The Handel Hendrix House is made up of two residences - Handel’s house at 25 Brook Street and Hendrix’s flat on the top floor of 23 Brook Street.  Handel lived there from 1723 until his death in 1759 and it was there he composed the Messiah and most of his operas.   We will have a guided tour of the house, including the dining room in which rehearsals were held and where he gave informal recitals.   Hendrix moved next door in 1968 and was there for a few months.  He was aware and respectful of his illustrious neighbour of two centuries before.  We will visit his main living room where he composed music, rehearsed, entertained and gave many press conferences.   

The tour will start at 11.30 and last just over an hour followed by a harpsichord recital of half an hour.

Brook Street is about a 10 minute walk from Oxford Circus or 5 minutes from Bond Street tube station.

Cost £30.00

Tickets will be on sale at the May and June meetings
Visit co-ordinator:  Fiona Moir (fionaemoir@gmail.com)





Barts Hospital is the oldest hospital in Britain still on the original site and was founded in 1123.  Our tour is of the North Wing, which has always been an administrative building.   The entrance to the North Wing leads straight on to the magnificent Hogarth Staircase - so called because of the two enormous paintings by William Hogarth.  This brings us to the Great Hall on the first floor of the North Wing where we can marvel at the amazing ceiling, the work of plasterer Jean Baptistery St Michele.  The North Wing has recently re-opened after much needed restoration.
Our Tour starts at 12.00
Cost : £17.00
Tickets will be on sale at the April and May lecture meetings un
Visit co-ordinator:  Fiona Moir (fionaemoir@gmail.com)

Take a guided tour of the National Theatre and discover the secrets of one of the most iconic buildings on the South Bank.

Led by one of our expert guides, our 75-minute tour takes you on a journey behind the scenes to see what’s being made in our on-site carpentry, props and scenic painting workshops, and discover how we create our world-class productions.

You’ll also explore the design and unique features of this renowned building, including our auditoriums.

This is fully booked.If there`s  enough interest  Diana may be able to arrange another tour.

Our visit will start at 11.30 with a one hour lecture followed by timed tickets to the Exhibition.

Meet in the Djanogly Café from 10.30.

Prices for lecture and entry:

·      Non Tate members - £41

·      Art Fund members - £30

·      Tate Members - £18 (lecture only)

Tickets will be sold at the January and February lecture meetings or by emailing Anna Care (annahandlewithcare@hotmail.com).

Two of Britain’s greatest painters, J.M.W. Turner and John Constable were also the greatest of rivals. Born within a year of each other – Turner in 1775, Constable in 1776 – they used landscape art as a way to reflect the changing world around them.

Raised in the gritty heart of Georgian London, Turner quickly became a rising star of the art world despite his humble beginnings. Meanwhile Constable, the son of a wealthy Suffolk merchant, was equally determined to forge his own path as an artist but faced a more arduous rise to acclaim. Though from different worlds they shared a profound connection to nature, and both set their sights on transforming landscape painting, investing it with layers of meaning and emotion.

With the two painters vying for success through very different but equally bold approaches the scene was soon set for a heady rivalry. Turner painted blazing sunsets and sublime scenes from his travels, while Constable often returned to depictions of a handful of beloved places, striving for freshness and authenticity in his portrayal of nature. The art critics compared their paintings to a clash of ‘fire and water’.

Marking 250 years since their births, this landmark exhibition explores Turner and Constable's intertwined lives and legacies. Discover unexpected sides to both artists alongside intimate insights seen through sketchbooks and personal items. Must-see artworks include Turner’s powerful and dynamic later paintings, which shocked the art critics of his day and went on to inspire Claude Monet, and Constable's expressive cloud sketches capturing the changing light of an English sky.

This is an unmissable opportunity to explore the careers of the two greatest British landscape painters, seen – as they often were in their own time – side by side.

TASS Visit to The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

February 17th 2026   12.00 noon

£10 each person for a maximum of 25.

There will be a one hour guided tour starting at 12.00. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour in order to clear the security barrier in good time. There is a café on the lower floor if you arrive very early or if you wish to stay for lunch after the tour. If, on the day, there are cases being tried, you will be able to sit-in on them.

The Supreme Court is opposite The Houses of Parliament on the other side of Parliament Square. Address: Parliament Square Westminster SW1P 3BD. Nearest tube Westminster.

The Supreme Court plays an important role in the interpretation and development of the law. It hears civil cases from all parts of the UK, and criminal cases from all parts of the UK except for Scotland. The court also hears devolution matters which raise questions of constitutional importance about the exercise of devolved powers.

Cases will have been through several courts before coming to the Supreme Court.

Tickets will be on sale at the November 2025 and January 2026 meetings.

Our visit will start at 11.30am with a one hour lecture followed by timed tickets to the Exhibition.

Meet in the Corner Cafe Tate Modern from 10.30am.

Prices for lecture and entry:

·      Non Tate members - £32

·      Art Fund members - £25

·      Tate Members - £18 (lecture only)

Tickets will be sold at the October and November lecture meetings or by emailing Anna Care (annahandlewithcare@hotmail.com)

Pablo Picasso was fascinated by performers and their ability to transform. He was inspired by the dancers, entertainers and bullfighters he painted. He borrowed from them to create his own public persona: Picasso, the Artist.

Marking the centenary of his famous painting The Three Dancers, this exhibition, staged by celebrated contemporary artist Wu Tsang and author and curator Enrique Fuenteblanca, sheds new light on Picasso’s work. They will transform the exhibition space into a theatre for displaying over 45 works by Picasso from Tate's collection, alongside key European loans. This includes paintings, sculpture, textile and works on paper, some never seen in the UK before.

Through his persona, Picasso cultivated a myth surrounding himself as both a celebrated artist and an outsider. The way that he did this can be examined through the contemporary idea of ‘performativity’ - how words and actions can effect change and form identity. This persona was always fascinated by alternative lives and the tension between popular culture and the avant-garde. It accompanied him throughout his life and continues to shape how we imagine the role of the artist today.

