Tour Details

Stay at Anne Boleyn's childhood home of Hever Castle for 4 nights of history and luxury on 'The Anne Boleyn Tour', run by British History Tours.

As part of a small group, you will explore the life and death of Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of Henry VIII and mother to Elizabeth I. We explore places key to her story and are joined along the way by eminent historians and expert guides.

Gareth Russell, best-selling author and historian accompanies Philippa, your dedicated Tour Manager, as resident historian and co-host.

Historians Prof James Clark, author of 'The Dissolution of the Monasteries' and Kate McCaffrey, who has completed groundbreaking work on Anne Boleyn's Book of Hours, will be giving talks to the group.

Our itinerary includes a visit to Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London where we are taken around by expert guides. During our time at Hever Castle you will have the opportunity to dress as Tudor Royalty before getting 'behind the ropes' during our after-hours 'Hidden Hever' tour, followed by a 3-course banquet in Hever Castle's Great Hall!

Enjoy exclusive access to the Astor Wing including the music room, billiard room, lawns, tennis court and outdoor swimming pool!

You will arrive everywhere in comfort and style in our luxury air-conditioned coach, included for the duration of the tour.

Tour Highlights

• Co-hosted by best-selling author and historian Gareth Russell

• Visit The Tower of London on the anniversary of Anne Boleyn being brought to the Tower as a prisoner, 2nd May.

• Talks from Eminent Historians Prof James Clark and Kate McCaffrey

• Banquet in the Great Hall of Hever Castle

• Hidden Hever, After-Hours Tour of Hever Castle

• Expert Guided Tours of Hampton Court Palace and Tower of London

• Private use of the Astor Wing of Hever Castle including our own Private Lawn next to the moat, Tennis Court, Billiards Room and Outdoor Heated Pool.

• Opportunity to Dress as Tudor Royalty at Hever Castle (optional extra)

The Itinerary

Welcome Reception and Opening Talk

Meet at our designated, convenient pick-up point in London where you will board our private coach, bound for Hever Castle. On arrival at Hever you will be shown to your beautiful room and can begin to explore your home for the next few days.

You will have exclusive access to the entire Astor Wing of Hever Castle where you can take advantage of our own private heated swimming pool, tennis court, billiards room and lawn next to the moat.

In the evening you will enjoy a welcome drinks reception before a talk from historian and author, Gareth Russell.

We will then enjoy a BBQ (Hever Castle stlye!) on our private lawn overlooking the Castle.

Day 2 - 1st May

Hampton Court Palace

On arrival to Hampton Court Palace, we will be met by the fantastically knowledgeable Sarah Slater, expert on the Palace, for a guided tour.

Our tour historian, Gareth Russell, has written a book about the history of Hampton Court Palace through stories of the people who lived there called 'The Palace', published in 2023, and so you will be able to ask him about the Palace too!

Following our tour the group have free time to explore the remaining parts of the Palace and its grounds.

We return to Hever for a talk from Gareth Russell followed by a 3-course meal with wine.

Day 3 - 2nd May

The Tower of London

On the 2nd May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn was arrested at Greenwich Palace and brought, by barge, to The Tower of London. She would never leave. We mark the anniversary of her arrest with a vist to the Tower.

Following a morning private guided tour with William Mitchell, there will be free time to explore other parts of the Tower and the waterfront. You then have the option to take a walk up to the Tower Hill execution site, where the men who fell victim to the events of 1536 were beheaded, with Gareth and Philippa.

We return to Hever Castle for a sumptous 3-course meal.

Day 4 - 3rd May

Hever Castle

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before spending the day exploring Hever Castle and its grounds. You can choose to take the short walk to St Peter's Church where the Boleyn family worshipped and see Thomas Boleyn's tomb.

Dress as Tudor Royalty for the Day! (Optional Extra) After being dressed you can wear your outfit for the day, take as many photos as you want with Hever as a backdrop!

This evening we will enjoy a talk from Kate McCaffrey, assistant curator at Hever Castle and the lady behind breakthrough research into Anne Boleyn's Book of Hours.

After the Castle is closed to the public, we have an exclusive 'behind-the-ropes' tour of 'Hidden Hever'.

This perfect day isn't over yet! The tour finale is dinner in the Great Hall of Hever Castle itself whilst being entertained with music from the Tudor court, performed by Jay Britton, The Tudor Songbook.

Day 5 - 4th May

Wake up for one final time in the magical Hever Castle.

After a leisurely breakfast we board our private coach which will take us back to London where we say our final farewells.

Event organiser is British History Tours.