that crowd the narrow streets and accommodate shops, restaurants and even a cathedral. Constructed from stone and without mortar, they generally have whitewashed walls and natural stone roof tiles, often adorned with religious, pagan or magical symbols. The rest of the day will be at leisure for you to explore independently. Dinner included at a local restaurant.

Day 3 - Full day tour to Ostuni, Martina Franca and Locorotondo (with local guide)

A leisurely and scenic day as we explore the whitewashed hill town of Locorotondo, one of the region’s prettiest places and an important wine centre. The elegant streets of Martina Franca are enlivened by Rococo balconies with impressive architecture including the Ducal Palace and several gracious mansions. The fortified citadel of Ostuni is known as the “white city” thanks to its white city walls and buildings. Important buildings here include the 15th century Duomo, Palazzo Vescovile, Palazzo del Seminario and the Loggia

Dinner included this evening at a local restaurant.

Day 4 - Full day tour to Lecce (with local guide)

Much of Lecce’s architecture is in the highly decorative Lecce Baroque style which flourished in the 1600s and earned the city its name as “the Florence of the South.” Amongst its myriad of beautiful buildings, constructed from the easily carvable “pietra di Lecce” stone, highlights include the stunning Bishop’s Palace dating from 1632, adjoining Duomo (1659), Chiesa del Rosario designed by the city’s preeminent architect, Lo Zingarello and highly 

ornate Santa Croce. We will also see the 18th century city gate, Porta Rudiae and Sant Oronzo column. Dinner included at the hotel.

Day 5 - Full day tour to Matera (with local guide)

Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the most fascinating places to visit in southern Italy. Perched on the edge of a deep ravine, the town is divided into two: a bustling upper town and the silent lower Sassi (caves) district, dating from the 8th to 15th centuries. It is likely that they originally provided shelter for monks from the Byzantine empire, but the town later developed into a cave dwelling community with a host of chapels, some 120 in total. Many caves were often fronted with buildings, some of which became quite grand mansions and convents. The bustling upper town is worth exploring, too, with its 13th century Duomo amongst several ancient and beautiful churches.

Dinner at a local restaurant included.

Day 6 - Full day tour to Castel del Monte and Trani (with local guide)

Remotely located on the endless plains near Ruvi di Pugia, the spectacular octagonal Castel del Monte was built by Frederick II in the 13th century. It is a harmonious piece of geometric architecture with 16 rooms spread evenly over two floors. The pretty seaside town of Trani dates back to the Middle Ages and is renowned for its Norman Duomo, 13th century castle and 15th century Renaissance Palazzo Caccetta.

Dinner at a local restaurant included.

Day 7

This morning will be at leisure until we transfer to the coastal village of Monopoli where we will enjoy a superb seafood lunch. In the afternoonwe will visit Polignano before returning to Alberobello. Dinner includedat the hotel.

Day 8

Check out and depart Alberobello and transfer to Bari. We will have a guided visit of the Old Town of Bari before transferring to the airportfor return flight to London Gatwick. 

Hotel: Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri, Alberobello

The four-star La Chiusa di Chietri is located just outside the charming town of Alberobello, ideally situated to visit the places of interest on the tour.   All rooms are elegantly decorated and have en suite facilities, air conditioning, TV, safe, minibar, Wi-Fi & telephone. The hotel has a main restaurant, pool and spa facilities. 

Further information can be found at:  http://www.lachiusadichietri.it/en/home/

Flights:

Flights are with Easyjet. Please note that these flight times are provisional and may be subject to change:

Outbound:       London Gatwick/Bari              12.15/16.05

Inbound:          Bari/ London Gatwick             16.40/18.50   

Included:

· Private coach transfers to/from Gatwick airport

· Return economy flights

· Welcome Drink on Day 1, Breakfast and Dinner daily,

   1 Lunch & 1 wine tasting

·  7 nights’ accommodation at Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri

·  Itinerary as detailed & all entrance fees

·  Tour manager throughout

·  Gratuities for coach drivers, tour manager & local guides

·   Porterage

·    Whisper / Audio-guide sets

Not included:

·  Meals and drinks not specified

· Single room supplement £295.00T

· Travel Insurance

· All items of a personal nature

How to book:

A deposit of £200 per person (plus insurance premium, if applicable) is required to secure your booking.

Bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis, so please book as soon as possible to ensure your place.

Please complete the Travel Editions booking form and return to: Beverley Mehta, Pilgrims, 12 Elm Drive, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8EX, together with your deposit of £200.00 per person. Cheques should be made payable to TRAVEL EDITIONS LTD. Please note that there is a surcharge of 1% on credit card bookings but no fee on debit cards.

PLEASE NOTE: Booking forms & deposits should be returned by Monday 15th May 2017

3 Young’s Buildings,

London EC1V 9DB

Tel: 020 7251 0045

www.traveleditions.co.uk

Tickets will be on sale during April/May lectures.  Price £38

Laverstoke Mill is a former paper mill located on the River Test near Laverstoke in England. The mill complex contains three grade II listed buildings: the Mill House, Mill Cottages, and the Glazing House.  The mill was bought by Henry Portal in 1718 and  began printing bank-notes for the UK and the British Empire.  The printing continued until 1963.  

Working with Heatherwick Studio, Bombay Sapphire sympathetically renovated Laverstoke Mill into a state-of-the-art sustainable distillery that showcases the natural beauty and industrial heritage of the site.

Thomas Alexander Heatherwick is an English designer and the founder of London-based design practice Heatherwick Studio. Since the late 1990s Heatherwick has emerged as one of Britain's most significant designers

Thomas Heatherwick has been involved in the design of many projects, some controversial, including the Olympic Cauldron in 2012, the new Routemaster bus and the proposed Garden Bridge over the Thames. 

Tickets will be on sale during March/April lectures. Tickets: £65, but £52 for members of English Heritage. Proof of membership of English Heritage must be taken with you on the visit.

Our day visits rarely mean we cross the sea, but getting to the Isle of Wight from Dorking is (we hope) quite speedy.  It has a particular relevance for us, because the builder was Thomas Cubitt, who died at his home Denbies in Dorking in 1855.

"It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot" said Queen Victoria of Osborne House, her palatial holiday home on the Isle of Wight. We shall visit Victoria and Albert's private apartments, their bathing beach and children's play-cottage for an intimate glimpse of royal family life. And we can then stroll through the garden terraces where the stunning views across the Solent reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples.

Tickets will be on sale during Feb/March lectures. £61 for members of English Heritage, £69 for non-members

A very special day out in London. The Wallace Collection is a national museum which displays the wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess. It was bequeathed to the British nation by Sir Richard's widow, Lady Wallace, in 1897.

Displayed at Hertford House, one of the family's London properties in the nineteenth century, the Wallace Collection presents its outstanding collections in a sumptuous but approachable manner which is an essential part of its charm.

We shall be having lunch at the Wallace Collection.

Apsley House, known as Number One London, is the London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington, and part of it is still preserved for the use of the present family.  It contains the first Duke’s collection of paintings,  porcelain, silver, sculpture and furniture and includes the Canova statue of Napoleon as “Mars the Peacemaker”.

