Castles, towns and gardens in God's own county
Book NowDeparture date 6th October 2025 5 days £615.00pp
Single supplement NIL
Doubles for single occupancy £29.50 per night
Your holiday includes:
Entrance to Castle Howard
Helmsley Walled Garden entrance, guided tour
Entrance to the World of James Herriot
Day 1 Monday
Travelling north with comfort stops as we travel, we arrive at our hotel in time for late afternoon, in comfortable time for dinner. Porterage is included in your holiday price.
DDay 2 Tuesday
Today we visit the incomparable Castle Howard. One of England’s finest historic houses and the setting for the TV production of Brideshead Revisited, Castle Howard is more like a palace. Explore iconic architecture and beautiful interiors when you visit the House, including the Great Hall which rises 70 feet into the air.This opulent country house is situated within idyllic sweeping parkland dotted with statues, temples, lakes and formal gardens, With 1,000 acres of parkland to explore, Castle Howard is a haven of peace and tranquility and stunning autumn colours.
B, DDay 3 Wednesday
We have the whole day at our disposal in the lovely Victorian spa town of Harrogate. You may wish to visit the grade II listed Royal Pump Room Museum, which explores Harrogate’s spa history, browse the various independent and well known shops, sip a cuppa in the famous Bettys Café Tea Rooms, or even pamper yourselves with a visit to the luxurious Turkish Baths. There are also several pretty gardens here worthy of a wander, including Valley Gardens, beautiful RHS Garden Harlow Carr, and Stray Park. In the afternoon you are treated to a cream tea at our hotel.
B, DDay 4 Thursday
We begin the morning with a guided tour of Helmsley Walled Garden where we’re taken through the themed garden rooms ablaze with colour, a haven for insects and for lovers of tranquillity. Afterwards we travel to Thirsk where we spend time at leisure enjoying a nostalgic look around Thirsk World of James Herriot. Home of the famous vet, this is where James Herriot worked and wrote his books, from which several television and film adaptations have been made, including the 1975 film All Creatures Great and Small and the BBC television series of the same name.
B, DDay 5 Friday
After breakfast, we make our way home with appropriate stops en route
BB=Breakfast, D=Dinner
Yorkshires varied landscape is dotted with magnificent castles, stately homes and gardens which tell the vivid history of this region. We visit one of the areas finest historic houses, Castle Howard, and draw inspiration from the vibrant Helmsley Walled Gardens. Visits to the Thirsk World of James Herriot and the spa town of Harrogate complete this relaxing holiday, which inlcudes a cream tea in the hotel one afternoon.
Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate 3* www.crownhotelharrogate.com
This traditional 3 star hotel was once the subject of much drama as the hiding place of the author Agatha Christie during her famous disappearance in 1926. Built in 1840, the hotel retains a quintessential elegance and style, from the comfort of the Swan Lounge and Bar to the hugely atmospheric atrium style restaurant. Each of the 136 bedrooms are decorated in contemporary style and feature hairdryer, TV and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel has a lift to all floors. The hotel also boasts 5 acres of attractive grounds. Ground floor rooms Lift Bar Restaurant Tea/coffee in room. Vouchers (for selected drinks) are also included in the hotel for 3 drinks per evening.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Name | Address |
---|---|
Ashingdon Golden Cross | Golden Cross, By Fox (Welcome Homes) |
Barking, North St | North Street, Barking,outside St Margaret's Church |
Barkingside | Barkingside, Fulwell Cross, by Swimming Baths |
Basildon | Southernhay, long layby opposite Bus Station |
Billericay Sun Corner | Sun Corner, Laindon Road, Billericay |
Brentwood | Brentwood High St, by Dairyman (Argos) |
Canvey Island - Canute | King Canute PH, Canvey Island |
Canvey Island - Haystack | Long Road, Canvey Island, Haystack |
Chalkwell Park | Chalkwell Park Bus Stop |
Chandos Garage Hockley | Chandos Garage Hockley |
Cricketers Westcliff | Cricketers Bus Stop, Southend on Sea |
Dagenham Wood Lane | Wood Lane, Dagenham, Opp Morrisons |
Eastwood - Kent Elms | Kent Elms Corner, Eastwood, Rayleigh Road |
Eastwood - Rochford Cnr | Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, Rochford Corner |
Eastwood Jones Corner | Eastwood, Rayleigh Road, Jones Corner Bus Stop by Brookside Tavern |
Folkestone services XX | Eurotunnel- Stop 24 Junction 11 on M20 |
Grays Oak PH | Oak PH, Socketts Heath, Grays |
Hadleigh - Vic House Cnr | Vic House Corner, Kiln Road, Hadleigh |
Hadleigh Church | Hadleigh Church, Bus Layby |
Harold Wood | Bus Stop Station Road Harold Wood by Coop |
High Rd, S Benfleet | High Rd S.Benfleet by Benfleet Travel opp Shell Ga |
Hockley Spa | SPA ROAD Bus Stop, Hockley |
Hornchurch | North Street, Hornchurch, Fire Station |
Ilford | Clements Road, Ilford, by Travelodge IG1 !BA |
Kents Hill Lights | Kents Hill Lights Bus Stop, London Road, Benfleet |
Kiln Road (Kenneth Road) | Kiln Road (Kenneth Road) - Thundersley |
Leigh on Sea - Elms | Elms PH, London Road, Leigh on Sea |
Leigh on Sea - Thames Dr | Thames Drive, Leigh on Sea |
M25 Thurrock Services | M25 Thurrock Services Coach Park |
North Shoebury Road | Bus Stop , North Shoebury Road, (St Marys Church near Asda) |
Pitsea | Old Gala Bingo, Pitsea SS13 3AH |
Rayleigh Websters Way | Websters Way, Rayleigh, opp Rayleigh Lanes |
Rochford Station Bus Stop | Rochford Station Bus Stop, Bradley Way |
Romford | St Edwards Way, Romford, Bus Stop 'H' |
Shenfield | Shenfield Station |
Shoeburyness - Kathryn Ct | The Cambridge.(Kathryn Ct.), Shoeburyness |
South Benfleet Clare Rd | Tarpots Coach Stop (opp Clare Road), Sth Benfleet |
South Benfleet St Marys | St Mary's Church, Layby, South Benfleet |
Southchurch Tyrrel Drive | Southchurch Road - Tyrrel Drive (Swintons) |
Southchurch White Horse | White Horse Bus Stop, Southchurch |
Southend Airport | Bus Stop, Southend Airport, Eastwoodbury Crescent |
Southend Queensway | Bus Layby, Rear of Sainsburys, Southend |
Stanford le Hope Rookery | Rookery Corner, SLH (St Cleres Hall Golf Club) |
TBA | TBA |
Thorpe Bay Station | Bus Stop, Acacia Drive, Thorpe Bay |
Upminster | Station Approach, Upminster |
Vange Barge | Vange Barge Bus Stop, High Road, Pitsea |
Wakering Crouchmans | Wakering High St/ Crouchmans Avenue |
West Leigh Schools | West Leigh Schools, London Rd, Leigh on Sea |
Westcliff on Sea Bell PH | Bell PH, Rochford Road Bus Stop |
Westcliff on Sea Palace | Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea |
Wickford Halls Corner | Halls Corner, opp Police Station, Wickford |
x Benfleet Hopes see hope | xxxxxHopes Green, High Road,xxxxxxxsee new p/up |