The Itinerary

• 20th June

  Welcome Reception. Talk from Gareth Russell

  We will meet at our designated, convenient pick-up point in London, where you will board our private coach, bound for our first hotel, in Wales. After checking in to your room, you will have time to relax before we meet for a Welcome Drinks Reception.

  The evening continues with a talk from our Historian for the Tour, Gareth Russell followed by our evening meal.

• 21st June

  Pembroke Castle. Carew Castle

  Enjoy a lovely breakfast before we head off for a day in Pembrokeshire to explore the birthplace of Henry Tudor, Pembroke Castle, the home of his uncle Jasper Tudor. We then travel the short distance to the evocative ruins of Carew Castle, still with the arms of Henry VII, his son Arthur, Prince of Wales and his daughter-in-law, Katherine of Aragon. 

  This evening we will enjoy a three-course meal together before free time to relax and pack. 

• 22nd June

  Raglan Castle. Gloucester Cathedral

  After breakfast and check out, we board our private coach for a morning at Raglan Castle, where Henry VII spent his early years.

  The afternoon is spent at Gloucester Cathedral, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the cathedral and you will see, amongst other things, some of the best preserved cloisters anywhere in England, and the tomb of a deposed King of England.

  We continue our day with a short coach drive to our second hotel where you will have time to settle into your room, and enjoy views over the Worcestershire countryside, before we meet for our evening talk, followed by a 3-course dinner.

• 23rd June

  Ludlow Castle. St Laurences Church

  The hopes and dreams of the fledgling Tudor dynasty seemed secure in Henry VII and Elizabeth of York's eldest son, Arthur, Prince of Wales. Following his wedding to the Spanish Princess, Katherine of Aragon, the couple took up residence at Ludlow Castle, Shropshire, close to the Welsh Border. Tragedy struck just 6 months later when the couple both fell gravely ill. Katherine survived but Arthur, sadly, died at the Castle.

  We will spend the morning at Ludlow Castle before having some free time to explore the beautiful town of Ludlow, with its many Tudor buildings.

  In the afternoon we will visit St Laurence's Church, where Arthur's heart is buried, before returning to our hotel, with its views out over the Worcestershire countryside.

  In the evening we will be joined by a historian for a talk, followed by dinner in our private dining room.

• 24th June

  Worcester Cathedral

  We will check out after breakfast before spending our day in Worcester, visiting the ancient Cathedral, where Arthur Tudor is buried. Arthur's Chantry is something to behold and as you explore it, you are following in the exact footsteps of his neice, Elizabeth I, when she visited here in 1575.

  We will leave Worcester to head to our final hotel where we spend the remaining three nights. After time to settle into your room we will meet for our evening together. 

• 25th June

  Winchester

  Winchester, the ancient capital of Wessex, was the choice of location for Henry VII's queen, Elizabeth of York, to give birth to their first child. The child was a boy and he was christened Arthur. 

  We will explore the city and visit the Cathedral, which years after Arthur's Baptism saw the marriage of Mary I to Philip of Spain. 

• 26th June

  The Mary Rose, Portsmouth

  We enter into the begining of the second Tudor reign by visting an exceptional survivor from the Tudor period. Commissioned by Henry VIII at the beginning of his reign, the Mary Rose would stay in service for almost the entirety of his time as king, sinking in 1545 in the Solent within view of those on the shore, including Henry. Attempts to recover the ship had been unsuccessful when Henry died 2 years later. Indeed she wasn't raised to the suface until 1981! 

  Housed within a specially built building, this time-capsule of Tudor history will no doubt be a highlight of the tour for many. 

  On our final evening together, we will meet for pre-dinner drinks before a sit down meal. After this, you will have free time to enjoy your surroundings and pack.

• 27th June

  Final Farewells

  After a relaxed breakfast we check out and say our final farewells.

What's Included

 The Rise of the Tudors Tour