Old Swan Hotel
Harrogate Pump Room
Harrogate
Harrogate city centre park
Turkish Baths
Old Swan Bar
Turkish Baths
Turkish Baths
Newby Hall
Old Swan Restaurant
Harrogate Crocuses
Classic Double at Old Swan
Goldsborough Hall
Goldsborough Orangery
Goldsborough Hall
Knaresborough Viaduct
Spend two nights at the Old Swan Hotel
A guided tour of the splendid Turkish Baths in Harrogate
Murder Mystery evening at the Old Swan Hotel
A VIP guided tour of Newby Hall
In 1926 Agatha Christie disappeared, resulting in a public furore over the 11 days that she could not be traced. Despite a massive manhunt, she could not be found. Eleven days after her disappearance, Christie was identified as a guest at the Swan Hydropathic Hotel (now called the Old Swan Hotel) in Harrogate, where she was registered as Mrs Teresa Neele from Cape Town.
Christie gave no explanation for her disappearance. Two doctors had diagnosed her as suffering from amnesia, but opinion remains divided as to the reasons of her disappearance. One suggestion was she had suffered a nervous breakdown caused by the death of her mother earlier in the year and the discovery of her infidelity. Whatever the reason it has gone with Agatha Christie to her grave.
This brand new tour led by Jane Tapley will explore Agatha’s time in Harrogate, staying at the Old Swan Hotel as she did, but also her legacy as the Queen of Crime writing. Throughout the tour there will be visits to places she will have visited or seen while in Harrogate including the Turkish Baths for a guided tour, and the Pump Rooms. There will even be a murder mystery dinner at the hotel. This tour is perfect for anyone who enjoys a mystery.
Available Departures |
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| 22 - October - 2024 | Limited Availability | Travel Info On Request |
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Provisional Timings |
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive Independently at the Old Swan Hotel from 15:00.
This evening there will be a welcome reception, private dinner with wine and talk by Jane Tapley.
Day 2: Harrogate
This morning depart the hotel on foot for the short walk to the Turkish Baths. On arrival there will be a guided tour of these unique Victorian Baths. They are one of the most historically complete ( only seven Turkish Baths remain from the Victorian Period) and in full working order Turkish Baths in the UK. They are exquisitely decorated with Moorish designs, vibrant glazed brickwork and painted ceilings. They were also used for the filming of ‘Agatha’ a film detailing Agatha Christies disappearance. Afterwards there will be a visit to the Royal Pump Room Museum. Lunch will be at leisure (not included), where you can enjoy one of the many restaurants and cafes in Harrogate including the famous Betty’s tearooms. In the afternoon there will be a walking tour with a local guide exploring Harrogate, its history and what the town would have been like during Agatha’s stay. Return to the hotel late afternoon. In the evening there will be a private dinner with murder mystery performance at the hotel, solve the disappearance of your host and theatrical agent Beverley Black.
Day 3: Newby Hall and Lunch
This morning depart the hotel by coach for the beautiful Newby Hall, one of Britain’s finest Adam Houses. The original house was built in 1690 by Sir Christopher Wren and then enlarged and adapted by John Carr and subsequently by Robert Adam. On arrival there will be tea and coffee before enjoying a private guided tour of the house. The house, still the family home of Mr and Mrs Richard Compton has been used as a set for various film and television including the recent BBC adaptation of the ABC Murders. After the tour of the house enjoy lunch in the Orangery at Newby Hall. Perhaps one or two of you will have your own theories about Agatha’s mysterious disappearance. Return to the hotel approx. 16:30.
Please note: Day 2 of the itinerary is done all on foot due to the short distances between the hotel and each visit.
Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 30 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate
The Old Swan Hotel combines Victorian splendour with elegant contemporary style. The hotel has stunning period features and elegant reception rooms. There is a restaurant with its original glass ceiling and the Swan Lounge and Bar which offers views over the lawn and town centre. The rooms are spacious and traditionally decorated and feature tea/coffee making facilities, flat screen televisions, Wi-Fi and many other amenities.
Parking: Parking is available at the hotel on a first come basis, it cannot be pre booked. There is a £10 per day charge payable directly to the hotel.
Harrogate railway station is a 15 minute walk or 5 minute taxi ride from the hotel.
Old Swan Hotel Website
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.
