Buscot Park Gardens
Buscot Park
Kelmscott Manor
Kelmscott Manor
Anne Anderson
Christ Church
Christ Church
Morris’ country home – Kelmscott Manor, newly reopened in 2022 after a 2-year conservation project
18th century Neoclassical Buscot Park with Burne-Jones’ “Legend of the Briar Rose”
Oxford – including Christ Church with its magnificent Morris & Co stained glass windows
Two talks from Morris expert, Prof. Anne Anderson
Kelmscott Manor became a much loved retreat of William Morris, a place that fitted perfectly with his Arts & Crafts ideals of craftsmanship. Many of Morris’ admirers were to follow in his footsteps by setting up communities in the Cotswolds and have left behind an abundance of fine craftsmanship for us to enjoy. Newly reopened in 2022 after an absence of more than two years, Kelmscott Manor was Morris’ beloved country home and a great inspiration to him. Explore this, the National Trust’s Buscot Park and his time in Oxford with links to the Pre-Raphaelites with experts Prof. Anne and Dr Scott Anderson.
Available Departures |
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| 21 - July - 2025 | £ 599.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings |
Day 1: Arrive independently at the Blunsdon House Hotel, Swindon from 15.00. This evening there will be a welcome reception, dinner with wine and a talk by your expert host – ‘William Morris at Kelmscott Manor’.
Day 2: Morris’ Oxford.
A full day exploring Morris’ time in Oxford starting with a visit to the superb Ashmolean Museum, Britain’s oldest public museum, founded in 1683, with a world-famous collection ranging from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art. After time for lunch (not included) our afternoon in the city of dreaming spires continues with a visit to the fabled Oxford Union, including the Old Library – one of the largest lending libraries in Oxford. Finally we head to magnificent Christ Church with its outstanding Morris & Co. stained glass windows. Return to the hotel where, this evening, there will be a second lecture by your expert host – ‘The Pre-Raphaelites in Oxford’ and dinner.
Day 3: Kelmscott Manor and Buscot Park.
We start our day with a visit to Kelmscott Manor, which has reopened in 2022 after a two-year conservation project. Kelmscott was William Morris’ inspirational country home from 1871 until his death in 1896 and contains an outstanding collection of works by Morris and his associates. Here we will enjoy a private visit and guided tour and finish with a ploughman’s lunch before heading on our way. This afternoon we will enjoy a visit to the 18th century neoclassical Buscot Park. The estate and its contents were left to the National Trust in 1956, including works of art by Rembrandt and, in the music room, friend and collaborator of Morris, Sir Edward Coley Burne Jones’ ‘The Legend of the Briar Rose’, inspired by the fairy-tale Sleeping Beauty. Return to the hotel for approximately 17.30.
NB: Exact order of itinerary 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 36 passengers.
Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to the amount of walking involved, and standing for viewing at each attraction. For further information, please visit the mobility page on our website, or call our team.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Blunsdon House Hotel, Swindon
Located on the edge of the Cotswolds in the village of Broad Blunsdon near Swindon, the four-star family owned Blunsdon House Hotel offers comfortable, individually decorated and tastefully furnished bedrooms with ensuite bathroom, TV, mini bar, safe and tea & coffee making facilities in the room. Other facilities at the hotel include two restaurants, bar, and a health and lesiure club including gym and swimming pool.
Complimentary car parking is available at the hotel.
Blunsdon House Hotel Website
Your Lecturers
Prof. Anne Anderson
Prof. Anne Anderson author, broadcaster, Lecturer and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, was a senior lecturer at Southampton Solent University for 14 years, specialising in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism. Anne's career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world and her TV credits include the BBC's Flog It!. Anne has received a rapturous response from or customers at the many Travel Editions UK lectures and tours as well as a host of tours overseas and her knowledge, wit and enthusiasm bring her beloved subjects to life in whatever location she finds them.
Dr Scott Anderson MA, PhD, FNAVA, ASFAV (Associate of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers)
Scott is a University Senior Lecturer in the History of Art and Design and is an Honorary Fellow of the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers. He is a specialist in Victorian and Edwardian art, architecture and antiques and is a consultant expert for the BBC2 'Flog It!' programme. Scott is an Accredited Lecturer of The Arts Society and has lectured extensively to various societies, special interest groups and educational groups throughout Britain. He has extensive tour guiding experience in Britain, European locations such as Paris, Berlin, Vienna and New York.
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.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 22-July-2024
All very interesting and enlightening especially the visit to Kelmscott Manor which was definitely the highlight for me.
