2026 SUMMER BULLETIN
Travel for the Culturally Curious
Welcome
We are pleased to share our Summer Bulletin showcasing a plethora of newlyreleased tours departing throughout 2026.
The Story of the Raj: from Calcutta to Delhi will introduce travellers to the breathtaking Himalayan foothills whilst tracing the legacy and development of British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent, complemented by stays in deluxe historical hotels. Art lovers will gain unparalleled access to the work of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, two of Mexico’s most esteemed artists, on Frida, Diego & Modernism in Mexico City ; while earlier in the year, Turkey’s captivating blend of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture, from intricate mosaics to soaring minarets, will shine on Byzantine & Ottoman Türkiye
Our 2026 calendar will feature a series of exciting musical departures, including complementary anniversary editions of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, offering a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to celebrate all four Ring operas in the cycle’s 150th year. Travellers accompanying award-winning concert pianist Emilie Capulet on La Folle Journée de Nantes: Rivers of Music will take their seats for the largest classical music festival in France, celebrating its 30th year.
Slightly closer to home, our brand new tour, Archaeology & Legend in St Patrick’s Country, introduces the iconic Giant’s Causeway as well as sites associated with the history and legends of St Patrick. Gardens of the Cotswolds , led by new Tour Director and RHS judge David Hurrion, features talks with head gardeners and owners at some of Britain’s best-loved estates. Equally as exciting, we look forward to our new Children’s Literary Classics: Winnie-the-Pooh at 100, where travellers can honour the book’s anniversary whilst touring the idyllic Ashdown Forest and other sites that inspired some of the country’s greatest writers for children.
Our new Cultural Breaks series has officially launched, designed specially for the more independent traveller and featuring everything from the art and architecture of Germany and Spain to the incredible ancient treasures of Egypt. These tours offer a fresh approach to travel, combining unique insights from international experts alongside the opportunity to explore at your own pace.
We invite you to explore our full schedule on pages 102 to 105. To register your interest in upcoming departures and receive full details by email as soon as these tours become available, please complete the form on our website or contact the ACE Cultural Tours office on 01223 841055 or email sales@aceculturaltours.co.uk
Above & Cover: The Veteran in a New Field by Winslow Homer, 1865
Tours
CULTURAL BREAKS
Art Treasures of Madrid and Malaga
Ancient Treasures of Luxor
Art Treasures of Berlin
Art Treasures of Vienna
Great Art Collections of New York: 250 Years of Independence
FURTHER AFIELD
Frida, Diego & Modernism in Mexico City
The Story of the Raj: from Calcutta to Delhi
From Spain to Morocco: Roman Hispania and Mauretania
EUROPE
Music, History & Art of Malta
Mozart Festival in Salzburg: 270th Anniversary Tour
La Folle Journée de Nantes: Rivers of Music
& Art in Provence
& Ottoman Türkiye
in Berlin: Rossini, Strauss & Verdi
Wagner’s Ring Cycle at La Scala: 150th Anniversary Tour
Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Berlin: 150th Anniversary Tour
Ancient Macedonia: The Empire of Philip II & Alexander the Great
Wildlife & Walking in Romania
Albania and North Macedonia: A Legacy of Empires
Art Nouveau in Belgium
Festival in Leipzig
Artists & Artisans
UNITED KINGDOM
The ACE Experience
Over 67 Years of Expertise
Established in 1958, ACE Cultural Tours is the UK’s longest established cultural travel tour operator, with over 67 years’ experience. Continuing to build on this heritage, we look forward to offering tours to new and exciting destinations worldwide, alongside returning and perennial favourites.
THE TOURS
Our tours aim to uncover cultural intricacies and connections across a wide range of subjects, from art and architecture to music, literature, archaeology, history and nature. Rather than exclusively focusing on the development of one artistic work, archaeological site or historical event, our itineraries are designed to take in the bigger picture and provide the context of a wider cultural landscape, reaching beyond the boundaries of traditional categories. Each of our tours are led by an expert Tour Director who illuminate their themes with formal lectures and on-site talks, and where appropriate, local guides will provide a complementary and often personal perspective. Many itineraries include privileged access, exclusive visits or private concerts to further enhance our travellers’ enjoyment. No prior knowledge is needed, just an interest in the subjects concerned.
OUR TOUR DIRECTORS
Chosen not only for their specialist knowledge but equally for the clarity and enthusiasm with which they communicate and impart their passion to others, our expert Tour Directors are personally involved in the creation and planning of our tours. Biographies and further information about all of our Tour Directors are available at the back of this brochure, as well as on our website. Several of our tours, particularly our river cruises but also some music, art and wildlife departures, combine the
“ACE know what they are doing and plan their trips meticulously, which is why their tours are such a success and guests keep returning”
– ACE customer on a recent 2025 tour
expertise of multiple Tour Directors, whose specialisms across distinct subject areas combine to create a unique amalgamation of perspectives. On most of our tours, the Tour Director will be supported by an experienced Tour Manager or local guide, responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of our itineraries.
TRAVELLING WITH US
Our travellers, whilst often independent in spirit, enjoy the inviting ambience we like to create on our tours. Group dinners, for example, are a wonderful opportunity to get to know new friends and discuss the day’s visits and experiences in a convivial atmosphere.
Itineraries are well-balanced with a rich array of visits and lectures to take full advantage of our time in each location. Some tours, our new Cultural Breaks also
offer additional free time for individual exploration or relaxation. Solo travellers make up a significant proportion of all of our groups, and those travelling alone can be assured of finding a welcoming atmosphere amongst like-minded people. We pride ourselves on looking after single travellers very well, from working to minimise the additional cost incurred by single supplements at the booking stage to ensuring that there is always somebody with whom to share a coffee or lunch once on tour.
The majority of our 2025 and 2026 tours have been designed for groups of approximately 25 participants maximum, enabling everyone to make the most of our itineraries and the insights of our expert Tour Directors. Occasionally a tour might be restricted to lower numbers, for example, on certain wildlife and music tours, while our cruises and festivals often welcome a larger number of participants; please contact us if you wish to double-check the situation for a specific tour.
VALUE FOR MONEY
Generally, our tours are very inclusive and there are few personal expenses. We work closely with the hotels to ensure
ACE Group on International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, 2025
Responsible tourism
We are proud to be the preferred travel provider for people who are committed to supporting local communities in the countries they visit. ACE Cultural Tours aims to make sustainable choices by scheduling visits during off-peak seasons, returning to the same hotels year on year, supporting local businesses and utilising the expertise of our Tour Directors who have active roles as conservationists and ICOMOS representatives.
Additionally, each year, the trustees of the Association for Cultural Exchange, an educational charity founded in 1958 and the owner of ACE Cultural Tours, support charitable and educational projects all over the world. These include international conservation and research projects, as well as work closer to home at Stapleford Granary, our base near Cambridge.
that facilities, cleanliness and comfort levels are up to expected standards. When selecting accommodation for our tours, we strive to achieve a balance between factors such as accessibility, location and costs. We also recognise that the opportunity to sample different cuisines is an integral part of the cultural experience, so when travelling overseas, we like to give you the chance to try traditional dishes. When travelling off the beaten track, it is sometimes necessary to use simpler accommodation, and we also consider less tangible qualities such as historical character and atmosphere.
Customers have frequently complimented us on the value for money offered by our tours, and our policy of including gratuities for most services as standard has proven particularly popular. Our brochure descriptions give a clear indication of what is included for each tour.
Tour prices are confirmed at the time of booking and thereafter will not be subject to any surcharge. We have forward purchases of currency and other precautions in order to guarantee your holiday is not affected by fluctuations in fuel or currency rates.
AM I FIT ENOUGH?
Our tours range from fairly strenuous and challenging departures to those with a more relaxed feel, particularly our cruises. Regardless of the type of tour, it is important that our clients meet minimum fitness criteria to ensure that the enjoyment of the rest of the group is not compromised, and we ask all customers to check the tour-specific fitness details included in our brochure pages and online.
The majority of ACE Cultural Tours are active in nature. To make the most of our time in a destination and provide excellent value for money, they are busy – there are often several visits included each day. As such, our tours require a certain minimum level of physical and mental fitness, mobility and stamina. Many visits will involve navigating steps, uneven ground, steep ascents and descents, and could involve embarking and disembarking aircraft, coaches, trains and cruise vessels. Plenty of walking, punctuated by lengthy periods of standing, is the norm. Some tours may involve long coach journeys. Walks on natural history tours are typically 3–5 miles in length, often in hilly or mountainous regions.
“ACE Cultural Tours are seasoned providers of stimulating and well-thought-out cultural tours on a wide variety of subjects - and they do not overlook the comfort of their tour participants”
– ACE customer on a previous 2025 tour
As a minimum, participants should be able to successfully complete the following self- assessment tests:
• Walk for 60 minutes at a reasonable pace and without needing to take a break to rest
• Climb at least two flights of stairs at a reasonable pace
• Stand unaided for at least 30 minutes
• Stand up and sit down ten times in one minute
• Carry or otherwise move your own luggage
ACE Group on Art Treasures of Manchester, 2025
© MICHAELA ROWLAND-HALL
British Travel Awards & Feefo Service Awards
BRITISH TRAVEL AWARDS
The British Travel Awards is the UK’s largest awards programme in the travel business, where each year, customers vote for their favourite travel companies.
This year, we are once again a nominee in the category of ‘Best Travel Company for Arts & Culture Holidays’ at the British Travel Awards. We have won an award in this category for the past three years and we are enormously grateful for all of your support.
If you would like to vote for us this year, please visit: aceculturaltours.co.uk/vote-25
Voting closes on 1 November 2025 and can only be done through the BTA website.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all sincerely for your continued support of ACE Cultural Tours.
FEEFO SERVICE AWARDS
Feefo is an independent feedback platform which allows customers to publicly rate and review businesses based on the service and experience they received.
We are proud to share that earlier this year, ACE Cultural Tours received a Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for our customer service, which we have continually maintained since 2022. To win the Platinum award, we had to achieve a Feefo service rating of at least 4.5 out of 5 for three consecutive years.
We are extremely grateful to those who have left us a review, and we continue to aim for an exceptional customer experience throughout our whole tour process - from the moment you make a booking, to the end of a tour.
“A very well organised company – it’s easy to book, and to communicate with them. As a result, ACE has a large following of loyal customers. The website is very good, and their phone response is excellent. ACE treat each customer as an individual, even as a friend”
– Bath Bachfest Feb 2025
The Association for Cultural Exchange
Sixty years ago in 1965, a government White Paper “A Policy for the Arts” forcefully set out the way in which a lifelong passion for art and culture had transformative benefits both for individuals and for wider society, and urged for more government financial support for the arts. It was written by Jennie Lee who subsequently became the first Minister for the Arts.
It would be good to think that Jennie Lee was inspired by the fact that some seven years earlier, in 1958, Philip Barnes had presciently established The Association for Cultural Exchange – a charity committed to advancing cultural education. Philip Barnes also passionately believed in the power of the arts and culture to transform lives. Over successive decades, the charity has championed Philip Barnes’s pioneering vision – promoting cultural education to nurture understanding and awareness.
