Romance & Statecraft Tudor with WILL

CHR Travel HIS WILL TOUR Day 2 Friday: Flight- combines culture, history Heathrow-Runnymede- 9 or 11 Days August 8-16 and visits to settings fea- Place-Ashdown T Park tured in your favorite WILL-TV (or return the 18th), 2019 Upon arrival at London Heathrow From $4932* programs. We take our unique, easy-paced itinerary approach to airport, we are met by our tour man- ager, Victor Seedman. Our first stop • The counties of Kent, Surrey parts of Southern England and has become a new tradition for us, a & Sussex, south of London: The we have not visited Hobbit-style “Second Breakfast” near • Penshurst Place • Ashdown before. On a WILL custom tour, where the Magna Carta was signed in Park • Hever Castle • Leeds we always have minimum two- Runnymede. This allows the oppor- Castle • Seven Sisters white chalk night hotel stays to keep the pace tunity for a proper breakfast and cliffs on the English Channel modest—this time staying three to freshen up after deplaning. • Sheffield Park & Gardens • Talk four nights at both locations. This by Tudor author, Elizabeth also gives the possibility of more Norton • Hampton Court • The free time than the average tour Cotswolds: • Highclere Castle allows. Best of all is traveling with Above: the original Leeds Castle was wooden • Ellenborough Park • Sudeley other Friends of WILL who share and owned by a Saxon chief from 857; below: a royal welcome at Hever Castle. Castle & Tea • Manor, a kinship from the first day. Gardens & Lunch • Thornbury Group size is limited and Castle • Monmouth, Wales tours fill up quickly! Don’t • Optional extension to London delay in reserving your seat now! Itinerary