We will be taking the train to Bletchley Park Station. Bletchley centre is just a short walk of less than ten minutes from the station. We propose that you catch the 10.56 from Euston station, which arrives at Bletchley Park at 11.31. For those who will be catching the train from East Croydon to St Pancras and who wish to walk from there to Euston, Diana Stainbank will meet you at the Thameslink barrier at 10.20 and walk with you via the back (less crowded) route to Euston. Alternatively, Euston can be reached via Victoria and the Tube.

Cost for a ticket, that you will be able to use for a year, and a private guided tour for the group will be £30 per head. 

You will need to book the train and buy your own tickets. Discounts can be had, such as two for one and one third off when using a railcard.

Our group tour is booked for 12.30. After the tour, you will be free to look around. There is a café. The park closes at 17.00.

Tickets will be on sale at the June and July lecture meetings.  

We need a minimum of 20 for the tour to go ahead.

Please save the date now.

Pitzhanger Manor was designed, built and lived in by the well known architect, Sir John Soane.  He entertained his many eminent friends there, including JMW Turner and William Hogarth.    Our Tour focuses on the friendship between Sir John Soane and Turner,  highlighting Turner’s works which would have been displayed at Pitzhanger and including anecdotes of their fishing trips and other shared interests.

We will meet in the Bella Puglia Cafe, next to the Exhibition Gallery, from 11.15. The Tour starts at 12.00 sharp.  Pitzhanger Manor is an 8 minute walk from Ealing Broadway (District Line from Victoria Station) 

Cost:  £20.00

Tour Co-Ordinator: Fiona Moir (fionaemoir@gmail,com)

An opportunity to learn something of London’s sewerage system and participate in a guided tour to discover the Victorian splendour and ingenuity of the Crossness Pumping Station.

The cost of the tour is £25, including tea/coffee and biscuits on arrival and transport by narrow guage railway on and off the site.

The tour stars at 11.30 and will last for 2.5 hours

Getting there

British Rail from London Bridge to Abbey Wood or Elizabeth Line from Farringdon to Abbey Wood.  The address is Bazalgette Way, Abbey Wood, London SE2 9AN.  It is a 35/40 minute walk to the Pumping Station from Abbey Wood station, approximately three kilometres.

AWS Minicabs, just around the corner at 18 Wilton Road SE2 9RH, have quoted £9 -10 for 4 people and £18 for a minibus for 8 people.  Suggest we all meet there at 11.00 and group together for taxis.

 Lunch Suggestion – Thamesmead Social Café, – 10 minute walk from site and set around a lake.  The Pumping Station cafe has a limited range of pre-packed snacks and tea and coffee are available in disposable containers.

The Royal Albert Hall is one of the most recognisable buildings in the country and needs no introduction!   It was originally going to be called the Central Hall but was renamed in Prince Albert’s memory when it was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871.

Over the years it welcomed a wide variety of events - from tennis matches, boxing, stand-up comedy, the BBC Proms, to name but a few.

Our guided tour offers a fascinating journey through the Hall’s rich history, astonishing architecture and legendary performances.  And of course how the long standing problem with its acoustics was solved. 

The Tour starts at 11.30 am and we are awaiting confirmation of the availability of tea/coffee/pastry in the Verdi Kitchen at 11.00. 

Tickets are £22.00, assuming tea/coffee/pastry available, and will be on sale at the March and April lecture meetings or by contacting Fiona Moir by email - fionaemoir@gmail.com

Step into the home of Linley Sambourne to learn more about the fascinating history of the Sambourne family and the life of a Victorian cartoonist. 

An in-depth 90 minute guided tour throughout the historic interiors and collections in Sambourne House, the family home of legendary Punch cartoonist Edward Linley Sambourne. Our expert guide will also provide  fascinating insights into the family life of the Sambournes as well as information on the work of Linley as a celebrated illustrator.  

Meet at Sambourne House, Kensington from 11am. Tour starts at 11.30am (full details of how to get there will be given on booking)

Tickets are £20 and will be on sale at the January and February lecture meetings or by contacting Anna Care by email annahandlewithcare@hotmail.com 

This will include a Brother's tour of The Charterhouse with its history going back to the 14th century.  The tour begins at 11.30 and will last approximately 11/2 hours. 

Refreshments of coffee, tea or squash will be served in the Learning Centre from 10.45.

The Charterhouse is a short walk from Farringdon station, which is on the Thameslink line.

Tickets £23 will be on sale at the October and November meetings.

Please note that numbers for this tour are limited to 20 people.

UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO LACK OF NUMBERS WE HAVE HAD TO CANCEL THIS VISIT.

URGENT NOTICE

HARROW  SCHOOL VISIT – THURSDAY 30 MAY 2024

Harrow School have changed our meeting point to the Hill Shop, High Street, Harrow on the Hill, HA1 3LH.   This is a five-minute walk beyond the original meeting point. 

See you there at 11.45am

Visit some of the most spectacular and historic rooms and buildings at Harrow School including the Fourth Form Room, Speech Room, Chapel and War Memorial Building, amongst others, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.  The tour offers the chance to get a real behind-the-scenes look and learn more about world famous Harrow School and its history, including its use as a film location for some very well known films and TV series including Harry Potter and The Crown.

11:45 - Meet at the Speech Room underpass in Peterborough Road   

12:00 - Lunch (afternoon tea)

 13:00 - Tour (90 minutes)

 Tickets are £21 and will be available at the March and April lecture meeting or by contacting Anna Care by email annahandlewithcare@hotmail.com

Travelling to Harrow School

Metropolitan Line from Farringdon or Kings Cross/St Pancras (10 or 9 stops)

to Harrow on-the Hill

Walking from the station (15 minutes uphill)

 After passing through the ticket barriers, take the left exit down the steps onto Station Approach, walk straight ahead, turn left onto Lowlands Road. Take the first right up Grove Hill to the top. Bear right into Peterborough Rd to find the underpass which is located opposite the pedestrian crossing.

