Historic Tours UK (Formerly Historic Tours UK & Greece)
The Past is a Foreign Country
Offering Expertly Guided Tours, Bringing History to Life With Immersive Educational Experiences
Discover the Rich Tapestry of History in Northern EnglanD
Welcome to Historic Tours UK! Whether you’re a student or a world traveller, I look forward to engaging with you, and thank you for your time and attention. I offer historic tours of everything from a weekend to three weeks for leisure in the UK. In addition to the historic tours, you may enjoy daily guiding in northern English cities and locations (York, Durham, Hadrian’s Wall, Manchester, Chester). You can engage the daily guiding for a single day or several. See the historic tours and the daily guiding pages for further details. Programmes currently focus largely on Great Britain, but I can also often tailor tours to Italy and Greece with plenty of advanced notice. In time, I anticipate adding Ireland also. You can read about my credentials, career as a tenured professor and philosophy of education further down the main page under biography and read testimonials from previous study abroad students and tour and guiding clients under drop-down menus also lower on this page.
Dr. Stephen Chappell.
Biography
What Drives Me:
Intellectual curiosity and the joy of unveiling the past for others through beautiful locations, texts that enrich the human condition and clear analysis of historical trends have driven my life. My academic training and career feed into my continuing desire to share the past with a wider audience comprised not only of students but also of interested, educated and engaged adults. Historical and cultural literacy broaden our minds and help overcome the artificial barriers that society and political boundaries erect and make us better citizens. Paideia, an ancient Greek concept, is the education of the whole human being. It serves as the key tenet of my professional and academic philosophy.
Testimonials From Academic Study Abroad Programme
The North of England Programme was an enjoyable and educational experience. I really liked how the places we visited were rich in culture and history. There is plenty of time to explore and discover a little history on your own from the people in the area. All of the museums selected for the trip are engaging and unique. My favorite was the Chester Military Museum, but there were plenty of other kinds such as the Silk Museum and multiple art galleries. The detailed lectures for the classes are well supported by the museums, and there are some lectures that happen during walks of the city walls. Included in my trip were Fountains Abbey and Hadrian’s Wall, which really showed the beauty that rural England has to offer. There are also multiple churches and cathedrals to visit, as well as pubs and shops. Overall, I had a wonderful experience exploring England and learning about a country rich in history. It was clear that Dr. Chappell put time and effort into planning a well-rounded, educational, and extraordinary trip for 2016. After over seven years, this first-hand experience of English culture is something I cherish to this day.
Kian Pritchett (History/Classics), NOEP 2016
I had the privilege of studying under Dr. Stephen Chappell as a lecturer and studying abroad as part of the North of England Program. The NOEP was wonderfully orchestrated providing deeper context for larger historical themes. Each day was an adventure where we were fully immersed in Northern England's history and culture. From incredible thought-provoking site visits to cultural discussions
to incredible meals, I enjoyed every minute. Dr. Chappell's expertise was matched by his enthusiastic joy and humor. His passion for history inspired me during the NOEP and in lectures back on campus. Above all, Dr. Chappell truly cares about his students and facilitated an environment where I was able to reach my greatest potential. The NOEP was easily the highlight of my undergrad and I know others will have a fantastic experience.
Alex Clare (Biology), NOEP 2016
I went with Dr. Stephen Chappell on his Northern England Program as part a study abroad in the summer of 2022 along with 10 other college students. For me, this was one of the best experiences of my life and was certainly the best summer of my life. A casual vacation, however, it was not. Dr. Chappell spared no expense in time and money getting the best experiences for us. He was intimately familiar with the locations we visited through his own personal experience and through careful research. He was very sympathetic to the needs of students, informing us of the highest quality venues at the most affordable prices for college students and giving us enough time to rest between locations and lectures. I had no trouble balancing my enjoyment with my experiences.
One of my favorite locations we visited was the remains of Fountains Abbey. The tarnished stones echoed a tragic beauty. It felt strange to walk through the church adjoined to the abbey, contrasting the ruins, now home to birds, with Durham and Chester Cathedrals whose divinely inspired majesty (nearly fully preserved, unlike Fountains) also made a significant effect on me. I could only compare it to the feeling one might get walking through elven ruins in a place like Middle Earth.
