All tours on this holiday have now departed. Future departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
Cotswold Farm
All Saints Church
Rodmarton
Cotswold Farm
Wilson Gallery Cheltenham
Cotswold Farm Library
Cotswold Farm
Gardens at Cotsworld Farm
The Wilson, Cheltenham superb Art Gallery
Guided tour Rodmarton Manor
Selsley and Sapperton Churches
Join Prof. Anne Anderson and Dr Scott Anderson and explore the legacy of the Arts & Crafts Movement of the early 20th century, inspired by William Morris, in a series of visits that illustrate this influential movement’s philosophy of design and local creativity, best shown in the Cotswolds. Highlights of the tour include the impressive The Wilson, Cheltenham's Art Gallery and Museum which is home to a superb Arts & Crafts collection and a special visit to Cotswold Farm, a privately owned Arts & Crafts style house which was originally designed by Sidney Barnsley.
Day 1: Arrive independently at the Blunsdon House Hotel, Swindon from 15.00. This evening there will be a welcome reception, dinner with wine and a talk by Prof. Anne Anderson - ‘Arts and Crafts in the Cotswolds’.
Day 2: Rodmarton Manor, All Saints Selsley and Sapperton Church.
This morning we will visit the Arts & Crafts Rodmarton Manor where we will have a guided tour. Rodmarton was completed in 1929 and was one of the last great country houses to be built using traditional methods of construction – one of the Arts & Crafts movements’ ideals. After a light lunch (included) we will visit All Saints in Selsley, a church designed by GF Bodley. Whilst here we will have a short talk on the Gothic Revival style of the church and a look at its remarkable stained glass windows that were supplied by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co., the predecessor of Morris and Co. in the 1860s and to Sapperton Church, burial place of many leading Arts & Crafts protagonists. This evening there will be a second talk from Prof. Anne Anderson - ‘Inventing the Cotswold Style: Gimson and the Barnsleys’ and buffet dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Day 3: The Wilson, Cheltenham and Cotswold Farm.
The first visit of the day is to the very impressive The Wilson, Cheltenham’s Art Gallery and Museum which houses a superb Arts & Crafts collection. Then it’s off for a light lunch (included) at Cotswold Farm, privately owned by John and Sarch Birchill who will guide you around their beautiful Arts & Crafts home and gardens, which was extended by architect Sidney Barnsley. Return to the hotel for approximately 16.30.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.
Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 40 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Blunsdon House Hotel, Swindon
Located on the edge of the Cotswolds in the village of Broad Blunsdon near Swindon, the four-star family owned Blunsdon House Hotel offers comfortable, individually decorated and tastefully furnished bedrooms with ensuite bathroom, TV, mini bar, safe and tea & coffee making facilities in the room. Other facilities at the hotel include two restaurants, bar, and a health and lesiure club including gym and swimming pool. Complimentary car parking is available at the hotel.
Blunsdon House Hotel Website
Your Lecturers
Prof. Anne Anderson
Prof. Anne Anderson author, broadcaster, Lecturer and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, was a senior lecturer at Southampton Solent University for 14 years, specialising in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism. Anne's career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world and her TV credits include the BBC's Flog It!. Anne has received a rapturous response from or customers at the many Travel Editions UK lectures and tours as well as a host of tours overseas and her knowledge, wit and enthusiasm bring her beloved subjects to life in whatever location she finds them.
Dr Scott Anderson MA, PhD, FNAVA, ASFAV (Associate of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers)
Scott is a University Senior Lecturer in the History of Art and Design and is an Honorary Fellow of the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers. He is a specialist in Victorian and Edwardian art, architecture and antiques and is a consultant expert for the BBC2 'Flog It!' programme. Scott is an Accredited Lecturer of The Arts Society and has lectured extensively to various societies, special interest groups and educational groups throughout Britain. He has extensive tour guiding experience in Britain, European locations such as Paris, Berlin, Vienna and New York.
Please note that all our UK tours start and finish at the relevant hotel.
You can normally check in from 3pm onwards but hotels will always be happy to store your luggage if you arrive earlier in the day.