 If you wish to take a taxi, take the right exit after passing through the ticket barriers, where you will find a taxi rank. Please stress that you need Harrow School, on top of the Hill, and not Harrow High School.

Two Temple Place is a magnificent neo-Gothic mansion, designed and built by architect John Loughborough Pearson in 1895 as the estate office of William Waldorf Astor.  As well as a guided tour of the building and its history you will have entry to the 2024 exhibition ‘The Glass Heart’, which is a bold new exploration of glass in the UK and brings together for the first time rarely seen UK collections.

Tickets for this visit are £10.00

Tickets will be on sale at the February and March meetings.

Visit co-ordinator Pat Farnsworth:-

020 8657 5756

Lecture and Exhibition - Tate Britain

Thursday 21 March 2024

Our visit will start at 11.30 with a one hour lecture followed by timed tickets to the Exhibition.

Meet in the Djanogly Café from 10.30.

Prices for lecture and entry:

·        Non Tate members - £33

·        Art Fund members - £25

·        Tate Members - £15 (lecture only)

Tickets will be sold at the January and February lecture meetings or by emailing Anna Care (annahandlewithcare@hotmail.com)

Fashion, identity, painting

Explore the unique work of John Singer Sargent

Celebrated for his striking portrait paintings, this exhibition sheds new light on John Singer Sargent’s acclaimed works. It explores how he worked like a stylist to craft the image of the sitters he painted, who he often had close relationships with.

Sargent used fashion as a powerful tool to depict identity and personality. He regularly chose the outfits of his collaborators or manipulated their clothing. This innovative use of costume was central to his artwork – for example, tugging a heavy coat tighter around a man to emphasise his figure or letting a dress strap sensuously slip from a woman’s shoulder. It was these daring sartorial choices that allowed him to express his vision as an artist.

Almost 60 of Sargent’s paintings will be on display, including major portraits that rarely travel. Several period garments will also be showcased alongside the portraits they were worn in. The show examines how this remarkable painter used fashion to create portraits of the time, which still captivate today.

The Armourers’ Hall is a striking Georgian building in the Palladian style in the heart of the City of London.   It contains a host of beautiful and fascinating artefacts. It is not open to the general public but we have organised a guided tour.
We will be welcomed with tea, coffee and biscuits on arrival.  The tour, which will take about 90 minutes, starts in the spectacular Gold Drawing Room and our guide will give a talk on the activities of Livery Companies - past and present - and the history of the Armourers’ Hall which somehow managed to escape the Blitz.  We then visit the Library, the Court Room and the Livery, learning the history of some of the many treasures - clocks, armour and portraits, most notably the portrait and life of the infamous Ann Vavasour and her scandalous love-life!
Tickets are £20.00 and will be on sale at our November lecture meeting or by contacting Fiona Moir by email (fionaemoir@gmail.com)

Discover how Frederic Leighton’s home came to embody the idea of how a great artist should live. 

A ninety minute in depth tour throughout the lavish interiors of Leighton House including the magnificent Arab Hall and recently restored Winter Studio.  Our guide will also offer fascinating insights into the life and career of Leighton and the history of the house.

Meet in the Learning Centre from 10.30am for complimentary tea or coffee.  Tour starts at 11.30am

Tickets are £26.60 and will be on sale at the June and July lecture meetings.  For further information write to us via the Conact Us page.

There will be an introductory talk at 11.00 am by a Royal Collection Trust expert first, with tea or coffee, followed by entry into the exhibition using a complimentary multimedia tour.

 This exciting exhibition explores what the Georgians wore, from the practical dress of laundry maids to the glittering gowns worn at court.  Delve into the Georgians’ style story and get up close to magnificent paintings, prints and drawings by artists including Gainsborough, Zoffany and Hogarth as well as luxurious te4xtiles, sparkling jewellery and a range of accessories from snuff boxes to swords.

Tickets for this outing are £30 and will be on sale only at the April and May lecture meetings.  For further information write to us via the Conact Us page.

The Royal Opera House we know is actually the third to be built at its location in Bow Street, as both the previous theatres were destroyed by fire in 1808 and 1856.

Our tour of the ROH starting at 11.30 am includes visits to both the backstage and front-of-house areas as the singers and actors prepare for the evening performance.   The ROH is a fully working theatre so each tour is unique depending on what is going on at the time of our visit.  The tour also covers the colourful history of the opera house and the various uses it has had over the years.  For example during World War 2 it was used as a dance hall and was one of the safest places to be as it was never bombed !  What is now the Paul Hamlyn Hall, housing a bar and restaurant with direct access to the main opera building, was previously part of the old Covent Garden Flower Market.

Tickets are £14.00 and will be sold only at the 28th March lecture meeting.  

THIS TOUR IS NOW SOLD OUT

This exhibition follows the romance and radicalism of the Rossetti generation, through and beyond the Pre-Raphaelite years: Dante Gabriel, Christina and Elizabeth (née Siddal). Visitors will get to experience world-renowned works from their boundary-pushing careers.

The Rossettis’ approach to art, love and lifestyles are considered revolutionary, and this will be thoroughly explored in an immersive show, using spoken poetry, drawings, paintings, photography, design and more.

This is the first retrospective of Dante Gabriel Rossetti at Tate and the largest exhibition of his iconic pictures in two decades.

It will also be the most comprehensive exhibition of Elizabeth Siddal’s work for 30 years, featuring rare surviving watercolours and important drawings.

The Rossettis will take a fresh look at the fascinating myths surrounding the unconventional relationships between Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Elizabeth Sidall, Fanny Cornforth and Jane Morris.

Our visit will start at 11.30 with a one hour lecture followed by timed tickets to the Exhibition.

Prices for lecture and entry:

· Non Tate members - £32

· Art Fund members -  £22

· Tate members - £12 (lecture only)

Tickets will be sold only at the February and March lecture meetings.  For further information write to us via the Contact Us page.

Your tour of the Inn will start at 11.00 am.  It will be led by a member of the Inn’s staff and will last around 90 minutes.  Starting at the late-mediaeval Old Hall, your tour will take in the Chapel (whose foundation stone was laid by the poet John Donne), a late 17th century London square, a palatial 18th century set of chambers and the Great Hall complex opened by Queen Victoria in 1845.

Your tour will give you access to interior spaces usually only available to members of the Inn. Highlights include:

• the setting for the opening of Charles Dickens’ Bleak House,
• the Chapel interior with its fine 17th century layout and stained glass
• the magnificent Great Hall with a fresco by G.F. Watts
• an art collection which includes works by William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Mary Beale and John Singer Sargent.

Tickets are £15 and will be on sale at the January lecture meeting or can be reserved by contacting Pat by email or phone:

pat.farnsworth@gmail.com or 0208 657 5756

Visit co-ordinator:  Pat Farnsworth

Cezanne needs no introduction!    A major exhibition, the largest and most comprehensive in London for over 30 years, has opened at the Tate Modern.

Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) is one of the most highly regarded and fascinating artists of the late 19th century.    He changed the face of painting by showing new and innovative ways to paint.  The exhibition also includes views of contemporary artists and a look into his politics which give new insights into his character and life.

Our visit will start at 11.30 with a one hour lecture,  followed by timed tickets to the Exhibition.

Prices:   Non Tate members £31.00 (entry and lecture)

              Art Fund members £22.50 (entry and lecture)

              Tate Members         £12.00  (lecture - entry free)

Tickets will be sold at the November 2022 lecture meeting or can be reserved by contacting Fiona Moir by email or phone.

 fionaemoir@gmail.com    020 8681 3010

A 90 minute guided tour, starting at 11.30am, introduces the treasures of the British Library, including visits to the Viewing Gallery and Book Handling Room.  Find out how books are stored, accessed and delivered and meet some of the most iconic items, including the King's Library.  Go to the Sir John Riblat Gallery where over 200 of the Library's greatest treasures are displayed.

Tickets at £15 for this outing will be on sale at the September and October 2022 lecture meetings.

Visitor Co-ordinator: Pat Farnsworth 020 8657 5676

Due to the pandemic, the tour scheduled for October 2020 has been postponed to 18 October 2021. The break includes five nights in a hotel and a full programme of visits in our own coach to many places including Bath, Wells, a Canal Cruise, museums, houses and gardens. All members who were booked on this tour have been contacted by Simply Groups and most have agreed to the rescheduling. We are hoping that by October it will be possible for us to travel to Somerset. 

As soon as we have more information we will contact members.

Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in Richmond on Thames.  Building of the palace began in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII.  In1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, the cardinal gave the palace to the King who later enlarged it.  The following century saw a massive rebuilding and expansion project which gives the palace two distinct contrasting architectural styles, domestic Tudor and Baroque.

Apart from the palace itself and its gardens, other points of interest include the celebrated maze, the historic real tennis court and the huge grape vine.

Tickets for this outing will be available at the May and June lecture meetings.

Visit co-ordinator:  Pat Farnsworth 0208 657 5756

Chiswick House is one of the most iconic buildings of Georgian Britain. It was built 1726-1729 for Lord Burlington and was inspired by Roman antiquity, but was also inspired by architects Andrea Palladio and Inigo Jones.  

It has sumptuous interiors with a superb collection of paintings and furniture, including works by the multi-talented designer William Kent. The house was not intended as a private residence but rather for select gatherings. 

A guidebook is included in the tour.  

The Garden Tour is very special with spectacular vistas and features that emphasise the house and garden as a bold architectural experiment. 

We intend to see the house first, then take a break for lunch and afterwards see the gardens with a guide in order to appreciate the full display.                                                                                

 Tickets for house with gardens will be on sale at the April and May 2020 lectures.  

Visit co-ordinator : Arne Rees 020 8660 5171

Whitchurch Silk Mill  

This gem of our industrial heritage is set in the beautiful Hampshire countryside on the bank of the River Test.   Whitchurch Silk Mill is a Georgian water mill that still weaves silk fabrics using Victorian machinery and is the oldest silk mill in the UK still operating in its original building.  We will have a guided tour and will learn how the Mill wove for Thomas Burberry, Thomas Wardle and Warners and made fabrics for shirts and legal gowns. 

Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery (Laverstoke Mill) 

The first mill on this site was in 903 AD and it is recorded as being a corn mill in the Doomsday book of 1086.  In 1719 Henry Portal, a French Huguenot, converted the mill to make the finest quality hand-made paper.  In 1724 he acquired the contract to supply bank note paper to the Bank of England which continued until 1963.   

In 2010 Bombay Sapphire took over the Mill and developed it into the distillery we see today.  We will have a guided tour giving the history of the site and behind the scenes of the Dakin Still House.  We finish our tour with a visit to the spectacular botanical glasshouses and before departure will enjoy a cocktail (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). 

Tickets for this outing will be available at the March and April lecture meetings 

Visit co-ordinator:  Fiona Moir 020 8681 3010            

This major new exhibition will explore the extravagant world of the glamorous and stylish ‘Bright Young Things’ of the twenties and thirties, seen through the eye of renowned British photographer Cecil Beaton.  It will bring to life a deliriously eccentric, glamorous and creative era of British cultural life, combining high society and the avant-garde, artists and writers, socialites and partygoers. 

This exhibition will chart Beaton’s transformation from middle-class schoolboy to glittering society figure.  In addition to Beaton’s own portraits, paintings by friends and artists including Rex Whistler, Henry Lamb and Augustus John will be included.   

We will have a one hour lecture in the Ondaatje Wing Theatre prior to viewing the exhibition. 

Tickets for this outing will be available at the February and March lecture meetings. 

