Plantagenet Heroines

Welcome to London

This city layered with centuries of intrigue, resilience, and royal legacy is the perfect starting point for your journey into the world of Plantagenet heroines.

If you’d like to begin your adventure with ease, we’re happy to arrange a convenient airport transfer from your arrival terminal (optional extra). We can also assist with pre-tour accommodation at our designated hotel (optional extra), giving you time to settle in and perhaps enjoy a stroll or a museum visit before the tour officially begins.

On the evening before our journey begins, you’re warmly invited to a relaxed Meet & Greet where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers—many of whom share a love of medieval history, storytelling, and discovery. Afterwards, you may wish to join us for an optional group dinner at a nearby restaurant (optional extra), or you’re free to explore London’s vibrant dining scene on your own.

INCLUSIONS: A complimentary glass of wine

Traces of a Queen & a Regal Welcome

Our journey begins as we depart London and make our way to the hauntingly atmospheric site of Old Sarum, once a royal stronghold and a place of deep significance in the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. It was here, within these ancient ramparts, that Eleanor spent many of her 16 years of confinement—an extraordinary chapter in the life of one of medieval Europe’s most formidable women. With Sharon's insight, we’ll explore what remains of the great cathedral, castle, and earthworks, and reflect on what this space might have meant to Eleanor.

Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch at a nearby local favourite, The Harvester Old Castle Salisbury, just across the road from Old Sarum. (Please note: lunch today is not included, so you’re free to choose what you like and dine at your own pace.)

In the afternoon, we journey north to Coventry, where history greets us in style at the majestic 12th-century Coombe Abbey Hotel—a former Cistercian monastery turned grand country estate. This unique setting will be our home for the night, and it’s here we’ll gather for a three-course Welcome Dinner, the perfect way to raise a glass and mark the beginning of our time-travelling adventure through the lives of the Plantagenet heroines.

INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, 3-course Welcome Dinner, Entry to Old Sarum, deluxe accommodation at Coombe Abbey Hotel

Ruins, Romance & a Family Favourite

After a leisurely breakfast and a slightly later start, we’ll make our way to one of England’s most atmospheric medieval landmarks—Kenilworth Castle. Once a grand seat of power and centre of courtly intrigue, Kenilworth is forever tied to stories of love, loyalty, and ambition. We’ll arrive just as the gates open and spend a few hours exploring its majestic ruins, strolling through the beautifully recreated Elizabethan gardens, and enjoying lunch at the on-site café.

In the afternoon, we begin our journey north, with a fascinating stop at Conisbrough Castle, an extraordinary 12th-century fortress originally founded by William de Warenne, the first Earl of Surrey. With its unique cylindrical keep and deep familial connections to the Plantagenet story, this castle holds a special place in the heart of our resident historian, Sharon—who has long admired the Warenne family, and whose tales will bring their legacy to life.

Our day concludes in the historic city of York, where we’ll settle in for the next two nights. Dinner tonight is at our hotel, a chance to relax and reflect on the remarkable women and places we’ve already encountered.

INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, 3-course dinner, Entry to Kenilworth Castle & Conisbrough Castle, deluxe accommodation in York

Roses, Ruins & Remarkable Women

Today, we set off on a true northern adventure into the heartlands of one of the most powerful dynasties of the Plantagenet era—the Neville family. Our first stop is the magnificent Raby Castle, ancestral seat of the Nevilles and a key stronghold during the turbulent years of the Wars of the Roses. It was here that Cecily Neville, later Duchess of York, was born and raised—earning her the title The Rose of Raby. As we wander through grand halls and sweeping parklands, we’ll uncover the stories of loyalty, ambition, and fierce maternal pride that defined this extraordinary woman’s life.

Next, we travel to the nearby village of Staindrop, where we’ll take time for a relaxed lunch. The parish church here is a hidden gem—filled with Neville tombs, many still beautifully preserved. One in particular is rather grand and comes with a story that may just raise an eyebrow or two… but we’ll save that little surprise for when we’re standing beside it.

In the afternoon, we make a final stop at the evocative ruins of Barnard Castle. Once granted to the Earl of Warwick by Edward I, it later became a key residence of Richard Neville, the Kingmaker, and eventually passed into the hands of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, through his marriage to Anne Neville. It’s said to have been one of Richard’s favourite homes—an emotional place to stand in the footprints of a complex man.

We return to York in the early evening and gather for a relaxed group dinner at a local pub—a warm, convivial end to a day filled with fierce women, formidable families, and unforgettable stories.

INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, Dinner at a local pub, Entry to Raby Castle & Barnard Castle, deluxe accommodation in York

Minsters, Memories & Meandering Streets

Today is mostly yours to enjoy the many delights of York, a city where history seems to echo from every stone. We’ll begin with a guided visit to the magnificent York Minster, one of the largest and most breath-taking cathedrals in northern Europe—its soaring gothic arches and stunning stained glass tell stories that span centuries. We'll also visit the striking Clifford’s Tower, once part of York Castle and a site of both power and poignant history.

The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace. Whether you choose to stroll the charming medieval lane known as The Shambles, lose yourself in the twisting alleyways, or take in the stunning views along the ancient Wall Walk, York offers something for every curious soul. From bookshops to boutiques, tea rooms to timbered pubs, there’s no wrong turn here.

Dinner tonight is at your leisure, with plenty of local favourites to tempt you—whether you fancy a cozy bistro, a riverside spot, or a historic inn tucked away in a quiet lane.

INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, Entry and guided visit to York Minster, Entry to Clifford’s Tower, deluxe accommodation in York

Sacred Stones & the Sheriff of Lincoln

This morning, we leave York behind and journey through the heart of the English countryside en route to Lincoln. Along the way, we’ll pause for a soul-stirring visit to Fountains Abbey, one of the largest and best-preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England. Though it was a male-only order and lies outside our direct heroine focus, its soaring columns, echoing cloisters, and remarkable condition offer an unforgettable glimpse into monastic life in its medieval prime. Even in ruin, it remains utterly breath-taking.

Upon arriving in Lincoln, we’ll step straight into the heart of Plantagenet history with a visit to the imposing Lincoln Castle. Here, our group will have the opportunity to view one of only four surviving copies of the original 1215 Magna Carta—a document that shaped the course of history. This is also the setting for the story of one of our most extraordinary Plantagenet women: Nicholaa de la Haye, a formidable castellan who defended Lincoln against siege and served as sheriff under King John. Sharon, whose admiration for Nicholaa runs deep, will share the rich story of this remarkable woman right where it happened.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner together at our hotel, gathering around the table to reflect on the strength, strategy, and legacy of a woman who held her ground—literally and politically—in a world that rarely made room for female authority.

INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, 3-course dinner, Entry to Fountains Abbey & Lincoln Castle including Magna Carta viewing, deluxe accommodation in Lincoln

Love, Legacy & Lincoln’s Treasures

This morning, we set out to explore the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral, a jewel of medieval architecture that once held the title of the tallest building in the world. Beneath its vaulted ceilings lies the final resting place of one of the most enduring figures of Plantagenet romance—Katherine Swynford, longtime mistress and later wife of John of Gaunt. A woman whose story bridges scandal, loyalty, and love, Katherine’s legacy shaped royal bloodlines for generations to come.

Beside her lies her daughter, Joan Beaufort, whose life—and death—adds a quiet twist to a tale we first began to unravel back in Staindrop. Let’s just say, not every medieval love story ends with a shared tomb…

We’ll also visit the evocative Medieval Bishop’s Palace, with its sweeping views over Lincoln and a rich past that once made it one of the most important buildings in the country.

The afternoon is yours to wander and explore this remarkable city at your own pace. From cobbled lanes to panoramic walks, independent bookshops to quiet corners perfect for reflection, Lincoln invites you to slow down and take it all in. In the evening I have no doubt you will find a charming location for dinner surrounded by history itself.

INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, Entry to Lincoln Cathedral & Medieval Bishop’s Palace, deluxe accommodation in Lincoln

Lost Daughters & Lasting Devotion

As our journey begins to gently turn toward home, today we travel south from Lincoln, pausing first at the quiet and haunting site often referred to as Sempringham Abbey. In truth, this is St Andrew’s Church, set near the site of the former Sempringham Priory, now long lost to time. It was to this priory that Gwenllian of Wales, daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Eleanor de Montfort, was placed as a small child. Her mother had died in childbirth, and her father was killed in battle shortly after her birth. Initially held in the care of her uncle, Dafydd ap Gruffudd, Gwenllian’s fate was sealed when he was captured and executed. At just 17 months old, she was confined to the priory on the orders of Edward I—a political threat removed not with violence, but with quiet isolation.

She would spend her entire life within the priory walls, never knowing freedom beyond its bounds. She died at nearly 55, her story largely forgotten by history. Today, a modest memorial in the churchyard honours her memory—a silent tribute to a life lived in the shadow of conquest and power.

We continue on to Geddington, where we’ll make a brief but poignant stop at one of the surviving Eleanor Crosses—monuments of grief and devotion commissioned by Edward I after the death of his beloved wife, Eleanor of Castile. This particular cross is among the best preserved, and standing before it offers a quiet moment to reflect on the ways medieval love and loss were written into stone.

From here, we return to London, where we’ll spend our final two nights. This evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Our hotel will be located within easy reach of a variety of restaurants and cafés, giving you plenty of choice for a relaxed dinner and perhaps one last wander through the city.

INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, Visit to Sempringham Abbey memorial, Stop at Geddington Eleanor Cross, deluxe accommodation in London

A Castle for Queens & a Farewell to Remember

Today, we head out on a special day trip to the “loveliest castle in the world”—the truly breath-taking Leeds Castle. With its elegant turrets rising from a lake and centuries of history woven through its walls, Leeds has long been known as a castle of queens. From Eleanor of Castile to Catherine of Valois, and even the formidable Margaret of Anjou, this site brims with stories of powerful and complex women who shaped the Plantagenet legacy in unexpected ways.

We'll have ample time to explore the grounds, gardens, and the beautifully curated interiors—soaking up the tales and treasures that make this such a memorable place. Whether you're captivated by royal romance, political maneuvering, or just the beauty of the setting, Leeds Castle never fails to inspire.

Returning to London in the late afternoon, we’ll gather one last time for our Farewell Dinner—a time to share laughter, memories, and the special connections forged during our journey. Our farewell dinner at an unforgettable London setting, promises to be an evening filled with heart and reflection.

It’s a fitting close to our remarkable adventure—celebrating the women of the Plantagenet world, and the enduring legacy they left behind.

INCLUSIONS: Breakfast, Entry to Leeds Castle, Farewell Dinner, deluxe accommodation in London

Farewell & Fond Memories

And so, our journey comes to a close. It has been an absolute pleasure sharing this adventure with you—exploring the lives, legacies, and landscapes of the remarkable women who shaped the Plantagenet world.

If you’ve opted for airport transfers, rest assured they have been pre-booked for your convenience. For those staying on to explore more of London, I wish you continued discovery and delight in this endlessly fascinating city.

Inclusions: Breakfast

Safe travels—and thank you for being part of this unforgettable story.