The Rise of the Tudors Tour 2024

Fully Escorted Tours 

Resident Tour Historian: Gareth Russell

Small Groups as Standard

Financial Failure Protection cover on all Tour Bookings

All Breakfasts and Dinners Included

Saturday 21st - Friday 27th September 2024

sold out

Tour Details

'The Rise of the Tudors’  Tour is a 6 night/ 7 day, luxury, fully escorted, tour exploring the rise of one of the most famous royal dynasties of all time, The Tudors.

As part of a small group you will visit Castles and Cathedrals in Wales and the border counties, returning each evening to our luxury hotel in comfort and style on our luxury air-conditioned coach.

Gareth Russell, best-selling author and historian accompanies Philippa Brewell, your dedicated Tour Manager, as resident tour historian. We are joined along the way by historians Dr Nicola Tallis and Nathen Amin for fascinating talks, at which you will be able to ask questions, and have books signed. Julian Humphrys will escort us on an engrossing day in Winchester.

The tour will begin by meeting at our convenient pick-up point in London before heading to beautiful Wales, where we will stay for two nights. Using our luxury hotel as a base, the tour will visit Pembroke Castle and Raglan Castle, both closely associated with the early life of Henry VII.

We then come back over the border, into England, to visit more Cathedrals and Castles associated with the early Tudors. Winchester, the birthplace of Arthur Tudor, Gloucester Cathedral which saw huge change with each Tudor monarch, Ludlow Castle where Arthur Tudor died and Worcester Cathedral where he is buried.

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Tour Highlights

  • Best-selling author and historian Gareth Russell, is our dedicated Tour Historian

  • Visit Castles and Cathedrals in Wales and the Border Counties

  • Talks from Dr Nicola Tallis, Nathen Amin and Julian Humphrys

  • Expert Guided Tours

  • Visit 8 historical locations: Pembroke Castle, Raglan Castle, Gloucester Cathedral, Winchester Great Hall and Cathedral, Ludlow Castle, St Laurence's Church, and Worcester Cathedral

Hever Castle ©P Brewell

The Itinerary

  • Day 1 - 21st September

    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 a three-course meal. 

  • Day 2 - 22nd September

    Pembroke Castle.

    Enjoy a lovely breakfast before we head off for a day at Pembroke Castle. Explore the birthplace of Henry VII, and see the room in which he is supposed to have been born. 

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

  • Day 3 - 23rd September

    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, Tewkesbury Park. After check in, you will have a little time to settle into your room, with its views over the Worcestershire countryside, before we meet for our evening talk, in our private dining room.

    Our talk this evening 'Henry Tudor: Rise to the Throne' is given by historian and author, Nathen Amin. Nathen's talk will be followed by a 3-course dinner.

  • Day 4 - 24th September

    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 visit the Cathedral, which years after Arthur's birth, saw the marriage of Mary I to Philip of Spain. 

    (More activities to be announced)

  • Day 5 - 25th September

    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, Catherine 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 feel gravely ill. Catherine 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.

  • Day 6 - 26th September

    Worcester Cathedral

    Our last full day is spent 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 in 1575.

    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.

  • Day 7 - 27th September

    Final Farewells

    After a relaxed breakfast we check out and return to London to our convenient drop off point, and final farewells.

What's Included

Swimming Pool at Tewkesbury Park Hotel

  • 6 Nights Luxury Accommodation

  • Resident Historian for the tour - Gareth Russell

  • Expert History Talks from Eminent Historians

  • Dedicated and Experienced Tour Manager - Philippa Brewell

  • All Evening Meals and Breakfasts

  • Drinks allowance with evening meals

  • Luxury Coach Travel from pick up to drop off

  • All admissions as stated in the itinerary

  • Private Guided tours as stated in the itinerary

  • An Experience of a Lifetime!

Historian Talks

Gareth Russell

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! His latest book 'The Palace' looks at the history of Hampton Court Palace through the people who lived there.
Nathen Amin

Nathen Amin

Nathen Amin is a historian, author and researcher from Carmarthenshire, West Wales. His focus is on the 15th Century and the reign of Henry VII. His 2017 book, ‘The House of Beaufort,’ was the first full-length biography of the Beaufort family. In 2021, his second book, ‘Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders; Simnel, Warbeck and Warwick,’ was published. Nathen is a seasoned presenter, and has given talks at events including BBC History Weekend, Gloucester History Festival and HistFest, and venues such as Windsor Castle, and the British Museum. He has also featured on British, Australian, and German radio and television. Nathen is a trustee of the Henry Tudor Trust and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Julian Humphrys

Julian Humphrys

Julian read history at Emmanual College, Cambridge before spending 12 years at Chelsea’s National Army Museum, setting up special exhibitions and acting as spokesman to the media on all matters of military history. He has acted as a historical expert on a number of TV programmes, including the Channel Five Select series on British battlefields, has featured a number of times on BBC Radio 4’s Ramblings Series and made three expeditions to Bosnia during the Civil War to record the British Army’s activities there. Julian set up and led English Heritage’s Battlefield hikes programme and in 2009 was appointed Development Officer of the Battlefields Trust. He lectures and writes on many aspects of British history – he is a regular contributor to BBC History Magazine and History Revealed Magazine and his published books include The Private Life of Palaces (for Historic Royal Palaces), Clash of Arms: Twelve English Battles, and Enemies at the Gate: English Castles under Siege (both for English Heritage).
Nicola Tallis

Nicola Tallis

Dr Nicola Tallis, is a historian, author and speaker, and will be joining us to give a talk on Margaret Beaufort and her role as Matriarch of the Tudor family. Margaret is the subject of Nicola's book 'Uncrowned Queen: The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Matriarch', one of four books which Nicola has written the others being Crown of Blood (2016), Elizabeth’s Rival (2017), and All the Queen’s Jewels, 1445-1548: Power, Majesty and Display (2022). Nicola Tallis has a first class BA (Hons) in History from Bath Spa University, and an MA in Public History from Royal Holloway College, University of London. She received her doctorate in 2019 from the University of Winchester, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Nicola has worked as a curator, lecturer, and historical researcher. She is a regular contributor to historical magazines, and her television appearances include  BBC’s Countryfile, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Frankie Boyle’s Farewell to the Monarchy.

 The Rise of the Tudors Tour
is SOLD OUT

We apologise for any disappointment caused. Our groups are kept to a limited number to enable us to offer unbeatable service, so tours often sell out quickly. 

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Photo Gallery

Raglan Castle

Private Dining

Private Dining

Gareth Russell at Tower Hill

Gareth Russell - Resident Historian providing talks throughout the tour

Henry VII Statue at Pembroke

Pembroke Castle

Luxury Coach outside Hever Castle

Luxury Coach

Pool at Tewkesbury Park Hotel

Spa Facilities at Tewkesbury Park Hotel

Gloucester Cathedral Cloisters

Gloucester Cathedral Cloisters

Arthur Tudor's Chantry, Worcester Cathedral

Arthur Tudor's Chantry, Worcester Cathedral

Customer Financial Protection

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There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips or single elements, and none is provided. 

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