King Richard III Tour of England
King Richard III Tour of England
Day One Stratford upon Avon
AM: Blue badge walking tour of Stratford upon Avon including the historical connection to the area and the impact of Shakespeare’s representation of the King. Visit to Shakespeare's Birthplace.
Lunch in Stratford
Warwick Castle.
A tour of the castle that the Richard III owned for a while after the execution of his brother, and was the home of his wife Anne Neville. Richard ordered the construction of the tower on the north wall, but only the Bear and Clarence Towers at a much smaller height were built.
Evening Accommodation in Stratford
Day Two
AM: Blue Badge Walking Tour of Coventry – King Richard III visited and stayed in Coventry in June 1485. He is famously featured in the main tapestry in the Guildhall, as is Anne Neville. Troops from the city are supposed to have supported him at Bosworth and the city provided food for him at Bosworth. The Guildhall was also a place of visit for William Shakespeare, and there is the suggestion that William got his inspiration for the big interest in the War of the Roses, partly from this famous tapestry, which also features King Henry VI and his wife.
Lunch in Coventry
King Richard III Tour of England
PM: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre (including exhibition, guided walk, falconry display & lunch)
One of Bosworth’s knowledgeable and experienced Guides will bring the events of the Battle of Bosworth to life. The walk is just under 2km long across rolling countryside and therefore appropriate footwear and weather proof clothing is recommended. Each walk lasts approximately 1½ hours.
The falconry displays are fully interactive with the opportunity to hold the birds of prey and learn more about these fascinating creatures. With over 40 years of collective experience of falconry, the team will be on hand to answer any of your questions.
Accommodation at College Court, Leicester. Day Three
AM: 10.00AM - Arrive at St Martin's Centre, Leicester
Welcome to Leicester (coffee and pastries available)
Originally built in 1877, St Martin’s Centre is a stunning Grade II listed former Grammar School with an elegant mix of period features with contemporary styling, a beautifully restored hall and several smaller meeting rooms and is the ideal welcome to the city. The centre is situated in the heart of Leicester’s Old Town next to the Cathedral, Guildhall and the new King Richard III Visitor Centre.
10.30am - Guided Walk: King Richard III - The Leicester Connection
This walk by an accredited Blue Badge Guide and will cover the historic areas of the city relating to King Richard III’s final days in the city. The walk will last approximately 1hr 45mins.
12.15pm - King Richard III Visitor Centre - Dynasty, Death, Discovery
More than 500 years after the death of the last English king to die in battle, the story of one of history’s most controversial monarchs is brought to life once again in this stunning new visitor centre. The Centre which opened in July 2014 includes the story of the last Plantagenet King as well as the science behind his discovery.
King Richard III Tour of England
2.00pm - 3.00pm - lunch break/free time
3.00pm - 4.00pm - Tour of Leicester Cathedral
Built on the site of a Roman temple and dedicated to St Martin of Tours, Leicester Cathedral has been embedded in the life of the local community since medieval times. There has been a major memorial to King Richard III in the Chancel of the Cathedral since 1980. This has been the focus for remembrance, particularly on the anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth. King Richard III was reinterred at Leicester Cathedral in March 2015.
4.00pm – return to hotel to relax and refresh
7.00pm – Medieval Banquet – King Richard III Visitor Centre, Leicester
The evening of entertainment includes a three course medieval banquet with traditional entertainment. Expect plenty of merriment, song and dance!
Return to College Court Hotel, Leicester
Day Four
Depart Leicester for York
Arrive York – visit to the Richard III Museum to discover the truth behind the much maligned monarch. The Museum opened in May 1993 and visitors get to decide whether they think Richard III is guilty of murdering his 2 nephews – the so called ‘Princes in the Tower’.
York boasts the most intact city walls in England – and one of the finest walks on the walls is the section from Monk Bar to Bootham Bar where you get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful gardens at the back of the Minster.
King Richard III Tour of England
Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms is the perfect place for lunch on St Helen’s Square – or why not treat yourself to an afternoon tea – true decadence!
No visit to the city is complete without visiting York Minster which includes many features from the 15th Century and would have been an indication of life during Richard’s reign. The Rose Window marks the union of the Houses of York and Lancaster, through the
marriage of Elizabeth of York, (Richard’s niece) and Henry VII in 1486. This shows the red and Tudor rose of Lancaster and white rose of York.
Early dinner followed by the Original Ghost Walk of York departing from the Kings Arms Pub at 8pm.
Check into the Best Western Monkbar Hotel.
Day Five
After a leisurely breakfast meet your local guide for a guided walk that will explore the history, archaeology and culture of York during the 15th and early 16th centuries.
Lunch at Grays Court – set in beautiful landscaped gardens close to the city walls.
This afternoon visit Yorkshire Museum which following a nine-month £2million refurbishment project now houses five new galleries showcasing some of Britain's finest archaeological treasures including the Middleham Jewel. King Richard III married Anne Neville in Westminster on 12th July 1472 and eventually brought her to York and Middleham, where their son Edward was born in 1473. The Middleham Jewel was found near Middleham Castle and dates to this period; it is not known whom it belonged to, but some suggest Anne/ Alternatively visit Middleham Castle, the childhood home of King Richard III, now an English Heritage property in the Yorkshire Dales. Evening enjoy dinner at the brand new the Star Inn the City on the banks of the Ouse.
King Richard III Tour of England
Day Six
Departure after breakfast and travel back to airport.
Lunch stop on journey back (location tbc)
For more information contact Janine Williams, Director of Marketing, Leicester Shire Promotions on 0116 225 4026 or [email protected]