The tours range in length from a weekend to several weeks. I offer three-day mid-week breaks as well as those of about a week. The shorter tours are mostly concentrated on a particular location. They are designed to give a thorough grounding in the history of an area. Longer tours involve more travelling.
The main focus of the tours is seeing and learning about historical sites and visiting museums. Either I or a site guide will give talks at each site to contextualise and explain them. Additionally, over the course of the tour, I will give several talks of thirty minutes to an hour on thematic topics related to the tour or covering developments over time.
You should have an interest in history and an openness and curiosity about the world. Since all the content is given in English, you will need a strong command of the English language. The tours are challenging physically at times, so you will need to be reasonably vigorous. Some tours will involve sites that are not accessible to the dis
You should have an interest in history and an openness and curiosity about the world. Since all the content is given in English, you will need a strong command of the English language. The tours are challenging physically at times, so you will need to be reasonably vigorous. Some tours will involve sites that are not accessible to the disabled, such as Hadrian’s Wall. I’m happy to have a conversation about which tours are more or less practicable.
The tours will cover accommodation, entrance fees, some occasional group meals, and travel internal to the programme. Travel to and from the starting and ending point of the tour is not included. See individual programme pages for the cost of each programme.
The tours are designed for groups of up to fourteen people. Larger groups are impracticable because of logistics and accommodation. If programmes fill, I will maintain a non-ranked waitlist for those who remain interested. We travel mostly by coach or minibus, with short flights in some programmes. Hotels will be 3 or 4 stars.
Please e-mail stephen@historictours.co.uk to express interest. You will need to provide name, ’phone number, e-mail, country where you live and the number of places in the tour you wish to take. Please specify the programme(s) that interest you. We can then have a conversation by e-mail or video chat (telephone is possible in the UK) to see if you wish to commit to the tour.
A £500 nonrefundable deposit will need to be paid immediately on signing up for the programme. The balance of the cost will be due at least two months before the programme’s start.
Overview:
I will offer the Great English Cities tour every year with different locations. For the inaugural tour, we will explore three great English Cathedral cities and their environs from their ancient roots through their wealthy Medieval period to the present. Salisbury, Norwich and York each played a very important role in the development of English history and retain many beautiful traces of that rich past. All benefited from the wool trade. Norwich and York vied for the position of second city in England in the Middle Ages. On our travel days, we will stop at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and the Castle and Cathedral in Lincoln. Stonehenge, Avebury and Sutton Hoo are iconic sites in the tour, along with Salisbury and Norwich Cathedrals and York Minster. Guildhalls and museums, York city walls and the beautiful Georgian Fairfax House add interest to this varied and in-depth exploration of four millennia.
The tour is exciting and full but does leave you time to explore on your own in the beautiful cities in which we stay. I’m happy to give you recommendations about other sites, restaurants, etc. There will be significant walking at various sites and a degree of vigour is necessary.
Dates:
Wednesday 12th to Thursday 27th March 2025 (14 full days).
The tour ends after breakfast on Thursday 27th March in York. Transportation homewards isn’t provided, but York is a major railway hub.
Capacity:
Up to 14 clients.
Rest Days: Wednesday 12th March, based in Salisbury, is a day of rest. Tuesday 18th March, based in Norwich, is a free day. Sunday 23rd March, based in York, is a free day.
Overnight Locations:
Salisbury (4 nights), Norwich (5 nights), York (6 nights).
We will stay at a mix of three- (Riverside Hotel, Salisbury) and four-star hotels (Maids Head Hotel, Norwich, Hotel Indigo, York).
Cost:
The estimated cost for a full programme of 14 is £3095 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for 10 people is £3372 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for 6 people is £4072 per person, based on a formula of two couples and two individual bookings.
Deposit and Final Payment:
A nonrefundable deposit of £750 is due on commitment to the programme.
The balance of payment is due by 5th June 2024.
Payments will be made to the company Wise account by bank transfer. The company has accounts in GBP, Euro, USD, Can D, Aus D and NZ D.
Costs Included and Not:
The costs include all accommodation, breakfasts, three group dinners, all ticket costs and guiding fees, transport within the programme. The tour does not include airfare/travel to and from the starting points of the programme, nor health and travel insurance, nor meals beyond those just noted.
Talks:
Points to consider:
The tour is intensive, but not constantly so. There will be free time every day for rest and further exploration. The free days are designed to give a respite and time to pursue your own interests. There will be urban walks, but also those over rough surfaces in sites such as Avebury and West Kennet Long Barrow. British summers are warm, even hot, but can be variable. There’ll likely be some rain. You’ll need shoes or boots with good grip (for the prehistoric sites) as well as umbrellas. Some areas of historic cities do have cobbles.