Excellent tour and leader. Visit to Newby Hall a highlight. Hotel very comfortable and centrally situated to explore Harrogate.
Review by Muncaster who travelled 30-April-2024
As always Jane was an excellent guide, attentive to the needs of the group. Her knowledge of the subject supplemented that of the guides in situ. She is a delight to travel with.
Review by Thomas who travelled 30-April-2024
Having done “Agatha Christie on the English Riviera” this was a natural follow up and I enjoyed it, I learnt new things about both Agatha Christie and Harrogate. Jane is excellent and being of the same generation as most of the guests automatically empathises with them. She was disappointed with the Murder Mystery on the second evening - although that at Torquay was excellent and set the bar high - and was open with us about wanting to do better in the future - that’s an excellent and praiseworthy attitude. I hope her ambitions to improve this will be supported, at the moment the tour, imho, is 7-8 out of 10, with a little fine tuning it can become 9-10. I would take exception with the online description stating that the walking difficulty was “demanding” , it certainly wasn’t! Additionally the hotel was used as a location for the 1979 Vanessa Redgrave/Dustin Hoffmann movie “Agatha” - there’s a plaque in the ballroom! I suggest this be added to the tour description, we weren’t just staying where she disappeared to, but where the movie about it was filmed! Jane advised that she’s working on an “Agatha Christie in Wallingford” tour - where she and her husband Max Mallowan lived for c.45 years - which sounds extremely interesting and I’d certainly book it!
Review by Wall who travelled 30-April-2024
Travel Editions feedback:
Many thanks for the review - we're glad you enjoyed the tour. We are looking into the Murder Mystery evening for future tours, so thank you for bringing this to our attention.
This tour is a wonderful introduction to the beauty of Harrogate, and its ‘must-visit’ attractions such as Bettys tearooms. Jane managed it with her usual relaxed style. The Old Swan is elegant with stylish common parts, and quality food from a good kitchen. However, they are a bit tight with the wine. And a glass of Prosecco should definitely form part of the choice at the welcome reception. It didn’t. Newby Hall is a gem to visit, and the staff and guides treated us like VIPs. The disappointment was the murder mystery which was poorly executed by an amateurish team. Too many of us had seen the superb ‘Torquay’ players. Jane was well aware of this, so TE needs to address the problem. If you do, this excellent tour might run for as long as ‘The Mousetrap.’
Review by Hamilton who travelled 30-April-2024
Turkish Baths and walking tour of Harrogate excellent. Both guides were very good. The Murder Mystery was inappropriate for the tour and should not have been selected. The players however were very good. The people at Newby Hall were warm and welcoming and made us feel special. The end of the tour was spoilt by the staff at Goldsborough Hall who quite frankly misled people into thinking that Prosecco was included with the afternoon tea and I was shocked being the first to leave for a walk in the grounds to be asked to pay £19.00 for two glasses of Prosecco. Jane then fought our corner and we got a refund but not without a totally unprofessional response from the hotel manager who I understand has banned Travel Editions. Quite frankly I would never go near the Goldsborough Hotel again and your tour manager should be commended for her stance.
Review by Bumstead who travelled 31-October-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 31-October-2023
We have travelled twice with Jane before and she really is an excellent team leader and sensitively cares for her clients. Unfortunately, she had to deal with a difficult incident at Goldsborough Hotel where Prosecco was offered but no indication from staff that it was not inclusive and had to be paid for!!? The Manager was extremely rude and aggressive and cliental had to back Jane up in the conversation, as it was entirely the hotel's error. which he was reluctant to admit!. Hotel accommodation was good but the food was less acceptable! The turkey on the first evening was like rubber & a job to cut & the fruit salad was "boring" - very hard and dry! A little better on 2nd evening but very basic. Murder Mystery was not so enjoyable - no where near the standard of the first class team in Torquay! Some attendees could not hear one of them! Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the break and the tours were well organised, especially Newby Hall, very professional! The same cannot be said for Goldsborough Hotel - food good but service very poor! On Wednesday, John, the Harrogate tour guide was excellent, very interesting, with first class voice delivery!
Review by Anonymous who travelled 31-October-2023
The 2 dinners at the hotel were very inadequate, the worst that I've ever been presented with - cheap ingredients, badly cooked and no choices available. This has diminished my trust in the standard set by Travel Editions.
Review by Gluecksmann who travelled 31-October-2023
