Shakespeare & the Story of Tudor England

Depart US/Arrival

On arrival at Heathrow Airport, a private transfer will take you to our overnight hotel, the Macdonald Windsor Hotel in Windsor. In the evening, join the group for a welcome drink and canapés, followed by dinner.

Bosworth Battlefield, Leicester Guildhall & Leicester Cathedral

Today we journey through medieval England to explore the history behind the War of the Roses and the infamous battle between Henry Tudor and Richard III. Step into the Battle of Bosworth and the year 1485 with a fascinating visit to the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Center, where we discover the art of medieval warfare and how the fateful battle unfolded.

Next stop is Leicester Guildhall, a beautifully preserved medieval building, the setting for significant court hearings and theatrical performances in its time (legend has it that Shakespeare first came across the legend of King Leir whilst appearing at the Guildhall which inspired him to write King Lear). It now houses a museum that showcases Leicester’s history, featuring exhibits on Richard III, who was killed in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth, buried by the Grey Friars and, fast forward to 2012, found underneath a modern city-center car park.

We can see the tomb of ‘The King Under the Carpark’ at our final stop, the mighty Leicester Cathedral. Expect stunning Gothic architecture, intricate stained glass, soaring arches and a peaceful ambience here.

Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon & RSC Shakespeare Theatre

An exciting day in Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon awaits. We explore the beginning of the Bard’s extraordinary story in the half-timbered house where he was born and grew up in, admiring the treasures of the permanent exhibition and exploring the fascinating rooms, from the parlour and the bedrooms to the dining room. Next is Shakespeare’s New Place, the family home from 1597 until Shakespeare’s death in 1616. Although the house was demolished in 1759, a beautiful garden has been designed to commemorate the importance of the site with commissioned artworks plus a sunken Knot Garden and exhibition center. We also see his Schoolroom, where he wrote his first works, as well as

Anne Hathaway’s idyllic thatched cottage, the setting of the young Shakespeare’s courtship with his future bride. Here we can see original furniture and rooms, preserved to reflect the 16th-century lifestyle, and uncover the stories of 13 generations of the Hathaway family who lived here. Lastly, we visit the iconic RSC Swan Theater, housed in a Grade II listed building and where Shakespeare’s plays are regularly performed.

Charlecote Park & Coughton Court

While Stratford is synonymous with Shakespeare’s theatrical success, there lurks in nearby Charlecote Park’s history a far less respectable connection; the famous playwright is rumoured to have been caught poaching deer here! Home to the Lucy family for 900 years, this lovely Tudor manor is a real treasure with countless artefacts that tell the story of the family and their enduring legacy. There’s plenty of time to discover the house, featuring the room Elizabeth I stayed in, plus the Capability Brown landscaped park and idyllic gardens before departing for our next visit.

We continue to the Coughton Court, boasting a rich history intertwined with Tudor monarchs, where we enjoy an indulgent afternoon tea and an introductory talk. Home to the Throckmortons for 600 years after John de Throckmorton, Under Treasurer of England to Henry VI, acquired the estate in the early 15th century, it is still very much a family home with an intimate feel. The house was rebuilt by Sir George Throckmorton, a favourite of Henry VIII who was involved with his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. While the interior and its priest hole gives us a unique insight into the history of the Catholic faith in this country, the award-winning gardens feature colorful rose displays in the walled garden, herbaceous borders, a bog garden, orchards and a lake – perfect for a stroll.

Baddesley Clinton, Lord Leycester's Hospital & Warwick

Once owned by a powerful Tudor family, the Ferrers, and set timelessly in its own secluded parkland, Baddesley Clinton is a moated, medieval manor house dating back to the 13th century. Its extensive formal gardens are steeped in history, from its use as a place of hiding and refuge for Catholic priests to the story of the Victorian Quartet; four writers and artists who used Baddesley as a retreat from the modern world.

Our next visit is Lord Leycester’s Hospital in Warwick, renowned for its distinctive timber-framed architecture that provides a real sense of travelling back in time. Established in the 14th century, it was once a place of residence for former servicemen, held entertaining events for the likes of Elizabeth I and James I and is now a living museum. The buildings are extraordinary but what makes them truly fascinating is the enduring communities who have resided within these ancient walls for hundreds of

years. We learn more on a guided tour and explore its well-preserved halls, beautiful gardens and one of the world’s finest surviving medieval timber courtyard complexes.

We round off the day with a little free time in Warwick, a town synonymous with historic events and home to one of the best-preserved collections of typical black and white timber-framed Tudor buildings in England. There are plenty of boutiques to browse and eateries for a spot of lunch at your leisure.

Knole House & The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio & Hever Castle

We visit one of Britain’s most important and complete historic homes, Knole House, now cared for by the National Trust and with a colorful past. This country house and former archbishop’s palace was once home to the Sackville family for 400 years, including novelist Vita Sackville-West, who used the house as inspiration for her novel, The Edwardians. It was also used by Henry VIII as a hunting lodge and a place to hide his daughter Mary during his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, with Elizabeth I and her court visiting in 1573. Whilst here, we explore the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio – the first of its kind in the National Trust, allowing visitors the unique opportunity to watch conservators at work, working on objects from collections across the Trust.

Next is the magnificent Hever Castle, the childhood home of Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn. Dating back to the late 13th century, this double-moated castle is home to various historic artifacts, including Tudor portraits and furniture, as well as two prayer books inscribed by Anne Boleyn. The castle was lavishly restored by American millionaire William Waldorf Astor, in the early 20th century. We enjoy a guided tour of the castle’s elegant interior and its grand exterior, comprising 125 acres of award-winning gardens, including a formal Italian Garden, the Tudor Garden and the English Rose Garden. There are also secret grottoes to discover along with the famous water maze.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden & Leeds Castle

An exclusive out-of-hours tour awaits at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, created in the 1930s by novelist Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson. Set around the ruins of an Elizabethan manor house, these world-famous gardens are laid out as a series of individually-planted ‘rooms’, including a fragrant Herb Garden and Rose Garden, and are a delight to explore.

Our next stop is Leeds Castle, a quintessential moated castle set in 500 acres of glorious parkland. Dating back to the 12th century, it was once home to Henry VIII, who transformed it for Catherine of Aragon with extensive royal lodgings, a gallery, privy chamber, dressing room and a dining chamber. The castle’s last private owner was Lady Baillie, an Anglo-American heiress who lovingly restored the castle to its former glory. We discover more about the castle’s fascinating history with its wealth of furnishings, paintings, tapestries and antiques, followed by a Ploughman’s lunch.

Eltham Palace & Shakespeare's Globe Theater

Our first stop today is the unique Eltham Palace. Once a medieval palace, then highly popular for Christmas celebrations in Tudor times, it was leased from the Crown and transformed by millionaires into an Art Deco mansion in the 1930s. This mesh of architectural movements served as a playground for a young Henry VIII who spent much of his childhood here in the 16th century. Outside, we are treated to a guided tour with an expert Gardener, who shows us stunning areas such as the Sunken Rose Garden, quiet Rock Garden, idyllic wildflower meadow, medieval embankment and the series of garden rooms, bursting with delightful fragrances.

Afterward, there’s time in Greenwich for lunch at your leisure. You may also like to browse the stalls of antiques, crafts and treats at the popular market before we journey down the river on the Thames Clipper, ticking off landmarks such as the Tower of London and Tower Bridge along the way.

Shakespeare’s Globe on the River Thames is our destination, which brings the Bard’s timeless works to life in a setting that evokes the atmosphere of his era. This iconic theater is a modern reconstruction of the original, built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the playing company of Shakespeare, yet it aims to replicate the experience of Elizabethan theater as authentically as possible, with an open-air design, thatched roof and wooden construction. We find out more during our guided tour.

London & the Tower of London

Explore the iconic sights of London at your leisure today, from a trip on the London Eye to a spot of shopping on Oxford Street or a stroll through Hyde Park. There are plenty of world-class museums to discover too, including the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Imperial War Museum and Churchill War Rooms plus famous art hubs such as the Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery.

Later this afternoon, we enjoy entrance to the Tower of London, the oldest building in London, where we have the chance to see the dazzling Crown Jewels. Offering a peek into thousands of years of history, this former royal residence has also housed a famous selection of prisoners, such as the young Elizabeth I (prior to her coronation) as well as multiple wives and associates of Henry VIII. After our visit, there’s an opportunity to find somewhere for dinner at our own leisure at one of the restaurants nearby, before returning to the Tower of London this evening. We are treated to the time-travelling

Ceremony of the Keys, in which the same exchange has been cried out every evening for 700 years at the Tower of London, forming part of the traditional locking-up process. It is an iconic must-do while in the capital!

Hampton Court Palace

We make our way to Hampton Court Palace for a dive into the fascinating world of the Tudor court during our guided tour, learning about the private life (and very public dramas) of Henry VIII amongst one of Europe’s most sophisticated palaces. We see Henry’s Great Hall, which still houses Anne Boleyn’s falcon badge, and the Tudor kitchens, with time for a stroll around the enchanting riverside gardens – blossoming with flowers and grand Yew tree avenues. Imagine walking in the footsteps of his famous six wives, who were all brought to this opulent property. Believed to have staged some of Shakespeare’s plays and one of the greatest surviving Tudor buildings, it is a fitting end to our wonderful tour.

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.

Please note: the order of excursions is subject to change and guided tours are subject to restrictions.