History Tours For Groups

ITALY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GALILEO
Galileo, known as the ‘Father of Science’, was a 17th Century Italian astronomer, physicist and mathematician, celebrated for his work on the telescope, sunspots and the moons of Jupiter. His belief that the sun is the centre of the universe was controversial in his day and lead to his being denounced as a heretic by the Catholic Church, interrogation by the Roman Inquisition and ultimately house arrest. Follow Galileo’s journey to the ancient city of Rome and the Vatican City where he faced the Inquisition; beautiful Florence, home of the powerful Medici family and famous for its art and history, where he worked as a tutor; Pisa, where he was born, studied and conducted an experiment on top of the famous Leaning Tower and Venice, an important city during the Renaissance

KING ARTHUR'S BRITAIN
The legends of King Arthur have long been shrouded in mystery and tales of the Knights of the Round Table, the wizard Merlin and tragic lovers Guinevere and Lancelot have charmed people for centuries. Tradition has it that Arthur was King of one, if not many, of the small kingdoms which made up Britain in the 6th Century but we will probably never know where fact ends and myth begins. Did Camelot really exist, who was the Lady in the Lake and did Arthur really pull Excalibur from the stone? Embark on your own quest and join us on a magical tour, following in the paths of Arthur and his Knights, visiting Chester, reputedly Arthur’s chief city; Wales, home to many Arthurian legends including the lake where Arthur threw Excalibur; the stunning county of Cornwall to see Tintagel Castle and Merlin’s Cave and finally Glastonbury, Winchester and Stonehenge.

FRANCE AND WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR
The year 1066 signalled a major crux in the Middles Ages, when Anglo-Saxon England was conquered by the illegitimate son of a Norman Duke. The religious and childless Edward the Confessor died, sparking a three-way battle for the English throne between leading English noble, Harold Godwinson, Harald Hardrada of Norway and William of Normandy. Godwinson successfully quashed Hardrada’s challenge but was subsequently defeated by William who, boasting a very tenuous claim to the throne, landed on the south coast and overthrew Harold’s army at the famous Battle of Hastings. This tour follows William’s story from France, covering many key medieval and royal sites, to Bayeux with its world-famous Tapestry depicting William’s triumph, to pivotal locations across the south English coast such as Battle and Pevensey Bay, finishing with strategically important Norman buildings and castles in England including the great Tower of London.

HENRY VIII AND TUDOR ENGLAND
Probably the most written about and dramatised English King of all, Henry VIII is known for his six wives and for breaking away from Rome and setting himself up as Head of the Church of England. Tudor England was a fascinating place; Europe, emerging from the Renaissance, was dominated by Henry and his royal counterparts, Francois of France and Charles, the Holy Roman Emperor. Henry, succeeding to the throne of his austere, unpopular father, was young, virile and everything a king should be – handsome, richly dressed and a strapping figure who excelled at hunting and jousting and whose ambition was to return England to the glory days of Henry V. This tour takes you on a journey through Henry’s life, from his birthplace, to Westminster Abbey where he was crowned, through many of his stunning royal palaces and castles, to France where he met the French King and to his burial place.

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS
A romantic yet tragic figure, famed for her beauty and related to a host of powerful European dynasties, Mary seemed destined for glory. She succeeded to the throne of Scotland at only 5 days old, was crowned Queen of France as a teenager and was believed by many to be Elizabeth I’s true heir, yet she died a sad, lonely figure, exiled from her country and miles away from the son she last saw as a baby. She became embroiled in the plots and ambitions of her nobles, resulting in imprisonment for over half her life and ultimately execution by her cousin Elizabeth Tudor. Visit the royal palaces of her childhood and the scenes of scandal, passion and tragedy which coloured her later life, as well as the English castles which became her final prisons.

MARIE ANTOINETTE AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Traditionally one of the most reviled characters in French history, Marie Antoinette’s beauty and style, her extravagance and bizarre habits have become legend. Credited for causing the downfall of the monarchy, wasting the people’s taxes and revelling in their poverty and supporting her native Austrian interests above that of France, she nevertheless left an indelible mark on the Paris we know today. Her image has since undergone a modern make-over, with many now perceiving her as misunderstood and the scapegoat for an uprising which was inevitable. Explore pre and post Revolution France and compare the splendour of the aristocracy and the breathtaking beauty of the royal houses to Paris during the horrors of the Reign of Terror as those same aristocrats met their deaths courtesy of Madame la Guillotine.

REGENCY ENGLAND
The Regency period - one of the most flamboyant and romanticised eras in British history, made famous by the novels of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer and the colourful deeds of royals and wartime heroes. Retrace the scandalous steps of the Prince Regent and his cronies though London, Brighton and Bath and live the high life of the aristocracy as you visit the extravagant palaces, the Assembly Rooms where dances were held and matchmaking mamas paraded their daughters in front of suitably titled dandies and the notorious gambling clubs. Ride in the fashionable Parks, enjoy Georgian-style afternoon teas, discover the haunts of highwaymen and take part in a fencing or etiquette lesson. This tour guarantees you an exciting and genuine insight into the life and unadulterated pleasures of the nobility in early 19th Century England.

QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE VICTORIANS
The longest reigning British monarch to date, Queen Victoria was also first Empress of India. Her marriage to Prince Albert was a love match; after he died she famously wore mourning for the remaining forty years of her life. The strategic marriages she arranged for her nine children and numerous grandchildren earned her the nickname ‘the grandmother of Europe’. Visit her homes, including Osborne House on the Isle of Wight and Buckingham Palace, which she made the official royal residence. During her reign the British Empire expanded across the world, becoming a major political power. The Victorian Age was a time of change - in London, Big Ben and the current Houses of Parliament were built while across the country the Industrial Revolution was taking place. Experience life as a Victorian Londoner and see the city through Charles Dickens’ eyes, visit the London Dungeons and follow Jack the Ripper’s murderous trail.

WINSTON CHURCHILL
Our tour explores the life and achievements of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. His ability as a leader and his extraordinary command of the English language enabled him to rally a nation during its darkest hour. We visit the important sites from where Churchill led the war effort; the cabinet war rooms, the Houses of Parliament and other places of great significance to Churchill and wartime Britain. We also explore the ancestry and early career of Churchill, including visits to his birthplace at Blenheim Palace and Chartwell in Kent, where he lived for so many years with his wife Clementine. This tour is an opportunity to discover fascinating and treasured heritage sites, whilst following in the footsteps of a man recently proclaimed the greatest of Britons.

WILLIAM MORRIS
Reacting to what he saw as an ugly lack of style in the typical Victorian drawing room, Morris’ stunning work with colour and design was in response to the trend for dark, cluttered, over-decorated living spaces. A famous architect, furniture and textile designer, associated with the 19th Century Arts and Crafts Movement which influenced many English houses, his iconic prints and designs are still very popular today and his work with stained glass, wallpapers, carpets and printing remains much in evidence. Visit Liberty of London, the gorgeous Regent Street store synonymous with luxury since 1875, where Morris’ designs are in abundance on anything from silk scarves to stationary. Also visit the William Morris Society Headquarters, his summer home containing many of his works, examples of his beautiful stained glass work in cathedral and church windows and Wightwick Manor to see one of his more unique interiors.