The Watts Gallery and Artists Village in Guilford, showcases the work of George Frederick Watts, top portrait painter of the Victorian era.

Visitors can access the extensive shop and tearoom as well as the gardens

Ticket Price will be announced shortly

A Private Visit to Rodmarton House & Garden

Tha house was built by the Biddulph family near to Cirencester in the early 20th century. It and it's furnishings are in the Arts and Crafts style.

This visit will be made in member's own cars and not by coach. Precise arrangements will be settled in the Spring when tickets are made available for sale.

Salisbury Cathedral together with Arundells House

 Our visit to the Cathedral Close will include a visit to Arundells House.

We will be served coffee on arrival and then in small groups enjoy private guided tours of the house which was once home to  Sir Edward Heath; former Prime Minister, Yachtsman, Musician and Art Collector.

We will then be free to explore the Cathedral with it's Magna Carta exhibition, Mompesson House NT, the Rifles Museum and the Salisbury Museum. 

Ham House is a 17th century house set in formal gardens beside the River Thames near Richmond upon Thames. It was built by Thomas Vavascour, an Elizabethan coutier and completed in 1610

Strawberry Hill & Garden was built by Horace Walpole from 1749 onwards as a Gothic Revival villa. It had a major restoration some ten years ago

A Visit to the National Gallery to see the  major new Van Gogh Exhibition

Barnes coach travel to and from Trafalgar Square and entrance to the gallery and the exhibition.

£46.00  Tickets on sale at our meeting in Lechlade on September 12th

 Broughton Castle and Upton House

Broughton Castle is a medieval fortified manor house  home of the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family, Barons Saye and Sele. It is situated two miles south west of Banbury.

The castle sits on an artificial island in pastureland and is surrounder by a wide moat. First built in 1306, crenellated in 1406 but re-built in 1550.

Upton House is Lord and Lady Bearsted's 1930's country retreat. It houses a world renowned art collection and fine Chelsea porcelain.

The garden has dramatic terraces designed by Kathleen Lloyd Jones in the 1930's with herbaceous borders, an orchard, a mirror pool and woodland walk.

(No refund if you cancel unless we can resell the ticket)

A Spring visit to Chichester when we will visit 

The Pallant Gallery including an exhibition of the works by John Craxton RA

This retrospective will follow the works of this celebrated British Romantic artist from his melancholic images of poets within brooding landscapes created in Britain in the early 1940's to the radiant paintings and drawings inspired by his adopted homeland in the Mediterranean.

and enjoy a guided  tour of Chichester Cathedral

The cathedral has fine architecture in both Norman and Gothic styles. It has two features which are unique among England's medieval cathedrals-- a free standing bell tower and double aisles

TICKETS on sale at our February 8th meeting

( No refunds if you cancel unless we can resell the ticket)

We start the morning  with a visit to  Leighton House, near Kensington High Street- the former home and studio of the painter and sculptor Frederic, Lord Leighton. In his time he was RA President and part of the Holland Park Circle

On arrival we will be welcomed  with coffee and pastries before a free flow tour of the house and gallery

The house was designed and built by him over several phases and includes and area rather akin to an Italian Palazzo,  a grand hall in Islamic Arab style and a Silk Room which acts as a picture gallery.

Some may have visited this house before but it is a building with it's decorations where one can always see something new and special to admire.

Members then have the option of visiting one or more of Sambourne House, the Design Museum and the Japan Cultural Centre

Sambourne House is a 'time capsule' of furniture and furnishings from the late Victorian period. The Design Museum, as well as it's normal exhibits, has a special exhibition: Rebel: 30 years of London Fashion'.

We shall gather at the Design Museum for our journey home.

Tickets on sale onwards  from our November meeting  

A Visit to the newly re-opened National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery, both in Trafalgar Square.

At the latter, as well as the normal exhibition we will visit a special Frans Hals exhibition. At the former there will be a special exhibition of David Hockney drawings which you have the opportunity of visiting independently

Wilton House

Home to the Earl and Countess of Pembrokeshire, Wilton House is set in 21 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland, near to Salisbury and perfect for a visit in June. There will be a guided tour of the house as well as special exhibitions featuring photos by Cecil Beaton and classic cars. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the gardens and savour their refreshments ( not included).

