Ashby
Ruston Triangular Lodge
Ashby St Ledgers Church
Kirby Hall
Rushton Hall
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Harrowden Hall
Rushton Hall interior
Boughton
Boughton House
Kirby Hall and Rushton Triangular Lodge
Historic Church of Ashby St Ledger’s
Harrowden Hall with lunch
Rushton Hall with afternoon tea
Boughton House – the English Versailles
Join medieval historian, Dr Elizabeth Norton, to find out the truth about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, visiting key sites in the story as you go. Known to everyone and celebrated annually, Guy Fawkes has gone down in legend over centuries. The truth is a complicated tale explored on this fascinating tour visiting Kirby Hall, Rushton Hall and Ashby St Ledgers in the company of erudite and knowledgeable historian and author, Dr Elizabeth Norton.
Available Departures |
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| 01 - November - 2025 | £ 699.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings |
Day 1: Arrive independently at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Northampton from 15.00. This evening there will be a welcome reception, private dinner with wine and a talk by Dr Elizabeth Norton – ‘The Truth about Guy Fawkes'.
Day 2: Kirby Hall, Harrowden Hall and Ashby St Ledgers
Morning visit to Kirby Hall, one of England’s greatest Elizabethan and 17th century houses with rooms redecorated to authentic 17th century specifications. We then head to Harrowden Hall, another key site in the plot (now the clubhouse of Wellingborough Golf Club) to see the house and enjoy a light lunch. Our last visit of the day is to the village of Ashby St Ledgers to see the outside of the manor house which was a key location for the plotters, and the interesting church. This evening enjoy a talk from Dr Elizabeth Norton – ‘Recusants, church papists and priest holes: English Catholics in the reign of Elizabeth’ followed by a bufett dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Boughton House, Rushton Triangular Lodge and Rushton Hall
Our first visit is to Boughton House, sometimes referred to as the “English Versailles” and home to the Montague family. After a light lunch (included) we head to Rushton Triangular Lodge, designed by Sir Thomas Tresham, father of one of the plotters and a testament to his Catholicism. We finish the tour with a visit to Rushton Hall, a key location in the story, now a luxury hotel, for a visit and included afternoon tea. Return to the hotel for approximately 17.30.
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 on this tour is 40 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Delta Hotels by Marriott Northampton
Located close to J15 off the M1, the modern, four-star Delta Hotels by Northampton Marriott Hotel offers a bar, restaurant, gym and comfortable bedrooms with private bath/shower, TV, telephone.
Complimentary car parking is available at the hotel.
Dr Elizabeth Norton is a British historian, specialising in the early modern period. She has degrees from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, as well as a PhD from King’s College London, where she has taught History. She has published widely, including the critically acclaimed ‘The Lives of Tudor Women’ (Head of Zeus, 2016) and biographies of four of Henry VIII’s wives, her PhD thesis looked at Catholicism in Elizabethan England. She regularly appears on television, including the recent BBC series, ‘The Boleyns, A Scandalous Family’, on which she also acted as Historical Advisor.’
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.
A very good trip which we both enjoyed and learnt such a lot. The organisation was very good. Food was excellent and everyone was very friendly.
Review by Gallimore who travelled 04-November-2023
Coach seating cramped. Difficult to hear evening lectures, due to poor acoustics in hotel room? Very cold at most of the tour locations, November not a good time for outdoor and unheated house visits.
Review by Turner who travelled 04-November-2023
Up to the usual Travel Editions standard. The only marring point was the visit to Boughton House. The conducted tour was long and tedious as the rooms are pretty much alike. After two hours of sameness….. Of course this is my opinion. Others may disagree.
Review by Smith who travelled 04-November-2023
Very impressed with both guides - Elizabeth and Steve, also driver Oscar.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 04-November-2023
This was an excellent tour. Elizabeth Norton was a very good tour leader and gave two very informative evening talks. Steve, our tour manager, was also very friendly and helpful and we had an excellent coach driver in Oscar. All in all a very enjoyable tour with a very friendly group of fellow travellers.
