Chivalry
ITINERARY
CHIVALRY
Monday, 1st May 2023 to Wednesday, 10th May 2023
DAY 1, Monday, 1st May
11am: Welcome reception at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, London
Buffet lunch at London Hotelthe Royal Horseguards Hotel, London
Afternoon: Visit the remains of Otford Palace
The site of the Archbishop’s Palace in Otford, Kent, dates back to 821 AD but it was in 1515 AD that Archbishop Warham built one of the largest palaces in England, comparable in size to Hampton Court. The Palace was home to 52 archbishops up to the 16th Century, when Henry VIII took possession of it. In the 17th Century, the buildings fell into disrepair and now all that remains is part of the North Range – the North West corner tower, part of the Northern Gatehouse and connecting wall which has been turned into a row of three small cottages. Here, you will enjoy a guided tour in this picturesque village, and see the remains of a Roman villa.
Depart Otford Palace for Hever Castle
Check into the private Astor Wing of Hever Castle
Fourteenth-century Hever Castle, the family home of Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, is romantic and double-moated, with a rich history stretching back over seven centuries. The Boleyns built the comfortable Tudor manor house within the earlier castle walls between 1462 and 1506. Henry VIII is said to have courted Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle and there are various artefacts in the castle connected with them both. In 1540, Henry gave Hever Castle to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, as part of their divorce settlement, and she sometimes stayed here before her death in 1557. The American millionaire, William Waldorf Astor, acquired Hever Castle in 1903 and spent a great deal of time, money and imagination restoring it. The interior walls are covered with magnificent carving and panelling. The rooms are filled with wonderful antiques and works of art, including a fine collection of Tudor royal portraits, including several of Anne Boleyn and most of Henry VIII’s other wives. Astor further enhanced the castle's romantic setting by creating glorious gardens. These include the unique Italian garden, the maze, the 35-acre lake and the rose garden, all of which are now fully mature and spectacular throughout the seasons. The Italian garden contains statuary and sculpture dating from Roman to Renaissance times, where it forms a magnificent sight among the glorious display of shrubs, flowers and plants. A Tudor herb garden close to the castle was opened in 1994. Visitors can also enjoy the Guthrie Collection of miniature model historic houses.
6.30pm: Guests gather in the Music Room for guided tours of Hever Castle.
Drinks reception in the Castle Courtyard or Inner Hall (depending on the weather).
Welcome dinner the Long Gallery of Hever Castle.
DAY 2: Tuesday, 2nd May
Morning: Visit Battle Abbey
This is the site of the most famous battle in England's history – the Battle of Hastings of 1066, which saw the victorious William the Conqueror taking the throne of England. You can explore the award-winning exhibition that brings alive the dramatic story of the Norman Conquest. The high altar of the abbey church was reputedly built on the spot where the Saxon King Harold died and is now marked by a special commemorative stone. Little remains of the original abbey buildings, but the impressive fourteenth-century gateway dominates the south end of Battle High Street. The remaining cloisters, part of the west range, were leased to Battle Abbey School shortly after the first world war, and the school remains in occupancy to this day.
The Abbey was founded as a result of a vow made by William before he crossed to England, in which he promised to establish a monastery if God granted him victory. He endowed the Abbey to such an extent that it became one of the wealthiest religious houses in the country.
Free time in the town of Battle. Located in what is now called 1066 Country, this beautiful town is built around the abbey that was erected on the site of the Battle of Hastings, and features Georgian and medieval cottages amongst a host of interesting shops, restaurants, historic pubs and tea-rooms.
Lunchtime: Tour, lunch and wine-tasting at the Carr Taylor Vineyard, Sedlescombe
David & Linda Carr Taylor established this vineyard, in the picturesque Sussex countryside just north of Hastings, more than 30 years ago and quickly gained international recognition for their award winning English wines. We will take a tour of the vineyard, visit the winery and bottling room, sample some of the wines and enjoy lunch. There is a well-stocked gift shop.
Afternoon: Visit Bodiam Castle
Set in the heart of an historic landscape, with spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis, fourteenth-century Bodiam Castle is one of Britain's most picturesque and romantic ancient monuments, set in the heart of a historic landscape with spectacular views. Such was Sir Edward Dallingridge’s vision when he built the castle in 1385. The approach to the castle with towers rising majestically from the moat is awe inspiring. This is a place where medieval England comes to life, because enough of its ruins survive to give a vivid impression of aristocratic life in the Middle Ages.