For full details of how to get to the hotel, directions and the nearest train station, please click on the hotel website or call our office for details. These will also be sent automatically with your confirmation.
The welcome reception and first evening dinner / talk will commence at about 6pm - full details will be sent with your joining instructions about 10 days prior to the arrival date.
Tour manager was particularly good. the tour itinerary was excellent, despite the long coach trips. The hotel was comfortable and the food was very good. One of the best Travel Editions tours we have enjoyed. An hotel closer to London would make travel between visits less tiring.
Review by Posnett who travelled 12-September-2024
Review by Anonymous who travelled 12-September-2024
Very well organised. Friendly coach driver and tour guide. Best bit was our exclusive visit to Windsor Castle. Hotel very good and food excellent.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 12-September-2024
Exclusive visit to Windsor was wonderful. Hampton Court and Tower of London also very, very good. I do feel that a hotel that was nearer and avoided the roadworks could have been organised. (I do realise that you wanted to avoid London prices). Perhaps you could also suggest to the Tour Manager that he does not have to talk all the time.
Review by Peel who travelled 08-August-2024
Travel Editions feedback:
We are delighted that the tour was a success, and you enjoyed the visits, particularly the exclusive one to Windsor Castle. Your comments are noted though.
Steven excellent: gave us the historical context which most of us simply lacked through poor school experience or memory loss! I think this was invaluable. Hotel attractive, food good and staff helpful, best tours were Windsor and Buckingham P and Westminster.
Review by Le Sage-Cridland who travelled 08-August-2024
Excellent tour although very tiring.
Review by Brunt who travelled 14-September-2023
An excellent tour overall. Feel that Steven our tour manager could have been more readily available on sightseeing tours by coming into each venue and letting us know where we could locate him within the venue if necessary, other than this he was very good at smoothing out any problems at the hotel and keeping us entertained with his knowledge or not, on the coach. The young staff at the hotel were extremely helpful but the hotel itself was sadly in need of a make-over.
Review by Catling who travelled 14-September-2023
Much enjoyed with a pleasant and interesting company. The party 100% responded to all directions. No lateness or delays. Tour travel arrangements excellent. The weather was very kind to us.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 14-September-2023
a very well organised tour with a highly knowledgeable guide. comfortable hotel with pleasant staff.
Review by Higgins who travelled 14-September-2023
Another excellent tour as I have come to expect from Travel Editions. The hotel was very nice, comfortable, and excellent food with a good choice. The only reason I didn't rate hotel as excellent was because the fire alarm went off by mistake several times, twice in the middle of the night and then again the next morning, so obviously something is wrong with their alarm system which needs sorting out in order to avoid annoying guests too much. Also, it was rather far out, meaning that we had a nearly 2 hour coach tour to get to central London for the visits, but I preferred to stay in a quiet village (apart from the fire alarm!) rather than in a hotel nearer to cenral London. I thought the tour was excellent value for money with everything included. Both the coach driver and the tour guide were also excellent; Steven (tour guide) mentioned every monarch since William the Conqueror and had a wealth of information on all of them, so this was truly a historical trip. Some of the places were very overcrowded, particularly Westminster Abbey, so perhaps October might have been a quieter time of year, but we had good guides in all places who ensured that we didn't miss anything. I certainly recommend Travel Editions to everyone, and am looking forward to 2 trips I have booked for next year.
Review by Wright who travelled 14-September-2023
A brilliant tour. Steven the tour manager was superb - full of information. The guides used in some sites were also of an excellent standard.
Review by Allen who travelled 14-September-2023
hotel was fine, staff were excellent but the evening food was poor and on two occasions for us was inedible and had o be returned to the kitchen! Such a shame , We felt bad for the embarrassed staff.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 14-September-2023
This trip fulfilled long-standing desires. The tour manager Steve was superb throughout, as was the coach driver Peter -- stress-relief all round!! Each venue was both educational, fascinating & at times inspirational. In particular observing the ravens at the Tower & our special visit to Windsor Castle were stand-out experiences. Visits to Westminster Abbey & Hampton Court were truly memorable too. Our only note of caution was Buckingham Palace where we only had audio commentary plus hordes of other people which did not make for a memorable visit. We simply do not understand why rules apparently prevented our Tour Manager accompanying us even on the limited itinerary available. It gave the impression of volume of people & therefore money trumped what should have been a memorable visit to our British Head of State.
