Escorted Tours - Historic Houses | Historic Houses...to ensure these historic places stay alive and...

1Book or enquire online justgoholidays.com/historichouses or call 03332 341 868

Escorted Tours

In association with

2020 Departures

TO BRITAIN'S FINEST HISTORIC HOUSES, CASTLES & GARDENS

With Just Go! Holidays

2 32 See pages 30 - 31 for Dates, Prices & Pickups

A message from Historic HousesDiscovering Britain’s most special placesI’m pleased to introduce our brand new 2020 collection of escorted tours, produced in partnership with Just Go! Holidays, giving Historic Houses members, and their friends, the opportunity to explore our member properties a little further from home. With specially tailored, bespoke itineraries, these fascinating short breaks allow you to easily discover beautiful and extraordinary historic houses, castles and gardens around Britain – places where our nation’s history lives and breathes – all in the company of like-minded people. There are also discounted rates for Historic Houses members.

Uncover the secrets and stories of the families who have lived in these special places and get a glimpse into the lives of those who still do, with many owners offering exclusive access or behind-the-scenes tours for our guests.

There are several new tours for 2020, covering an eclectic mix of historic properties and places. From an insightful tour to explore the Arts & Crafts Movement in the beautiful Cotswolds to discovering a host of ancient castles, ruined abbeys and picturesque stately homes scattered throughout the romantic landscapes of Northumberland.

A range of travel options are offered including return coach travel, making your own way or even door to door chauffeur service.

We’ve also featured some captivating heritage tours to Europe, including charming villas in beautiful Tuscany or the French Riviera and the medieval wonders and impressive architecture of Belgium’s historic cities.

For every person who books any of these tours, Just Go! Holidays will make a donation to Historic Houses, meaning you’ll also be supporting our important work to ensure these historic places stay alive and accessible for generations to come.

We look forward to your company in 2020.

Ben Cowell Director General Historic Houses

Just Go! Holidays is proud to pledge their support of Historic Houses and show commitment to their work. For every person who books on to one of these Historic Houses breaks, Just Go! Holidays will make a donation to Historic Houses. This will help Historic Houses assist owners in conserving these wonderful places for future generations to enjoy.

Supporting beautiful properties for future generations to enjoy

Are you a member of Historic Houses?Prices shown in our price panels are applicable to customers who are members of Historic Houses. For non-members, there is a supplement to add to these prices which is indicated in the price panels.

To qualify for the members’ price, please quote your membership number when booking with Just Go! Holidays. If you would like to become a member of Historic Houses, please visit: www.historichouses.org/join

Keeping your money safeComplete Financial Protection

Front Cover Image: Goldsborough Hall

The combination of travel services offered to you is a package within the meaning of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Therefore, you will benefit from all EU rights applying to packages. Just Go! Holidays Limited will be fully responsible for the proper performance of the package as a whole.

Additionally, as required by law, Just Go! Holidays Limited has protection in place to refund your payments and, where transport is included in the package, to ensure your repatriation in the event that it becomes insolvent.

Just Go! Holidays Limited is a member of the Bonded Coach Holidays Group (BCH) of the Confederation Of Passenger Transport UK Ltd (CPT). This is a government approved consumer

protection scheme. This ensures that in relation to the coach, rail and self-drive package holidays described in this brochure that the clients' monies are protected by a Bond which may be called upon in the unlikely event of the Member’s Insolvency. Clients are recommended to inspect the current membership certificate at our registered office or alternatively go to www.bch-uk.org or telephone 0207 240 3131 to confirm current membership. Your attention is also drawn to our Terms and Conditions based on the Bonded Coach Holidays Group Trading Charter that will apply to these package holidays.

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays we offer are financially protected by the ATOL scheme (ATOL No. 10889). When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and

check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. Clients are recommended to inspect the current ATOL certificate at our registered office or alternatively go to www.caa.co.uk to confirm the current licence.

Details of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111168479/contents.

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We have added flexible travel options on the majority of our tours, allowing you to choose your preferred means of transport – whether it’s driving yourself to the hotel, taking the train, joining the coach at a convenient pickup point or even taking advantage of our Club Class Home Collection Service.

Make your own way

Take your own car and join us direct at the hotel. A seat will still be reserved for you on the coach for all your excursions.

Please note: some hotels may charge for car parking which will be at your own expense. Details are available on request.

Return coach travel

Leave the car behind and let us do the driving for you. Add return coach travel from a convenient pickup point. Details of available pickup points are shown on pages 30 and 31.

Flights

Our Discover Tuscan Villas and Villas & Gardens on the French Riviera tours are available by air only, with flights included in the price of the holiday. Choose from a selection of UK airports (shown in the price panels on page 31) and we will book flights for you as well as transfers to and from the hotel.

Club Class Home Collection Service

Door to Door Service from just £99pp Take advantage of our stress free departure option of Club Class Home Collection Service. With this luxury service, a uniformed chauffeur will collect you from home and transfer you to the hotel or airport in top specification cars or MPVs, then at the end of your holiday they will be waiting to whisk you home again.

Please call or visit our website for more details.

Eurostar

The Brussels, Bruges & Ghent Historic Houses tour is offered with travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille included in the price of the holiday.

Discounted Rail Travel

If you’d prefer to take the train, we offer discounted rail fares throughout the UK. Please call for more details.

Travel Options

Owlpen Manor

Book or enquire online at: justgoholidays.com/historichouses or call: 03332 341 868

What to expect on a Historic Houses tour in the UKA friendly Tour Manager will meet you at the hotel on the first day and will host a welcome drinks reception, giving you the opportunity to meet the rest of the group. The Tour Manager’s role is to make sure your visits run smoothly and that you enjoy your break. If you have any queries or experience any issues during your stay, please talk to your Tour Manager who will be happy to assist you, ensuring your enjoyment of the break is not compromised.

You will be travelling with a group of like-minded people and you are likely to find them interesting and congenial company. Therefore, dinners at the hotel will be arranged on a group basis and you will be asked to be seated in the restaurant at a specific time each evening. Tables will be set out in 4s, 6s or 8s so you may share the day’s experiences together. Menus will be set but with a minimum of three choices for each of the three courses. Some restaurants may feature buffet-style service.

You will also be able to enjoy a fascinating after-dinner talk by an expert in their field that promises to be both informative and engaging. Taking inspiration from the theme of our tours, you’ll be able to gain a valuable insight into an aspect of the history, architecture or collections of the area that you are visiting.

All the hotels that we use have been carefully selected following inspection visits. They are conveniently located for our touring itinerary and we are confident that they deliver a good level of service and comfort in line with their 4-star rating.

Please note that the Historic Houses properties that we visit are sometimes located in remote countryside areas which do involve travelling some distance to reach by coach. We try not to make any single leg of your journey longer than an hour and a half when you are travelling on excursion days.

You will also need a reasonable degree of mobility to keep with the pace of the tour. As a general guideline, we recommend that you are comfortable to stroll for 20-30 minutes at a time.

These tours are carefully planned (sometimes over a year in advance) to deliver a unique insight into many of the properties we visit. Our aim is to provide you with a faultless service from your booking experience to your return home.

What’s Inside06-07 Natural Beauty & Architectural Splendours of Suffolk

08-09 Undiscovered Treasure in Charming Cheshire

10-11 Inspiring Malvern & Worcestershire Houses & Gardens

12-13 Castles & Churches of Northumberland & the Borders

14-15 Splendour of the South West with a Theatre Trip

16-17 Castles & Gardens of Glorious Kent

18-19 A Taste of the Stately High Life in Yorkshire

20-21 Arts & Crafts in the Cotswolds

22-23 Chelsea Flower Show & London's Finest Houses

24-25 Discover Tuscan Villas

26-27 Brussels, Bruges & Ghent Historic Houses

28-29 Villas & Gardens on the French Riviera

30-31 Dates, Prices & Pickups

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Glemham Hall

6 76 Book or enquire online justgoholidays.com/historichouses or call 03332 341 868See pages 30 - 31 for Dates, Prices & Pickups

Afterwards we visit the charming Suffolk seaside town of Southwold. Almost an island, being bounded by the sea to the east and rivers to the south and north, Southwold has its own unique character and history. During our visit we enjoy a tour of the working Southwold Lighthouse. Commissioned in 1890 and electrified in 1938, the lighthouse provides a waymark for vessels navigating the coast, and guides vessels into Southwold Harbour.