Wellington Arch, one of London’s best-known landmarks, was built in 1825–7 and was originally intended as an outer entrance to Buckingham Palace. It was moved to its present position in the 1880s. Its original design was never completed, and a controversial equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington was erected on top of it in 1846. This was replaced in 1912 with the quadriga sculpture that crowns it today.

Tickets will be on sale during Jan/Feb lectures.

Strawberry Hill is the Gothic Revival Villa built in Twickenham by Horace Walpole.  Magically lit by a unique collection of renaissance glass, its gloomy castle-like hall and grey gothic staircase lead dramatically to the magnificence of the gallery.  The villa has recently undergone a £9million repair.

Syon is one of the last great houses of London, and has been in the family of the present owners for more than 400 years. Profoundly historic, the House holds a wealth of art within its grand classical interiors, while the Park and Gardens feel like deep countryside        

Tickets will be on sale during Oct/Nov lectures.

A unique musical tour of Westminster Abbey, offering an opportunity to learn about the Abbey’s remarkable history, hear about the events which helped shape its life and see the tombs of the medieval kings and queens.  The two-hour tour includes: the Quire, Sacrarium, High Altar, the Cosmati Pavement, St Edwards the Confessor’s Shrine, Henry VII Chapel and Poet’s Corner. The Purcell Club, which consists of former choristers of Westminster Abbey, will sing pieces of sacred music in various parts of the Abbey during the tour.  We will have supper together beforehand in the Crypt.

DORKING DFAS TOUR OF DEVON - 

Thursday 14th September to Sunday 17th September 2017

In September 2017, Dorking DFAS will be visiting some fantastic sites in Devon: Stourhead Landscape Garden (NT), Dartmouth (including the historic Royal Naval College), gorgeous Knightshays Garden (NT), Tiverton, a horse drawn barge trip, and a Red Coat Guide of Exeter. Phew!  During our stay we will be based at the comfortable Padbrook Park Hotel Golf & Country Club, in Collumpton.

Thursday 14th September 2017

0830 hrs    Coach reports Dorking Main Station (RH4 1TF)

0845 hrs    dep Dorking Main Station

1115 hrs    arr Stourton – Stourhead (NT) – 105 miles)

Non-NT Members at Extra cost - £13.20 per person Group rate (2016 price)

1515 hrs    dep Stourhead (NT) after Lunch break

1645 hrs    arr Cullompton, Padbrook Park Hotel Hotel – (60 miles)

(3 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

1900 hrs   Dinner each evening

Friday 15th September 2017

0900 hrs    dep Cullompton – Padbrook Park Hotel Hotel after Breakfast

1015 hrs    arr Dartmouth – Britannia Royal Naval College – (52 miles)

1030 hrs    Tour of Britannia Royal Naval College (2 ¼ hours)

Photo ID required (Passport, Driving Licence or Bus Pass)

1245 hrs    dep Britannia Royal Naval College

1300 hrs    arr Dartmouth – Town Pontoon – (1 mile)

1300 hrs    dep Dartmouth – Greenway Ferry

1330 hrs    arr Greenway (NT) – (Approx. 2 miles)

Non-NT Members at Extra cost - £9.60 per person Group rate (2016 price)

1600 hrs    dep Greenway (NT) – Greenway Ferry after Lunch break

1630 hrs    arr Dartmouth

1700 hrs    dep Dartmouth

1815 hrs    arr Cullompton – Padbrook Park Hotel Hotel – (52 miles)

Saturday 16th September 2017

0930 hrs    dep Cullompton hotel after Breakfast

1000 hrs    arr Bolham – Knightshayes (NT) – (14 miles)

Non-NT Members at Extra cost - £7.90 per person Group rate (2016 price)

1300 hrs    dep Knightshayes (NT) after early Lunch break

1315 hrs    arr Tiverton – (4 miles)

1330 hrs    Boarding Horse-Drawn Barge

1400 hrs    dep Horse-Drawn Barge (2 ½ hrs)

1645 hrs    dep Tiverton

1715 hrs    arr Cullompton – Padbrook Park Hotel Hotel – (6 miles)

Sunday 17th September 2017

0930 hrs    dep Cullompton – Padbrook Park Hotel Hotel – after Breakfast & Check-out

1000 hrs    arr Exeter – (14 miles)

Guided tour by Red Coat Guide (90mins)

1400 hrs    dep Exeter after Lunch

1845 hrs    arr Dorking Main Station – (168 miles)

45mins Comfort stop at a Garden Centre between Exeter & Dorking

Padbrook Park Hotel Golf & Country Club,      Collumpton, Devon, Ex15 1RU

Tel: 01884 836100

Fax: 01884 836101

E-mail: info@padbrookpark.co.uk

Website: www.padbrookpark.co.uk/

NT = National Trust

24.08.2016 David Lote – Elite Member AGTO - Association of Group Travel Organiseres

We all know HIGHCLARE CASTLE  for the TV series Downton Abbey, it is the home of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon. The country house is of Jacobetham style and the 5,000 acre  park was designed by Capability Brown. 

The castle is the home of The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, who welcome visitors to their now very famous house. The building dates back to Anglo-Saxon times –749AD – but has been rebuilt many times since.

Major rebuilding works were carried out by the Carnarvon family in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to make it the classical Georgian mansion which we will see today. We have the full day there to have a guided tour and explore the grounds and have lunch in the café.

Image:  Igtham Mote

OUR first visit of the day is to IGHTHAM MOTE (National Trust), an outstanding moated manor house originally dated to around 1320. The building is important for its original features and Pevsner described it as the most complete small medieval manor house in the country.

After our tour we will be staying for lunch in the café and then we travel to East Sussex for our visit to HAMMERWOOD PARK, which is supposed to be Sussex’s best kept secret! The quirky house was converted to flats in the 1960s, then purchased by Led Zeppelin in the 1970. It is known as an architectural gem and has a surprise in every room!

Hammerwood Park is a country house with a difference, is a grade 1 listed building and was one of the first houses in England to be built in the Greek Revival architectural style in 1792 by Benjamin Henry Latrobe.

It achieved infamy in the hands of the rock group Led Zeppelin in the 1970’s but is now a family home which has been largely restored together with its parkland. Many interesting features!

Ightham Mote is a National Trust moted building built around 1320, important because of it has most of its original features. Pevsner describes it as ‘the most complete small medieval manor house in the country’.

A printable version of this information can be found by visiting 'About Us', 'Documents'.

Image:  St Petersberg

THIS TOUR IS FULLY BOOKED but there is a waiting list for people able to take up a cancellation at short notice

OVERVIEW:  THE itinerary will include a tour of the main sights of St Petersburg with visits to the main churches and the Yusupov Palace and Rasputin exhibition. We shall spend time in The Hermitage (located in Catherine the Great’s Winter Palace) and then there will be an option of a visit to St Isaac Cathedral. A day spent in the countryside outside St Petersburg will include palaces built by the Tsars in eighteenth century.

In Moscow we shall, of course, visit the Kremlin and take in all that this fascinating capital city has to offer. Hotels in both cities are within walking distance of their centres.

Russia 21-29 May 2017 - £1700.00 per person, single supplement £395 approx. plus £100 visa and fingerprints required.

5 nights in St Petersburg, transfer by train to Moscow to stay 3 nights. Dinner, bed and breakfast and transport from Dorking included.