Day 1 Thursday: Central Illinois-Chicago-Flight Danda and Erin of WILL welcome you aboard our private motor coach to Chicago where we board our overnight non- stop flight to London. Unique tours since 1986 Penshurst Place, a hunting lodge for Henry VIII Once revived we head to hotel or in the town of Forest Row; was convenient for courtship being only a few Penshurst Place and Gardens for a pri- transportation will be provided. (B) miles from Hever Castle, childhood home of vate tour of this stately home built in Day 3 Saturday: Ashdown- Henry’s second wife . 1341. Penshurst was reportedly Henry Leeds Castle-Hever Castle- VIII’s favorite hunting lodge; Henry Ashdown visited often when besotted by Anne We drive east to Kent and Leeds Boleyn, who lived at nearby Hever Castle, ‘the loveliest castle in the Castle. Penshurst was used in the world’, for a private tour. Originally MASTERPIECE adaptation of Hilary a wooden fort of a Saxon chieftain, Mantel’s novel Wolf Hall. The Queen Leeds Castle was rebuilt by Norman Elizabeth Room, The Tapestry room, Robert de Crevecoeur in 1119. By the The Solar, The Long Gallery and The 16th century, Henry VIII was using Crypt were all used in filming – to cre- Leeds Castle asOvernight a dwelling Stays for(# hisnights) first ate a perfect Tudor period setting. wife, Catherine of Aragon. En Route Stops Mid-afternoon we drive to Delight in Airsome Flights free time to Ashdown Park Hotel and Country explore the gardens, maze and fal- Club, our home for three nights. Ourscotland conryDalwhinnie center. Then we journey to hotel is surrounded by Ashdown Ft. WilliamHever Castle, where we will see Your Tour Hosts Forest, known to be the inspiration THE HIGHLANDS GlencoeSthec o castletla@ nPitlochry groundsd transformed to for Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Kinloch Rannoch Danda Beard, Isles of a medieval encampment and may @ St. Andrews Acre Wood. The country houseIona was is WILL’s Mull Obansee “knights” in their colorful livery built in 1867 by Mr. Thomas Charles Stirling #Edinburgh Development minglingCastle with their King Henry VIII Director Thompson, a Member of Parliament, and Anne Boleyn. Admission to the who died in 1892. In his will he left a castle and garden is included for you black suit to each of his employees so to explore on your own. Tonight, we they would be smartly dressed for his return to Ashdown for our welcome funeral. dinner. (B, L, D) The rest of the day is free for wan- dering the lovely grounds or catching up on sleep! Maybe you would like Erin Lippitz, to try your swing at the E N G L AND Major Gifts on-site 18-hole par 3 golf The Cotswolds Director course or enjoy a relaxing Sudeley Thornbury $Cheltenham spa treatment. As is our Wales Hampton Court Optional Heathrow custom, we do not include 2London Extension Owlpen Leeds Castle dinner this first night so Highclere Penshurst # Hever you can turn in earlier if # Overnight Stays (# nights) Castle Forest Row Castle you like. However, there • En Route Stops Cliffs Eastbourne will be plenty of options Air Flights to choose from at the Tour The Great Gate of Hampton Court acres of parkland and a woodland with Hever Castle Gardens Day 4 Sunday: Ashdown- a collection of exotic trees and shrubs. Eastbourne-Seven Sisters Henry VIII visited the home in 1538, as documented by the Domesday Cliffs-Sheffield Park-Ashdown Book. The park was used as a training Today is our day for the scenic ground for Canadian soldiers during coast, plus a bit of English ‘managed’ the Second World War. (B) nature! We head south to East Sussex and the English Channel. If tramping Day 5 Monday: Ashdown- about the white chalk cliffs is not your Hampton Court-Cheltenham cup of tea, you will have free time for Today we depart Ashdown exploring and shopping in Eastbourne, for Richmond upon Thames and the Victorian seaside resort. Hampton Court Palace for a guided The walkers continue on to the tour. Originally built by Cardinal hamlet of Birling Gap and the Seven Thomas Wolsey, he gave it to Henry Sisters and Beachy Head. These tow- VIII in a vain effort to restore himself ering cliffs and undeveloped coastline to Henry’s good graces. Henry must have often been used in films to stand have needed it for his royal entou- in for the Cliffs of Dover. rage of 1,000 courtiers! Afterwards we will have lunch and a talk by his- Free time for lunch is provided torian Elizabeth Norton (at right). before we gather again to drive to Her research and writing centers Sheffield Park Garden, owned by the around the contributions of women National Trust. The park was original- to English medieval history. Her ly designed by Lancelot “Capability” 13 books include “She Wolves, The Brown in the 18th century and later Notorious Queens of England”. A reg- expanded by the home’s various own- The Seven Sisters is a series of chalk cliffs ular on BBC programs, Elizabeth will by the English Channel. They form part of the ers. Four ponds with water lilies form relay some insights into her research South Downs in East Sussex, between the the garden centerpiece surrounded by of the Tudor period. towns of Seaford and Eastbourne The Cotswolds, charming villages made of We continue on to The Cotswolds, We continue on to Highclere honey-coloured stone a lovely area of quaint homes built Castle, which was made famous as of honey-colored stone and site of the setting of Downton Abbey. Your Ellenborough Park, our hotel for four admission will give you free time to nights. The hotel was built as a manor wander about this still-private home. house from 1485 and later home to a former Governor of India and Jane Highclere Castle in the Cotswolds was the Digby, a ‘scandalous society beauty’ location for Downton Abbey who was seventeen years his junior when they wed in 1824. Dinner is included tonight. (B, L, D) Day 6 Tuesday: Cheltenham- Sudeley Castle-Highclere Your Tour Manager Castle-Cotswolds villages-Chel- tenham Victor Seedman has led the last eight We travel to Winchcombe, WILL tours in Europe. He started lead- and are welcomed ing tours in the 1980’s and has contin- with tea and biscuits to Sudeley ued to do so while being the Head of Castle, the private home of Elizabeth, Travel, Tourism & Hospitality for the London campus of the University of Lady Ashcombe. After time to see the Gloucestershire. interior, enjoy a look at its nine indi- vidual gardens. The centerpiece is the Queens Garden, so named because four of England’s queens—Anne Boleyn, Catherine Parr, Lady Jane CHR Travel has been awarded Grey and Elizabeth I—once admired the prestigious Queen’s Award for the hundreds of varieties of roses Enterprise. We have worked with found in the garden. Catherine Parr, the same people for 33 years, going the last of the six wives of King Henry back to when we visited Yorkshire on VIII, is buried on the grounds of WILL’s very first tour. Sudeley Castle in St. Mary’s Church. Monmouth’s fortified bridge in Wales mixed woodland, one of the surviving ancient Afterwards we have time in woodlands. Monmouth the Cotswolds village of Burford is on the 177 mile long and then enjoy an included dinner Offa’s Dyke, a trail along in the Venice of Britain, Bourton- the border of Wales and on-the-Water. We then return to England. We have time Ellenborough Park. (B, T, D) for shopping and private Day 7 Wednesday: exploration like the small The Beachy Head Lighthouse near Eastbourne on the English Cheltenham-Welsh Marches- museum named for Lord Channel Cheltenham Nelson, the victor of We head west into Wales and the Trafalgar. Nelson had birthplace of Henry V of Agincourt come here to arrange In the Cotswolds: 15th century Sudeley Castle’s secret garden. fame, Monmouth, at the juncture of for the fine timber for It is still a residence and the only private castle to have a queen the Rivers Monnow and Wye. Nearby realm’s warships. (B, D) buried in its grounds. We plan to have tea here. is the Forest of Dean, second largest Day 8 Thursday: of the Crown Forest preserves with Cheltenham--Thornbury- Cheltenham We wander to the district of The Cotswolds and a spot that invites superla- tives: “The loveliest place in England” – Fodor’s Britain Guide, “Owlpen in Gloucestershire—ah! What a dream is there!” – Vita Sackville-West and “The epitome of the English village” – The Prince of Wales. Not otherwise open to the public, we are given a private tour of a Tudor masterpiece, Owlpen Manor. The estate only started chang- ing hands in 1924 after a thousand years in the family. We have a scrumptious private What’s Included: • Round trip motor dining experience—lunch in the coach transportation from Central Illinois manor’s 15th century tithe barn. Then • Baggage handling • Round trip flights we enjoy a guided tour of the gardens • Round trip transportation from airport with its topiary and yew from the to hotel • Tour manager, transportation, early Stuart times, about 1620. sightseeing and admissions per itinerary Next we head to an early example • Headsets throughout the tour • 18 Meals: of a Tudor country house, Thornbury 8 Breakfasts 3 Lunches, 2 Teas, 5 Dinners Castle, once home to William the • $225 current total taxes & fees, subject Conqueror. In the 16th century the to change • Hotel accommodations • Led Duke of Buckingham was owner of by Danda Beard & Erin Lippitz Thornbury. He was beheaded by order Accommodations: (7 or 9) total number Mostly Histories of his distant cousin Henry VIII, who of nights Traveling Book Club then took possession of the magnifi- Ashdown Forest (3) Ashdown Park Hotel cent estate. We have tea before return- and Country Club This year, our travels are taking us to Cheltenham (4) Ellenborough Park places visited by the Tudor Kings and ing to Ellenborough Park and our farewell dinner. (B, L, T, D) Optional extension: Queens. Let’s read (and watch!) and London (2) DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel discuss: Day 9 Friday: Cheltenham- London Westminster or similar Heathrow-Flight-Chicago- Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (Available Central Illinois or London What’s Not Included: • Airline baggage on video from PBS MASTERPIECE After breakfast, we depart The fees if any • Tips to tour manager, driver on WILL Passport through February Cotswolds and you have a choice to and local guides • Travel insurance 2019!) The court of Henry VIII seen either fly home or extend your stay in *All prices are per person, based on occupancy, double: through the eyes of his confidant London! Those returning home are $4932, single: $5699—for the basic tour without London. Thomas Cromwell. Named for the • Document required for US Citizens is Passport valid through taken from O’Hare back to central the last day of your visit to the UK (longer is recommended Seymour family seat of Wolfhall or Illinois by our private motor coach. though); no visa or shots at this time. Other citizens should Wulfhall in Wiltshire. Historical fiction. consult their consulate. • Insurance coverage is Deluxe London Extension: Group Plan from Travel Guard at a cost of 7.2%. For cover- Those extending enjoy two nights age details see www.tourgroupplanners.com/insurance.html. Anne Boleyn by Elizabeth Norton Other terms at www.tourgroupplanners. com/terms.html (Ms. Norton will be giving a talk for in London to explore to your heart’s incorporated by reference. • Price and details are subject to desire. Visit a London Museum, change. If fewer than 21 book, a small group surcharge of our group. Her 13 books span the $90 applies. For the extension to London, a minimum of 10 Tudor era, especially the women of cruise the Thames, or partake in participants will be needed – if fewer, we will re-price based the Tudor period.) Anne Boleyn’s shopping or the theatre! (B) on current air fares. Acct#190808 21Dec18 16:40 early life at Hever Castle is discussed Day 10 Saturday: London Free Join us from • Champaign • Decatur here. Nonfiction Day • Springfield or call for a quote from Victor will be at your hotel in the Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake other cities. Tour Coordinator is morning to assist with your plans. Judy or Dawn, email: Series #1), C.J. Sansom. Dissolution And if you have no idea, he will offer concerns the investigation of a mur- up suggestions of what to do and how Judy [email protected] & der in a monastery in Tudor England, to get there. (B) Dawn [email protected]; just as the monks’ way of life is call 217-422-5002 to charge your about to end, abruptly. Mystery Day 11 Sunday: London- Heathrow-Chicago-Central credit card for the $1500 per person On the Black Hill, Bruce Chatwin. Illinois deposit (the balance is due April 8 The story of twin boys living in the Victor accompanies you to the and you get a $50/person discount if border territory of England and airport in our private transfer. After balance is paid by check). Or mail a Wales. Also a movie (available on your non-stop flight to Chicago you check (payable to Rio Grande Travel) Amazon Prime or perhaps in your are taken by private transfer back to to Tour Group Planners, 363 S local library?), Historical fiction central Illinois with wonderful memo- Main St Suite 307, Decatur IL 62523 ries of the rich history and charm of England. (B) Included meals are noted each day with the initials for Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, and Dinner.