Tickets on sale in April  with concessions will applying to members of HHA, RHS and English Heritage

Dorset Day Trip

The visit will start at the newly refurbished Russell-Cotes Museum and Art Gallery. This is an exotic seaside villa built in 1901 with panoramic views over Bournemouth Bay and filled with paintings and items collected by Victorian hoteliers Annie and Merton Russell-Cotes. See more on www.russellcotes.com

The afternoon takes us to Compton Acres Garden where we can explore the grounds as well as visiting  the plant centre and gift shop. See more on www.comptonacres.co.uk

Tickets on sale at our March and April meetings

Great Malvern Priory and Madresfield Court

The morning will be spent in Great Malvern where there will be a guided tour of the Malvern Priory and then free time to explore the town and have some lunch (not included).

The afternoon sees a short coach journey to Madresfield Court, ' The Real Brideshead'. There will be a guided tour of this moated stately home, which has been home to the Lygon family for nearly 900 years. Time should allow for a wander around the extensive gardens.

Tickets at £45 are on sale but numbers are limited

A visit to central Bath  21st February 2023

Plans are being made for a Guided Tour of the Abbey and an Audio tour of the Roman Baths.

Tickets on sale at our January meeting

Visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum

Apart from the permanent collection, there will be the opportunity to see one of two special exhibitions within the price:

Beatrix Potter-Drawn to Nature

Africa Fashion

Tickets are £40 each and are on sale now

Coventry Cathedral

Rebuilt between 1956 and 1962 to a design by Basil Spence after the  total destruction of the previous building by German bombers on 14th November 1940.

We can tour tour the new Cathedral and see the bombed ruins of the previous building. We will see the great tapestry 'Christ in Majesty' by Graham Suherland and the sculture 'St Michael and the Devil' by Jacob Epstein.

Herbert Art Gallery and Museum

We will be able to explore the gallery and museum which chronicles the history and culture of Coventry from Lady Godiva to the 21st century

Compton Verney Gallery and Park

Our first visit for eighteen months is now taking bookings. We will have the opportunity to walk some of the 120 acre park and visit the Gallery to see not only their usual displays but also special exhibitions about Grinling Gibbons and John Nash.

Grinling Gibbons: Centuries in the Making. The remarkable life and legacy of the most renowned British Woodcarver of the 17th Century.

John Nash: The Landscape of Love and Solace. The most comprehensive exhibition of his work for over 50 years

Coffee will be served to us on arrival and lunch can be purchased from the restaurant.

Visits in the latter part of 2020 and most of 2021  had to be cancelled because of Covid 19 safety concerns however a visit to Compton Verney is now planned for November 2021. Further visits are being planned for 2022

Rodmarton Manor and Gardens

Rodmarton Manor is a unique Arts and Crafts Manor House containing furniture made locally and with  a stunning early 20th century garden.

The house and garden were designed for the Biddulph family by Ernest Barnsley whilst his brother Sidney was the principle furniture maker. The house, although started in 1909, was a return to earlier times using local materials, hand tools and craftsmanship. The first World War intervened in it's construction and the house was finally completed in 1929.

We will see original interiors, furniture, ceramics, ironwork and textiles all made in the early 20th century by followers of the Cotswold Arts and Crafts movement. The original 8 acre garden layout can still be enjoyed featuring a terrace, topiary, herbaceous borders and the walled garden. June will be the perfect time to pay our visit.

This will be a three day/two night trip

Full details can be seen in the 'Tours' section of this site

Madresfield Court has been the home of the Lygon family for nearly 900 years. The original building was substantially rebuilt and enlarged in Tudor times and then again in the 19th century by the famed architect P C Hardwick.In the house there is a wide variety of English, French and German furniture and porcelain as well as many paintings and objects d'art. Of particular interest are the many examples from the Arts and Craft movement.The library contains about 8,000 books including many examples from William Morris' Kelmscott Press. The building itself features some  fine carvings; particularly to the doors and bookcase ends.

