Tabley House
Tabley House
Little Moreton Hall
Little Moreton Hall
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Capesthorne Hall
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Capesthorne Hall
Little Moreton Hall
Capesthorne Hall
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Rode Hall
Rode Hall
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Rode Hall
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Rode Hall
Visit Little Moreton Hall with its wonky angles and quirky character
Erdigg House – as seen on the Antiques Roadshow
13th century Chirk Castle
Exquisite Rode Hall – home to the Baker Wilbraham family for 350 years
Join Nicholas Merchant in Cheshire to explore some of the county’s most beautiful country houses and gardens – from magnificent well known mansions to exquisite privately-owned country houses. Boasting exquisite architectural features, superb gardens and landscaped grounds and packed with artistic treasures, and fine furniture that reflect the taste and wealth of their illustrious owners, some of whom have been resident for centuries, this superb collection of houses represent all that is best in English country house design. All will be explored and illuminated with Nicholas’ trademark wit and erudition.
Available Departures |
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| 14 - July - 2024 | Limited Availability | Travel Info On Request |
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Provisional Timings |
Day 1: Arrive independently at the Cottons Hotel from 15.00 and enjoy a cream tea at 15.30.
This evening there will be a welcome reception, dinner with wine and introductory talk from Nicholas - ‘The Country Houses of Cheshire.’
Day 2: Capesthorne Hall and Tabley House.
This morning we visit Capesthorne Hall, the much-loved home of the Bromley-Davenports and a beautiful house full of superb paintings, furniture and stained-glass windows, as well as lovely gardens, lake and parkland. Next, it’s onto Tabley House for a light lunch in the tearooms (included) followed by a visit to the House. Possibly the finest Palladian mansion in Cheshire, it has been home to the Leicester family for 700 years and hosts a superb collection of art, furniture and books, as well as a chapel. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Erdigg and Chirk Castle.
After a talk at the hotel from Nicholas – ‘The Rescue of a Doomed House, Erdigg,’ we will explore two National Trust treasures today, first of all to Erdigg itself, near Wrexham. A visit here captures life above and below stairs in a unique family home and household of the early 20th century. This afternoon we head to Chirk Castle, a 13th century Marcher castle, which was home to the Myddelton family for over 400 years. On our visit we will have the chance to explore the medieval towers and dungeons as well as visiting the 17th and 18th century rooms of the Myddelton family home, including the historic laundry. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4: Rode Hall and Little Moreton Hall.
This morning we visit the exquisite and privately-owned Rode Hall, the country house home and garden of the Baker Wilbraham family for close to 350 years. We will have a guided tour of the house and free time to look around the wonderful gardens before a light lunch is served (included). After lunch we continue onto Little Moreton Hall, an iconic Tudor Manor House with wonky angles and a quirky character. The timber-framed building has defied logic for over 500 years with its tumbling architecture and the timber-frame curling around a scenic moat. The higgledy-piggledy house will show how people used to live at the hall and you will also have the chance to visit the gardens filled with herbs and vegetables that the Tudors would have used for thier cooking and medicines. Return to the hotel for approximately 17.30.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour managers discretion.
Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Cottons Hotel, Knutsford
Four-star spa hotel, with great facilities, owned by Thwaites Brewery and perfectly located to reach the places visited on this itinerary. Hotel facilities include restaurant, bar, indoor pool, gym, spa and comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities including en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone, free wifi, mini fridge and tea/coffee making facilities.
Parking: complimentary
Nicholas Merchant
Nicholas has been a lecturer and group leader for tours in the UK and France for Travel Editions for close to 15 years. Prior to Travel Editions, he ran his own book business, worked for Sotheby’s and was the West Yorkshire representative for the National Art Fund. His knowledge, wit and erudition illuminate any visit and his tours are informative, interesting and, above all, entertaining.
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.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 30-July-2023
The general consensus of the group was that some of the meals (certain courses) at Cottons Hotel were not ideal but the tour manager dealt with the problem
Review by Anonymous who travelled 30-July-2023
Everything well organised, however thought it would be better to have a full day in Tatton Park and Erdigg as much to see. Hotel comfortable, but dinners were invariably cold by the time they were served and overcooked. Choice of meals also very restricted.
Review by Underwood who travelled 30-July-2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our recent tour of Stately Homes and Gardens of Cheshire. Nicholas was an excellent guide with a depth of knowledge that enhanced the tour. There were two houses that we were not satisfied with the tours. Tatton Park tour of the house was poorly organised by the National Trust. They failed to really engage with their audience. The information we were given about the availability of refreshments was inaccurate. We were not able to see any of the upstairs rooms. Tabley House was again poorly managed by the guide who didn’t seem to connect with her audience. Erddig was an amazing experience as was Rode Hall. We couldn’t have been made more welcome at both properties.
Review by Cassie who travelled 30-July-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 30-July-2023
wonderful tour. Excellent choices of visits. Particularly liked HH properties. First class hotel good food and accomodation. Very good guide knowledgable and caring. Fellow travellers good company
Review by Bramhill who travelled 31-July-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 31-July-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 31-July-2022
Good accommodation, and Nickolas was very good as usual.
Review by Turner who travelled 31-July-2022
Excellent Hotel and food was great. Fantastic compared to tours with other companies in the past. Some disappointments with the National Trust Property visits but that was down to lack of organisation by National Trust and not yourselves. Really enjoyed my trip even though I was about '30 years too young' according to my fellow guests! I do look younger than I am!
Review by Millican who travelled 31-July-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 31-July-2022
Cottons Hotel was obviously understaffed for the number of guests and events it had taken on. Food was good but our room was not cleaned for 2 days and a faulty bedside light not repaired by the end of our stay. I'm sure this was due to the current pandemic but it wasn't up to the usual standard experienced on previous tours in The Country Houses series. Nicholas Merchant was excellent.
Review by Thornton who travelled 14-October-2021
Review by Anonymous who travelled 14-October-2021
Nicholas Merchant did a wonderful job and remained cheerful in all situations. The Cotton Hotel was excellent and so was the food.
Review by Shatford who travelled 19-May-2019
As usual Nicholas was excellent and we look forward to being with him again later in the year. The sites were very good also, we would class Dunham Massey as the poorest (cleanliness and presentation) and Capethorne the best. In all cases the guides were very good. Cottons Hotel was very poor purely from the room management point of view. Our room was either poorly cleaned or not at all - milk etc. was not renewed - towels were removed and not replaced. I complained to the management, via the front desk, and got nil response. I suggest you look elsewhere.
Review by Robson who travelled 19-May-2019
Coaches were good but admin reserch of where to go by drivers was very poor. It would be beter to reverse the order of 1st day houses doing the longer journey first as the staff were going home by the time we got there and it was rushed.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 19-May-2019
A well organised both in programme and content Very well planned with excellent background information plus bus transport and lunches out first class
Review by Young who travelled 19-May-2019
Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and visited some real gems of houses, Tabley in particular was delightful. Six houses in three days was quite demanding and we would have loved to have been able to spend more time at some of them. Erddig especially was a house we would happily have spent all day at.
Review by Dowbekin who travelled 19-May-2019
