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Elizabeth I: the Child, the Lover and Warrior Queen
This packed, fully escorted tour traces the life of England's Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I and her suitor, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.
Elizabeth I, The Virgin Queen, was England's Monarch for 45 years and created the enduring legacy of the Elizabethan age. Her early life was spent in a chaotic extended family, never really knowing her place or her father, Henry VIII. She suffered uncertainty in her early life first as a Princess and then mere Lady, abuse and imprisonment before finally becoming Queen. In perhaps one of the most famous romances in English History, Elizabeth was courted by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester who spent millions of pounds in today's money on his quest to marry her but to no avail.
The defeat of the Spanish Armada in August 1588 was Elizabeth's finest hour as she stood with her small army and Robert Dudley at Tilbury and prepared to die with them in defence of the Realm. Her call to her people at Tilbury, one of the most inspirational leadership speeches in history, is vividly recalled by this Tour. Click here to read the full speech.
Our tour traces Elizabeth's childhood life at Hatfield House and where she was given the news that she was now, finally Queen of England. We visit one of the most expensive and extravagant public displays of love: Kenilworth Castle. Painstaking research by English Heritage has allowed the restoration of the gardens that Robert Dudley constructed in his attempt to woo Elizabeth in August of 1575. We see Tilbury Fort protecting the gateway to London, scene of her most famous and stirring speech to her troops, and then to Upnor Castle in Kent, the only castle that she ordered to be built during her long reign. One that finally saw real action in the Dutch raid of 1667.
As with all our tours, the hotels at which we stay are specially chosen for their historic importance, character and charm. Typically they have low oak beamed ceilings, inglenook fireplaces and some even allegedly have ghosts. The tour cost includes bed and breakfast and evening meal, a packed lunch, all transport and entry to venues. Transfers to and from the start and end points of the tour are not included but can be arranged on request. See the full terms and conditions of Tudor History Tours.
Day One
We meet in London at midday at the starting point of the tour and visit the Tower of London. Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower by her sister Mary and declared a traitor. We then travel to Warwickshire to spend the night at our first hotel in Old Kenilworth. For those of you who want to taste some real ale, we can visit a pub very close to hand dating back to the 1500s.
Day Two
We see the church of St Nicholas in Old Kenilworth where Dudley and Elizabeth prayed together during that glorious summer progress of 1575 before we go to Kenilworth Castle. Here we gaze in wonder at the beautifully restored gardens and marvel at Duldey's passion that made him spend millions on this extravagent display of love.
You may want to spend the whole morning at Kenilworth but if not, we visit the Earl of Leycester Hospital, commissioned by Dudley as a retirement home for Elizabeth's soldiers and their wives and still in use as such today, again in a vain attempt to prove his suitability as a husband. A packed lunch is provided whilst travelling to back to Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. This is Elizabeth's childhood home and where we explore her early life, reliving the time when she was informed that she had finally become Queen of England. Scenes from Cate Blanchett's epic film "Elizabeth", were filmed at Hatfield. We spend the night at an old Inn near the Thames' estuary.
Day Three
After breakfast, our coach takes us to visit Tilbury Fort and the nearby scene of Elizabeth's most famous speech that put strength and heart into her troops before the Spanish Armada was set to land.
"I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a King. And a King of England too."
Robert Dudley was her Lieutenant General in the field that day.
We travel to Upnor Castle near Rochester in Kent, the only castle Elizabeth commanded to be built, to continue the story of the Warrior Queen. When Elizabeth visited Upnor the immortal words, "Britannia rules the waves" were spoken for the very first time. The September tour coincides with a Tudor Days festival at Upnor. We spend the night at a town centre hotel of great character where Victoria, another great Queen of England also once stayed.
Day Four
With an early start we visit Penshurst Place, Kent home of the Sidney family for 450 years. Henry Sidney was brother-in-law to Dudley. Penshurst is a beautiful, historic treasure. It weaves in and out of the Tudor story and was even given as a divorce settlement to Anne of Cleves.
There are some fine paintings showing Elizabeth and Dudley including them dancing the scandalous "La Volta". Penshurst is a much used filming venue with many costume dramas and there are some costumes currently on display from some of those films including "The Other Boleyn Girl".
We then travel back to the centre of London where, time permitting, we may be able to visit Westminster Abbey, the last resting place of Elizabeth. The tour ends here at approximately 4.00pm.