THE NORTH EAST


Sunday 6 – Wednesday 9 April 2025


Specially arranged on behalf of Harpenden TASHE


We stay at the Grand Hotel, Sunderland, situated opposite the sea overlooking sandy beaches, where a very warm welcome is assured. All rooms are en suite with the usual facilities you would expect. There is an indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room. It was in this hotel LS Lowry often stayed and painted the views from his bedroom window!


We leave around 0800 hours, heading north, with a coffee stop en route arriving lunchtime in Thirsk. The town has a charm of its own, essentially unchanged and uninfluenced by the world. It centres around a bustling cobbled market square, dominated by the town clock. We have included admission to the World of James Herriot.The home retains many of the original furnishings in the family rooms, frozen in time. This houses the largest collection of Herriot memorabilia in the world - from books, posters and letters to ornaments and collectables. The Memorabilia Room is dedicated to displaying items that were instrumental in James Herriot's writing career. Freetime for lunch at leisure.Leaving mid afternoon we continue onto our hotel, arriving late afternoon. Time to relax before dinner, evening at leisure and overnight at the hotel.


Monday –- Leaving around 0930 we drive to Beamish, one of the finest Open Air Museums in the UK. So much to see, including the town (complete with Co-op, local dentist, Masonic hall, Bank, sweet shop, Band Stand and so much more) Colliery (don you hat and take a trip underground) the Pit Village (complete with school, chapel, and houses etc) Pockerley Hall, the 1940’s farm. There is even the beginning of a 50’s town. Various eating houses throughout the site.  This is a 300 acre site, but there are regular trams running around!  A fascinating visit. Leaving mid afternoon we return to Sunderland for a short visit to The National Glass Centre. There is an interesting Museum, including the history of pyrex, which was made in Sunderland. Short transfer to the hotel for dinner, evening at leisure and overnight.


Tuesday - We enjoy a full day visiting Alnwick Castle and Gardens. Home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland the castle is set is a Capability Brown landscape. Within the 12 acre Victorian former kitchen garden a giant cascade has been constructed, which in effect will become the spine of a new garden. The cascade is impressive and child friendly! The rose garden should be superb – the old fashioned roses complete with perfume! There is also the Poison Garden, Serpent Garden, the Labyrinth and the Treehouse. This is a garden for everyone, as you will see! The castle is known as the “Windsor of the North” with stunning State Rooms, which contain fine furniture and paintings by Canaletto, Van Dyck and Titian. Used for filming for programmes such as Black Adder and Harry Potter. Easy walking distance into the charming town of Alnwick, for those that want to explore further! Return to the hotel for dinner, evening at leisure and overnight



Wednesday – Leaving after breakfast we begin our homeward journey south and drive to Burghley House. This is one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan Age. Built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587, the main part of the House has 35 major rooms on the ground and first floors. There are more than 80 lesser rooms and numerous halls, corridors, bathrooms and service areas. The lead roof extends to three quarters of an acre, restoration and rebuilding of which began in 1983 and took nearly ten years to complete.Water, water everywhere… fun and history combined in a garden. Opened in 2007 the Historical Garden of Surprises issomething a little different!There is a restaurant.

Leaving mid afternoon we continue south, arriving at our original pick up points early evening.


Tour Price £519.00 per person which includes:

Supplements: