All tours on this holiday have now departed. Future departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
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Osborne House (c) English Heritage
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Osborne House (c) English Heritage
Petworth House and Park
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Petworth House and Park
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Osborne House (c) English Heritage
Arundel Castle
Osborne House (c) English Heritage
Parham House Interior - Credit Trevor Sims
Arundel Castle
Petworth carved room with Turner's in situ
Petworth House
Arundel Castle
Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle
Gazebo early evening
Lunch at Albert Cottage and visit to Osborne House
Carisbrooke Castle & St Mildreds Church on the Isle of Wight
Arundel Castle – home to the Dukes of Norfolk for 850 years
Petworth House – home to the National Trust’s finest art collection
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Osborne House in 1845, when searching for a home removed from the pressure of life at court, ‘a place of one’s own - quiet and retired’, as the Queen herself put it, where “It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot.” The Italian Renaissance style house was one of Queen Victoria’s favourite homes throughout her long reign and she spent as much time as possible here. Join your host and guide, Mike Stone, on this wonderful tour that includes a full day on the Isle of Wight including lunch at Albert Cottage Hotel, once part of the Osborne Estate, visit to Osborne House itself as well as visits to lovely Arundel Castle and Petworth House, frequented by JMW Turner, to find out more.
Day 1: Arrive independently at the Marriott Portsmouth from 15.00. This evening there will be a welcome reception and private dinner with wine and talk from your host and guide, Mike Stone, 'Queen Victoria on the Isle of Wight'.
Day 2: Carisbrooke Castle, St Mildred’s Church, lunch at Albert Cottage and Osborne House.
Across by ferry to the Isle of Wight and to Carisbrooke Castle, dating back to William the Conqueror and home of Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter Princess Beatrice from 1912, for a welcome talk and visit. The museum was dedicated by Princess Beatrice to her husband Prince Henry of Battenberg after his death in 1896, when she became governor of the island. She lived here until her death in 1944. We continue on to St Mildred’s Church and have a private visit including the Battenberg Chapel at Whippingham, where Princess Beatrice was married in 1885. We then head to Albert Cottage for a 2-course lunch with wine. Purchased in 1852 by Prince Albert, the cottage was once part of Queen Victoria's Osborne Estate and used by royal guests. Next it’s on to Osborne House for a free flow visit of the house, including time to visit the grounds and famous Swiss Cottage. Return to the ferry and the hotel for a light dinner of soup and sandwiches.
Day 3: Arundel Castle and Petworth House.
This morning we visit magnificent Arundel Castle, home of the Dukes of Norfolk for over 850 years, with an illustrious history, including a visit from Queen Victoria. It dates back to 1067 and many of the original features, such a the Norman Keep, medieval gatehouse and Barbican survive to this day. It was largely rebuilt in the 1870s-1890s in the Gothic style and is considered as one of the greatest architectural works of Victorian England, with stunning interiors and an equally impressive art collection with works by Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Canaletto. Our afternoon visit is no less impressive as we head to magnificent Petworth House, an inspiration to and frequented by JMW Turner. It is home to the finest art collection in the care of the National Trust including works by Turner, Reynolds and others as well as a totally natural looking landscape that was, in fact, carefully crafted by Lancelot “Capability” Brown. Return to the hotel for approximately 18.00.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement.
Please note the maximum group size is 48 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Marriott Portsmouth
The four-star Marriott Portsmouth is located near to Port Solent Marina and a short drive away from the historic dockyards and Spinnaker Tower. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and lounge, fitness centre, indoor swimming pool and comfortable bedrooms with private en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone, air-conditioning, minibar, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities.
Complimentary car parking is available at the hotel.
Marriott Portsmouth 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.
We found the bedding at the hotel unsatisfactory: the duvet was thin and not compensated by the heating in the room. When we asked for more bedding we were supplied with a duplicate duvet. The two together were heavy but still not particularly warm at a time when the nights (during our stay) were noticeably chilly. We ended up wearing sweaters over nightwear. The visits on the Isle of Wight were excellent. At Arundel Castle the guided tour went on for over an hour and a half; to get time to see the grounds (and get lunch in the town) we asked to leave after 90 minutes. A free-flow tour with room guides, as at Petworth and Osborne House, works much better for us. But we enjoyed the tour nonetheless!
Review by Morfey who travelled 09-October-2024
Travel Editions feedback:
We are delighted that overall, you enjoyed the tour. However we are sorry to hear that the rooms were not warm and will pass your comments onto the hotel. We have noted your comment that you find the free flow visits with room guides more suitable however diffident venues have different guiding available and sometimes we think that a fully guided visit is worthwhile.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 09-October-2024
Review by Anonymous who travelled 09-October-2024
An enjoyable tour. The leader was knowledgeable, entertaining and ensured all went to plan. His wife gave helpful support and was good on the people side of things. It would have been good to have had more time to explore the grounds at Osborne House and Petworth but appreciate that the risk of poor weather has to be considered.
