A Tour of Kent's Most Exclusive Castles & Houses

5days from

£1,129^*per person

Overview

A splendid discovery of the Garden of England’s treasures awaits on this special tour. We take an exclusive peek into a range of glorious estates, beginning with the stunning Allington Castle, an exquisite gem no longer open to the public (if you were to imagine a castle straight from the pages of a fairytale book, Allington would be it, with turreted stone exteriors, regal tapestries, a time capsule Great Hall and lily pad-clad moat)! A guided tour with the owner of atmospheric Provender House illuminates over seven centuries of captivating history and a visit to Godinton House provides a fascinating dive into Jacobean architecture, while the timeless grandeur of Penshurst Place rounds off this celebration of magnificent Kent.

Itinerary

Check in to our hotel the Delta Tudor Park by Marriott, Bearstead in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.
We begin with a visit to Allington Castle, a magical 12th-century fortress rarely open to the public. With its winding moat, precious tapestries and regal furniture, it feels as if we’re stepping into an ancient world here; just imagine Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn dining with politician and poet Sir Thomas Wyatt in 1530 in the atmospheric Great Hall! Today, all that remains of the original castle is a section of wall and the kitchen fireplace, which dates back to 1174. The powerful Wyatt family acquired the property in 1491 and transformed it into an impressive mansion house. Next stop is Provender, home of Princess Olga Romanoff, daughter of Prince Andrew Romanoff, the eldest nephew of the Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Dating back to the 13th century, Provender is a fascinating record of English building traditions over seven centuries. A recent programme of careful restoration has revealed a wealth of historical and architectural detail which we discover on our exclusive private tour, led by the owner* before enjoying some tea and cake on site. *Owner-led tour subject to availability
We make our way to Lullingstone Castle for a guided tour. Recorded in the Domesday Book, it is one of the oldest family estates in England. The present manor house was built in 1497 and has been home to the same family ever since. Altered extensively in Queen Anne’s time, the house boasts fine state rooms and beautiful grounds, including a stunning 15-acre lake and the World Garden, home to thousands of rare plants collected from around the world by Tom Hart Dyke, the current heir, planted in their respective continents of origin. Incredibly, the ideas and plans for this garden were started during Tom’s nine-month kidnap ordeal in the early 2000s, a result of rare plant hunting in the Colombian jungle. There are plenty of unique species, including the world’s most dangerous plant, the hottest chilli and the rarest gum tree. This afternoon we head to the stunning Belmont House. This magnificent Neo-classical country house is a completely unspoilt example of architect Samuel Wyatt’s work. Six generations of the Harris family have each left their mark on this treasure, which contains mementos of the family’s history and travels and the finest private collection of clocks and watches in Britain, created by the 5th Lord Harris. There is also time to enjoy the lovely grounds, which encompass everything from beautiful gardens and magical woodlands to fruit-laden orchards and a cricket pitch. After dinner this evening, we enjoy an interesting themed talk from a guest speaker. *Please note: on the July departure, this morning will be at leisure (the Lullingstone visit to the Gardens will move to the morning of departure day).
Today we visit Godinton House, a delightful Jacobean property incorporating a medieval hall and ornate carvings. Godinton is a much-loved home where each room reflects the tastes of those who have lived here with an excellent collection of furniture, art, and curios. We also have time to explore the 12 acres of tranquil gardens with its kaleidoscope of colour and heady mix of floral aromas. For our last visit we head to the stunning 14th-Century manor house of Penhurst Place. Once the hunting lodge of King Henry VIII, Penhurst was eventually passed to Sir William Sidney in 1552 and has been home to each generation of the Sidney family ever since.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel for the journey home.* *Please note: on the July departure, we head to the gardens at Lullingstone in the morning instead of Tuesday (which will be at leisure). Afterwards, we return to the hotel for the journey home.

What's Included

Holiday Highlights

Visits to Allington Castle, Provender House, Lullingstone Castle*, Belmont House, Godinton House & Gardens & Penhurst Place
Exclusive tour of Allington Castle
Guided tour with the owner** with tea & cake at Provender House
Guided tours of Lullingstone Castle & Belmont House
Themed evening talk from a guest speaker

Our Price Includes

Four nights' four-star half-board accommodation at the Delta by Marriott Tudor Park, Bearstead
Welcome drink and after-dinner tea & coffee at the hotel
Porterage where available and Coach transfers to & from your excursions
Visits to Allington Castle, Provender House, Lullingstone Castle*, Belmont House, Godinton House & Gardens & Penhurst Place
Exclusive tour of Allington Castle
Guided tour with the owner** with tea & cake at Provender House
Guided tours of Lullingstone Castle & Belmont House
Themed evening talk from a guest speaker
Accompanied by a friendly tour manager throughout

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Dates and Prices

Accommodation

Tudor Park Hotel & Country Club, Delta by Marriott -

★★★★

Ideally situated for our excursions, the Delta by Marriott Tudor Park is a contemporary hotel surrounded by exquisite countryside views. The stylish bedrooms feature a TV, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and tea and coffee-making facilities and the hotel also offers a restaurant, full service spa, a pool and fitness centre.

Other Information

Single supplement £130

Car parking - complimentary

Nearest train station - Chester-le-Street (1.5 miles)

*Please note: on the July departure, the Lullingstone visit will be to the Gardens only and on the morning of departure day, Thursday. Tuesday morning will be at leisure.

**Owner-led tours are subject to availability.

Please inform us at the time of booking of any special dietary requirements.

A small number of twin & double rooms for single occupancy are available for a supplement.

Holiday code

JG463

Holiday provided by Just Go Holidays

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: This holiday is sold and operated by Just Go Holidays. They are protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). They are also ATOL protected (ATOL 10889). These bonds mean that, when you book a Just Go holiday, you can be 100% sure that your money is safe.

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