Country Houses of Northampton and Lincolnshire Tour
Country Houses of Northampton and Lincolnshire Tour
4 Days Starting and ending in Barnsdale, England
Visiting: Barnsdale, Stamford, Peterborough, Boughton House
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 25
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Discover the rich history and stunning architecture of Northampton and Lincolnshire on this exclusive tour. Stay at the charming Barnsdale Hotel, a converted historic farmhouse, and enjoy three nights of comfortable accommodation with en-suite rooms and countryside views. Delight in a cream tea on arrival, welcome reception, and three dinners with wine. Explore magnificent Burghley House, Grimsthorpe Castle, Elton Hall, Deene Park, Boughton House, and Rockingham Castle, each with its unique story and heritage. Enjoy guided tours, light lunches, and insightful talks by Nicholas Merchant, ensuring an informative and entertaining experience. Transport to the hotel is not included.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1:
Location: Barnsdale
Accommodation Name: The Barnsdale, Rutland Water
Meals Included: Dinner
Arrive independently at The Barnsdale from 15.30 and enjoy a cream tea in the hotel’s conservatory. This evening there will be a welcome drink, private dinner with wine and an introductory talk by Nicholas Merchant: ‘More Houses of Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire’.
Day 2: Burghley House And Grimsthorpe Castle.
Location: Stamford
Accommodation Name: The Barnsdale, Rutland Water
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our first visit is to the magnificent Burghley House where there will be a welcome talk, followed by a free-flow visit of the house. A light lunch will be included here, and this afternoon it is on to Grimsthorpe Castle where we will have a guided tour. The castle has been in the Willoughby de Eresby family for 500 years and some parts of it date back to the 13th century. Evening talk from Nicholas Merchant: ‘A French Palace in the English Countryside’ followed by dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Elton Hall And Deene Park.
Location: Peterborough
Accommodation Name: The Barnsdale, Rutland Water
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A morning visit to Elton Hall for a guided tour. An extraordinary part-Gothic house, Elton Hall has been and continues to be the home of the Proby family since 1660. This afternoon light lunch and tour of Deene Park , an interesting house occupied by the Brundenell family since 1514. The Brudenell family developed Deene Park from a medieval manor into a Tudor and Georgian mansion. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4: Boughton House And Rockingham Castle.
Location: Boughton House
Accommodation Name: The Barnsdale, Rutland Water
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning guided tour of Boughton House , the great 18th century Versailles-inspired mansion of the Dukes of Buccleuch. After a light lunch here (included), we continue our tour with a visit to Warkton, St Edmund Church, site of the mausoleum of the Dukes of Montagu located within the grounds of Boughton House. For our final visit we have a guided tour of Rockingham Castle , standing high on a hill overlooking the expanse of the Welland Valley. Having been in the same family for 450 years, the house contains fine Elizabethan portraits, contemporary paintings, and in the garden the ‘elephant hedge’. Return to the hotel for approximately 18.00.
What's Included
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Three nights' bed and breakfast at the three-star The Barnsdale, Exton, on the edge of Rutland Water
Accommodation is based on shared occupancy of twin/double room.
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Cream tea on arrival
Enjoy a cream tea in the hotel’s conservatory upon arrival.
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Welcome reception
A welcome drink and introductory talk by Nicholas Merchant.
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Three dinners with wine at the hotel
Dinner will be served each evening at the hotel’s restaurant.
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Three light lunches included
Light lunches are provided during the tour.
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Tours and entrance fees
Entrance fees for all the scheduled tours are included.
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Full coach touring itinerary
A comprehensive coach touring itinerary is provided.
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Talk and accompanied visits with Nicholas Merchant
Nicholas Merchant will provide talks and accompany visits.
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Tour manager throughout
A tour manager will be present throughout the tour.
What's Not Included
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Transport to the hotel is not included
Participants need to arrange their own transport to the hotel.
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Double for sole use supplement
An additional charge applies for single occupancy of a double room.
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Extra nights on bed and breakfast basis
Additional nights at the hotel are not included.
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Holiday insurance
Participants need to arrange their own holiday insurance.
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Meals other than those stated
Any meals not mentioned in the inclusions are not provided.
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Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
Personal expenses are not covered.
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Porterage and gratuities
Porterage and gratuities are not included.
Mode of Transport
Transport to the hotel is not included. The tour includes a full coach touring itinerary with visits to various historic houses and castles, accompanied by a tour manager throughout.
Accommodation
The Barnsdale Hotel, converted from an historic farmhouse, offers comfortable accommodation with en-suite rooms, TV, telephone, tea/coffee making facilities, and views of the countryside or courtyard. Facilities include a restaurant serving dinner each evening and complimentary car parking.
MORE INFO
Nicholas Merchant
Nicholas has been a lecturer and group leader for tours in the UK and France for Travel Editions for close to 15 years.Prior to Travel Editions, he ran his own book business, worked for Sotheby’s and was the West Yorkshire representative for the National Art Fund. His knowledge, wit and erudition illuminate any visit and his toursare informative, interesting and, above all, entertaining.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.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The accommodation is provided at The Barnsdale Hotel, which is converted from a historic farmhouse. It offers comfortable en-suite rooms with TV, telephone, tea/coffee making facilities, and views of the countryside or courtyard. The hotel also has a restaurant serving dinner each evening and complimentary car parking.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour package includes three nights' bed and breakfast, cream tea on arrival, a welcome reception with a drink and introductory talk, three dinners with wine at the hotel, and three light lunches during the tour.
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Is transport to the hotel included in the tour package?
No, transport to the hotel is not included. Participants need to arrange their own transport to the hotel.
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Will there be a tour manager present throughout the tour?
Yes, a tour manager will be present throughout the tour to assist and guide the participants.
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Who will be giving the talks and accompanying the visits during the tour?
Nicholas Merchant will be giving the talks and accompanying the visits during the tour. He has been a lecturer and group leader for tours in the UK and France for close to 15 years.
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What are some of the historic houses and castles included in the tour itinerary?
The tour includes visits to Burghley House, Grimsthorpe Castle, Elton Hall, Deene Park, Boughton House, and Rockingham Castle.
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Are entrance fees for the scheduled tours included in the package?
Yes, entrance fees for all the scheduled tours are included in the package.
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What time does the tour start and end each day?
The tour starts with check-in at The Barnsdale from 15:30 on the first day and ends at approximately 18:00 on the last day.
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Are there any additional charges for single occupancy of a double room?
Yes, there is an additional charge for single occupancy of a double room.
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Is holiday insurance included in the tour package?
No, holiday insurance is not included. Participants need to arrange their own holiday insurance.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final joining instructions and documentation will be despatched approximately 10 days before travel.
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Do I need any Visas or Vaccinations for my holidays?
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change. Please check with your local doctor/GP about the current Vaccination requirements of the country you are visiting. For Visa enquiries, please contact the Embassy of the country you are visiting.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Generally, single and double rooms carry the same price, which means that single supplements for certain itineraries can seem high. We would be pleased to arrange for clients travelling alone to share with another client, however this is subject to somebody in the same situation booking on the tour. If you would be interested in this option, please let us know at the time of enquiry/booking.
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Where does the tour manager meet us?
In most cases the tour manager will travel out with the tour group from the UK. However, this is not always the case and the tour manager may meet you at the destination station / airport. The exact details specific to your tour will be given to you in your final documentation, 10 days prior to departure.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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Jun 08, 2025 - Jun 11, 2025Book with Confidence
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