Connor Patton (History, Classics), NOEP 2022
I was lucky enough to be able to attend Dr. Chappell's study abroad program, referred to as the North of England Programme, during my college years to learn more about the history of Great Britain, with a significant focus on Northern England. This experience had visits to local museums, landmarks, and educational sites to provide an exceptional complement to Dr. Chappell's lessons. Sites such as Hadrian's Wall provided an opportunity to look at the physical history related to the Roman Empire in England, while the People's History Museum in Manchester, exploring the history of the working class in the UK, helped provide such much needed personal growth. One of the most unexpected benefits I experienced was my appreciation for English food, which has since grown as I have learned to cook much of it myself. The combination of Dr. Chappell's enthusiasm, skill at teaching, and the variety of sites that we visited all culminated in one of the most beneficial experiences of my life, academically and personally. This trip gave me the opportunity to examine my place in the world upon my return, and had the impact of giving me the inspiration to not only learn more about history but also myself. I enjoyed exploring the various cities, such as Chester, York, and Manchester so much so that I told myself that if I had the opportunity to go again I would, which since then I have. The original trip was so successful due to Dr. Chappell's exceptional planning and teaching.
I had the chance to attend this study abroad with Dr. Chappell a second time, this time with a more supervisory capacity, serving as an assistant during the summer of 2022. Despite having completed the trip as a student before, I still learned a tremendous amount, being able to focus on the experiences in a different way. The trip had evolved to include visits to different locations adding a major stop to the city of Carlisle, which was a beneficial educational addition. I was able to further my knowledge on the history and culture of Northern England despite not being a current student and serving in a more assistant role, demonstrating Dr. Chappell's ability to educate and enlighten those who aren't even his current students. I hope to return one day to Northern England to experience it again.
Nate Mayo (History), NOEP 2017. TA 2022.
My very first experience traveling out of the country was in college through the North of England Study Abroad Program led by Dr. Chappell. It was the perfect way to travel outside of the country for the first time as a History Major student. I loved that the program group size was quite small and that we all became very close by the end of the trip. Dr. Chappell created a well thought out program and was an amazing lead for it. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the area and he also has personal connections and stories that really make the program special. This program is what led to my love and desire for travel through the lens of History. It has also helped me as a History teacher because I am now also able to share my own personal experiences with my students and hopefully inspire them to look at History wherever they go.
Taren Vail (Teacher Training/History), NOEP 2014.
“One of the absolute highlights of my time as an undergraduate, and young adult life in general, was participating in Dr. Chappell’s NOEP (North of England Program) trip during the summer of 2015. The program brought us to Chester, Ripon, and York, with free weekends allowing to travel to Dublin, Edinburgh, and London. I am so grateful to have been able to see so many wonderful cities (I still think about them often) and am looking forward to visiting Edinburgh again soon. Whether you attend a multi day trip or afternoon city walk, I can confidently say that in Dr. Chappell you will receive an incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining guide. He is a professional with years of experience teaching history, and the expert knowledge of how to put together an itinerary that will be both fun and educational, and may bring you to places that you would not otherwise think to see (in my case, the magnificent Fountains Abby and the beautiful York Mansion House). The experience will be memorable and unique, and you will not regret your decision to attend any of Dr. Chappell’s programs.”
Cooper O’ Neil (History/Music), NOEP 2015.
I studied history under Dr. Chappell at James Madison University, I signed up for his History of Northern England study abroad program. I am very glad I did. Dr. Chappell has a clear passion for history, every lesson was well thought out, fun, and he did a great job of combining lecture based classes with sightseeing activities that illustrate and enforce the lessons. One core memory I have of my time in England was going to the Jorvik Viking Museum after we learned about the viking incursions. This sparked an interest for me and after I returned to the States I independently read up and learned about vikings and their culture.
Dr. Chappell is a great resource to learn from as a student. He provided personalized guidance to elevate my research skills and academic writing which empowered me to complete my capstone project with a quality paper. You will learn a lot under his tutelage and you will have a good time doing so.
Outside of the learning we had plenty of free time to use as we saw fit. Weekends were often spent traveling to nearby cities or catching up on some rest and relaxing. My group immediately hit it off and for the next couple of years we stayed in touch and even had group lunches and dinners. If you are on the fence about going, do yourself a favor and go for it. You have the opportunity of making lifelong friends, explore the world, and learn not just history but experience it.
