Welcome to the ‘The Historic Houses & Heritage of Sussex & Kent’ tour. You can view full details of this tour, share this tour with others, pay your final balance before departure and, once you have departed on your holiday, share your group photos and write reviews.
Itinerary
Day 1
We depart from our designated pick up points and en route to our hotel we visit the National Trust’s Polesden Lacey. This country retreat, with glorious views across the rolling Surrey Hills and acres of countryside was home to famous Edwardian hostess Mrs Greville, who entertained royalty and the celebrities of her time. We continue to the 4* Hydro Hotel at Eastbourne for a four night stay on a half board basis.
Day 2
Our Blue Badge guide meets us at our hotel this morning and accompanies us throughout the day. This morning we visit Herstmonceux Castle and Gardens. Set within 300 acres of carefully managed woodland with themed formal gardens to the rear, the 15th century moated castle embodies the history of medieval England and the romance of Renaissance Europe. We continue to the National Trust’s Bateman’s property, a beautiful 17th century manor house that was the home of Rudyard Kipling from 1920 to 1936. Most of the rooms, including his book lined study, are much as Kipling left them.
Day 3
With our Blue Badge guide this morning we visit the National Trust’s Sheffield Park and Garden, a Grade 1 listed garden laid out in the 18th century by ‘Capability’ Brown. Colour, perfume and sound excite your senses at this garden as you enjoy winding paths, majestic trees, ponds and dappled glades. Falls, cascades and bridges are integral to the garden design. Spring and summer bring vibrant blooms, fragrant arbours and splashes of colour. Autumn is a blazing kaleidoscope of greens, flame-reds, burnt oranges and bright yellow, planted for their combined display. This afternoon we visit the National Trust’s Standen House and Gardens. 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. This hillside garden is made up of delightful woodland and a succession of small very English gardens overlooking the Medway Valley and Weir Wood Reservoir.
Day 4
This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Brighton Pavilion. Built for the Prince Regent, later King George IV, in stages between 1787 and 1823, the Royal Pavilion is remarkable for its exotic oriental appearance both inside and out. This magnificent royal pleasure palace was revered by fashionable Regency society and is still a distinctive landmark for Brighton today. With our Blue Badge guide this afternoon we visit Charleston House, the home of the artists Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf) that became the country meeting place for the group of writers, artists and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Group.
Day 5
After checking out of our hotel, and en route home we visit the National Trust’s Chartwell property, the family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924 until the end of his life. The rooms and gardens remain much as they were when he lived there and contain personal memorabilia, books and family photographs. We then return back to our original pick up points.
NB: Please note we reserve the right to alter the above itinerary if required for operational reasons. Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. Price based on twin share. Minimum numbers required. Normal booking conditions apply.
Featuring
4* central Eastbourne hotel
Half board accommodation
All excursion travel & guided tours included
Entrance fees to non-National Trust properties included
Blue Badge guide on Days 2 to 4
Executive coach throughout
Audio headsets included on Days 2 to 4
Polesden Lacey
Herstmonceux Castle & Gardens
Bateman’s
Sheffield Park & Garden
Standen House & Gardens
Brighton Pavilion – guided tour
Charleston House
Chartwell
Hotel
We stay four nights on a half board basis at the 4* Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne (www.hydrohotel.com). Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and an outdoor heated swimming pool. All rooms are en suite and feature a hairdryer, television, telephone, an in-room safe, and tea & coffee making facilities.
Extras
Insurance (including Covid cover) £38
Single room supplement £49
Entrance fees to National Trust properties (free to NT members)
Gratuities
Lunches
Optional Excursions
All excursion travel & guided tours included