Overview:
This is a whirlwind tour of Chester in a weekend. We will pick out highlights, such as the City Walls, the Cathedral, St John the Baptist and the Grosvenor Museum. The tour ends with a walk through the historic city centre past the Rows to the Town Hall Square.
Dates:
Friday 4th to Sunday 6th April 2025. The tour ends around 1 p.m. on Sunday 6th. Luggage may be stored at the hotel after checkout.
Capacity:
Up to fourteen clients.
Overnight locations:
Chester (2 nights).
We will stay at the four-star Hotel Indigo.
Cost:
The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £287 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for ten people is £321 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for six people is £392 per person, based on a formula of two couples and two individual bookings.
Deposit and Final Payment:
A nonrefundable deposit of £100 is due on commitment to the programme.
The balance of payment is due by 1st February 2025.
Payments will be made to the company Wise account by bank transfer. The company has accounts in GBP, Euro, USD, Can D, Aus D and NZ D.
Costs Included and Not:
The costs include all accommodation, breakfasts, a group dinner on the Saturday night, all ticket costs and guiding fees. The tour does not include airfare/travel to and from the starting points of the programme, nor health and travel insurance, nor meals beyond those just noted.
Talks:
There is a talk on the history of Chester on the Saturday morning after breakfast.
Points to Consider:
This is a very intense tour. It will require stamina. Though many of the sites are wheelchair accessible, the City Walls are not.
Overview:
This tour is designed to give a good overview of York throughout its history and an introduction to Durham and Hadrian’s Wall. Dr Chappell will give five talks of 30-60 minutes just after breakfast to give the context helpful to the sites we visit. The main focus of the tour is York and its sites, which we will navigate on foot. We will see the lovely countryside of Durham and Northumberland as we travel to and from Durham and Hadrian’s Wall.
The tour is exciting and very full but with limited time except evenings and a free afternoon in York. I’m happy to give you recommendations about other sites, restaurants, etc. There will be significant walking at various sites and a degree of vigour and stamina is necessary, especially at Hadrian’s Wall.
Dates:
Saturday 31st May to Sunday 8th June 2025 (7 full days, not including arrival and departure).
The tour ends after breakfast on Sunday, 8th June.
Capacity:
Up to fourteen clients.
Rest Days:
The day of arrival, Saturday 31st May, will be a day of rest to allow you to recover from travel at our hotel in York. There is a free afternoon in York (after 1 p.m.) on Friday, 6th June. Evenings are generally free except for two nights when group dinners will be provided.
Overnight Locations:
York (6 nights), Durham (1 night), Hexham (1 night).
We will stay at four-star (Holiday Inn, York City Centre, Royal County Hotel, Durham) and three-star hotels (Travelodge, Hexham).
Cost:
The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £1559 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for ten people is £1795 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for six people is £1999 per person, based on a formula of two couples and two individual bookings.
Deposit and Final Payment:
A nonrefundable deposit of £500 is due on commitment to the programme.
The balance of payment is due by 1st April 2025.
Payments will be made to the company Wise account by bank transfer. The company has accounts in GBP, Euro, USD, Can D, Aus D and NZ D.
Costs included and Not:
The costs include all accommodation, breakfasts, two group dinners and a group lunch, all ticket costs and guiding fees, transport within the programme. The tour does not include airfare/travel to and from the starting points of the programme, nor health and travel insurance, nor meals beyond those just noted.
Talks:
Points to Consider:
The tour is very intensive. It is designed for people with limited holiday time who want to see as much as possible in a short time. There will be little free time every day for rest and further exploration. The free half day is designed to give a respite or a chance to explore York further. There will be urban walks, but also those over rough surfaces, Hadrian’s Wall. Durham and Hadrian’s Wall are rather hilly. British summers range from hot to cool, but often experience rain. You’ll need shoes or boots with good grip for Hadrian’s Wall, as well as umbrellas. It may be muddy. Hadrian’s Wall is not wheelchair accessible.
Overview:
This tour is designed to give a good overview of Manchester throughout its history and an introduction to Chester and Liverpool through a day trip to each. Dr Chappell will give five talks of 30-60 minutes just after breakfast to give the context helpful to the sites we visit. The main focus of the tour is Manchester and its sites, which we will largely navigate on foot.
The tour is exciting and very full but with limited time except evenings. I’m happy to give you recommendations about other sites, restaurants, etc. There will be significant walking at various sites and a degree of vigour and stamina is necessary, especially on the day trips.
Dates:
Saturday 6th July to Saturday 13th July, 2025 (6 full days, not including arrival and departure).
The tour ends after breakfast on Saturday, 13th July.