Review by Stephens who travelled 04-November-2023
Very interesting and informative tour. Lecturer very capable and friendly. Lunches might have been a little over-provided. Would have preferred to have the evening meal before the lectures.
Review by Fulton who travelled 04-November-2023
I really enjoyed this break and would have liked an extra day as I hadn't realised there was so much of interest to see in this area. Elizabeth and Steve were excellent. Thought the hotel was cold but didn't spoil the experience.
Review by Davies who travelled 04-November-2023
As always this was an excellent tour.. Extremely interesting talks and the chance to see things that added to the experience made it special. I would have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone interested in the history of the period.
Review by Lawrence who travelled 04-November-2023
Expert, Dr Elizabeth Norton was truly excellent. Tour manager, Steve, could do better with his communication skills. he didn't always explain what was happening and what to expect. Marriott hotel was good,. When we arrived at 3pm no one to greet us and no one to tell us timings etc.
Review by Mcdonald who travelled 04-November-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 04-November-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 04-November-2023
It was a very interesting/enjoyable tour, better than I expected. Both Elizabeth and Steve were very good in their respective roles. I preferred the Sunday as Rushden Triangular Lodge and Kirby Hall were the sites I found most interesting. It was a treat to have lunch/afternoon tea at Rushden Hall - what an amazing place. I thought the Marriott Hotel was good, the two evening meals were of a high standard, but I would have preferred a location that wasn't so remote.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 04-November-2023
Excellent. Both Steve, the tour manager and Elizabeth, the historian were fabulous. The hotel was very good, with pleasant and attentive staff. Could not fault the trip. My Dad and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend.
Review by Lea who travelled 04-November-2023
Review by Onions who travelled 05-November-2022
We would like an alternative vegetarian dish on the set menu.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 05-November-2022
1 visit had no connection to the gunpowder plot, another had little connection.l Dr Elizabeth was excellent. It was good to have the tour manager and lecturer, sit with us and not at a remote table.
Review by Marven who travelled 05-November-2022
A very well organised and interesting tour made especially enjoyable because Elizabeth Norton was such an excellent lecturer.
Review by Masterson - Jones who travelled 05-November-2022
As usual this tour was very well organised and subsequently very well run by Steve, the Tour Manager, and Elizabeth Norton. Elizabeth was excellent in the amount of information she passed on to us regarding both the Gunpowder Plot and the Protestant/Catholic feuds raging at the time. Also, Oscar the driver deserves some ticks. However, we were slightly disappointed with the sightseeing tours because of the amount of time we had to spend looking at sites outdoors, not helped by the cooler weather and damp conditions.
Review by Wright who travelled 05-November-2022
This was an absolutely wonderful trip. Dr. Elizabeth Norton is outstanding and would love to do another tour with her. Steve was also great and the coach driver excellent. Hotel good, meals good. All places visited so interesting. Especially Ashby Saint Ledgers and Rushton Triangular Lodge. Extra stop to see The Eleanor Cross also wonderful. One of the best tours I have done with Travel Editions.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 05-November-2022
Steve & Elizabeth were excellent guides, both very knowledgeable in their own fields & complimented each other very well. Although a fairly well known subject we still learnt a lot. The coach driver was also excellent.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-July-2022
Elizabeth Sutton, our guide, was excellent. Very learned, enthusiastic, she communicated excellently with us. Steve, the manager provided excellent logistic support. Incidentally the food offered to us at the houses we visited was superb
Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-July-2022
The whole tour was absolutely beautiful and out guide and tour manager were excellent. So was the bus and its driver. We saw so many beautiful houses and pictures and learned so much about these families. We also saw some beautiful rebuilt middle age villages which I particularly enjoyed
Review by Bierau who travelled 23-July-2022
The second night dinner is advertised as not including wine. In fact, two complimentary glasses were included. This was very nice of course but meant that before going in to dinner many had bought drinks which they needn't have done. But this a relatively minor problem which can be easily amended by stating that wine is included for the second night.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-July-2022
Excellent historian Elizabeth and manager Steven. Only comment really is that the links the Guy Fawkes were a little tenuous for several of the properties so you might be better advertising it as prominent catholics of the 16/17th century and their links to the gunpowder plot
Review by Buckle who travelled 23-July-2022
Great tour with a very interesting lecturer. The hotel restaurant could have been better. Some of the food was a bit stodgy. I am glad I didn’t need gluten free options. They didn’t seem to be familiar with the issue.
