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TUDOR ENGLAND

Explore the worlds of Henry VIII, Ann Boleyn, Shakespeare, Elizabeth I

This short tour introduces participants to perhaps one of Britain’s most iconic historical periods and is an interesting variant on the 'Homes and Gardens' theme. Certainly, and thanks in part to Hollywood, the main characters of the Tudor age have become as famous today as in their own time.

Fortunately, the Tudor monarchs left behind them a fabulous selection of palaces and castles. Uncover the illustrious history of Britain's Tudor monarchy, as we visit homes and sites related to Henry VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth I. This tour showcases some of Britain's most spectacular stately homes and royal castles. A highlight is sure to be Henry's favourite residence, Hampton Court Palace. Your knowledgeable guide will bring these sites to life as you relive past lives and times! Join us and 'be a Brit different!'

Tour Inclusions:
■3 nights in unique, traditional accommodation
■Driver/Guide companion
■All mini-coach transportation
■Full English cooked breakfast daily
■Three course evening meal x 2
■Entrance fees as listed
Entrance Fees Included:
■Kirby Hall
■Bosworth
■Kenilworth Castle
■Harvard House
■Lord Leycester Hospital
■Christ Church Hall
■Sudley Castle
■Hampton Court Palace

 Departure Dates:
 Mon 12 Apr, 2010 - Thurs 15 Apr, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 26 Apr, 2010 - Thurs 29 Apr, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 10 May, 2010 - Thurs 13 May, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 24 May, 2010 - Thurs 27 May, 2010 (3 nights
)Mon 7 Jun, 2010 - Thurs 10 Jun, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 21 Jun, 2010 - Thurs 24 Jun, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 5 Jul, 2010 - Thurs 8 Jul, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 19 Jul, 2010 - Thurs 22 Jul, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 2 Aug, 2010 - Thurs 5 Aug, 2010 (3 nights
Mon 16 Aug, 2010 - Thurs 19 Aug, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 30 Aug, 2010 - Thurs 2 Sep, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 13 Sep, 2010 - Thurs 16 Sep, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 27 Sep, 2010 - Thurs 30 Sep, 2010 (3 nights)
Mon 11 Oct, 2010 - Thurs 14 Oct, 2010 (3 nights)

Price: Twin/Double $995 USD per person; Single Occupancy $1215 USD
Pick-up/Drop-off Information:
Tour departs at 08.30am and returns (approx) at 5.30pm from: The Corus Hotel, Hyde Park, Lancaster Gate, London, W2 3LG

Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1 Stratford-upon-Avon
Departing London we first drive to Kirby Hall, one of England's greatest Elizabethan and 17th- century houses.  Begun by Sir Humphrey Stafford in about 1570, it was purchased six years later by Sir Christopher Hatton, one of Queen Elizabeth's "comely young men" and later her Lord Chancellor. We may explore Kirby Hall's exceptionally richly decorated Great Hall and state rooms.  Sir Christopher Hatton added the great gardens (described as ‘ye finest garden in England') in the late 17th century and are now partly restored and laid out in elaborate cutwork design. We then travel to the battlefield which marked the demise of the House of York and the ascendancy of the Tudors; Bosworth. Here, in 1485, Henry Tudor slew Richard III (his offer of a ‘my kingdom for a horse' not being quite enough!). We enjoy an informative guided walking tour of this interesting site, and learn more of its history. Before our evening stop, we visit the magnificent ruined castle of Kenilworth. Though the castle has a history preceding the Tudor period, it has connections with John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland. It was Dudley who tried to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne, and who was beheaded to the Tower for ‘Bloody' Mary. Tonight we arrive in the famous Stratford-Upon-Avon.
(D)

Day 2 Stratford-upon-Avon
We change our focus and look at Tudor literature, medicine and how the common folk lived. What finer place to use as our ‘classroom' thanStratford-upon-Avon and nearby Warwick. Patently, the great bard, Shakespeare, provides one major theme to the day, but we also learn about daily life during the late Tudor period as we visit some of the houses associated with his life and family. Amongst many other fascinating things, we learn more about the origin of the phrase ‘to let one's hair down!' Later today we visit Harvard House which was the home of Katherine Rogers, the mother of John Harvard, whose bequest made possible the foundation of Harvard University. Built in 1596, it is a fine example of an Elizabethan town house and also the home of the Museum of British Pewter. It is a short drive to the nearby town of Warwick, where we visit the Lord Leycester Hospital. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, converted the picture-book buildings of the dissolved Warwick Guilds into a retreat for old soldiers and it has continued to serve that purpose until the present day.
(B)

Day 3 Cotswolds
It is a delightful journey south as we enter the academic and historic city of Oxford. Many of the colleges here were endowed during the Tudor period by such as Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII. We will see Christchurch, originally known as Cardinal College and then King Henry VIII's college. We then venture through the back roads of the magnificent Cotswolds. This sheep farming region was an important source of wealth throughout the Tudor period. We stop at Northleach, a typical village of the area and see the chapel built to commemorate the marriage of Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York. One other reason for coming here is to visit Sudeley Castle, a place with connections running through the Tudor Dynasty and court circle. It was the home of three queens and houses the marble tomb of Katherine Parr; the wife of Henry VIII who survived and a place where scandal left its impression on the young mind of the future Queen Elizabeth I.
(B/D)

Day 4 London
We start our day at Hatfield House, built by Robert Cecil, first Earl of Salisbury and son of Lord Burghley, and where Elizabeth I spent most of her childhood. The deer park surrounding the house and the older building of the Old Palace was previously owned by Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, who had used it as a home for his children, Edward, Elizabeth and Mary. It was while she was living in the Old Palace in 1558, that Elizabeth learned of her accession to the throne. We then head to the jewel in the Tudor crown, Hampton Court Palace.  One of Henry VIII's most enduring passions was for the palace, perfectly positioned on the Thames. To this day you can still experience the beauty that so enthralled him as we stroll around these six acres of magnificent buildings. Each and every corner will capture your heart.  Our tour ends at our nominated drop-off point in London.

TOUR EXTENSION DAYS   

The following days are special days for those who might like to extend their time in the UK and see more of our Tudor heritage. They would be offered to all participants on the 4-day tour but may have to be to be booked as customized day tour packages if there were insufficient takers from the main tour.

Tudor London and Greenwich

The city is full of Tudor History, from the Tower of London, to Ely and Winchester Palaces. Our day would concentrate on exploring both the main city and the areas around Greenwich.

Windsor and Portsmouth

We’d begin our day with at Windsor Castle. Here a highlight will be the tomb of Henry VIII in St George’s Chapel.

The object of our explorations would specifically be Tudor Maritime history with a visit to henry VIII’s ill-fated warship the ‘Mary Rose’. We’d also see some of the coastal Tudor fortifications.

NOTE: Cost of extension days is dependent on the number of tour participants on each.

This tour is operated by Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd