This 6 day/5 night, luxury, fully escorted tour we explore The Private Life of Anne Boleyn, Queen and Woman.
We follow part of the 1535 Summer Progress that Anne took with Henry VIII, before travelling to Anne’s childhood home, Hever Castle, for our final night.
On this tour we will visit seven historical locations; Sudeley Castle, Hailes Abbey, Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucester Cathedral, Berkeley Castle, Thornbury Castle and Hever Castle.
Our Tour Historian, who will accompany us for the duration, is the historian and best-selling author Gareth Russell.
We stay for 4 nights in Tewkesbury where our hotel overlooks Tewkesbury Abbey and the beautiful Gloucestershire countrside. Our final night is spent at Anne Boleyn's childhood home, the magical Hever Castle, where we will dine in the Great Hall!
From our convenient London pick-up point, you will be transported in a luxury air-conditioned coach and arrive everywhere in comfort and style!
All transport, admissions, guided tours, historian talks, accommodation, breakfast, and dinners (with a drinks allowance) are included! The only things you'll need money for are lunches and your own sundries and souvenirs.
This is a fully escorted tour with Philippa as your dedicated Tour Manager.
From our convenient London pick up point we will board our private coach and head to our luxury spa hotel. Tewkesbury Park Hotel enjoys views over Tewkesbury Abbey and the English countryside.
Once you have settled in to your room, and perhaps had a walk of the grounds or a swim in the indoor heated pool, we will meet for a Welcome Drinks Reception followed by our first talk of the tour from Gareth Russell. In his talk, Gareth will explore Anne's early life and heritage.
Our three-course dinner with wine is served in our private dining room with views over the valley.
In the morning we travel the short distance to Sudeley Castle which, as well as a stop on Anne and Henry's 1525 Progress, is also the final resting place of Katherine Parr.
We then visit Hailes Abbey to talk about the significance of the visit Cromwell made here while Anne and Henry were at Sudeley Castle, and the tale of the Holy blood!
In the afternoon we head back to Tewkesbury and visit the beautiful Abbey where Anne and Henry stayed. Tewkesbury Abbey was saved as the Parish Church following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the scars of the monastic complex are still there to see! This is also the burial place of Edward IV's brother, George, Duke of Clarence and the son on Henry VI, Edward Prince of Wales.
We return to our hotel for an evening talk from Gareth, continuing a look at Anne's life between 1533 and the beginning of the progress of 1535. This is followed by our three-course evening meal.
Anne and Henry knelt in the porch entrance to Gloucester Cathedral before processing to the High Altar. You will follow in their footsteps as we visit the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral, with its famous cloisters! This is also the burial places of Edward II and Robert Curthose.
We move on to Thornbury Castle where we will enjoy Afternoon Tea and a look at the room in which Anne slept when she was here in 1535.
We return to our hotel for our third and final evening talk from Gareth as he explores with us how less than a year after the happy progress of 1535, Anne was dead.
A private tour of this awe inspiring castle is followed by free time to explore the castle and its grounds, and a chance to dress as Tudor Royalty and have your photo taken!
This evening we meet in our private dining room at Tewkesbury Park Hotel, for our final three-course evening meal here. You will then have time to relax, chat and take time to pack (because tomorrow we head for Hever Castle!)
Once you have settled into your beautiful, uniquely decorated, room in the Astor Wing of Hever Castle, you have time to explore the Castle and the grounds.
Gareth and I will also be taking an optional visit to St Peter's Church, where Anne's father, Thomas Boleyn, is buried.
We meet in our private suite for an early evening talk from Hever Castle Assistant Curator, Kate McCaffrey. Kate will be talking to us about one of Anne's most personal possessions, her Book of Hours, on which Kate has done extensive, and ongoing, research.
Our talk is followed by an after-hours 'Hidden Hever'tour
We enjoy a banquest in the Great Hall of Hever Castle, whilst being serenaded by the beautiful voice of Jay Britton, The Tudor Songbook!
Wake up in the magical Hever Castle.
After a leisurely breakfast we board our luxury coach and head back to London and say our final farewells.
per person with Double Occupancy, Single Person Supplement of 50% Applies
Room Upgrades and Additional Items Charged Separately
There is space on the booking for you to indicate your preferences
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