The Art & Palaces of St Petersburg & Moscow

9 days from £1,689 Departing 21st May 2017

For more information on this tour contact your Group Organiser

Beverley Mehta:   Tel: 01372 374304

Email: bandnmehta@tesco.net

What we will see:

Guided tour of St Petersburg

Yusupov Palace

The Hermitage

Pavlosk Palace

Pushkin – Catherine Palace & Alexander Palace

Russian Museum & Fabergé Museum

Peter & Paul Fortress

St Peter and St Paul Cathedral

Peterhof

Guided tour of Moscow & the Kremlin

See 'Featuring' tab below for full listing

Welcome to the ‘The Art & Palaces of St Petersburg & Moscow’ tour. You can view full details of this tour, share this tour with others and pay your final balance before departure.

·      Itinerary

·      Featuring

·      Hotel

·      Extras

·      Optional Excursions

·      Pay Final Balance

Day 1:   We meet at our designated pick up point (Dorking Railway Station) and transfer by coach to Heathrow Airport for our direct scheduled mid morning British Airways flight to St Petersburg. On arrival at St Petersburg we are met by our guide who will accompany us on all transfers and day excursions, and continue by coach to the centrally located 4* Sokos Vasilievsky Hotel for a five night stay on half board basis. On one evening, a three course set dinner without drinks will be served at a restaurant close to our hotel.

Day 2:  Today we have a full day guided tour of St Petersburg taking in sights such as the Church of St Nicholas, St Isaac’s Cathedral, the Smolny Institute and the Strelka from where we are afforded excellent views of the River Neva. We also see the Church of our Saviour on Spilled Blood, the iconic Russian style church with its beautiful multi-coloured domes, built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881. Our tour concludes with a visit to Yusupov Palace. Located on a quiet stretch of the Moika River and once the residence of the wealthy and respected Yuspov family, this palace saw one of the most dramatic episodes in Russia’s history; the murder of Grigory Rasputin.

Day 3:  The Hermitage is our destination today, one of the world’s greatest art galleries located in the Winter Palace founded by Catherine the Great. There are some two million works of art by the great masters and we have a guided tour on arrival to ensure you see some of the many highlights. The rest of the day is free to explore The Hermitage at your leisure.

Day 4:  We head for the countryside to visit the 18th century Pavlosk Palace, the imperial residence of Catherine the Great’s son. We then continue on to Pushkin, home of the Imperial family and former summer residence of the aristocracy, where we visit the sumptuous Catherine Palace built in Baroque style and boasting a 300 metre façade. Our full day ends with a visit to the Alexander Palace, residence of Nicholas II and his family.

Day 5:  Our day begins with a guided tour of the Russian Museum which houses a fine display of artefacts and some of Russia’s greatest works of art that are little known outside the country. We then visit the Fabergé Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of works by Carl Fabergé, including nine of the famous Imperial Easter Eggs. We continue to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the oldest building in St Petersburg, and the Baroque interior of the St Peter and St Paul Cathedral with its landmark golden needle spire which is the final resting place for many Russian Tsars including Peter the Great.

Day 6:  A grand avenue of terraces and pools leads to Peterhof, the magnificent palace built by Peter the Great overlooking the Baltic Sea and adorned with magnificent interiors. We transfer with our guide to St Petersburg Station for our Sapsan Express train to Moscow in second class coaches. On arrival in Moscow we transfer to the centrally located 4* Park Inn Sadu Hotel for a three night stay on half board basis. On one evening, a three course set dinner without drinks will be served at a restaurant close to our hotel.

Day 7:  This morning we enjoy an included sightseeing tour of Moscow taking in the Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral and much more. We visit the Kremlin this afternoon where we see one of the wonderful golden domes cathedrals and the 200 tonne Emperor Bell. Our tour also incorporates a visit to the Cathedral of the Assumption.

Day 8:  This morning we enjoy a guided tour at the Tretyakov Gallery, home to one of the finest collections of Russian art in the world. Founded by Moscow merchant Pavel Tretyakov, the gallery is located behind the fairytale façade of an early 20th century building. This afternoon we visit the Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery. The convent is best known as the place where Peter the Great imprisoned his half sister Sofia after deposing her and taking over as Tsar of Russia. The cemetery is home to the graves of Russian and Soviet dignitaries including Yeltsin, Kruschov, Gogol and Chechov.

Day 9:   We enjoy an included guided tour to one of the city’s beautiful Metro stations with sculptures, mosaics and chandeliers. We then transfer to Moscow Airport for our direct scheduled early evening flight to Heathrow, and onwards coach travel back to our original pick up points.

NB: Please note we reserve the right to alter the above itinerary if required for operational reasons. Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. Flight details may be subject to change. Price based on twin share. Minimum numbers required. Normal booking conditions apply. Any air holidays and flights in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Tailored Travel’s ATOL number is 5605.

DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

This visit will be complement the lecture with lunch on 16th February 'Restoration of Windsor Castle'.  We shall visit the Castle, have lunch and then visit the Savill Garden.

Image:  Woburn Abbey

SOLD OUT

Woburn Abbey & Bletchley Park  Please click on the title to view a lovely poster showing where we are going and what you can enjoy on today's visit.

On arrival at Woburn Abbey there will be the opportunity to explore the 28 acre award winning gardens designed by Humphry Repton as well as visiting the Abbey.   Woburn Abbey has been the historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Bedford for nearly 400 years and contains over 250 works of art displayed throughout 20 rooms. 

We shall have lunch at the Abbey in the Duchess’ Tea Room before travelling on to Bletchley Park to explore and experience the top-secret work of iconic WW” Codebreaking huts and blocks set within an atmospheric Victorian estate.

Image: From the Foundling Museum

WAITING LIST ONLY

Foundling Museum & United Grand Lodge, Wednesday, 25th January

Our day will start with a private lecture from Lars Tharp, Ambassador and Hogarth Curator of the Museum followed by time to visit the exhibitions and lunch.

The Foundling Museum explores the history of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and first public art gallery.

The moving story of the Foundling Hospital (which continues today as the children's charity 'Coram') and the abandoned children who grew up there is revealed through the artworks, objects and archival documents on display in the Museum.

Artists who donated work to the Foundling Hospital include William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds and John Michael Rysbrack. Paintings, sculpture, furniture and ceramics are displayed in beautiful eighteenth-century interiors, reconstructed from the original Hospital building.

Shown alongside the art are poignant artefacts which reveal the lives of the abandoned children and the desperation of the mothers who gave them up. These include the small everyday objects, or ‘tokens’, left by women with their babies in the eighteenth century, as well as admission records, text books, uniforms, and testimonies from former pupils of the Foundling Hospital School in the twentieth century.

The Museum also holds the Gerald Coke Handel Collection, an internationally-important collection of material relating to composer George Frideric Handel and his contemporaries. The Collection of around 10,000 items includes manuscripts and printed scores, libretti, books, periodicals, programmes, artworks, sound recordings and ephemera. Key items on display include Handel’s will and the manuscript score of Messiah bequeathed to the Hospital.

In the afternoon we shall have a guided tour of the United Grand Lodge Freemasons’ Hall.  Built  between 1927–1932 as a memorial to the Freemasons who died in the First World War, it is one of the finest Art Deco buildings in England, and is now Grade II* listed internally and externally. In addition to the Grand Temple (seating 1,700) there are 21 Lodge Rooms, a Library and Museum, Board and Committee Rooms and administrative offices.