Nick Marfurt-Levy (History), NOEP 2015.
The North of England Program is easily one of the highlights of my time in college. It offers intellectually engaging courses that give context to the historic sites and regions that we visited. From walking along Roman walls near Vindolanda to visiting the Medieval monastery at Fountain’s Abbey, my time in this program imparted a renewed awe for the creations of those who came before us and a curiosity about their lives. This curiosity and the credits gained from the courses completed during this study abroad enabled me to pursue and complete a history minor during the rest of my undergraduate study which has translated to a continued love and study of history in the years since graduation.
As we studied the history of England, we visited many sites that supported and informed the rest of the coursework. These visits gave new insights on the physicality and environment that was the backdrop of many of the historical texts and grounded the readings and lectures in those locations. Additionally, just traveling to the site visits gave an opportunity to see beautiful and varied locations. The farmland around Hadrian’s Wall and Fountain’s Abbey was serene and beautiful as were those sites themselves and it was easy to see how the stylistic choices and tone of the Bronte sisters grew from the stark moors around their Haworth home.
All three cities that we visited for longer periods were varied, with Chester and York providing examples of older, historic cities and Manchester exemplifying a more modern industrial setting. The cultural immersion that we experienced there was my favorite part of the program. We saw many grand and beautiful locations, but living for a month in English cities and getting to know some of the people and customs alone was well worth the trip. Just last year my wife and I travelled back through several of the locations that we visited during the program so that I could share this experience with her. I highly recommend Dr. Chappell’s study abroad programs to anyone considering it.
David Heishman (Computer Science), NOEP 2017.
When I was given the opportunity to study abroad in Greece under Stephen I accepted right away. I had previously taken class with him, and I knew how passionate he was about history and teaching it to others. On the study abroad, Stephen did an excellent job of both teaching history while also making it enjoyable. He knew almost every detail of every site we visited and if there was something he learned, he committed it to memory to help us in our work as well. Stephen was extremely helpful on our trip
and gave excellent guidance throughout the ancient Greek cities we visited. I would love to travel with him again and learn about more ancient cultures through his teachings.
Jacob Schoeneveldt (Classics/Art/Architecture), Greece 2022.
I’ve been overseas a few times, including to Spain and Italy, but none of them do I remember as fondly as my study abroad in Greece. From a purely technical point of view, the trip was flawless. We flew into Athens, toured the mainland by bus, travelled to Crete via ferry, and took a domestic flight from Athens up to Thessaloniki in the north of Greece. At no point did we sit around twiddling our thumbs due to some bureaucratic mistake or anything like that. Smooth and professional. The museum and site visits, of which there were many, were likewise without incident. If this makes the experience sound sterile or anemic, allow me to disabuse you of that notion immediately. The guides provided were both incredibly friendly, as well as being very professional and absolute fountains of knowledge. I went into this trip
already relatively well versed in Greek history and culture, and yet was constantly adding to my knowledge throughout. For those with an academic interest, the trip was a goldmine. The amenities were also fantastic. I have not again eaten as well as I did in Greece, both from a health and a quality point of view. The sites, as well as being of academic value, were gorgeous. Delphi, Crete, Thessaloniki, the Acropolis, Mycenae, all of them were stunning. And all of this without even talking about the main actor himself, Stephen. As a guide, Stephen was the best of both worlds, being both knowledgeable and genial in equal measure. He always had some extra bit of information or story he could add to any museum or site we visited. How many people can enter a museum and give you even more information
about the topic than the museum can? Stephen certainly could. He was also eminently approachable, something one might not immediately assume given his rather serious and august look. The trip to Greece is something that I still think about, even a year later now. Personally, I can’t wait to get back.
Matthew Moeller (Political Science, History), Greece 2022.
I was fortunate enough in my undergraduate career to be able to attend the North of England Programme with Dr. Stephen Chappell. My particular trip spent several weeks in Chester, York, and Durham. The programme was thoughtfully planned to be filled with trips to historic sites, museums, group dinners, and other excursions from start to finish. These were thoughtfully balanced with built in free time for us to wander our destinations independently. Thanks to Dr. Chappell's expertise and careful planning, we were able to see many destinations like Chester Cathedral, Hadrian's Wall, the Silk Museum, Roman ruins, and the Jorvik Viking Museum.
