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History Tour News

Tour Leader Change

Just a quick post to inform you that Robert Parry and Ruby Lawrence are no longer leading The Anne Boleyn Experience in September. Instead, History Tour of Britain director, Tim Ridgway, will be in charge, aided by author and historian Gareth Russell.

Gareth was a huge hit on the recent Executed Queens Tour (he seems to know the answer to every historical question!) and he is delighted to be going back to Hever Castle and leading The Anne Boleyn Experience.

Gareth is an author, historian, past student of Oxford University and creator of the “Confessions of a Ci-Devant” blog which he describes as “Musings on history, life, literature, movies, art and merriment”. He is author of “Popular”, a novel released by Penguin in July 2011, and is an historian with a special interest in Anne Boleyn. He has researched Anne’s life extensively and is planning to write a biography on her. His biography of Catherine Howard is due to be released soon.

Read More No Comments | Posted in Anne Boleyn Experience, News

Ceremony of the Keys – very moving

I’ve just had a quick email from Geoff who was the tour leader for last night’s Tower of London Ceremony of the Keys. Here it is in full:

“Last night’s visit to the Tower of London was brilliant! Everyone turned up on time, and we had a very good Beefeater to take us round. We ended up in then chapel,and were even allowed to go forward to
the altar area where Anne B is buried.

The actual Ceremony of the Keys was very moving.”

There you have it!

Read More No Comments | Posted in General, London, News

The Executed Queens Tour 2012

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

Read More 1 Comment | Posted in Executed Queens Tour, General

ONE ticket left for our exclusive Evening Tower Tour + Ceremony of the Keys, 23 June 2012

ONLY ONE TICKET LEFT

You can find out all the details about this event here:
Evening Tour of the Tower of London and Ceremony of the Keys

We’ll be meeting at 8.00pm for a prompt 8.30pm start on the 23rd June, and our tickets are at a great discount compared to the normal price for this unique experience. Don’t miss out on the last few tickets!

Book Now…

23 June 2012
Tower of London
Ceremony of the Keys and Evening Tour 		Order Tickets
£20 per ticket
(Normal price £30)


Number of Tickets




ONLY ONE TICKET LEFT

Read More No Comments | Posted in General, London, News

Exclusive Tower of London Evening Tour and Ceremony of the Keys Tickets for Sale

We are able to offer a limited number of exclusive invitations for a private evening tour of the Tower of London followed by the historical Ceremony of the Keys. These spaces are available on 23 June 2012 only, and the evening tour begins at 8:30pm, ending after the Ceremony of the Keys at 10:05pm.

ONLY ONE TICKET LEFT

It is extremely difficult to get tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys, and so we are proud to be able to offer these to a limited number of people (maximum 20) and at a discounted price. The price includes a private tour offering the rare chance to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the Tower of London after the hustle and bustle of the daytime visitors. The evening tour commences at 8.30pm with a Yeoman Warder guiding the group through the ancient fortress for an hour, finishing at the unique Ceremony of the Keys.

The Ceremony of the Keys is the traditional locking up of the Tower of London and has taken place on each and every night, without fail, for at least 700 years. It is a wonderful ceremony.

History Tours of Britain are able to offer a limited number of invitations to the Ceremony of the Keys, including the evening tour of the Tower of London, for only £20 per person. Normal price for the tour and ceremony package is £30 per person, so our offer is excellent value (saving of £10) and the Ceremony of the Keys is an out of this world experience. We expect these tickets to sell out quickly at this price, so please purchase your places as soon as possible. All June Ceremonies of the Keys are fully booked so this is the only opportunity you’ll have of getting a ticket.

23 June 2012
Tower of London
Ceremony of the Keys and Evening Tour 		Order Tickets
£20 per ticket
(Normal price £30)


Number of Tickets




ONLY ONE TICKET LEFT

What better way to celebrate the Jubilee year, the Olympics and England’s proud history than by being present at the Ceremony of the Keys.

Please note that these invitations are non-transferable. There is no parking at the Tower of London. The start time is prompt and no exceptions can be made. We will provide you with official invitations which you MUST bring to the event to gain entry to the Tower.

Feel free to contact us at tim@historytoursofbritain.com if you have any questions.

Read More 3 Comments | Posted in General, London, News

Gareth Russell, Executed Queens Tour Leader, and Catherine Howard

Congratulations to Gareth Russell who has recently been awarded a First/Distinction by Queen’s University, Belfast, for his postgraduate dissertation “Catherine Howard and the Queen’s Household in England, 1540-1541″. Gareth’s dissertation was a study in the nature of feminine households at the time and attitudes towards it, and also traced the careers of Catherine’s individual ladies-in-waiting, the role they played in her downfall and tried to establish the nature of Catherine’s role as leader of such a large establishment. Congratulations to Gareth on a wonderful achievement!

More congratulations are due to Gareth as he is also writing a biography on Catherine Howard. Gareth, who is a published author already, having published his novel “Popular” with Penguin, has been commissioned by his agent to write a full length biography of Catherine, based on the research he carried out for his dissertation. This is wonderful news as both Joanna Denny’s and Lacey Baldwin Smith’s biographies are quite dated. This is also great news for those attending the Executed Queens Tour in June 2012 because Gareth will be sharing his thoughts on both Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn with the group. The group is small so guests will have plenty of chance to ‘grill’ Gareth and also our other historian speakers, John Guy and Leanda de Lisle.