Image:  Charterhouse Alms Houses

OVERVIEW :   WE Start with a tour of the oldest church in London, St Bartholomew’s, which was founded in 1123 as an Augustinian priory built by Henry I, and has been in continuous use as a church since 1143. It is located in the Smithfield area and survived the Great Fire of London and the Blitz in WW2. It was restored in the nineteenth century, and renovated to its medieval plan by Sir Aston Webb. The church is noted for its remarkable architecture and it has been used in many films, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Golden Age, The Other Boleyn Girl and many others.

We will have a lunch stop nearby and then in the afternoon visit the Charterhouse Alms Houses. Originally a Carthusian monastery established in 1371 by Sir Walter de Mauny and used by twenty-four monks in two-storey houses arranged around a large cloister. Since that time it has had many Orders living there and is today used by fourteen brothers, who will be giving us a guided tour of the site and its history.

The Charterhouse London and St. Bartholomew’s Church

The Charterhouse is a historic complex of buildings in the Smithfield area of London dating back to the 14th century. It began its life as an Carthusian priory, founded in 1371 and dissolved in 1537. It was altered and extended after 1611 when it became an almshouse and school , and is still an almshouse for retired gentlemen.

St Bartholomew’s Church  is London’s oldest surviving church founded in 1123 as an Angustinian Priory and has been in constant use since 1143. It is today an active Anglican/Episcopal church. It has many beautiful art works on display.

Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th September 2016:

Tour of Lincoln (4 days, 3 nights) Four days three nights tour

THIS TOUR IS FULLY BOOKED but there is a waiting list for people able to take up a cancellation at short notice

Cost £520 per person ( twin occupancy) Single supplement of £60 per person.

Provisional itinerary:

THURSDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 0830 hrs Coach reports Dorking Main Station 0845 hrs dep Dorking Main Station 1300 hrs arr Grantham, Belton House (NT) Non-NT Members at Extra cost - £11.30 per person Group rate (2015 price) Grounds only - £8.70 per person Group rate (2015 price) 1600 hrs dep Belton House (NT) after Lunch 1645 hrs arr The Lincoln Hotel, (23 miles) (3 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast) 45mins Comfort stop between Dorking & Grantham to be arranged with the Driver

FRIDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2016 Doddington Hall and RAF Coningsby: 0930 hrs dep Lincoln Hotel after Breakfast 1000 hrs arr Doddington Hall – (8 miles) Guided tour of House (75mins) plus free wander in Garden,Farm Shop & Cafe 1245 hrs dep Doddington Hall after early Lunch 1345 hrs arr RAF Coningsby – (36 miles) Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Museum (BBMF) Guided tours (60/90mins) Shop, Exhibition & Cafe 1600 hrs dep BBMF 1700 hrs arr Lincoln, The Lincoln Hotel

SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2016: Gainsborough Old Hall and Lincoln 1015 hrs dep Lincoln 1045 hrs arr Gainsborough – Gainsborough Old Hall (opens 1100 hours) – (19 miles) 1230 hrs arr Lincoln – (19 miles) Lincoln: At Leisure in Lincoln in the afternoon Lincoln Cathedral – Heritage Open Day – Free Admission – Tour bookings from 0915 hours Floor Tours 1100, 1300 & 1500 hours (60mins), can’t be pre-booked Tower Tours 1030 or 1130 hours then hourly (60mins), can’t be pre-booked Roof Tours 1000 or 1100 hours then hourly (90mins), can’t be pre-booked Each tour need to be booked on the day at an additional small charge. Lincoln Castle – Guided tours - All Inclusive Ticket

SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2016 0930 hrs dep Lincoln – The Lincoln Hotel – after Breakfast & Check-out 1115 hrs arr Elton, Elton Hall (57 miles) Guided tour of House (75mins) plus Garden 1430 hrs dep Elton Hall after Lunch break 1715 hrs arr Dorking Main Station – (116 miles)

Accommodation: The Lincoln Hotel, Eastgate, Lincoln, LN2 1PN Tel: 01522 520348 Fax: 01522 510780 E-mail: enquiries@thelincolnhotel.com

Website: www.thelincolnhotel.com/

NT = National Trust EH English Heritage

BELTON HOUSE (NT property) For three hundred years, Belton House was the seat of the Brownlow and Cust family. In 1984 they gave the house away—complete with most of its contents to the National Trust, Opposite the impressive Lincoln Cathedral and a 5-minute walk from the city centre is The Lincoln Hotel. Drinks can be enjoyed in the outdoor seating area and beautiful garden, while the Green Room Restaurant offers views of the cathedral. Local ingredients are used to create the varied menu in the bright and award-winning Green Room restaurant, which also serves a full English and continental breakfast. The wooden-beamed cellar bar, Bar ‘67, is a stylish place to relax with a drink and has a 60s/70s theme. Guests can also enjoy live music here during the week. Each room at the Lincoln Hotel benefits from a flat-screen TV with Freeview and a seating area. Some rooms have views of either the hotel gardens or Lincoln Cathedral.

DODDINGTON HALL is, from the outside, an Elizabethan prodigy house or mansion complete with walled courtyards and a gabled gatehouse. Inside it was very largely updated in the 1760s RAF CONINGSBY & BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT MUSEUM Houses six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, Douglas Dakota and the iconic PA 477-Avro Lancaster.

LINCOLN CASTLE is a major castle constructed in Lincoln, England during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress. The castle is unusual in that it has two mottes.[1] It is only one of two such castles in the country, the other being at Lewes in Sussex. Lincoln Castle remained in use as a prison and law court into modern times, and is one of the better preserved castles in England; the Crown Courts continue to this day. It is open to the public as a museum. Lincoln castle remains one of the most impressive Norman castles in the United Kingdom. It is still possible to walk around the immense Norman walls which provide a magnificent view of the castle complex, together with panoramic views of the cathedral, the city, and the surrounding country LINCOLN CATHEDRAL It was in 1092 that this first Cathedral at Lincoln built by Bishop Remigius was consecrated. Remigius, a Benedictine monk was the first Norman Bishop of the largest diocese in medieval England, extending from the Humber to the Thames GAINSBOROUGH OLD HALL (English Heritage) The hall was built by Sir Thomas Burgh in 1460. The Burghs were rich, flamboyant and powerful people. Gainsborough Old Hall was not only their home, but also a demonstration of their wealth and importance. Sir Thomas was a great benefactor to Newark Church and also the founder of the Chantry and Alms House at Gainsborough. In 1470, the manor was attacked by Sir Robert Welles over a clash about lands, status, and honour, but it was not severely damaged. It was in 1484, that Sir Thomas entertained King Richard III in his hall.

