Elegant Architecture in the South

Excursion One – Dorney Court & The Vyne
Our first visit is to Dorney Court, one of England’s finest Tudor manor houses, set in landscaped gardens overlooking acres of mature parkland and ancient yew hedges. Home of the Palmer family for nearly 500 years, the house is widely regarded for its diverse collection of portraits, furniture and art, telling the stories of the lives and times of those who have called it home. We enjoy a guided tour which delves deeper into the history of the house.

We continue to The Vyne, a splendid Tudor red-brick mansion set in 13 acres of attractive gardens. It was built for King Henry VIII’s Lord Chamberlain before becoming the Chute family home for over 300 years. The Tudor chapel is still largely in its original condition while the richly decorated Oak Gallery is another wonderful survival from the era.

Excursion Two – Bowood House & Avebury Manor and Stone Circle
Family home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, Bowood is a fine Georgian house which holds a unique collection of historical artefacts and family heirlooms built up over nearly 300 years; from Queen Victoria’s wedding chair to Napoleon’s death mask. We discover its wealth of treasures on our guided tour. Outside are 100 acres of beautiful parkland, designed by ‘Capability’ Brown.

Afterwards we head to the pretty village of Avebury, where we discover the world-famous stone circle, one of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe, set in the beautiful Wiltshire landscape. We also visit the 16^th-century Avebury Manor and wander through the historic rooms, recreated in five different styles to reflect the lives of the people who once lived there, from Tudor times(?) to the 20^th century.

Excursion Three – Mottisfont, Salisbury & Salisbury Cathedral
We start the day at Mottisfont, a fine country house set in beautiful landscaped grounds beside the River Test. Once a 13^th-century priory, the house has been extended and rebuilt over time and was latterly owned by society hostess Maud Russell. Highlights of the house include the Gothic-style trompe l’oeil design by Rex Whistler in the drawing room and the vaulted cellarium. The stunning gardens are home to the National Collection of old-fashioned roses.

Next we travel to Salisbury, where we enjoy a guided walking tour of this picturesque city, set in a quintessentially English landscape. Salisbury has a rich heritage with hundreds of historic listed buildings and varied architectural styles that range from medieval walls and half-timbered Tudor town houses to Georgian mansions and Victorian villas.

We then visit Salisbury Cathedral, which boasts the tallest spire in Britain. Featured in works of art by John Constable and the inspiration for William Golding’s The Spire, the cathedral is one of the most remarkable in the country thanks to its striking architecture and beautiful surroundings. Highlights include the unusual nave, the unconventional font designed by William Pye, the oldest working modern clock in the world and the best-preserved original copy of the Magna Carta.

Discover the south of England

Excursion One – Dorney Court & The Vyne
Our first visit is to Dorney Court, one of England’s finest Tudor manor houses, set in landscaped gardens overlooking acres of mature parkland and ancient yew hedges. Home of the Palmer family for nearly 500 years, the house is widely regarded for its diverse collection of portraits, furniture and art, telling the stories of the lives and times of those who have called it home. We enjoy a guided tour which delves deeper into the history of the house.

We continue to The Vyne, a splendid Tudor red-brick mansion set in 13 acres of attractive gardens. It was built for King Henry VIII’s Lord Chamberlain before becoming the Chute family home for over 300 years. The Tudor chapel is still largely in its original condition while the richly decorated Oak Gallery is another wonderful survival from the era.

Excursion Two – Bowood House & Avebury Manor and Stone Circle
Family home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, Bowood is a fine Georgian house which holds a unique collection of historical artefacts and family heirlooms built up over nearly 300 years; from Queen Victoria’s wedding chair to Napoleon’s death mask. We discover its wealth of treasures on our guided tour. Outside are 100 acres of beautiful parkland, designed by ‘Capability’ Brown.

Afterwards we head to the pretty village of Avebury, where we discover the world-famous stone circle, one of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe, set in the beautiful Wiltshire landscape. We also visit the 16^th-century Avebury Manor and wander through the historic rooms, recreated in five different styles to reflect the lives of the people who once lived there, from Tudor times(?) to the 20^th century.

Excursion Three – Mottisfont, Salisbury & Salisbury Cathedral
We start the day at Mottisfont, a fine country house set in beautiful landscaped grounds beside the River Test. Once a 13^th-century priory, the house has been extended and rebuilt over time and was latterly owned by society hostess Maud Russell. Highlights of the house include the Gothic-style trompe l’oeil design by Rex Whistler in the drawing room and the vaulted cellarium. The stunning gardens are home to the National Collection of old-fashioned roses.

Next we travel to Salisbury, where we enjoy a guided walking tour of this picturesque city, set in a quintessentially English landscape. Salisbury has a rich heritage with hundreds of historic listed buildings and varied architectural styles that range from medieval walls and half-timbered Tudor town houses to Georgian mansions and Victorian villas.

We then visit Salisbury Cathedral, which boasts the tallest spire in Britain. Featured in works of art by John Constable and the inspiration for William Golding’s The Spire, the cathedral is one of the most remarkable in the country thanks to its striking architecture and beautiful surroundings. Highlights include the unusual nave, the unconventional font designed by William Pye, the oldest working modern clock in the world and the best-preserved original copy of the Magna Carta.