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Hever Castle - Henry Vlll and Anne Boleyn
From £200
Summary
Enjoy a day exploring Hever Castle, the family home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII. The castle witnessed the couple’s scandalous love affair, with the king’s infatuation with Anne bringing about the Break with Rome and Reformation in England. Hever provided the backdrop to their passion, with Anne at first refusing Henry’s advances, before agreeing to become his second wife in 1533. The king’s love soon faded and Anne was executed on trumped up charges of adultery and incest in May 1536 due to her failure to provide the king with an heir.
During a guided morning visit to the castle, accompanied by Tudor historian, Elizabeth Norton, we will explore parts of the castle not usually accessible to visitors. We will visit the surviving medieval rooms of the castle, as well as those commissioned by Anne’s father, Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire, early in the sixteenth century. The castle eventually fell into ruin, before being extensively restored by the Astor family in the early twentieth century. We will also enjoy a garden tour, exploring the landscape created by the Astor family.
In the afternoon, we will enjoy talks by Elizabeth Norton both on the history of the castle and on the fascinating relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
Keeping you safe on your next tour
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FREE 'Travel Safe' kits for every traveller
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Self-drive options
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Enhanced Health and Safety audits
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Distanced seating on coaches
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'Get me home' service and private airport transfers
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COVID protocols at our hotels, and aboard our cruise ships
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Packed lunches and flexible dining options
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Flexible balance payment date and COVID-friendly refund conditions
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COVID-testing and training for tour staff
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Constant monitoring and post-tour tracing
Meet your Experts
Dr Elizabeth Norton
Andante Guide Lecturer
British historian, Elizabeth Norton, has written twelve books on the Tudors, including The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor and The Lives of Tudor Women. She has also edited the only source book on Anne Boleyn.
Your itinerary
Study Day -
9.45 Meet outside the castle walls for a brief talk overview by Elizabeth Norton of Windsor’s 950 years of royal history.
10.30 Enter the castle to enjoy Hidden Hever tour, which looks at parts of the castle not usually accessible to visitors.
11.30 The group will enjoy a tour of Hever Castle’s stunning gardens, which were laid out during the Astor family’s ownership at the start of the twentieth century.
13.00 Lunch At the Castle
14.00 Talk by Elizabeth Norton on the history of Hever Castle.
15.00 Talk by Elizabeth Norton on the relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
16.30 End of day.
Tour dates & prices
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Guided by | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 June 2022 | AXHE220610 | 10 June 2022 (Friday) | Dr Elizabeth Norton | £200 (ex. flights) |
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| 19 August 2022 | AXHE220819 | 19 August 2022 (Friday) | Dr Elizabeth Norton | £200 (ex. flights) |
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| 22 September 2022 | AXHE220922 | 22 September 2022 (Thursday) | Dr Elizabeth Norton | £200 (ex. flights) |
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