Review by Blackmore who travelled 10-August-2023
Hotel very good, food fine. Guides and our tour manager very knowledgeable and very informative. Our behind closed doors tour of Windsor was a real highlight
Review by Baxter who travelled 10-August-2023
Tour manager Steve was excellent and the whole tour very well organised. You even managed good weather after many wet days!
Review by Murray who travelled 10-August-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 10-August-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 10-August-2023
All was very good, except, (a) I felt that we had too much time at Buckingham Palace and couldn't access the garden tours and (b) the quality of some aspects of the accommodation was questionable in that the mattress on the bed was "tired" and we had little or no sleep and some of the items at breakfast (cooked) were not particularly warm. The cream tea on arrival was not well organised and many people were waiting a long time for a cup of tea.
Review by Bradley who travelled 10-August-2023
A very enjoyable trip. Our tour guide was very good, a mine of information delivered in a friendly manner.
Review by Macey who travelled 10-August-2023
A great short break which we would recommend wholeheartedly!
Review by Nairn who travelled 11-August-2022
Very pleased with our second Travel Editions tour (previously Richard III). The quality of guiding was excellent as was the bus driver. Just a couple of comments: - 'afternoon tea' on arrival was 'cream tea' and perhaps not what everyone expected; - perhaps a little too long set aside for Buckingham Palace - it seemed everyone had finished way before we were all meant to meet up.
Review by Tucker who travelled 11-August-2022
Tour details exactly as described in brochure. Would recommend this tour as a stress free way to visit so many places .The guided tours enhanced each of the the visits.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 11-August-2022
My husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed the guided tours. All the Guides were excellent and the overall Guide (Tour Manager) was excellent, very personable, articulate and knowledgable. I learnt so much from him. The Hotel was comfortable enough and the food of a high standard.
Review by Chilvers who travelled 11-August-2022
Stephen was very good as was Hugh the driver Liked the fact that the coach had plenty of water - as it was soo hot Hotel a bit tired particurly the shower in the bathroom - all instructions were rubbed off. Afternoon tea was 2 scones surely should be a cream tea for advertisement and waited ages for it to be served Like the fact that so many of the tickets could be used again within a year
Review by a who travelled 11-August-2022
I have already contacted Travel Editions re accommodation, but overall an excellent trip. The extreme hot weather conditions were uncomfortable, but that was out of any one’s control.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 11-August-2022
Talbot Hotel 4* Ripley.A poor 3* hotel.Serving staff very good.Cleaning safe poor.I killed 2 spiders in my room.Only desk fan in my room,on all the time(very hot weather).Hotel food suffered cut-backs and poor cook did not help.Guide friendly and effective.Windsor Castle Tour especially good.Started after 6pm when closed to public.A great start to the tour. Well pleased,
Review by WILSON who travelled 11-August-2022
Wonderful tour, filling all the available time. All the guides used were excellent (& clearly audible - very important to me!). A bit of time to ourselves in Westminster Abbey would have been appreciated, though not at the expense of the tour - possibly having less time at Buckingham Palace. The private tour at Windsor was particularly special.
Review by Cross who travelled 11-August-2022
We strongly suggest that the company finds a better hotel than the Talbot Ripley.Try looking at Tripadvisor the comments are an accurate reflection of the problems.
Review by Ellis who travelled 11-August-2022
We loved it !
Review by Anonymous who travelled 11-August-2022
Overall very enjoyable break.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 11-August-2022
A fascinating glimpse of royal life. I was especially impressed with the diamond jewellery, glinting in flashes of bright colour. The hotel was comfortable, with excellent food. Just one problem: after I returned each day in the coach, my card key would not work and had to be reset by reception.