Wednesday: Glemham Hall & Helmingham Hall Gardens Glemham Hall is a charming manor house, built around 1560 by the de Glemham family. On our guided tour led by the owner, we explore the depths of the cellars up to the servants quarters in the attic, an area largely untouched by restoration where we can get a real sense of life ‘below stairs’. Our tour also uncovers art, historical events and the lives of some of the hall’s previous occupants.

Natural Beauty & Architectural Splendours of Suffolk

Sunday: ArrivalWe check in to the Novotel Ipswich Centre in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager.

Monday: Kentwell Hall & SudburyOur first visit takes us to Kentwell Hall, a romantic, moated, mellow red brick Tudor mansion in a tranquil parkland setting. Once neglected, the Hall has been lovingly restored by the current owner, Patrick Phillips, slowly returning it to its former glory. We enjoy an exclusive guided tour of this much-loved family home and have time to explore the beautiful gardens before enjoying lunch here.

We continue to the historic market town of Sudbury, located on the River Stour, where we

enjoy a guided walking tour. The town is known for its links to Thomas Gainsborough, England’s renowned 18th-century portrait painter, who was born here and was inspired by the glorious surrounding countryside.

After dinner this evening, we enjoy an interesting themed talk from a guest speaker.

Tuesday: Somerleyton Hall & Southwold We spend the morning at Somerleyton Hall, one of the finest Victorian stately homes in the country. The original Jacobean manor house was lavishly rebuilt in the Italianate style by Sir Morton Peto and architect John Thomas. Now home to Lord and Lady Somerleyton, the inside of the house is a pastiche of styles from high Victorian splendour in the chintz ballroom to the dark Jacobean Oak Parlour. The house also contains many fine portraits of the Crossley family, tapestries and two stuffed Polar bears – souvenirs of Lord Somerleyton's 1897 excursion to the Arctic. Our guided tour brings this fabulous house to life.

Kentwell Hall 5 DAYSSun 07 Jun TO Thu 11 Jun

Sun 09 Aug TO Thu 13 Aug

£XXXMore travel options available, see page 4

Itinerary

Next, we head to Helmingham Hall Gardens where we enjoy lunch before exploring the beautiful gardens, set within a 400 acre deer park surrounding the spectacular Tudor moated Hall. Named ‘Garden of the Year 2017’ by Historic Houses and extensively redesigned by the current Lady Tollemache, a well-known garden designer and Chelsea Gold Medallist, the gardens include a classic parterre flanked by hybrid musk roses, a stunning walled kitchen garden with exquisite herbaceous borders and beds of vegetables, a herb and knot garden as well as a beautiful rose garden.

Thursday: DepartureAfter breakfast, we check out of the hotel for our journey home.

What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Novotel Ipswich Centre, Ipswich with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage

�� Welcome drink

�� After dinner tea and coffee at the hotel

�� Coach transfers to and from your excursions

�� Visits to Kentwell Hall, Sudbury, Somerleyton Hall, Southwold, Southwold Lighthouse, Glemham Hall & Helmingham Hall Gardens

�� Exclusive guided tour and lunch* at Kentwell Hall

�� Guided walking tour of Sudbury

�� Guided tours of Somerleyton Hall & Southwold Lighthouse

�� Guided tour with the owner of Glemham Hall

�� Lunch* at Helmingham Hall Gardens

�� Themed evening talk from a guest speaker

�� Accompanied by a caring and knowledgeable Tour Manager throughout

*Please inform us at the time of booking of any special dietary requirements.

Hotel The 4-star Novotel Ipswich Centre is conveniently located half a mile from Ipswich station, and close to the picturesque Neptune Harbour and historic Wolsey Gate. The modern, spacious rooms offer tea and coffee-making facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi and a satellite TV. The hotel also features a stylish restaurant and multi-purpose gym.

Single supplement £XXX

Kentwell Hall

River Stour, Sudbury

The beautiful county of Suffolk has plenty to discover, from glorious coastline to rolling countryside and picturesque towns. On this fascinating break we visit some of the most interesting and diverse houses of the county, as we uncover secrets of the family home of Kentwell Hall, see what life was like ‘below stairs’ in the 16th-century Glemham Hall and marvel at the many treasures of the lavish Somerleyton Hall. To complete our wonderful exploration of Suffolk, we also discover glorious gardens set in the area’s extensive estates.

Somerleyton Hall

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Glemham Hall

Helmingham Hall Gardens


Undiscovered Treasure in Charming CheshireCheshire is a beautiful county bursting with history, secrets and stories around every corner. On this tour we discover a diverse range of the area’s hidden gems, including spectacular gardens and the impressive interiors of some of England’s most magnificent properties and stately homes. From discovering Gawsworth Hall, a 15th-century family home with a whole host of exciting treasures, to enjoying lunch in Chester Cathedral’s stunning refectory, this break is truly unique and offers a wonderful insight into the fascinating and extensive history of Cheshire.

Monday: ArrivalWe check in to the Mercure Haydock Hotel in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager.

Tuesday: Adlington Hall & Bramall HallToday we begin at Adlington Hall, home to the Legh family from 1315. It was built on the site of a hunting lodge in 1040 and we find out more about this property’s history on our private guided tour. Highlights include the beautiful oak-panelled Dining Room, the 16th-century Great Hall and the Chinese Room. Afterwards, we enjoy a cream tea together and a chance to view the surrounding tranquil gardens.

We continue on to Bramall Hall. Set in 70 acres of parkland, this Tudor manor house has origins that date back to the Middle Ages. Make sure

to take in the Hall’s impressive 16th-century wall painting, Elizabethan plaster ceiling and the Victorian Kitchens.


Wednesday: Chester Walking Tour, Chester Cathedral & Grosvenor MuseumThis morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Chester as we retrace the steps of our Roman and medieval visitors. We explore the numerous charms of Chester, a city with a fascinating history that spans the centuries, from the remains of its Roman Amphitheatre to the eye-catching medieval Rows that line its streets.

Next we explore magnificent Chester Cathedral, typical of many English cathedrals in having been modified many times between 1093 and the early 16th century, although the site itself might have been used for Christian worship since Roman times. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the ground floor and a light lunch in the stunning refectory of the cathedral.

Itinerary

Adlington Hall

Bramall Hall

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5 DAYSMon 8 Jun TO Fri 12 Jun Mon 7 Sep TO Fri 11 Sep

£670More travel options available, see page 4

We then visit the Grosvenor Museum, where the various collections celebrate Chester’s extensive heritage. There is plenty to see, including inscribed stones in the Roman galleries, half a millennium of paintings and sculptures in the art gallery, and changing fashions in the period rooms.

Thursday: Capesthorne Hall & Gawsworth Hall Today we head to Capesthorne Hall, a beautiful family-owned stately home set in 100 acres of the glorious Cheshire countryside. The striking example of Jacobean architecture dates back to 1719, yet the Hall contains a range of treasures, paintings, furniture, Greek vases and the Bromley-Davenport family heirlooms from 1153. We enjoy a private guided tour of this fascinating property followed by lunch. The peaceful gardens are also a delight to explore, and feature three serene lakes, rhododendron woods and colourful herbaceous borders bursting with a variety of perennials.

We continue to Gawsworth Hall, a Tudor manor house and family home with a wide variety of magnificent paintings, stained glass and sculpture. Built in 1480, this was once home to Mary Fitton, the beautiful Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets and maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I. We learn more about Gawsworth’s history on our private guided tour followed by tea and coffee.

Friday: DepartureAfter breakfast, we check out of the hotel for our journey home.

