Claydon House is a Grade 1 listed building built between 1757-1771 for the Verney family who established the estate in 1620.  See lavish interiors, Gothic fantasy, impressive carvings and Georgian mouldings.  Walking around this house reveals a family home with tall tales of piracy, war, rivalry and loyalty. 

In conjunction with Tailored Travel we have organised a 3 night/4 day tour of the Peak District and Derbyshire, staying in the 4* Best Western Plus Lee Wood Hotel in Buxton.

Thursday 17th September:

Depart from Cobham and en route to Derbyshire, we visit NT’s Kedleston Hall, built in 18th century for Curzon family.   We continue to the 4* Best Western Plus Lee Wood Hotel in Buxton. A welcome dinner is included.

Friday 18th September:

Renishaw Hall and Gardens is our destination this morning, home of the Sitwell family for almost 400 years.  After our guided tour of the house, there is time to explore the Italianate gardens before continuing on to Hardwick Hall - the magnificent Elizabethan home of Bess of Hardwick.  The Hall remains largely unchanged and gives a rare insight into the formality of Elizabethan country life.

Saturday 19th September:

Our Blue Badge guide meets us at our hotel and we firstly visit Chatsworth, the magnificent home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.  Set in the beautiful landscape of the Peak District, there is something for everyone to enjoy, from famous works of art to spectacular fountains.  In the afternoon, we visit the village of Eyam, struck by the Plague in 1665.  When a flea infested bale of cloth was delivered, the village went into voluntary isolation.

Sunday 20th September:

After checking out of our hotel, we will visit Haddon Hall, one of the oldest houses in England.  It escaped the modernising of the Georgians and Victorians, so it is like stepping back in time – gifts from Henry VIII, Tudor and Medieval Rooms and a spectacular 110ft Long Gallery.  Taking carefully selected comfort stops en route, we will return to Cobham.

PRICE PER PERSON: £.799 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £99

INCLUDED in cost:

Transport from Surrey, 3 nights stay with a 3 course dinner (without drinks) on the first night and the remaining 2 nights are on a bed and breakfast basis.

All excursion travel and guided tours included. Entrance fees to non NT properties included. Blue badge guides on Days 2 and 3. Tour manager throughout.

NOT INCLUDED in cost:

Meals and drinks not specified.

Entrance fees to National Trust properties.

Insurance (including Covid cover) £36 per person.

Gratuities for coach driver & local guides.

Booking forms will be available from January 2026

For further details, please contact Patricia Corben – pcorben1107@gmail.com

Bateman’s was the family home of Rudyard Kipling, known for The Jungle Book and Just So Stories. Built in 1634, this beautiful house is nestled in the Sussex countryside.  Great Dixter was the home of Christopher Lloyd and his mesmerising garden was built around a fifteenth century house extended by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

Salisbury Cathedral, built in the Gothic style, has the tallest spire (404ft), the oldest working clock (1386) and 4 original copies of the Magna Carta.  Arundells was once a medieval canonry first occupied in 1291.  Bought by Sir Edward Heath in 1985, it is furnished much as he left it displaying many gifts given by world leaders and large art collections. 

Named after the De Scoteni family who originally held the land, it is both a medieval ruin and a fine Victorian mansion house, designed by Christopher Hussey, with a fine picturesque landscape garden.  Below the house is a steep hill down through the gardens to the moated ruins of the old castle. 

Hughenden Manor was the country home of Benjamin Disraeli.  The Manor has been restored to reflect the tastes, personal belongings and political memorabilia of the Disraelis.  Chenies is a Tudor manor house, famed for its beautiful gardens.   The house (1460) is one of the earliest domestic brick built buildings in England.

The Army Museum displays uniforms and exhibits tracing the history of the British Army from 1600.  The Royal Hospital, Chelsea was planned by Charles II and opened in 1689.  We will see Wren’s Great Hall and Chapel.

Leighton House is the home and studio of leading Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1831-1896).  See the Arab Hall with a wonderful collection of tiles, a Winter Studio and Silk Room designed as a picture gallery to house Leighton’s expanding collection of paintings.

Sambourne House is the former home of the celebrated Victorian illustrator and photographer, Edward Linley Sambourne (1844-1910).  See stained glass windows, Morris & Co wallpaper and furnishings chosen by Linley and his wife, Marion.

Home of the first Duke of Wellington and his descendants – “No.1 London”. It is London’s only surviving aristocratic family house still in use today. It has magnificent interiors, including breathtaking chandeliers, gilt tableware and art collection. Wellington Arch, initially intended to be a grand entrance to Buckingham Palace, is crowned by a bronze sculpture of the Angel of Peace. There are 4 floors housing exhibitions. A lift is available.

In conjunction with Tailored Travel we have organised a 4 night/5 day tour to Devon, staying in Torquay at the 3* Livermead Cliff Hotel.

Monday 22nd September:

Travel by coach from Surrey to Devon. En route we visit (NT) Montacute House in Somerset, a magnificent Elizabethan House with Renaissance features. We continue to our hotel in Torquay for 4 night stay. A welcome dinner is included.

Tuesday 23rd September:

From Dartmouth, we take a boat transfer to (NT) Greenways House & Garden, the private house and holiday home of Agatha Christie. Enjoy the “secret” garden of peace & tranquillity offering wonderful views of the Dart Estuary. The house contains many of the family’s collections, including archelogy, silver, china and books. We return to Dartmouth by boat and then on to our hotel.

Wednesday 24th September:

Exeter Cathedral is our destination this morning. During our guided tour we see the world’s longest uninterrupted Gothic stone vaulted ceiling & medieval astronomical clock. In the afternoon we have a guided tour of Powderham Castle. Set along the Exe Estuary and dated back to 1391, it is the home of the 18 th Earl of Devon and is one of the oldest houses in England.

Thursday 25th September:

This morning we visit (NT) Buckland Abbey. The 700 year old building has rich associations with Elizabethan seafarers Francis Drake and Richard Grenville. We continue to NT Cotehele House near Saltash.  This Tudor house, set in an extensive riverside estate, has a fine collection of textiles, armour and furniture.

Friday 26th September:

After checking out of our hotel and en route home we visit the (NT) Killerton House in Devon, a fine 18 th century house containing a fascinating collection of 18 th – 20 th century costumes.

PRICE PER PERSON: £.664 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £69.00

INCLUDED in cost:

Transport from Surrey, 4 nights stay with 3 course dinner without drinks on the first night and the remaining 3 nights are on a bed and breakfast basis.

All excursion travel and guided tours included. Entrance fees to non NT properties included. Boat tickets included on Day 2. Executive coach throughout. Tour manager throughout.

NOT INCLUDED in cost:

Meals and drinks not specified.

Entrance fees to National Trust properties.

Insurance (including Covid cover) £28

Gratuities for coach driver, tour manager & local guides.

Booking forms will be available from January 2025

For further details, please contact Patricia Corben – pcorben1107@gmail.com

An Edwardian country house set in 1,800 acres of park, it is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Since the death of the last owner, Frederick Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough in 1993, the estate is managed by a charitable foundation. Visit St Paul’s Chapel, which is part Jewish and part Catholic, the beautiful walled garden, yew maze and arboretum. There is a small railway to take you round.

THIS TOUR IS NOW FULLY BOOKED!

To be added to the waiting list, please contact Celia Warren by clicking on this link.