ELTON HALL is a baronial hall in Elton, Cambridgeshire. It has been the ancestral home of the Proby family since 1660. The hall lies in an 3,800-acre (15 km2) estate through which the River Nene runs. The building incorporates 15th, 17th, 18th and 19th century parts and is a Grade I listed building. [1] Elton Hall is two miles (3 km) from Fotheringhay Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots was executed in 1587. The Victorian gardens have been skilfully restored in recent years and contain a knot garden, a new rose and herbaceous garden, fine hedges and a gothic orangery built to celebrate the Millennium. The gardens are promoted by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.[2] The interior The south front (garden) incorporates the 15th century tower and chapel which were built at the time of Henry VII. In the 17th century a new wing was added to the west. The Marble Hall and main staircase were designed by Henry Ashton and are remarkable examples of a mid-Victorian revival of mid-18th century style. The Drawing Room, the largest room in the house, was formed from the medieval chapel around 1740. The 18th century ceiling with its enriched cornice and frieze remains, but the present decoration dates from 1860. The Dining Room was built in 1860 and was also designed by Ashton. The three large Gothic windows are exact copies of the windows that were in the north wall of the medieval chapel. The Library contains a large collection of books representing a continuous interest from the time of Sir Thomas Proby. From the Main Library a short passage leads to the Inner Library situated in the medieval Sapcote Tower. Other rooms of special interest are the Lower and Upper Octagon rooms, the Yellow Drawing Room and the Ante Dining room. The current chapel was formed from part of the undercroft of the Sapcotes' chapel and has 15th century vaulting.

OUR MEMBERS WILL be able to open the door to the charming Tudor castle at Walmer by the sea which is now home to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and explore eight acres of magnificent gardens, woodland, and sea views.

“Come and see the original Wellington Boots in this 200th anniversary year of Waterloo. It is time to take a fresh look at the castle and see new displays, hear previously untold stories, and discover a new side to its famous resident”. The tour will then move on to Deal Castle which was another of the chain of castles built by the order of King Henry VIII which includes Calshot, Camber, and Pendennis Castles. It is one of the finest Tudor artillery castles in England, and among the earliest and most elaborate of this chain of coastal forts. We will be able to explore the whole of the castle, from the storerooms to the first-floor captain’s residence and take a walk around the defences and admire the squat, rounded bastions and canons.

WAITING LIST ONLY:

PRINT OUT the full details by going to the web page 'About Us', then 'Documents'.

NORTHERN SPAIN 2016 - 19th -28th June Santander, Burgos, Bilbao, Oviedo, Leon, Gijon & Ribadeo, Santiago de Compostela, Lugo & Coruna This will be a 3-Centre tour to get as much out of the tour as possible, we shall be staying at hotels in Santander, Oviedo and Santiago De Compostela Dates: Sunday 19th June to Tuesday 28th June 2016

PRICE PER PERSON: £1499.00 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £275.00 PLEASE NOTE: The above costs are based on a minimum of 30 paying guests however no accommodation or flights are being held so are subject to availability and also the above prices could alter

INCLUDED: Accommodation as specified Meals – Breakfast and Dinner daily Lunch on Day 10 Return economy flights Tour Manager Tour itinerary as detailed with local guides as specified Gratuities

NOT INCLUDED: Meals not specified and all drinks Optional excursions / Travel Insurance All items of a personal nature Porterage

Northern Spain:19th June – 28th June 2016 – 9 nights / 10 days

Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday 19 June 2016) Private Coach transfer from Dorking mainline Railway Station to Stansted Airport to take flight to Bilbao. Arrive Bilbao airport and transfer to hotel in Santander for a stay of four nights. Welcome Dinner at the hotel included.

Day 2 – Santander & Santillana del Mar Santander is an elegant city situated on a magnificent wide bay. The historic quarter is located against a wonderful natural backdrop of sea and mountains and there are many majestic buildings. You will have a guided city tour today and also a boat trip around the Bay of Santander. In the afternoon there will be a visit to Santilliana del Mar which is often considered one of the most beautiful towns in Spain. A medieval town of stunning architecture situated on the northern route of the Pilgrim´s Road to Santiago de Compostela. Its various defence towers and Renaissance palaces make it one of the most important historical areas of Cantabria. Dinner at a local restaurant included.

Day 3 – Burgos The historic capital of Castile, Burgos is a treasure trove of historic architecture. The city is dominated by its vast Gothic cathedral dating from 1221, and is rich with other religious architecture, including the Monasterio de las Huelgas with its remarkable cloisters and the Carthusian Cartuja de Miraflores. There are a number of picturesque squares in the city and a peaceful riverfront. Here you will have a guided city tour. Return to Santander and Dinner at a local restaurant included.

Day 4 – Bilbao A modern and prosperous city, Bilbao sits in a narrow valley, the surrounding green mountains visible through the high rise buildings. Here entrance is included to the Guggenheim Museum, a must for modern art lovers. There will be free time in the city for independent exploration before transferring back to Santander. Dinner at a local restaurant included.

Day 5 – Cangas Onis / Covadonga / Oviedo Today you will depart Santander and transfer to Oviedo for a 2 night stay. En route you will drive through several picturesque coastline villages. There will be a stop at Cangas de Onis and then after a short drive you will arrive at Covandonga – the gateway to the Picos de Europa National Park. The village of Covadonga is noted as the reputed site of the defeat of the Moors in the Battle of Covadonga (c. 718–725) by Pelayo, the first Christian King of Asturias. The battle traditionally marks the beginning of the Christian re-conquest of Spain. The remains of Pelayo are buried in the Holy Cave today a national shrine and place of pilgrimage. Continue to Oviedo for a guided walk through the pedestrian old town before checking in to your hotel for a stay of two nights. Dinner at the hotel included.

Day 6 – Leon Full day tour to Leon with a guided city tour including visit to the cathedral and free time for independent exploration. Return to Oviedo and Dinner at a local restaurant included

Day 7 – Gijon / Ribadeo / Santiago de Compostela Today you will depart Oviedo and transfer to Santiago de Compostela En route there will be a stop at Gijon where you will have a guided tour of the historic quarter. Continuing along the coast you will visit Ribadeo before continuing to Santiago. Arrive and check in to your hotel for a stay of three nights. Dinner at hotel included.

Day 8 – Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of Galicia, Spain where it is believed that Santiago Apóstol (St James the Apostle) was brought back by stone boat and buried here after his death in Palestine. Asturian King Alfonso II had a church erected above the holy remains, and pilgrims began flocking to it. By the 11th century the pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago was a major European phenomenon, bringing a flood of funds into the city and now some 200,000 pilgrims continue to journey here each year. Today you will enjoy a half day city tour with visit to the cathedral included and the historic centre designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The remainder of the day will be at leisure. Dinner at a local restaurant included.

Day 9 – Lugo & Coruna A full day excursion to Lugo including a guided walking tour and a guided city tour of Coruna including visit to the lighthouse Torre de Hercules. Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant included.

Day 10 - O Grove, Combarro & Pontevedra You will depart Santiago and drive south towards Rias Baixas en route visiting several interesting small villages. Lunch included at a local restaurant before transferring to Santiago de Compostela Airport for return flight to the UK.

Arrive GATWICK Airport and Private Coach transfer to DORKING MAIN LINE STATION Hotels SANTANDER: Silken Rio 4* - Hotel Santemar 4* - http://www.hotelsantemar.com/en/4estrellas/ Silken Monumental Naranco 4* - http://www.hoteles-silken.com/en/hotels/monumental-naranco-oviedo/ SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA: Hesperia Peregrino 4* - http://www.nh-hotels.com/hotel/hesperia-peregrino

Flights- Easyjet - Provisional times London Stansted – Bilbao 14.00/17.00 Santiago / London Gatwick 21.15/22.10

What’s Included:

• Private coach transfers to/from Stansted and Gatwick airports • Return economy flights
• 9 nights’ accommodation as specified
• Breakfast and Dinner daily & 1 Lunch
• Itinerary and guided tours as detailed & entrance fees
• Tour manager throughout
• Gratuities

What’s not included:

• Meals not specified and all drinks
• Single room supplement £275.00
• Travel Insurance
• All items of a personal nature
• Porterage

How to book: A deposit of £200 per person (plus insurance premium, if applicable) is required to secure your booking. Bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis, so please book as soon as possible to ensure your place.

