2026

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 1st to Sunday 3rd May 2026. 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 £398 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for ten people is £419 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for six people is £472 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 March 2026.

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:

You will see the main sites of the city of Carlisle itself, both the cathedral and castle as well as the first-rate Tullie House Museum. Additionally, we’ll visit two Roman forts on or near Hadrian’s Wall (Birdoswald, Vindolanda), Lanercost Priory, Thirlwall Castle and walk the Wall itself for over a mile.  

Dates:

Tuesday 5th to Friday 8th May 2026. The tour ends around 1 p.m. on Friday 8th. Luggage may be stored at the hotel after checkout.

Capacity:

Up to fourteen clients.

Overnight locations:

Carlisle (3 nights)

We stay at the three-star Crown and Mitre Hotel.

Cost:

The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £465 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for ten people is £515 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for six people is £599 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 March 2026.

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 Carlisle.

I’ll talk about the general background and characteristics of Hadrian’s Wall while we’re on the minibus.

Points to Consider:

This is an intense tour which will require stamina. Though many of the sites are wheelchair accessible, some are not, especially Hadrian’s Wall. 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 29th to Sunday 31st May 2026. The tour ends around 3.30 p.m. on Sunday 31st May. 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 Holiday Inn, York City Centre.

Cost:

The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £439 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for ten people is £467 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for six people is £508 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 March 2026.

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.

Overview:

You will see the main sites of the city of Durham itself, both the cathedral and castle as well as Crook Hall, the lovely Romanesque St Margaret of Antioch church and Ushaw Historical House, a huge former Roman Catholic seminary with impressive architecture and gardens located in Bearpark, a village outside Durham.

Dates:

Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th June.

Luggage may be stored at the hotel after checkout.

Capacity:

Up to fourteen clients.

Overnight locations:

Durham (3 nights)

We stay at the four-star Royal County Hotel.

Cost:

The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £477 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for ten people is £516 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for six people is £582 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 2026.

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.

Points to Consider:

 This is a very intense tour. It will require stamina. Though many of the sites are wheelchair accessible, some are not, such as Durham Castle. Durham is quite hilly.

Overview:

This tour is designed to give a good overview of the Roman North from the 1st century AD to the Roman withdrawal in AD 410. Dr Chappell will give six talks of 30-60 minutes just after breakfast to give the context helpful to the sites we visit. The focus of the tour is the sites of the Roman North and associated museums. The North was heavily militarised so much of what you see will be related to soldiers, their camps and the archaeological remains they have left.

 The tour is exciting and very full but with limited free 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 at Hadrian’s Wall. This tour has an unusual amount of travelling because of the widespread locations of Roman sites.

Dates:

Wednesday 15th June to Wednesday 24th June 2026 (8 full days not including arrival and departure).  

The tour ends after breakfast on Wednesday 24th June.

Capacity:

Up to fourteen clients.

Rest Days:

The day of arrival, Monday 15th June, will be a day of rest to allow you to recover from travel at our hotel in York. There is a free morning in Carlisle on Sunday 21st June. Evenings are generally free except for two nights when group dinners will be provided on 15th and 22nd June.

Overnight Locations:

York (2 nights), Durham (1 night), Hexham (2 nights), Carlisle (2 nights), Manchester (1 night) and Chester (1 night). 

We will stay at four-star (Holiday Inn York City Centre, Royal County Hotel Durham, Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre and the Hotel Indigo Chester.) and three-star hotels (Travelodge, Hexham and The Crown and Mitre, Carlisle).  

Cost:

 The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £1474 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for ten people is £1609 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for six people is £1864 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 May 2026.

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:

Roman Eboracum.

Urbanism and Civilian Life.

The Army and the North.

Hadrian’s Wall

Roman Religion in the North.

Roman Deva.

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, especially those with an interest in Roman history. There will be little free time every day for rest and further exploration. There will be urban walks but also those over rough surfaces Hadrian’s Wall. Many sites 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 nor many other Roman camps.

Overview:

 This tour is designed to give a good overview of religious life in Northern England from the ancient world to the modern. Its core focus is Christianity: Catholic, Anglican and to a lesser degree Nonconformist. But Roman paganism, Judaism and Islam also receive attention. The Museum of Faith at Auckland Castle is remarkably comprehensive and goes beyond these limits. The supplementary talks give a broader context which is useful for understanding particular sites.  