Today’s culturally curious travellers with ACE Cultural Tours may not know that they are directly continuing that pioneering vision. They may be even less aware that, by choosing to travel with ACE Cultural Tours, they are also indirectly supporting the charity’s activities at Stapleford Granary which is also wholly owned by The Association for Cultural Exchange.
Stapleford Granary was acquired for The Association for Cultural Exchange in 2009 by Philip Barnes’s son, Paul, with a vision to expand the activities of the charity by providing a permanent base for promoting cultural education. At the time of its purchase, the granary was a derelict set of farm buildings in the landscape of the river Granta chalk stream just outside Cambridge. Once in the hands of The Association for Cultural Exchange, the 19th century granary buildings were subjected to a period of sensitive renovation which won recognition in 2019 from both RIBA and the Civic Trust.
Today Stapleford Granary is a vibrant and dynamic arts centre operated by the charity. It provides an intimate concert hall, exhibition space, education rooms and a popular café. Remaining true to our agricultural history, there is also the remnants of a heritage orchard, an old cart wash which would have been used for cleaning the granary’s farm wagons, and a stable block which now houses a range of creative studios. In addition to a wide variety of cultural activities, our location enables us to highlight the connections between art, culture and the natural world of the rare and fragile chalk stream habitat on our doorstep.
In 2024 we welcomed 70,000 visitors to Stapleford Granary. Whether attending concerts, enjoying the free art exhibitions, taking in the bird song in the orchard or simply soaking up the cultural ambiance, our aim is always to ensure that everyone can enjoy in many different ways a rich and fulfilling cultural experience.
Thanks to travellers with ACE Cultural Tours, The Association for Cultural Exchange achieves its aims to promote cultural education without receiving any state subsidy. This is because the annual surpluses from ACE Cultural Tours are gift-aided to the charity. The surpluses are the primary source of income and provide much of the funding the charity needs to operate Stapleford Granary. Those funds are supplemented by the revenue we can generate through our own activities
on site. We also enormously value the donations and legacies we receive from those who wish to support our charitable work.
Despite the call by Jennie Lee in 1965 for government support for the arts, the arts have never been more under threat than they are in 2025. Schools’ budgets have led to the reduction or removal of arts and music from the curriculum. Grants to some of the UK’s best-known arts organisations have been cut or discontinued. Yet the overwhelming encouragement we receive for our work at Stapleford Granary shows we are meeting a need to satisfy cultural curiosity and introduce existing and new audiences to a range of cultural experiences, whilst also providing a much-needed platform for artists of all disciplines to showcase their talent and maintain a living.
As we approach the charity’s 70th anniversary in 2028, we are ambitious to champion Philip Barnes’s pioneering vision and our creative cultural programming to wider audiences. The arts sector has much to contribute to address the challenges of society and we are extremely proud of the contribution which The Association for Cultural Exchange is making to ensure that Jennie Lee’s claim about the importance of the arts continues to be heard.
A recent talk held at Stapleford Granary
On The Trail of Fanny Wale
by Kate Romano, CEO of Stapleford Granary
Kate Romano writes about Fanny Wale (1851 – 1936), first historian of Little Shelford, and her debut solo print exhibition, 89 years after her death.
Earlier this year, David Martin, one of our charity trustees, told me about a book which was going to be republished. It was a history of Little Shelford, he said, written by village grandee Miss Fanny Lucretia Wale around 100 years ago. Might Stapleford Granary be interested in promoting this?
It didn’t immediately grab me. Fanny Wale is not a name that is familiar to most people; and certainly not outside Little and Great Shelford, Stapleford’s neighbouring villages. The book wasn’t a new discovery, and its republication didn’t seem to fit with any of our programming strands. ‘It’s a bit like The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady’ David pressed; ‘only better’
So I googled the digital version of Fanny Wale’s Record of Shelford Parva. I was totally unprepared for the beguiling
charm, beauty and distinctiveness of the book. Page after page, Fanny Wale decorates and illustrates the story of her village, with delicate, finely wrought sketches of a bygone age. Nature studies are prevalent throughout, alongside careful copies of existing watercolours, maps, and intricate borders. She was a visual journalist of the everyday and a master of the domestic, capturing delightful little illustrative details such as the three sons of General Sir Charles Wale being taken to school in an upright wicker basket to stop them running into the river. Falling somewhere between a history, a journal and an artist’s sketch book, Fanny Wale created her exquisite 79-page volume over a period of 11 years, between 1908 and 1919. We decided to give Fanny Wale the attention we felt she deserved; not just a book launch at Stapleford Granary, but also a new public print exhibition of her own art work.
My first stop was to visit Jimmy Altham and Jane Lagesse, the two remaining Wale family members living in Little Shelford. Fanny Wale, Jane and Jimmy share a common relative in General Sir
Charles Wale (1763 –1845). He was Fanny’s grandfather, and is also Jimmy and Jane’s great, great, great grandfather. This makes Fanny their first cousin, thrice removed. Warm and insightful, they shared stories and family keepsakes with me (‘Waliana’ Jimmy called it) as we drank tea and chatted in the front room of Studio Cottage, Fanny’s home for many years. There were thick yellowing photo albums, filled with idealised images of comfortable family life. Jimmy has a selection of Victorian miniature Wale family pocket books, immaculately scribed with microscopic hand-written texts. In a large box was an exquisite Victorian wedding dress belonging to Jimmy’s grandmother, beautifully embellished with lace, embroidery, and shimmering Jewel Beetle wing cases, still iridescent after all this time. As we made our way through the memorabilia, Jimmy and Jane threw in scattered snippets of their prominent family history; stories of trading ventures, clandestine marriage, hunting, fishing and travel, layabout sons and gallant soldiers, misfortune and broken hearts, generosity and legacy, from a prosperous and well-connected family that dates back to Norman times.
Fanny Wale sketch from A Record of Shelford Parva with kind permission of Cambridge Antiquarian Society
Little is known about Fanny Wale herself. Born in 1851, she was the eldest of Colonel Robert Gregory Wale’s seven children (five girls and two boys) in a time when British society and economics were undergoing a major shakeup. Power and influence were shifting dramatically from the rural areas to cities; the share of agriculture in national production was fast diminishing, and industry surged, driven by the new middle class. Robert Gregory Wale, like many rural landowners who relied on rental income, struggled to find tenants to farm their land and the family’s income plummeted.
Why did Fanny Wale create her Record of Shelford Parva? Perhaps she had kept a diary, and her history book was a natural progression? For children and women in the 19th century, diary keeping and journal writing was encouraged as a discipline, and young women were advised to educate themselves and fill
up their time whilst waiting to marry. Fanny Wale was a magpie; a collector of facts, and a conscientious observer. Her writing is descriptive rather than analytical, prosaic rather than poetic, economical and devoid of emotion. Yet she punctuates her penchant for lists and details with unexpected lively excursions into stories, all the more shocking for retaining a dry style and subtly expressed voyeurism. We read about the bodysnatchers of the Wale family graves in the mausoleum and the servants of the Pallivicini Manor house, who found a burglar hiding in a coffin. She brings historical figures to life through a physical detail or a strange quirk; Mrs Ansel, who had a face ‘very much like the poet Dante and she could recite 40 hymns from memory’ and the mathematician who was riddled with lifelong guilt over his treatment of ducks. Occasional mentions of witchcraft remind us that remnants of old beliefs persist as curiosities;
“An old woman was supposed to be a witch because she made a bonfire in her yard in the middle of the night, and boiled some horseshoes and old bits of rusty iron. The neighbours asked a magistrate to have her burned alive because she had bewitched a farmer’s churn and the butter would not come, but of course that could not be done in 1853”
Today, Sunday 29 June, Stapleford Granary is packed full of local residents. They have come to look at our print exhibition of Fanny Wale’s illustrations, to hear David Martin speak about the book, to meet Jimmy and Jane, and to exchange their own memories and impressions of the village, past and present. ‘Fanny’s book is about Little Shelford, but really, it’s a history of any small village’ David tells the audience. Within rapidly changing landscapes, villages can be custodians of cultural heritage, seeking to retain buildings, stories, rituals and routines. As conversations fill the Granary’s rooms, themes emerge, curiously reminiscent of Fanny Wale’s book: an unshakeable fascination and care for what is happening on our own doorstep, and an enduring desire to preserve a flavour of this community for our own pleasure, and for future generations.
Fanny Wale exhibition
– Extract by Fanny Wale, from A Record of Shelford Parva
A Record of Shelford Parva, courtesy of Galileo Publishers
New Releases Spotlight 2026
Seeking to be culturally curious in 2026? Each year ACE Cultural Tours is proud to be able to curate a brand new range of worldwide departures on top of exisiting popular departures. Below we are delighted to highlight the new releases for 2026 featured in this brochure. From the politcally charged works of Frida Kahlo in Mexico to the impressive ancient landscapes of Anglesey, our new releases promise to offer orignal and inspiring themes and ideas.
La Folle Journée de Nantes: Rivers of Music
28 January – 2 February
Ancient Treasures of Luxor
5–9 February
Art Treasures of Madrid and Malaga
23–28 February
Byzantine & Ottoman Türkiye
23 March – 2 April
Artists & Artisans of Umbria
10–17 April
Ancient Macedonia: The Empire of Philip II & Alexander the Great
21–28 May
In the Footsteps of Le Corbusier: His Life & Legacy 54-55 8–14 June
Children’s Literary Classics: Winnie-the-Pooh at 100
22–27 June
Archaeology & Legend in St Patrick’s Country 78–79 24–30 June
Bordeaux through the Ages: Historical & Cultural Riches
29 June – 5 July
Annunciation by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, 1344
Walking Norfolk’s Coastal Path 84–85
29 June – 7 July
Princely Courts of Central Germany 60-61 20–26 July
Wild & Ancient Anglesey 97 Summer 2026
Roman Sussex
19–23 August
Lucerne Summer Festival
September 2026
Great Art Collections of New York: 250 Years of Independence 22–23 14–20 September
Art Treasures of Siena and San Gimignano 66–67
28 September – 3 October
Art Treasures of Moravia 68–69
29 September – 7 October
The Story of the Raj: from Calcutta to Delhi 26–27 3–11 November
Frida, Diego & Modernism in Mexico City 24–25
30 November – 8 December
Blakeney Channel
Garden restaurant on the Havel by Max Liebermann, 1916
RICHARD
Cultural Breaks
“I may never travel again without my own personal art historian, Marie-Anne was excellent”
– ACE customer on a previous tour led by Marie-Anne Mancio
New for 2025, and in recognition of the diverse ways our guests like to experience cultural travel, ACE Cultural Tours is pleased to announce a fresh tours collection designed with the more independent traveller in mind. Each of our Cultural Breaks balances portions of high quality guidance courtesy of our subject specialists with free time, allowing travellers to customise the experience in line with their personal interests. During this free time, group members will benefit from the Tour Directors’ rich knowledge of each destination, exploring everything from hidden churches and galleries to the neighbourhood’s most delicious coffee and cake.
We have purposefully based our Cultural Breaks in centres where leading sites sit alongside undiscovered treasures. This enables our Tour Directors to give new perspectives on familiar places, while introducing the group to aspects they may not know – from history, art and architecture to music and gastronomy. During a selection of core daytime visits, participants will
learn from their Tour Director’s particular expertise, before dispersing for free time with plenty of guidance and recommendations as to how to spend it. Those who prefer not to explore independently are of course welcome to stay with the tour personnel, who will remain close by.