Please complete the Travel Editions booking form and return to: Beverley Mehta, Pilgrims, 12 Elm Drive, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8EX, together with your deposit of £200.00 per person.

Cheques should be made payable to TRAVEL EDITIONS LTD. Please note that there is a surcharge of 2% on credit card bookings but no fee on debit cards.

Eltham Palace Panorama’ by Mark J. Pearce licensed via Wikimedia Commons

Experience the decade of decadence at Eltham Palace, as you are transported back to the 1930s, just in time for cocktail hour… Created for millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld, Eltham Palace is part showpiece of Art Deco design and 1930s cutting-edge technology, and part medieval royal palace. Make yourself at home, try on clothes, play games and listen to music, as a guest of the Courtaulds. After a £1.7 million project Eltham Palace reopened on 3rd April 2015 with five new rooms to see. Members will enjoy a talk on its history before a tour of the palace and gardens.

BARBARA ASKEW WILL follow her February lecture at Dorking Halls with a guided walking tour of the significant sites of the Great Fire.

Members will follow the path of the fire from its starting point in Pudding Lane to Pie Corner where it was eventually checked. Old drinking houses hidden in narrow lanes, delightful churches built by Sir Christopher Wren after the fire, the Guildhall and St Paul’s Cathedral are some of the features along the route.

Members will be given a short lecture in Tate Modern and then transfer by boat to Tate Britain where they can make their own choice of exhibitions. Where to have lunch will depend on the state of the tide under the bridges.

SECOND VISIT: THURSDAY 17TH FEBRUARY. SOLD OUT - WAITING LIST ONLY.

This visit will follow our lecture on the subject in December. The party will be divided into morning and afternoon groups and there will be a chance to explore Covent Garden area.

Backstage tours include an introduction to the colourful history of the theatre, an insight into the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House and a look at aspects of current productions. As the Royal Opera House is a fully working theatre, each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent backstage technology in operation

TWO VISITS: TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY AND THURSDAY 25TH FEBRUARY.

SOLD OUT - WAITING LIST ONLY.

This visit will follow our lecture on the subject in December. The party will be divided into morning and afternoon groups and there will be a chance to explore Covent Garden area.

Backstage tours include an introduction to the colourful history of the theatre, an insight into the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House and a look at aspects of current productions. As the Royal Opera House is a fully working theatre, each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent backstage technology in operation

PALLANT HOUSE GALLERY is home to one of the best collections of Modern British art in the UK, with works by Henry Moore, Walter Sickert, Ben Nicholson, Eduardo Paolozzi and Peter Blake. The core of this ‘collection of collections’ is Modern British art but other artworks figure such as the Bow Porcelain of the Geoffrey Freeman Collection. Each group of works has been formed by different collectors and different impulses and lends its own character to the collection, making the experience of Pallant House Gallery engaging, insightful and unique. Members will have a one hour lecture on the history of the gallery and time to see the exhibitions at their own pace. Then there will be free time to have lunch and explore the Christmas Markets and the Cathedral. The magnificent Cathedral has stood at the centre of Chichester for over 900 years. With unique architecture from each century of its life, this Cathedral is both ancient and modern, where original medieval features sit alongside world famous contemporary artworks.

Dorking DFAS Glasgow Thursday 10th September to Monday 14th September 2015 (5 days, 4 nights) Thursday 10th September 2015 0730 hrs Coach reports Dorking Main Station 0745 hrs dep Dorking Main Station 0825 hrs arr London Gatwick Airport (North Terminal) – (17 miles) Check-in – British Airways BA2960 1025 hrs dep London Gatwick Airport - British Airways 1150 hrs arr Glasgow Airport 1215 hrs dep Glasgow Airport by coach 1245 hrs arr Balloch – Loch Lomond – (17miles) Vintage Inns – The Balloch House – Lunch (2 course Lunch – included) 1430 hrs dep Balloch – Loch Lomond Experience Cruise – Sweeney’s Cruises (60mins) 1530 hrs dep Balloch 1550 hrs arr Helensburgh – The Hill House (NTS) – (8 miles) 1700 hrs dep The Hill House 1730 hrs arr Langbank – Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa – (22 miles) (4 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast) Friday 11th September 2015 0915 hrs dep Langbank – Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa after Breakfast 1000 hrs arr Glasgow – (18 miles) Morning ½ day Guide – Scottish Tourist Guides Assoc. 60mins Sightseeing/Orientation Tour of Glasgow City Centre Followed by a Tour of the Docks Afternoon St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art Glasgow Cathedral 1645 hrs dep Glasgow 1715 hrs arr Langbank – Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa – (19 miles) Saturday 12th September 2015 0930 hrs dep Langbank – Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa after Breakfast 1000 hrs arr Glasgow – Pollock Country Park – (17 miles) The Burrell Collection Pollock House (NTS) 1400 hrs dep Pollock Country Park 1415 hrs arr Glasgow – Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum – (5 miles) 1645 hrs dep Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum 1715 hrs arr Langbank – Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa – (18 miles) Sunday 13th September 2015 0930 hrs dep Langbank – Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa after Breakfast 1000 hrs arr Glasgow – (16 miles) Morning Hunterian Museum Afternoon Hunterian Art Gallery and The Mackintosh House 1645 hrs dep Glasgow 1715 hrs arr Langbank – Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa – (18 miles) Monday 14th September 2015 0930 hrs dep 0930 hrs dep Langbank – Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa after Breakfast 1000 hrs arr Glasgow – (18 miles) At Leisure in Glasgow 1230 hrs Lunch at The Willow Tea Rooms – Sauchiehall Street (2 course Lunch – included) 1430 hrs dep The Willow Tea Rooms 1445 hrs arr Glasgow – Holmwood (NTS) – (5 miles) 1645 hrs dep Holmwood (NTS) 1715 hrs arr Glasgow Airport – (12 miles) – Check-in British Airways BA2965 1915 hrs dep Glasgow Airport – British Airways 2035 hrs arr London Gatwick Airport (North Terminal) 2100 hrs dep London Gatwick Airport (North Terminal) by coach 2130 hrs arr Dorking Main Station – (14 miles) Gleddoch House Golf Hotel and Spa Old Greenock Road, Langbank Glasgow, Renfrewshire PA14 6YE Tel: 0843 178 7120 Fax: 0843 178 7121 E-mail: reservations.gleddochhouse@bespokehotels.com Website: www.bespokehotels.com/gleddochhousegolfhotel NTS = the National Trust for Scotland 03.12.2014 David Lote – Elite Member Group Travel Organisers Association