Review by Bowskill who travelled 22-July-2024
Review by Anonymous who travelled 22-July-2024
Review by Anonymous who travelled 22-July-2024
Mind expanding without the drugs! Very professional expert speakers who enjoyed sharing their knowledge with us. Comfortable hotel and good food. Excellent coach driver.
Review by Dyer who travelled 22-July-2024
Professor Anne Anderson was excellent as joint tour manager with her husband Dr Scott Anderson. Very knowledgeable on the subject, did not need notes and spoke loud and clear without actually shouting. Could not have hoped for better.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 22-July-2024
Review by Anonymous who travelled 21-August-2023
The change to have a visit to Keble College Chapel, actually improved the itinerary as it was a majestic interior and the painted murals were highly visible. This also allowed us to view the painting 'Jesus the Light of the World' .
Review by Laidlaw who travelled 21-August-2023
My first trip. Much enjoyed once I had met a few people as on my own. A welcoming reference to anyone on their first time, or on their own, would be especially welcome. Perfect weather. Unfortunately I have had Covid day after returning home. Wondered if anyone else commented.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 21-August-2023
Just a thought on the description that may be helpful. Or you may feel it's a bit too obvious? For people like us (average age 82) maybe a reminder of the obvious...that old buildings often have many steps and not always lifts, don't always have seats that you can sit on, and can be more challenging for some people than other tours are ...would be helpful? A very minor point, but for a possible short break with you next year we'll be looking for something a bit less challenging than this tour, which we nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed. And full marks to every member of the staff at the hotel - so smiling, friendly and helpful. And of course to Scott and Anne.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 21-August-2023
Faultless management from Scott and excellent scholarly lectures from Anne Anderson.
Review by Lancaster-Smith who travelled 21-August-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 21-August-2023
A very good, informative and busy tour.
Review by Bessant who travelled 21-August-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 21-August-2023
This Tour was well managed throughout. Professor Anne Anderson has an excellent command of the subject and clear delivery. Scott also had a good grasp of the theme. The lovely lunch st Kelmscott Manor and afternoon tea at Buscot was appreciated. The hotel staff were trying their best and I know recruitment is difficult. The hotel food wasn’t great. I would prefer 2 better quality courses rather 3 average offerings but understand that tour catering can have its limitations.
Review by Barbour-Bourne who travelled 21-August-2023
A very well organized series of visits led by two enormously experienced and knowledgeable guides. I would certainly book up a similar short holiday again and this particular team would be an added incentive. 'Good' above because no flight etc involved, only my own driving to and from hotel which would never count as 'excellent.'
Review by Anonymous who travelled 21-August-2023
Review by Jennings who travelled 21-August-2023
I enjoyed the trip to Oxford especially to the Oxford Union and Christ Church to see the stained glass by Burne Jones and William Morris and the connection with Charles Dodgson. Kelmscott Manor was fascinating and the reason for my trip.However the tour by a volunteer guide,supported by another was marred by the constant interruptions made by our Tour guide,which I found very rude and unprofessional.We were also rushed around too quickly,although the food and catering Staff were excellent. Buscot Park was also excellent.We were introduced by the curator ,who was very knowledgeable and welcoming.. There was more emphasis than I had anticipated on the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. However I learnt a lot from the course.
Review by Frankland who travelled 24-July-2023
Excellent hotel, clean, comfortable, good food and friendly staff. We liked the house wines being very good Australian ones! The tours were very good, with an excellent coach driver, and Anne and Scott, our guides were first class, very knowledgeable, and approachable and friendly. We feel we learned a lot, in a very pleasant way, and visited some wonderful places. We certainly intend to join more of your trips! And we met many very nice, like-minded people!
Review by Bagshaw who travelled 24-July-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 24-July-2023
Really well organised and great venues to visit, very interesting lectures in the evenings. Only negatives were poor breakfasts (but the evening meals that were organisd were lovely) and on the last night (an extra night) we booked a table in the bar area (the restaurant was not open that night) the night before and on arrival the table had been given to someone else and the bar area was full. They moved a table from the restaurant to the bar area but it meant we were squeezed into the entrance area in the bar next to a very noisy group of people who were not eating. Sevice was slow as it was so full.
Review by Clamp who travelled 24-July-2023
This was our first Travel Editions holiday and it was great. We spoke to other members of the group who had very positive things to say about other TE holidays that they had been on. Anne and Scott were excellent.
Review by Shieff who travelled 24-July-2023
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