While each Cultural Break will vary depending on the destination, subject and tour leader, they will usually include:
• More free evenings for travellers to make their own plans, book-ended by group meals at the beginning and end of the tour
• More use of city walking and public transport as an easier and quicker way to access sites
• More free time during each day, coupled with periods of high quality guiding at selected sites
• The exceptional cultural content that ACE is known for alongside the freedom to make the tour your own
In 2026 we are excited to present six Cultural Breaks. Art and architecture tours are located in cities with world-class galleries and museums including Madrid and Malaga, New York, Vienna and Berlin. Our archeological tours meanwhile are based in the legendary cities of Luxor and Cairo, where ancient treasures await in magnificent tombs and temples.
Art Treasures of Madrid and Malaga
February 23–28, 2026
Explore the world-class collection at Museo Nacional del Prado with works by Velázquez, Bosch, Goya and Raphael
Visit Madrid’s Museo Nacional Thyssen for a rich assembly of art that spans the 14th to the 20th centuries
Experience a range of Picasso’s work at his museum in Malaga and Guernica at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid
Madrid is a leading centre for artistic excellence in Europe, home to some of the most important works in western art history; whilst Malaga hosts works by Picasso in his birthplace alongside remarkable modern and contemporary art.
At the spectacular Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, two guided visits will introduce us to Velazquez’s masterpiece, Las Meninas, along with Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights and focused study of 19th century greats including Francisco Goya.
Another fruitful collection is located in the Museo Nacional Thyssen, spanning
the 14th to the 20th centuries; highlights of its permanent collection range from tiny paintings by Jan van Eyck to Edward Hopper’s brooding scenes.
At the Reina Sofia Museum we will see Picasso’s Guernica, a surreal and harrowing reflection of the Spanish Civil War, alongside Dora Maar’s photographic series capturing this extraordinary work’s creation.
Marked by a distinctive cuboid structure, the Pompidou Centre Malaga contains a vibrant assemblage of modern art, incuding works that are currently less accessible due to renovations at its Parisian counterpart. The Picasso Museum in Malaga, meanwhile, holds innovative exhibitions throughout the year; we will enjoy a guided visit and an opportunity to explore independently.
The first three nights of our tour will be spent at the Only YOU Hotel Atocha Madrid, a stylish and modern establishment situated in excellent proximity to museums and the train station. We will then stay in Malaga for two nights at the AC Hotel Malaga Palacio nestled amongst numerous galleries and the Alcazaba.
This tour is part of our new series of Cultural Breaks , specially designed for the more independent traveller. These tours benefit from the same high level of cultural content as our standard tours with time also given to independent exploration and we typically make more use of public transport as an easier and quicker way of accessing sites. The Tour Director and Tour Manager will also be on hand throughout to introduce travellers to some of the lesser known sites and recommend local places to wine and dine.
Tour Director MarieAnne Mancio, MPhil, DPhil, is an art historian, writer and experienced tour leader and lecturer, accredited with the Arts Society. She has led courses for Tate and Dulwich Picture Gallery, and writes reviews, catalogue essays and fiction.
Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, 1656
“Marie-Anne is an extremely knowledgeable guide and very willing to share her expertise with unfailing enthusiasm, I learnt a great deal from her” – ACE customer on a previous tour led by Marie-Anne Mancio
“Madrid is such an elegant, vibrant city with incredible art collections. It’s possible to trace the history of western art in the Prado and Thyssen alone. But Picasso’s birth town of Malaga has reinvented itself into an art lover’s paradise with smaller but well-known museums like the Pompidou and the Russian Art Museum”
– Tour Director Marie-Anne Mancio
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness is required for this tour, as many of the visits will be made on foot and involve a moderate amount of standing. For more details on ACE’s minimum fitness requirements, please see our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks mentioned. More details about the temporary exhibitions will be confirmed nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 0840 on British Airways, arriving Madrid 1210. Transfer to Only YOU Hotel Atocha for three nights.
D ay 2 – Whole day in-depth visit to the Museo Nacional del Prado including guided tour of permanent collection (works by Velázquez, Bosch, Caravaggio) and temporary exhibitions,
followed by free time to explore independently. Afternoon: Museo Nacional del Prado (study of 19th century greats and Francisco Goya). Free evening.
D ay 3 – Morning: Museo Nacional ThyssenBornemisza (art from the 14th to the 20th centuries including Jan van Eyck miniatures and Edward Hopper paintings). Afternoon: optional visit to the Sorolla Museum (devoted to the work and life of Joaquín Sorolla and his family – subject to early 2026 reopening) or Lázaro Galdiano Museum (works by Goya, El Greco and Zurbarán). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (dedicated to Spanish art) to view Picasso’s Guernica and Dora Maar’s photography. Afternoon: by train to Malaga and transfer to AC Hotel Malaga Palacio for two nights. Free evening.
D ay 5 – Morning: Centre Pompidou (innovative gallery of modern art with works from the Pomidou Centre, Paris). Afternoon: Picasso Museum.
D ay 6 – Morning: Coleccion del Museo Ruso (Russian art and culture). Depart Malaga 1720 arriving Heathrow 1915.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2795 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, five breakfasts, one lunch, two dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £445. TOUR CODE: ATMM26
Les Vessenots in Auvers by Vincent van Gogh, 1890
Portrait of Ferdinand VII of Spain in his robes of state by Francisco Goya, 1815
Ancient Treasures of Luxor
February 5–9, 2026
Explore the spectacular sites on the West Bank, including the Valley of the Kings and mortuary temples of Hatshepsut and Ramses III
Discover the wondrous temples of Luxor and Karnak on Luxor’s East Bank
Delve into the Dendera Temple complex and Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved in Egypt
Designed to introduce travellers to the captivating ‘open-air museum’ of Luxor, our new tour takes in the ancient city of Thebes, one of the world’s longest continuously inhabited cities.
At the impressive Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, we will focus on the importance of the afterlife, complemented by a visit to the nearby house of Howard Carter, which gained recognition after the discovery of the tomb of Tutakhamun in 1922.
Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple, dating to the 18th Dynasty, features three large terraces built into the cliff face,
while the mortuary temple of Ramses III is renowned for its carvings of the ‘sea people’, as well as its scale and architectural excellence.
On the ‘East Bank’, we will discover the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak. Uniquely, Luxor is not dedicated to a single god but to the renewal of kingship, and is believed to be the site where many Pharaohs were crowned. Dedicated to AmunRa, Karnak comprises various temples, pylons, and other structures built over many centuries, reflecting the history and evolving significance of Thebes in ancient times.
We will also be captivated by the Dendera Temple Complex. One of the best-preserved of its kind in Egypt, the site features numerous structures built across different periods with the Temple of Hathor being the most prominent, exhibiting remarkable examples of religious and political motifs.
In addition to our onsite visits, we shall also delve into the collections of Luxor Museum, which houses high quality pieces including a reconstruction of Akhenaten’s temple at Karnak.
Throughout our tour, we will stay at a comfortable five-star hotel well situated for our visits and independent exploration in Luxor.
This tour is part of our new series of Cultural Breaks , specially designed for the more independent traveller. These tours benefit from the same high level of cultural content as our standard tours with time also given to independent exploration. There will be more free evenings, with the Tour Director and Tour Manager on hand throughout to introduce travellers to some of the lesserknown sites and recommend local places to wine and dine.
This tour will be led by Ellen Jones , PhD. Ellen studied Egyptology at the University of Oxford and explored the relationship between gender, self-presentation and religious decorum in ancient Egyptian elite tombs from the New Kingdom.
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Bas-relief on the ceiling of the Temple of Hathor
Three dedicated lectures will be offered throughout our tour, offering travellers a more profound understanding of the city’s rich history and helping to prepare us for site visits, including learning how to ‘read’ the monuments by deciphering hieroglyphics and identifying religious and political figures.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Participants should have a good level of overall fitness, mobility and stamina for this tour. Please be aware that temperatures are also likely to be warm and sites may also have little to no shade and limited opportunities to sit down; in particular the West Bank is an open site with no cover. Ground may also be uneven and tombs dimly lit. We recommend consulting ACE’s usual fitness requirements as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation.
Ancient Treasures of Cairo
Complementing our February departure, we are pleased to be offering a second cultural break to Cairo, which will take place November 26 – December 1. Cairo is home to the awe-inspiring Pyramids and many other magnificent historical structures. Here, we will uncover the burial ground of Pharaohs and Queens at Giza, Dashur and Saqqara before viewing the extraordinary artefacts from Tutankhamun’s Tomb at the Grand Egyptian Museum. We will also wander Coptic Cairo, making visits to the imposing medieval-Islamic Cairo Citadel and the Hanging Church, one of the oldest churches in Egypt.
D ay 1 – Flight from London to Luxor. Transfer to hotel for four nights’ stay. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Full day exploration of the West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (mortuary temple of 15th century BCE Egyptian queen), mortuary temple of Ramses III, Colossi of Memnon, Deir el-Medina, Tombs of the Nobles, Valley of the Queens and Howard Carter’s House. Evening Lecture: Waset: An introduction to the ancient city of Thebes . Free evening.
D ay 3 – Vast temple complex of Karnak, Avenue of Sphinxes and Temple of Luxor. Lecture: The Cult of Amun at Thebes . Free evening.
D ay 4 – Temple of Hathor at Dendera followed by late afternoon felucca (traditional Egyptian sailing boat ride). Lecture: Daily life in Ancient Egypt. Sound and light show at Karnak Temple.
D ay 5 – Morning: Luxor Museum (including reconstruction of Akhenaten’s temple at Karnak). Return flight from Luxor to London.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: visa, travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £875. TOUR CODE: ATLX26
Mortuary Temple of Ramses III
Art Treasures of Berlin
April 8–12, 2026
Discover ancient art and early culture at the Bode Museum and Neues Museum on Berlin’s Museum Island
View the abundance of European painting masterpieces at the Gemäldegalerie
Experience ornate Rococo and Neoclassical interiors at Charlottenburg Palace
Berlin, Germany’s trendy capital, is an ideal location to explore art and history, both familiar and less well-known. On this tour we will encounter a broad array of art within the city’s galleries, from Old Master paintings to evocative works of German expressionism, and experience a diversity of architecture, including Baroque interiors and iconic landmarks.
The Bode Museum contains remarkable sculptures and the Neues Museum offers a rich archaeological collection, including the famous Bust of Nefertiti. We will embark on a historical and contemporary walking tour, discovering landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and ending at the Futurium, a unique museum that
connects culture, nature, science and technology. The Gemäldegalerie is famed for its collection of European paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries. Here, two guided visits will allow us to uncover an array of works in depth, focusing on Northern Europe and Germany, before turning to Southern Europe and Italy.
At the Charlottenburg Palace’s New Wing, we will discover 18th century French paintings and sculptures, fine examples of German courtly collecting. Meanwhile the Theatre Wing is home to a museum dedicated to Käthe Kollwitz, a figurehead of German Expressionism, who depicted working-class citizens, women and children, and the harrowing realities of war.
Our final evening will include a celebratory dinner at the Käfer rooftop restaurant in the Reichstag Building. Its elegant interiors are situated beside the building’s iconic dome, providing a special atmosphere for us to enjoy the fine food and architecture.
We will be based at the comfortable three-star Martas Hotel Albrechtshof in Berlin, chosen for its convenient proximity to our visits.
This tour is part of our new series of Cultural Breaks , specially designed for the more independent traveller. These tours benefit from the same high level of cultural content as our standard tours with time also given to independent exploration, and we typically make more use of public transport as an easier and quicker way of accessing sites. The Tour Director and Tour Manager will also be on hand throughout to introduce travellers to some of the lesser known sites and recommend local places to wine and dine.
Tour Director Tom Abbott BA, MA, is an independent art and architectural historian. He is a proficient lecturer and tour leader with experience directing cultural and art tours in Europe, for the Arts Society and various universities.
The Adoration of the Kings by Hans Suess von Kulmbach, 1511
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Please note that this tour will require a good level of fitness and stamina, as it involves a significant amount of walking and standing at museum visits, where there are not always opportunities to sit down. Participants should meet ACE’s fitness criteria as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions. Participants should be comfortable using the S-Bahn (train).
“Tom was his usual personable and caring self. His enthusiasm and knowledge is outstanding”
“I have travelled with Tom previously, he was totally delightful! Very approachable, and great company”
– ACE customers on previous tours in Berlin led by Tom Abbott
ITINERARY
The itinerary represents a guide to what we plan to offer, and we cannot guarantee the availability of all artwork/artists mentioned.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1320 on British Airways, arriving Berlin Brandenburg Airport 1615. Transfer to Martas Hotel Albrechtshof for four nights’ stay. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning: Museum Island for Bode Museum (sculpture and Byzantine treasures) and Neues Museum (archeological collection, Bust of Nefertiti and early Germanic culture). Afternoon: Optional contemporary and historic walking tour (Unter den Linden Boulevard, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, Hauptbahnhof Station (Berlin Central Station) and Futurium – trailblazing museum that connects culture, nature, science and technology). Free evening.
D ay 3 – Morning: Gemäldegalerie session one (German and Northern European art) and session two (Italian and Southern European art). Afternoon: Sanssouci Palace or optional viewing and discussion of the Holocaust Memorial. Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning: Charlottenburg Palace Old Wing and New Wing (18th century French painting and sculpture) and the Käthe Kollwitz Museum in the Theatre Wing (key figure of German expressism, using printing techniques to depict the realities of war). Free afternoon followed by dinner at the Käfer restaurant (rooftop restaurant in the Reichstag building).
D ay 5 – Morning: visits to the Jewish Museum (reflecting on Jewish lives past and present in Germany) and Berlinsche Galerie (composed of modern art made in Berlin). Transfer to Berlin Brandenburg for 1840 flight, arriving Heathrow 1935.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2295 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, two dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £265.
TOUR CODE: ATBL26
Brandenburg Gate
Bust of Nefertiti
Art Treasures of Vienna
June 16–21, 2026
Enjoy extraordinary artwork, including Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss at the Belvedere Palace, and paintings by Egon Schiele at the Leopold Gallery
Explore the impressive Hofburg Palace complex, containing the Austrian National Library, and elegant Baroque schemes at the Stadt Palace
Discover Vienna’s diversity of churches, from the Gothic Cathedral of St Stephen to Otto Wagner’s modernist Church of St Leopold
Vienna is a city of incomparable historical and cultural richness –including both well-known and less familiar treasures. We will explore the city’s architectural beauty, from the great Gothic Cathedral of St Stephen to airy Baroque palaces. We will also enjoy a visit to the Hofburg Palace, the former imperial winter residence built for the Habsburg dynasty, home to the extensive Austrian National Library that was founded by the Habsburgs.
The 17th century Stadtpalais (City Palace) Liechtenstein showcases ornate Baroque and Rococo aesthetics, including decorative stucco and a grand staircase. We will linger at the Gartenpalais (Garden Palace) Lichtenstein, viewing its princely collections that contain works by Rubens and Rembrandt, delicate porcelain and French ceremonial coaches, and meticulously cultivated gardens.
Vienna’s Belvedere Palace offers us an unparalleled opportunity to see the glorious creations of Gustav Klimt, particularly The Kiss (Lovers). We will also encounter masterpieces at the Academy of Fine Arts, with academy admissions dating back to the 18th century; while the Leopold Museum’s collection of Austrian Modernism contains the world’s most extensive holdings of Egon Schiele’s work.
Churches will illustrate Vienna’s sophisticated artistic heritage and history, exemplified by the geometric gold-plated dome at Otto Wagner’s Church of St Leopold in Steinhof, and Karlskirche, where Baroque architecture is coupled with classical influences. We will also visit Jože Plečnik’s Heiliggeistkirche, its
unusual façade and minimalist schemes presenting a stark contrast.
We will stay at the four-star Hotel Johann Strauss, a comfortable and traditionally decorated hotel conveniently located in central Vienna.
This tour is part of our new series of Cultural Breaks , specially designed for the more independent traveller. These tours benefit from the same high level of cultural content as our standard tours with time also given to independent exploration, and we typically make more use of public transport as an easier and quicker way of accessing sites. The Tour Director and Tour Manager will also be on hand throughout to introduce travellers to some of the lesser-known sites and recommend local places to wine and dine.
This tour will be led by art historian Alex Koller, PhD. After studying in Vienna and Salzburg, he completed his PhD in History of Art at Cambridge.
Gartenpalais Liechtenstein
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Participants should have a good level of overall fitness, mobility and stamina for this tour. The itinerary involves using public transport, including getting on and off trams, and walking around the city. The walk to the Steinhof Church is steep and includes steps. Please note that temperatures in Vienna can be high and places can be busy at this time of year. Therefore our tour takes in many lesser-known spots to combat the crowds and provide unique insights into the city. Participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness requirements, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the
“Alex was phenomenal in his knowledge and grasp of Vienna and the history of Austria”
–
ACE customer on a previous Vienna: City of the Arts tour led by Alex Koller
time. Churches may close at short notice due to services, and our itinerary may also be adjusted further on the ground.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1235 on British Airways, arriving Vienna 1555. Transfer to Hotel Johann Strauss for five nights. Afternoon visit to Cathedral of St Stephen (Gothic cathedral with iconic 136-metre-tall south tower).
D ay 2 – Morning: Hofburg Imperial Palace complex (former winter residence of the Habsburg dynasty), with visits to the Augustinerkirche (parish church), National Library (State Hall), Imperial Treasury and Riding School (with a possibility to observe practice). Afternoon: Stadtpalais Liechtenstein (city palace with Baroque and Rococo interiors, ornate stucco ceilings with golden accents and grand staircase). Free evening.
D ay 3 – Morning visits to Secession (independent exhibition space, which displays Gustav Klimt’s Beethovenfries), Academy of Fine Arts (painting gallery with academy admissions dating back to the 18th century). Afternoon: Gartenpalais Liechtenstein (garden palace with extensive art collections, such as Rubens and Rembrandt paintings, porcelain and French ceremonial coaches). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning at the Kahlenberg (site of the relief of Vienna from the Turks in 1683 with panoramic views), Otto Wagner’s Church of St Leopold and Heiliggeistkirche (modernist church designed by architect Jože Plečnik with integration of iron and steel materials). Optional afternoon visit to Schönbrunn Palace (former summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty) or free time. Free evening.
D ay 5 – Morning: Karlskirche (outstanding Baroque church, with classical elements, and lift to the cupola) and Lower and Upper Belvedere Palace (largest collection of Gustav Klimt including The Kiss, Judith and the head of Holofrenes and Sunflower). Afternoon: Schottenstift Museum (displays the outstanding late Gothic Schotten Altarpiece) followed by optional walk in the area to see Kirche am Hof (Baroque church) and Maria am Gestade (Gothic church), or some free time.
D ay 6 – Morning visit to the Leopold Museum (collections of Austrian Modernism including Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and Koloman Moser). Depart Vienna 1700, arriving Heathrow 1820.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2395 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, five breakfasts, two dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £335. TOUR CODE: ATVI26
St Stephen’s Cathedral
The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, 1907-1908 PUBLIC DOMAIN
COMMONS
Great Art Collections of New York: 250 Years of Independence
September 14–20, 2026
Explore masterpieces of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim and Frick Gallery
Enjoy vibrant collections of modern and contemporary art at the MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Bushwick Street Art tour
Discover the social history of New York through personal stories at the Tenement Museum
This tour takes place during the 250 year anniversary of independence, which provides a fascinating backdrop to our explorations of the country’s history, art installations and institutions.
At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we will focus on unravelling the narrative of American art through great painters like John Singer Sargent. We will venture to the Guggenheim, exploring its temporary exhibition, as well as Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and modern French masterpieces courtesy of the Jewish art dealer Justin K Thannhauser (1892–1976), who came to New York to escape persecution during World War Two.
Our itinerary also takes us to the Tenement Museum, an immersive site that recreates homes of immigrant and migrant families during the 19th and 20th centuries. This poignant and personal retelling of social history uses material culture to encapsulate the lives of the working class who were integral to the development of the nation and its culture.
Our itinerary also takes us to the Frick Gallery, set within an elegant mansion complete with three historic gardens, and at the Neue Galerie, where we hope to see Klimt’s exquisite creation The Woman in Gold. At the Museum of Modern Art we will delight in a tour of the Master Works collection, while the Whitney Museum of American Art will introduce us to the works of renowned artists like Edward Hopper and Jacob Lawrence.
The Bushwick Street Art tour, encompassing urban murals, presents us with the innovative and exciting scene of contemporary arts today.
We will be based in a comfortable four-star hotel in central New York, well located for our visits.
This tour is part of our new series of Cultural Breaks , specially designed for the more independent traveller. These tours benefit from the same high level of cultural content as our standard tours with time also given to independent exploration. As they tend to be based in city centres, these tours typically make more use of public transport as an easier and quicker way of accessing sites. The Tour Director and Tour Manager will also be on hand throughout to introduce travellers to some of the lesser known sites and recommend local places to wine and dine.
This tour will be led by Marie-Anne Mancio, MPhil, DPhil, an art historian, writer, experienced tour leader and Arts Society accredited lecturer. She has written and presented courses for Tate and Dulwich Picture Gallery; writes reviews, catalogue essays and historical fiction, and is a frequent visitor to New York.
Central Park
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good overall level of fitness is required for this tour, as it involves a moderate amount of city-based walking taken at a reasonable pace, on pavements which can be crowded. Most visits will be taken by public transport, an efficient way of getting around New York, so participants should feel comfortable using the subway and going up and down steps in and out of stations.
Please note that travel to and from New York is not included in the cost of this tour. We recommend that you book flights to arrive in New York by early afternoon on Day 1 (14 September). The group will assemble late afternoon at the hotel.
ITINERARY
Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and we cannot guarantee the viewing of all artwork/artists mentioned, as works can be loaned or removed for restoration at short notice.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles at hotel for six nights. 1730 welcome, introduction and dinner.
D ay 2 – Whole day at the Met Museum (considering American artists such as John Singleton Copley, John Singer Sargent and Thomas Cole, followed by exploration of the permanent collection highlights). Free evening.
D ay 3 – Morning at the Guggenheim Museum (Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and modern French masterpieces by Degas, Manet, van Gogh and Picasso) followed by a guided walking tour of Central Park. Afternoon visit to the Neue Galerie (German and Austrian modernism). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning: Tenement Museum (immersive museum in an apartment block that accurately recreates homes of immigrant and migrant families during the 19th and 20th
centuries). Afternoon: New Museum (innovative contemporary art) followed by a walking tour of the Highline. Free evening.
D ay 5 – Morning visit to the Frick Gallery (European masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Goya and Turner; newly refurbished Boucher Room and historic gardens) followed by Museum of Modern Art (tour of the Master Works collection). Optional visit to Top of the Rock. Free evening.
D ay 6 – Excursion to Bushwick for street art tour (series of urban murals by artists from around the world founded by Joseph Ficalora in 2012) followed by free time for independent exploration of Brooklyn and New York.
D ay 7 – Visit to the Whitney Museum (American art including Edward Hopper, Thomas Hart Benton, Ellsworth Kelly, Alex Katz and Jacob Lawrence) followed by transfer to airport where tour disperses. We recommend you book flights from 1930 onwards.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including tour cost, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest.
TOUR CODE: GANY26
Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Portrait of Madame X by John Singer Sargent, 1883-1884
Frida, Diego & Modernism in Mexico City
November 30 – December 8, 2026
Experience Frida Kahlo’s iconic paintings and Diego Rivera’s emblematic murals
Encounter dynamic architecture within the city from the Museo Anahuacalli to the modernist buildings at Museo de Arte Moderno
Become immersed in Mayan civilisation and its impact on Frida and Diego at the ancient city of Teotihuacàn
Our tour is centred around modern art and muralism, particularly the work of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, two of Mexico’s most esteemed artists. Exploring a rich array of sites, we will develop a deep appreciation of Frida and Diego’s distinct artistic identities through the city’s backdrop of ancient civilisations, innovative architectural design and flourishing natural environment.
A particular highlight will be the unique opportunity to experience Frida Kahlo’s work at Casa Azul – ‘The Blue House’.
A biographical museum that preserves objects of her life within her late home,
the site’s deeply personal environment influenced many of her paintings such as Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird. Diego Rivera’s work meanwhile will be explored at the city’s Ministry of Education, where we can observe his artistic journey through Mexican history and the left-wing politics of his time.
The Dolores Olmedo Museum offers a wonderful display of Frida and Diego’s work amongst an extensive collection of fine art and archaeological treasures, and the fascinating Museo Anahuacalli showcases pre-Hispanic culture. The asymmetrical and minimalist structures of the Museo de Arte Moderno, meanwhile, create a transcendent atmosphere in which to explore the wider context of Mexican modernism.
This tour will be led by Stephen Nelson , BA, MA, a sculptor, curator and fine art expert whose work has been exhibited internationally, and experienced tour guide with a specialist knowledge of Mexico.
“Mexico City is arguably one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world and certainly one of the richest in culture, with a legacy of art, architecture and traditions that spans two worlds”
– Tour Director Stephen Nelson
At the Templo Mayor Museum and Teotihuacàn we can trace the city’s ancient past. Once a leading centre in the Mayan world, Teotihuacàn’s enduring glory is reflected in the Temple of the Sun and the vibrant red murals that adorn the walls.
Specially-selected lunches and dinners will add to the cultural experience of our tour, including the outstanding La Gruta restaurant set within a cave, illuminated by candle-light, and the San Angel Inn, an upmarket restaurant set in a former monastery.
We will stay in a comfortable hotel of a four or five-star quality situated in the historical centre of Mexico City.
Palacio de Bellas Artes
MEXICO
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness is required for this tour as there will be a significant amount of walking and standing each day at museums and galleries. Mexico is a city at altitude, and adjusting to this elevation may cause temporary discomfort or occasionally altitude sickness. The ancient site of Teotihuacàn has gravel walkways and worn stone stairs to access the Temple of the Sun. For more information on our minimum fitness requirements, please see our Booking Terms & Conditions.
“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.”
– Frida Kahlo
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow on British Airways, arriving Mexico City International Airport. Transfer to hotel for seven nights.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture: The Early Peoples of Mexico. Visits to the Templo Mayor Museum (original altered pyramids) and Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (built on the crossroads of the four original neighborhoods of Tenochtitlan).
D ay 3 – Visits to the Ministry of Education (117 murals by Diego Rivera) and National Palace, followed by Casa de los Azulejos (exterior viewing of tiled facade) and Palacio Bellas Artes (concert hall built in white Carrara marble with Diego Rivera murals). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning lecture: Frida Kahlo followed by excursion to Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo’s home and biographical museum) and Casa Estudio de Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo (studios with functionalist architecture designed by Juan O Gorman). Afternoon visit to Museo Anahuacalli (Diego Rivera’s temple of arts with pre-Hispanic collections). Free evening.
D ay 5 – Full day at Teotihuacàn (ancient city complex) including Avenue of the Dead, Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon and the Tepantitla complex (red wall paintings).
D ay 6 – Morning visit to the National Anthropological Museum and Museo de Arte Moderno (collections include Manuel Álvarez Bravo and David A. Siqueiros), Dolores Olmedo Museum (significant collection of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera). Free evening.
D ay 7 – Visits to the Museum of Folkloric Art, Museo Soumaya (European and Hispanic art) and Museo Jumex (large collection of contemporary art).
D ay 8 – Relaxed exploration of Mexico City’s historical centre (visits to be confirmed). Depart Mexico City International Airport on evening flight.
D ay 9 – Arrive Heathrow.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including tour cost and confirmed itinerary, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest. TOUR CODE: MEXO26
Part of the History of Mexico mural by Diego Rivera at the Palacio Nacional
Frida Kahlo’s art studio at Casa Azul
The Story of the Raj: from Calcutta to Delhi
November 3–18, 2026
Discover fascinating sites associated with the full history of British rule in India, from 1661 to 1948, showcasing the achievements and controversies of empire
Visit Shimla (Simla) and journey on the charming narrow-gauge ‘Toy Train’ through the Himalayan foothills
Stay in deluxe historical hotels where available, appreciate AngloIndian culture and cuisine, and understand local perspectives on the Raj
The decline of the Mughal Empire and its fragmentation into regional kingdoms in the early 18th century allowed the imperial powers of Europe to press their claims on the subcontinent’s riches. Operating out of quickly established bases along the Ganges, the British, French, Dutch, Danish and Portuguese skirmished with one another and with the local Nawabs (ruling noblemen).
From this early scramble, the British emerged victorious, and went on to build their sphere of influence from
“Rima… really has a gift for being able to convey vast amounts of information in a manner that is engaging
and always interesting”
– ACE customer on a previous tour led by Rima Hooja
a backwater on the Bay of Bengal to an extraordinarily vast territory of 1.6 million square miles – the most significant, emblematic and evocative of Britain’s imperial possessions.
This brand-new tour traces the key landmarks and events of British rule in India in the company of an expert historian. Mumbai could be said to represent its beginning and end, from the ‘gift’ of Bombay to Britain as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza in 1661, to the ceremonial exit of British troops through the Gateway to India in 1948. The city therefore makes the perfect introduction to an itinerary which also encompasses Calcutta (Kolkata), headquarters of the East India Company and subsequently capital of British rule until 1911; Lucknow, site of a bloody siege during the Indian
Mutiny; Allahabad (Prayagraj), the centre of Gandhi’s Indian freedom movement; Simla (Shimla), the beautiful Himalayan hill station which served as the summer capital from 1864; and New Delhi, where the architectural splendour of the Raj reached its apogee in the Lutyensdesigned capital district.
Fittingly, the tour is based in deluxe, Raj-era hotels throughout, including the iconic 1903 Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai and the 1884 Oberoi Cecil in Shimla, expanded from the cottage in which Rudyard Kipling wrote Plain Tales from the Hills.
This tour will be led by Rima Hooja , PhD (Cambridge). Rima, who lives and works in Jaipur, is an archaeologist, historian and heritage specialist as well as an experienced tour leader and lecturer. Her books include Rajasthan: A Concise History and History of Rajasthan.
The Gateway of India
INDIA
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Participants should have a good level of fitness, mobility and stamina for this tour, which involves a significant amount of travel by coach, as well as time spent walking and standing, including over rough and uneven ground, and up steps. The coach journey from Lucknow to Prayagraj will be approximately five hours and the journeys between Chandigarh and Shimla will be approximately four hours each. All coach journeys will have comfort stops. This tour involves multiple hotel stays to make the most of our time in India and includes some historical properties. Please be aware some sites may be crowded.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements –including our accommodation – may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We will include the majority of the lunches alongside a number of free evenings to give participants the chance to explore different cuisines, guided by our tour personnel.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 0930 on British Airways, arriving Mumbai 2345. Transfer to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, for two nights.
D ay 2 – Visits to the imperial landmarks of the city where the Raj could be said to have started and ended: triumphal arch of the Gateway to India, Bombay High Court and Victoria Terminus.
D ay 3 – Fly to Kolkata (Calcutta) for two nights at the LaLIT Great Eastern Hotel. Visits
to Botanical Gardens (established by the East India Company), colonial architecture around Dalhousie Square and Victoria Memorial (portraits, statues and artefacts linked to the British Empire in India at its peak).
D ay 4 – Excursion to the 18th century strongholds of the other European imperial aspirants – formerly French Chandannagar (Chandannagore), Danish Serampore, Portuguese Bandel and Dutch Hugli-Chuchura (Chinsurah).
D ay 5 – Early morning flight to Lucknow for two nights at The Saraca Hotel. This city, now a multicultural centre of the arts, was one of the key flashpoints of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Visits including the Residency, site of the famous siege. Evening: Raj-style dinner of Anglo-Indian cuisine.
D ay 6 – Diwali in Lucknow. Visits associated with the Raj and the preceding Nawab Kingdom of Oudh, and meeting with heritage conservationists. Evening: dinner featuring regional Awadhi specialities.
D ay 7 – Drive to Prayagraj (Allahabad), city of the Kumbh Mela festival and formerly the focus of Indian resistance to imperial rule. Two nights at the Kanha Shyam Hotel. Visit to dramatic temples and forts, Anglican All Saints Cathedral and Minto Park (where the East India Company formally handed over control of India to the British Crown in 1858). Evening: Boat trip on Sangam, the sacred confluence of three rivers.
D ay 8 – Further sightseeing including the extensive Allahabad Museum.
D ay 9 – Fly to Chandigarh for an overnight stay at the Taj Chandigarh Hotel, with time at leisure.
D ay 10 – Visit to Chandigarh’s Le Corbusier Centre (architect’s workplace) and drive to the hill station of Shimla (Simla), summer capital of the Raj from 1864. Three nights at The Oberoi Cecil Hotel.
D ay 11 – Journey on the narrow-gauge ‘Toy Train’ (60 miles of the Himalayan foothills between Shimla and Kalka) and visit Raj-era attractions.
D ay 12 – Day at leisure in charming Shimla.
D ay 13 – Return to Chandigarh and take an express train to Delhi, arriving early evening. Three nights at The Imperial Hotel.
D ay 14 – Day exploring the ‘layers’ of Delhi’s history from the oldest Qtub complex to the Mughal Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb (inspiration for the Taj Mahal).
D ay 15 – Elegant colonial area of New Delhi (grand Lutyens-designed architecture). Farewell dinner.
D ay 16 – Transfer to Delhi Airport for 1050 departure, arriving Heathrow 1510.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £8995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, fourteen breakfasts, three lunches with water & tea/coffee, four dinners with water & tea/coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: visa, travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £1895. TOUR CODE: SRAJ26
Victoria Terminus (now Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus) train station
From Spain to Morocco: Roman Hispania and
Mauretania
November 20 – December 3, 2026
Journey from Spain to Morocco, traversing the trade and conquest routes on the western Mediterranean
Discover the stunning Phoenician and Roman ruins at Cadiz – the oldest city in Western Europe
Explore outstanding Roman & Muslim remains at the ancient port of Chellah and the Mauri capital of Volubilis
This updated tour will whisk travellers through the history of Andalusia and North Africa, Throughout our journey, we will explore Spain and Morocco’s complex history through a myriad of sites that delve into their shared past while also examining their more modern narratives.
Seville’s UNESCO-listed Alcazar, cathedral and General Archive of the West Indies, will illuminate the fusion of Islamic and Christian design. Meanwhile in Córdoba, the archaeological museum, situated above the remains of a Roman theatre, provides insights into the city’s history, and the Great Mosque stands
as a testament to its Islamic legacy. Italica, a Roman city founded in 206 BCE, features Hadrianic buildings, small bathhouses and an impressive amphitheatre, alongside well-preserved Roman streets and mosaic floors. Cádiz, one of Western Europe’s oldest cities, provides glimpses its own Phoenician origins and subsequent Islamic expansion.
Venturing to Morocco, Tétouan’s history begins with the ancient Mauri, evolving through Phoenician trade to become a Roman colony under Augustus. We will also discover Iulia Valentia Banasa and Iulia Constantia Zilil, Augustan foundations with impressive Roman
Our Tour Director is Eireann Marshall , PhD, a Research Associate and Associate Lecturer with the Open University. Eireann is an expert in the classical and ancient worlds and has published several articles on ancient North Africa. She has led many tours across Europe and North Africa.
remains. Furthermore, we will visit the magnificent Roman ruins of Volubilis, ancient Mauretania’s capital, with its extensive 2nd and 3rd century CE remains.
In Rabat, we will encounter one of Morocco’s most beautiful ruins, Chellah, a captivating walled citadel. Continuing to Fez, we will wander through an elaborate plethora of souks, madrasas, mosques and minarets dating from the 13th century. Meanwhile, Marrakesh will captivate us with its intricate 16th century Saadian tombs and the vast remnants of the El Badi Palace. Beyond the city, the snow-capped High Atlas will provide a stunning backdrop to our explorations.
We will stay in a variety of comfortable hotels in Malaga, Seville, Tangier, Fez, Rabat and Marrakesh. While hotels may be simpler in standard, they will be welcoming, often characterful, and are well situated for our visits.
View of the ruins at Volubilis
SPAIN / MOROCCO
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness, mobility and stamina is required for this tour, as it involves a significant amount of travel and different hotel stays, as well as time spent walking and standing at historical sites, where there are not always frequent opportunities to sit down. Participants should be prepared for traversing uneven ground, steps and cobbles, as well as dimly lit interiors. Please consult ACE’s minimum fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements, including the musical programme, may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Flight from London to Malaga. Walking tour of Malaga (Alcazaba, museum and Roman theatre) followed by welcome and introduction. Overnight Malaga.
D ay 2 – Full day excursion to Córdoba for visits including archaeological museum (built over remains of the Roman theatre), Great Mosque of Córdoba (Islamic building, famous for mihrab and maqsura, which incorporate Byzantine mosaics), Madinat al-Zahra and Alcázar. Transfer to Seville for four nights.
D ay 3 – Visits in Cádiz including Roman Theatre, Yacimiento Arqueológico Gadir Museum and Cádiz Cathedral. Evening lecture.
D ay 4 – Morning visits in Seville: UNESCO-listed Alcazar, Torre del Oro Naval Museum and free time to explore Plaza de España.
“Eireann was very knowledgeable and entertaining. I liked the way she made analogies between how ancient people lived their lives and modern people’s behaviour”
– ACE customer on a previous tour to Morocco led by Eireann Marshall
D ay 5 – Morning: Italica (first Roman city in Hispania and birthplace of Trajan and Hadrian) for visits to amphitheatre, mosaics and baths. Afternoon: further visits in Seville including General Archive of the West Indies and the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See and La Giralda. Free Evening.
D ay 6 – Depart for Algeciras via Baelo Claudia archaeological park. Depart by ferry for Tanger Med and transfer to Tangier for two nights.
D ay 7 – Larache (archaeological site of Ancient Lixus), Asilah (one of the most elegant old Portuguese Atlantic towns) and Iulia Constantia Zilil (ancient Roman-Berber city). Evening lecture.
D ay 8 – Morning visit to Site Archéologique de Tamuda, Tétouan. Transfer to Fez via Chefchouen for visit to Kabash. Two nights at Fez.
D ay 9 – Visit to the beautiful Roman ruins of Volubilis (Morocco’s most important ancient site with extensive remains dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE) followed by Moulay
Idriss Zerhoun to view the tombs of Idris I (first Islamic ruler of Morocco). Afternoon visits in Fez including souks, Bab Boujeloud and Bou Inania Madrasa. Free evening.
D ay 10 – Transfer to Rabat via Iulia Valentia Banasa (ancient Roman-Berber city). Two nights at Rabat.
D ay 11 – Chellah (ancient abandoned port transformed into 14th century burial ground for Marinid dynasty) and archeological museum followed by visit to the Almohad citadel (Kasbah des Oudaias with impressive late 12th century gate and enchanting Andalusian style gardens). Evening lecture.
D ay 12 – Transfer to Marrakesh for two nights. Afternoon visits including the Lower Medina (Saadian tombs, Almohad gateway of the Bab Agnaou and ruins of the 16th century El Badi Palace). Free evening.
D ay 13 – Morning visit to Majorelle Gardens and Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Afternoon excursion into the foothills of the High Atlas mountains to view the Aghmat (medieval Berber town remains).
D ay 14 – Flight from Marrakesh to London.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including the hotels and tour cost, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest.
TOUR CODE: MORO26
The Roman Amphitheatre at Italica
Music, History & Art of Malta
January 17–23, 2026
Delve into layers of art, history and music in Valletta and its surroundings – from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to works by Caravaggio
Enjoy the superb playing of violinist Carmine Lauri, harpsichordist Nathaniel Frederick Mander and sacred music specialists La Grande Chapelle
Explore the historical and artistic treasures of the island, from Roman mosaics to Italianate gardens
This tour offers a multi-sensory introduction to the rich and ancient culture of Malta during a less crowded time of year, encompassing early music and Baroque concerts alongside an array of historical and artistic highlights.
Each year Valletta presents a magnificent annual festival celebrating some of the finest performers of Baroque music in the world. We will take in three concerts, spread across a stunning selection of venues including the 16th century Verdala Palace, St Paul’s Church in Rabat, and the capital’s splendid Manoel Theatre. Works will include Vivaldi’s Four
“I had to stop and listen. It was one of the most beautiful violin playing I’ve ever heard”
– LSO First Violin Roman Simovic on Carmine Lauri
Seasons courtesy of the highly acclaimed violinist Carmine Lauri, former coleader of the London Symphony Orchestra; while leading keyboard player Nathaniel Mander will bring us Bach’s Goldberg Variations following a critically acclaimed 2022 album, and awardwinning performers of sacred music, La Grande Chapelle, will surround us with the sublime polyphonic strands of Victoria’s Missa Vidi Speciosam (Requiem Mass 1592). In addition to the festival concerts, Tour Director Ashley Solomon – himself an outstanding artist who has often performed in Valletta – will give a private recital on historical instruments.
Malta offers a particularly rich concentration of artistic and architectural wonders. We will spend a morning at St John’s Co-Cathedral – home to important works by Caravaggio – and visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens with their captivating views. The Palazzo Parisio is home to the only garden
outside of Italy to be part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani Collection; while the island’s deep historical heritage will come to life in the old capital of Mdina, home to the Domus Romana Museum with its surviving mosaics to rival those in Pompeii. The Meridiana Wine Estate, meanwhile will welcome us for a relaxing light lunch and tasting within picturesque surroundings.
We will stay at Valletta’s five-star Grand Hotel Excelsior, an elegant property a short walk from the major visits on our tour.
This tour will be led by Ashley Solomon , FRAM, FRCM, and Marie-Anne Mancio, MPhil, DPhil. Ashley is Chair and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music and Director of Baroque ensemble Florilegium. Marie-Anne is an art historian, experienced tour leader and accredited lecturer, who is currently writing a book about Caravaggio.
St Lucia street
MALTA
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness as it involves extensive walking within Valletta to reach visits, local restaurants and concert venues. Our visits in Mdina and Rabat are also undertaken on foot. Please note that pavements are often uneven, cobbled, and / or have a marble-like surface that can be slippery in the winter. Most visits involve ascending or descending steps, some with differing depths, and some have no lifts. St Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat are accessed via 35 steps and have height and width restrictions. When leaving the hotel on foot, it is necessary to climb approx 80 steps or alternatively use the sloped pavement around the perimeter of the hotel.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements, including the musical programme, may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1125 on KM Malta Airlines, arriving Malta 1540. Transfer to Grand Hotel Excelsior, Valletta, for six nights. Welcome and introduction to the history of Malta and the Baroque Festival.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture with the Tour Directors (introducing today’s walking tour and music) followed by historical and architectural walking tour of Valletta, including old Valletta and Upper Barrakka Gardens (captivating views). Independent dinner followed by early evening festival performance at the Manoel Theatre (jewel-like venue built in 1731, one of Europe’s oldest working theatres) featuring the De Valette
“This
was an outstanding tour… Everything ran smoothly and was well organised. The content was impressive with a variation of both concerts and archeological interest and visits to wonderful Baroque architecture”
– ACE customers on a 2024 tour to Malta
Chamber Orchestra with Carmine Lauri (violin) & Charlie Siem (violin) – ‘The Quattro Stagioni Extravaganza’.
D ay 3 – Morning walking tour of Mdina (Malta’s old capital city), including visits to Domus Romana Museum (wonderful mosaics), St Paul’s Cathedral (splendid baroque architecture –alleged meeting point of St Paul and Roman governor Publius) and St Paul’s Catacombs. Wine tasting and light buffet lunch at Meridiana Wine Estate. Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning art history lecture followed by visit to Marsaxlokk fishing village including Hagar Qim temple (UNESCO World Heritage site). Afternoon: private guided tour of Palazzo Parisio palace and gardens (part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani Collection) – subject to final confirmation.
D ay 5 – Morning lecture introducing today’s concerts, including guest talk (subject to confirmation). Lunchtime festival concert at Verdala Palace, Buskett, featuring Nathaniel
Frederick Mander (harpsichord) – ‘Goldberg Variations’. Independent dinner followed by evening Rabat, featuring La Grande Chapelle – Victoria Missa Vidi Speciosam (Requiem Mass 1592).
