OF ENGLAND OF
@explorersroad
served up with a warm welcome. warm a with up served
HEART HISTORIC & CULTURAL THE
properties and enjoy good food in good company company good in food good enjoy and properties
THROUGH ROUTE TOURING A country house hotels or upmarket city-based city-based upmarket or hotels house country
and cosy bed and breakfasts to pubs with rooms, rooms, with pubs to breakfasts and bed cosy and
you to take your pick from traditional coaching inns inns coaching traditional from pick your take to you
towns and historic cities. Each evening we invite invite we evening Each cities. historic and towns
stunning landscapes or exploring ancient market market ancient exploring or landscapes stunning
and quirky museums, walking and cycling in in cycling and walking museums, quirky and
castles, uncovering English history at fascinating fascinating at history English uncovering castles,
choose from sightseeing at stately homes and and homes stately at sightseeing from choose
attractions and experiences. Each day you can can you day Each experiences. and attractions
The Explorer’s Road offers a huge variety of of variety huge a offers Road Explorer’s The
attractions and landmarks known only to local people. local to only known landmarks and attractions
the much-loved countryside, and revealing the hidden hidden the revealing and countryside, much-loved the
discovering the traditions and eccentricities, enjoying enjoying eccentricities, and traditions the discovering
beaten-track England as you tour the Explorer’s Road, Road, Explorer’s the tour you as England beaten-track
Now curious travellers can get to know off-the- know to get can travellers curious Now
cultural heart of the nation. the of heart cultural
mile route through the historic and and historic the through route mile
connects north to south along a 300- a along south to north connects
have travelled a highway which which highway a travelled have
For two thousand years the English English the years thousand two For
Barnard Castle Barnard
www.explorersroad.com
Northumberland at at Northumberland
THE EXPLORER’S ROAD EXPLORER’S THE
Hertfordshire to to Hertfordshire
own itinerary from from itinerary own
your Create
AND CULTURE UP CLOSE ON ON CLOSE UP CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE ENGLAND’S HISTORY HISTORY ENGLAND’S EXPERIENCE
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXPLORER’S ROAD
BURGHLEY HOUSE YORK MINSTER In the mid-16th century, William One of the world’s most Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to magnificent cathedrals, there are Queen Elizabeth 1, created one 2,000 years of history contained of the most fabulous homes of the within its ancient foundations British aristocracy. Take a guided and its vast, intricately carved tour through almost 500 years stone. There are unexpected of history from the simplicity of stories to be unearthed around the Tudor kitchen to the Baroque every corner, from deep in the opulence of the Heaven Room. crypt to the top of the Central The house is surrounded by Tower. Explore treasures in a Capability Brown designed the Undercroft Museum, the landscape where experts guide huge collection of medieval visitors through grounds heady stained glass and take the Tower with the scent of ancient blooms Challenge: climb the 275 steps and the sound of water fountains. up the Central Tower for close- ups of the Gothic grotesques, www.burghley.co.uk and for sweeping views over historic York.
www.yorkminster.org
ALNWICK CASTLE & THE KIELDER WATER & ALNWICK GARDEN FOREST PARK Best known as a filming location for Home to the biggest man-made Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter lake in Northern Europe and films, Alnwick Castle’s history brims England’s largest working forest, with drama, intrigue, and extraor- Kielder Water and Forest Park dinary people, brought to life with is nature on a grand scale. Here learn-to-fly-a-broomstick sessions, the views are bigger, the night the Historical Grounds Tour and sky brighter and the outdoor the State Room Tour. Over the activities as gentle or extreme past 18 years The Alnwick Garden as you choose. Hire a bike, has transformed into a wonderful walk the forest trails, go red combination of spaces, themes and squirrel watching or board the quirkiness including the Grand Cas- Osprey ferry for a trip around cade centrepiece, one of Europe’s the lake. This is a great location largest Treehouses and gated for star gazing at The Kielder Poison Garden plus a collection of Observatory in the heart of over 4000 plant varieties. Northumberland’s International Dark Sky Park. www.alnwickcastle.com www.alnwickgarden.com www.visitkielder.com
OF ENGLAND OF
served up with a warm welcome. warm a with up served
HEART HISTORIC & CULTURAL THE
properties and enjoy good food in good company company good in food good enjoy and properties
THROUGH ROUTE TOURING A country house hotels or upmarket city-based city-based upmarket or hotels house country
and cosy bed and breakfasts to pubs with rooms, rooms, with pubs to breakfasts and bed cosy and
you to take your pick from traditional coaching inns inns coaching traditional from pick your take to you
towns and historic cities. Each evening we invite invite we evening Each cities. historic and towns
stunning landscapes or exploring ancient market market ancient exploring or landscapes stunning
and quirky museums, walking and cycling in in cycling and walking museums, quirky and
castles, uncovering English history at fascinating fascinating at history English uncovering castles,
choose from sightseeing at stately homes and and homes stately at sightseeing from choose
attractions and experiences. Each day you can can you day Each experiences. and attractions
The Explorer’s Road offers a huge variety of of variety huge a offers Road Explorer’s The
attractions and landmarks known only to local people. local to only known landmarks and attractions
the much-loved countryside, and revealing the hidden hidden the revealing and countryside, much-loved the
discovering the traditions and eccentricities, enjoying enjoying eccentricities, and traditions the discovering
beaten-track England as you tour the Explorer’s Road, Road, Explorer’s the tour you as England beaten-track
Now curious travellers can get to know off-the- know to get can travellers curious Now
cultural heart of the nation. the of heart cultural
mile route through the historic and and historic the through route mile
connects north to south along a 300- a along south to north connects
have travelled a highway which which highway a travelled have
For two thousand years the English English the years thousand two For
National Railway Museum York Museum Railway National
www.explorersroad.com
Northumberland at at Northumberland
THE EXPLORER’S ROAD EXPLORER’S THE
Hertfordshire to to Hertfordshire
own itinerary from from itinerary own
your Create
AND CULTURE UP CLOSE ON ON CLOSE UP CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE ENGLAND’S HISTORY HISTORY ENGLAND’S EXPERIENCE
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXPLORER’S ROAD
BURGHLEY HOUSE YORK MINSTER In the mid-16th century, William One of the world’s most Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to magnificent cathedrals, there are Queen Elizabeth 1, created one 2,000 years of history contained of the most fabulous homes of the within its ancient foundations British aristocracy. Take a guided and its vast, intricately carved tour through almost 500 years stone. There are unexpected of history from the simplicity of stories to be unearthed around the Tudor kitchen to the Baroque every corner, from deep in the opulence of the Heaven Room. crypt to the top of the Central The house is surrounded by Tower. Explore treasures in a Capability Brown designed the Undercroft Museum, the landscape where experts guide huge collection of medieval visitors through grounds heady stained glass and take the Tower with the scent of ancient blooms Challenge: climb the 275 steps and the sound of water fountains. up the Central Tower for close- ups of the Gothic grotesques, www.burghley.co.uk and for sweeping views over historic York.
www.yorkminster.org
ALNWICK CASTLE & THE KIELDER WATER & ALNWICK GARDEN FOREST PARK Best known as a filming location for Home to the biggest man-made Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter lake in Northern Europe and films, Alnwick Castle’s history brims England’s largest working forest, with drama, intrigue, and extraor- Kielder Water and Forest Park dinary people, brought to life with is nature on a grand scale. Here learn-to-fly-a-broomstick sessions, the views are bigger, the night the Historical Grounds Tour and sky brighter and the outdoor the State Room Tour. Over the activities as gentle or extreme past 18 years The Alnwick Garden as you choose. Hire a bike, has transformed into a wonderful walk the forest trails, go red combination of spaces, themes and squirrel watching or board the quirkiness including the Grand Cas- Osprey ferry for a trip around cade centrepiece, one of Europe’s the lake. This is a great location largest Treehouses and gated for star gazing at The Kielder Poison Garden plus a collection of Observatory in the heart of over 4000 plant varieties. Northumberland’s International Dark Sky Park. www.alnwickcastle.com www.alnwickgarden.com www.visitkielder.com EXPERIENCE ENGLAND’S HISTORY AND CULTURE UP CLOSE ON
Every era of English history THE EXPLORER’S ROAD The English love to garden builds new monuments to and to share their green- wealth, architecture and fingered creativity and status, be it castles that once passion. From the intriguing defended the realm, or the stories of eccentric stately homes that have owners to the impressive come to define it. Travelling landscapes of grand estates the Explorer’s Road paints cultivated by world famous for visitors a vivid and awe- On two feet or two horticulturalists, Rose to inspiring picture of English wheels, in classic cars, Radish is packed with history, society and time along rivers and into the botanical secrets to uncover with an intriguing secret estates of the landed and beautiful scenes to hidden behind every door. gentry, there are many explore. Selby Abbey Easton Walled Gardens ways to explore England and see it from a different perspective. Take to the water in a kayak, circumnavigate a lake by bike or walk a heritage City Cruises York trail in the company of a local guide. The Explorer’s Road will take you off the beaten track to reveal sites and stories that aren’t on the usual tourist trail.
Newby Hall Barnsdale Gardens
DISCOVER THE FOLLOWING AT DESTINATIONS ALONG Tour England’s culinary landscape, from centuries-old THE EXPLORER’S ROAD… inns serving flagons of dark ale, to the artisan cheeses, gins and baked goods of small-scale local producers, and the outstanding ROUTE young chefs redefining modern Berwick’s massive BERWICK-UPON-TWEED British cuisine. Discover a Elizabethan defensive Highlights country with a kitchen culture walls England’s largest ALNWICK as deep, varied and delicious as alnwick castle KEY second-hand alnwick garden any gastronomic nation on earth. bookshop at Alnwick Newcastle International Airport THE EXPLORER’S ROAD Grainger Town and KIELDER water NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE seven dramatic Port of MARKET TOWN bridges in Newcastle A complete Anglo- BISHOP AUCKLAND Tyne HERITAGE CITY/MAIN CITY Saxon church in BARNARD CASTLE Bishop Auckland DARLINGTON Richmond york minster AIRPORT Barnard Castle’s 19th- century French-style FERRY PORT chateau An iconic clock town LEEDS BRADFORD YORK and brick train in AIRPORT LEEDS SELBY Darlington DONCASTER England’s largest AIRPORT PORT OF cobbled market place HULL in Richmond York’s medieval LINCOLN Snickleways and SOUTHWELL NEWARK-ON-TRENT historic Shambles East Midlands Airport GRANTHAM The 14th century stained OAKHAM glass Washington UPPINGHAM STAMFORD Window in Selby A seriously Steep Hill in Lincoln Burghley House
Southwell’s Anglican London Stansted minster with twin HITCHIN Airport PORT OF pepper-pot spires Newark-on-Trent’s London Luton HERTFORD HARWICH earthwork fortification, Airport The Queen’s Sconce LONDON Collection of over 200 giant horseshoes at Oakham Stamford,‘the FOLKESTONE CHANNEL finest stone town TUNNEL in England’ Uppingham’s Saxon sculpture Hertfordshire’s largest parish church at Hitchin
The UK’s largest collection of toothbrushes The English take afternoon in Hertford tea and amass vast collections of everything from clocks to horseshoes. They made Robin Hood Create your and Dick Turpin folk heroes. own itinerary from And they invented Earl Grey Hertfordshire to tea. Often shaped by these Northumberland at eccentric ancestors, The Explorer’s Road is a chance to uncover the quirks and www.explorersroad.com peculiarities which have sculpted England’s cultural landscape. Beamish, The Living Museum of the North Newcastle Castle