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Great British Heritage

Arts & Crafts across Yorkshire and Lancashire

The Arts and Crafts Movement sought to unite beauty, craftsmanship and everyday life, leaving behind a rich legacy of architecture, interiors and decorative arts that continues to inspire today. Accompanied by Arts and Crafts specialist Anne Anderson, this fascinating tour explores some of the movement’s most significant sites in northern England, combining expert insight with a number of exclusive visits.

Highlights include the renowned textile collections of Gawthorpe Hall, magnificent Morris & Co. stained glass at Cliffe Castle, and the cultural landmark of Salts Mill. We also enjoy special access to two outstanding private houses, Banney Royd Hall and Briarcourt, offering unique opportunities to appreciate Arts and Crafts architecture in intimate and authentic settings. Along the way, discover the pioneering work of architect Edgar Wood through visits to some of his most important surviving buildings, including St Stephen’s Church and the village of Lindley.

Combining beautiful houses, exceptional craftsmanship, exclusive visits and expert guidance, this carefully curated tour offers an engaging exploration of one of Britain’s most influential artistic movements and is sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in art, architecture and design.

From

£1,275

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, one lunch and three dinners.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Three nights accommodation at the four-star Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room.  
  • Discover Art & Crafts with expert insight
    Arts & Crafts highlights include Towneley Hall, Gawthorpe Hall’s renowned textiles, Morris & Co. glass at Cliffe Castle, Salts Mill, and exclusive visits to Edgar Wood masterpieces Banney Royd Hall and Briarcourt.
  • Your Expert Guide
    Expert guide Professor Anne Anderson throughout the tour.
  • Visits & Tours
    All talks, guided tours and admissions as per the itinerary.
  • Transport
    Coach touring as per the itinerary.
Meet Your Expert Guide

Professor Anne Anderson

Anne is an author, broadcaster and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, with a first degree in archaeology and a PhD in English. She was a senior lecturer in Art and Design History for fourteen years, specialising in the Aesthetic Movement, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism.

An experienced international speaker and published author, Anne has inspired Travel Editions travellers for more than fifteen years with her wit, wisdom and enthusiasm. Her tours reveal the connections between architecture, interiors and design, bringing the artistic revolutions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries vividly to life.

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.

Exact order of itinerary may vary due to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.

Designed by Deborah Lowe for Briarcourt

Day 1: Arrival and Introduction

Arrive independently at the Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield, from 15.00.
This evening there will be a welcome reception, private dinner with wine and a talk by Professor Anne Anderson.

Gawthorpe Hall

Day 2: Towneley Hall and Gawthorpe Hall

Morning visit to Towneley Hall Museum & Art Gallery, whose collections illustrate the artistic and social ideals that inspired the Arts and Crafts Movement. The house contains important examples of decorative arts and craftsmanship, providing an excellent introduction to the movement’s emphasis on beauty, skill and traditional techniques.

Following free time for lunch, continue to Gawthorpe Hall, widely regarded as one of the most important Arts and Crafts houses in the country. Closely associated with Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth and the internationally significant textile collection that bears her name, Gawthorpe showcases the movement’s passion for craftsmanship, design and textile arts.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 3: Cliffe Castle and Salts Mill

Today explores the artistic legacy of William Morris and the wider Arts and Crafts Movement. Begin at Cliffe Castle, Keighley, where a guided visit focuses on the outstanding collection of Morris & Co. stained glass, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to hand craftsmanship and artistic excellence.

Continue to Salts Mill in the UNESCO World Heritage village of Saltaire. Although created before the Arts and Crafts Movement reached its height, Saltaire’s ideals of beauty, social responsibility and high-quality design strongly influenced later reformers. During a free-flow visit, explore the galleries and exhibitions within this remarkable former textile mill, one of the North’s most celebrated cultural landmarks.

Second talk by Anne Anderson this evening, followed by dinner at the hotel.

Day 4: Banney Royd Hall, Lindley, and Briarcourt

Today’s programme is devoted to the work of Edgar Wood, one of the most innovative architects of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Begin with an exclusive visit to Banney Royd Hall, one of Wood’s finest domestic designs. A guided tour with the owner offers a rare opportunity to appreciate the architect’s distinctive approach to craftsmanship, materials and design. This is followed by a garden tour with her son, whose stewardship continues the property’s tradition of thoughtful design and close relationship between house and landscape. After a light lunch, enjoy free time in the gardens.

This afternoon, visit Lindley, where several important Edgar Wood buildings survive. A short guided introduction from Anne at the Clock Tower highlights Wood’s influence on the village and his contribution to Arts and Crafts architecture. Continue to St Stephen’s Church, celebrated for its Arts and Crafts interiors and beautiful stained glass.

The day concludes with a rare private visit to Briarcourt, another significant Arts and Crafts property. A guided tour with the owners provides unique insight into the house’s history, architecture and preservation, before refreshments are served.

Return to the hotel for 17.00.

Post-tour extra nights at the hotel are available at a supplement.

Availability

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Date
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27/07/2027
Yorkshire
£1,275
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Solo Traveller Supplement From: £159
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Cedar Court Hotel, Hudderfield
Well-located for all the sites we visit on tour, this four-star hotel has a restaurant, bar and lounge. Bedrooms are comfortable and modern with en-suite, TV, telephone, free wifi, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities.

The hotel has car parking, which is free for the first 4 hours, but after that is charged at £4 per day for overnight stays – this is payable directly to the hotel. The closest station is Huddersfield which is approx. 10 minutes’ drive from the hotel.

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. Please note that on Day 4, the two private homes that we visit do not have lifts. Gawthorpe Hall also does not have a lift.
 
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. A reminder will be sent to you approximately 10 days before the balance due date. 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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