The tour is exciting and very full but with limited free time except evenings and a full free day in Durham on Sunday 19th July. 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. This tour has a fair amount of travelling because of the widespread locations of important religious sites.

Dates:

Monday 13th July to Saturday 25th July 2026 (11 full days not including arrival and departure).    

The tour ends after breakfast on Saturday 25th July.

Capacity:

Up to fourteen clients.

Rest Days:

The day of arrival, Monday 13th July, will be a day of rest to allow you to recover from travel at our hotel in York. Sunday 19th July is a free day in Durham. Evenings are generally free except for two nights when group dinners will be provided on 13th July and 24th July.

Overnight Locations:

 York (4 nights), Durham (3 nights), Hexham (2 nights), Carlisle (1 night), Manchester (2 nights).  

 We will stay at four-star (Holiday Inn York City Centre, Durham Royal County, Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre) and three-star hotels (Travelodge, Hexham and The Crown and Mitre, Carlisle).   

Cost:

The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £1959 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings. 

The estimated cost for ten people is £2129 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for six people is £2499 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 29th May 2026.

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:

Roman Religion

Northumbrian and Viking Christianity

The Normans and Christianity

High Medieval Christianity

The Reformation to the Civil War in the North

St Cuthbert

The Restoration and the Nonconformist Challenge

The Victorian Era: Catholic and Evangelical

Twentieth Century Religion: Christianity, Judaism and Islam

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, especially those with an interest in religion and its history. There will be little free time every day for rest and further exploration. There will be urban walks but also those over rough surfaces. Many sites are rather hilly, especially Durham. British summers range from hot to cool but often experience rain. You’ll need shoes or boots with good grip for as well as umbrellas. It may be muddy in some rural locations, such as the Mithraeum. York City Walls are not wheelchair accessible nor the Mithraeum.

Overview:

I will offer the Great English Cities tour every year with different locations. In 2026, we will explore three eastern cathedral cities and their environs from their ancient roots through their wealthy Medieval period to the present. Norwich, Lincoln 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. Lincoln and York were both Roman legionary fortresses. Norwich and York vied for the position of second city in England in the Middle Ages. On our travel days we will stop at Walsingham Abbey and shrine in Norfolk and Beverley Minster in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Sutton Hoo and Walsingham are iconic sites in the tour along with Norwich, Lincoln Cathedrals and York Minster. Guildhalls and museums, York city walls, riverside walks in Norwich and the beautiful Georgian Fairfax House add interest to this varied and in-depth exploration of the last two thousand years.

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:

Monday 3rd to Saturday 15th August 2026 (11 full days not including arrival and departure days). 

The tour ends after breakfast on Thursday 15th August in York. Transportation homewards isn’t provided, but York is a major railway hub.

Capacity:

Up to fourteen clients.

Rest Days:

The mornings of Friday 7th August in Norwich and Monday 10th August in Lincoln are free.

Overnight Locations:

Norwich (4 nights), Lincoln (3 nights), York (5 nights).

We will stay at four-star hotels (Maids Head Hotel, Norwich, White Hart Hotel, Lincoln, Holiday Inn, York City Centre).    

Cost:

The estimated cost for a full programme of 14 is £2149 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for ten people is £2259 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for six people is £2567 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 15th June 2026.

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:

Romans and Angles in East Anglia

Medieval Norwich

Norwich since the Reformation

Early Lincoln

Lincoln since the Reformation

Roman, Angle and Viking York

Medieval York

York since the Reformation

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 Sutton Hoo. 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 Sutton Hoo) as well as umbrellas. Some areas of historic cities do have cobbles.