Prior to Madresfield Court and after a Soup or Sandwich lunch we visit

Malvern Priory formerly a Benedictine monastery but now the Anglican parish church. We will see the largest display of 15th century stained glass in England as well as a great collection of medieval floor and wall tiles. Also featured are carved miserichords from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Winchester Cathedral  is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe and with the greatest overall length of any Gothic cathedral. Building commenced in 1079 and it was consecrated in 1093. The crypt, transepts and the basic structure of the nave survives from that time. As with all churches and cathedrals many alterations and additions have taken place over the centuries with most work being carried out between 1400 and 1500. We will have a chance to explore and hear about the cathedral, not least the amazing renovation work undertaken below the cathedral between 1906 and 1912.

Chawton House is a few miles from Winchester and was once the home of Edward Knight, brother of Jane Austen. She lived nearby in the  house we are due to visit in October 2018. Chawton House had been in the Knight family since it's construction in 1551 and Jane Austen was a frequent visitor. We will have the chance to tour both the house and the garden and to hear about the special library and study centre devoted to 'Early Women's Writing, 1600 -1830'.

Tutankhamun  We start our London visit at the Saatchi Gallery near Sloane Square to see the 'Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh'. The legend of Tutankhamun captured imaginations globally when his tomb was unearthed by British  explorer Howard Carter and financiar Lord Carnarvon in 1922. Twice before in 1972 and then in 2007 a Tutankhamun exhibition has been held in London but this will be the last ever as a special museum being built for the exhibits will soon be open in Cairo.

This particular show will feature more than 150 original objects from the tomb, 60 of which are travelling out of Egypt for the first time. We were extremely fortunate in being able to secure sufficient tickets for our party.

Wimbledon In the afternoon we travel the short distance to Wimbledon to visit the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, to give it's full title. We will have a full 90 minute guided  tour to include visiting the Centre Court, Henman Hill/Murray Mound, the player's Millennium Building, the Trophies Room as well as the actual Wimbledon Museum

The first visit of this season is to two rather special houses near to Alton in Hampshire.

Jane Austen's House and Museum was her home for the last eight years of her life. She lived in the village of Chawton with her Mother. It was here that Jane's genius flourished and where she wrote, revised and had published all her novels including 'Pride and Predudice'. The house was actually owned by her brother, Edward Knight who lived nearby in Chawton House. We are visiting his house as part of our Winchester visit next year.

We then travel to Gilbert White's House and Garden. Over 250 years ago Selborne and it's surrounding landscape inspired Gilbert White's lifelong investigation of the natural world culminating in his world famous book ' The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne'. We will learn his story from within the walls of the family home and his unique 18th century garden.

Finally at the same venue we will visit the Oates Collections. It's focus is on the lives and adventures of two members of the Oates family. Captain Lawrence Oates is especially remembered for his part in Captain Scott's ill fated expedition to the Antartic but he also had a very distiguished service in the Boer War. In the latter he was known as ' No Surrender Oates' and in the former he was known for his last words ' I am just going outside and may be some time'.

Chavenage is a wonderful Elizabethan house of mellow grey Cotswold stone and tiles which contains much of interest for the discerning visitor.

The approach aspect of Chavenage is virtually as it was left by Edward Stephens in 1576. Only two families have owned Chavenage; the present owners (Lowsley-Williams) since 1891 and the Stephens family before them.

Inside Chavenage there are many interesting rooms, especially the 17th-century tapestries. The house and grounds have been used as a TV and film location on many occasions, including featuring as Trenwith in the hugely popular Poldark.

Watch this space for details of ticket prices, pick up times, refreshments, etc.

Our day will begin with a visit to Sezincote.  After winding through the mighty oaks that line the long drive of this Gloucestershire garden on the edge of the Cotswolds, you see a weathered-copper onion dome straight out of India. The south front, complete with curving orangery, unfurls above a Repton landscape that has remained unchanged since the mid-19th century. The garden is blessed by a series of spring-fed pools, connected by gurgling water which eventually tumbles into the Island Pool in the valley bottom, before joining the River Evenlode below.

The house was the whim of Colonel John Cockerell, grandson of the diarist Samuel Pepys, who returned to England having amassed a fortune in the East India Company. John died in 1798, three years after his return, and the estate passed to his youngest brother Charles, who had also worked for the company. He commissioned his brother Samuel, an architect, to design and build an Indian house in the Mogul style of Rajasthan, complete with minarets, peacock-tail windows, jali-work railings and pavilions.