Rest Days:
The day of arrival, Saturday 6th July, will be a day of rest to allow you to recover from travel at our hotel in Manchester. Evenings are generally free except for two nights when group dinners will be provided.
Overnight Locations:
Manchester (7 nights).
We will stay at the four-star Crowne Plaza, Manchester City Centre.
Cost:
The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £1121 per person, based on a formula of four couples and six individual bookings.
The estimated cost for ten people is £1139 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for six people is £1402 per person, based on a formula of two couples and two individual bookings.
Deposit and Final Payment:
A nonrefundable deposit of £500 is due on commitment to the programme.
The balance of payment is due by 15th May 2025.
Payments will be made to the company Wise account by bank transfer. The company has accounts in GBP, Euro, USD, Can D, Aus D and NZ D.
Costs included and Not:
The costs include all accommodation, breakfasts, two group dinners, all ticket costs and guiding fees, transport within the programme. The tour does not include airfare/travel to and from the starting points of the programme, nor health and travel insurance, nor meals beyond those just noted.
Talks:
Points to Consider:
The tour is very intensive. It is designed for people with limited holiday time who want to see as much as possible in a short time. There will be little free time every day for rest and further exploration, except for evenings. The walks will be urban. British summers range from hot to cool, but often experience rain, especially in Manchester! You’ll need comfortable walking shoes as well as umbrellas.
Overview:
You will see the main sites of the city of Durham itself, both the cathedral and castle, as well as the lovely Romanesque St Margaret of Antioch church. Additionally, we’ll visit four Roman forts on or near Hadrian’s Wall (Corbridge, Chesters, Vindolanda, Housesteads), a Mithraeum and the Wall itself. Our last venue in a village outside Durham is Ushaw Historical House, a huge former Roman Catholic seminary with impressive architecture and gardens.
Dates:
Tuesday 22nd to Friday 25th July.
Capacity:
Up to 14 clients.
Overnight locations:
Durham (3 nights)
We stay at the four-star Hotel Indigo.
Cost:
The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £638 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for ten people is £735 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for six people is £839 per person, based on a formula of two couples and two individual bookings.
Deposit and Final Payment:
A nonrefundable deposit of £150 is due on commitment to the programme.
The balance of payment is due by 15th April 2025.
Payments will be made to the company Wise account by bank transfer. The company has accounts in GBP, Euro, USD, Can D, Aus D and NZ D.
Costs included and Not:
The costs include all accommodation, breakfasts, a group dinner on the Wednesday night, all ticket costs and guiding fees. The tour does not include airfare/travel to and from the starting points of the programme, nor health and travel insurance, nor meals beyond those just noted.
Talks:
History of Durham.
I’ll talk about the general background and characteristics of Hadrian’s Wall while we’re on the minibus.
Points to Consider:
This is a very intense tour. It will require stamina. Though many of the sites are wheelchair accessible, some are not, especially the Forts, except Vindolanda and Hadrian’s Wall. Durham and Hadrian’s Wall are quite hilly. The slope at Housesteads is tough. You’ll need a good pair of boots or walking shoes. An umbrella might be wise also.
Overview:
This is a whirlwind tour of York in a weekend. We will pick out highlights, such as the City Walls, the Minster, the Shambles, Fairfax House and the Yorkshire and Castle Museums, etc. We do not visit the Jorvik Viking Centre, but I’m willing to offer a supplementary tour to those who wish it immediately after the end of the programme. It will take an hour or so.
Dates:
Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd August. The tour ends around 3.30 p.m. on Sunday, 3rd August. Luggage may be stored at the hotel after checkout.
Capacity:
Up to fourteen clients.
Overnight locations:
York (2 nights).
We will stay at the four-star Hotel Indigo.
Cost:
The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £553 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for ten people is £569 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.
The estimated cost for six people is £779 per person, based on a formula of two couples and two individual bookings.
The Jorvik supplement fee is £20. Please note in your initial message whether you want this.
Deposit and Final Payment:
A nonrefundable deposit of £150 is due on commitment to the programme.
The balance of payment is due by 15th May 2025.
Payments will be made to the company Wise account by bank transfer. The company has accounts in GBP, Euro, USD, Can D, Aus D and NZ D.
Costs included and Not:
The costs include all accommodation, breakfasts, a group dinner on the first night, all ticket costs and guiding fees. The tour does not include airfare/travel to and from the starting points of the programme, nor health and travel insurance, nor meals beyond those just noted.
Talks:
There are no formal talks as the schedule is absolutely packed, but I’ll intersperse my guiding with remarks about the history of York.
Points to Consider:
This is a very intense tour. It will require stamina. Though many of the sites are wheelchair accessible, some are not, especially the City Walls.
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