Visit co-ordinator:  Fiona Moir 020 8681 3010

Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire is the home of the Duke of Marlborough.  The estate was originally given by Queen Anne to John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, for his victory over the French at the battle of Blenheim.  A visit to Blenheim Palace offers an unforgettable experience.  

 It’s a chance to share the splendours of Baroque architecture designed in the 1700s by Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor, to wonder at the collections of art, tapestry and antiques and to explore the Park and Gardens and discover landscapes crafted by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to form magnificent vistas of English countryside. 

Tickets for this outing will be available at the January and February 2020 lecture meetings. 

Visit co-ordinator:  Pat Farnsworth 0208 657 5756

Apsley House is the town house of the Duke of Wellington. It stands alone at Hyde Park Corner and in former centuries enjoyed the distinctive address “No. 1 London” because it was the first house travellers would see on arriving in London from the west. 

The house was originally built in red brick by Robert Adam for Lord Apsley, the Lord Chancellor between 1771 and 1778. The red brick exterior was later clad in Bath Stone and a pedimented portico was added. 

In 1817 the Duke of Wellington purchased the house as a London base from which to pursue his burgeoning political career. As his career developed, he added a three-storey extension and many other rooms by the architect Dean Wyatt. In the Waterloo Gallery a banquet would be held every year to celebrate his victory over Napoleon on 18 June 1815.  Half of the house is still today occupied by members of the Wellington family.  

Wellington Arch built in 1824 

Find out the history of the Wellington Arch and the quadriga sculpture.

 Tickets for this visit will be on sale at the October and November 2019 lecture.

 Visit co-ordinator: Arne Rees 020 8660 5171

Petworth House is set within the ‘Capability’ Brown designed deer-park with unrivalled views over the South Downs National Park.  The mansion we see today was built in 1682, and the state-rooms were designed by the 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751-1837) to house his magnificent collection of paintings, sculptures and furniture – in fact the finest art collection in the care of the National Trust.  In addition to the 19 paintings by Turner, there are   important works by many other famous artists  including Titian, Hans Holbein the Younger, Aelbert Cuyp, Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds.  In 1834 John Constable described Petworth House as ‘that house of art’.  There are antique and 19C sculptures, beautiful 17C and 19C furniture and breathtaking Chinese porcelain – in fact it is a complete treasure trove!    

The gardens are no less impressive, from the beautiful summer colour in the borders of the Pleasure Ground to the 700 acre deer-park.

 It is on the doorstep of the lovely market town of Petworth which is well worth a visit in its own right – it has a strong reputation as a leading antiques town and there are reputed to be around 30 antique dealers varying from affordable to totally unaffordable.  There is also a good selection of pubs, restaurants and cafes if you wish to venture away from Petworth House. 

Tickets for this visit will be on sale from 9.30am at the May and June lecture meetings. 

Visit co-ordinator:  Fiona Moir 020 8681 3010

Highly regarded by historians and architects from all over the world for its beauty and size, Ely Cathedral is the only UK building to be listed as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages”. Visible for miles around, the Cathedral is often referred to as “The Ship of the Fens”.

The city of Ely may be small in comparison to other cities but its Cathedral is a magnificent structure with a history dating back over 1300 years. Despite its remoteness, Ely has an association with well known Kings & Saints who have shaped our history: King Canute, William the Conqueror, Hereward the Wake, Henry III, Edward III, Queen Philippa and Oliver Cromwell.

We will have a guided tour of both this beautiful Cathedral and its stained glass museum.  The museum houses a collection of stained glass from religious and secular buildings.  We will explore the development of the art form from the medieval to modern era. For the energetic among us, it is also possible to purchase a ticket to climb one of the towers to enjoy the spectacular views from the top. The afternoon will be at leisure to explore the other attractions that Ely has to offer.  There is a Museum, Oliver Cromwell’s House, Jubilee Gardens and the Dean’s Meadow and Cherry Hill Park will take you from the Cathedral down to the picturesque riverside.

Tickets for this outing will be available at the April and May lecture meetings.

Visit co-ordinator:  Pat Farnsworth 0208 657 5756

Hughenden offers a vivid insight into the charismatic personality and colourful private life of the most unlikely Victorian Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who lived here from 1847 until his death in 1881. The plain 18thC brick building was ‘gothicised’ for the Disraelis in the fashion of the time by the architect E.B. Lamb and the gardens and grounds were much altered.  The main interest of the house derives from its Disraeli connection, containing many busts and portraits of the family and of Disraeli’s distinguished contemporaries, his ‘Gallery of Friendship’. The library, the only room to retain its 18thC fireplace and plaster ceiling, reflects the literary tastes of a man who was both politician and novelist. ‘I have a passion,’ he wrote, ‘for books and trees … When I come down to Hughenden I saunter about my park and then I saunter in the library and survey the books.’  

The drawing room, with its Gothic architectural features, is typically Victorian, as is the rather sombre dining room. The study remains much as Disraeli left it. You can browse among an extraordinary collection of personal memorabilia, and there’s even a Victorian playroom for younger visitors.

A secret wartime past is revealed in the Second World War room in the cellars, with interactive exhibits and eye-witness accounts. You can experience the immersive wartime displays in the ice house bunker and find out why Hughenden was high on Hitler’s hit list.

An introductory talk has been arranged.

 Tickets for this outing will be available at the March and April lecture meetings.

Visit co-ordinator: Arne Rees 020 8660 5171

 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a traditional Hindu temple in North London. It is a place of worship, learning and community service.  On our visit to the temple we will learn about the origin, beliefs and values of Hinduism, the contribution of Hindu seers, and how this ancient religion is thriving today through traditions such as the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. 

 As well as a guided tour of the temple we will    experience a short prayer service (called an ‘Arti’), visit an exhibition on Hinduism where we can watch an interesting video on the construction of the temple.  It is hoped that we will also be able to enjoy a delicious vegetarian Indian lunch at its restaurant, which is currently closed for refurbishment.

Tickets for this outing will be available at the February and March lecture meetings.

Visit co-ordinator:  Pat Farnsworth 0208 657 5756    

Wallace Collection is an art collection in London open to the public, housed at Hertford House in Manchester Square, London W.1. It comprises a range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with large holdings of French 18th century paintings, furniture, arms and armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries.

It was established in 1897 from the private collection mainly created by Richard Seymour-Conway, 4th Marquess of Hertford (1800–1870). Admission is free.

The Collection numbers nearly 5,500 objects and is best known for its quality and breadth of eighteenth century French paintings, Sèvres porcelain and French furniture. There are, amongst others, two Titians, five Rembrandts, nine Rubens, four Van Dycks, eight Canalettos, There is also a fine collection of arms and armour, featuring both European and Oriental objects, as well as displays of gold boxes, miniatures, sculpture and medieval and Renaissance works of art such as majolica, glass, bronzes and Limoges enamels.

The Wallace Collection's Old Master paintings represent some of the finest works of art in the world, executed by most of the leading artists of their period. The Collection is particularly strong in Dutch and Flemish paintings of the seventeenth century, and in eighteenth and nineteenth-century French paintings.

In 2000 the inner courtyard of the House was given a glass roof and a restaurant was opened named ‘Cafe Bagatelle’ after the Château de Bagatelle in Paris purchased in 1835 by Francis Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford.

A guided tour has been arranged.

Tickets for this outing will be available at the January and February lecture meetings.

Visit co-ordinator: Arne Rees 020 8660 5171

The Wallace Collection is an art collection in London open to the public, housed at Hertford House in Manchester Square, London W.1.  It comprises a range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with large holdings of French 18th century paintings, furniture, arms and armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries.

It was established in 1897 from the private collection mainly created by Richard Seymour-Conway, 4th Marquess of Hertford (1800–1870). Admission is free.

The Collection numbers nearly 5,500 objects and is best known for its quality and breadth of eighteenth century French paintings, Sèvres porcelain and French furniture. There are, amongst others, two Titians, five Rembrandts, nine Rubens, four Van Dycks, eight Canalettos, There is also a fine collection of arms and armour, featuring both European and Oriental objects, as well as displays of gold boxes, miniatures, sculpture and medieval and Renaissance works of art such as majolica, glass, bronzes and Limoges enamels.

The Wallace Collection's Old Master paintings represent some of the finest works of art in the world, executed by most of the leading artists of their period. The Collection is particularly strong in Dutch and Flemish paintings of the seventeenth century, and in eighteenth and nineteenth-century French paintings.

In 2000 the inner courtyard of the House was given a glass roof and a restaurant was opened named ‘Cafe Bagatelle’ after the Château de Bagatelle in Paris purchased in 1835 by Francis Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford.

A guided tour has been arranged.

Tickets for this outing will be available at the January and February lecture meetings.

Visit co-ordinator: Arne Rees 020 8660 5171

The Tate Modern needs no introduction! In November 2017 the most comprehensive Modigliani exhibition ever held in the UK will open.

Amedeo Modigliani was born in Italy and settled in Paris in 1906.  He very quickly became part of the artistic revolution in Paris at that time and inspired by the art of Toulouse-Lautrec, Cezanne, and Picasso,  together with Greek, Egyptian, African, Asian and early Renaissance influences, developed his own very individual style.   The only solo exhibition in his lifetime – at Berte Weill’s Paris gallery in 1917 – was raided by police on the grounds of indecency.   In spite of, or perhaps because of his great talent, his life was tragic and he died, destitute at the age of 35.

We will meet in the Cafe next to the Auditorium and will have a one hour lecture on Modigliani, his life and works, followed by timed tickets to the Exhibition.  In addition there is much to see in this iconic building. The new 65 meter high 10 storey building with panoramic views over London known as the Switch House is well worth a visit.  In some circles it is considered the UK’s most important new cultural building since the British Library.   There is a large variety of cafes and restaurants to suit most tastes.

Tickets for this visit will be on sale from 9.30am at the October and November Lecture Meetings   

Visit co-ordinator:  Fiona Moir  020 8681 3010                                                  

7th to 14th October 2017

Our foreign tour for 2017 is to the lesser known region of Italy, Puglia and the beautiful heel of Italy.  We will stay seven nights at the 4* Grand Hotel la Chuisa di Chetri on the outskirts of Alberobello, located 2km from the centre of the UNESCO listed historical centre of Alberbello.  Our visit will include guided tours of Alberobello, Locorotondo and the Church of Santa Maria del Greco, Ostuni and the ‘Pink city of Lecce’ including lunch; Trani and the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino.  We will also visit the coastal town of Polignano a Mara and the limescale caves of Grotto di Castellana.  We will be looked after throughout the tour by a professional tour manager and executive coach travel in Italy. Return UK airport coach transfers and direct scheduled flights from Gatwick to Bari.  

Please contact Susan Newby-Robson for more information on 020 8668 9798.

This famous home of the National Motor Museum, exhibiting a priceless collection of historical vehicles, is also one of the ten Treasure Houses of England. Beaulieu has a beautiful location surrounded by the moors of the New Forest.  There has been an Abbey at Beaulieu since 1204 and the 13th century Palace House was originally its gatehouse, expanded massively over two building programmes in the 16th and 19th centuries.   The Palace House has been in the Montagu family since 1538 and what you see today is in the Victorian gothic style.  Beaulieu village was once home to 3000 spies and secret agents who completed their training there in World War II.  The Secret Exhibition tells the story of this training school.  Beaulieu also features beautiful gardens including the fragrant Victorian Flower Garden, the informal Wilderness Garden, dating back to the 1770s, and the Victorian Kitchen Garden, laid out on the site of the original Palace House kitchen garden of the 1880s. 

We will have a one hour guided tour of the House and a further one hour guided tour of the Abbey with a break for lunch in between.  There will be some free time to visit the other attractions such as the gardens and Motor Museum.

We will have a guided tour of Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England.  It is listed as a World Heritage site and is the Cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Its history dates back to 597AD when St Augustine was sent as a missionary to establish his seat (or 'Cathedra') in Canterbury.  One of the most pivotal events in the Cathedral's history was the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170.  The Cathedral has since been the attraction for thousands of Pilgrims as told in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.  Architecturally the Cathedral is very impressive due to its size and ornate detail. There is also a large display of stained glass windows, some of which have survived from the late 12th and 13th centuries. 

The afternoon will be free to visit historic Canterbury and a leaflet with suggestions will be handed out on the day.

Set high on a hill this magnificent castle commands stunning views across the River Arun and out to sea.  Arundel Castle in West Sussex dates back from the 11th century; it is both an ancient fortification and stately home of the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel.

We will be given a tour inside the castle which has over 20 sumptuously furnished rooms including the Barons’ Hall with 16th century furniture, the Armoury with its fine collection of armour and weaponry and the magnificent Gothic library which has been entirely fitted out in carved Honduras mahogany.  There are works of art by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Canaletto and Mytens; tapestries, clocks and personal possessions of Mary Queen of Scots including the gold rosary that she carried to her execution.

In the garden there are battlements to explore, a Victorian garden that been restored in the last five years and a 14th century Fitzalan Chapel.

There will also be time to explore the lovely town of Arundel with its host of quaint shops and eateries.

The morning will be spent at Dorney Court, one of England’s most lovely houses.  Renowned for its architectural importance and historical significance, there is much to inspire curiosity. Little changed in 600 years, Dorney Court has a rare and enchanting character.

Native trees throw their boughs over the drive as it winds between gnarled trunks and wild flowers; the hand-dug medieval Pike Pond glimmers invitingly and gradually, framed by trees, Dorney Court emerges russet bricked and many gabled across a lush green pasture.

The Estate has been the home of the Palmer family for more than 450 years, passing from father to son through thirteen generations. The House is a Grade 1 listed building, further designated as being of outstanding architectural and historical interest. Dorney Court has always been the manor house of Dorney village, first recorded in the Domesday Book.  We will have a guided tour of the House and time to explore the gardens.

The church of St. James the Less, which dates back to the Norman Conquest, towers next to the house and the beautifully newly-restored coach house barn. Windsor Castle floats in the distance and Dorney Lake lies a short walk away. Dorney is a rural oasis tucked away next to the Thames.

Dorney Court contains a wealth of family portraits besides a varied collection of art that tell a visual tale of the tastes and fortunes of everyone who has lived in the House.  Traditional oak furniture, carved panelling, silks and tapestries fill the rooms.  The interior and the exterior of the House reward exploration and will surprise the more observant who might spot the 17th century priest hole or even the balding spectre of Dorney Court’s ghost.  .

In the afternoon we drive to the Savill Garden, one of Britain’s great ornamental gardens, for lunch in the new restaurant.  There are 35 acres of contemporary and classically designed gardens and exotic woodland to explore. Developed under the patronage of Kings and Queens, the Garden was created in the 1930s by Sir Eric Savill. It is a place of constant discovery, containing distinctive areas such as Spring Wood, The Summer Wood, The Hidden Gardens, The Summer Gardens, The Glades, Autumn Wood, The Azalea Walks and The New Zealand Garden. Many important garden hybrids were developed here.   There will be time for tea before returning to Sanderstead.

In the morning we will have a one hour guided tour of the Queen’s House which has been fully refurbished in 2015-2016.  The house sits among the buildings of the National Maritime Museum.  A Palladian style extravagance built for the Queen of James I in the 17th century.  Now it is a gallery for some of the Maritime Museum’s vast collection of maritime art.  After lunch a further guided tour has been arranged of The Old Royal Naval College (Greenwich Hospital), one of Christopher Wren’s great architectural masterpieces.  Founded in 1694 as a retirement home for sailors, it was built over the site of a Tudor palace.  Our tour will include the stunning Painted Hall and Chapel of the Old Royal Naval College.

This is a major exhibition of portraits by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) and will include over 75 portraits by the artist in all media, ranging from well-known masters to images that have never been shown in Britain before.

 All phases of the artist’s career will be represented, from the realist portraits of his boyhood to the more gestural canvasses of his old age.  It is the first large-scale exhibition devoted to his portraiture since exhibitions held in New York and the Grand Palais Paris in 1996.

 Our visit will include a 1 hour lecture from an art historian preceding the entrance to the exhibition.

A Visit to The Ashmolean Museum attached to the University of Oxford.  A lecture covering the collection in the exhibition by Dr Paul Roberts who is curator of Roman Archaeology at the Ashmolean Museum and has been involved with putting the exhibition together. We will then visit the exhibition which explores the multi-cultural heritage of the Mediterranean seas around Sicily through objects rescued from the bottom of the sea by underwater archaeologists. These finds were from chance discoveries or excavated shipwrecks.  The exhibition has recovered examples from the pioneering Phoenician traders to the Emperors of Byzantium.  There will be some free time after lunch before our return by coach.

Set in acres of landscaped gardens surrounded by views of Oxfordshire and the Chiltern Hills sits Waddesdon Manor.

The house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French chateau between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to display his superb collection of art treasures and to entertain the fashionable world.  The Victorian garden is considered one of the finest in Britain with its parterre, ornate fountains and statuary, and a rococo style Aviary can be found in the heart of the garden housing rare and exotic birds.  

We will be given a guided tour of the house and free time to wander the extensive grounds to explore the treasures in the gardens for which they are renowned, and have lunch in one of the many restaurants/cafes that can be found at Waddesdon.

Our morning visit to Sandham Memorial Chapel will include a special talk about Stanley Spencer and his paintings describing his experiences as a medical orderly in the First World War, which cover the interior of this most unusual chapel.  We’ll have time for coffee and a walk around the pretty gardens surrounding the chapel, and will be able to investigate the new exhibition centre.  We leave Sandham for The Vyne where we will have lunch and a tour of the house.  