We will then go on to The Gordon Russell Museum.  This museum celebrates the work of the renowned twentieth century furniture designer, Sir Gordon Russell (1892-1980), and that of his company, which operated for over sixty years in Broadway, Worcestershire. The Museum is located in the original Grade II listed drawing office and workshop and was opened by Sir Terence Conran in April 2008.

Watch this space for details of tickets prices, timings, refreshments etc. 

This is an exciting new departure for us - a two day visit (24th and 25th April), with an overnight stay in an hotel in Brighton.

The central focus of our visit will be Charleston House.  In 1916, on Virginia Woolf’s recommendation, the painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, his friend and lover David Garnett, and Vanessa Bell’s two sons, Julian aged 8 and Quentin aged 6, along with Henry the dog, moved to Charleston, an ordinary farmhouse in East Sussex. Dating from the late sixteenth century and altered in the nineteenth century, it had previously been used as a boarding house. It was to be occupied and brought to life by the family and their friends for the next sixty-four years.

Almost from the moment they moved in, the artists began to transform the house with decoration. This process, and the accumulation of paintings, furnishings and objects, continued throughout their lives.

David Garnett described in his autobiography how ‘one after another the rooms were decorated and altered almost out of recognition, as the bodies of the saved are said to be glorified after the resurrection’. The garden too was gradually developed under the guidance of Roger Fry. The wealth of visual art to be seen here contradicts the presumption that Bloomsbury was predominantly literary. The three chief painters of Bloomsbury, Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry, now occupy a significant place amongst the new movements in British art of the early twentieth century. The painting of Bloomsbury is unthreatening, domestic and full of sensuous beauty. French Post-Impressionism touched both their easel painting and decorative art, while the influence of Mediterranean culture is apparent in the uninhibited colours and patterns of walls, ceramics and furniture decorations.

Deatils of the other sites to be visited, hotel, prices, timings etc. to follow. 

The Royal MInt has existed for 1,100 years.  Located for centuries in London, work began on a new Royal Mint at Llantrisant, just outside Cardiff in 1967.  Her Majesty the Queen struck the first coin at the new site on December 1968.   Or visit will start with a tour of the factory.  Led by our Guide  we will enter one of the manufacturing areas, to discover how blank pieces of metal are made before being struck to become coins. From a viewing area, we will look into the striking hall where thousands of coins are produced, 24 hours a day. We will then be given the option to strike our own coins to take home as a memento or have a picture surrounded by chests of coins.

Following the Factory Experience, we will be escorted to the self-guided Interactive Exhibition to explore six different zones at our own pace. Guides will be on hand, ready to answer any questions and to help us get the most out of our visit.

Details of ticket prices, pick up times etc. to follow.

Our November trip takes us to London.  As usual those participating will be collected by coach from Highworth and Shrivenham.  The core part of our visit is to the Globe Theatre, where we will be taken on a guided tour behind the scenes, enabling us to undertstand both how plays were presented in Shakespeare's time and the challenges facing contemporary actors as they seek to re-create sixteenth century theatre.  After visiting the Globe, we will go on to one or more of the other options listed above.  Watch this space for details of the options chosen, ticket prices and pick-up times. 

Our October trip is to Kew Gardens.   The attractions at Kew are numerous and include the recently renovated Temperate House, the ultra modern Alpine House, the historic Palm House, the Princess of Wales Conservatory, the Waterlily House, the Arboretum, the Treetop Walkway (which has a lift to the top!), the Marianne North Gallery of Botanic Art and Inside the Hive - a sensory experience.

Our coach will depart from Highworth at 8.30 and Shrivenham at 8.45.  We plan to return at about 4.00.  Tickets cost £42 and will be on sale at the September and October meetings.  We will have coffee on arrival but the cost of lunch is not included in the ticket as there are a number of cafes and restaurants within the Gardens.  

The Mary Rose is the only 16th century warship on display anywhere in the world.  Step back in time and explore Henry VIII's favourite warship - raised from the depths of the Solent and painstakingly conserved for future generations.  Her dramatic story is now revealed in full inside the purpose-built, award winning £27 million Mueum, which opened its doors to visitors in May 2013.