What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Mercure Haydock Hotel, Haydock with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage




�� Visits to Adlington Hall, Bramall Hall, Chester, Chester Cathedral, Grosvenor Museum, Capesthorne Hall & Gawsworth Hall

�� Private guided tour, guidebook and cream tea* at Adlington Hall

�� Guided walking tour of Chester

�� Guided tour and lunch* at Chester Cathedral

�� Private guided tour and lunch* at Capesthorne Hall

�� Private guided tour, guidebook and tea and coffee at Gawsworth Hall




Hotel The 4-star Mercure Haydock Hotel is set in a traditional Georgian mansion-style building surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds in the quaint town of Haydock. The spacious rooms offer tea and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi and a flat screen TV. The hotel also features two restaurants, a bar, a fitness centre and an indoor heated swimming pool.

Single supplement £120

Capesthorne Hall

Chester Cathedral

Chester


Inspiring Malvern & Worcestershire Houses & Gardens The Malvern Hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that has long inspired writers and composers. Their craggy outline dominates the surrounding countryside where fascinating castles, houses and beautiful gardens are dotted throughout the unspoilt, picturesque landscape. Offering an eclectic mix of architectural influences, interior styles and glorious gardens, we visit some of the area’s highlights including magnificent Eastnor Castle.

Sunday: ArrivalWe check in to the Jurys Inn Cheltenham in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager.

Monday: Worcester Cathedral & Kiftsgate Court Garden Today we travel to Worcester Cathedral where we enjoy a guided tour. Built between 1084 and 1504, the cathedral represents every style of English architecture from Norman to Perpendicular Gothic and boasts royal tombs, medieval cloisters, a Norman crypt and magnificent Victorian stained glass. We then enjoy a little free time in the city where you will be able to purchase lunch.

We then travel to Kiftsgate Court Gardens, set on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment with lovely views towards the Malvern Hills. The gardens are the creation of three generations of women gardeners, started by Heather Muir in the 1920s. Developed organically with harmonious colour schemes, the gardens have many unusual shrubs and plants and are known for the Kiftsgate rose, a scented climbing rose claimed to be the largest rose in Britain.


Itinerary

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5 DAYSSun 24 May TO Thu 28 May Sun 20 Sep TO Thu 24 Sep


Bromesberrow Place

Kiftsgate Court Garden

Tuesday: Eastnor Castle & Bromesberrow PlaceOur day begins at Eastnor Castle, lying at the foot of the Malvern Hills and surrounded by a beautiful deer park, arboretum and lake. On arrival, we enjoy morning coffee before our private guided tour. This 19th-century revival castle was built by the 2nd Baron (Lord) Somers and continues to be inhabited by his descendants, the Hervey-Bathurst family. The richly decorated interiors feature an eclectic mix of styles including Gothic Revival and Renaissance and the magnificent State Rooms are home to collections of medieval armour, fine art and tapestries.

Next we visit Bromesberrow Place where we enjoy lunch, a private guided tour and a talk about the history of the house. This Regency Greek Revival house has a fascinating social history as it was owned by David Ricardo and boasts a special collection of English Sporting Art. The house was originally set within 100 acres of parkland however in 1993 this was extended by a further 100 acres.

Wednesday: Ragley Hall & Spetchley Park GardensRagley Hall is one of England’s earliest and finest Palladian mansions. Built for the 1st Earl of Conway in 1680, the Hall is the ancestral family home of the 9th Marquess of Hertford. The State Rooms are adorned with impressive art, ceramics and furniture and other features include the elaborately plastered Great Hall and stunning 20th-century mural The Temptation, all of which we discover on our guided tour. Outside are well-maintained formal gardens within beautiful ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland. After our tour, we enjoy mid-morning tea and biscuits.

In the afternoon, we visit Spetchley Park Gardens. The legacy of the Berkeley family, these 30 acres of beautiful Victorian gardens, surrounded by ancient parkland and lakes, have remained largely unaltered in the last century and boast an enviable collection of plants from across the globe. The gardens offer a wonderful contrast; from formal to informal and quintessentially English to unmistakably Mediterranean, which we learn about on our guided tour.


What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Jurys Inn, Cheltenham with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage




�� Visits to Worcester Cathedral, Kiftsgate Court Garden, Eastnor Castle, Bromesberrow Place, Ragley Hall & Spetchley Park Gardens

�� Guided tours of Worcester Cathedral & Spetchley Park Gardens

�� Private guided tour and morning coffee at Eastnor Castle

�� Private guided tour, a talk and lunch* at Bromesberrow Place

�� Guided tour, tea and biscuits at Ragley Hall




Hotel The 4-star Jurys Inn Cheltenham is set in attractive grounds and is conveniently located for our tour itinerary. The elegant en-suite rooms feature a TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. The hotel offers a restaurant, bar plus a health and leisure club which boasts a hot tub, sauna and fully equipped gym.


Eastnor Castle

Eastnor Castle

Ragley Hall

Bromesberrow Place


Castles & Churches of Northumberland & the BordersThe rugged county of Northumberland is steeped in history, with a host of ancient castles, ruined abbeys and picturesque stately homes dotting the scenic countryside. We learn more about the intriguing stories behind the powerful castles that dominate the landscape, including Naworth Castle, still the private ancestral home of the Howard family, and admire the beautiful architecture of churches and monastic buildings. From impressive medieval estates to fine examples of Gothic exteriors and Palladian designs, we experience the vast history of the area.

Monday: ArrivalWe check in to the Slaley Hall Hotel in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager.

Tuesday: Naworth Castle & Lanercost PrioryThis morning we visit Naworth Castle, the private ancestral home of the Howard family. We enjoy an exclusive private guided tour by the current owner, Philip Howard, followed by lunch. A border stronghold dating back to 1335, the castle was remodelled in the 16th and 17th centuries. Almost destroyed by a devastating fire in 1844, restoration began in 1850 but the interiors were the work of the 9th Earl of Carlisle who counted many of the eminent Pre Raphaelites, including William Morris, among his friends.

Nearby stands the Augustinian Lanercost Priory, founded in 1166. The tranquil setting of the priory belies an often troubled history. Standing close to Hadrian’s Wall, it suffered frequent attacks during the long Anglo-Scottish wars. Although the chancel and transepts are in ruins, the cloisters are beautifully preserved. We are also able to visit the beautiful priory church nearby.

Wednesday: Raby Castle, Brancepeth Castle & St Brandon’s ChurchWe make our way to Raby Castle, where we enjoy refreshments followed by a special VIP tour. King Cnut owned the estate in the early 11th century but it was the Nevilles, one of the major powers in the North, who built the 14th-century castle we see today. The exterior of medieval towers, turrets and embattled walls contrasts

Itinerary

NEW

Naworth Castle

Naworth Castle

5 DAYSMon 15 Jun TO Fri 19 Jun Mon 14 Sep TO Fri 18 Sep


with the sumptuous interiors which span Medieval, Regency and Victorian periods and provide a magnificent backdrop for the stunning art collection.

Our next stop is Brancepeth Castle, once the stronghold of the Neville family in medieval times. The current castle is a combination of the Neville’s medieval towers and the grand country house created for the wealthy Russell family in the Regency period. The castle is once again a private home and we enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the main rooms and medieval cellars. Afterwards, we make a short visit to St Brandon’s Church opposite the castle in Brancepeth village.

Thursday: Durham Cathedral & Rokeby Park or Ushaw We start the day with a visit to Durham Cathedral, a World Heritage Site, sitting on a rocky promontory high above the River Wear. Originally built in 1093 as a monastic cathedral for a community of Benedictine monks, the cathedral boasts some of the most intact surviving monastic buildings in England.

If you join us in June, we then head to Rokeby Park where we enjoy a guided tour by the

current owner and refreshments. Completed in 1735 by its owner, Sir Thomas Robinson, this architectural treasure represents the heyday of the Palladian-style country house. A unique collection of 18th-century needlework pictures by Anne Morritt are on display here as well as a very rare surviving print room.

Alternatively, if you join us in September, we then head to Ushaw founded over 200 years ago to educate students for the Catholic priesthood. The vast estate contains buildings designed by Augustus Pugin and his followers and boasts significant examples of Victorian Gothic architecture. We discover some of the main buildings and chapel on our guided tour.



