The deep knowledge of this territory and the personable attitude of our guide was wonderful.
September 29 - October 10, 2010
$3995.
- Land Only based on twin accommodation (two persons sharing)
- Including taxes
- Single supplement : $600
Services of McCarthy's Party Experienced Guide
- 11 nights hotel accommodation as per itinerary
- 11 Breakfasts
- 4 evening dinners
- Admissions to:
- Redditch Needle Museum
- Chatsworth House
- York Quilting Museum
- Lucy Bostons House
- Knitting and Stitching Exhibition
- Embroiderers Guild, Hampton Court Palace
- Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court Palace
- Guided walking tours in York and Cambridge
- Transport by private coach
- Tour escort from UK
- Meeting with local quilters
- Porterage at hotels
- International flights
- Meals other than listed above
- Admissions other than listed above
- Transport on Day 11
- Gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Gratuities to driver and tour escort
| Download Itinerary |
Come join us on our 12 day journey throughout England when it is cloaked in autumn beauty. We have wrapped this tour around both quilting and embroidery. We will be spending a full day at Hampton Court where a special tour has been booked for us with both the Embroiders Guild and the Needlework Museum. As well we will have a day at the Needlework Show at Alexandra Palace which features every known kind of fiber craft known to woman from knitting to quilting to tatting, embroidery, crochet, lace making and so on. Along the way we will visit the Needle Forge Museum, the Cottswalds, the Lace Market area of Nottingham, Lucy Boston’s House, and a behind the scenes tour in York with the UK Quilter’s Guild. Also included will be Cambridge, Stratford on Avon, and four nights in London.
Day One
Arrive London Heathrow airport and transfer by airport shuttle bus to the Renaissance hotel to rendezvous with your fellow travelers and to meet your escort and driver who will be with you throughout the tour. We are scheduled to leave Heathrow by mid morning and drive westward into the Royal County of Berkshire, passing Windsor Castle, one of the country homes of the Queen. Still travelling westward to enter the county of Gloucestershire and arrive at Kelmscott Manor – home of William Morris who moved here in 1871. Built in 1600, the Manor houses a collection of works associated with Morris and his associates. After viewing the house there is the option of taking lunch either at Kelmscott or at nearby Burford. This pretty little town is full of old houses, interesting shops, a coaching inn and the parish church overlooking the river Windrush. Take a walk down the high street and maybe look in the local needlework and fabric shop – the owner is the Town Mayor!
We continue through the rolling countryside sign posted with unusual village names like Bourton on the Water, Lower Slaughter and Upper Swell until we reach the charming town of Chipping Campden where the distinctive Cotswold stone brings a warm glow to the buildings. We stay for one night at the Noel Arms situated on the High Street opposite the historic Market Hall built in 1627. We hope to have a meeting with the ladies who have produced the embroidery for the wall hangings and kneelers at the local church. Dinner is included tonight
Overnight Noel Arms Hotel. (D)
Day Two
We travel north today passing through Stratford on Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare. Then we drive to Redditch to visit the Forge Mill Needle Museum where you will hear about the history of the production of needles – in fact the Museum was once a needle factory.
North again and into the county of Derbyshire. Our next stop is the heritage site of Arkwrights Mill at Cromford. The first water powered cotton mill was built here in 1771, the first on many cotton mills in this area. The Mill is now a complex of shops and one of these will be of particular interest . This is QuiltEssentials – a ‘must stop’ place for all quilters.
Still driving north we reach the Peak District National Park, an area of high peaks, wind blown moorland and villages of sturdy houses sheltering in the valleys. A complete contrast to the Cotswolds, this is challenging countryside but with a wild beauty of its own.
By early evening we reach the market town of Bakewell where we stay for one night at the Rutland Arms Hotel. Built in 1804 by the Duke of Rutland, the hotel stands on the site of the old White Horse Inn, famous for the invention of the Bakewell pudding. The painter Turner, and poets Byron, Coleridge and Wordsworth all stayed here on their visits to Chatsworth. The owner of the hotel is a passionate collector of antiques and has assembled a collection of unusual clocks that are located in all the public areas of the hotel, including the restaurant and bar. Dinner is included tonight.
Overnight Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell (B.D.)
Day Three
Just four miles from Bakewell is Chatsworth House, one of England’s most famous stately homes. This is a very imposing building set in expansive parkland fronted by the river Derwent with a backdrop of rising hills. The Cavendish family has lived here since 1549 and a Cavendish was made the first Duke of Devonshire in 1694. The house has featured in several films including ‘Pride and Prejudice filmed in 2005. At the time of our visit there is an exhibition “Deborah Devonshire’ – charting the 90 year life of the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire - one of the Mitford sisters.
After a visit to the house we can drive through the extensive estate to the Chatsworth Farm shop in the village of Pilsey. Time to look at the amazing variety of foods (many with the Chatsworth House label) before taking an optional lunch in the Farm Shop restaurant where floor to ceiling windows provide superb views of the estate. During the afternoon there will be some short motorway driving around the cities of Leeds and Sheffield into the county of Yorkshire and to the city of York. There has been a settlement here since Roman times and over the years Anglo Saxons, Vikings and Normans have ruled. Today York is one the top tourist locations in the UK with a walled city centre dominated by the magnificent towers of York Minster.
Though our hotel is within the city walls and just walking distance from the main attractions, it is a modern building with a very contemporary interior design. We stay in York for three nights.
