A Tour Around the Treasure Houses of England

Depart your home city and arrive the next day in London

Arrival (depart U.S. on 5/30) On arrival at Heathrow airport, a private transfer will take you to the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Oxford where we stay for two nights. In the evening you are invited to join the group for a welcome drink, followed by dinner.

Blenheim Palace

We travel through scenic countryside to the UNESCO-listed Blenheim Palace, designed on an awe-inspiring scale by Vanbrugh and set in beautiful parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. The birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, a permanent exhibition commemorates the life of this famous wartime Prime Minister here, whilst the magnificent State Rooms reveal a superb collection of tapestries, paintings, porcelain and furniture.

Oxford

Today is left free to explore Oxford. This beautiful city of dreaming spires has plenty to offer, with many historic university buildings to see, including the famous Bodleian Libraries, and postcard-perfect scenes of students and visitors punting on the river Oxford also has a wide variety of shops, from High Street stores to quaint individual boutiques and bookshops, peppered with plenty of restaurants and olde worlde taverns.

 

 

Highclere Castle

After breakfast, we visit the magnificent Highclere Castle, famously known as the setting of Downton Abbey, set in stunning parkland designed by Capability Brown and home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. We explore the opulent interiors featured in the series, including the grand staircase, library and drawing room, along with the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars, telling the story of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s role in Tutankhamun’s tomb discovery. Later, we drive north to our overnight hotel in Cambridgeshire, Haycock Manor

 

Burghley House, Belton House & Belvoir Castle

We check out of our hotel and begin the day at Burghley House, widely regarded as England’s greatest Elizabethan stately home. On arrival, we enjoy a welcome talk and learn about its fascinating history. Home to William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, the stunning State Rooms are filled with one of the country’s f inest collections of paintings, ceramics and decorative arts, many of which remain in their original 17th-century positions. Next, we head to the elegant Belton House, one of England’s finest surviving examples of Restoration architecture. With its perfect symmetry, classical proportions and warm, livedin charm, Belton offers a fascinating glimpse into aristocratic life in the late 17th century. Our last stop of the day is to the dramatic Belvoir Castle. Originally founded in the 11th century, it has been home to the Dukes of Rutland for over a thousand years and was largely rebuilt in the early 19th century. A guided tour reveals lavish interiors, fine art and historic treasures, followed by an indulgent cream tea. Later, we check in to Eastwood Hall, where we stay for the next two nights.

Chatsworth House & Hardwick Hall

Today we travel to Derbyshire where we enjoy a guided tour of Chatsworth House before either a light lunch or afternoon tea. This magnificent treasure is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has witnessed 16 generations of the powerful Cavendish family who acquired the estate in 1549. The house has evolved through the centuries to reflect the tastes, passions and interests of succeeding generations and boasts grandiose interiors and a superlative art collection while outside, the 1,000-acre park was chiefly designed by ‘Capability’ Brown.

In the afternoon, we visit Hardwick Hall, a splendid example of Elizabethan architecture. Built in the late 16th century for Bess of Hardwick, one of the wealthiest women of her time, the hall is renowned for its unique design and impressive collection of tapestries and furnishings.

Harewood House & Harrogate

We check out of our hotel and begin the day with a guided tour of Harewood House. Built in the 18th century for Edwin Lascelles to designs by architect John Carr, it is one of the greatest Treasure Houses in England with interiors designed by Robert Adam, superb Thomas Chippendale furniture, an outstanding art collection ranging from Renaissance masterpieces to 20th-century art plus landscapes by Capability Brown.

After lunch at Harewood, we spend the afternoon in the elegant spa town of Harrogate, where highlights include the Royal Pump Room, the Grade II-listed Royal Hall and traditional tea rooms. Later, we check into Middlethorpe Hall and Spa and in the evening, we enjoy a themed afterdinner talk from a guest speaker.

Treasurer’s House, York & Castle Howard

Our first stop of the day is at Treasurer’s House in the heart of York. The house has a 2,000-year-old history and was the first house given complete with its contents to the National Trust in 1930, thanks to wealthy industrialist Frank Green.

After our visit, there is time to explore York. The city is steeped in history and there is plenty of evidence of this fascinating past left to admire, including the Roman city walls and the surviving medieval streets known as the Shambles. A visit to the magnificent York Minster is a must too.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a private tour of Castle Howard, home to the Howard family for over 300 years and filming location for Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton. This magnificent 18thcentury residence, surmounted with its iconic gilded dome, offers world-renowned collections and stunning architecture, all set within 1,000 acres of breathtaking scenery.

 

 

 

 

Nostell Priory & York

This morning we visit Nostell Priory, a grand 18th-century Palladian house set in beautiful parkland and home to the Winn family for over 300 years. Designed by James Paine and later extended by Robert Adam, the house features one of the finest collections of Chippendale furniture in the country, created specifically for the estate. The interiors also showcase fine art and intricate decorative details, offering a fascinating glimpse into Georgian life. In the evening, we return to York for a historical pub walking tour.

Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens

We make our way to Georgian Kelmarsh Hall. Inside, we find elegant rooms filled with historical treasures that provide insight into the lives of the former residents. Afterward, we check into Hartwell House & Spa, one of the National Trust’s Historic House Hotels, our base for the last two nights. Tonight we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

 

 

 

Waddesdon Manor

For our last full day, we travel to the French inspired château of Waddesdon Manor, built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the 1870s to showcase his enthusiastic interest in art. We enjoy a guided house tour, lunch and time in the fine late Victorian gardens, which features a Rococo-style aviary, a Parterre, sculptures and more. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner together at the hotel.

 

Departure

A private transfer will take you back to Heathrow airport for your return flight home.