What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Slaley Hall Hotel, Hexham with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage




�� Visits to Naworth Castle, Lanercost Priory, Raby Castle, Brancepeth Castle, St Brandon’s Church, Durham Cathedral, Rokeby Park (June departure) or Ushaw (September departure)

�� Private guided tour with the owner and lunch* at Naworth Castle

�� Special VIP tour of Raby Castle

�� Exclusive guided tour of Brancepeth Castle

�� Guided tour with the owner and refreshments at Rokeby Park (June departure)

�� Guided tour of Ushaw (September departure)




Hotel The 4-star Slaley Hall Hotel is an Edwardian mansion set in 1,000 acres of scenic Northumbrian countryside, a few miles south of Hexham. The hotel offers elegant bedrooms with contemporary decor, several restaurants, a cocktail bar and whisky snug. Leisure facilities include an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and gym. Spa treatments are available at an extra cost.


Brancepeth Castle

Durham Cathedral

Raby Castle


Splendour of the South West with a Theatre TripThe South West of England is a beautiful part of the country and on this break we explore some of the region’s gems. We visit Longleat House, one of the finest examples of Elizabethan architecture in Britain, as well as the Grade-1 listed Italianate Peto Garden, which boasts impressive views of the Frome River valley. This is combined with time in iconic Bath, where we learn more of this unique city’s Georgian connections, and a memorable trip to the theatre in one of England’s most vibrant cities, Bristol.

Sunday: ArrivalWe check in to the Aztec Hotel and Spa in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager.

Monday: Longleat House, Wells & Bishop's Palace and Gardens We begin the day with a visit to Longleat House which is widely regarded as one of the best examples of high Elizabethan architecture in Britain. Substantially completed by 1580 and now home to the 7th Marquess of Bath, Longleat House is set within 900 acres of stunning ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland. We take a guided tour around the house before enjoying an included lunch.

Afterwards we venture to Wells, located at the foot of the Mendip Hills. England’s smallest city boasts a magnificent cathedral while the eclectic mix of historic buildings and narrow streets adds to the atmosphere. We also spend time at the Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, which in 2020 are celebrating 800 years since construction began on the palace. The 14 acres of gardens here are a haven of serenity and there is time to explore at your leisure, and marvel at the spectacular moat.


Itinerary

NEW

5 DAYSSun 7 Jun TO Thu 11 Jun Sun 19 Jul TO Thu 23 Jul


Longleat House

Wells Cathedral

Tuesday: Bowood House & Theatre Performance in BristolToday we head to Bowood House. Family home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, Bowood houses a unique collection of historical artefacts and family heirlooms built up over 250 years; from Queen Victoria’s wedding chair to Napoleon’s death mask and an extensive art collection. Outside are 100 acres of beautiful parkland, designed by ‘Capability’ Brown. After our private guided tour, we enjoy lunch here before returning back to our hotel to freshen up.

After an early dinner at our hotel, we make the short journey into the centre of Bristol, straddling the River Avon. Here we enjoy our evening theatre performance.

Wednesday: Bath – No.1 Royal Crescent & The Peto GardenOnce home to Jane Austen, Bath has remained faithful to its Regency roots and today we visit No.1 Royal Crescent. This beautiful Georgian town house creates a wonderful picture of life for both the wealthy and their servants in Georgian Bath. Afterwards, there is some free time to find lunch and explore Bath further. You might wish to visit the famous Roman Baths, impressive Abbey or grand Pump Rooms (please note that extra charges apply for these visits).

In the afternoon we head to The Peto Garden at Iford Manor. These Italian-style gardens were designed by Harold Peto, who lived at Iford Manor from 1899 until his death in 1933. The landscape is characterised by terraces, impressive sculptures and stunning views of the valley. We enjoy an exclusive, out-of-hours guided tour.


Please note: in order to accommodate your theatre performance the itinerary order is subject to change.

What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Aztec Hotel and Spa, Bristol with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage




�� Visits to Longleat House, Wells, Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, Bowood House, Bath – No.1 Royal Crescent & The Peto Garden

�� Guided tour and lunch* at Longleat House

�� Private guided tour and lunch* at Bowood House

�� Private out-of-hours guided tour of The Peto Garden

�� Theatre ticket for an evening performance in Bristol




Hotel The 4-star Aztec Hotel and Spa is located just a few miles from the centre of Bristol. The hotel offers contemporary surroundings with elegant bedrooms, a bar and restaurant while the extensive spa facilities include an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and fitness centre.


Bowood House The Peto Garden

Royal Crescent, Bath

Bishops Palace and Gardens


Castles & Gardens of Glorious KentBritain’s oldest county of Kent offers a multitude of historic treasures, from enchanting castles and stately homes to imaginative gardens and delightful towns. On this captivating break we delve into Kent’s heritage and discover many of its highlights. In a county famed for its castles, we explore fascinating Chiddingstone Castle, iconic Hever Castle and impressive Leeds Castle, and combine these architectural wonders with some of the area’s most spectacular country houses and their beautiful gardens.

Sunday: ArrivalWe check in to the Bridgewood Manor Hotel in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager.

Monday: Leeds Castle & Rochester Cathedral or Godinton HouseWe visit the magnificent Leeds Castle, a quintessential moated castle set in 500 acres of glorious parkland, where we learn about its fascinating history on a private guided tour. Dating back to the 12th century, it was once home to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The castle’s last private owner was Lady Baillie, an Anglo-American heiress who lovingly restored the castle to its former glory.

If you’re joining us in May, we continue to historic Rochester. Boasting ancient buildings including an imposing castle, the town was a favourite of Charles Dickens who based many of his novels in the area. The city also has a lovely cathedral dating back to AD604 and we enjoy a guided tour here.

If you’re joining us in June, our next stop is Godinton House, a delightful Jacobean house incorporating a medieval hall and ornate carvings which we discover on our guided tour, followed by afternoon tea. Godinton is a much-loved home where each room reflects the tastes of those who have lived here with an excellent collection of furniture and art.


Itinerary

NEW

Leeds Castle 5 DAYSSun 24 May TO Thu 28 May

Sun 7 Jun TO Thu 11 Jun


Rochester Cathedral

Tuesday: Doddington Place Gardens, Belmont House & ProvenderOn our May departure only, we start with a guided tour of Doddington Place Gardens, beautiful landscaped gardens set in the grounds of an impressive Victorian mansion. The glorious woodland garden is spectacular during May and includes a variety of rhododendrons and azaleas. Afterwards we head to Belmont House.

If you join us in June, our day begins with a visit to Belmont House for a guided tour, exploring six generations of the Harris family mementos, including the finest private collection of clocks and watches in Britain. This magnificent Neo-classical country house is a completely unspoilt example of architect Samuel Wyatt’s work, and the walled garden is equally as spectacular.

We continue to Provender, home of Princess Olga Romanoff, daughter of Prince Andrew Romanoff, the eldest nephew of the Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Dating back to the 13th century, Provender is a fascinating record of English

building traditions over seven centuries. Recent restoration has revealed a wealth of historical and architectural detail which we discover on our exclusive tour, led by the princess herself.

Wednesday: Hever Castle & Chiddingstone Castle We head to Hever Castle, the childhood home of Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, where we enjoy a private guided tour. Dating back to the late 13th century, this double-moated castle is home to various historic artefacts including Tudor portraits and furniture, as well as two prayer books inscribed by Anne Boleyn.

We continue to Chiddingstone Castle where we enjoy a private guided tour of this unique property. Set in 35 acres of beautiful grounds, Chiddingstone houses the collections of the late antiquarian Denys Eyre Bower including stunning Japanese lacquer, Ancient Egyptian treasures, Stuart paintings and Jacobite manuscripts. After our tour we enjoy tea and cake in the tranquil courtyard before exploring the grounds.


