15. Take advantage of hassle free travel to some of
England’s top tourist destinations. Upon arrival at the Grosvenor Hotel, our
base in London, you can leave the rest of the trip to us: private coach
transportation is provided for the entire length of the tour, as are baggage
handling, hotels, site entrance fees and most meals.
14. Soak up the English atmosphere. With an unhurried itinerary that includes country homes, museums, castles and more, you’ll have plenty of time to tour each site, have a meal or a cuppa and, of course, visit the gift shops at your own pace.
14. Soak up the English atmosphere. With an unhurried itinerary that includes country homes, museums, castles and more, you’ll have plenty of time to tour each site, have a meal or a cuppa and, of course, visit the gift shops at your own pace.
13. Travel with a group who share your interests and
passion for British history and enjoy a convivial dinner most nights with your
travel companions as you discuss the days’ sights and events.
12. Walk the White Cliffs of Dover. Follow the
windswept trail and gaze out to sea as we experience the grandeur and wild
beauty of the Cliffs. Julius Caesar wrote about them in the Commentarii De Bello Gallico,
Shakespeare used them as a setting in King
Lear, and the Duke of Wellington himself gazed upon the Cliffs when
returning home from his numerous military victories. So
romantic are the White Cliffs of Dover that they were chosen as the backdrop
for the final scene in the 2009 BBC version of Jane Austen’s “Emma,” which you can watch here.
11. Participate in exclusive events arranged especially
for our group, including dinner at the historic Grenadier Pub in London, lunch
at the Duke of Wellington’s country home, Stratfield Saye, and a boat cruise
down the River Thames in Windsor.
10. Become swept up in military pageantry by visiting Horse Guards, the Wellington Arch, the Guards Parade in Windsor and the Household Cavalry Museum.
9. Visit Castles. Three of England’s grandest
castles are included on our itinerary – Walmer Castle, the Tower of London, and
Windsor Castle. Between them, these sites include portions that date from the
11th to the 21st centuries, allowing you to imagine life
as it was from the Norman Conquest, through the Tudor and Georgian periods, and
into the present day. We’ll be visiting
the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle and the special exhibition at the Tower
featuring the Duke of Wellington’s influence during his time as Constable of
the Tower. In addition, we’ll be viewing the Duke’s private rooms, which have
been preserved at Walmer Castle, used by Wellington during his tenure as Lord of
the Cinque Ports.
8. Join a day-long
walking tour through the fabled streets of St. James’s, London, with your
guides, Victoria and Kristine. Take a leisurely stroll as you listen to tales
about gentlemen’s clubs and famed personalities who frequented the area. Hear tales
of bawdy houses, royal chapels, and courtesans. Explore hidden alleys and
tucked away streets. Discover their connections to duels, downfalls, and
dandies before we quench our thirst at some of London’s most historic and
atmospheric pubs. The day also includes time to stop for snacks, lunch, and a bit of shopping.
7. Gain entrance to properties that are rarely open
to the public. Stratfield Saye, the Duke’s home in Hampshire, is only open to
the general public for two months of the year; Frogmore House in Windsor
(above), a royal residence since 1709, is again open for just two months
annually, whilst tickets to Highclere Castle cannot be secured for love or
money until 2016. Fortunately, the Duke of Wellington Tour has taken advantage
of a very narrow window during which these sites are open concurrently - and we’ve
booked reserved tickets for all.
6. Explore Stately Homes. Here’s your chance to get up close and
personal with the interiors and grounds of stately homes from various periods
of English history. We’ll be seeing furnishings, works of art and personal
collections at Apsley House, the Duke of Wellington’s London home; Basildon
Park in Hampshire (used as Netherfield Park in the Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice); the Regency Town
House in Hove; and what is perhaps the most fantastic and fabulous stately home
of them all, George IV’s Royal Pavilion at Brighton, pictured above.
5. Enjoy a private, guided tour of Downton Abbey, also known as Highclere
Castle, home to Lord and Lady Carnarvon. We’ll be given access to the State
Rooms, the bedrooms, and various spaces in the Castle that comprise both
Upstairs and Downstairs life, many of which have been used as sets for Downton Abbey. We’ll hear tales about
the real life history of the Castle, as well as many anecdotes about the
filming of DA and the fictional Grantham Family before visiting the Egyptian
Exhibition, comprised of artifacts connected to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who famously discovered the Tomb
of the Egyptian Boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, in 1922 with his archaeological
colleague, Howard Carter.
4. Immerse
yourself in the rich and varied history of the Georgian, Regency and Victorian
eras whilst exploring the life and times of the Duke of Wellington.
3. Visit the
places and objects that have become the stuff of legends - the grave of
Copenhagen, the stallion who carried Wellington over the battlefield at
Waterloo - and had the temerity to take a nip at him when the Duke finally dismounted;
the grounds of Frogmore House, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are
buried; the site of Anne Boleyn’s execution; White’s Club, Lock’s Hatters,
Hatchard’s, Berkeley Square, and other London landmarks; the Crooked House in
Windsor; the playing fields of Eton and many more historic “must sees.”
2. Travel with your escorts Victoria Hinshaw and
Kristine Hughes, writers, researchers,
Wellington aficionados and bloggers ( Number One London
- one million page views!). England is a second home to both Victoria and Kristine and they look forward to sharing their next trip across the pond,
as well as their knowledge of British history, with you. Travel through the
English countryside and be regaled with tales from history and anecdotes of
historic personalities. Did you know that the Duke of Wellington and his
contemporaries ran blanket races down the hallways of the Brighton Pavilion?
1. Celebrate
this once in a lifetime opportunity to travel in comfort as you take advantage
of a most unique itinerary in the company of friends.
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