The Vyne - Surrounded by beauty... steeped in history

An intimate family home, the history of The Vyne spans the centuries. From its royal beginnings in Tudor times to its place today as an intriguing retreat for you to explore, you can lose yourself in the surroundings that inspired great authors such as Jane Austen. Discover the chapel, where sunlight streams in through stained-glass windows, and a ring that may have inspired Tolkien and an oak gallery fit for a king.

There are ancient woodlands to explore, and peaceful gardens with secret picnic spots; or you could stroll by the lawn which sweeps down to the ornamental lake. Sneak into the wetland bird hide and experience glimpses of wildlife.

Why not take in the restored Walled Garden, now a working kitchen garden providing delicious, fresh and seasonal produce for you to purchase? 

The Vyne has been featured in several TV series, the most recent being ‘Wolf Hall’.  Thomas Cromwell mentions The Vyne in 'Wolf Hall' when he tells Mary Tudor that her father will be visiting Lord Sandys to see his 'handsome new gallery'. Henry VIII did indeed visit more than once.

In 2016 the Fitzwilliam Museum will be celebrating the bicentenary of its foundation in 1816, by the will of Richard, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion. It is an historic and special year for the Museum.  The Fitzwilliam Museum was described by the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries as ‘one of the greatest art collections of the nation and a monument of first importance’.

We have booked a guided tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum in the afternoon. The Guides are part of the Cambridge Tourist Board and have good knowledge of Cambridge as well as the Fitzwilliam.   In the morning you are at leisure to explore Cambridge’s University Botanic Gardens, King’s College Chapel and the picturesque ‘Backs’ (college gardens). You can also enjoy a punt or river trip on the River Cam. However Cambridge is drowning in exquisite architecture and has more museums and galleries within a square mile than any other city outside London. 

There are many places for lunch including the Fitzwilliam Museum and Browns, which is opposite the Museum. Cambridge also does a good trade in the city’s designer boutiques! 

The Fitzwilliam Museum is one of the greatest glories of the University of Cambridge.  It is a museum of international status, with unique collections most splendidly housed. Like the University itself it is part of the national heritage, but much more, it is part of the living and continuing culture. Like the British Museum, the Fitzwilliam addresses the history of culture in terms of the visual forms it has assumed, but it does so from the highly selective point of view of the collector connoisseur.  Works of art have been taken into the collection not only for the historical information they reveal but for their beauty, excellence, quality and rarity.  It is a widely held opinion that the Fitzwilliam is the finest small museum in Europe.

Cambridge has many famous graduates: Crick and Watson who discovered DNA at Cambridge, Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, who until 2009 was a professor of mathematics, Charles Darwin, William Wordsworth and 13 Prime Ministers.

(At the time of writing the Fitzwilliam is unable to tell me what exhibitions will be taking place in May 2016, their bicentenary year.  It is however a special year for the museum and hopefully will get a lot of media coverage).    

Chenies Manor House is a very old Tudor House set in an attractive estate village in rural Buckinghamshire.  The 15th C House has a fortified tower and was visited by both Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I and has splendid reception rooms and bedrooms containing tapestries and furniture mainly of 16th C and 17th C, along with hiding places and a collection of antique dolls. 

The Manor is surrounded by enchanting gardens, famed for the spring display of tulips, which have been featured in many publications and on television.  Our visit is planned to allow us to see these splendid flowers.  There is a succession of colour in the Tudor Sunken garden, The White garden, herbaceous borders and Fountain  Court.  The Physic garden contains a wide selection of medicinal and culinary herbs.  The Parterre has an ancient oak and complicated Yew Maze while the Kitchen garden is in Victorian style. 

We will have a guided tour of this lovely, historic house with time to enjoy the gardens.  In the afternoon we will make the short journey to Marlow where you can take lunch and explore this riverside town at your leisure.

We will be having a guided tour of London’s Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London Heritage Gallery and London’s only Roman Amphitheatre. The tour lasts approx. 90 minutes and takes place in the morning. Discover the priceless art collection of the City of London; visit Guildhall Yard, a tranquil and historic square in the middle of the City and London’s Roman amphitheatre where they re-enact gladiatorial games in the summer. 

Last year Guildhall Art Gallery underwent a radical rehang for the first time since 1999 and many of the works on display are showing for the first time.  The £600,000 renovation improves the visitors’ experience through illuminating the artwork with a state-of-the-art lighting system. The Gallery was established in 1886 as a Collection of Art Treasures worthy of a capital city.  See works dating from 1670 to the present including seventeenth century portraits, Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces and a range of paintings documenting London’s dramatic history.  Step into the ruins of London’s Roman Amphitheatre in which crowds would have gathered to watch animal fighting, executions and gladiatorial combats.

The Guildhall has been the City powerhouse since the twelfth century. It is a rare and magnificent medieval Grade 1 listed landmark in the heart of the City of London.

Westminster Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history.  Benedictine monks first came to the site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues today.

The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs.  The present church begun by Henry III in 1245 and is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo -Saxon saint still at its heart.

The Abbey is home to a treasure of paintings, stained glass, textiles and other artefacts.  It is also the place where some of the most significant peoples in the nation’s history are buried or commemorated.  

We will all meet at Westminster Abbey to start our guided tour of one of the world’s greatest churches.

5th-10th October 2015

The Art and History of Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Avila and San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Osborne House was the rural retreat of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their nine children and it is where they spent some of their happiest times. Our visit will give us an intimate glimpse into Queen Victoria’s family life as we tour the nursery and private rooms of Victoria and Albert. We will see the Royal Apartments including the Dunbar Room with its lavish Indian décor and the sumptuous drawing and dining rooms. We are now able to explore Queen Victoria’s private beach which is a 20 minutes stroll away and enjoy the views across the Solent and of course, the visit wouldn’t be complete without exploring the beautiful gardens including Swiss Cottage a chalet built in the grounds for teaching the children domestic skills.

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