What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Bridgewood Manor Hotel, Chatham with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage


�� After dinner tea and coffee


�� Visits to Leeds Castle, Rochester Cathedral (May departure) or Godinton House (June departure), Doddington Place Gardens (May departure), Belmont House, Provender, Hever Castle & Chiddingstone Castle

�� Private guided tour of Leeds Castle

�� Guided tours of Rochester Cathedral & Doddington Place Gardens (May departure)

�� Guided tour and afternoon tea* at Godinton House (June departure)

�� Guided tour of Belmont House

�� Exclusive tour of Provender by Princess Olga Romanoff

�� Private guided tour of Hever Castle

�� Private guided tour, tea and cake at Chiddingstone Castle




Hotel The charming 4-star Bridgewood Manor Hotel is situated in the peaceful town of Chatham, the perfect location to discover the scenic surroundings. The elegant rooms offer tea and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi and a TV. The hotel also features a restaurant, bar, well-equipped health club and luxurious spa. Spa treatments are available at an extra cost.


Belmont House

Hever Castle

Chiddingstone Castle

Provender


A Taste of the Stately High Life in YorkshireYorkshire is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country as well as a wonderfully rich and fascinating heritage. We delve into the past with a look around some of the county’s most impressive historic houses, many of which have been lived in by the same families for hundreds of years, filled not only with family memorabilia, but also treasured collections, and boasting stunning interiors and magnificent gardens.

Sunday: ArrivalWe check in to the Cedar Court Hotel in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager.

Monday: Harewood House & HarrogateWe start the morning at Harewood House where we enjoy a private guided tour followed by lunch. Built in the 18th century for Edwin Lascelles to designs by architect John Carr, it is one of the greatest Treasure Houses in England with interiors designed by Robert Adam, superb Thomas Chippendale furniture and an outstanding art collection ranging from Renaissance masterpieces to 20th-century art. Set in a magnificent landscape created by ‘Capability’ Brown, Harewood is still home to the Lascelles family with the 7th Earl, cousin to the

Queen, and Countess living here, and reflects the changing tastes and styles of the past 250 years.

The afternoon is spent in the elegant spa town of Harrogate, where notable sights include the Royal Pump Room and the Grade II listed Royal Hall. Don’t miss the attractive Montpellier Quarter with its pedestrianised streets lined with 19th-century buildings.


Tuesday: Allerton Castle & Goldsborough HallToday we head first to Allerton Castle, one of England’s most elegant and illustrious Gothic revival stately homes. Set amongst 200 acres of beautiful grounds, with a towering 70-foot high façade that dominates the landscape, the house was built in the 1840s by Lord Mowbray,

Itinerary

NEW

5 DAYSSun 7 Jun TO Thu 11 Jun

Sun 9 Aug TO Thu 13 Aug


Goldsborough Hall

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Segrave and Stourton and once owned by Prince Frederick (the ‘Grand Old Duke of York’ and brother to King George IV). A beautifully preserved relic of the English aristocracy, Allerton is a veritable time capsule offering an insight into a bygone era. Admire the Gothic splendour of the galleried Great Hall, the cosy library and elegant drawing room.

Afterwards, we visit Goldsborough Hall. The current Hall was built in the early 17th century and is renowned for its Jacobean architecture and magnificent Robert Adam interiors. Once home to Princess Mary (the Queens’ aunt), the Hall has been lovingly restored to its former glory by the current owners and is now a luxury five-star hotel. We enjoy afternoon tea in these stylish surroundings followed by a chance to walk round the historic, award-winning gardens.

Wednesday: Newby Hall & Ripley Castle Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and with some of Britain’s finest Robert Adam interiors, Newby Hall is a perfect example of the Georgian ‘Age of Elegance’. Home to the Compton family and their ancestors since 1748, Newby houses numerous treasures including magnificent classical sculptures, fine pieces of Chippendale furniture and a superb set of Gobelins tapestries, which we explore on our exclusive guided tour.

Our final visit takes us to Ripley Castle. Home to the Ingilby family for over 700 years, the castle is steeped in history and offers fascinating stories of its inhabitants; one of the ten oldest families in the country still living in the same residence. Ripley’s colourful and sometimes gruesome history is well documented and we learn more on our private guided tour.


What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Cedar Court Hotel, Harrogate with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage




�� Visits to Harewood House, Harrogate, Allerton Castle, Goldsborough Hall, Newby Hall & Ripley Castle

�� Private guided tour and lunch* at Harewood House

�� Afternoon tea* at Goldsborough Hall

�� Exclusive guided tour of Newby Hall

�� Private guided tour of Ripley Castle




Hotel The 4-star Cedar Court Hotel is situated close to the centre of Harrogate. Surrounded by the 200 acre Stray parkland, Cedar Court dates back to 1671 and blends modern facilities with period features, offering spacious and elegant rooms, a lounge bar, restaurant and small fitness centre.


Ripley Castle

Goldsborough Hall

Harewood House

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Arts & Crafts in the CotswoldsThe Arts and Crafts Movement was one of the most influential, profound and far-reaching design movements of modern times. The aim of the movement’s reformers was to re-establish a harmony between architect, designer and craftsman and to emphasise the importance of handcraftsmanship. On this insightful tour to the beautiful Cotswolds, we explore many of the properties designed by these influential figures; discover country retreats that were a source of inspiration and visit museums and galleries renowned for their Arts and Crafts collections.

Monday: ArrivalWe check in to the Mercure Bowden Hall Hotel in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager.

Tuesday: Rodmarton Manor & Chavenage HouseOur first visit is to Rodmarton Manor, one of the last country houses to be built and furnished according to the ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The house is filled with fine examples of handmade furniture and we enjoy a guided tour with the owners, plus time to explore the beautiful gardens.

Next stop is Chavenage House, an Elizabethan era manor house constructed of grey Cotswold stone and largely unchanged for 400 years,

where we enjoy a guided tour by a member of the family, followed by afternoon tea. The house has a rich history and many Civil War associations as well as an interior packed with stunning period furniture, historic tapestries and fascinating relics from the Cromwellian era.

Wednesday: Owlpen Manor & Woodchester MansionHome to the Mander family, Owlpen Manor is widely recognised as one of England’s most romantic Tudor manor houses. Dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, the manor was saved from ruin in 1926 by the Cotswold Arts and Crafts architect Norman Jewson and contains a series of unique painted textiles, family portraits and a representative collection of Cotswold Arts and Crafts furniture, which we discover on our exclusive guided tour.

We continue on to Woodchester Mansion, a unique and unfinished Victorian Gothic Revival house. The masterpiece of a young local architect, Benjamin Bucknall, the mansion blends the local traditional work in limestone

Itinerary

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Owlpen Manor

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Mon 17 Aug TO Fri 21 Aug


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with the ideas of the French architectural thinker Viollet-le-Duc. Building started around 1857 but stopped in the mid-1860s, leaving floors and ceilings missing, walls unplastered and windows unglazed. We learn more about the craft and building techniques of the period on our guided tour. The mansion also houses breeding colonies of Horseshoe bats.

After dinner this evening, we enjoy an interesting themed talk on the Arts and Crafts Movement from a guest speaker.

Please note: as Woodchester Mansion is an unfinished building with uneven floors, it is unsuitable for those

with limited mobility.

Thursday: Wilson Gallery, Chipping Campden & Broadway Museum and Art Gallery We begin our day in the spa town of Cheltenham at the Wilson Art Gallery. The gallery is renowned for its Arts and Crafts collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics, carvings, silver and jewellery; recognised as an outstanding collection of international importance, which we learn about on our guided tour.

Afterwards we have free time in the idyllic old wool merchants’ town of Chipping Campden. A gilded masterpiece of limestone and craftsmanship, it has a lovely main street complete with old pubs, antique shops and almshouses, a 17th-century Market Hall and one of the finest wool churches in England.

Finally, we head to the quintessential Cotswold village of Broadway. Here we visit the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery, housed in a 17th-century coaching inn which still retains many original features, and is one of the few buildings in Broadway of this period that can still be explored today. The museum tells the history of the town through the wool trade and its later popularity with the artistic community. Its unique collection, curated by Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, includes fine porcelain and paintings.


