Hever Castle
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey interior
Westminster Abbey
Tower of London
The Tower
Penshurst
St John the Baptist, Penshurst
St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Hever
Dr Owen Emmerson
Hever Castle – Anne Boleyn’s childhood home
Westminster Abbey – where Anne was crowned
The Tower of London
Lectures from historian Dr Owen Emmerson
Immerse yourself in the world of Anne Boleyn on this exciting tour. Join historian, author, and broadcaster Dr Owen Emmerson to explore some of the famous sites associated with the history of one of England’s most enigmatic queen consorts. Discover the secrets of the historic properties, such as Hever Castle, where Anne Boleyn spent her childhood and where later King Henry VIII sent Anne many scandalous love letters. We will also explore the magnificent sites where Anne rose to the throne of England, such as Westminster Abbey, before her dramatic downfall at the Tower of London. You will receive a bespoke lecture from Dr Owen Emmerson each day on the life and enduring legacy of Anne Boleyn.
Available Departures |
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| 19 - May - 2025 | £ 695.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings |
Day 1: Arrive independently from 15.00. Evening welcome reception, private dinner with wine and a talk by Dr Owen Emmerson: ‘The Boleyns: The Rise of a Dynasty’.
Day 2: Hever Castle and Penshurst
We start our touring with a morning visit to Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home in Kent. It was also here that she spent much of her courtship with King Henry VIII, and where Anne retreated to as a convenient refuge from her rivals and enemies at Henry’s court. We take a tour of the double-moated castle including the recently refurbished ‘Boleyn Apartment’ which are the only surviving suite of rooms lived in by the Boleyn family. We also visit St Peter’s Church, next to Hever Castle, and the burial place of Thomas and Henry Boleyn, father and brother of Anne.
After lunch (own expense) we visit Penshurst Place, the palatial residence near Hever which was used by the Boleyn family during Thomas Boleyn’s stewardship between 1522-36.
This evening there will be a second talk from Dr Owen Emmerson: ‘Anne Boleyn and the Great Matter’, and dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London
We spend the day in London today, firstly visiting Westminster Abbey where Anne was crowned in 1533, and where her daughter Queen Elizabeth I was crowned in 1559 and is buried.
After lunch we visit The Tower of London. It was here that Anne resided the night before her coronation in 1533. And of course, famously, where she was held prisoner and executed in 1536 after just 3 years of marriage. Visit Anne’s final resting place in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula. During the day, Owen will give his final talk: ‘These Bloody Days: The Downfall and Legacy of Anne Boleyn’.
We return to the hotel around 18.30.
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 42 passengers.
Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to time standing and walking at attractions. Some steps may be uneven with no handrail. Staircases may be narrow in places, with no lift available. There are steep spiral staircases at the Tower of London, and Hever Castle. Some outdoor areas are uneven underfoot, and may be cobbled in places. There is some seating available at each attraction.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Donnington Manor Hotel, near Sevenoaks
Charming 15th century manor house located near Sevenoaks in Kent, offering a restaurant, fitness suite, and manicured gardens. The comfortable bedrooms are located in the new wing of the hotel, and provide modern amenities including private bathroom, hairdryer, WIFI, and tea and coffee making facilities.
Car Parking: There is ample parking available for guests of the hotel. Please register your vehicle on arrival at reception.
Your Tour Expert - Dr Owen Emmerson
Dr Owen Emmerson is a social and cultural historian and author of four books. He worked as the Castle Historian and Assistant Curator of Hever Castle for six years. He has appeared in seventeen documentaries about the Tudor era, including The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family (BBC, 2021) and Blood, Sex and Royalty: Anne Boleyn (Netflix, 2022). He consulted on the forthcoming BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light. He is currently writing a full history of Hever Castle, and a cultural history of the Tudor Queens.
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.