Review by Cole who travelled 09-October-2024
Travel Editions feedback:
We are very pleased that the tour was a success and thank you for your understanding about adapting to allow for the weather.
Review by Petruckevitch who travelled 11-October-2023
The Isle of Wight day was very good, all worked well, the expert in Whipping Church was excellent. Meal at Prince Albert’s cottage was very good in a pleasant location. Arundel Castle is well worth the visit but out guide was not particularly good, she seemed keen to give us so much information in each area which seemed to lack a focus, just a jumble of facts. Petworth House was free flow viewing with experts in each area who were superb and imparted their knowledge extremely well. Lots of wonderful paintings to see. Mike did a great job keeping us informed and Oscar, the driver, was excellent as ever.
Review by Williams who travelled 11-October-2023
On day 1 we'd have preferred less time at Osborne House and a little longer at Carisbrooke and St. Mildred's, and longer for (the very substantial) lunch. Otherwise excellent, and the tour leaders were superb.
Review by Honour who travelled 11-October-2023
Very enjoyable tour covering some interesting places. Mike Stone was an excellent tour guide.
Review by Wright who travelled 11-October-2023
The dinner on the second night was replaced by sandwiches - but they were consumed by tables1-3, and none were left for the last table. Despite the magnificent lunch on day 2, I think a full supper should be provided on the second night.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 11-October-2023
Review by Campbell who travelled 27-October-2022
A great couple of days' sightseeing, enhanced by the excellent weather. Both the tour manager and the coach driver were very friendly and helpful The Isle of Wight and West Sussex are among the most scenic parts of southern England and what better way of seeing them than from a comfortable seat in a coach?
Review by Blow who travelled 27-October-2022
Despite the disappointment of not being able to dine at Osborne House this was a great trip. Thank you
Review by Coleman who travelled 27-October-2022
We thought that the visits to Osborne House and Arundel Castle were absolutely brilliant, as was the meal at Albert's Cottage. We would have happily foregone the other visits in order to have had more time at these places. The Marriott was an excellent choice of hotel and deserves top marks for its location, food and staff. We're looking forward to receiving the new brochure for 2023 to book up for next year!
Review by Taylor who travelled 27-October-2022
My friend and I were delighted with the tour .The tour manager was excellent. He kept us well informed of timings and arrangements as well as providing us with a lot of reference to interesting historical events or places in the area. The hotel was very good. We were of course disappointed that English Heritage had for the second time cancelled the dinner at Osborne house. However Travel Editions’ response to this was superb! Not only did they organise a delicious lunch in the lovely Albert Cottage hotel but also gave us some money back and included another dinner back at our hotel. One could not have asked for anything more. If the tour is repeated they would do well to stick to Albert Cottage and abandon English Heritage! A big thank you to Travel Editions.
Review by Drinnan who travelled 27-October-2022
The 'non-Osborne' meal was one of the highlights. The hotel food was only adequate and we should have preferred to eat earlier. The venues were great, though the journeys to and from Petworth were rather an ordeal.. We would have welcomed a chance to tip Oscar.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 27-October-2022
I didn’t receive the detailed information that most passengers had. The only info. was the brochure so we didn’t know the time of meal/talk on the first evening and neither did the hotel when we arrived at 4.00pm.
Review by Ganner who travelled 19-September-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 19-September-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 20-September-2018
Review by Anonymous who travelled 20-September-2018
Review by Thomas who travelled 20-September-2018
Review by Anonymous who travelled 20-September-2018
Review by Anonymous who travelled 20-September-2018
A thoroughly enjoyable short stay. Mike Stone proved an excellent manager, the coach driver amenable and friend;y ans the whole group got on well. The visits to the various locations were well arranged with Osborne being the highlight of the trip. No complaints whatsoever other than the blockage on the M3 on the way down which could not be laid at your door! Thanks for a great weekend
Review by Lock who travelled 20-September-2018
Train poor - this means our travel to and from the holiday - GWR and Arriva's fault - not yours. If tours could not end late Saturday it would mean we wouldn't have to use Sunday services!
Review by McKinley who travelled 20-September-2018
A lot was packed in over the 2 days of visits. It might have been nicer to be able to spend more time at Osborne, Arundel and Petworth as they were all interesting places with a lot to see.
Review by Hampson who travelled 20-September-2018
Guides at individual venues were excellent.
Review by who travelled 21-September-2017
