The proposed visit for early summer 2011 is a 4-day visit to Oxfordshire.  We will travel by coach on Wednesday, 8 to Saturday 11 June and stay in the Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel for 3 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation.  On the way we will visit Kelmscott Manor, which was William Morris' summer residence from 1871 until his death in 1896. 

 On our second day we shall see the Ashmolean Museum, which has recently re-opened following major rebuilding and expansion work; the Bodleian Library, which is the primary research library of the University of Oxford and one of the oldest libraries in Europe, also including the oldest parts of the building, to include the Divinity School, the Convocation House and the Duke Humphrey's Library; 

 Our third day will take us to Woodstock for a 'Behind the Scenes' tour of Blenheim Palace and then Sezincote house in Moreton-in-Marsh.  Sezincote is an extraordinary Mogul style Indian house set in the Cotswold Hills which was built in 1810 by Charles Cockerell who had spent many years working in India, and which became the inspiration for Brighton Pavilion.

On Saturday, 11 June we check out of our hotel and travel to Waddesdon Manor, built at the end of the 19 century in the style of a French Renaissance chateau and home to Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild.  It houses one of the finest collections of French 18 century decorative arts in the world.  After lunch we rejoin our coach and travel homeward, arriving in the evening

Application forms are now available and bookings are being taken.  The tour will run from 25 - 29 September 2011 and highlights will include the Museum of Ancient Art, Gulbenkian Museum, the Belem District, the Monastery of Jeronimos, the Royal Palace at Sintra, the Alfama District and St George's Castle.

To register your interest in  this visit and to receive a full brochure and booking form, either contact our Tours Secretary, or

 Heritage Group Travel, Charlotte House, 12 Charlotte Street, Bath BA1 2NE   Tel.01225 466620 or email  ali@grouptravel.co.uk

This will be a guided tour, and will take place on Monday, 13th December 2010, at 2.0pm. 

A guided tour of the Government Art Collection.  This visit will include the history & role of the GAC and provide an opportunity to see a selection of works from the Collection.  The Tour includes the Workshop and racking area, where works are stored and re-selected by Ministers of State and Ambassadors.

Date : Wednesday, 9 March 2011

Time : 2.30 pm

It is planned to arrange a guided tour of Christie's Auction in March 2011

A guided tour of the Ismaili Centre is planned for June/July 2011 and will include the roof garden.  Details are not yet available

Wednesday, June 15, 2011  This will be a full day out by coach.

 Strawberry Hill, a Georgian Gothic Revival House, was the iconic home of aesthete Horace Walpole, son of Prime Minister Robert Walpole, and has recently been completely renovated.

Marble Hill House was built between 1724-29 for Henrietta Howard, mistress to George II, and is now an English Heritage property

Day trip by coach to Winchester planned for the 14th July, 2010. Guided tour of the Cathedral and a visit to Jane Austen's house. Coach will depart from Ripley at 9am promptly arriving in Winchester in time for coffee and cake before the tour of the Cathedral. Time for lunch before going on to Jane Austen's house and our homeward journey.

A six day tour, based in Munich and Oberammergau, which will explore the artistic, architecture and cultural heritage of Munich and its surroundings and experience the Passion Play. Highlights of the tour will include the following - The Peterskirche and the Frauenkirche, a 13th century church, and visits to the architecturally fascinating Jewish Centre and the highly ornate Asam Church The Residenz Museum and its Treasury and the Cuvillies theatre The Nymphenburg Palace (the former summer residence of Bavarian Kings), and the early Rococo jewel - the Amalienburg. The Glyptothek Gallery, housing the collection of Ludwig 1st; the Alte Pinakothek, Munich’s Old Master Gallery; the Neue Pinakothek’s collection of 19th century art and the 20th century art collection. The Die Wies Church, a UNESCO cultural site with a wonderful Rococo interior Oberammergau and the Passion Play, staged every 10 years and where the locals transform themselves from Bavarians to Jews and Romans from the time of Christ. On leaving Oberammergau we shall travel by coach through the Bavarian countryside to Linderhof, followed by a guided visit of the castle. The interior is a mixture of Renaissance and Baroque styles and the gardens reflect French, Italian and English styles. We have sufficient members booked for the tour to go ahead, but there are still a few places available. Eveline Eaton will be our guide.

Wednesday, 19th May 2010 - Guided Backstage Tour. Tour includes the huge backstage area and its technology, the historic front of house and the Paul Hamlyn Hall.  We shall meet at the Opera House at 2.30pm.  The cost will be £8.50 per person

Guided Tour. The royal Residence re-designed by Christopher Wren for William and Mary in 1689 and has therefore been a residence of the Royal Family since the 17th century. The tour includes the Kings' Gallery, the Cupola Room, the Kings' staircase and Queen Victoria's bedroom..  Meet at the Palace for 11am start