North England Sightseeing Tours

CAMBRIDGE - BURGHLEY HOUSE

The beautiful university city of CAMBRIDGE is set in a series of parks. A guided tour will visit KINGS COLLEGE and the important sites of the colleges. BURGHLEY HOUSE is more as a town than a house. It is the most opulent of Elizabethan palaces. Built by William Cecil, interiors display a parade of collections of art from the C16-19th

YORK - CASTLE HOWARD - RIEVAULX ABBEY

YORK was transformed by the Vikings. Touring the city we will wander the medieval streets and sites. CASTLE HOWARD is an C18th baroque masterpiece and houses one of the country’s premier art collections. RIEVAULX ABBEY was once the largest church in England until dissolved by Henry VIII. An exhibition creates an accurate impression of medieval life.

DURHAM CATHEDRAL - ALNWICK CASTLE - LINDISFARNE

DURHAM is dominated by the stunning CATHEDRAL and CASTLE, both relics of the Norman Conquest and World Heritage Sites. ALNWICK CASTLE has extensive state apartments created in decorative style by Robert Adam in C18th. The LINDISFARNE ISLAND community began as a small wooden church. This small island became the focal point for the early expansion of the Christian faith.

HADRIAN'S WALL - HOUSESTEADS - LAKE DISTRICT

Towards Scotland, HADRIAN’S WALL, which lies on a volcanic escarpment, dominates the scenery. Some of the best preserved Roman artefacts have been discovered here. HOUSESTEADS fort has great views of the Wall. The LAKE DISTRICT was created by glacial erosion with an awe inspiring set of lakes and rugged mountains. The areas best lake, Ullswater has a steam boat.

SHAKESPEARE'S HOUSES - HIDCOTE MANOR

A few hours south, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON was the birthplace of William Shakespeare and is home to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Anne Hathaway was Shakespeare’s wife and her COTTAGE is the perfect English thatched cottage. The best garden in England is generally regarded as HIDCOTE MANOR. Created as a number of outdoor rooms each has their own rare plants, shrubs and features.

THE COTSWOLDS

We will travel through THE COTSWOLDS. This most quintessentially English of regions has beautiful chocolate box villages and houses presenting an exquisite view of England. There are many places to explore and stops include THE SLAUGHTERS, STOW-ON-THE-WOLD, BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER and BIBURY – regarded as the most beautiful village in England. You will have time to explore the shops or walk in the fields.

BATH - ROMAN BATHS - FREE TIME

We will discover the World Heritage City of BATH to see the three phases of Georgian architecture that make this city so unique. The ROMAN BATHS are built on Britain’s only hot springs. Close by is the ABBEY, the last gothic church to be built in England. You then have free time to visit some of the other attractions or WELLS, England’s smallest city with an outstanding cathedral.

STONEHENGE - OXFORD

STONEHENGE, a wonder of the world is surrounded in mystery and legends. Built over 1500 years, the newly excavated areas will help explain this historic landscape. OXFORD is England’s premier seat of learning and a fantastic ending to our tour. We will stroll through the busy city streets and see some of the colleges which students such as Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher studied.

ADDITIONS TO THE ITINERARY

This tour is an example of what can be seen. There is an abundance of touring options to choose from or themes we can create tours around. One option is a few extra days in the COTSWOLDS, YORKSHIRE or the LAKE DISTRICT. The South of England adds a wonderful contrast to this tour with more emphasis on the coastal highlights and modern history.

Please ask for ideas.