- June 22: Check-in to London hotel. Evening get-acquainted dinner (cost not included).
BED & BREAKFAST
- June 23: At 9:00 A.M., we eagerly gather together in our London hotel, where we will have become acquainted with one another at dinner the previous evening. After meeting our friendly driver/courier, we board our coach, ready for a delightful tour o
f Richard III's England. Passing through the charming Cotswolds, our first visit of the day will be great Gloucester Cathedral, with a remarkable east window, the fine tomb of Edward II and the beautiful Lady Chapel (in the process of being built during
RichardÕs reign). Following lunch, we will take part in a guided tour of Tewkesbury Abbey, with particular emphasis on events during Richard's time. Crossing into Wales, our day of sightseeing ends with a brief stop at impressive Raglan Castle, the l
ast example of a medieval fortification in Britain. (The son of the builder was a leading Yorkist who helped Edward IV to gain his throne.)
OVERNIGHT: South Wales
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
- June 24: Only two venues today, but both a real treat! We will be traveling through that part of Wales called "Little England" due to its very early settlement of Normans and continued occupation by the English. First a visit to mighty P
embroke Castle, Henry Tudor's birthplace and one of the largest Norman castles in Britain, situated on the southwest coast of Wales. After a filling pub lunch, we continue along the shoreline (making a photo stop for the fine sand and cliff scenery at N
ewgate Sands) to lovely St. David's. Our only other visit today is the marvelous, historical cathedral of Wales' patron saint and the considerable ruins of its splendid Bishops' Palace (one of many where the church authorities lived in unheard of luxury
for medieval times!).
OVERNIGHT: As above
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
- June 25: Today will be a relaxing day. Traveling to the Borders, we will first spend some time in Hay-on-Wye, world-famous for its hundreds of thousands of used books, in hopes of coming upon a real bargain to add to our personal libraries Ñ lots of
fun for everyone, and, who knows, some lucky group member may find a real treasure! Weaving our way back and forth between England and Wales through lovely scenery (which must have been quite familiar to Richard as Lord of the Marches), our next stop wil
l be Presteigne, an attractive border town, where we will lunch in an atmospheric pub and take a look at the interesting church. A few miles further and we come to Knighton, where we can view one of the best sections of Offa's Dyke and, time permitting
, will make a brief visit to the on-site museum. (Offa's Dyke was devised by the greatest of the Mercian kings c684 to mark the borders between Wales and England.) Our only other stop today will be Chirk Castle. Massive and splendidly situated in a lar
ge park, its exterior still appears much as it was upon completion in the 14th C. The fine interior reflects styles ranging from the 16th to mid-19th C. We conclude todayÕs travels upon arrival in the delightful historic city of Chester.
OVERNIGHT: Chester area
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
- June 26: The morning will be devoted to sightseeing in Chester, with its picturesque medieval Rows and good shopping, eye-catching Victoria Jubilee clock, fine cathedral and much, much more. After lunch, we will board our coach and make a visit to wo
nderful late 15th C Little Moreton Hall, one of the best and most elaborately half-timbered houses in England, containing both a Great Hall and a long gallery. The remainder of the day and the evening will be at leisure in Chester. Perhaps you would enjo
y a lovely stroll along the ancient city walls to round off a most pleasurable day.
OVERNIGHT: As above
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
- June 27: Today we turn towards Yorkshire, Richard III's true home in England. Off through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales to Skipton, where we will tour its massive, well- preserved medieval castle, one of many restored by the indefatigable Lady Anne C
lifford in the 16th century. (Skipton Castle was briefly in Richard's ownership.) Bolton Abbey, a lovely, peaceful spot on the River Wharf, is our next stop. This afternoon, we will explore the lovely market town of Richmond, with ample time to shop, ha
ve an enjoyable tea or perhaps visit its fine castle and surrounds.
OVERNIGHT: Richmond or Thirsk area
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
- June 28: This morning, our first stop will be Sheriff Hutton, where we can view the scant remains of the once fine castle and explore the parish church, with its famous alabaster effigy thought possibly to be that of Richard's son, Prince Edward. The
remainder of the day will be spent in the splendid medieval city of York. Following a short visit to a couple of "must-see" places, group members may explore to their heart"s content - shop in the Shambles, wander through magnificent York
Minster, visit Clifford"s Castle or the Jorvik Viking Centre, take in the York or Castle Museums or, if you are a railway buff, the National Railway Museum. A map and printed guide will make these and others possible!