Review by Gorman who travelled 11-August-2022
Excellent tour. Well planned with plenty of time at each fascinating venue. The only disappointment was the hotel. The room was clean and comfortable but toiletries and tea/coffee minimal. The dinners could have been larger and service better.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 11-August-2022
Hotel and dining excellent. Tour guide very well informed and personable. Not impressed with the coach driver. Due to Covid, parts of the tour were substituted and while a refund was provided we are sorry not to have taken part in the bits that we missed. (no fault of the tour company)
Review by Rugg who travelled 16-September-2021
Our tour guide Steven was splendid, endlessly patient and extremely knowledgeable. The accommodation great, (one caveat was that the shower although always hot, had rather a lot of black mould around the base.) the food great, and the service friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed our first holiday since lockdown.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 12-August-2021
Review by Pick who travelled 12-August-2021
The Royal Experience tour was very enjoyable. Suddenly finding myself in a group after spending so much time alone over the past year was daunting but the company was very pleasant. The greatest disappointment was the hotel. My room was not clean, a stained valance on the bed, unswept places in the room, the bathroom light switch was grubby, the shower spray blocked in places so the spray was all over the place and the beveridges tray was dirty. I understand there were staffing problems but these issues were long term. Definately not worth 4 star rating.
Review by Stammers who travelled 12-August-2021
The hotel failed to make up our room for the final night (booked as extra to the standard tour).
Review by Mulhall who travelled 12-August-2021
I enjoyed the trip very much however, day 1 was very rushed. I don't think there was any need for afternoon tea as most had eaten lunch and setting off 1hr earlier would have been better.
Review by Osgood who travelled 12-August-2021
All aspects were good especially the coach driver
Review by Edwards who travelled 12-August-2021
Wonderful venues to explore in London and excellent guided to explain history and beauty of each building.
Review by Green who travelled 12-September-2019
Review by James who travelled 12-September-2019
Review by Bullock who travelled 12-September-2019
We had a wonderful trip - thank you.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 15-August-2019
Hotel TV, hairdryer and bedside lamp didn't work. Despite complaint nothing was done. Tried to charge us for three nights instead of one and could not remember how much we were due to pay for our meal. A pity as otherwise the tour was good - particularly the Windsor tour.
Review by Briggs who travelled 15-August-2019
Private tour of Windsor Castle was the highlight, followed by the Banqueting House. I had not realized how many tourists there would be in London! Steve as the Tour Manager was excellent.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 15-August-2019
The whole experience was 'the ultimate'. The tour manager and the coach travel were excellent and although we had visited most of the places before we were given new insights everywhere.
Review by Honour who travelled 20-September-2018
Review by Anonymous who travelled 20-September-2018
A very enjoyable 'Experience'. Wonderful venues, very well organised, and an extremely good tour manager who did everything possible to ensure we got the most from the trip.
Review by who travelled 13-September-2018
Absolutely excellent tour with very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide and bus driver. Only problem was inadequate location of "The Talbot" hotel which we thought would be in London but was in Surrey
Review by Somerville who travelled 16-August-2018
It was a very full and busy 3 days. Steven was an excellent Tour Manager. Highlights for us were Windsor Castle, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. The Talbot Inn seemed just a bit tired in one or 2 areas, but we would stay there again.
Review by Ford who travelled 16-August-2018
Review by who travelled 16-August-2018
Review by who travelled 16-August-2018
Overall we thought that the trip was excellent and we particularly liked the private evening tour of Windsor Castle and the guided tours of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Not enough time in The Tower of London because most of the time was spent queuing for the Crown Jewels! The hotel was passable but would have appreciated a room round the back rather than facing the road. Very noisy overnight. Also a slight blip with the timing of dinner on the second evening because orders not taken in advance. Our guide Stephen was wonderful and very helpful throughout as was the driver.
