The North West: A Region through the Ages

This historical tour of the North West of England takes you through the area’s most exquisite countryside in the Lake District to its greatest city museums, stopping at the region’s best halls and houses on the way.

Tour highlights can include:

Dramatic Lake District scenery
Stunning Tudor halls
Explore the history of the North West's greatest cities

What's included...

Day 1 - Water, Water and more Water…

We start our tour on the North West Coast at Whitehaven. This Georgian ‘Gem Town’, the home and final resting place of American President, George Washington’s grandmother, has a long and varied history so there’s plenty to explore in this lovely coastal town. After a morning by the sea we head inland to Ullswater in the magnificent Lake District. Ullswater valley is truly breath-taking, with its beautiful lake nestled amongst towering fells. The epic scenery and relative underdevelopment compared to other areas of the Lake District gives Ullswater a secluded and tranquil feel. We will visit Aira Force, a tumbling waterfall which drops an impressive 65ft and can be reached by an enchanting stroll through ancient woodland and landscaped glades, then spend the evening relaxing by the lake at the luxurious Glenridding House Hotel, former holiday retreat of Charles Darwin!

Day 2 - Ferry Across the Mersey…

Enter Liverpool and discover the remarkable history of the city’s docks, including links to the Titanic and the slave trade, at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. This afternoon we stick by the Mersey as we head out of the city to Speke Hall, a spectacularly restored Tudor manor which has witnessed more than 400 years of turbulent history. A short journey takes us to the five-star Chester Grovesnor Hotel where we will spend the night in complete luxury.

Day 3 - Big Walls and a Little Hall…

This morning we take a tour of the historic Chester City Walls; the construction of the walls was begun by the Romans and completed in the 12th century after the Norman conquest of the medieval town. Our guided tour takes us through the rich history of Chester from the foundation of the Roman fortress Deva Victrix through the English Civil War and right up to the present day. In the afternoon we will visit Little Moreton Hall another spectacular, timber-framed Tudor manor and one of the most famous buildings in Cheshire.

Day 4 - History that Spans Centuries…

Tatton Park is one of the North West’s most popular heritage attractions; the stunning 18th century mansion resides within some of the most historically active land in Britain. There is evidence of human occupation on this site since 8,000BC: Archaeological surveys show that Stone Age people hunted here and that there was farming activity in the Bronze Age and the parkland has been home to herds of deer since 1290. Moving on to more contemporary history we visit Dunham Massey Hall, which was converted into Stamford Military Hospital during the First World War and treated 182 injured soldiers. We sleep tonight in Manchester’s only five-star hotel, the stunning Radison Blu Edwardian located in the historic Free Trade Hall.

Day 5 - Modern Manchester...

Today we’ll explore Manchester, Great Britain’s Northern powerhouse. The Museum of Science and Industry, situated on the site of the world’s first railway station which was opened in September 1830, documents Manchester’s incredible contributions to these fields throughout history. We’ll end our historic tour of the North West at Old Trafford, home to Manchester United FC, a football team which has been making history since 1878!