ENCHANTING ENGLAND TOUR
London - Royal Tunbridge Wells - Bath - York - Halifax - Anne Lister’s Shibden Hall
2nd - 16th October 2028
Join Diva Destinations on their enchanting journey through some of England's most beautiful locations. Our tour blends cultural immersion with historical exploration. From London’s iconic landmarks and Bath, famous for its rich history & stunning architecture, to Royal Tunbridge Wells, with visits to Vita Sackville West & Virginia Woolf’s homes. Our journey ends with a stay in York, with its history spanning Roman, Viking, and medieval periods. Not forgetting, of course, our visit to Shibden Hall, the ancestral home of Anne Lister, better known as Gentleman Jack, often described as 'the first modern lesbian'
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14 Nights B&B accommodation
Diva Destinations Hosts throughout Airport Transfers
Private transportation & guides
Walking Tour of London
Walking Tour of Royal Tunbridge Wells
Walking Tour of Bath
Walking tour of York & Halifax
Welcome & Farewell dinner
3 course evening meal on our London River Cruise
Entrance to Buckingham Palace - Westminster Abbey - River Boat Cruise - Windsor Castle - Shibden Hall, the ancestral home of Anne Lister - Monks House (home of Virginia Woolf) - Charleston House - home of Virginia Woolf’s sister & artist, Vanessa Bell, Knole House (ancestral home of Vita Sackville-West) - Stonehenge - Roman Baths - Cheddar Gorge Caves - York Minster - Bronte Parsonage
Porterage
100% Financial Protection
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International flights to/from the UK
Meals not stated
Personal Travel Insurance
City Taxes
Tips/Gratuities
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EARLY BIRD PRICES COMING SOON
(Payment plans available)
Sole Occupancy Room: £ | $ USD
Twin / Double Room: £ | $USD per person
USD$ rates are subject to exchange rate fluctuation.
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Day 1 | (D)
You will be picked up from the airport by private taxi. Your Diva Destinations hosts will meet you in the hotel reception at 3pm when you can check in and unpack. If you arrive early you can put your luggage in the luggage store and have lunch locally. You will have the rest of the day at leisure. This evening we take our first group meal together at a local restaurant.
Day 2 | (B)
Today you have the day to explore London using your Hop On Hop Off 24 hrs “Must see London” bus ticket. This is a great way to see this beautiful city.
In the evening we will meet for our group evening meal at a local restaurant.
Day 3 | (B, D)
You have your Oyster cards which you can use on London’s public transport (Underground and Bus) This morning we will take our Guided Walking tour of central London. We will end our tour at Westminster Abbey where you have entry and a guided tour. After your visit we will have lunch before heading to the Tower of London.
This evening we have our River Thames Dinner Cruise. This is a beautiful way to see London at night.
Day 4 | 15TH OCTOBER (B)
After breakfast we will be collected by private coach for our visit to Windsor Castle. Enjoy time exploring the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle and an official residence of the British Monarch. We will have lunch in Windsor Town before being transferred by private coach to Royal Tunbridge Wells. This evening we will have our group dinner in a local restaurant. , an historic spa town in Kent known for its 17th century origins following the discover of a medicinal spring. It is the only spa town in Southeast England and retains its Georgian elegance, particularly in the famous Pantiles area, a colonnaded walkway now lined with independent shops, cafes, and bars. The "Royal" title wasofficially added to its name in 1909 after King Edward VII granted the title to honor his mother, Queen Victoria, who was a frequent visitor.
Day 5 | (B)
This morning we are transferred by private coach to Monks House, home to Virginia Woolf, the famous 20th-century English writer and pioneer of modernist literature, and a key figure in the Bloomsbury Group. Her work, particularly the essay A Room of One's Own, argued for women's creative and intellectual freedom, which was a radical and groundbreaking stance at the time. We then continue to Charleston House the former home and studio of Vanessa Bell, sister of Virginia Woolf. Known for its connection to the Bloomsbury group, it’s now a public museum, celebrated for its decorative interiors, which feature murals and painted furniture by Vaness Bell and Duncan Grant. We will then be transferred back to our hotel for our group evening meal.
Day 6 | (B)
After breakfast we have a guided walking tour of Royal Tunbridge Wells. After lunch we have our visi to Knole House, the ancesteral home of Vita Sackville-Wes, British writer and poet known for her literary works, her marriage to diplomat Harold Nicolson, and her passionate love life, which included many relationships with women, including Virginia Woolf. In the evening we will take our group dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 7 | (B)
After breakfast we are transferred by our private coach to Bath. On the way we will stop at Stonehenge where we will take lunch before continuing on to Bath. We will have the afternoon at leisure before taking our group meal in the hotel restaurant.