Evening: Drinks and dinner at the Brickwall Hotel, Sedlescombe
The Brickwall Hotel is a charming sixteenth-century Tudor mansion overlooking the pretty award-winning village green of Sedlescombe, near Battle, in the heart of the beautiful East Sussex 1066 countryside. Originally erected for the local ironmaster in 1599, and partially rebuilt after a fire in 1951, the hotel has been privately owned and run by the same family for over 35 years, and has consistently offered excellent standards of service from its welcoming, friendly and experienced team.
DAY 3: Wednesday, 3rd May
OPTION 1
Visit Dover Castle
Scenic Dover Castle, spectacularly situated high on the famous White Cliffs and known as 'The Key to England', boasts over 2000 Years of History, having evolved from an Iron Age fort, Roman lighthouse and Saxon church to the extensive castle that survives today with its massive Great Tower, built by Henry II. It is one of the greatest and most famous of European fortresses, and its position as a frontier defence has secured it an important place in British history. Strategically sited, it guards the nearest landing point to mainland Europe, and was thus an emphatic statement of medieval royal power, highly visible across the Straits of Dover. Its unbroken active service as a castle and fortress stretches over more than nine centuries, from the invasion of William the Conqueror to the age of the nuclear missile. The mighty keep – the Great Tower – has been splendidly refurbished to look as it did in the time of Henry II and his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. You will hear about the great siege of 1216-17, and there will be time to visit the other attractions at Dover Castle, including the darkly atmospheric Secret Wartime Tunnels with their vivid recreation of the Dunkirk evacuation, complete with dramatic projections of swooping Spitfires and film footage.
OPTION 2
Morning: Visit Rye and the Ypres Tower Museum
A medieval citadel huddled against invaders and the sea, idyllic Rye was granted to the Abbey of Fecamp in Normandy in 1017. It was reclaimed by Henry III in 1247 and blossomed as a Cinque Port, vital to England's defence. You will see landmarks like the Ypres Tower or Rye Castle, the Landgate, the Monastery and the famous Mermaid Inn. Rye is home to a myriad of art, curiosities, shops, cosy pubs, boutique hotels and contemporary restaurants serving the best Sussex has to offer. Built on smuggled secrets and timeless tales, it has nooks and crannies to explore and distant views across Romney Marsh to ponder. It’s been a magnet for artists and authors. Paul Nash, the Great War artist, lived and painted here. Henry James penned The Wings of the Dove in the gardens of Lamb House. Comedian Spike Milligan, writer E F Benson, Johnny Depp and Vic Reeves have all been residents, and Paul McCartney lives nearby.
Free time in Rye and time for an independent lunch.
Afternoon: Visit Great Dixter
Great Dixter is an historic house, a glorious garden and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world. It was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd, the focus of his energy and enthusiasm, and it fuelled over 40 years of books and articles. The first glimpse of Great Dixter, its great tiled and timbered bulk reclining comfortably on the gentle slope of the hill, suggests that here is a building of great antiquity, surely completed by the end of the Middle Ages, and as much a part of the history of the Sussex Weald as Bodiam Castle or Northiam Church. Appearances are deceptive, however, and the present Great Dixter is actually three houses, one built here in the mid-fifteenth century with slightly later additions, the second a yeoman’s house built in the early sixteenth century and moved here from Kent in 1910, and the third combines the two with additional accommodation, completed in 1912.
Evening: Included dinner at the Plough at Leigh.
DAY 4: Thursday, 4th May
OPTION 1
Visit Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court is one of the finest palaces in the world. Over 500 years of history can be explored through this magnificent complex of state apartments, whose previous owners include Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. All Henry VIII’s wives came to Hampton Court; it was here, in 1537, that Jane Seymour died after bearing his long-awaited son, the future Edward VI, and here too that Katherine Howard was arrested on suspicion of treason in 1541. One of the most impressive sights is the Great Hall built by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn; it was England`s last and greatest medieval royal hall and is still hung with Henry’s priceless tapestries. His Chapel Royal boasts a superb blue and gold ceiling. Hampton Court Palace also contains the largest surviving Tudor service complex, and many important paintings and portraits from the Royal Collection. The palace is surrounded by sixty acres of glorious formal gardens. Here you will find the world`s most famous maze, where whispers of the past haunt every step, and William III`s Privy Garden, now restored to its 1702 glory.
