War of the Roses 5 Day Coach Tour
Locations:
Why we love it
- Your guide is one of the leading experts on the War of the Roses
- Trip to the Royal Armoury at Leeds, including a weapons and armour handling session.
- Visits all the major battle sites of the War of the Roses.
£1,500.00
- What’s Included
- Shipping
- More Products
- Small Print
- More Info
- Location
Description
The name is deceptive. The sweet sounding White Rose of York taking on the Red Rose of Lancaster came to symbolise some of the bloodiest fighting ever seen on our nation’s soil, as two families battled for the right to wear the crown over more than thirty years from 1455 to 1487.
Battles such as Towton and Bosworth Field still resonant as part of military heritage. While the fortunes of each side waxed and waned, the irony is that the male lines of both families were extinguished by 1485, allowing the House of Tudor to take over and reign for more than a hundred years.Only by visiting the sites can you sense the sheer scale of bloodshed, and the dark truth behind the words that Shakespeare put in the mouth of the last king of the wars, Richard III:
“Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York.”
This 5 day coach tour will inform and delight!
Itinerary
DAY 1
Meet in Northampton and an Introduction Talk by Mike Ingram.
Day 2
Visit the site of The Battle of Northampton in 1460 which was the first major battle of the Wars of the Roses and noted for the first use of artillery on English soil. A victory for the House of York. Followed by a tour of Fotheringhay castle and church.
Day 3
The Battle of Towton 1461 It was “probably the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil”. Followed by a trip to the Royal Armoury at Leeds, Armouries including a weapons and armour handling session.
Day 4
The Battle of Tewkesbury 1471 the House of York victory at Tewkesbury restored political stability to England until the death of Edward IV in 1483. In the afternoon we tour the historic Tewkesbury Abbey which is world-renowned for being one of the UK’s greatest examples of medieval architecture. Its striking Norman tower and long nave have dominated the Tewkesbury skyline for nearly 900 years.
Day 5
Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses and fought on 22 August 1485. The victor Henry Tudor became the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty. His subsequent marriage to a Yorkist princess uniting the two houses. His opponent Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, was killed during the battle, and was the last English monarch to die in combat. Historians consider Bosworth Field to mark the end of the Plantagenet dynasty, making it one of the defining moments of English history. After lunch we visit the site of the Battle of Stoke Field 1487 which was the final battle in this long conflict.
The cost – including breakfast, lunch, dinner, hotel accommodation, coach, museums and guide, but not drinks. – is £1,500 per person. Please note that this is the cost of a single occupancy in a single room as we wish to be open with the all-inclusive costs. A discount of 10% is available for bookings with two people sharing a room.
You are accompanied by a tour leader to ensure that your tour runs smoothly.
This is a coach tour and your professional tour guide is Mike Ingram
Small Print
- You must have travel insurance
- Holiday is transferable – administration charges may apply
- Cancellation charges apply
- COVID precuations in place – each destination has implemented their own health and safety measures and precautions in an attempt to combat the spread of the disease.
More Info
Classic Battlefield Tours want to make the tours interesting and thought-provoking so use a range of different guides for their experience and expertise.
Where possible they like people to have a hands-on experience by offering the opportunity for weapons and armour handling sessions.
Hotels with character which reflect the region or country are given priority combined with excellent restaurants for the evening chat and wind down after a long day.
Preference is for a small to medium size group of up to 20 people to get the most out of these tours.
A tour leader is on board for the duration of the tour to ensure that your trip runs smoothly and good company with fellow professionals is an important part of the overall experience and enjoyment.
Once the tour is over you have the option to renew the friendships you have made with fellow comrades as you will be invited to further group events including lunching and talks at famous London clubs or a unique day out to private museum or collection.”
Classic Battlelfield Tours look forward to welcoming you to one of their famous tours.
