Tour the glorious homes and gardens of England in the company of a tour expert

E n g l a n d   H o m e s   a n d   G a r d e n s

Day 1 – Departure

Depart your home city this afternoon for England.

Day 2 - London/Woodstock/Buxton

Welcome to England! Upon arrival your tour representative will meet you and assist you with the transfer to your hotel. Before arrival in Buxton, visit Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Blenheim Palace was built for the National Hero John 1st Duke of Marlborough and his Duchess Sarah, given by Queen Anne as a gift in reward for his military services. The palace was built between 1705 and 1722. The Great Hall is remarkable for its proportions, 67 feet high. The stone enrichments were carved by Grinling Gibbons and portray the arms of Queen Anne. The ceiling, painted in 1716 by Sir James Thornhill, shows Marlborough victorious. West of the Great Hall lies the birth room of Sir Winston Churchill, grandson of the 8th Duke. You will enjoy the variety of interesting exhibits, from Churchill's lively letters to curls cut from his head when he was five years old. The Green Drawing Room and two rooms beyond, all have their original ceilings, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, Vanbrugh's collaborator. Many family portraits painted by Keller, Romney, Reynolds, Sargent and Vandyck line the sumptuous damask covered walls. In the Green Writing Room see the most famous of all the tapestries, showing Marlborough as he accepts Marshall Tallard's surrender at the battle of Blenheim. In the Saloon, used as the state dining room, the magnificent frescoes and ceiling were painted by Louis Laguerre, who included a caricature of himself above his signature, neighbored by Dean Jones, Marlborough's chaplain. The table decorated with silver gilt, is laid with a Minton service, just part of the collection of rare porcelain on view throughout the Palace. Three apartments known as the First, Second and Third State Rooms intertwine between the Saloon and the Long Library. The walls of all three rooms are hung with tapestries of Marlborough's campaigns, commissioned by himself of the designer de Hondt and the Brussels weaver, Judocus de Vos. Bronze by Coysevox, Paul de Lamerie and Fuchs adorn the elegant furniture of the State Rooms. The Park and Gardens at Blenheim provide a majestic formal setting for the Palace. The original plans by Vanbrugh and the 1st Duke were altered by Capability Brown, and later by the French landscape-architect Achilles Duchene and succeeding generations of the family have taken a keen interest in their evolvement. Today you can admire the formality of the Italian Garden and the Water Terraces, take a relaxing stroll through The Arboretum where Sir Winston Churchill proposed to Miss Clementine Hozier. Rare trees and shrubs abound and in spring the garden is particularly attractive, when the grassy banks are covered in daffodils and bluebells. In summer the rose garden is a delight arched with hoops of delicate pink roses. The Grand Cascade, designed by Capability Brown may not be the highest falls in England, but few can be more picturesque. Arrive in Buxton for your overnight stay.  

Day 3 - Chatsworth House & Gardens/Tissington Hall

This morning visit Chatsworth House & Gardens, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. This House has been in the Devonshire family for 450 years. History tells us that the house originally belonged to Sir William Cavendish, who in 1549 came from an old Suffolk family and had been awarded monastic lands for his services to the King. He bought the estate of Chatsworth from the Agard family and soon after began to build on the site of the present house. The building was incomplete at the time of his death in 1557 however his widow Bess of Hardwick had it finished. She bequeathed Chatsworth to her son Henry Cavendish who sold it to his younger brother William, who became 1st Earl of Devonshire in 1618 and was the ancestor of all the later Earls and Dukes of Devonshire. Explore the Painted Room; entrance hall of the 1st Duke's house, a fitting prelude to the State (Royal) Apartments above. The upper part has not been changed since it was painted in 1692, with scenes from the life of Julius Caesar by Louis Laguerre (1663-1721), however the floor and stairs have been altered several times. The marble floor replaced stone in 1779 and was re-laid by the 6th Duke in 1834. Continue further into the house to see the State Rooms, the grandest rooms of the 1st Duke's building, and replaced what was the Long Gallery in the Elizabethan house, which explains their unusual position on the top floor. Designed for display rather than to be lived in, the carved woodwork and painted ceilings make a rich background for furniture and pictures. The State Rooms were dormitories when the house was occupied during the war from 1939-46 by Penrhos College, a girls College. The State Bedroom walls are covered in stamped and gilded leather. The ceiling was painted by Laguerre with an Aurura (Dawn) chasing away Diana (Night).  There are many other rooms for your exploration. Continue to Tissington to visit the village and enjoy tea at the Old Coach House. A special entrance has been requested to visit Tissington Hall the home of the Fitzherberts, a branch of the great Derbyshire family headed by Lord Stafford, whose ancient seats were at Norbury Manor and Somersal Herbert. Norman Fitzherbert, a younger son, acquired Tissington in the 1460's by marriage and the family has lived there ever since. The present house was built by Francis Fitzherbert in the reign of James 1st and is a very fine example of the architecture of that period. The roof is hidden by a parapet and topped with ornate chimneys. The Fitzherbert coat of arms is portrayed above the two-storey porch and the windows are mullioned. In front of the house is a low wall with a fine central gateway. Inside, the large central entrance hall displays original paneling and neo-Gothic plasterwork and an elaborate fireplace from about 1750 and the ornately carved staircase is also original. The drawing room on the upper floor has handsome paneling with fluted pilasters. The terraced gardens were designed in 1913 and offer lovely views over the surrounding countryside and grassy banks to the Parish Church of St Mary's. The house had some restoration work done in the 20th century, carried out by Arnold Mitchell who also designed the library wing. Tissington contains many treasures accumulated by the families over the centuries and includes fine furniture and paintings by Reynolds, Velazquez, Rubens and Angelica Kauffmann. 

Day 4 - Haddon Hall/Hardwick Hall

Today drive through the country side to visit two more great houses, such as Haddon Hall which has been in the Manners family for 800 years. See the great Banqueting Hall, the principal dwelling room for the medieval manor and home for up to fifty people. The roof is of 20th century construction and all the timbers were cut from the Haddon or Belvoir estates. The cozy Dining Room was created by Henry Vernon in the early 1500s and Sir George Vernon completed it in 1545. Previously a high-ceilinged medieval parlor, the dining room was formed by the addition of a lower ceiling. Its painted ceiling and wooden carvings display insignia and other symbols of the Royal (Tudor) household, the Vernon family and they’re allies. Like many of the great manor homes, Haddon Hall had a chapel that dated back to the late 14th century painted in vivid colors. White washed during the 16th century reformation, it was not uncovered until the restoration of Haddon Hall in the early 20th century. An Italian marble effigy of Lord Haddon, the eldest son of the 8th Duke of Rutland, carved by his bereft mother, adds poignancy to this beautiful consecrated chapel situated in the Parish of Nether Haddon, one of the smallest parishes in the country. The Hall has a magnificent collection of English, Flemish and French tapestries. These are small remnants of a far larger collection decimated by fire in 1925. The most important within the collection, are five early 17th century English tapestries, which may have once belonged to King Charles I. After a brief stop for lunch, continue to Hardwick House & Gardens. Set high on a hill in north-east Derbyshire, Hardwick Hall was completed in 1597 by Elizabeth, "Bess", Countess of Shrewsbury, founder of the Cavendish dynasty and wealthiest woman in England after Queen Elizabeth I. The history of Hardwick Hall's garden is brought to life in an exhibition of designers drawings in the Banqueting Gazebo, a room used by Elizabeth and as a venue for entertainment. Hardwick is famous for the New Hall, one of the greatest Elizabethan houses, survived almost unchanged today. Completed over 400 years ago and known to have 'more glass than wall', the Hall contains one of Europe's best collections of embroideries and tapestries. The spectacular gardens, orchards and herb area are a delight.

Day 5 - Kadleston Hall/Calke Abbey

Today visit Kadleston Hall and the Calke Abbey. Kadleston Hall a magnificent Neo-classical Georgian house, set within over 800 acres of Italian classical landscape, lies just three miles from Derby city centre. The famous Scottish architect and designer, Robert Adam was responsible for the south facing front and much of the interior. Built in 1758 to 1765 from Palladian designs by Mathew Brettingham, and reworks by James Paine, the property is now part of the National Trust, although the Scarsdale family (Curzons) still has residence there. Continue to Calke Abbey one of the most unusual English country houses you will ever see. Although large, Calke is not a classic stately home full of priceless treasures, but a family home which has remained largely unchanged for most of this century.

Day 6 - Stamford/Burghley House/Deene Park/Daventry

Today depart Buxton for the Burghley House, home of the Cecil family for over four hundred years. The house was built between 1565 and 1587 by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I. The house remains a family home for his descendants and is presently occupied by Lady Victoria Leatham and her family. Under the supervision of the 9th Earl of Exeter "Capability" Brown made architectural alterations and additions in the late 18th century. He landscaped the gardens and park and constructed the beautiful lake. He also built the stable courtyard, the Orangery and the Lion Bridge over the lake. Burghley houses the earliest collection of Japanese ceramics in the West. There are also many fine and rare examples of European porcelain and earthenware. Works of art and marble sculptures bought in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries are throughout the State rooms. See the Kitchen, Ante Chapel, the Billiard Room where family portraits are displayed, the Marquetry Room where the painting of "Rent Day" hangs, the Blue Silk Bedroom and Dressing Room, Pagoda Room and many other wonderfully decorated rooms. Overnight accommodations will be at Fawsley Hall.

Day 7 - Kelmscott Manor &Gardens/Bath

After breakfast depart Ashby Castle or Fawsley Hall for Bath. Along the way visit Kelmscott Manor & Gardens, the country home of William Morris from 1871-1896, set in gardens that reflect the rich botanical content of his designs. The house contains a collection of the possessions and works of Morris and his associates including furniture, textiles, carpets and ceramics. Continue to Bath, a spectacularly beautiful city on the River Avon among the hills of England's West Country. The city's compactness and striking architecture - Roman baths and sweeping Georgian terraces combined produce one of the most elegant sights in Europe. The ancient Celts, who first inhabited this area, believed that Bath's hot springs were sacred; however it was the Romans who built the temple and the famous baths - now restored to their original grandeur.

Day 8 - Bath

Today is spent exploring the Georgian city of Bath. Bath Abbey located in the heart of the city, during the past twelve and a half centuries was occupied by three different churches on this site. The present Abbey church founded in 1499, ruined after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 by order of Henry VIII. In 2000 a cleaning and conservation program has revealed the contours and the true color of the Bath stone of which the Abbey is constructed.  Overhead, a fan-vaulted ceiling, designed in the early 16th century, runs the full length of the building.  At the East end, above the altar, the stained glass window illustrates the Bible story of the life of Jesus Christ. Continue your exploration of Bath visiting the Roman Hot Spring Baths. The Romans  constructed elaborate bathing and temple complexes at the springs. The main spring, bubbling out of the ground at a rate of a quarter of a million gallons per day and maintaining a constant temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit was however, far more than just a source of hot water to the Romans. It was a sacred place where mortals could communicate with deities of the underworld and seek the assistance of the goddess Sulis-Minerva and the god of healing, Asclepius. Archaeological excavations in the bottom of the spring have brought to light a remarkable collection of sacred votive offerings thrown by worshippers into the waters. Also from the spring's bottom, over 12,000 coins, spanning the entire Roman period, have revealed that the behavior of throwing coins into a spring to the accompaniment of a wish is a universal and ancient human behavior. Enjoy tea at the Pump Room. Your final visit today will be to the Costume Museum, which houses a substantial collection of both men and women's fashionable dress from the 18th century. The women's collections include some 80 gowns and many accessories to dress. The men's collections are less numerous, but include suits and coats from the later 18th century and approximately 70 waistcoats dating from the 1720s to the 1790s. The building was designed in 1769-1771 by John Wood the Younger and is owned by the National Trust. The Ball Room, Octagon and Tea Room were used for dancing, music, card playing, and tea drinking. Although damaged in the war in 1942, the rooms have been restored to their 18th century appearance. The original set of nine chandeliers made of White friars crystal survived, as does the portrait of Captain Wade, Master of Ceremonies painted by Thomas Gainsborough in 1771 as a gift to the new rooms.

Day 9 - Bath/Stourhead & Wilton/London

After breakfast depart Bath for London. Along the way, visit Stourhead House and Wilton House.  In 1717 Henry Hoare purchased Stourton and demolished the existing house, contracting Colen Campbell to build a replacement, one of the first Palladian houses in England. The contents are a collection of heirlooms and items reflecting the family over several generations, with furniture, paintings, sculpture and 'objets d'art', as well as a library. The 6th Baronet gave it to the National Trust in 1947. The house is overshadowed by its garden, the creation of Henry Hoare II, with a Temple, grotto, a Gothic cottage and an arboretum. Proceed to visit Wilton House. The Abbey and lands of Wilton were given to Sir William Herbert, by Henry VIII in 1544 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.  Sir William, later 1st Earl of Pembroke, had married Ann Parr sister of Katherine, sixth wife of Henry VIII.  The Herberts, Earls of Pembroke have lived here ever since. The Clock Tower in the east wing is the only remnant of the original Tudor building, mostly destroyed by a fire in 1647. The architect Inigo Jones and his nephew John Webb rebuilt the house in the Palladian style.  Further alterations were made by John Wyatt from 1801. The main architectural features of the house are the splendid 17th century state apartments and in particular the Single and Double Cube Rooms designed by Inigo Jones.  These have magnificent painted ceilings, gilded plasterwork and fine furniture.  All the paintings in the Double and Single Cube rooms are by Van Dyck or from his studio. The Colonnade Room houses many paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds.  Wilton's collection of paintings is one of the finest in Europe and also includes works by Rubens, and Brugel.   In addition, there is a display of Greek and Italian statuaries.  The Gothic hall and upper cloisters are part of the work completed in the early 19th century by James Wyatt. Arrive back in London

Day 10 - London

Early this morning special admission has been arranged to visit Claremont House. Continue to Waddeson Manor. Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild built Waddesdon Manor 120 years ago (1874-89) on a hill 60 miles from London, in the style of a French 16th century château. He was an inspired collector and the house was designed to accommodate his exceptional French 18th century furniture, Sèvres porcelain, English portraits and Renaissance works of art. When Ferdinand died in 1898 he left Waddesdon to his sister, Miss Alice. In 1922 the house passed to James de Rothschild, her French cousin. James inherited a substantial part of his father Baron Edmond's great collection and brought this to Waddesdon. In 1957, in order to ensure its future in perpetuity, Waddesdon was bequeathed to the National Trust by James de Rothschild, although his widow, Dolly, continued to manage the house until her death in 1988. Continue to Spencer House which was recognized as one of the most ambitious aristocratic town houses ever built in London and is today, the city's only great eighteen-century private palace to survive intact. Spencer House was built in 1756-66 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales. Situated in the heart of St James's, Spencer House is a short distance from St James's Palace, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster, and has a splendid terrace and garden with magnificent views of Green Park. 

Day 11 - London

Enjoy your final day in England at your leisure. Later in the afternoon meet for a farewell cocktail reception. For those interested arrangements will be made to see a show at West End or a concert

Day 12 - Departure

Farewell to England as you transfer to the airport for your return. Arrive home, your heart and mind filled with many happy memories of England’s Homes and Gardens. 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• International Air   
  

• 4 nights accommodation in Buxton at the Old Hall Hotel or similar
  

• 1 night accommodation at FawsleyHall or similar  
  

• 2 nights accommodation in Bath at the Bailbrook Lodge Hotel  or similar
  

• 3 nights accommodation in London at the Millennium Hotel or similar
  

• Deluxe motor coach or mini-van    
  

• Local guides at all sites
  

• All entrance fees as per program
  

• 10 breakfast, 1 lunch and 7 dinner
  

• Farewell Cocktail Reception
  

• Portage of 1 piece of luggage per person
  

NOT INCLUDED

• U.S. Departure Tax and Security fees.
  

• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, meals not included in program, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, mineral water, tips to drivers, guides, transfer personnel, travel insurance, etc.
  

Please Note: Itinerary sequence subject to change due to schedules and permission to visit homes.