What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Mercure Bowden Hall Hotel, Gloucester with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage




�� Visits to Rodmarton Manor, Chavenage House, Owlpen Manor, Woodchester Mansion, Wilson Gallery, Chipping Campden & Broadway Museum and Art Gallery

�� Guided tour with the owners of Rodmarton Manor

�� Guided tour with the owners and afternoon tea* at Chavenage House

�� Guided tours of Owlpen Manor, Woodchester Mansion & Wilson Gallery




Hotel Set in 12 acres of sweeping parkland, the 4-star Mercure Bowden Hall Hotel is an elegant Regency country house hotel situated three miles from the city of Gloucester. All bedrooms feature flat-screen TV and complimentary Wi-Fi. Other facilities include a brasserie restaurant with views across the lawns and lake, and an elegant lounge and bar.


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Woodchester Mansion

Chipping CampdenChavenage House

Broadway

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Chelsea Flower Show & London's Finest Houses Every May the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea are transformed into a patchwork of show gardens, captivating urban gardens, inspirational small gardens and vibrant plant displays as the most talented of the horticultural world gather for the UK’s most famous flower show. The iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a must-attend event and on this tour, we enjoy admission to the show alongside the chance to explore some of London’s finest houses including magnificent Spencer House.

Monday: ArrivalWe check in to the Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager followed by dinner together at our hotel.

Tuesday: Spencer House, Green Park & Piccadilly Today begins at Spencer House with a private guided tour. Built between 1756-1766 for John, first Earl Spencer (an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales), the house is London’s most spectacular 18th-century aristocratic palace. Designed by John Vardy and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart, the State Rooms were amongst the first neo-classical interiors in Europe. After our tour, we enjoy tea and coffee together.

We then enjoy a walk through leafy Green Park, one of eight Royal Parks in London which provides a tranquil refuge from the bustling city. Afterwards, we visit Piccadilly, home to the Royal Academy of Arts and a host upmarket of shops. This is the perfect chance to find somewhere for lunch under your own steam and to explore at leisure. Close by is Piccadilly Circus, one of London’s most popular tourist destinations, home to the iconic Piccadilly screens and the statue of Eros.

Wednesday: Greenwich, Queen’s House & Charlton HouseWe take a river taxi from Tower Bridge to Greenwich for our visit to Queen's House. Built between 1616 and 1635, this is one of the most interesting buildings in the country.

Itinerary

NEW

5 DAYSMon 18 May TO Fri 22 May


Spencer House

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Designed by prominent English architect Inigo Jones and home to an internationally renowned art collection, there is plenty to discover here. After our visit there is free time to explore Greenwich and purchase lunch.

From here, we head to Charlton House in south-east London, built in the early 17th century by Sir Adam Newton. This fine Jacobean mansion boasts an original oak staircase, and beautiful fireplaces as well as plasterwork ceilings. After a guided tour we enjoy afternoon tea.

Thursday: Chelsea Flower ShowToday we enjoy admission to the Chelsea Flower Show. Set in 11 acres, this is the most prestigious flower show in the country, showcasing all the latest in garden design innovation. This show is the one the top professionals want to be known for, with over 550 exhibitors all striving for the horticultural prize of prizes, a Chelsea Gold Medal. The Great Pavilion is the centrepiece, housing a vast exhibition of displays by growers from all over the world while the Show Gardens incorporate tranquil water features, sculptures and carefully conceived plantings, making them an annual highlight and the talking point of every show. There are plenty of refreshments on hand too, everything from cafés, farmers’ market stalls, wood-fired pizza and seafood restaurants to a real ale bar and champagne lounge.

After enjoying a farewell dinner at our hotel this evening, we enjoy an interesting themed talk from a guest speaker.


What's Included�� 4 nights at the 4-star Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury with breakfast plus 2 dinners

�� Porterage




�� Visits to Spencer House, Green Park, Piccadilly, Queen’s House & Charlton House

�� Private guided tour, tea and coffee at Spencer House

�� River taxi from Tower Bridge to Greenwich

�� Guided tour and afternoon tea* at Charlton House

�� Admission to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show




Hotel The 4-star Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury is located just 150 yards from the Russell Square Underground Station and only a 5-minute tube journey from Covent Garden. The en-suite rooms feature a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and tea and coffee-making facilities. The hotel also offers a restaurant and bar as well as free Wi-Fi.


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Queen's House

Charlton House

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

RHS Chelsea Flower Show


Tuesday: ArrivalWe fly to Pisa and transfer to the Hotel Manzoni in Montecatini Terme.

Wednesday: Villa Reale, Villa Grabau & Colleverde Vineyard This morning takes us to Villa Reale di Marlia situated at the foot of the Pizzorne hills. Once home to Napoleon’s sister, the villa’s 16-hectare estate has a timeless elegance. We then continue on to Villa Grabau, a beautiful private house furnished with period pieces and paintings. The villa is surrounded by nine hectares of botanical park so make sure to explore the grounds where beautiful ancient lemon trees can be found.

In the afternoon we head to the Colleverde Vineyard where we discover the art of wine and olive oil making. Our tour here also includes a guided tasting of the ‘organic’ olive oil and some classic Tuscan varieties of vino.

Thursday: Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza & Viareggio Today begins with a guided tour at the Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza. Built in the 16th century upon the request of Cosimo I of Medici, the palace now houses a public library and the Museum of Versilian Work and Popular Culture.

Afterwards we have some free time in Viareggio, a seaside city known for sandy beaches.

The long road running parallel to the beach is perfect for a stroll and also provides plenty of shopping opportunities and eateries too.

Friday: Villa Torrigiani, Villa Mansi & Garzoni Gardens Villa Torrigiani is a beautiful building located in a romantic, Baroque garden and this is our first point of call today. Inside the villa you will find 17th-century frescoes and original 18th-century furniture.

Our next stop is Villa Mansi. Highlights here include the frescoes of the central hall by Stefano Tofanelli, a neoclassical painter admired by Elisa Baciocchi, Princess of Lucca and sister of

EXPLORE MORE OF EUROPE’S HISTORY

Discover Tuscan Villas Tuscany is a one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, boasting stunning countryside and coastline, impressive architecture in abundance as well as a fascinating history. On this tour we discover some of the most charming villas in the area with their meticulous gardens and detailed frescoes. Some of these villas are still occupied by the families that own them. We also visit some of the most iconic Tuscan cities such as Lucca and Florence.

8 DAYSTue 05 May TO Tue 12 May Tue 22 Sep TO Tue 29 Sep

FROM £995

Itinerary

Villa Torrigiani

Napoleon Bonaparte, and the gardens which are ideal for a relaxing walk.

We then visit the Garzoni Gardens, some of the most stunning gardens in Italy. Set against the stunning backdrop of Villa Garzoni, the grounds beautifully unite Renaissance geometrics with the Baroque style. Admire the lovely terraces and fountains during our time here.

Saturday: Lucca, Palazzo Pfanner & Lucca CathedralWe spend the day in the city of Lucca, dripping with history and famous for its intact Renaissance walls enclosing a cobbled centre in classic Roman grid-iron fashion. During our free time here we can soak up all the appeal that this Italian city has to offer.

We visit Palazzo Pfanner, a beautiful 17th-century palace still owned by the Pfanner family. Explore the impressive grounds and admire the frescoed main reception room, once home to Felix Pfanner. Originally from Austria, Felix became the first beer manufacturer in Lucca, brewing it in the mansion's cellars from 1846 until 1929.

Afterwards, we visit Lucca Cathedral. Located in a secluded part of the old city centre, the cathedral was consecrated by Pope Alexander II in 1070. The exterior of the building was later added to give it the elaborate look that we can see today.

Sunday: Villa La Petraia & FlorenceToday begins at Villa La Petraia, one of the most attractive Medici villas. Purchased by the Medici family in the 16th century, the villa’s courtyard is decorated with some fabulous frescoes.

This afternoon takes us to Florence, one of Italy’s most charming cities. Just some of the city’s highlights include the Palazzo Vecchio, Giotti’s Bell Tower and the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s lovely ‘Old Bridge’, which is still occupied by gold and silversmiths today. Following a guided walking tour here, we enjoy some free time to explore at leisure.

Monday: Day at leisure

Tuesday: DepartureWe check out of our hotel and transfer to Pisa airport for our return flight home.

Please note: itinerary order subject to change.

Lucca

Villa la Petraia Palazzo Pfanner

Florence

What's Included�� Return flights to Pisa

�� Airport taxes and luggage allowance (one piece of checked-in hold luggage per person)

�� Airport transfers in Italy

�� 7 nights at the 4-star Hotel Manzoni, Montecatini Terme with dinner & breakfast

�� Porterage




�� Visits to Villa Reale, Villa Grabau, Colleverde Vineyard, Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza, Viareggio, Villa Torrigiani, Villa Mansi, Garzoni Gardens, Lucca, Palazzo Pfanner, Lucca Cathedral, Villa La Petraia & Florence

�� Vineyard tour and wine tasting at Colleverde Vineyard

�� Guided tour of the Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza

�� Guided walking tour of Florence

�� Services of a local guide on excursions

Hotel The 4-star Hotel Manzoni is located in the heart of Montecatini Terme. Facilities include a restaurant, bar and free Wi-Fi. There is also a swimming pool and Wellness Centre which features a steam bath, Swedish sauna, and a Jacuzzi with hydrotherapy (available at an additional charge). The en-suite rooms offer satellite TV, a safe and hairdryer as well as air-conditioning.



Brussels, Bruges & Ghent Historic Houses Beautiful Belgium is a country known for its medieval towns, impressive architecture and fascinating heritage. On this break, we see some of the country’s highlights, learning more on guided city tours of historic Brussels and idyllic Bruges and spending time in the vibrant port city of Ghent with its spectacular Gothic cathedral. We also have the chance to admire the work of Victor Horta, a Belgian architect whose buildings provide excellent examples of the Art Nouveau style.

Thursday: ArrivalWe take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Lille where we transfer to our hotel for the next five nights. Later, we enjoy a welcome drinks reception hosted by our tour manager followed by dinner.

Friday: Brussels & Royal Greenhouses of Laeken or the Flower CarpetToday we head to Brussels where we start the day with a guided city tour. We explore several of this historic city’s architectural treasures, including the impressive St Michael’s Cathedral.

Then if you join us in April, we visit the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken which every spring, are open to the public for three weeks. Admire

the many plants in the greenhouses as well as the wonderful architecture by Alphonse Balat, Victor Horta’s mentor.

If you join us in August, we see the magnificent Flower Carpet in the impressive Grand-Place. Created by around 100 volunteer gardeners who set up this giant floral puzzle in less than eight hours, the intricate Flower Carpet is 75m long and 24m wide, featuring 500,000 flowers.

Afterwards, enjoy time at leisure in the city.

Saturday: Horta Museum, Hôtel Solvay, Villa Empain & Van Buuren HouseOur day begins at the Horta Museum, located in the private house and studio of architect Victor Horta. The interior decoration and furniture are by Horta himself and are typical of Art Nouveau.

We then venture to Hôtel Solvay, a large Art Nouveau town house designed by Horta.

Itinerary

Bruges

Brussels Flower Carpet

6 DAYSThu 23 Apr TO Tue 28 Apr Thu 13 Aug TO Tue 18 Aug

£795

The property was commissioned by Armand Solvay, who was the son of Belgian chemist and industrialist, Ernest Solvay.

Afterwards we visit Villa Empain, an Art Deco style private house built in the 1930s by Swiss architect Michel Polak. It was acquired by the Boghossian Foundation in 2006 and a delicate restoration took place.

Our final stop is Van Buuren House. Once a private house built for banker and art collector David van Buuren and his wife Alice in the 1920s, the property is now a museum. Admire rare furniture, stained-glass windows and international masterpieces.

Sunday: St Bavo’s Cathedral & Ghent Today we head to St Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent for an audio guided tour. The cathedral stands on the site of a 10th-century church and a 12th-century Romanesque church. Due to the city’s power in the Middle Ages, the church was converted during the 15th and 16th centuries into the impressive Gothic cathedral we see today.

We then have free time to explore Ghent. No other city in Belgium has as many classified buildings, so make sure to admire the medieval and classical architecture.

Monday: Bruges & BéguinageOur day begins in the lovely city of Bruges with a guided tour. Known as ‘the Venice of northern Europe’, Bruges is a beautifully-preserved medieval city of picturesque canals, impressive squares and cobbled lanes. We explore the historic centre and see the famous medieval bell tower.

Afterwards, we visit the Béguinage with its white-coloured house fronts and tranquil covent garden, founded in 1245. Once home to the Béguines, women who dedicated their lives to God, today the Béguinage is inhabited by the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict.

Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Tuesday: DepartureWe check out of our hotel and transfer to Lille for our return journey on the Eurostar to St Pancras.

What's Included�� Return travel on the Eurostar from St Pancras to Lille

�� Hotel transfers

�� 5 nights at the 3-star Acacias Hôtel Logis Lille Tourcoing with breakfast plus 2 dinners* (April departure) or�� 5 nights at the 4-star Hotel & Aparthotel Alize Mouscron with breakfast plus 2 dinners* (August departure)



�� Visits to Brussels, Royal Greenhouses of Laeken (April departure) or the Flower Carpet (August departure), Horta Museum, Hôtel Solvay, Villa Empain, Van Buuren House, Ghent, St Bavo’s Cathedral, Bruges & Béguinage

�� Guided city tours of Brussels & Bruges

�� Audio guided tour of St Bavo’s Cathedral


*Please note that dinner may be provided at the hotel or in a local restaurant.

Hotel or April departure:

The 3-star Acacias Hôtel Logis Lille Tourcoing is located a short drive from Tourcoing, close to the Belgian border. The en-suite rooms feature a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, tea and coffee-making facilities and free Wi-Fi. The hotel also offers a restaurant and bar.


August departure:

The 4-star Hotel & Aparthotel Alize Mouscron is located in the centre of Mouscron, just a short walk from the Grand Place. The en-suite rooms feature air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. Facilities include a bar, restaurant plus a sauna and fitness room. Single supplement £150

Bruges

St Bavo’s Cathedral

Ghent


Wednesday: ArrivalWe fly to Nice and transfer to our hotel in the heart of the city. Later, we enjoy dinner together in a local restaurant.

Thursday: Villa Ephrussi de RothschildThe Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a chic early 20th-century villa built by Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild on the St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula. This morning we enjoy a guided tour of the villa, evocative of an Italian palazzo and home to nine separately themed gardens overlooking the Mediterranean.

The rest of the day is left free to explore Nice, an opportunity perhaps to wander along the Promenade des Anglais or visit Castle Hill, where

the ruins of the former Château de Nice and other landmarks of historical importance can be found. The hill is also a beautiful park which offers magnificent views over the Baie des Anges, Old Nice and the port.

Friday: Prince’s Palace of Monaco & Exotic Garden of Monaco We make our way to the tiny principality of Monaco, ruled by the Grimaldis since 1346. Its wealth came from the famous Casino, founded by Charles III in 1848. We visit the State Apartments of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, the official residence of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Built at the end of the 12th century as a Genoese fortress, the palace was captured by the Grimaldi dynasty in 1297 and has remained in the family ever since.

Afterwards we head to the Exotic Garden of Monaco, an outstanding open-air botanical garden that opened to the public in 1933. With its stunning location along the edge of a cliff

Villas & Gardens on the French RivieraThe French Riviera is one of the world's most famous coastlines. What began as a winter health resort for the British upper class at the end of the 18th century also became the inspiration for many well-known artists, attracted by the region’s mild climate, vivid colours and clear light. As well as its rich artistic legacy, we also discover wonderful gardens in stunning locations, beautiful villas, picturesque resorts and the famous Principality of Monaco.

7 DAYSWed 6 May TO Tue 12 May

FROM £949

Itinerary

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Prince’s Palace of Monaco

overlooking the bay of Monaco, it contains more than 1,000 species of cacti and succulents that have adapted to dry climates in various ways.

Saturday: Day at leisure in Nice

Sunday: Cagnes-sur-Mer, Grimaldi Castle Museum & Renoir MuseumWe spend the day in the picturesque seaside resort of Cagnes-sur-Mer, perfectly nestled between Nice and Cannes. The resort offers a long pebble beach and a charming fishing port, all overlooked by the medieval quarter of Haut-de-Cagnes with its narrow lanes full of artists’ studios and galleries and stunning views of the Mediterranean.

Perched on a hilltop in the heart of Haut-de-Cagnes is the Grimaldi Castle Museum, a 14th-century stronghold that was subsequently transformed into a palatial home. One of its most striking features is the painted ceiling in the great hall which depicts the Fall of Phaëton. Today, it features several collections of contemporary and modern art.

Over the years, many famous artists have made Cagnes-sur-Mer their home and our last visit of the day is to the exquisite Renoir Museum, the family home and studio of Impressionist painter Auguste Renoir. It is a wonderfully evocative museum with many personal photographs and paintings, with the beautiful olive and citrus groves in the garden as much an attraction as the museum itself.

Monday: Cannes & AntibesWe head first to Cannes, renowned for its Film Festival, where we spend a few hours at leisure. Enjoy the waterfront avenue, Promenade de la Croisette, lined with palm trees, picturesque beaches, restaurants, cafés and upmarket boutiques and visit Le Suquet, Cannes’ old quarter, with its medieval buildings, winding, cobbled streets and panoramic views of Cannes.

From here we continue to the picturesque resort of Antibes where we have free time to explore. The historic old town within the ancient ramparts has retained much of its original character with quaint cobbled streets lined with pretty houses, boutiques and cafés. Port Vauban, the largest marina in Europe, is home to huge superyachts while the magnificent Fort Carré stands watch on the far side.

This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner together in a local restaurant.

Tuesday: DepartureWe check out of our hotel and transfer to Nice airport for our flight home.

Please note: on this tour a reasonable amount of walking is required as vehicular access is not always possible close to the sites of our visits. Often steep inclines and steps lead the way to certain properties. Therefore, we do not consider this tour suitable for persons of reduced mobility or those unable to walk unaided.

What's Included�� Return flights to Nice

�� Airport taxes and luggage allowance (one piece of checked-in hold luggage per person)

�� Airport transfers in France

�� 6 nights at the 4-star Hotel Nice Riviera with breakfast

�� 2 dinners at restaurants in Nice


�� Visits to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Prince’s Palace of Monaco, Exotic Garden of Monaco, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Grimaldi Castle Museum, Renoir Museum, Cannes & Antibes

�� Guided tour of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

�� Escorted by a tour manager in France

Hotel The 4-star Hotel Nice Riviera is located in the heart of Nice, close to the Promenade des Anglais and the beach. The hotel offers contemporary en-suite rooms, a lounge bar, fitness room, indoor heated pool and sauna (small charge applies).


Exotic Garden of Monaco

Cagnes-sur-Mer

Cannes

30 3130 Book or enquire online justgoholidays.com/historichouses or call 03332 341 868Book or enquire online justgoholidays.com/historichouses or call 03332 341 868

Dates, Prices & Pickups

Make your own way A seat will still be reserved for you on coach excursions

Leave the car at homeJoin at your most convenient pickup point shown below

Natural Beauty & Architectural Splendours of SuffolkSun 7 to Thu 11 Jun

£XXX £XXXSun 9 to Thu 13 Aug

See pages 6-7 for full tour details Single supplement £120

5 DAYS

A Taste of the Stately High Life in YorkshireSun 7 to Thu 11 Jun Bishop's Stortford Birchanger Green Services (M11), Cambridge, Cheshunt, Enfield, Harlow, Huntingdon, London Victoria,

Peterborough, Peterborough Services (A1(M)), Stamford £775 £750Sun 9 to Thu 13 Aug Bromsgrove, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Swindon, Tewkesbury, Worcester


5 DAYS

Undiscovered Treasure in Charming CheshireMon 8 to Fri 12 Jun Bradford, Durham, Halifax, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Thirsk, York

£695 £670Mon 7 to Fri 11 Sep Burton-upon-Trent, Derby, King's Lynn, March, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Peterborough, Stamford, Wisbech


5 DAYS

Arts & Crafts in the CotswoldsMon 4 to Fri 8 May Bognor Regis, Chichester, Fareham, Havant, Hedge End, Portchester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Waterlooville

£695 £670Mon 17 to Fri 21 Aug Kingston-upon-Thames, London Victoria, Maidenhead, Newbury, Reading, Richmond-upon-Thames, Slough, Swindon, Uxbridge


5 DAYS

Inspiring Malvern & Worcestershire Houses & GardensSun 24 to Thu 28 May Chesterfield, Derby, Leeds, Malton, Pickering, Sheffield, Tamworth, Wakefield, Wetherby, York

£795 £770Sun 20 to Thu 24 Sep Broadstairs, Canterbury, Gillingham, Herne Bay, Maidstone, Margate, Ramsgate, Rochester, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge


5 DAYS

Chelsea Flower Show & London's Finest HousesMon 18 to Fri 22 May £950


5 DAYS

Castles & Churches of Northumberland & the BordersMon 15 to Fri 19 Jun Hemel Hempstead, Leicester, London Victoria, Luton, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Rugby, St Albans, Watford

£795 £770Mon 14 to Fri 18 Sep Andover, Banbury, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Newbury, Oxford, Oxford Peartree Services (A34), Poole, Salisbury


5 DAYS

Castles & Gardens of Glorious KentSun 24 to Thu 28 May Chesterfield, Doncaster, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Pontefract, Selby, Sheffield, York

£750 £725Sun 7 to Thu 11 Jun Cheltenham, Gloucester, Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster, Ludlow, Malvern, Oxford, Witney


5 DAYS

Splendour of the South West with a Theatre Trip Sun 7 to Thu 11 Jun Alcester, Alfreton, Burton-upon-Trent, Cheltenham, Derby, Evesham, Redditch, Sutton Coldfield, Swadlincote

£795 £770Sun 19 to Thu 23 Jul Coventry, Leamington Spa, Leicester, Lincoln, Louth, Newark, North Hykeham, Nottingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick


5 DAYS

Brussels, Bruges & Ghent Historic HousesThu 23 to Tue 28 Apr Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille

£795Thu 13 to Tue 18 Aug Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille


6 DAYS

Note: all prices are for members of Historic Houses. Add £10 if you are not a Historic Houses member.

Terms & ConditionsCoach and rail package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions which are based on and financially protected by the Bonded Coach Holidays Group (BCH) Trading Charter.

Air package holiday prices are correct at the time of publication but are subject to fluctuation and availability. The final price will depend on your chosen airport, airline and flight time. Financial protection is in place via the ATOL scheme and terms & conditions apply. Operated by Just Go! Holidays, ATOL No.10889.

One piece of checked-in hold luggage PER PERSON is included however; the weight allowance does vary between airlines. Please ask for details. Hotel transfers may be in shared vehicles. You may also have to await passengers arriving on other flights; for your convenience we will do our utmost to keep the waiting time to a minimum.

Tours offered subject to availability. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room.

Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.

Club Class Home Collection Please call for details

Discounted rail travel Please call for details

Additional Travel Options

Book or enquire online justgoholidays.com/historichouses or call 03332 341 868

Destinations by Air Dates BRS EDI LGW LHR LPL LTN MAN NCL STNDiscover Tuscan Villas – 8 daysSee pages 24-25 for full tour detailsSingle supplement £210

Tue 5 to Tue 12 May £995 £1,050 £995 £995 - £995 £995 - £995

Tue 22 to Tue 29 Sep £995 £1,050 £995 £995 - £995 £995 - £995

Villas & Gardens on the French Riviera – 7 daysSee pages 28-29 for full tour detailsSingle supplement £180

Wed 6 to Tue 12 May £999 - £949 - £999 £949 - £999 £999

Airport codes: BRS: Bristol, EDI: Edinburgh, LGW: Gatwick, LHR: Heathrow, LPL: Liverpool, LTN: Luton, MAN: Manchester, NCL: Newcastle, STN: Stansted

Eurostar Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras

Flights Fly direct to your destination from a selection of UK airports

3232 See pages 30 - 31 for Dates, Prices & Pickups

XXXXXXX

Book or enquire online at:

justgoholidays.com/historichouses or call: 03332 341 868

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