Draw up a list of historic tours of England and it would be as long as history itself. But one English travel company, Ambient Tours, has decided to focus on just one aspect of England’s culture and heritage: Tudor England. The Tudor period in English history covers the years from 1485, when King Henry VII ascended to the throne, until 1603, when Queen Elizabeth I died. Elizabeth was the fifth and final Tudor monarch, and the Tudor period was a rich period of culture and adventure. It was the period of William Shakespeare, Walter Raleigh, Francis Drake, Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, and Edmund Spenser.
Themes for Historic Tours of England
After focusing on historic Tudor tours of England, Ambient Tours has focused in even further and devised different tours for different interest groups. One covers the Tudor monarchs, another the poets and playwrights of the Tudor period, another the adventurers and explorers, and a fourth tour concentrates on the most influential people of Tudor times, whose names may be less familiar but whose behind-the-scenes influence - as with modern-day politics – was profound.
Tudor Monarchs Historic Tour of England
The English Tudor monarchs, in particular King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, are names that are familiar all over the world, with a little help from Hollywood. The Tudor Monarchs tour begins in Windsor, with a chance to visit Windsor Castle, and in the afternoon is a tour of Hampton Court Palace, much of which was built during the Tudor period. The next day includes Hever Castle in Kent, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, followed by Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, the home of Queen Katherine Parr. Also included are visits to Ludlow Castle, Kenilworth Castle, and Hatfield House.
Tudor Poets and Playwrights
The arts flourished during the Tudor period of English history, and in particular the work of poets and playwrights. This tour begins in London where a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre shows what the theatre-going experience was like in Tudor times. The rest of the week-long tour takes in three important places that everyone who is visiting England and interested in history will want to see: Cambridge, Oxford, and of course Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon.
Historic Tours of England: More Information
These historic tours of England with their various themes last for one week (seven days, six nights), staying in a mix of four-star country house hotels and luxury heritage hotels. The price for all tours for 2011 is £1500 per person based on two people sharing a double room. There is a single occupancy supplement of £210.
For more information and to book tours visit the Ambient Tours website.
Mike Gerrard - Mike is an award-winning travel writer who has worked for National Geographic, the London Times, and many other clients. ...