St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, arrived on the coast of Kent as a missionary to England in 597 AD. He came from Rome, sent by Pope Gregory the Great. He was given a church at Canterbury (St Martin’s, after St Martin of Tours, still standing today) by the local King, Ethelbert whose Queen, Bertha, a French Princess, was already a Christian. This building had been a place of worship during the Roman occupation of Britain and is the oldest church in England still in use. Augustine had been consecrated a bishop in France and was later made an archbishop by the Pope. He established his seat within the Roman city walls (the word cathedral is derived from the Latin word for a chair ‘cathedra’, which is itself taken from the Greek ‘kathedra’ meaning seat) and built the first cathedral there, becoming the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Since that time, there has been a community around the Cathedral offering daily prayer to God; this community is arguably the oldest organisation in the English speaking world. The present Archbishop, The Most Revd Justin Welby, is 105th in the line of succession from Augustine. Until the 10th century the Cathedral community lived as the household of the Archbishop. During the 10th century, it became a formal community of Benedictine monks, which continued until the monastery was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1540. Augustine’s original building lies beneath the floor of the nave – it was extensively rebuilt and enlarged by the Saxons, and the Cathedral was rebuilt completely by the Normans in 1070 following a major fire. There have been many additions to the he building over the last nine hundred years, but parts of the quire and some of the windows and their stained glass date from the 12th century. By 1077, Archbishop Lanfranc had rebuilt it as a Norman church, described as “nearly perfect”. A staircase and parts of the North Wall – in the area of the North West transept also called the Martyrdom – remain from that building. The site of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom, Canterbury Cathedral. Installed in 1986, the dramatic new sculpture of the sword’s point – with its representation of four swords for the four knights (two metal swords with reddened tips and their two shadows). The design is the work of Giles Blomfield of Truro.

There has been some form of ‘pleasure garden’ and parkland at Sheffield Park since the 1700s. Today’s garden is a horticultural work of art created from centuries of different approaches to landscape design. Each owner has left their impression – whether it was the creation of the lakes, the construction of the Pulham Falls, the planting of Palm Walk or the introduction of many different and shrub species from around the world. Four lakes form the heart of the garden with meandering paths circulating in and out of the glades and wooded areas that surround them. There are over 87 champion trees planted throughout, some of which help to provide the vibrant colour show that Sheffield Park and Garden has become famous for in the autumn season. The national collection of Ghent Azaleas combined with a selection of rhododendron hybrids supply a blaze of colour over the late spring and early summer months. Our historic parkland would once have played host to deer and game hunting for the guests at Sheffield Park House, which are thought to have included Henry VIII. At the bottom of our parkland runs the flood meadow and river Ouse that form our wildlife haven. Exciting plans are a-foot to restore the river and flood meadow to their original condition, which will involve rebuilding the meanders in the river that once cut across the meadow. Already a mass of wildlife activity in the spring and summer with dragonflies, butterflies and birds buzzing around, the restoration of the meanders is expected to attract even more species to the area – a bonus for wildlife enthusiasts.

Suggested itinerary: Please see tour dated 14th May 2015. Total price for the tour Twin/Double occupancy: £1,069: Single supplement of £140. For more information please contact

Suggested itinerary Thursday 14 May 2015 We will depart from our local pick up point and travel to Heathrow airport for our scheduled flight with British Airways to Bulgaria, which is due to depart at 08.25 and arrive in Sofia at 13.35. We will be met on arrival at Sofia airport by our local coach and guide and will transfer by coach to Plovdiv (150km away), one of the oldest towns in Europe and Bulgaria’s second largest city. En route we will make a refreshment stop where coffee/tea and cake will be served. Check in to the 4 star Dedeman Trimontium Hotel for 2 nights’ bed and buffet breakfast accommodation. There will be time to explore the historic centre on foot before dinner in our hotel. Located in the city centre, the Dedeman Trimontium Princess Hotel Plovdiv provides easy access to Plovdiv's popular retail and sightseeing areas. It has an on-site gym, an indoor pool, a sauna and a spa & wellness centre. Rooms at the Dedeman Trimontium Princess Hotel Plovdiv are elegant and comfortable, and offer a mini bar. Amenities featured in the rooms include a private bathroom, a telephone and a TV. The Princess's restaurant is open for breakfast, providing guests with a pleasant dining experience near their room. For those wishing to dine out, there is a variety of dining options in close proximity to the hotel. Friday 15 May 2015 After breakfast at the hotel we will have a leisurely walking tour up through the picturesque cobbled streets of old Plovdiv. Located on the banks of the River Maritsa it is surrounded by three hills and there is much architectural evidence to support its occupation by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottoman Turks and Bulgarians. From time to time we can see the remains of the Byzantine city walls and we pass several well-preserved timbered town houses dating from the end of the Ottoman period, the 19th century, when Bulgaria enjoyed its ‘National Revival’. We visit the restored Roman Amphitheatre, impressively situated overlooking the main city centre, the Church of St Constantine and St Helena, and one or two of the elegant ‘museum houses’, which once belonged to local merchant families. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant in the old town. This afternoon we drive a short distance into the Rhodope Mountains to the spectacular 11th century Bachkovo Monastery, an attractive ensemble of buildings, where the Refectory and the Ossuary will be specially opened for us to see the wonderful medieval frescoes. This evening we will visit a local winery where we will enjoy wine tasting prior to dinner. Saturday 16 May 2015 We will check out of our hotel after breakfast and drive towards Sofia, making a stop en route at Koprivshtitsa, situated among the wooded hills of the Sredna Gora, where the April Uprising of 1876 began against the Ottoman regime. We will walk through the typical old style streets and have the chance to visit one or two of the numerous fine 19th century wooden ‘museum’ houses, which have been beautifully maintained. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant. This afternoon we will continue through the ‘central highlands’ to Sofia, where we will check in to the 4 star Crystal Palace Hotel for 3 nights’ bed and buffet breakfast accommodation. After time to freshen up, dinner will be served in a nearby restaurant. Sunday 17 May 2015 After breakfast at the hotel we will embark on a full morning of visits in the capital city of Sofia. The word ‘Sofia’ means wisdom and roads from all parts of the world have been meeting here for nearly 7000 years. People have come and gone; civilisations have advanced and declined but the city remains and today there are more than 250 historic, archaeological and architectural landmarks. Visits will include the Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral, (possibly to include the celebration of Sunday morning Eucharist which is accompanied by the cathedral choir), which was built to commemorate the Russian soldiers who died during the War of Independence (1877-1878), and houses a valuable collection of Bulgarian icons from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The crypt houses the Museum of Medieval Bulgarian Art and displays an impressive collection of icons from the 9th century. We will also visit Parliament Square, the churches of St Sofia and St George, both dating from the late Roman/early Byzantine period, and the Russian Church of St Nikola. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant. The afternoon will be spent exploring the National Historical Museum, located on the slopes of Mount Vitosha to the south of the city inside a former presidential residence. The museum boasts an extensive collection of old Thracian treasures and presents the history of Bulgaria by means of an excellent array of artefacts from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. Dinner this evening will again be in a local restaurant near our hotel. Monday 18 May 2015 After breakfast at the hotel we will enjoy a full day visit to the monastery at Rila. Silhouetted against the beautiful panorama of mountain peaks are wooden balconies and azure fretwork, colonnades, façades and colourful frescoes. Founded in the 10th century by the hermit St John of Rila, the current monastery was built in the 14th century and is undoubtedly Bulgaria’s finest monastery. Lunch will be served in a restaurant close to the monastery. On our return to Sofia, dinner this evening will be taken in a local restaurant accompanied by a traditional folklore show. Tuesday 19 May 2015 Check out of the hotel after a leisurely breakfast and enjoy a short visit to the small medieval church at Boyana (UNESCO Heritage site), which houses extraordinary frescoes dating back to 1259, one of the finest surviving achievements of Bulgarian painting. After a snack in a coffee house (not included in the tour price), we will be taken to Sofia Airport and check in for our return flight to the UK scheduled to depart at 14.30 arriving in Heathrow at 15.55. Our local coach will meet us at the airport for the return transfer to our original pick up point. N.B. As this tour has been planned many months in advance, the final itinerary may vary slightly from the above. Please note that the flights times have been taken from the 2014 schedule and may be subject to change for 2015. Total price for the tour Twin/Double occupancy: £1,069: Single supplement of £140. Price Includes: - Coach transfers to/from the Dorking Railway station to Heathrow airport (Terminal 5) - Return scheduled flights with British Airways to Sofia - Services of John Osborne as Guide-Lecturer throughout - Services of a local English speaking guide throughout - All local coaching in and around Bulgaria as per the programme - 2 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation in Plovdiv in a 4 star Trimontium Princess Hotel - 3 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation in Sofia in a 4 Star Crystal Palace Hotel - light refreshments en route from the airport to Plovdiv - 5 dinners ( inc. 1 dinner with wine tasting and 1 dinner with folklore show) - 4 lunches - All entrance fees and taxes to museums and sites as per the programme - Porterage - Gratuities