HMS Victory is the Royal Navy's most famous warship.  Best known for her role in the Battle of Trafalgar, the Victory currently has a dual role as the Flagship of the First Sea Lord and as a living museum to the Georgian Navy.

When she was launched in 1860 HMS Warrior was the fastest, largest and most powerful ship in the world.  Such was her reputation that enemy fleets were intimidated by her obvious supremacy and deterred from attacking Britain at sea - yet she never fired a shot in anger.

Thi will be a fascinating and varied day.  Ticket price and details to follow. 

Brunel's SS Great Britain is one of the most important historic ships in the world.  When she was launched in 1843 she was called " the greatest experiment since the Creation."  By combining size, power and innovative technology, Brunel created a ship that changed history.  His vision for the SS Great Britain made her the great-great-grandmother for all modern ships.  Now moored in the Great Western Dockyard in the heart of Bristol, we will start our day with a tour of the ship, followed by lunch on board.

After lunch we will go on to the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, with its excellent collections of natural history, archaeology and art, including works by Pissarro, Cranach, Gainsborough and Constable.

Ticket prices and other details to follow.

Set in the gentle countryside of Somerset, Wells is perhaps one of the most beautiful of the great English cathedrals.  The wells or springs, still seen today in the Bishop's Palace gardens, are the reason for the original settlement of this area.  The Romans were in Wells and in about 705 AD King Ine of Wessex gave permission for a minster church to be founded here.  The present cathedral was started in 1175 and was built in the Gothic style, including the magnificent West Front, which still retians about 300 of its original medieval statues.  Once inside the cathedral we will see the famous Scissor Arches, the Jesse Window, the Chapter House and Cloisters and will learn much more about the history and architecture of the building.

A short walk from the cathedral is the Bishop's Palace.  This magnificent medieval palace has been the home of the Bishops of Bath and Wells for the last 800 years.   With its moat and 14 acres of glorious gardens it is a haven of peace in the middle of the city.

Ticket prices and further details to follow. 

The first of the two venues we will vist today will be the Banqueting House in Whitehall.  Commissioned by James I and designed by Inigo Jones, this was one of the first Palladian buildings in England and was a stunning site for Londoners used to the warm brick tones of the medieval and Tudor Whitehall Palace.  On ascending to the throne Charles I commissioned the famous ceiling painting by Sir Peter Paul Rubens.  Ironically it was on a scaffold erected outside the Hall that Charles was executed in January 1649.

From the Banqueting Hall we will go on to a building commissioned by Charles I's son, Charles II, as a home for retired soldiers, the famous Chelsea Pensioners.  Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the first Pensioners were admitted in February 1692 and by the end of March the full complement of 476 were in residence.   Expanded and altered over the years, the Hospital remains the home of men and women who have served in the armed forces.  We will have a guided tour of the Hospital.

Details of ticket prices and timings to follow.

The National Memorial Arboretum is the UK's year-round centre of Remembrance; a spiritually uplifting place which honours the fallen, recognises service and sacrifice, and fosters pride in our country. It is a living and lasting memorial.

Since planting began in 1997, the National Memorial Arboretum has been a special place honouring those who have served, and continue to serve, our nation in many different ways. 

It’s not a cemetery. It’s a place of life, represented by the 30,000 trees planted here, where older and younger generations alike can wander and wonder.

Covering 150 acres, the Arboretum has something for everyone. For some it’s a wonderful place to stroll and enjoy the trees; for others it's a peaceful and beautiful place to remember loved ones, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The trees and the more than 300 dedicated memorials on the site make the Arboretum a living tribute that will forever acknowledge the personal sacrifices made by the Armed Forces and civil services of this country.

Importantly, the focus isn’t totally military. There is a large area devoted to Police who have fallen while on duty, as well as other areas devoted to the Fire and Rescue and Ambulance services. National charities representing those who have died in particular circumstances, including children, are also to be found in the Arboretum grounds.