OPTION 2
Morning: Visit Chartwell
For forty years, Chartwell was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill. Filled with treasures from every aspect of his life, the house provides an opportunity to explore the home of one of Britain’s greatest leaders. The site had been built upon at least as early as the sixteenth century and Henry VIII is reputed to have stayed in the house during his courtship of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle. The original farmhouse was significantly enlarged and modified during the nineteenth century. It now houses the largest collection of Churchill’s paintings and is filled with treasures from every aspect of his life. The rooms remain much as they were when he lived there. The hillside gardens reflect his love of the landscape and nature, including the lakes he created, the kitchen garden and the Marycot, a playhouse designed for his daughter.
Visitors can explore the house, see his painting studio and enjoy the landscaped hillside garden with the breathtaking views that inspired Churchill to buy Chartwell.
Afternoon: Visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Sissinghurst Castle garden was created by the poet and writer Vita Sackville-West and her diplomat and author husband, Harold Nicolson. In the 1930s, they transformed the ruins of this Elizabethan mansion and gardens. The castle tower dating from the sixteenth century is virtually all that remains of the grand Manor House. People come from all over the world to see the garden which is divided into a series of rooms filled with informal arrangements of plants around a theme: the White Garden, the Purple Border, the Rose Garden, the Herb Garden, the Lime Walk, and the Cottage Garden. The architectural planning of these rooms, and the colourful, abundant planting in the gardens by Vita, reflect the romance and intimacy of her poems and writings.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden was the backdrop for a diverse history; from its astonishing time as a prison in the 1700s, to becoming a home to the Women’s Land Army in the Second World War. It was also a family home to some fascinating people who lived here or came to stay. Don’t miss Vita's writing room and take time to climb to the top of the tower.
Evening: Included dinner at the Leicester Arms, Penshurst,
DAY 5: Friday, 5th May
At Hever Castle.
We will be offering a programme of presentations, workshops, tours, indoor and outdoor activities and games, to be announced.
Evening: Murder Mystery Dinner at Hever Castle
DAY 6: Saturday, 6th May
CORONATION DAY
Guests will be able to watch the Coronation in the Astor Suite at Hever. There will be a celebration Champagne coronation buffet.
Evening: Historians at Home
You are invited to a drinks party at Medley Court, Hever Castle, hosted by your tour historians.
Dating back to 1903, Medley Court is a luxurious holiday cottage forming part of the Astor Wing of Hever Castle. The charming, double-moated Hever Castle and surrounding formal lawns provide a stunning backdrop. Although Medley Court is now just over one hundred years old, its appearance is that of a Tudor house, the standard of decoration and comfort is outstanding, and it still retains the warm, relaxed feel of a family home.
Followed by: Chef's Table Barbecue at Hever Castle
DAY 7: Sunday, 7th May
OPTION 1
Visit Canterbury
Canterbury's skyline is dominated by its stunning Cathedral, the oldest in England. But the cathedral is only part of the story; the ancient ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church form Canterbury's UNESCO World Heritage Site, while other ancient ruins, such as the castle, are reminders of the city's history, heritage and culture. Although Canterbury is a place steeped in tradition, it is also a modern and vibrant city. Its array of shop windows beckon with a kaleidoscope of colours; many of the high street names are here as well as a delightful range of independent retailers. Travelling on foot is always a good way to explore the city. Walking trails or guided walks will help you make the most of your time here and to enjoy the winding lanes and streets, appreciating Canterbury's finest historical architecture set against outstanding, scenic views.
Visit Canterbury Cathedral for a guided tour
Christ Church Cathedral Canterbury in Kent, a breath-taking mixture of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, has been the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Church of England, for centuries. Following the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170 A.D. and his subsequent canonisation it became a foremost place of pilgrimage, as told most famously in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The Cathedral’s history began in 597 A.D. when Augustine, a monk sent by Pope Gregory the Great, arrived as a missionary and established his seat (or ‘cathedra’) in Canterbury. It houses a Romanesque crypt dating back to the eleventh century, a twelfth-century Gothic quire and a fourteenth- century Perpendicular nave. The beautiful medieval stained glass windows illustrate royal connections, Bible stories and miracles and stories associated with Thomas Becket. Here lie buried the famous Black Prince, King Henry IV and Queen Joan of Navarre.
Visit Eastbridge Hospital, St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church, the oldest church in England.
OPTION 2
Visit the Tower of London
Her Majesty`s Palace and Fortress of The Tower of London is Britain`s leading historic visitor attraction. This ancient fortress was founded by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century, and almost a thousand years of British history have been played out within its walls. Standing guard by the River Thames, The Tower is an impressive London landmark. Its stones are steeped in history, and its walls house many secrets, as well as the world-famous Crown Jewels. Several people lost their heads in the Tower, which held many famous prisoners. Among them were two of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey. Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn stayed here before their coronations. The Queen’s Lodgings in the royal palace were expensively renovated for Anne Boleyn; later, they became her prison. Anne’s daughter, the future Elizabeth I, was also held prisoner here.
