At Home with William Morris Travel This tour starts and finishes at the Hilton Croydon. 101 Waddon Way, Croydon CR9 4HH Tel: 020 8680 3000 E-mail: [email protected] Please note that transport to the hotel is not included in the price of the tour. Transport If you are travelling by car: The Hilton Croydon is directly located on the A23 Purley Way, set back from the main road at the junction of Waddon Way. Simply follow the A23 from central London or the M23/A23 North from Junction 8 of the M25. Complimentary parking for Travel Editions guests is provided at the hotel. If you are travelling by train: The nearest main station is East Croydon. East Croydon is 15 minutes journey from London Bridge and also located on the Thameslink line. It takes approximately 10 minutes by taxi from East Croydon Station to Hilton Croydon which costs about £10. Accommodation The Hilton Croydon The Hilton Croydon is a comfortable, modern four-star hotel located just outside of Croydon town centre. It is ideally situated in close proximity to the locations visited during your tour. Bedrooms are equipped with all necessities to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable visit, including an en-suite bathroom with bath/shower, TV, telephone, Wi-Fi, hairdryer and complimentary tea/coffee making facilities. Additional details can be found via the hotel website: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united- kingdom/hilton-london-croydon-CROHNHN/index.html Check-in and departure from the hotel On the day of arrival you will be able to check-in at the hotel from 15.00, and the tour manager will meet you in the evening at the welcome reception. On the last day of the tour, the tour will not finish until approximately 17.00 – 17.30 so you should check with your tour manager, or the hotel reception, where luggage should be stored until your departure. Extra nights If you have booked to stay an extra night at the hotel, this is on a bed and breakfast basis and check out from the hotel is at midday. Special requests If you haven’t already done so, please notify Travel Editions of any special requests as soon as possible to allow sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements. Dining On the first night of your stay, dinner with wine is provided in the restaurant. One light lunch is provided on day two of the tour. On the second evening, dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant. Breakfast on both days of your stay is included in the price but meals other than those stated are not included. If you have booked to stay an extra night, dinner is not included on your final evening. However, there is the option to eat at the hotel restaurant, or a variety of restaurants can be found nearby. Places Visited Red House Red House is the iconic arts and crafts home of celebrated writer, artist, craftsman and socialist William Morris. It is the only house commissioned, created and lived in by Morris, and Red House is a building of extraordinary architectural and social significance. Designed by Philip Webb and completed in 1860, it was described by Edward Burne-Jones as 'the beautifullest place on earth'. Acquired by the National Trust only 10 years ago, the rooms at Red House give a unique view of William Morris’ earliest designs and decorative schemes. Its secrets are slowly being revealed; conservation work in 2013 uncovered an unknown Pre- Raphaelite wall painting and a very early Morris repeating floral pattern. These original features and furniture by Morris and Philip Webb, stained glass and paintings by Burne-Jones, the bold architecture and a garden designed to 'clothe the house', add up to a fascinating and rewarding place to visit. Red House was built for Morris and his bride Jane, but Morris’ idyll was short-lived and the house was sold in 1865. However, this is where he gleaned inspiration for his early designs including bird and trellis and pomegranate and daisy. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/red-house/ Little Holland House Little Holland House in Carshalton was the home of Frank Dickinson (1874-1961), artist, designer and craftsman. The house is Grade II Listed and the interior features paintings, handmade furniture, copperwork and other craft objects made by Dickinson. Inspired by John Ruskin and William Morris, he dreamt of creating a house that would meet with their approval. The result is a unique testament to the English Arts and Crafts movement, designed, built and furnished by one man. https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1252 Charleston Farmhouse Located in Lewes, East Sussex, Charleston Farmhouse was the country house of the influential Bloomsbury group of English writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists – William Morris’ artistic movement. A prime example of the domestic decorative style of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant the house is full of walls, doors and furniture decorated by the artists of the group, who were inspired by Italian frescoes and Post- Impressionism. http://www.charleston.org.uk/ Standen House Standen House is home to the Beale family. Designed by Philip Webb, the house is one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts workmanship, with Morris & Co. interiors creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The house is dressed for a weekend stay in 1925, so you can imagine you are a guest of the family. A major restoration of the 5-hectare (12-acre) hillside garden showcases year-round seasonal highlights and an award-winning plant collection. On the wider estate, footpaths lead out into the woodlands, Ashdown Forest and wider High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/standen-house-and-garden/ Your Guides Prof Anne Anderson Prof Anne Anderson is an author, broadcaster, international NADFAS lecturer and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. Anne was a senior lecturer at Southampton Solent University for 14 years, specialising in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism; she currently teaches at Kingston University. Anne's career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world and her TV credits include the BBC's Flog It! Anne has received a rapturous response from our customers at the many Travel Editions UK lectures and tours she has hosted and is excited at the prospect of sharing her knowledge with our clients further afield. 1st night’s talk: At Home with William Morris (1834 – 1896) Morris created three homes that fulfilled his ideal: ‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful’. Sadly he had to give up his first ‘Palace of Art’, Red House, Bexleyheath but he later acquired Kelmscott Manor, near Lechlade and Kelmscott House, Hammersmith, where he was able to achieve his dream of a House Beautiful. 2nd night’s talk: The Arts and Crafts Home As the Arts and Crafts house evolved it was transformed into a ‘total work of art’; architect C.F.A Voysey designed every detail from furniture to carpets and curtains. Our architectural journey takes us from Morris to Mackintosh asking what defines the Arts and Crafts House. Practical Information Tour Manager – Your tour manager will be on hand throughout the tour to ensure that everything operates according to plan. If you have any problems or questions please see him or her immediately – it is often possible to resolve complaints or problems very quickly on the spot, and do everything to help you enjoy your holiday. Tipping – To keep our tours affordable, we do not increase the tour price by adding in tips. However, in the tourism industry, there is a certain level of expectation that when receiving a good service, one does award with a tip. Tour Managers, Representatives, Guides and Drivers appreciate a tip at the end of their involvement with the tour, but this is entirely at your discretion. We believe in allowing you to tip according to your level of satisfaction with their services, but for your guidance about £2-3 per person per day for the tour manager is the norm. We would like to reiterate that tipping is an entirely optional payment and this information is given purely to answer any questions you may have about it. Walking Content – This tour has been graded a 3 out of 5 for walking difficulty. Please see the key below for an explanation of the footprint symbols: Insurance Although this is a UK holiday please note that, should you cancel your holiday, the amount paid is non- refundable. For this reason you may wish to take out insurance just in case an unforeseen event caused you to have to cancel the tour. As well as covering cancellations, your travel insurance will also cover your baggage and personal belongings in case they are lost or stolen. Emergencies Should an emergency arise, please call our offices on: 020 7251 0045 Outside office hours (Mon-Fri 0900-1700), telephone our emergency staff on: 07841 023807 or 020 7987 5910 or 07831 133079 or PLEASE USE THESE NUMBERS ONLY IN THE EVENT OF A GENUINE EMERGENCY. Travel Editions 3 Young’s Buildings, London EC1V 9DB Tel: 020 7251 0045 Email: [email protected] www.traveleditions.co.uk PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING. IT IS MEANT AS A GUIDE ONLY AND WE CANNOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR SUBSEQUENT CHANGES .