After leaving the Arboretum we will go on to Lichfield Cathedral.  Christmas Day 700 saw the consecration of the first cathedral in Lichfield, and, as there was a church (St Mary’s) here perhaps built in 659, and possibly others in between, Lichfield is among the earliest centres of Christian worship in the UK.  After the invasion of 1066 the Normans built a new cathedral (of which only few traces remain), and a century or so later that was rebuilt in the Gothic style, and completed by c. 1340.  Besieged three times in the Civil War it suffered drastic damage, more than any other of our Cathedrals.   Rapidly repaired in a mere nine years its interior was rearranged at the end of the eighteenth century, and then ‘restored’ in the 19th century by Sir George Gilbert Scott, and that is the Cathedral we have today. The only English medieval cathedral to have three spires – known locally as the ‘Ladies of the Vale’ – it is one of the most elegant in the country.

Details of cost, timings etc. to follow.  Tickets for this Visit will be on sale at the September lecture.

Stratfield Saye is a classic English country house - the core of which dates from 1630.  It was given by the nation to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, to mark his victory at Waterloo and was his home from 1818 to 1852.

The house and gardens offer an intriguing insight into the life of the 1st Duke and all but the 1st and 6th Dukes are buried at Stratfield

 In the stables the Wellington Exhibition depicts the 1st Duke’s life and times and includes his 18-ton bronze funeral carriage, cast from melted-down French cannon captured at Waterloo.

 Because this trip takes place before out Autumn lecture series begins, tickets will be on sale at our final lecture of the summer season on 14th June.  Bring your cheque book!

Our June visit is to the beautiful Frampton Court Estate, which lies close to the River Severn and on the edge of the Cotswolds.  For nearly a thousand years Frampton Court Estate and the Clifford family have been at the heart of this ancient settlement, and the splendid buildings of the Estate around Rosamund's Green provide the architectural focal points of the village. The two grandest houses on the Estate - the striking timber-framed 16th century Manor and the splendid 18th century Frampton Court - face each other across the village green, reputed to be the longest in England. Tucked away in Frampton Court's Grade 1 listed park and garden is the stunning Orangery, a beautiful and eccentric 18th century garden house, while the magnificent 16th century Wool Barn dominates the Estate farmyard at The Manor.

Gardens form an important part of the history and life of Frampton Court Estate. The Park and garden at Frampton Court is Grade 1 listed. The highlight of the garden is architectural rather than horticultural, namely the breathtaking 18th century Orangery with its elegant ornamental canal. The Manor garden is more intimate with its pretty Frampton-brick walls and is a plantsman's delight boasting a host of unusual plants. 

Cost of the visit and other details to follow.

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle & Gardens is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past.

The castle was once home to Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII. Henry himself, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Elizabeth I and Richard III have all played a part in Sudeley’s story. King Charles I found refuge here during the Civil War, when his nephew Prince Rupert established headquarters at the Castle. Following its ‘slighting’ on Cromwell’s orders at the end of the Civil War, Sudeley lay neglected and derelict for nearly 200 years.

King George III was amongst those sightseers who came to admire its romantic ruins. Then in 1837 Sudeley was rescued by the wealthy Worcester glove-makers, brothers John and William Dent, who began an ambitious restoration programme which was continued by their nephew, John Coucher Dent, when he inherited the castle in 1855. His wife, Emma Brocklehurst, threw herself enthusiastically into Sudeley’s restoration, at the same time forging strong links with the nearby town of Winchcombe. It is the results of Emma’s dedication that are so evident in the gardens and exhibitions at Sudeley today.

Sudeley Castle & Gardens is now the home of Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe and her son, daughter and their families. The family is committed to the continued preservation of the castle, its treasures and the ongoing restoration and regeneration of the gardens.

Cost of the trip and other details to follow.

Our day will begin with a visit to Apsley House.  Standing in the heart of London, Apsley House is the former home of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, victor of Waterloo. Designed and built by Robert Adam in the 1770s, the house was bought by the duke in 1817. He transformed it into a palatial residence to befit his status, and filled it with works of art and gifts from grateful rulers across Europe. The public rooms now form a dazzling backdrop to Wellington’s outstanding collection. 

From Apsley House we will go on to the David Hockney exhibtion at Tate Britain.  This exhibition gathers together an extensive selection of  David Hockney's most famous works celebrating his achievements in painting, drawing, print, photography and video across six decades.

As he approaches his 80th birthday, Hockney continues to change his style and ways of working, embracing new technologies as he goes. From his portraits and images of Los Angeles swimming pools, through to his drawings and photography, Yorkshire landscapes and most recent paintings – some of which have never be seen before in public  –  this exhibition shows how the roots of each new direction lay in the work that came before. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to see these unforgettable works together.

