2028 Tours - Coming Soon

Managing Director, Philippa Lacey, picking up the award for Best Historic Tour Operator, for the 2nd year running

British History tours is an award-winning historic tour operator with a decade of experience in delivering luxury history tours.

British History Tours offers unique, carefully crafted and unforgettable, immersive historical experiences which create memories to cherish forever.

2028 will be a very special year for British History Tours - it is our 10th anniversary year!  We ran our first tour, The Anne Boleyn Experience, in May 2018 and we will be celebrating this milestone throughout 2028 and we'd love for you to join us!

Our tour calendar for 2028 is currently in the development stage and, as many past guests will attest to, our attention to detail is such that we only release a tour when we are sure we have created an unforgettable experience. 

2028 will be released on 1st March and we have some incredible tours planned. Please see below for details of how you can get priority booking and to read what our past guests say about our tours.

2028 Calendar

Our 2028 Tour Calendar will be released in Spring 2027. Please check back or, even better, follow Philippa's (our MD) Substack, for free, and get her history and travel newsletter directly to your inbox.

Follow Philippa's Substack

Register your interest in 2028 Tours and we will email you are soon as they are released.

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Priority Booking

Get Priority Booking privileges by joining the British History Patreon community and take advantage of early access to book new tours.

What Our Customers Say 

Dan

The Royal Scotland Tour 2026

Over nine spectacular days, we explored so many incredible historic venues, seamlessly shifting from the majestic heights of Stirling Castle to an unforgettable private champagne reception on the Royal Yacht Britannia. Staying at the iconic Caledonian Hotel provided the perfect, luxurious base of operations for our journey.
A massive thank you to Gareth Russell and Philippa, whose combined expertise, passion, and flawless organization brought history to life in a way few others can. Gareth’s deeply insightful themed talks and expert-guided tours added immense depth to every single venue we visited.

A personal highlight was the incredible welcome we received at Glamis Castle, where we were piped right into the main hall; a spine-tingling, authentically Scottish moment that sets this company apart. If you want a perfectly curated, deeply engaging luxury history experience, look no further than Gareth and Philippa’s tours. Five stars all around!

Tina

The Anne Boleyn Tour 2023

"Anne Boleyn Experience Tour----As someone who has been following this tour for years before i could go, as well as checking photos, talking to past participants etc., I can say with all sincerity that the entire tour experience exceeded all my expectations. Philippa puts together a tour of learning, luxury and of course consistent fun. She patiently answers any questions and concerns in the months before the tour and once the tour starts ensures each guest gets the most out of the events. The tour was the among the best experiences of my life and I am definitely planning on going again."

Denise

The Anne Boleyn Tour 2022

"Staying at Hever Castle in the Astor wing, and getting behind the scenes tours of the castle was a dream come true. Philippa worked very hard to make this tour first class in every way, including very knowledgeable guides at the Tower and Hampton Court Palace, and, in our private Astor suite well-known historian speakers, whose books I have read and whose videos I have watched. It was all very exciting. I have to include the top notch breakfasts and dinners we had, including one marvelous feast inside the castle’s great hall. Philippa’s co-tour guide, Gareth added to the fun and was a fount of historical knowledge, which he was always willing to share. I’d like to say that this was a bucket list tick, but I wouldn’t mind going on this tour again. I can’t recommend this tour enough, you will love it."

GAIL

On Progress with Anne Boleyn Tour 2022

"Philippa and BHT never disappoint! Our Progress tour had particular challenges because it coincided with the national mourning for Queen Elizabeth II. But Philippa took care of the glitches like the pro she is and again delivered an amazing experience. This is my 3rd tour and I’m signed up for #4 in 2023. Very well done!"

Jill

The Royal Scotland Tour 2026

There are wonderful holidays, there are unforgettable journeys, and then there is British History Tours’ Royal Scotland Tour—a magnificent, pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming experience that deserves a category entirely its own. If I could award it a constellation instead of five stars, I would! This was history, hospitality, and luxury woven into something truly extraordinary.

Belle

The Anne Boleyn Tour 2023

"I had the most amazing experience with Philippa and British History Tours. The time spent learning more about Tudor life, staying at Hever Castle, and our private tours were very special. Gareth Russell (author and historian) was on our tour as well, and we all appreciated his knowledge about the Tudors and especially Queen Anne Boleyn. I would definitely go on another tour with this company."

Maria

The Anne Boleyn Tour 2022

"We had an absolutely fabulous time on this tour! From the moment we stepped on the coach, we were taken care of in style. The accommodations at Hever Castle were luxury, all while staying at a medieval castle. All the staff at Hever were top-notch - we wanted for nothing. Philippa and Gareth, our expert tour leads, were knowledge but also engaging and personable - making the tour seem more like friends on an extraordinary outing! The day trips to Hampton Court and The Tower of London were perfectly planned with private tour guides and built in personal time to visit particular areas/sites on our own, at leisure. Our favorite part was dressing in Tudor Era clothing for a day and strolling around the grounds with Hever Castle as the back drop! Just amazing! This tour was a once in a lifetime trip that I hope we can do again! Thanks Philippa!"

Ian

On Progress with Anne Boleyn Tour 2022

"My wife & I have just completed the On Progress with Anne Boleyn tour. We cannot recommend Philippa & British History Tours highly enough! My wife is a Tudor tragic & she was mesmerised with everything that we saw & experienced. A highlight was dressing in Tudor costume for a day - truly a memory to treasure."

Patricia

The Royal Scotland Tour 2026

Visiting Scotland has been a dream of mine for many years, and to finally experience its magnificent castles, palaces, cathedrals, and historic treasures was truly a dream come true.
From Scone Palace and Glamis Castle to St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, the Kirk of the Canongate, Stirling Castle, Rosslyn Chapel, and the Royal Yacht Britannia—and, of course, the unforgettable Queen’s Piper—every day brought something special. It was nothing short of magical!
Philippa, you have truly mastered the art of tour guiding. Your knowledge, warmth, and ability to bring Scotland’s history to life made each place we visited even more meaningful. Gareth’s talks on the bus and at the hotel were equally wonderful—so informative, engaging, and full of fascinating details. His wonderful Irish humor kept us laughing and added so much joy to the experience.
What made this trip especially memorable was not just the incredible places we visited, but the care, enthusiasm, and hospitality you both brought to every day. You made us feel so welcome and gave us memories that I will treasure for a lifetime.
Please know that I will be singing your praises to everyone I can back home in Texas! I wholeheartedly recommend your tours and will continue to tell people what a truly exceptional, five-star experience you provide. Scotland has captured an even bigger piece of my heart because of you both.
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge, your humor, your kindness, and your love of Scotland with us. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had this experience with you both, and I will look back on this past week with the fondest memories for many years to come.
With sincere gratitude and warmest
Patricia Loyd

Kathryn

The Anne Boleyn Tour 2022

"I can’t rave about my experience enough! I was traveling on my own for the first time so I was a bit nervous, but Philippa and Gareth really helped me feel comfortable and made sure the whole group had everything they needed. The itinerary was simply amazing. Absolutely would recommend to everyone"

Mary

The Anne Boleyn Tour 2022

"We really enjoyed The Anne Boleyn Tour. Staying at Hever Castle was wonderful. Such a lovely place! The food and service was really superior. We had behind the scenes private access to the Castle as well as a dinner in the Great Hall of the castle. So exciting. The tour guides were very good at all of the places that we visited and having three Historians to give us their insight made everything even more special. Thank you Philippa for arranging everything!"

Gayl

The Anne Boleyn Tour and The Life and Times of Elizabeth I Tour 2022

"Recently returned from the “Life & Times of Elizabeth I” tour which was my second this year. (I was also on the Anne Boleyn tour in May - both had been postponed from Covid times.) I wish we could clone Phillipa the Tour Manager and Gareth the Tour Historian and station them at every corner of the world to lead tours because I travel a lot and these have been best I’ve ever experienced.

Every tour detail was meticulously arranged by Phillipa, and she was not an absentee host, she was there with us every step of the way. She included thoughtful touches like timing the Anne Boleyn tour to be at Hever on May 19, or the Elizabeth tour at Kenilworth in July. Literally every aspect: the luxury accommodations, transportation on a dedicated bus, meal arrangements including special diets, and the private “behind the scenes” tours and speakers were first rate.

And what speakers they were! All noted historians and authors speaking on their specialties with insights into the places we were visiting. These were real experts, not scripted entertainers. Having Gareth along for the whole trip, adding colorful commentary and answering our questions made it extra special. He was so approachable, and he had a way of making the history interesting and relevant while gently nudging us to consider the context and customs of the people we were hearing about.

Overall fabulous tours. Highly recommended and I will be seeking them out again."

DIANE

The Life and Times of Elizabeth I Tour and On Progress with Anne Boleyn Tour 2022

"I've taken two British History Tours. Ms Brewell has a co-host for each tour as the historian. I do recommend anyone interested in British History look into taking one of British History Tours.

The venues are all top-notch and the included breakfasts and dinners are culinary wonders. I particularly love staying at Hever Castle.

Even more importantly, I have developed friendships with fellow time travelers from Texas; New York City; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Canada; England; and North Ireland. I have never been so quick to develop friendships and so intent on keeping them current."

Read more: 2028 Tours - Coming Soon

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Home 2026

  • British History Tours

    Immersive Historical Tours

    with everything taken care of for you

  • British History Tours

    Award Winning

    Winner of Historical Tour Operator of the Year 2024/25 and 2025/26 by Prestige Awards

  • British History Tours

    Expert-Led

    Historians and expert guides

  • Fully Escorted Luxury Tours with an Experienced Tour Director

  • Small Groups as Standard

  • Accommodation, Transport, Breakfasts and Dinners included

  • Travel with your Favourite Historians

  • Travel with an award-winning Tour Operator

  • 5* Customer Reviews

Raglan Castle

Raglan Castle

as featured on The Rise of the Tudors Tour

Anne Boleyn's Book of Hours

Anne Boleyn's Book of Hours

as featured on The Anne Boleyn Tour

Fountains Abbey

Fountains Abbey

as featured on The Catherine Howard Tour and The Wars of the Roses Tour

Tour Calendar 2027

Click on a map to explore the tour!

The Wars of the Roses Tour

The Wars of the Roses Tour

20th - 29th April 2027

Tour Itinerary

The Anne Boleyn Tour

The Anne Boleyn Tour

17th - 21st May 2027

Tour Itinerary

The Rise of the Tudors Tour

The Rise of the Tudors Tour

20th - 27th June 2027

Tour Itinerary

With small group sizes for an exceptional experience, our tours sell out quickly. Book soon to avoid disappointment.

Why Book with Us?

Once in a lifetime experiences, that'll you'll want to repeat!

When Philippa started British History Tours in 2014 it was with a vision of providing the ultmate history travel experiences. She envisaged taking history lovers to the places where history happened and taking care of everything from accommodation to transport, admissions and expert guides and talks from eminent historians. It would be luxury all the way so that guests could enjoy their immersive experience well fed and rested!

These would be once-in-a-lifetime experiences!

But then, guests would ask "what tours have you got next year? We want to come back!"

Our rebooking rate is now round 70%, with some guests returning in 2026 for their 5th or 6th tour!

You don't have to take our word for it, please feel free to take time to see what our customers say about their experiences. 

Customer Testimonials

Historians who have appeared on our Tours

  • Gareth Russell - Historian in Residence

    Gareth Russell

    - Historian in Residence

  • Dr Tracy Borman OBE

    Dr Tracy Borman OBE

  • Dr Jonathan Foyle

    Dr Jonathan Foyle

  • Kate McCaffrey

    Kate McCaffrey

  • Prof James Clark

    Prof James Clark

  • Dr Nicola Tallis

    Dr Nicola Tallis

  • Lesley Smith

    Lesley Smith

  • Jay Britton

    Jay Britton

    The Tudor Songbook

  • Julian Humphrys

    Julian Humphrys

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British History Tours customer privacy notice

Registered name: History Holidays Limited

This privacy notice tells you what to expect us to do with your personal information.

  • Contact details
  • What information we collect, use, and why
  • Lawful bases and data protection rights
  • Where we get personal information from
  • How long we keep information
  • Who we share information with
  • How to complain

Contact details

Email

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What information we collect, use, and why

We collect or use the following information to provide services and goods, including delivery:

  • Names and contact details
  • Addresses
  • Date of birth
  • Purchase or account history
  • Payment details (including card or bank information for transfers and direct debits)
  • Health information (including dietary requirements, allergies and health conditions)

We also collect or use the following information to provide services and goods, including delivery:

  • Health information

We collect or use the following information for service updates or marketing purposes:

  • Names and contact details

We collect or use the following information to comply with legal requirements:

  • Name
  • Contact information
  • Health and safety information

We collect or use the following personal information for dealing with queries, complaints or claims:

  • Names and contact details
  • Correspondence

Lawful bases and data protection rights

Under UK data protection law, we must have a “lawful basis” for collecting and using your personal information. There is a list of possible lawful bases in the UK GDPR. You can find out more about lawful bases on the ICO’s website.

Which lawful basis we rely on may affect your data protection rights which are in brief set out below. You can find out more about your data protection rights and the exemptions which may apply on the ICO’s website:

If you make a request, we must respond to you without undue delay and in any event within one month.

To make a data protection rights request, please contact us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.

Our lawful bases for the collection and use of your data

Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information to provide services and goods are:

  • Consent - we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object.

Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for service updates or marketing purposes are:

  • Consent - we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for legal requirements are:

  • Consent - we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object.
  • Legal obligation – we have to collect or use your information so we can comply with the law. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to erasure, the right to object and the right to data portability.

Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for dealing with queries, complaints or claims are:

  • Consent - we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

Where we get personal information from

  • Directly from you

How long we keep information

Personal Information is retained for 5 years following the conclusion of the delivery of the latest service you have asked us to provide. 

Who we share information with

Others we share personal information with

  • Suppliers and service providers

How to complain

If you have any concerns about our use of your personal data, you can make a complaint to us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.

If you remain unhappy with how we’ve used your data after raising a complaint with us, you can also complain to the ICO.

The ICO’s address:           

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Helpline number: 0303 123 1113

Website: https://www.ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint

Last updated

12 September 2024

Why Book with Us?

Why book with us?

  • Immersive Historical Experiences

    We offer immersive historical experiences where present-day worries are set aside, giving participants the chance to completely engage with the past, guided by knowledgeable and enthusiastic historians, in superb surroundings.

    For those seeking to dive deep into history, to feel its texture, understand its complexities, and appreciate its nuances, our immersive historical experiences are perfect!

  • Meet your favourite historians

    Guests get the opportunity to interact with historians who are deeply passionate about their field of expertise. Our historians not only share fascinating insights and stories but also engage with participants, answering questions and sparking discussions that make history feel alive and relevant.

  • Personal Service

    Behind these unbelievable experiences is a philosophy of customer service, it's what sets these experiences apart and makes them memorable events that customers cherish and talk about long after they've happened. We have almost a decade of experience creating historical travel experiences for guests from all over the world and take our obligations very seriously.

  • Perfect for single travellers

    We bring people of like mind together, and as a result we have found our tours to be the perfect place for the single traveller. Time with the group is balanced with time to yourself but you are never left alone or without support when you need it.

    We are honoured to have been the reason for the forging of many life-long friendships, which we often see when people return to a tour with a friend made on a previous one!

  • Proven Track Record

    Our re-booking rate is over 70% year-on-year with guests choosing us time and time again as their favoured historical tour operator. 

  • 5-star Reviews

    You can see our google reviews or visit our 'Customer Reviews' page to see what our guests say about our tours. 

  • Award-winning

    We are very proud to have beaten all other historic tour operators in our region to win 'Historic Tour Operator of the Year' at the Prestige 2024/25 and 2025/26 awards.

  • Fully compliant with the regulations governing the travel industry

    We comply with all relevant travel industry regulations, notably The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, and are members of the Travel Trust Association. 

    Be careful, the UK travel industry relies on companies following the rules voluntarily. Even if you decided not to travel with us, please make sure you ask your chosen tour operator by which method they are compliant with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations. 

Tour Director and Company Owner Philippa Lacey

Tour Director and Company Owner Philippa Lacey

We are award Winning!

Award Nominations

Read more: Why Book with Us?

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Copyright 2012-2026 History Holidays Ltd t/a British History Tours

British History Tours is a trading name of History Holidays Limited Company Number 8851851. Registered in England and Wales. Established 2014.

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Office Hours

Monday - Thursday 10:00am - 4:00pm

Friday 10:00am - 12noon