Review by Wright who travelled 16-August-2018
One suggestion. Coaching in London is difficult and since a small amount of walking is inevitably involved to re join the coach all in the Westminster area, may I suggest that the transfer from the House of Parliament to the Tower of London be taken by river transport. For minimal extra cost it would enhance the holiday and less walking involved
Review by Smith who travelled 17-August-2017
An amazing 100 years of British history packed into 3 days. Knowledgeable tour guide and relatively small group really helped. Given the daily London traffic and the M25, the hotel was perhaps a little far out from the palaces we visited. While I can understand the offer to drop people off in London at the end of the last day I don't see any reason to drive around in a large circle in stop/start traffic for 30 plus minutes just so that one person can be dropped off at Waterloo when they could easily have got the underground from The Tower of London - it just holds everyone else up who is waiting to get back to the hotel and then have to drive home. Suggest you stop this unnecessary and wasteful practice.
Review by Froude who travelled 17-August-2017
The hotel was comfortable but sometimes a little noisy- weekend weddings. it would be reasonable for such noise to terminate by midnight. The buffet meal on the first night was a good idea due to the lateness of the meal. However, I think a traditionally served dinner would have been better on the second night so as to allow a longer relaxed period for conversation- buffet 3 course meals are usually eaten within 45 minutes!
Review by Hughes who travelled 17-August-2017
Our guide, Stephen, was very good indeed. The visit to Windsor Casle was outstanding, the brochure did not do justice to the excellent visit which was the highlight or our trip.
Review by Lord who travelled 17-August-2017
Very well organised and our guide Steven was excellent.
Review by Sykes who travelled 17-August-2017
This was my first trip with Travel Editions. I was a single traveller but I did not feel alone for one minute. Very happy with it all and I will do another one.
Review by Mr Don Beattie who travelled 21-September-2016
Review by Mr David Carr who travelled 21-September-2016
Location of hotel was not the best in terms of the length of coach travel each day
Review by Mr Nigel West who travelled 21-September-2016
Windsor Castle was the icing on the cake.Buckingham Palace was too crowded but this not your fault. At dinner we found on the Friday night it was much better to have the whole party on one table-everyone got to know each other better and it was a most enjoyable evening.It was a pity this had not happened earlier on the tour.
Review by Mr John Ingham who travelled 21-September-2016
Review by Mr Sydney Carter who travelled 21-September-2016
Review by Mrs A Farmer who travelled 21-September-2016
An excellent tour which was very much enjoyed. All guides were friendly and extremely knowledgeable about their subject providing a dearth of information. Alas the presentation of the Queen's dresses at Buckingham Palace was a bun fight to get around and should have been much better organised by the Palace and was the only downside of the tour. In all very good value for money.
Review by Mr William Symington who travelled 21-September-2016
Tour Guide - Steven was excellent, very knowledgable,helpful and well organised.Bus service first class, hotel OK ish
Review by Mr Neil Foster who travelled 21-September-2016
Dealing with 44 people in such friendly way was very good, The driver also was very professional. Top marks to both of your staff.
Review by Mr Alan Turner who travelled 21-September-2016
My wife and I had a wonderful (if strenuous) time. Steven Szymanski was very good indeed, as was Adrian our coach driver. We look forwards to travelling with you again.
Review by Mr Ian Hutton who travelled 21-September-2016
A lovely break with excellent visits and guides. Highlights were the Windsor Castle private tour and the Houses of Parliament but we enjoyed it all; even the coach travel through south-east London was interesting and our excellent driver, Adrian, managed to avoid any major traffic jams.
Review by Mrs Anne Holland who travelled 21-September-2016
Particular thanks to our Tour Guide Stephen who went out of his way to help my husband with his mobility problems. My only comment on the brochure is that this tour was more physically demanding than we had expected - but that was our fault really and I myself could manage everything.
Review by Mrs EIleen Jones who travelled 15-September-2016
Thoroughly enjoyable trip. The tour manager Stephen and the guides were all excellent and we learned so much.
Review by Mr Philip Hale who travelled 15-September-2016
One of the buffet meals at the hotel was poor, but after mentioning it to members of staff the meal the following evening was very good. The whole break was a wonderful experience - tiring but fascinating!