OVERNIGHT: as above
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
- June 29: First on our agenda today will be Middleham, Richard's favorite dwelling, where he spent his happiest years, both as a young man and as Duke of Gloucester and King of England, with his wife, Anne, and young son, Edward. The castle remains,
including the huge keep, are still most imposing, with lovely views in all directions. (The ticket booth/shop here has a replica of the famous Middleham Jewel.) There will be ample time to explore the castle, town and the parish church of St. Alkelda,
with its stained glass window donated by the Richard III Society. After lunch in Middleham, we head north into Swaledale, where we will visit impressive Bolton Castle, home of the Scrope family (followers and friends of Richard III) and one-time prison o
f Mary, Queen of Scots. Our day will conclude with a stroll among the beautiful and extensive ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. One of the largest and most prosperous Cistercian abbeys in Britain, a gem in a lovely setting, Rievaulx, built in 1132 AD, is an exce
llent example of Early English Gothic architecture (your escort's personal favorite!).
OVERNIGHT: as above
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
June 30: We depart bright and early this morning, following the A1 south to our first destination - marvelous Gainsborough Old Hall, a medieval manor house rebuilt in the 1480's by a town official to entertain Richard III. Today, the entire Hall, partic
ularly its kitchens and great hall, provide good insight into home life in the 15th century, as it has been preserved in an unusually authentic condition. A little further along the route, dominated by its great cathedral, lies the atmospheric, ancient c
ity of Lincoln. We will have time here to visit the remarkably fine and richly designed cathedral, as well as ruins of the old Bishop's Palace. We will end our day in or near Stamford in Lincolnshire, well situated for a special day tomorrow.
OVERNIGHT: Stamford area
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
- July 1: The Battle of Bosworth was one of the most decisive battles fought on English soil. With the defeat and death of Richard III, the Plantagenet reign came to an end, ushering in the House of the Tudors. Bosworth Battlefield is considered the b
est in all England and has a very good exhibition centre. Our group will be treated to a fine guided tour of the battlefield, with time to visit the exhibition centre - a highlight in any tour of medieval England and not to be missed! We also plan a sto
p in Leicester to view Richard's statue (donated by the Richard III Society) and a brief visit to Sutton Cheney church. Dinner should be an enjoyable occasion tonight, as we contemplate the day's events and exchange differing points of view!
OVERNIGHT: as above
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
- July 2: On our last day together, we will make our leisurely way back to London, with several enjoyable stops along the way. The first stop will be at Fotheringhay for a visit to the early 15th C collegiate church in which are to be found the tombs
of Richard's parents, the Duke and Duchess of York, provided by Queen Elizabeth I after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In the Chapel is a heraldic stained glass window donated by the Society in 1975, as well as altar linen, kneelers and cushions wo
rked by various member with Yorkist motifs. (NOTE: Nothing remains of the castle where Richard III was born except a few stones bearing a plaque located on privately owned farmland.) Next comes a gentle journey through Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire,
and Oxfordshire. Included will be a last delicious afternoon tea. A final stop is scheduled at Ewelme, the prettiest of the Chiltern villages, with 15th C church, almshouses and school in a charming group. The fine church contains the tomb of Alice, D
uchess of Suffolk (d. 1475). Supposed by historians to be the granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer, her effigy is one of only three showing a woman wearing the Order of the Garter. Also of note are the screens and roofs, as well as a magnificent carved woo
d font-cover. From the town of Wallingford, we take the A329 along the south bank of the Thames through one of the loveliest stretches of its valley to Reading and the M4 back to London, arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon.
OVERNIGHT: London hotel
DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST
You will have crossed the paths of numerous medieval people (many of them friends or foes of Richard III), and will have observed what remains of the age in which they lived - their homes, their life-styles, religion and entertainment. You will have beco
me acquainted with both medieval and contemporary Britain on an intimate basis and, best of all, you will return with many fond memories of a truly unique experience. We hope you will join us on the "Ricardian Rover" for a trip you will never f
orget!
FOR BROCHURE AND FURTHER DETAILS: Please contact Linda at British & European Tours, Tel. 1-800-548-5339, fax (412) 650-8972.
RESPONSIBILITY CLAUSE
BRITISH & EUROPEAN TOURS and its staff or agents, as operator of the tour, decline responsibility for any loss or damage to personal property or any personal injury as a result of the service of any facility on the tour program. We reserve the right to
accept or reject any person as a tour participant from the tour or program, and to make any changes in the itinerary whenever we deem it necessary for the convenience, comfort or safety of our tour participants. Luggage and personal articles are at the
owner's risk unless insured.
