Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1
Sunday: Arrival
On arrival at Heathrow Airport, a private transfer will take you to our overnight hotel, Hartwell House & Spa, one of the National Trust’s Historic House Hotels. In the evening, join the group for a welcome drink, followed by dinner.
Meals: Dinner
DAY 2
Monday: Blenheim Palace
We head to Blenheim Palace, designed on an awe-inspiring scale by Vanbrugh and set in beautiful parkland landscaped by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. As the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, the palace is synonymous with the Churchill family and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. A permanent exhibition commemorates the life of this famous wartime Prime Minister, whilst the magnificent State Rooms reveal a superb collection of tapestries, paintings, porcelain and furniture. We learn more on our guided tour, followed by lunch.
From here we travel to Eastwood Hall, where we stay overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
Tuesday: Castle Howard
We head to Castle Howard, home to the Howard family for over 300 years, where we enjoy a private guided tour and refreshments. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, Castle Howard has twice appeared as Brideshead in movie and television adaptations of Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel, as well as providing the backdrop for various scenes in the hit Netflix series, Bridgerton. This magnificent 18th-century residence, surmounted with its iconic gilded dome, offers world-renowned collections and stunning architecture, all set within 1,000 acres of breathtaking scenery.
Later, we check into Jesmond Dene House, our base for the next two nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4
Wedensday: Alnwick Castle & Cragside
Still home to the Duke of Northumberland and his family, Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England and has featured in Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. Inside the medieval walls are lavish State Rooms filled with an eclectic array of furniture, ceramics and art collected by the Percy family over hundreds of years, which we discover on our guided State Rooms tour. There’s also time to take a peek at the stunning gardens, bursting with different colors and scents.
We then enjoy a scenic drive to Cragside, built into the rock high above the clear waters of Debdon Burn. Once the home of Victorian inventor Lord Armstrong, this imposing house is packed to the rafters with fascinating gadgets from the era. It was also the first house in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity and in 2014, a fully-working Archimedes Screw was installed, once again producing enough energy to light the house.
After dinner at the hotel this evening, we enjoy a fascinating talk by our guest speaker, Tom Keating.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5
Thursday: Treasurer’s House & Fairfax House
During our orientation tour of York today, we take in two of its historic gems, beginning with Treasurer’s House in the heart of the city. 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. This is thanks to Frank Green, a wealthy industrialist who not only restored this magnificent house but also used it to stage his remarkable collection of antique furniture, art and textiles.
Next, we head to Fairfax House, a stunning Georgian town house that has been restored to its former glory, providing a perfect time capsule of life in Georgian times with a richly-decorated interior and a fine collection of English 18th-century furniture.
There is then some time at leisure in York before we enjoy an early three-course dinner at The Ivy (or similar)
Later, we check in to Middlethorpe Hall, another of the National Trust’s Historic House Hotels and our base for the next two nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6
Friday: Fountains Abbey & Harrogate
This morning we visit the largest monastic ruin in Britain, Fountains Abbey, for a fascinating guided tour. Nestling in the Skell Valley, the ruin is surrounded by some 800 acres of gorgeous countryside, including the Georgian Studley Royal Water Garden with its wonderful views, cascades, follies and statues, plus a medieval deer park.
Our next stop is the elegant Victorian spa town of Harrogate, located in the heart of scenic Yorkshire. Notable sights include the Royal Pump Room and the Grade II listed Royal Hall, and don’t miss the attractive Montpellier Quarter with its pedestrianized streets lined with 19th-century buildings. The historic Betty’s Tea Rooms are worth a visit too!
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7
Saturday: Chatsworth House
We start the day at Chatsworth House, where we’re treated to a house tour followed by lunch. This magnificent estate is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has witnessed sixteen generations of the powerful Cavendish family and boasts grandiose interiors, wonderful grounds and a superlative art collection. Chatsworth also appeared as Pemberley in the 2005 movie adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Later, we check into the Cley Hall Hotel in Spalding, where we spend the next two nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8
Sunday: Burghley House & Peckover House & Garden
Today begins with Burghley House, cited as England’s greatest Elizabethan house, surrounded by magnificent parkland. Home to William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, Burghley offers a unique glimpse into the way great houses have been lived in from the time of Elizabeth I to the present day. After a welcome talk, we have time to explore the breathtaking State Rooms and the house’s historic collection of paintings, ceramics and works of art, many of which still stand where they were first recorded in 1688.
We head to the Fenland town of Wisbech to visit Peckover House, home of the Peckovers for 150 years, a family of Quaker bankers, collectors and philanthropists. Facets from all aspects of their fascinating life can be seen throughout this elegant Georgian merchant’s town house, with many interesting artifacts and objects. Outside is a wonderful Victorian walled garden, created by the Peckovers and known for its varieties of roses and beautiful orangery.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9
Monday: Highclere Castle
After breakfast, we make our way to the world-famous Highclere Castle, home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and the filming location for the much-loved Downton Abbey TV series and movies. Completed in 1842, this treasure boasts an impressive architectural design with its distinctive towers and turrets along with a colourful history, from its Anglo-Saxon roots to its hospital conversion during WWI. There is plenty to explore, including the Drawing and Dining Rooms plus the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the castle, celebrating the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. Take the chance to walk in the footsteps of your favourite Downton Abbey characters and look closer at the rooms and opulent interiors that formed the backdrop to this hugely popular series, such as the grand staircase and library. Outside, you can explore the beautiful gardens and 1,000 acres of spectacular parkland, designed for the 1st Earl of Carnarvon by the famous 18th-century landscape gardener Capability Brown.
From here, we travel to the Macdonald Windsor Hotel, where we enjoy a farewell dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10
Tuesday: Departure
A private transfer will take you back to Heathrow Airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Please note: the order of excursions is subject to change and guided tours are subject to restrictions.
Email us today to reserve at BKennedy@Royal-oak.org or call 212-480-2889 ext. 203