Cost of visit and further details to follow.   

The Knights Hospitaller occupied the site of what is now Hampton Court Palace from 1236.  By the sixteenth century ownership of the site had passed to Cardinal Wolsey and it was he who build the first magnificent Tudor palace.    Wolsey was forced to surrender his palace to Henry VIII when he fell out of favour for his failure to obtain from the Pope the King's much desired divorce from Katherine of Aragon.  A royal palace from 1527, Hampton Court was occupied and extended by Henry VIII and his successors throughout the rest of the Tudor period and during the reign of James I.  Taken over by Parliamentary forces during the Civil War, further re-building took place during the reigns of Charles II and James II.    Following the Glorious Revolution William III, whose asthma was always worse when in the smoky atmosphere of London, commissioned Christopher Wren to rebuild the Palace in baroque style.    The Palace thus tells the story of five hundred years of British history  and of the British monarchy.

The coach will depart from Highworth at 8.30 and from Shrivenham at 8.45.  We will plan to leave Hampton Court at about 3.45.  There will be a service in the Chapel Royal at 12.30, which members of our group may attend, and after the service Father Anthony will give us a short talk about the history of the Chapel.

Our November visit will start with a Guided Tour of one of the loveliest Livery  Company Halls.  The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers (better known as the Stationers’ Company) were formed in 1403 and gained a Royal Charter in 1557. It was responsible for copying and selling manuscript books and writing materials, as well as enforcing copyright regulations until about 1695. The company purchased the mansion house of Lord Abergavenny on the current site in Ave Maria Lane in 1606. It was burnt down in the Great Fire of London and the current hall was built on the site in about 1670. The Court Room was added in 1748 and alterations were carried out in about 1800, 1885 and in 1952. 

Our visit will then take us to the Museum of London at the Barbican.    This lively Museum documents the history of London from pre-historic to modern times.  Special themes this autumn include the Great Fire of London of 1666.

Pick up points are:  Highworth  at 8.30am and  Shrivenham at 8.45am

The price of the trip is £40.  This includes coffee on arrival at the Stationers' Hall.

After the tour of Stationers' Hall we go to the Museum of London where members can buy their own lunch in one of the excellent cafes.

A tour of the Fire of London Exhibition is included in the price; the other exhibitions are free.

We leave at c3.30pm.

Our visit to Windsor Castle will include the exhibition "Fashioning a Reign".   This exhibition marks the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen through a display of fashionable dress, spanning the period from The Queen’s childhood in the 1930s to the present day.

Examples of the work of leading British couturiers who have been appointed as dressmakers to The Queen illustrate Her Majesty’s support for British fashion and reveal the specialist techniques of designers and milliners.  At Windsor Castle magnificent evening gowns and elegant day ensembles worn at official events will be contrasted with fancy-dress costumes worn by the young Princess Elizabeth for wartime family pantomimes at the Castle.

In addition to the exhibition, there will be an option to vist the State Apartments and St. George's Chapel.

Pick up points are: Highworth at 8.30pm and Shrivenham at 8.45am

The price of trip is £37.50.  This includes coffee on arrival in the Tea Rooms of the Harte and Garter.

We go on to the Castle for the Fashioning a Reign Exhibition after which members can have lunch at their own cost in one of the many cafes close by. (no café in Windsor Castle)

After lunch members can return to the Castle for a further tour or enjoy the town and river  before leaving the coach park at 4pm.

This visit is to two very different estates. Croome Park, once the estate of the Earls of Coventry, was a secret wartime airbase, deploying up to 2,000 service personnel and scientists who tested radar to meet new enemy threats. Many of the wartime buildings have been destroyed but we will visit the newly opened museum, housed in the Second World War Hospital, which tells the story of RAF Defford and its role in achieving victory. Croome Court itself is currently undergoing restoration, but we will be able to explore those parts of the house which have been completed and, if the scaffolding is still intact, the adventurous can climb up to the top to view the wonderful Capability Brown parkland! After leaving Croome we will go on to Stanway House, an outstandingly beautiful Jacobean manor house, built on a site owned by Tewkesbury Abbey for 800 years, and then for 500 years by the Tracy family and their descendants, the Earls of Wemyss, who still live there. We will be given a private tour of the house by a member of the family and will also have the opportunity to visit the gardens and to see the magnificent single-jet water fountain, opened in 2004, which shoots water to a height of over 300 feet, making it the tallest fountain in Britain.