In addition to the wonderful places Dr. Chappell planned to take us, there were also his lectures focusing on the history of each location. Each location and lecture were thoughtfully paired to complement one another which enriched our visit and enlightened us to the history that can be found throughout England. The most overarching lesson of the trip was that there are layers of history that can be found in England, from Pre-Roman to the Modern Age, each layer building upon one another to create the England that we know today. It showed us the importance of finding history and culture in the places that we go and has been a lesson that I have carried with me ever since.
Dr. Chappell is a skilled lecturer, who puts his years of experience into each lesson, and is always willing to answer questions and dig deeper into a subject. He is a kind and approachable person, and full of good humor. His lectures are lively and a joy to listen to. I would highly recommend his programmes, as they are sure to be full of his passion and dedication to creating fun and informative content. One will always walk away with a smile and full of enriching knowledge.
Jessica McEvoy (History, Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication), NOEP 2014.
Testimonials From Guiding
Dr. Stephen Chappell is a true scholar and a talented guide. He will provide your tour group with an historically accurate and well researched narrative presented in an engaging and immersive manner.
Stephen led a guiding tour of Hadrian's wall for our undergraduate students studying abroad at the University of St Andrews as part of their orientation program. Over the course of the tour, Stephen developed a good rapport with us over a day spent immersed in captivating interpretations of the well-preserved historical sites sprinkled with good-natured banter and time for discussion and reflection.
Is clear that Stephen cares deeply about crafting excellent guiding experiences and facilitating an environment in which participants feel comfortable engaging in discussion and asking questions. This is exactly what our students needed during their first few days in the UK.
In short, Stephen scholarly bona fides, coupled with his lively good humor makes for a memorable and enjoyable learning experience. I would highly recommend his guiding services to students.
Dr Hunter Swanson, Washington and Lee University, VA, January 2024.
I have been on guided tours in Italy, Turkey, and South Africa. Dr. Chappell’s enthusiasm for the historical places he has shown me is unmatched. Walking a length of Hadrian’s Wall at Housesteads, with its sweeping views of the Northumbrian countryside, is my most cherished memory from Dr. Chappell's tour in northern England.
Peter Park, Los Angeles, CA.
Dr. Chappell gave my partner and myself a private historical tour of York. We asked for an all day tour which began at ten in the morning and concluded at six pm. In the middle of the day, we had a delightful lunch break at the iconic venue of Betty’s Restaurant.
We were consistently impressed by Stephen’s knowledge of history, both of York and England in general, from the earliest time periods to the present. He not only is a scholar of historical facts and dates; he is also a student of the classical languages. This allowed us the extra privilege of hearing him translate the Latin from the tombstone inscriptions at the museum. This was a real treat for my partner because of his limited knowledge of Latin from high school. The depth and breadth of Dr. Chappell’s knowledge base was awe-inspiring, and it gave a professional as well as informative atmosphere to the day. He is a very personable individual, and he made every effort to accommodate our wishes and preferences during the day.
Drs Tom Arbaugh and Larry Harrell, Staunton, VA, May 2024
Stephen served as our knowledgeable guide through the city of York and Hadrian’s Wall. As we walked through the streets of York he had interesting historical details to share about numerous buildings and sites – on nearly every street! He was a very helpful guide through the York Minster, pointing out numerous details that we would have otherwise missed. Before starting our tour of Hadrian’s Wall, he made suggestions about which sites we’d be interested in visiting, and he was able to take us directly to them. I appreciated his knowledge of exactly where to go so that our limited time was used efficiently and we didn’t wander around trying to find the exact locations. His experience and expertise in Roman history was on display throughout, both as to small details and the bigger picture. I would recommend him highly!
Dr Gregory and Mrs Macedonia Dundas, Mapleton, UT, May 2024
Stephen guided me for four wonderful days through the north of England, seeing York, Hadrian’s Wall, and Durham. Stephen's exhaustive knowledge of York was amazing, as he was equally comfortable presenting both the city’s well-known sites, and its many odd back alleys, little medieval churches and halls. Stephen’s contacts with the keepers of many of that city’s attractions, also allowed me to hear their insights into the buildings and monuments that they look after. Stephen’s grounding in Roman history, and particularly his ability to contextualize the Roman forts and ruins along Hadrian’s wall also greatly enriched my visit there. I look forward to bringing his insights to my teaching in the Autumn. In Durham, Stephen brought his many connections as a resident of the city to bear, making it possible for to see the city in a much deeper way than I ever could have without his guidance. Stephen’s guiding made these days the highlight of my travel to the UK.
