A Fireside Tour of Festive Homes in Yorkshire

Check in to the Doubletree by Hilton York in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.

Our first visit of the day is to Castle Howard, home to the Howard family for over 300 years. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, Castle Howard has twice appeared as Brideshead in film and TV adaptations of Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel, as well as providing the backdrop for various scenes in the hit Netflix series, Bridgerton. This magnificent 18th-century residence, surmounted by its iconic gilded dome, offers world-renowned collections and stunning architecture, all set within 1,000 acres of breathtaking wintery scenery. Every Christmas season, the estate takes on a different magical theme, such as Narnia or Neverland, where stunning installations and projections bring ever-popular tales to life. After time exploring the estate and marvelling at the festive wonderland, we enjoy lunch here.

We then travel south to Fairfax House in York for a guided tour. This architectural gem is a stunning Georgian townhouse that has been restored to its former glory, providing a perfect time capsule of life in Georgian times with a richly decorated interior and a fine collection of English 18th-century furniture. We learn more about the festive traditions of the era, which include some unique decorations in place of the Victorian-born customs we are used to today.

We begin with refreshments and a guided tour of Brockfield Hall, a delightful late Georgian house designed by Peter Atkinson, the partner of eminent architect John Carr. Purchased in 1951 by Lord Martin Fitzalan Howard, brother to the 17th Duke of Norfolk, it is now the family home of his grandson and boasts the UK’s largest collection of paintings by Yorkshire’s impressionist artists, the Staithes Group.

The spectacular Harewood House awaits this afternoon, sumptuously dressed for Christmas. When Edwin Lascelles started building in 1759, he employed the finest craftsmen of the time: York-born architect John Carr, interior designer Robert Adam, England’s greatest furniture maker Thomas Chippendale and visionary landscape gardener Lancelot Capability Brown. The house is also filled with an outstanding art collection ranging from Renaissance masterpieces to 20th-century art including paintings by JMW Turner, Reynolds, Titian and El Greco. Harewood is still home to the Lascelles family and reflects the changing tastes and styles of the past 250 years. We are treated to a festive afternoon tea to round off our visit.

After dinner this evening, we enjoy an interesting themed talk from a guest speaker.

This morning we enjoy a guided tour and refreshments at Burton Constable Hall, a lovely Grade I-listed Elizabethan country house designed by architect John Carr. Privately owned by the Wyvill family for centuries, the hall appeared in the popular 1978 TV adaptation of Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small. We admire the elegant interiors and personal treasures enclosed within, illuminated with twinkling decorations at this special time of year, and there’s time to explore the grounds too.

Our last visit takes us to Burton Agnes Hall, where we are treated to festive refreshments and a guided tour of this beautifully decorated treasure. While the hall was designed in the 1500s by Robert Smythson, Master Mason to Elizabeth I, the estate dates back further to 1173, when Roger de Stuteville built the Norman manor house. Since then, the property has never changed hands by sale and has amassed a whole host of treasures as a result. You can expect unique period features, such as the original Elizabethan carving and plasterwork, alongside French paintings, Epstein bronzes, Chinese porcelain and more. Be sure to wrap up warm to take a refreshing stroll in the beautiful award-winning grounds, which feature frosty gardens, a yew maze and a tranquil arboretum walk.

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel for our journey home.

Please note: the itinerary order is subject to change and guided tours are subject to availability.