Collection points in Highworth and Shrivenham. Details of costs, meals etc. to follow. Croome is a National Trust property and National Trust Members should bring their Membership Cards.

Hughenden Manor is a red brick mansion, located close to High Wycombe and was the country house of that most unlikely Victorian Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who lived there from 1848 until his death in 1881. Largely built towards the end of the 18th century it was remodelled by the architect Edward Buckton Lamb for the Disraelis and reflects the charismatic personality and colourful private life of the Prime Minister. The house also contains an exhibition which explores Hughenden’s role in the Second World War, when the house was used for secret work including the creation of maps for bombing missions, such as the one by the Dambusters.

Collection points in Highworth and Shrivenham. Hughenden is a National Trust property and National Trust Members should bring their Membership Cards. The cost of the visit, details of meals etc. to follow.

Beaulieu Palace House was originally built in the 13th century as the gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the estate was purchased by Thomas Wriothesley, later 1st Earl of Southampton. It passed through marriage to the Montagu family and is still owned by the Ist Earl’s descendant, the 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu. Extended in the 16th century and again in the 19th century, today it is a fine example of a Gothic country house. We will also visit the adjacent National Motor Museum, which traces the history of motoring from 1894 to the present day.

Collection points in Highworth and Shrivenham. There is a restaurant at the house and a kiosk in the gardens. Lunch and coffee will not be included in the ticket price.

Our visit will begin with a tour of Somerset House. The tour reveals evidence of Tudor intrigue and Georgian Enlightenment, scientific curiosity and naval power, extravagant entertainments and “the King’s Shilling”, as we are led from the airy lightwells to graceful staircases to the atmospheric Deadhouse. Following the tour there will be an opportunity to visit the Courtauld Gallery with its wonderful art collection. In the afternoon we will go on to 2 Temple Place for a guided tour. Formerly known as Astor House, and now home to the charity The Bulldog Trust, this architectural gem is an extraordinary late Victorian mansion built for William Waldorf Astor on the Embankment.

Collection points in Highworth and Shrivenham. Visit costs to follow.

We have all watched the media coverage of the discovery of a body under a car park in Leicester, the subsequent announcement that it was that of Richard III, the controversy over where the remains should be buried, and their interment in Leicester Cathedral. This visit will take us to Richard’s new tomb in Leicester Cathedral and to the new Richard III Visitor Centre , which tells the story of the ill-fated monarch’s life and death. There will also be a guided tour of the Cathedral itself.

Collections points in Highworth and Shrivenham as usual. Cost of tickets, lunch details etc. to follow

As usual participants will be picked up in both Highworth and Shrivenham. Coffee will be available at Stonehenge. Ticket cost and timings to follow

The cost of tickets will be included on the website as soon as it is known.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ITINERARY HAS BEEN CHANGED TO INCLUDE THE VISIT TO ROUSHAM. Tickets prices and exact timings will be advertised as soon as possible.

The cost of tickets will be included on the web site as soon as it is known.

Further details about this Visit will be published on the website as soon as they become available.

Another date for your diaries. Further details about this Visit will be announced as soon as they become available.

Ticket prices and details of lunch venues and timings will be published on the website as soon as they are available. Meanwhile, put the date in your diary to avoid disappointment!

The cost of this visit will be £28 for National Trust Members and £36 for non NT Members. Tickets will be on sale in April.

The cost of this tour will be £36 per person and tickets will be on sale at the February lecture.

Note: Refreshments for groups are not available at Bletchley, so please bring tea or coffee with you on the coach. Note: This visit is currently sold out. If you wish to go on a Waiting List, please contact Ann Stevenson.

(Note: This visit complements the lecture on The Wallace Collection given by one of the museum's curators, Mr Stephen Duffy, on 13 February 2014) Note. This visit has already sold out. If you wish to go on a Waiting List for the visit please contact Judy Stevens.