Day 8 | 1(B)
After breakfast we will have a guided walking tour of Bath followed by lunch. We then have entry to the famous Roman Baths and Museum. We will take our group dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 9 | (B)
After breakfast we take our private coach to the beautiful town of Cheddar to visit the Cheddar Caves & Gorge, a truly iconic natural gem nestled in the Mendip Hills. Cheddar Gorge is not only one of Britain's most spectacular natural landmarks, but also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the newly formed Mendip Hills National Landscape. The Gorge boasts awe-inspiring cliffs and extraordinary subterranean stalactite show caves, plus many fascinating secrets about our prehistoric ancestors. After our visit to the caves and gorge we hope to have time to explore the quaint town of Cheddar. As the name suggests it’s the birthplace of Cheddar cheese, which has been produced there since the 12th century. After lunch we continue to the beautiful and historic city of Wells, the smallest city in England with the most beautiful Cathedral. We return to our hotel in Bath for our group dinner.
Day 10 | (B)
After breakfast we are transferred by our private coach to stunning city of York. You will have the afternoon at leisure.
DAY 11 | (B)
Today we have our guided tour of York and entry to York Minster
Day 12 | (B)
After breakfast we are transferred by private coach to the Brontë Parsonage. This is the former home of the Brontë family in picture postcard town of Haworth. It’s now a museum but once served as the family's residence from 1820 to 1861 and is where Charlotte, Emily, and Anne wrote many of their famous novels, including Jayne Eyre and Wuthering Heights. The museum houses the world's largest collection of Brontë manuscripts, belongings, and furniture, allowing you to see where the family lived and worked.
Day 13 | (B)
Today we have a fascinating journey for our Visit to Shibden Hall, the ancestral home of Anne Lister. Anne Lister was a remarkable 19th-century English landowner, businesswoman, diarist, and trailblazer often referred to as the "first modern lesbian." Born in 1791 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, she defied social norms with her bold, unconventional lifestyle and openly romantic relationships with women, most notably her partner Ann Walker, whom she “married” in a church ceremony in 1834. Lister documented her life in an extensive series of coded diaries, covering everything from her relationships and travels to her astute management of her ancestral estate, Shibden Hall. These diaries, later decoded, provide a rare and candid glimpse into the life of a woman living authentically against the grain of her time. Lister was fearless in both love and business, investing in local industries, challenging male landowners, and expanding her estate. Her story, rediscovered in the 20th century, has since become an inspiring symbol for LGBTQ+ history and women's empowerment. Nestled in the lush countryside of Halifax, West Yorkshire, Shibden Hall is a beautifully preserved Tudor manor that showcases a blend of Elizabethan architecture and later Georgian additions. We will explore the richly decorated rooms where Anne lived, worked, and meticulously documented her life in her series of diaries. Walking through Shibden's historic halls, you will gain a unique insight into Lister's bold personality, her forward-thinking estate management, and her resilient spirit. The surrounding grounds add to the charm, featuring meticulously landscaped gardens, a boating lake, and woodland trails. We will spend the remainder of the day exploring Halifax including the Piece Hall, an architectural and historical gem that stands as a unique testament to Yorkshire’s industrial heritage and the 18th-century wool trade. Opened in 1779, this magnificent Georgian building was originally designed as a marketplace for "pieces" of woolen cloth, hence its name. The hall provided a central, secure, and regulated location for local handloom weavers and traders to sell their cloth to merchants from across the country. Its design is striking and unusual, with 315 rooms arranged around a vast open courtyard, creating a grand and symmetrical layout that reflects the prosperity and ambition of the era. Over time, as the industrial revolution transformed the textile industry, the wool trade shifted to larger mills, and the need for the Piece Hall declined. By the 19th century, it had become a mixed marketplace and even hosted public events, gradually evolving from a centre of commerce to a community hub. Following a major restoration completed in 2017, the Piece Hall has been revitalized as a vibrant cultural destination, home to artisan shops, cafes, and a calendar of events ranging from concerts to festivals. Today, it stands not only as a preserved architectural treasure but also as a lively space celebrating Halifax’s rich history and Yorkshire’s enduring spirit of community and enterprise. We then continue to the beautiful City of York for our group evening meal in the hotel.
Day 14 | (B,D)
After breakfast our coach will transfer you to London Heathrow for your overnight stay. We will take our final group dinner in the hotel restaurant.
DAY 15 | (B)
Today we say our fond farewells as you take your journey home
England Tour | 2-16 Oct 2028 | 1000pp deposit