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Great British Heritage

Twentieth Century Art In Yorkshire

Three of Britain’s best known contemporary artists were born and raised in Yorkshire: sculptor and artist Henry Moore in Castleford, sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth in Wakefield and pop artist David Hockney in Bradford.

Today the county is home to some of the most important collections of their works in a series of excellent art galleries in Leeds, where Moore and Hepworth studied, Wakefield and Bradford. 

Join host and guide, History of Art PhD graduate, Dr Maddie Hewitson to discover more. 

From

£729

per person

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts and two dinners.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Two nights at the four-star Radisson Blu Leeds City Centre Hotel, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room.
  • Discover Twentieth Century Art In Yorkshire
    Explore the Hepworth Wakefield, 2017 Museum of the Year, alongside the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 2014 Museum of the Year, a Leeds audio art trail, and David Hockney paintings and prints at Salt’s Mill.
  • Your Expert Guide
    Dr Maddie Hewitson, a research associate in the History of Art department at the University of York.
  • Visits & Tours
    All talks, guided tours and admissions.
  • Transfers & Tour Manager
    Tour manager and coach transfers throughout.
Meet Your Expert Guide

Dr Maddie Hewitson

Maddie is an art historian whose Travel Editions tours explore British art, sculpture, ceramics and the cultural history surrounding them. Her subjects range from the craftsmanship and industrial heritage of the Staffordshire Potteries to twentieth-century art and sculpture in Yorkshire.

Travellers consistently praise Maddie’s knowledge, enthusiasm and ability to connect individual works with their wider historical and local context. Her accessible approach makes galleries, collections and working heritage sites rewarding for experienced art lovers and newcomers alike.

Meet Our Expert Guides
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Day 1: Arrival in Leeds and Introduction to Twentieth Century Art in Yorkshire

Arrive from 15.00. This evening there will be a welcome reception, private dinner with wine and an illustrated talk by Dr Maddie Hewitson: ‘Twentieth Century Art in Yorkshire’.

Day 2: Leeds Art Trail, Hockney at Salts Mill and the Henry Moore Institute

This morning we enjoy an art audio trail. Around 1.5 miles long, the trail celebrates the University of Leeds’ collection of public art, and includes 21 sculptures, friezes and installations across the University estate.

At each stop on the trail, listen to insights from experts, academics and the artists themselves. This afternoon we will visit Saltaire, a model village built by Victorian textile manufacturer Titus Salt for his employees, with its permanent collection of Hockney paintings, prints and photographs from 1960s to the present day.

We return to Leeds in the afternoon with a visit to Leeds Art Gallery and the Henry Moore Institute. This evening there will be a lecture by Dr Maddie Hewitson and dinner at the hotel.

Day 3: Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth Wakefield

Today begins with a wander around the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (Museum of the Year in 2014) which holds 60 spectacular outdoor pieces, including works by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Anthony Gormley and Andy Goldsworthy as well as indoor changing exhibitions. Our next visit is to the Hepworth Wakefield, which, on its opening in 2011, was awarded the British Design Award and was the Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2017.

The gallery is home to more than 50 works by Barbara Hepworth from her earliest carvings to the ambitious pieces of public art that she created after the war. Return to the hotel for approximately 17.00.

our guests say

Recent reviews

“An unexpected highlight was the Ann Hamilton temporary exhibition at Salts Mill, which I would not have discovered without this tour. Maddy, as both tour manager and guide, was always helpful and enthusiastic, providing informative commentary on site and during our coach journeys, which made every visit even more enjoyable.”  
Mr B, September 2025 

Availability

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Date
Departing From
Price From
Availability
15/09/2026
Leeds
£729
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Solo Traveller Supplement From: £175
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Radisson Blu Leeds City Centre 
Located in the city centre in a meticulously restored building that once served as the main office of the Leeds Permanent Building Society, the hotel has kept the original art deco style setting and provides a restaurant, bar and a discounted pass to use for the nearby gym. Bedrooms at the hotel are stylish with en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone, wifi, safe, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. 

Car Parking
When staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Leeds City Centre, the nearest parking is available at Q-Park The Light located at LS2 8BD. As a guest or visitor at Radisson Blu, you are entitled to a 35% discount, this must be pre-booked prior to arrival. Book for the entire duration of your stay and use promotional code RADBLUTL35 here to secure parking. If parking is not pre-booked, full price parking will be charged.

Radisson Blu Leeds City Centre Hotel Website

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
 
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
 
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing. If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. Please note: no reminder for balance payments is sent to you and are not receipted unless requested. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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