Overnight Hotel 53, York (B.)
Day Four
No travelling today so enjoy a morning at leisure. In the afternoon we visit the Quilters Museum, headquarters of the Quilters Guild of Great Britain. The Museum is housed in an historic building and we have arranged for you to go on a special ’behind the scenes’ tour with the Museum Curator. You will have the opportunity to see many of the most valuable quilts in the collection, many of which are not on general exhibition. Dinner is included tonight.
Overnight Hotel 53, York (B.D)
Day Five
This morning we take a guided walking tour around the centre of York. The old part of the town is full of narrow lanes, timbered houses and cobbled streets and is a delight to explore walking through streets and alleys with intriguing names like ‘The Shambles’ and ‘Whipmawopmagate’ There are dozens of shops, restaurants, quaint old pubs and market areas so this guided tour will give you a real feeling for this old city.. There are also many museums to visit, the Jorvik Viking Centre that recreates the sights (and smells!) of the Viking occupation, the Railway Museum that replicates the importance of York during the emergence of the railways. Another interesting location is the Castle Museum where you can walk around in a faithful reproduction of Victorian York– complete with shops, houses and living costumed characters.
Overnight Hotel 53, York (B.)
Day Six
A free morning in York before we head south into the county of Nottinghamshire. This is the land of the legendary outlaw Robin Hood, who lived, with his followers, in Sherwood Forest avoiding capture by their arch enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham. The story of Robin Hood, Maid Marion, Friar Tuck and Will Scarlett has been the subject of many films, the latest of which was released this year. We will pass through Sherwood Forest on our way to Nottingham.
Our accommodation for one night is in the city centre at the Park Plaza Hotel (or similar) We hope to have a meeting with local quilters this evening.
Overnight Park Plaza Hotel, Nottingham (B)
Day Seven
In earlier times, Nottingham was the manufacturing centre for the lace industry and this morning we make a visit to the Lace Market area where you will hear about the history of the industry.
Later, we travel down the Great North Road – in earlier times the most important coaching route from London to Edinburgh. Teams of horses were changed frequently so coaching inns sprung up along the way. You can see one of the most famous of these inns – the George - as we pass through the town of Stamford
Our next stop is the village of Hemmingford Greys where we make a visit to The Manor House. Built in the 1130’s this is believed to be the oldest, continuously inhabited house in England. The house was recreated and made famous as the house of Green Knowe by Lucy Boston in her series of children's books, now regarded as classics.
The attic contains toys used by the fictional children of the past; thus visitors get the feeling of 'walking into the books'. In the winter, as well as writing, Lucy Boston made many exquisite patchworks, most of which are on display. Rarely can such an important collection be seen in the house in which the exhibits were made.
After this visit we travel onward to the historic university city of Cambridge where we stay for one night. Our hotel is made up from eight elegant town houses now joined to make one building with a large conservatory restaurant. It has a superb location overlooking the river Cam and just a short walk from the ancient colleges that make up this world famous university
Overnight Arundel House Hotel (B)
Day Eight
This morning we take a guided walking tour of Cambridge, visiting the colleges, the Chapel of Christ Church and the banks of the river Cam. Plenty of time to enjoy the peaceful surroundings, the wonderful architecture of the colleges and maybe take a ride on the river Cam in a punt – a flat bottomed boat propelled by the puntsman who stands on the back section of the boat.
The last part of our journey takes us south and by late afternoon we will arrive in London for a four night stay. The hotel is in fashionable Kensington, close to the shopping areas of High Street Kensington and Knightsbridge.
Overnight Copthorne Tara Hotel (B.)
Day Nine
A special programme is in store today as we drive south to Hampton Court, an historic palace built in the reign of Henry VIII and wonderfully located on the banks of the river Thames. A visit to Hampton Court is a ‘must’ for many tourists but we have a little extra for you. Within these buildings are housed the headquarters two separate organisations - the Embroiderers Guild and the Royal School of Needlework. There is a tour of the Guild collection in the morning and then time to explore the Palace and maybe have lunch. In the afternoon there is a private tour of the Royal School of Needlework.
Overnight Copthorne Tara Hotel (B.)
Day Ten
Today we travel across London to the Alexandra Palace Exhibition complex, set on a hill overlooking the city of London. Alexandra Palace hosts many different types of exhibitions and our visit takes us the Knitting and Stitching Show – one of the major textile events in the UK. You can have a whole day at the show before returning to the hotel.
Overnight Copthorne Tara Hotel (B.)
Day Eleven
Today you are free to explore London on your own. A short journey by bus or subway brings you into the heart of the capital and a choice of things to do. You could choose a sightseeing bus that will take you past Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, the Tower of London and the City. Or shop till you drop in Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly or Bond Street. For a different view of the London sights take a river cruise from Westminster to Greenwich.
Closer to the hotel are Kensington Palace and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Kensington Palace (one of the Royal palaces) is set in its own attractive gardens and houses a collection of dresses and clothes associated with Royalty from Queen Victoria to Diana, Princess of Wales. A special exhibition running at the Victoria and Albert Museum is a display of tapestries from the Sistine Chapel, which are on show for the first time in the UK.
This evening join your travelling friends for a farewell dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Copthorne Tara Hotel (B.D)
Day Twelve
Transfer to Heathrow Airport for homeward flight.