If you are interested in more details of our tour:
My primary interests are in Roman and Medieval history, so on my first day, Stephen took me on a fantastic tour of Medieval York. Starting in the south, and proceeding counterclockwise, we walked along the city walls, stopping to visit many of the fantastic parish churches of the city, including a number of less-known, but spectacular little churches like Saint Denys's Walmgate, which had some fascinating medieval stained glass. After walking much of the eastern circuit of York’s walls, we visited the Museum Gardens, where Stephen showed me around the ruins of Saint Leonard’s hospital (the largest medieval hospital in Northern England) and St. Mary’s Abbey, giving me a brief history of Henry VIII’s "Dissolution of the Monasteries.” Stephen also pointed out the surviving elements of the Roman fortress at Eboracum. We also visited the surviving Saint Olave’s church. I was particularly struck by Stephen’s breadth of knowledge, and his contacts with the churchwardens and clergy at almost every church we visited, which vastly enhanced my experience of these ancient monuments. We spent the afternoon visiting the Merchant Tailor’s Hall, where Stephen was able to get us an exclusive tour, Bedern Hall (where we had tea and a quick bite to eat), the Yorkshire Museum, and then a stroll through the center of York, including the Shambles and the very moving little shrine of Shrine of Saint Margaret Clitherow, hidden behind nondescript storefronts. Along the way, Stephen showed me some of his York favorites, like Betty’s Tea Room.
On the second day, we explored Clifford’s tower and the city wall west of the River Ouse, eventually coming down off the walls at Micklegate Bar, where we took in a number of medieval churches, including St Martin-cum-Gregory’s, which is now a center for stained glass art, and not typically open. A highlight was All Saints North Street, with its spectacular collection of medieval stained glass. We finished our time in York with a visit to York Minster, the city’s spectacular cathedral.
Renting a car, we left York, heading north to Durham by way of Fountains Abbey, on Stephen’s recommendation. Fountains is a truly spectacular ruined Cistercian monastery and UNESCO World Heritage Site, which we saw on a perfect sunny afternoon. Then we proceeded to the out of the way, but wonderful, Escomb Saxon Church (I had asked to see as many Anglo-Saxon monuments as we could), probably built in the 670s, and not substantively changed since then. Although the weather had changed for the worse, Escomb was one of the highlights for me. Upon arrival in Durham, Stephen treated me to some of his delicious quiches.
The third day, we set out for Hadrian’s Wall, and its attendant Roman forts and settlements. We started at Roman fort of Vindolanda, with its stunning museum (I particularly enjoyed the display of some of the 5000+ Roman shoes found in the excavation!) and Stephen showed me the fort’s features (I became very fond of comparing Roman baths and latrines on this day). Then we drove the short distance to Housesteads, which is sited in a truly magnificent straddling a hillside along Hadrian’s wall. We walked along the Wall, and I got some fantastic pictures of it and the gorgeous countryside on either side of the Roman fortifications. From Housesteads, we stopped at a Roman temple to Mithra (the farthest north), the fort at Chesters, and the Roman town at Corbridge. We ended our day at Hexham Abbey, founded in the 7th century, which was filled with fascinating Roman and Medieval objects, like the Roman tombstone of Flavinus, and the seventh century Frith Stool, possibly commissioned by Saint Wilfred (which was surprisingly comfortable). We dined on Stephen’s wonderful chicken and thyme pie.
My final day, which was somewhat compressed (due to the fact that I had to be in Cardiff the next day for a professional conference), we visited Stephen’s own beautiful medieval parish church, St Margaret of Antioch, in Durham, then walked through Durham and visited its stunning cathedral (and fantastic museum), with a short pilgrimage to the tomb of the Venerable Bede. After a lunch of the best fish and chips I had in my time in the UK, we then travelled to see Saint Paul’s Church (and ruined monastery) in Jarrow, another Anglo-Saxon foundation of the seventh century., before returning to Durham for me to catch a train to Cardiff. Steven’s guiding was truly the highlight of my travel to the UK. It was a fantastic tour!
Professor Scott McDonough, Manhattan, New York, July 2024