As you may have seen last Sunday’s series 3 screening of Victoria, I’ve made my On Location tour this week’s top story.  As we recently ran a very successful tour for a Public Broadcasting Station, I can offer you a programme that works extremely well as a customised small group tour.

My second story continues the ‘On Location’ theme with a focus on Hatfield House, one of England’s greatest treasure houses and where 85% of critically acclaimed ‘The Favourite’ was filmed.

With the 75^th anniversary of the D Day landings just around the corner, I’ve added something on the role played by the North Devon village of Clovelly in the build-up to Operation Overlord.

For clients cruising in or out of Dover, a visit to the Denbies Wine Estate will add some sparkle to a transfer to or from the port and for those who enjoy Living History experiences, The Eboracum Festival in York will tick all the boxes.

Victoria Series 3 on Masterpiece

Last Sunday, you and many of your clients, may have watched the next series of ‘Victoria’ on Masterpiece. Several of Yorkshire’s great stately homes and gardens were used as locations for this popular TV programme and they provide the foundations for a York-based On Location tour which was successfully tried and tested by a small group in 2018.  Ask me for the details.

On Location with The Favourite

Nominated for multiple awards, approximately 85% of ‘The Favourite’ was filmed at the magnificent, Jacobean Hatfield House, home of the 7^th Marquess of Salisbury and the Cecil family for over 400 years.  In addition to sequences filmed among the elegant parterres and topiary in the East Garden other locations include the Marble Hall, the Long Gallery and the King James Library.

Clovelly's D Day Connections

The picturesque North Devon fishing village of Clovelly was central to the GI build up to D Day with training camps on its doorstep. US Segregation in the 40’s meant that Black GI’s were based in Holsworthy, came to tea dances and were welcomed into the local community. Many later became leaders in their struggle for equal rights driven on by their Clovelly experience.

Discover Britain's Best Kept Secret

Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers gives you the chance to experience the stories of the extraordinary achievements of the men and women who worked here.  During your visit you’ll see the restored Codebreaking huts, with their WW2 ambience faithfully recreated, plus a stunning new visitor centre with an introductory exhibition and hands on displays.

The Denbies Wine Estate

Located near the cathedral city of Guildford, the chateau-style winery offers daily cider, wine, cheese and bespoke tastings in its atmospheric cellar.  Their outdoor train tours, include a Sparkling Vineyard Tour with a Vineyard Afternoon Tea Hamper. As one of the UK’s major wine tourism destinations, it is also home to a fine 17-bedroom hotel in the middle of the vineyard.

Bringing Roman History to Life

After the two consecutive years of success the Eboracum Roman Festival returns to York from 31^st May – 2^nd June 2019 with a packed programme of military parades, siege weapon demonstrations and guided walks. The Yorkshire Museum is home to some of Britain’s most significant Roman treasures and a Roman camp in the Museum Gardens will showcase domestic Roman life.