Review by Mrs Jannice Redford who travelled 15-September-2016
Review by who travelled 15-September-2016
The tours were excellent especially Parliament. The queue for Buckingham Palace was annoying and although the exhibition of the Queen's dresses was interesting there was not really enough time to enjoy the Palace rooms. All the guides were very good. The hotel staff were efficient and friendly but the two long drives on the south circular were tedious. Overall I would strongly recommend this tour for anyone interested in monarchy and history
Review by Mrs J McBride who travelled 15-September-2016
All went very well. Food ok first night, 2nd night very poor. My wife had a word and they pulled the stops out last night, even had steak as a choice of main. Windsor Castle amazing, private tour of Buck House??? Regards Peter Gibbons,
Review by Mr Peter Gibbons who travelled 15-September-2016
Drawbacks were: Queuing at Buckingham Palace (outside your control), but annoying. Too much time spent in the coach. Excellent private tour of Windsor meant none of the others lived up to our expectations.
Review by Mr John Bowers who travelled 07-September-2016
Keep up the good work.
Review by Mr Peter Atkinson who travelled 07-September-2016
I enjoyed the tour, especially going round Windsor castle as a private group. The only drawback from my point of view was the time taken to get into London from Staines, limiting our time at venues. I am not sure what can be done about traffic.Driver excellent though. Look forward to choosing another trip!
Review by Mrs Mary Yarwood who travelled 07-September-2016
Our Windsor Castle private tour spoilt us for the rest! It was beyond excellent and most enjoyable but Bucking-ham Palace was a total scrum we reported at the end that there were far too many visitors at one time for their security checks etc - our tickets were timed for 3.00 and we got through at 3.45 and were due back at the coach at 5.15. Our bus driver was also excellent in dealing with the horrendous traffic in and out of London.
Review by Mrs Carol Ann Southgate who travelled 07-September-2016
There was a long and tiring queue at Buckingham Palace and it was far too crowded. The 'out of hours' visit to Windsor Castle was excellent.
Review by Dr David Bowden who travelled 07-September-2016
What a jampacked tour which was so interesting ,informative and entertaining. The complimentary extra to Frogmore House was very worthwhile and much appreciated. Would have liked longer in Buckingham Palace and The Tower of London it seemed a little rushed especially at the height of the holiday season.The hotel accommodation, buffet dinners and breakfasts were excellent.
Review by Mrs Fay Southwell who travelled 18-August-2016
Review by Prof David Drennan who travelled 18-August-2016
The programme was quite tiring but we did and saw so much in a short time that we felt very satisfied with the whole experience.
Review by Mrs Patricia Carr who travelled 18-August-2016
Excellent tour - very interesting locations , esp. Frogmore House. The table arrangements at the hotel could have been better allowing more guests to sit together. Round tables would be ideal, Having 2 and 4 seaters reduced the ability of the group to meld.
Review by Mrs Jill Marshment who travelled 18-August-2016
Timing proved to be rather tight, especially on the first day. An earlier start would have been much better.
Review by Mrs Prue Burke who travelled 18-August-2016
We would much prefer the usage of an audio system as it was sometimes difficult to hear what the various guides were saying in big groups with a lot of extraneous noises.
Review by Mr Neil Cameron who travelled 18-August-2016
Windsor Castle tour was a bit rushed otherwise very good.
Review by Mr Clifford King who travelled 18-August-2016
Review by Mr David Unsworth who travelled 18-August-2016
Review by Mr Andrew Thompson who travelled 18-August-2016
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and have two observations to make-I wonder why the company thought that only seniors would be interested in this excursion. We were given senior tickets and had trouble trying to extend them for a year especially my daughter who is only 30! Secondly, it would be helpful if you could include in your description a short message asking travellers to not use mobile phones on the bus when tour managers are talking to the group. Steve was excellent but I missed some of his talk due to rudeness of one particular group member. My daughter and I, who are keen historians enjoyed the trip immensely. Everything was planned with great detail and precision with a variety of tour guides who were outstanding. Well done!
Review by Mrs Patricia Flewitt who travelled 18-August-2016