Farley Farm House: A warm welcome awaits you at Farley Farm House in the spirit of its former Surrealist occupants, the photographer Lee Miller and artist Roland Penrose. Lee Miller, Roland Penrose and their son Antony moved to Farley Farm House in 1949 and the house soon became a meeting place for the leading figures in the world of Modern Art. Pablo Picasso came here in 1950, and Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Man Ray, Echaurren Matta and Antoni Tapies visited from overseas whilst Eileen Agar, Kenneth Armitage, William Turnbull, John Craxton and Richard Hamilton formed the British contingent. Works by many of these artists are displayed in the house in a selection that regularly changes as items are loaned to exhibitions around the world. For the most part the house is just as it was when it was occupied by the Penrose family with the same furnishing and décor. Lee Miller’s kitchen looks as though she has just popped out to gather vegetables from the garden and Roland Penrose’s study only lacks the aroma of his cigar smoke. Farley Farm House is alive and vibrant today as it documents Surrealism and Modern Art, the most exciting art movements of the 20th Century and in so doing informs our present day culture. The Sculpture Garden surrounding the house was designed by Roland Penrose and has wonderful views of the South Downs.

Lewes Castle: Originally called Bray Castle, construction began in 1067 on William I’s behalf by his half brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and later under William’s direct supervision. William de Warenne, one of William’s foremost supporters continued work in 1080. Lewes castle is one of two in England with two mottes. Both mottes still exist, but the second motte known as Brack Mount does have any surviving fortifications. The castle was built to control the rape of Lewes. William had divided Sussex into five rapes each controlled by a castle. This was to ensure William’s access to the coast and to Normandy. The Battle of Lewes was fought on 14 May 1264, between King Henry III and Simon de Montfort who won the battle making him the de facto ruler of England. John de Warenne, the grandson of the, John de Warenne who fought for the king in the battle of Lewes was responsible for building the impressive barbican early in the 14th century. John de Warenne died without an heir and in 1347 the castle became the property of the earls of Arundel. The town of Lewes was sacked by the French in 1377. Sir Edward Dallingridge, who was later to build Bodiam Castle, helped organize the Sussex defences against the French. In 1382 the castle was damaged and plundered in a riot. More of the castle was pulled down in 1620 and the stone sold off. However today we can enjoy magnificent views of the town of Lewes and surrounding countryside from the Ann of Cleves House: Here you can explore how the Tudors and Elizabethans lived, worked and relaxed at home. Find out about the part played by this beautiful medieval house in the story of one of England’s most famous kings, Henry VIII. Other highlights include the authentically furnished kitchen and the garden which uses traditional plants and Tudor planting schemes. Farley Farm House: A warm welcome awaits you at Farley Farm House in the spirit of its former Surrealist occupants, the photographer Lee Miller and artist Roland Penrose. Lee Miller, Roland Penrose and their son Antony moved to Farley Farm House in 1949 and the house soon became a meeting place for the leading figures in the world of Modern Art. Pablo Picasso came here in 1950, and Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Man Ray, Echaurren Matta and Antoni Tapies visited from overseas whilst Eileen Agar, Kenneth Armitage, William Turnbull, John Craxton and Richard Hamilton formed the British contingent. Works by many of these artists are displayed in the house in a selection that regularly changes as items are loaned to exhibitions around the world. For the most part the house is just as it was when it was occupied by the Penrose family with the same furnishing and décor. Lee Miller’s kitchen looks as though she has just popped out to gather vegetables from the garden and Roland Penrose’s study only lacks the aroma of his cigar smoke. Farley Farm House is alive and vibrant today as it documents Surrealism and Modern Art, the most exciting art movements of the 20th Century and in so doing informs our present day culture. The Sculpture Garden surrounding the house was designed by Roland Penrose and has wonderful views of the South Downs.

The House, its breath-taking interiors and stunning art collection are free for everyone to enjoy. Discover the vast array of masterpieces hanging in this grand setting, including Rembrandt’s self-portrait, and be awed by the breath-taking beauty of architect Robert Adam’s library. Kenwood’s beauty lies on offering something for everyone, from crafts and children’s trails to a world class art collection, a cafe to relax and unwind in and acres of grounds to stretch your legs - come and see what Kenwood has to offer you. This majestic Villa was the home of the great judge Lord Mansfield and his family, including his mixed-race niece Dido Belle – now the topic of the movie ‘Belle’ released in cinemas from June 2014.

Two Temple Place is an extraordinary late Victorian mansion built by William Waldorf Astor. The house is owned by registered charity, The Bulldog Trust and supports the charitable activities of the Trust through exhibitions and events hosted in the building. The house was designed for use primarily as Astor’s estate office by one of the foremost neo-Gothic architects of the late nineteenth-century, John Loughborough Pearson. Astor had emigrated to England in 1891 as arguably, the richest man in the world and no expense was spared when work began on Two Temple Place in 1892. In addition to the extraordinary, opulent interior, when it was finished in 1895, Two Temple Place contained the largest strong room in Europe as well as two other enormous fortified safes. The current exhibition will be included in the visit. In the early years of the twentieth century, the riches gained from the manufacturing bonanza in Lancashire allowed wealthy industrialists to amass exquisite private collections that ranked among the greatest in the country: priceless Roman coins, rare Egyptology, mediaeval manuscripts, Turner watercolours, Tiffany glass, Japanese prints, Byzantine icons, ivory sculptures and even taxidermic beetles! The exhibit brings a number of these exceptional and eccentric collections together, it reveals the amazing stories behind seven of the collecting characters, as well as what their fascination with precious objects said about the fast-developing and often cruel times in which they lived. Why did they gather these objects and beautiful things? And why, on their deaths. did they give them away?