Sunday Our Blue Badge guide leads us on a guided tour of , taking 10 May in the Norman Castle and St Mary’s Church which boasts one of the tallest spires in England. We have time to explore Shrewsbury, famous for its black and white ‘magpie’ houses before we visit ’s POWIS CASTLE AND GARDEN in the afternoon. Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, this world famous garden retains it original lead HISTORY AND HERITAGE statues and the medieval castle contains one of the finest collections of Telford's famous Ironbridge paintings and furniture in Wales. Entry £10.50 pp, free to NT members.

OF Monday We visit the historic town of BRIDGNORTH in the morning with our Blue

11 May Badge guide. You may choose to join our optional one way 16 mile steam

train excursion from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster on the SEVERN For 2015 we have planned a 5 day, 4 night trip based at the 4* TELFORD HOTEL just VALLEY RAILWAY, (£10.50 pp group rate) which is the best way to outside Ironbridge on half-board basis. All rooms are en-suite with tea/coffee making explore the beauty of the , or you may take the coach direct to facilities and the hotel has a spa, indoor pool and restaurant where we will dine each evening. This hotel is an excellent base for all our excursions detailed below. Kidderminster. In the afternoon we visit the National Trust’s ATTINGHAM PARK, an elegant 18th century mansion and home to a fine Dates Friday 8 May 2015 to Tuesday 12 May 2015 collection of ambassadorial silver, Italian furniture and Grand Tour Leave Morning departure from Baker's Yard, Otford on Friday 8 May 2015 paintings. Entry £9.50 pp, free to NT members.

Cost £369 per person, includes return coach journey to and from the hotel, 4 Tuesday After checking out of our hotel, and before returning home, we enjoy some nights’ half-board at 4* Telford Hotel, a guided tour at Ironbridge by a local 12 May time at leisure for lunch in STRATFORD UPON AVON. We then visit museum guide, the services of a Blue Badge Guide on Days 3 and 4, all National Trust’s CHARLECOTE PARK, near Warwick, home of the Lucy excursions detailed below, 5 days parking at Bakers Yard, drinks party, and family for over 700 years. The mellow brickwork and great chimneys of gratuities. The single supplement is £79, making a total of £448. Entry Charlecote are the very essence of Tudor England and the formal gardens fees to the places of interest, refreshments and lunches are NOT included. open on to a fine deer park landscaped by Capability Brown. Entry £9.50, The admission fees listed are 2014 prices and are likely to increase slightly. free to NT members.

PROGRAMME - The order of visits may be changed but not their content. Organiser Sandy Hull  01732 761457 Numbers limited to 46 Friday Depart from Baker’s Yard and travel to SHUGBOROUGH, near 8 May Stafford to visit the magnificent 17th century mansion house on the banks of Booking For a booking form, please send an A5 stamped addressed envelope the River Sow, along with working Victorian servants' quarters and & (23 x 16 cm) to Sandy Hull, 19 Park Lane, Kemsing, Kent TN15 6NX. Georgian park farm with watermill. Entry £11 pp group rate, £6.50 for NT Insurance You may also apply for insurance for the holiday (through Tailored Travel members. Continue to our hotel. at a cost of £16.00 per person) on the booking form.

Saturday We have a full day at IRONBRIDGE GORGE with a half-day guided tour 9 May in the morning of some of the museums and the famous bridge. The great This trip is open to Knole U3A members and their partner or a friend, given arch bridge, cast in 1779 by Abraham Darby the 3rd, enthralled visitors space. Spare places will be offered to local U3As. from all over the world who came to admire its construction, as they still do today. The afternoon is free to explore the BLISTS HILL VICTORIAN APPLICATIONS WILL BE OPENED ON 30 NOVEMBER VILLAGE, a recreation of life in a Victorian community. Entry £18.50 pp AND MEMBERS WILL BE NOTIFIED AT ONCE. group rate, this allows entry to all the museums.