Read More No Comments | Posted in Executed Queens Tour, News, Tours

New Speakers Confirmed for Tours

Leanda de Lisle

As you know, we are running three Tudor history tours this year – the Executed Queens Tour, Discover the Tudors Tour and the Anne Boleyn Experience – and Tim and I have been putting the finishing touches to the itineraries. We’re pleased to announced that historian Leanda de Lisle, author of “The Sisters Who Would Be Queen” and “After Elizabeth”, has just confirmed that she will be speaking on Lady Jane Grey on our Executed Queens Tour in June and Anne Clinard Barnhill, author of the recent historical novel “At the Mercy of the Queen: A Novel of Anne Boleyn” is actually attending our September Anne Boleyn Experience Tour! Yay!

So, we have the following guest speakers for our tours now:-

  • Executed Queens Tour – Author and historian Gareth Russell (tour leader), historian Dr John Guy and historian Leanda de Lisle
  • Discover the Tudors Tour – Historian Dr John Guy, historian Linda Porter and tour leaders Claire and Tim Ridgway of The Anne Boleyn Files
  • The Anne Boleyn Experience – Historian Eric Ives, author Robert Parry (Tour leader), author Anne Clinard Barnhill and Tudor costume expert Bess Chilver

Combine those expert speakers with accommodation at places like Hever Castle, Coombe Abbey and Alveston Manor, and visits to Tudor attractions and I think you’ll agree that these tours will be a Tudor history lover’s dream come true! I’m so excited!

Update: Anne Clinard Barnhill has had to cancel.

You can view or download a brochure at http://www.historytoursofbritain.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2012_brochure_cover1.jpg and you can book your place on our Booking page.

Read More No Comments | Posted in Anne Boleyn Experience, Executed Queens Tour, News

Tudor Christmas Advent Calendar

Our sister website, www.TheAnneBoleynFiles.com has just launched an online Tudor Advent Calendar for this month.

Simply go to this site and get opening those pages!

Read More No Comments | Posted in General, Tudor History

Antiques Roadshow from Hever Castle

Last night I was watching the second episode of “The Antiques Roadshow” to come from Hever Castle in Kent. It’s a beautiful place with the castle set in stunning grounds. The program focused on the restoration work that Lord Astor had done to Hever, bringing it back from a disused building in danger of ruin to what is now an incredible English treasure.

What I found fascinating though was not the section where they talked about the building and some of its history, but the fact that NONE of the filming of the members of the public was in the private areas of the castle. The whole episode was filmed from the front of the castle, and as is always the case, the public were not allowed to go “behind the chains” into the Astor wing and its private grounds.

The programme reminded me of the first time that I sat on the private lawns of the Astor wing, drinking a cup of coffee, before the general public was even allowed into the grounds of Hever Castle. The sheer feeling of opulence was incredible! That was on our first Anne Boleyn Experience back in 2010, and it’s a memory I’ll never forget.

Then my train of thought went to our 2011 Anne Boleyn Experience, when on the last morning of the tour, many of our group were again out on the private lawns. One of the groundsmen was carefully pacing back and forth staring intently at the ground. Of course, the group asked me to find out what he was looking for, and the story is very interesting…

He was looking for any weeds in the lawn that were there. I asked “are there many?” and he told me no. The reason was that he mowed that part of the lawn, the croquet pitch, three times a week! After he had examined every square inch of the lawn, he then got out his lawn mower, and proceeded to cut the grass. But not just in one direction! The groundsman first went left to right, zig-zagging back and forth across the area. THEN he went at 90 degrees across the same area. THEN he went at 45 degrees across the same area. What attention to detail!

The funny thing is, that I asked him if he had ever played croquet on the lawn. “Oh no” he replied!

There is something incredibly special about Hever Castle, and the groundsman is just one example of the almost magical experience you have when staying there.

I really hope that we’ll get to see you on one of our 2012 tours so that you too can get to actually STAY in the private areas of Hever Castle that even the BBC don’t go! It’s magic…

Read More No Comments | Posted in News, Tours

Professor Eric Ives Confirmed as Speaker for Anne Boleyn Experience 2012

Anne Boleyn Experience Tour

Eric Ives with The Anne Boleyn Experience 2011 group

I’ve just received confirmation from Professor Eric Ives that he can speak on our September 2012 Anne Boleyn Experience Tour! Yay!

Eric has spoken on our tours twice now and has thoroughly enjoyed meeting tour attendees and talking about Anne Boleyn. In July he stopped his talk and apologised for the length of it and when we said we were happy listening for as long as he could speak he commented, “I can talk about Anne until the cows come home, so please stop me when you’ve had enough!” Could we ever have enough of Eric Ives talking about Anne Boleyn? I don’t think so! You will also have the chance to ask Eric those burning questions and to get your book signed.

I’m so glad that Eric can make it as I believe there is no-one better to talk on Anne Boleyn. I refer to his biography of her as my “Anne Boleyn Bible” and get very stressed if it gets moved off my desk! If you haven’t read it then make sure you get hold of a copy, it is huge and covers every aspect of her life and reign.

Other Anne Boleyn Experience Tour highlights include:-

  • Staying at Hever Castle – A magical experience in itself!
  • Visiting Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London, as well as Hever.
  • Meeting others who want to ‘talk Tudor’ – It really is wonderful to not have people’s eyes glazing over when you talk about Anne Boleyn!
  • Meeting Robert Parry, author of “Virgin and the Crab” and “The Arrow Chest”, two of my favourite historical novels.
  • Eating in the main castle dining room surrounded by tapestries and paintings.
  • Hearing Bess Chilver speak on Tudor costume.

Click here to view our 2012 tour brochure now.

Read More No Comments | Posted in News

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I had the most amazing time and can not fault a thing. I will suggest it to anyone as it is truly a once in a life time experience and there are no words I can say that can tell can tell you how great it was. I will be going on another in the future! I will never forget it as you have made my dreams come true. I am the most happy.        

Emma, UK
Anne Boleyn Experience 2011

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