The Northern Belle - Castles, Stately Homes, Gardens and Museums 2020

The magnificence of Britain's heritage is ever present with a wealth of sights to stir the imagination. Fortified strongholds speak, with a power that endures over the centuries, of more turbulent times when they formed the settings of strategy and siege. Travel in aristocratic style to some of our most noble houses and marvel at breathtaking interiors filled with irreplaceable antiques, glorious artworks and ancestral treasures.

Alnwick Castle

from £360 per person
£30 per person supplement for a table for 2
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

Beautiful Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in the town of Alnwick in the English county of Northumberland. There has been a castle on the site for nearly a thousand years. It is the seat of the Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman conquest, and renovated and remodelled a number of times. Harry Potter fans will recognise it as Hogwarts School and it has also featured in the acclaimed Downton Abbey series. Explore the magnificent state rooms, library and Renaissance drawing room. Admire the furniture and fine art, including works by Canaletto and Van Dyck.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Alnwick castle).

Caernarfon Castle

from £370 per person
£30 per person supplement for a table for 2
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

This royal fortress-palace built on legends and bitter medieval conflict' Caernarfon Castle is recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. Situated on the banks of the River Seiont, it is grouped with Edward I's other castles at Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech as a World Heritage Site. But for sheer scale and architectural drama Caernarfon stands alone. Most castles are happy with round towers, not Caernarfon! Polygonal towers were the order of the day, with the Eagle Tower being the most impressive of these. You will also note the colour-coded stones carefully arranged in bands. In 1969 the current Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles's investiture took place here.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Caernafon Castle).

Chatsworth House

from £370 per person
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

Wander amidst the stately elegance of one of the finest houses in Britain. Roam from room to room discovering famous artworks by old masters, sculptures and tapestries, and walk the 'Capability' Brown-designed gardens, with their spectacular fountains.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Chatsworth).

Dumfries House

from £370 per person
£30 per person supplement for a table for 2
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

Dumfries House is one of Britain's most beautiful stately homes with an outstanding collection of 18th-century furniture including fine examples of the work of Thomas Chippendale. The house and original contents, which include nearly 10% of Chippendale's surviving work, represent one of the most important documents of the Scottish Enlightenment. Recently having been fastidiously restored to its original splendour, you can take a guided tour around the stunning interiors and savour the delights of this now resplendent 18th century stately home.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Dumfries House).

Glamis Castle

from £370 per person
£30 per person supplement for a table for 2
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

Situated beside the village of Glamis in Angus, Scotland, Glamis Castle has been the ancestral seat to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372, inspiration for Shakespeare's Macbeth, the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Take a fascinating tour of the turreted, fairytale château, with its priceless works of art, tapestries and furnishings, which is brought to life with intriguing tales and ghostly legends. The childhood pranks of the young Lady Elizabeth (later to become the Queen Mother) may also be revealed, such as her penchant for pouring freezing water from the ramparts onto arriving guests. Outside there is much to explore, including magnificent Italian and Walled Gardens, a Nature Trail where you may spot red squirrels and herons, and a Pinetum.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Glamis Castle).

Inveraray Castle

from £370 per person
£30 per person supplement for a table for 2
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

Inveraray Castle is a country house near Inveraray in the county of Argyll, in western Scotland, on the shore of Loch Fyne, Scotland's longest sea loch. It has been the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell, since the 18th century and the iconic, must-see visitor attraction on the West Coast of Scotland. An Inveraray Castle has been standing on the shores of Loch Fyne since the 1400s, although the impressive castle that presently stands here was inspired by a sketch by Vanbrugh, the architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard in the 1700s. Inveraray Castle boasts an abundance of lavishly-decorated rooms and acres of stunning gardens. It is no surprise that this was chosen as a filming location for the BBC hit drama Downton Abbey.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Inveraray Castle).

Longleat House and Safari Park

from £370 per person
£30 per person supplement for a table for 2
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

Longleat is an English stately home and the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, set adjacent to the village of Horningsham near Warminster. The house is set in over 1,000 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown and was the first stately home to open to the public, and also claims the first safari park outside Africa. Board the Northern Belle for an adventure to this stately house and the world-famous Safari Park. Prepare to be amazed by hundreds of animals in their natural surroundings before exploring one of the best examples of high Elizabethan architecture in Britain./p>

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Longleat House).

Penryn Castle and Gardens

from £370 per person
£30 per person supplement for a table for 2
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

The current Penrhyn Castle was built between 1820 and 1833 for George Hay Dawkins Pennant by the famous architect Thomas Hopper. Highlights include the State Rooms, Library and Drawing room as well as the opportunity to go "below stairs" to the restored Victorian Kitchens. Outside is equally as dramatic – lose yourself amongst the tall leaves in the jungle style Bog Garden and relax and unwind in the tranquil Walled Garden home to many exotic tropical plants. A visit to the Railway museum located in the old stable block is a must. See a wide range of engines, carriages and rolling stock that used to work in the nearby Penrhyn Quarry. This National Trust property really is a National treasure and a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Penrhyn Castle).

Scone Palace

from £370 per person
£30 per person supplement for a table for 2
Recommended Insurance from £9.88 per person

Home to the Earls of Mansfield for the last 400 years, Scone Palace has an exciting and colourful history as one of Scotland's most important stately homes. The site was the capital of the Picts 1,500 years ago and later the crowning place of the Kings of Scots: a visit here is a walk in the footsteps of Scotland's ancient founding fathers. The Palace houses an outstanding collection of antiques, paintings, superb embroidered silks, sculpted oak fireplaces and breath-taking porcelain collections. Take time to enjoy the remarkable gardens, with their giant redwoods, Noble firs and striking star-shaped maze.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Scone Palace).

Please note: All timings shown are for guidance only. Confirmed timings will be supplied with your travel documents which will be sent to you 5 - 7 days before departure.