Review by Frankland who travelled 23-July-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-July-2022
Review by Mose who travelled 30-October-2021
Mike Ingram was a pleasant gentleman, but poor lecturer and it was death by power point. I am sure his knowledge is good but the delivery was poor. Some visits were not connected to the gun powder plot. However the group dynamic was good. Hotel staff were amazingl.
Review by Hewat-Jaboor who travelled 30-October-2021
Through no fault of the manager and the expert guide, the last day ran very late. No problem for us as we stayed an extra night , but train bookings must have been a problem. In addition there was far too much food. The light lunch was a substantial buffet, leaving little room for the cream tea! our marking for the accommodation is because the hotel had only one walk in shower (??) and we didn't get it. Otherwise the hotel was super.
Review by Nicholls who travelled 02-November-2019
The information re meals online and in the itinerary did not match, so I had to email for clarification. After my second email, the online information was then updated. The lunch closely followed by a full afternoon tea was a bit heavy on food! Some people had no idea what to expect - both as to what they should wear and as to what an afternoon tea entails. I was fine on both counts, but I know others were not. The hotel evening meals were very good. Thank you for another excellent tour.
Review by Grainger who travelled 02-November-2019
Once again, an excellent trip. Mike Ingham was a very good guide and both manager and driver were very friendly and efficient.
Review by Morton who travelled 02-November-2019
The places we visited were excellent but the connection with Gunpowder plot was rather tenuous. Perhaps a better title would have been Popish plots? Afternoon tea at Rushton Hall was a highlight
Review by Hall who travelled 02-November-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 02-November-2019
Review by Grant who travelled 02-November-2019
Review by Webb who travelled 02-November-2019
Enjoyable and interesting short break.
Review by Diwell who travelled 02-November-2019
An excellent couple of days. My only small reservation would be to include more local features from the local tour manager - when we passed Earls Barton it would have been interesting for people to know it was the home of Barker's Shoes and also Kinky Boots and the shoe industry in general.
Review by Wright who travelled 02-November-2019
Excellent as always
Review by McCoy who travelled 29-June-2019
Our first TE tour not conducted by the excellent Mike Stone was right up to standard. The talks were interesting (although Mike needs to try not to read text on the screen) the places visited were fascinating, the lunch and tea buffet style meals were just right, the hotel was superb and the management of the travelling and visiting was very well done.
Review by Morris who travelled 29-June-2019
Review by Rawlinson who travelled 29-June-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
The trip did what it said on the tin. This is my second Travel editions tour and I will consider going again if a subject turns up that I am interested in.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
My first trip with Travel Editions and the first time I have experienced an organised holiday/tour. I usually make my own travel arrangements independently but I was very impressed with the organisation and efficiency of the tour. I shall certainly book another tour with Travel Editions.
Review by Harvey who travelled 29-June-2019
Review by anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
Wonderful three days every thing excellent except the speakers on the two evening would have been better if they had used a microphone . It was a little difficult hearing them.. Perhaps something to think about ion future tours.
Review by anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
Excellent accommodation food and service at the Northampton Hotel Excellent lecturer and a very good Tour Manager Very good and interesting Itinerary except for the following: First day: 2 hours was too long for only a lunch stop at Harrowden Hall Hotel Evening lecture on priest hives a little too long and technical Second day: Rushton Hall afternoon tea was fabulous and viewing the priest hole and oratory fascinating but it would have been good to have some time to walk around the building and explore the gardens Thank you Travel Editions for another wonderful History tour!