D ay 6 – Morning lecture introducing some of today’s key artwork, followed by a visit to St John’s Co-Cathedral (works by Caravaggio: The Beheading of St John the Baptist and St Jerome Writing) and the Grandmaster’s Palace. Evening illustrated lecture with Ashley Solomon: The Spohr collection of original baroque flutes, including live music by Telemann and Bach.
D ay 7 – Transfer to Malta International Airport for 1645 flight, arriving Heathrow 1925.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a deluxe partial sea view twin or double bedded room, performances as described, six breakfasts, four lunches (one light buffet), three dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, deluxe partial sea view double room for single use supplement £275.
TOUR CODE: MHAM26
St. Paul’s Church, Rabat
Mozart Festival in Salzburg: 270th Anniversary Tour
January 27 – February 2, 2026
Celebrate the 270th anniversary of Mozart’s birth and the 70th anniversary of the world-famous Mozart Festival
Hear from the Vienna Philharmonic with Robin Ticciati and Adam Fischer, pianist Igor Levit, flautist Emmanuel Pahud and mezzosoprano Magdalena Kožená
Enjoy a very special anniversary performance of Mozart’s opera
The Magic Flute, staged by Rolando Villazón and featuring a stellar lineup of soloists
The annual ‘Mozart Week’ returns in 2026 in celebratory fashion to mark the 270th anniversary of Mozart’s birth alongside its own 70th anniversary. Our tour includes a wide variety of performances, from great operatic and orchestral works to more intimate chamber music, but all have one thing in common – the supreme quality of the world-class artists.
We start with a recital by flautist Emmanuel Pahud, who enjoys an extensive international career as soloist
“Musical content was varied and excellent”
– ACE customer on the 2025 Mozart Festival in Salzburg tour led by Ashley Solomon
and chamber musician. An evening with the Vienna Philharmonic, joined by mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and clarinettist and Andreas Ottensamer, will bring us Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été alongside Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A and Symphony in E flat; while Igor Levitt will be our star soloist for Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C.
We will hear Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Mozart’s Requiem courtesy of Christina Pluhar’s Ensemble L’Arpeggiata, featuring alto Philippe Jaroussky, while our final evening centres on a performance by the Havana Lyceum Orchestra including Mozart’s Violin Concerto in G and Rondo in B flat. These works are interspersed with pieces by the first classical composer of African descent to attain widespread acclaim in European music, Joseph Bologne.
Complementing the orchestral concerts, a festival highlight will be a new
production of The Magic Flute, staged by the festival’s Artistic Director, Rolando Villazón, and conducted by Roberto González-Monjas.
Uncovering Salzburg’s musical heritage, we will explore Mozart’s birthplace and his early home, the Wohnhaus, and enjoy a unique private tour of original manuscripts guided by an archivist of the Mozarteum – a very rare opportunity.
We will stay at the four-star superior Hotel Imlauer Pitter Salzburg, ideally placed for exploring the main sites on our tour. The hotel is home to the superb Sky Bar & Restaurant, where we will enjoy some of our dinners.
Tour Director
Professor Ashley
Solomon , FRAM, FRCM is a Fellow of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, Chair and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, and Director of early music ensemble Florilegium.
View of Salzburg
AUSTRIA
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour involves a significant amount of walking to our daytime visits and concert venues, however this is mainly over flat ground, some of which is within the pedestrian zone of Salzburg. While this makes for a relaxing overall experience, please note that it is not always easy to arrange taxis as an alternative to walking back from concerts to the hotel. Participants should be aware of the amount of walking, as well as the cobbled terrain and likelihood of snow and ice at this time of the year.
ITINERARY
The itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be adjusted nearer the time. Performances are subject to confirmation by the festival office and some visits are weather dependent.
D ay 1 – Depart London Gatwick 0915 on British Airways, arriving Salzburg 1215. Transfer to Hotel Imlauer Pitter Salzburg for six nights. Welcome and introductory talk.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture followed by festival recital featuring Emmanuel Pahud (flute) and Éric le Sage (piano): four Mozart violin sonatas interspersed with Three Romances by both Clara and Robert Schumann. Exclusive afternoon visit to Mozarteum Autograph Vault to view rare manuscripts. Evening concert at the Grosses Festspielhaus featuring the Vienna Philharmonic with Robin Ticciati (conductor), Magdalena Kožená (mezzo soprano) and Andreas Ottensamer (clarinet): Gluck Overture from Alceste; Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K 622; Berlioz Les nuits d’été; Mozart Symphony in E flat, K 543.
“The lectures and discussions were lively and informative. The hotel was excellent”
“(Ashley) was the catalyst that made the trip fizz”
–
ACE customers on the 2025 Mozart Festival in Salzburg tour led by Ashley Solomon
D ay 3 – Morning lecture followed by walking tour of Salzburg, including Mozart’s birthplace and cathedral. Evening festival concert at the Mozarteum featuring Ensemble L’Arpeggiata with Capella Cracoviensis – ‘Requiem Aeternam’: Pergolesi Stabat Mater and Mozart Requiem.
D ay 4 – Morning lecture followed by visit to Mozart’s Wohnhaus (residence) and lunch at Hotel Sacher (home of the famous Sachertorte). Free afternoon with option to visit the fortress (weather permitting), the Residence in the Dom Quartier or Museum der Moderne independently. Free time for independent dinner followed by evening festival performance at the Haus für Mozart directed by Rolando Villazón and featuring Roberto González-Monjas (conductor), Kathryn Lewek (Queen of the Night) and Franz-Josef Selig (Sarastro): Mozart The Magic Flute
D ay 5 – Wh ole day excursion to the Salzkammergut area including private visit to the Kaiservilla, summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Evening festival concert at the Grosses Festspielhaus featuring Vienna Philharmonic with
Adam Fischer (conductor) and Igor Levit (piano): Mozart Symphonies in E flat, K16 and C, K 551 ‘Jupiter’, and Piano Concerto in C, K467; Haydn Symphony in D, H 1:96.
D ay 6 – Morning walking tour of Salzburg, including San Sebastian Mausoleum and Cemetery and the Linzer Gasse. Afternoon lecture followed by evening festival concert at the Mozarteum featuring Havana Lyceum Orchestra with José Antonio Méndez Padrón (conductor), Daniel Hope (violin) and Jenny Peña (violin): Mozart Overture to Il re pastore, K 208; Karim Zech Cantata (world premiere); Mozart Violin Concerto in G, K 216; Bologne Symphony No 2 in D, Op 11; Mozart Rondo in B flat for violin and orchestra, K 269, Bologne Sinfonia Concertante No 2 in G, Op 13.
D ay 7 – Illustrated lecture on the baroque flute with the Tour Director followed by free time in Salzburg. Depart Salzburg 1800, arriving Gatwick 1905.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £4565 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a classic twin or double bedded room, performances as described, six breakfasts, one lunch, five dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, classic double room for single use supplement £505. TOUR CODE: MOZS26
Statue of Mozart in Salzburg
FRANCE
La Folle Journée de Nantes: Rivers of Music
January 28 – February 2, 2026
Enjoy a breathtaking variety of performances at France’s premier music festival
Hear insights from Tour Director Emilie Capulet across a series of lectures
Discover the fascinating history of Nantes and its region through a guided walking tour and a lunch cruise along “the most beautiful river in France”
ACE is delighted to announce a new music destination for 2026 – La Folle Journée de Nantes – the largest classical music festival in France, celebrating its 30th year.
La Folle Journée – the ‘mad day’ originally described in the subtitle of Beaumarchais’ The Marriage of Figaro –was created in 1995 with the ambition to reach a wider audience through a programme of over 300 varied concerts. The original festival took place on just one such ‘mad day’ at La Cité des Congrès de Nantes but has since grown into five full days featuring hundreds of 45-minute concerts. Many concerts take place at La Cité des Congrès, but the festival has also spread to other venues throughout Nantes, bringing the whole city to life in a burst of musical energy.
In 2026 La Folle Journée will take ‘Rivers’ as its theme, showcasing the central role played by waterways in the cultural and musical development of the regions they cross and the works and musicians they have inspired. Our Tour Director, Emilie Capulet, will be on
Tour Director Emilie Capulet , MA, MMus, PhD is an awardwinning concert pianist, lecturer and musicologist who performs worldwide. She is the recipient of a prestigious Leverhulme Research Fellowship and is a Visiting Fellow at Keble College, University of Oxford.
hand to guide guests through the varied repertoire, which takes many months to assemble and is usually released a few weeks ahead of the festival.
As well as immersing ourselves in the music, we will explore the city of Nantes and take in its vibrant arts scene, including the Musée d’Arts de Nantes with its vast collection spanning nine centuries of visual arts, and time at a local vineyard for a tour and tasting of its celebrated Muscadet. We also plan to include a lunchtime cruise on the beautiful River Erdre, enjoying views of the city, countryside and châteaux, and lunch at a Michellin-starred restaurant showcasing local produce.
This tour will be based at the four-star Mercure Nantes Centre, in the heart of the city near the cathedral.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Please note that many of our visits in Nantes will be made on foot. Participants should be comfortable spending between one and two hours on their feet, sometimes over uneven terrain, and embarking and disembarking a riverboat, where lunch will be taken inside. Travellers should also be comfortable travelling by Eurostar and embarking and disembarking trains.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time, particularly once the concert programme is confirmed in late autumn 2025. Certain visits may also be adjusted to suit local weather conditions.
D ay 1 – Depart London St Pancras 0931 on Eurostar and TGV via Paris, arriving Nantes 1653. Five nights at Mercure Nantes Centre – Grand Hôtel. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture followed by a historical walking tour of Nantes, including St Peter and St Paul’s Cathedral, Place Royale, Passage Pommeraye, Place Graslin and Château (some exteriors). Afternoon and evening festival concerts, and independent dinner.
D ay 3 – Morning lecture followed by festival concert. Afternoon visit to Famille Lieubeau (family-run vineyard dating back to 1816, specialising in the dry white wine from the Loire Valley known as Muscadet): tour and tasting. Evening festival concert.
D ay 4 – Morning lecture followed by a visit to the Musée d’Arts de Nantes (one of the largest in France, based in the city’s historical Palais with works spanning the 13th century to the present day). Afternoon and evening festival concerts and independent dinner.
D ay 5 – Morning lecture followed by a lunch cruise on the Erdre (tributary of the Loire and one of France’s most picturesque waterways, with beautiful natural and architectural views). Afternoon and evening festival concerts and independent dinner.
D ay 6 – Depart Nantes 1100 on TGV and Eurostar via Paris, arriving St Pancras 1630.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a standard twin or double bedded room, eight festival performances (subject to final scheduling), five breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, standard double room for single use supplement £275.
TOUR CODE: FOJO26
The Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire performing at La Folle Journée in Nantes, 2009
FRANCE
Music & Art in Provence
March 27 – April 2, 2026
Take in classical performances by world-class musicians at the Festival de Pâques
Explore Cézanne’s studio and newly-opened family home
Enjoy exclusive lecture-recitals given by our Tour Director
The sunlit landscape of Provence has been a great source of inspiration for many musicians, artists and writers over the centuries, including Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola, Darius Milhaud, Pablo Picasso, Albert Camus and Marcel Pagnol. Today, the region provides the perfect backdrop for Aix-en-Provence’s Easter festival, which will form the musical heart of our tour, alongside a private recital in a beautiful location and a host of complementary artistic, literary and cultural visits.