Evening: Chef’s Table buffet at Hever Castle
DAY 8: Monday, 8th May
OPTION 1
Visit Winchester for a guided walk around the ancient, historic city, once the capital of Anglo-Saxon England. One of England’s smallest but finest historical cities, it is steeped in the past, offering rich pickings for visitors looking to uncover Britain’s past.
Visit Winchester Cathedral.
One of England's largest cathedrals (it has the greatest overall length of any cathedral in Europe), Winchester Cathedral is the magnificent gothic centrepiece of a historic city. It's also the final resting place of author Jane Austen. In 1554, Winchester Cathedral witnessed the wedding of Mary I to Philip of Spain, one of many historic events that took place in a history spanning more than 1000 years. Discover the beautiful illuminated Winchester Bible, twelfth-century wall paintings, medieval carvings, contemporary art, the tomb chests of the Saxon kings, and the awe and wonder of this glorious building.
Visit Winchester Castle, the Great Hall and Queen Eleanor’s Garden
The Great Hall is all that remains of Winchester Castle, originally built by William the Conqueror. It is one of the finest surviving aisled halls of the thirteenth century, and contains the greatest symbol of medieval mythology and chivalry, King Arthur's Round Table, dating from the reign of Edward I.
Situated outside the south door of the Great Hall is a recreation of a medieval herb garden named after Eleanor of Provence, queen of Henry III, and her daughter-in-law, Eleanor of Castile, queen of Edward I. It was opened by the Queen Mother in 1986 as part of the Domesday celebrations. Turf seats and bay hedges surround a herbarium featuring a fountain, a camomile lawn, a tunnel arbour and stone seats, where one can sit and admire.
Free time for an independent dinner in Winchester.
OPTION 2
Visit Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel, Windsor
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty the Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years. The Castle covers an area of 13 acres and contains magnificent State Apartments furnished with priceless treasures from the Royal Collection. There will be free time to see the State Apartments, as well as Queen Mary's Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature; and the Drawings Gallery featuring an annual exhibition of pictures and artefacts from the Royal Collection.
St George's Chapel, within the precincts of Windsor Castle, is one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England. The present building was begun by Edward IV in 1475 and was completed by Henry VIII fifty years later. It is the Chapel of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Britain's highest order of chivalry, which was founded by Edward III in 1348. Members are selected by The Sovereign and include foreign monarchs and previous Prime Ministers. Henry VIII and Jane Seymour are buried in the choir. Guests will enjoy a tour with privileged access.
DAY 9: Tuesday, 9th May
OPTION 1
Morning: Visit Scotney Castle Garden and the Victorian mansion
The romantic gardens at Scotney surround the ruins of a fourteenth-century fairy-tale castle. They have spectacular displays of flowers, and rambling roses cover the ruins in summer. There are good walks in the grounds with wonderful viewpoints and vistas. The estate covers over 700 acres. The ‘new’ Victorian mansion is also open to the public. There, you can learn about the history of the property, its secrets and stories, and see its rooms set out in the Victorian style.
Afternoon: Depart from Maidstone on the Kentish Lady for a cruise to Allington Castle.
The Kentish Lady offers an exclusive and unique excursion for groups to experience the scenic River Medway combined with a guided tour of Allington Castle’s beautiful gardens, courtyards and also its impressive Great Hall. Departing from our mooring adjacent to the Archbishops' palace in Maidstone, the Kentish Lady Cruises downriver (with commentary) to a private mooring at the castle estate. Here passengers disembark and are met by castle staff to begin their guided tour, the tour takes approximately 90 minutes and is predominantly a walking tour. At the end of the tour, it’s back on-board the Kentish Lady for tea, coffee and cakes before heading back to Maidstone.
Please Note: This excursion involves steps, slopes, uneven and grassed areas.
Allington Castle is a medieval twelfth-century stronghold that lies about three miles north-west of Maidstone in Kent. It is fully furnished in character with its medieval origins, with tapestries, antique furniture and Great Hall in which Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn dined with Sir Thomas Wyatt around 1530. All that remains of the original castle is a section of wall and the kitchen fireplace built in 1174. The castle was converted into a mansion house in 1491 when the Wyatt family acquired the property. It was severely damaged by fire in the late sixteenth century and was abandoned until 1905. The castle was then purchased and partly restored by Sir Martin Conway. Between 1951 and 1999. the castle was home to a convent of the Order of Carmelites.