http://will.illinois.edu/willtravel London Extension Option Owlpen Manor Enjoy two extra days in London, at an additional cost of $571 per per- son based on double occupancy or single room at $958. Physical Requirements Included: • Heathrow Airport to hotel pri- Travel in England requires more walking, vate transfer • Two nights hotel, tax and steps and inclines that could be difficult daily breakfast at the DoubleTree London or impossible for those with physical Westminster or comparable • Victor avail- limitations. You need to decide whether able from 9 a.m.–Noon to assist with your you can accept that this may make you plans • Hotel to Heathrow Airport transfer miss parts of the tour or stay at the hotel and be on your own. Each of our hotels Not included: • Lunch or dinner meals has elevators. • Free time activities

Thornbury Castle

Charitable Donation This trip is designed as a fundraiser for WILL, your favorite public television and radio station. The more people who travel with WILL, the more funding the station receives. A non-refundable donation of at least $200/person is included in your trip cost. After the trip, you will receive a chari- table donation receipt to use as a tax deduc- tion. WILL thanks you for your support! Your Hotels Nights in parenthesis shows length of stay. See numbered photos:

1. Forest Row, E. Sussex (3) Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club 2. Cheltenham, The Cotswolds (4) Ellenborough Park 3. London (2) Optional Extension: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London Westminster or similar

Leeds Castle

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