'1066 And All That' Overnight Canterbury Tour

Visit locations such as: Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Hastings, Brighton, Rochester and Battle towns.

No trip to England is complete without visiting at least one castle and this tour journeys to some of the most impressive castles in the country. Thanks to William the Conqueror there are many within easy reach of London and we combine these with an overnight stay in Brighton - a vibrant city to explore at your leisure.

The tour visits Leeds Castle, described as the "loveliest castle in the world" and a Royal residence for six of England's medieval queens, a palace of Henry VIII, and a retreat for the rich and powerful. The Norman castle was built on two small islands, in the middle of a lake, and is surrounded by a vast estate. We will explore the chapel, galleries, courtyards and banqueting hall before taking time to enjoy the setting and wildlife, which includes wildfowl, black swans and the birds of the aviary.

Leaving Leeds Castle we proceed to the ancient city of Canterbury and its greatest treasure - the Cathedral. The Cathedral is the site of the martyrdom of Thomas Beckett in AD1170 whose shrine became one of the most visited by pilgrims in the Middle Ages. A fine picture of the pilgrimage era is given in The Canterbury Tales (written 1394 - 1400).

The tour then continues to Greenwich, packed with exquisite parks, gardens and architecture and with strong connections with the sea, science, sovereigns and time. We will explore the delightful markets and take a look at the Cutty Sark, the fastest sailing ship of all time. We can even place one foot either side of the meridian line in the Royal observatory, straddling both hemispheres.

The tour also visits Battle - this historic town is unique as the very site on which the famous Battle of Hastings was fought. It was here in 1066 that William The Conqueror defeated King Harold and his Saxon army. This beautiful town is built around the Abbey which William built to celebrate his victory - maintained by English Heritage, visitors can enjoy fascinating exhibitions. You can also experience an audio tour of the site, see the very spot where King Harold fell or watch a spectacular re-enactment.

Another impressive survivor of the Conqueror's castle ring is Rochester. The central tower here is probably one of the best-preserved Norman keeps in all of England. Dating from the late 12th century, it is also one of the tallest keeps in the country, soaring 113 feet. Sadly, the building is just a shell, the roofs and floors of the three floors that once divided the keep are gone, although a central wall that split the building in half remains. Still, visitors are permitted to enter the keep and, if they have stamina and courage enough to tackle the steep, arrow, spiraling staircase that goes up to the battlements, they will gain a breathtaking view of the city and surrounding countryside.