Historians on this Tour

Gareth Russell

Gareth Russell is the author of eight books, including the best-selling Young and Damned and Fair, a biography of Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard. He studied History at Oxford and Queen’s University, Belfast, where his postgraduate dissertation was on the queen’s household in the 1540s. His book, The Ship of Dreams, was named a Book of the Year by The Times and a Best History Read of 2019 by the Daily Telegraph. He is a regular contributor on TV shows and documentaries and also hosts his own podcast “Single Malt History”. His latest book Do Let’s Have Another Drink, a biography of The Queen Mother through 101 anecdotes, is top of the charts! He is currently working on a history of Hampton Court Palace and the people who lived there which will be published in 2023. **EXCLUSIVE** Gareth will be sharing extracts from his upcoming book, on this tour!

Lesley Smith

Experience Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots as if meeting them in real life, with the incredible Lesley Smith. Lesley Smith has been the Curator of Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire since 2000. She is a medical historian holding an M.Phil in Tudor medicine, is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and is also a Member of the Society of Medical Writers. In addition to these qualifications, Lesley was awarded an Honorary Masters Degree in 2010 by the University of Derby for “Services to History in the Community”, and has 38 academic publications. She is also published in the wider community and had her own page in the local county magazine “Staffordshire Life” for eight years. Lesley has also appeared in over 120 television programmes some of which have been broadcast to 38 countries. Lesley is also well known for her highly entertaining and informative costumed portrayals of a variety of historical characters, which she gives both at the Castle and across the UK (and beyond).

The Tudor Songbook - Jay Britton

Jay Britton has taken the Tudor world by storm with her beautiful performances of pieces from the Tudor court. Jay, who is a classically trained soprano, is becoming well known as The Tudor Songbook and she performs on a regular basis at historic houses across the country. Last year Jay captivated our tour groups as she sang songs from Anne Boleyn's own repertoire! You will be transported back to Tudor times as Jay, dressed in authentic Tudor dress and accompanied by period instruments, sings for us exclusively, at Hever Castle.

William Mitchell

William is a London Blue Badge guide and historical interpreter at locations such as The Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, where he brings to life the stories of some of England’s most notable figures! William’s impressive knowledge, and clear and upbeat delivery mean he is our go-to guide for London. On this tour William will be taking us into Westminster Abbey and giving us a walking tour of the “Lost Palaces of Westminster and Whitehall!”

Phil Downing

Phil Downing is the House Manager at Harvington Hall, a moated Elizabethan Manor House with a lot of Tudor history to tell! Phil's enthusiasm for the history of the Hall is infectious and entralling. Phil, and assistant house manager James, bring the history of this incredible Elizabethan Manor House alive, in a private guided tour for our group.

The Itinerary

• Day 1 - 10th September

  From our convenient London pick up point we will board our private coach and head to our luxury hotel in Stratford Upon Avon. The Arden Hotel is within walking distance of the town and river. On arrival you will be shown to your beautiful room where you can settle in ahead of welcome drinks, a talk from Gareth Russell and a 3-course dinner.

• Day 2 - 11th September

  Kenilworth Castle, Lord Leycester Hospital, Harvington Hall.

  After a beautiful breakfast we head to Kenilworth Castle where Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester put on elaborate entertainments for Elizabeth I in 1575, in an attempt to winher hand in marriage.
  

  **NEW TO THE ITINERARY** We have been granted a private tour by the Master of the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick! What makes this even more exciting is that we have it all to ourselves as it is not open to the public on this day and we have been given special access.
  

  Mid afternoon we arrive at Harvington Hall, a moated Tudor Manor House of a recusant family during the reign of Elizabeth I. The House is closed to the public and we enjoy exclusive access and a tour of the house with the House Manager, Phil Downing, before an 'Audience with Elizabeth I', the incredible Lesley Smith.
  
  Our evening meal is taken in the Great Hall of Harvingon Hall!

• Day 3 - 12th September

  Tutbury Castle

  Our second full day is spent at Tutbury Castle learning about Mary, Queen of Scots' time as a prisoner here. You will also take lunch here and have time to explore the site before returning to The Arden Hotel.

  We enjoy a 3-course evening meal and a relaxed night before travelling to Hever Castle the following day.

• Day 4 - 13th September

  Peterborough Cathedral, Hever Castle

  After breakfast we check out of The Arden Hotel and make our way to Hever Castle via the magnificent Peterborough Cathedral. It is here that Mary, Queen of Scots was buried following her execution at Fotheringay Castle. She was later exumed on the orders of her son, James I of England so that she could be reinterred at Westminster Abbey.
  
  After checking into your room at Hever Castle and taking time to enjoy your surroundings, we meet for our private, out-of-hours 'Hidden Hever' tour. Our evening is topped off with a banquet in the Great Hall of the castle whilst enjoying a private concert from Jay Britton, The Tudor Songbook!

• Day 5 - 14th September

  Westminster Abbey, Hever Castle

  Fill up on a Hever breakfast before we board our luxury coach and head to London where we will be joined by our expert guide for the day, William.
  

  William will guide us around Westminster Abbey to visit the final resting places of Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. The women never met in life and yet rest in peace only a few meters away from each other.
  

  We return to Hever Castle for a talk from Dr Estelle Paranque about the relationship between the Queens, before a relaxed BBQ on our private lawn next to the moat looking at the Castle!

• Day 6 - 15th September

  Wake up for one final time in the magical Hever Castle.

  After a leisurely breakfast we board our private coach which will take us back to London where we say our final farewells.

What's Included