OPTION 2
Morning: Visit Ightham Mote
Ightham Mote is a picture-perfect fourteenth-century timber-framed manor house, standing on its own little island, surrounded by water. Built nearly 700 years ago, it has seen many changes and been owned by medieval knights, courtiers to Henry VIII and high-society Victorians. The house has connections with Elizabeth Wydeville, queen of Edward IV, and with Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII; in 2013 the BBC drama The White Queen was filmed here. The house also has a sinister legend of a body walled in in the great hall, which features in Anya Seton’s historical novel Green Darkness. The gardens at Ightham Mote are as equally diverse as the house - a formal lawn, flower borders, secret glades and a sweetly scented cuttings garden; there are walks and views taking in lakes, an orchard, ancient bluebell woodland and Kentish farmland.
Independent lunch in Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks has everything from busy markets to pretty streets and a former archbishop’s palace to discover. There are restaurants, shops and other places to visit, and plenty of green space for getting outdoors and into nature.
Afternoon: Visit Knole
Sitting proudly within Kent’s last medieval deer park, Knole offers something for everyone. Immerse yourself in the vast estate and follow in the footsteps of tourists who have visited Knole’s showrooms for 400 years. Originally built as an archbishop’s palace, Knole passed through royalty to the Sackville family, who still live there today. Take in the scale and magnificence of this 600-year-old estate by exploring the grand courtyards and tranquil Orangery. or wander the winding paths in the parkland, still populated by wild deer. Inside the house, art lovers will find paintings by Reynolds, Gainsborough and Van Dyck, and many royal portraits. Textiles enthusiasts can marvel at the seventeenth-century tapestries and furniture that make the collection internationally significant. You can also climb the spiral staircase to take in panoramic views from the rooftop.
Evening: Drinks, tour and gala dinner at Penshurst Place
Penshurst Place is one of England's finest historic houses, set in the Weald of Kent's peaceful rural landscape. The medieval house with its magnificent Baron's Hall dates from 1341 and is one of the finest examples of fourteenth-century architecture. Later additions have seen Penshurst Place grow into an imposing fortified manor house containing state rooms filled with a remarkable collection of tapestries, paintings, furniture, porcelain and armour. Penshurst has been the ancestral home of the Sidney family since 1552 and successive generations have shaped its development. Penshurst's most famous son, Sir Philip Sidney, the chivalrous soldier poet, was a symbol of loyalty and bravery in the Elizabethan era. The garden is one of the oldest in private ownership. The earliest records are dated 1346, and much of the garden remains as it was in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who visited Penshurst on many occasions. The room where she gave audiences is called the Queen Elizabeth Room in her honour.
DAY 10: Wednesday, 10th May
Morning: Visit Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle was the dower palace of six medieval queens of England. Set in a lake amid 500 acres of beautiful parkland, it has been called ‘the most beautiful castle in the world’. A former royal palace begun in the twelfth century, Leeds has been owned by a succession of monarchs. Over nine hundred year,s the castle has withstood sieges, hosted the medieval and early Tudor royal courts, been a prison for witches, kings and prisoners of war, a munitions store and a hospital; and it has welcomed some of the key figures in English history, from Henry VIII to Winston Churchill.
From 1278 the castle belonged to the crown. In that year, Edward I began building the barbican and the unusual fortified mill. He gave Leeds Castle as a dower gift to both his wives, Eleanor of Castile and Margaret of France, thus starting a tradition that led to the castle being owned by subsequent queens of England, among them Isabella of France, Joan of Navarre, Anne of Bohemia, and Katherine of Valois. In 1321, despite the castle being under royal control, Isabella, queen of Edward II, was refused entry by the constable. The King had to besiege the castle to wrest it from the constable's power. He also wrested the constable's head from his shoulders! From that point Leeds seems to have gained a reputation as being a ‘ladies’ castle’.
Leeds has always been a palace to entertain and impress, with every generation leaving its mark. Today’s beautiful interiors are the result of the massive refurbishment by top European designers throughout the 1920s and 30s for its last private owner, Lady Baillie.
Afternoon: Board the Kent and East Sussex Railway for a vintage steam trip through the countryside, with a cream tea on the train.
This picturesque line weaves between Tenterden and Bodiam for 10.5 miles, journeying through the beautiful Wealden countryside. England's finest rural light railway enables visitors to experience travel and service from a bygone age aboard beautifully restored coaches and locomotives dating from Victorian times.
Farewell drinks and canapes at London hotel
The tour ends.
All site visits are subject to availability.