Overview:

This tour is designed to give a good overview of the history and main sites of County Durham. The City of Durham forms our base, but we travel all across the county to see castles, churches, monasteries and museums. Durham was a major centre of Angle kingdoms, Bernicia then Northumbria, and the home of St Bede, the first historian of the English. We will visit his tomb and the church sites where he lived in monasteries. Several churches are wholly or partly Angle. When the Vikings drove the community of Cuthbert from Lindisfarne with their raids, the monks fled with the coffin of the holiest of northern saints to Conceastre (Chester-le-Street) and then on to found the city of Durham in 995. Its centre was a fine cathedral and shrine to Cuthbert. Durham becomes Haliwerfolc, the place of the Holy Folk. With the Norman invasion and much destruction came a mighty new early Norman cathedral, certainly one of the finest in England, and castles at Durham, Raby and Barnard Castle. The powerful Prince Bishops of Durham dominated the region in every sphere for the next seven hundred years. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, coal, steel and shipbuilding became the dominant industries, providing massive wealth to local gentry and aristocrats. The powerful Durham Miners’ Association built the palatial Miner’s hall in 1913 at Redhills. We will explore Durham’s industrial heritage with a visit to Redhills and Beamish Living History Museum.

The tour is exciting and very full but with limited free 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.

Dates:

Monday 17th August to Sunday 23rd August 2026 (5 full days not including arrival and departure).

The tour ends after breakfast on Sunday 23rd August.

Capacity:

Up to fourteen clients.

Rest Days:

The day of arrival, Monday 17th August, will be a day of rest to allow you to recover from travel at our hotel in Durham. Evenings are generally free except for two nights when group dinners will be provided on 17th and 23rd August.

Overnight Locations:

Durham (5 nights) at the four-star Royal County Hotel Durham. 

Cost:

The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £1069 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for ten people is £1134 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings. 

The estimated cost for six people is £1309 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 July 2026.

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:

Roman and Anglo-Saxon Durham.

Medieval Durham.

Tudor and Early Modern Durham.

Modern Durham.

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, especially those with an interest in medieval history, churches, industrial heritage and the beautiful landscape of the north-east of England. Evenings are free except for the first and last, but there is otherwise little free time every day for further exploration. There will be urban walks but also rambles around castle grounds. Durham is rather hilly. British summers range from hot to cool but often experience rain. You’ll need solid walking shoes as well as umbrellas. Most sites should be wheelchair accessible though not Durham Castle nor the upper floors of Raby Castle.

Overview:

This tour is designed to give a good overview of the history and some of the major historical sites of North Yorkshire. The City of York forms our base, but we spend a night in charming Ripon and travel across the county to see castles, churches, monasteries and museums. Durham was a Roman legionary fortress (as Eboracum), a major centre of Angle kingdoms (as Eoforwic), Deira then Northumbria, the capital of a Viking kingdom (as Yorvik). After the unification of England in the tenth century, York was the political centre of the North until the seventeenth century and remained important until it was eclipsed by the growth of industrial cities in the nineteenth century. Its charm and extraordinary historical and architectural heritage attract several million visitors annually. The chronological scope of the tour is from the Romans to the present, but there is a particularly strong emphasis on the Middle Ages.   

The tour is exciting and very full but with limited free 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. 

Dates:

Monday 7th August to Monday 14th September 2026 (6 full days not including arrival and departure). 

The tour ends after breakfast on Monday 14th August.

Capacity:

Up to fourteen clients.

Rest Days:

The day of arrival, Monday 7th September, will be a day of rest to allow you to recover from travel at our hotel in York. Evenings are generally free except for two nights when group dinners will be provided on 7th and 13th September.

Overnight Locations:

York (6 nights) at the four-star Holiday Inn, York City Centre. 

Ripon (1 night) at the four-star Royal Oak Hotel or the three-star Ripon Inn.

Cost:

The estimated cost for a full programme of fourteen is £1284 per person, based on a formula of five couples and four individual bookings.

The estimated cost for ten people is £1334 per person, based on a formula of three couples and four individual bookings. 

The estimated cost for six people is £1499 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 21st July 2026.

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:

Early York

Medieval York

High Medieval and Tudor York

York since 1603

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, especially those with an interest in medieval history, churches, and the beautiful landscape of the North Yorkshire. Evenings are free except for the first and last, but there is otherwise little free time every day for further exploration. There will be urban walks but also rambles around castle and monastery grounds. British summers range from hot to cool but often experience rain. You’ll need solid walking shoes as well as umbrellas. Most sites should be wheelchair accessible though not the crypt of York Minster, Clifford’s Tower and part of the rural sites.