Review by anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
Review by anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
Excellent 2 days, full of interest.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 29-June-2019
Great tour. Informative and entertaining. Full marks to Mike and Steve.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 03-November-2018
The tour manager, Steve, and guide, Mike, were excellent and clearly had a good rapport which made for a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. I know some people said they had difficulty hearing the speaker on priest holes but my daughter and I had no such problem even though we were sitting at the back of the room. In fact we had commented to each other on how clear he was and with excellent diction. His talk was fascinating. The visit to Ashby St Ledger was a bit too long as beyond the visit to the church and a walk around the village there was nothing else to see. We both thoroughly enjoyed the trip and would like to pass on our thanks to all involved. This includes the staff in the hotel who couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful. It is unusual in a hotel chain to have staff who always greet you with a smile, even those scurrying around with vacuum cleaners and piles of sheets would greet you and smile as they went past. Rachel and I feel that the management of the hotel should be made aware, if they are not already, of the quality of their staff.
Review by Miller who travelled 03-November-2018
This was a very enjoyable trip. My wife was sceptical in advance of whether it was value for money, but when she had seen how many things went on, she said it was good value. The lecturer Mike Ingram was very informative, knows his stuff very well and is extremely approachable and enthusiastic. We also had the privilege of having a lecture by Mike Hodgetts - top authority in his field.
Review by Chamberlain who travelled 03-November-2018
It was a great tour! We enjoyed it.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 03-November-2018
All very enjoyable.Mike as usual very thorough and detailed.Works very hard for us.Interesting talks.This was a good party. didn’t hear any grumbling for which I am grateful!!! Would love to stay at Rushton Hall but can’t get a mortgage!!!! Keep in touch.Robin Hood sounds interesting.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 03-November-2018
Review by Anonymous who travelled 03-November-2018
Interesting trip. Plenty of information provided. Think too long was spent at Ashby St Ledgers on the first day, which has a very interesting church but nothing else to visit; unfortunately you can't get into the "Plotters gatehouse" (Not Travel Editions fault). Good hotel.
Review by Whittaker who travelled 03-November-2018
We could have had less time at Kirby Hall, but the weather played a part here, and more time at Boughton Hall. The tea at Rushton Hall was superb. Overall the trip was most enjoyable.
Review by Russell who travelled 28-July-2018
The time allowed for the visit to Kirby Hall was too long. Not your fault that it was raining but some flexibility in the arrangements - morning coffee? - would have been appreciated. Overall, the trip was excellent value for money.
Review by who travelled 28-July-2018
Review by who travelled 28-July-2018
1st night lecture from Mike too detailed after supper and our long journey. Please could he just speak naturally and not read words from the screen, but he is super, such a depth of knowledge and a great host. Hotel very good. Nearly everyone was a "senior", please could we have an itinerary at the start of the day. !st day after 1.30 we visited Ashby Church, no drinks and no loos til back at hotel at 4.30/5 p m. Forward planning helps us! It was my 1st time on my own on a trip with Travel Editions, my single room was very good, the tours were very well thought out and I learned a lot about the Gunpowder Plot. The visits were all superb, especially the Rushton Triangular Lodge and the guided tour of Boughton House. All in all a very enjoyable and informative weekend.
Review by Reader who travelled 28-July-2018
I know this is a new tour, but it needs reorganising. There was too much time hanging about at some venues and not enough at others, also,one visit was missed out as the coach could not get near enough. ( Should this have been researched first?) The houses and churches we saw were all interesting and we especially enjoyed afternoon tea at Rushton Hall Hotel! We did not feel either the lecturer or tour manager were up to your usual standard and returned home rather disappointed.
Review by Connor who travelled 28-July-2018
A most enjoyable and informative few days. Mike was a fount of knowledge, feeding us snippets of the next stage in the plot as a taster to the places we were to visit. The lunch and tea on the last day were sumptuous .
Review by who travelled 28-July-2018