The Festival de Pâques attracts worldwide attention with its full programme of performances by international orchestras, soloists and chamber ensembles and is particularly known for showcasing a diverse, stimulating and often surprising repertoire.
Complementing the festival concerts, we will enjoy a very special private recital given by our Tour Director and awardwinning pianist, Emilie Capulet, based in the 15th century Château de Lourmarin, set within a picturesque village in the Luberon hills.
Lourmarin itself is famed for its olive groves and fruit trees, as well as being the village where the French philosopher and
Tour Director Emilie Capulet , MA, MMus, PhD is an awardwinning concert pianist, lecturer and musicologist who performs worldwide. She is the recipient of a prestigious Leverhulme Research Fellowship and is a Visiting Fellow at Keble College, University of Oxford.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1415 on British Airways, arriving Marseille 1720. Transfer to Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel for six nights. Welcome and introduction.
Art visits will include Château La Coste, for a tour of their contemporary art installations; the stunning 20th century collection of Jean Planque at the Musée Granet; and the Caumont Centre d’Art, a beautifully restored 18th century period townhouse. We will also journey along the ‘Route Cézanne’ to view one of the artist’s favourite motifs, the SainteVictoire mountain, as well as exploring his studio and former family home – the Jas de Bouffan mansion, due to reopen after renovation work.
We will stay throughout at the five-star Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel, a 5-10 minute walk from the Grand Théâtre de Provence where most of our performances will take place.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Please note that many of our visits in Aix will be made on foot. Participants should be comfortable spending between one and two hours on their feet, sometimes over uneven terrain, and standing at visits. A significant amount of walking is also involved during our visits along the Route Cézanne and to Château La Coste.
ITINERARY
This itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be adjusted nearer the time. The performance schedule will be confirmed once this has been released by the Festival de Pâques towards the end of 2025, and at this stage the itinerary will be reviewed to ensure the best possible experience.
D ay 2 – Introductory talk followed by tour of Aix: Quartier Mazarin, Cours Mirabeau, Town Hall Square, flower market, cathedral and Caumont Centre d’Art. Free time followed by evening performance.
D ay 3 – Les Baux-de-Provence for a visit to the Carrières des Lumières (outstanding audiovisual arts show based in a former quarry) and included lunch at La Cabro d’Oro, with free time to explore the picturesque village. Evening festival performance.
Day 4 – Excursion to Lourmarin for Luberon: 16th century Renaissance château, private lecture-recital with the Tour Director. Afternoon: Domaine Château La Coste including guided tour of contemporary art installations. Free evening.
D ay 5 – Morning lecture and visit to Musée Paul Arbaud (19th century mansion). Afternoon: Musée Granet and Planque Collection. Evening performance.
D ay 6 – Cézanne’s studio and Jas de Bouffan home and park followed by coach journey along the Route Cézanne with views of the Sainte Victoire Mountain. Pre-concert lecture followed by independent dinner and evening performance.
D ay 7 – Free time to explore. Depart Marseille 1455, arriving Heathrow 1555.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3895 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a superior twin or double bedded room, performances as described (subject to festival scheduling; category to be confirmed), six breakfasts, two lunches, four dinners. with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, superior double room for single use supplement £545. TOUR CODE: MUAP26
writer Albert Camus lived for the last two years of his life.
Aix Cathedral
Byzantine & Ottoman Türkiye
March 23 – April 2, 2026
Marvel at the region’s blend of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture, from intricate mosaics to soaring minarets
Unveil the many layers of ancient Troy from the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Classical periods
Discover a myriad of captivating mosques designed by the Chief Ottoman Architect Mimar Sinan
Our exploration of northwest Türkiye offers an in-depth look at the country’s complex history, uncovering its many layers from the Palaeolithic era to the Ottoman Empire as well as its more modern influences.
Under Byzantine rule, Türkiye saw increased prosperity. In Istanbul, the
Iznik Tiles
We will appreciate the craftsmanship of many decorative features with a visit to Iznik. A major military and administrative centre in the Byzantine period, under Ottoman rule, it was known for producing distinctive blue tiles.
Treasures at Troy
A highlight will be the UNESCO-listed city of Troy which is rich in many historical treasures from the Neolithic and Bronze Age to the Classical period. Troy II is particularly noted for its abundance of wealth and architecture; meanwhile, VIII and IX illuminate links to the city’s mythic past, including the Trojan War featured in the Iliad.
Kariye Mosque is renowned for its exceptional late Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. Meanwhile, Hagia Sophia showcases striking Byzantine remnants –after the city fell, it was transformed into a mosque with minarets, demonstrating a fusion of Byzantine and Ottoman architectural styles.
During the reign of Selim I and Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire’s global influence grew, indicated by the numerous monuments built by the chief architect Mimar Sinan. Süleymaniye Mosque is the largest Ottoman-era mosque and is considered one of Sinan’s most famous works, while the smaller 16th century Şehzade Mosque will captivate us with its beautiful domes and striking symmetrical design.
We will also visit Bursa and Edirne which are notably rich in Ottoman heritage; highlights include the early Ottoman style of the Yeşil Camii complex, Bursa’s largest mosque, and Sinan’s masterpiece, the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne.
Furthermore, visits to the UNESCOlisted city of Troy and Istanbul’s Archaeology Museum will provide a comprehensive view of Türkiye’s diverse history and progress.
We will stay in four comfortable hotels in the key cities of Istanbul, Bursa, Çanakkale and Edirne. While some hotels may be more basic, they are clean, welcoming and well located to provide convenient access to our visits.
This tour will be led by Ian Colvin , an expert in the late Roman and Byzantine history of the Caucasus regions. Ian has extensive experience leading tours to Armenia, Georgia, Turkey and the southern Balkans.
Ancient city of Troy
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness, mobility and stamina is required for this tour, as it involves a significant amount of travel and four different hotel stays, as well as time spent walking and standing at historical sites, where there are not always frequent opportunities to sit down. The longest coach journey is approximately five hours, with stops en route. Participants should be prepared for traversing uneven ground, steps and cobbles, as well as dimly lit interiors. Please consult ACE’s minimum fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
“Ian was very enthusiastic, good company and always available to the group”
–
ACE customer on a recent 2025 tour led by Ian Colvin
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1030 on British Airways, arriving Istanbul Ataturk 1725. Transfer to Yaşmack Sultan Hotel for five nights. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture: Introduction to Istanbul followed by visit to Şehzade Mosque (built by Sinan), Church of St Saviour in Chora (mosque) and Kariye Mosque (adorned with remarkable Byzantine mosaics and frescoes). Afternoon: Fortress of Yedikule and Justinian’s great church of Hagia Sophia (mosque with upstairs galleries).
D ay 3 – Walking tour including Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) and the 17th century ‘Blue Mosque’. Afternoon visit to Topkapi Sarayi (Mehmet the Conqueror’s seat of government). Evening lecture: The Ottoman State
D ay 4 – Cruise from the Golden Horn to the 19th century Beylerbeyi Palace. Afternoon visits including Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque and Küçük Ayasofya Mosque. Evening lecture: I slam in the Ottoman State
D ay 5 – Visits to Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque and Rüstem Pasha Mosque followed by afternoon visit to the archaeological museum. Free evening.
D ay 6 – Transfer to Iznik (via ferry) for visits in the ancient town. Transfer to Bursa for two nights at Hotel Çelik Palas.
D ay 7 – Visits in Bursa (first capital of the Ottomans) including Yeşil Camii (Green Mosque), Yeşil Turbe (tomb of Mehmet I) and Ulu Camii (Great Mosque built at the end of the 14th century).
D ay 8 – Transfer to Çanakkale on the Dardanelles via Orhan Gazi Mosque. Two nights at Iris Hotel. Evening lecture: Ancient Troy
D ay 9 – Visit to the ancient city of Troy followed by a tour of the Gallipoli Peninsula (including Anzac Cove – the scene of the Allied landings of 1915).
D ay 10 – Transfer to Edirne (second capital of the Ottomans) for visits including 15th century Bayezid II complex, the Üç Şerefeli Camii (mosque with three balconies on its minaret) and Selimiye mosque (Sinan’s crowning achievement built for Selim II, the son of Suleiman – subject to reopening). Overnight at West Door Hotel, Edirne.
D ay 11 – Free time. Depart Istanbul Ataturk 1955, arriving Heathrow 2155.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £4295 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, ten breakfasts, nine lunches, nine dinners with water & tea/coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £735. TOUR CODE: BYOT26
Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Iznik tile at Topokapi Palace
Wild & Ancient Sardinia
April 7–14, 2026
Discover Sardinia’s flora and fauna in a variety of habitats from coastal lagoons to cork oak woodland and mountains
Encounter rare water birds at Mari e Pauli and Sale Porcus
Examine the island’s Bronze Age civilisation through its characteristic circular towers –Nuraghi
Based in the lakeside town of Cabras, where local fishermen still set out to sea in traditional reed boats, and Cala Gonone on the Mediterranean, this tour takes in Sardinia’s coasts and rugged interior as we explore its natural history, geology and archaeology.
At the lagoons of Marina di Torre Grande, we are likely to see flamingos, stilts and ospreys; while our visit to Mari e Pauli and Sale Porcus often provide glimpses of water birds like the purple gallinule, great white egret and redcrested pochard. On the high basalt plateau of Gesturi, we will meander through forests of cork oaks looking for Mediterranean spring flowers and survey the streams and pools for migrant birds. We also hope to find a variety of orchids and look out for wild ponies.
This tour also incorporates some of the island’s fascinating archaeological remains. The most striking remnants of the indigenous Bronze Age Nuraghic civilisation that once existed here are the circular stone towers – Nuraghi –dotted across the landscape. We will also discover the substantial Punic and Roman ruins at Tharros, and the
This tour will be led by Mark Welch , BSc, PhD. Mark is a former research scientist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Natural History Museum in London. Mark has led many tours as a geologist and naturalist.
“The depth of knowledge, style of delivery and flexibility of all involved was exceptional”
– ACE customer on a previous Sardinia tour led by Mark Welch
UNESCO-protected complex at Su Nuraxi di Barumini – an unparalleled survival from the ancient world.
In Cabras we will stay at the three-star Villa Canu, a small and simple familyrun hotel, and in Cala Gonone at the three-star Hotel Bue Marino, located on the seafront.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness is required for this tour. There will be a number of walks over rugged terrain, as well as visits to sites with uneven steps and surfaces. Participants should be comfortable standing and walking for two hours at a time, and also embarking and disembarking small sea-going boats. Our visit to Su Nuraxi involves a steep descent and those who suffer from claustrophobia, vertigo or lower levels of mobility may prefer to opt out.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer. Some visits and excursions may be weather dependent or subject to change and/or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Flight from London to Sardinia Olbia. Continue to lakeside town of Cabras for four nights at Villa Canu.
D ay 2 – Marina di Torre Grande (flamingos, ospreys, bees) and Tharros (Punic and Roman ruins).
D ay 3 – Mari e Pauli and Sale Porcus (great white egret, red-crested pochard) and Su Pallosu (Dartford warbler, Sardinian warbler, shearwaters, possible Hermann’s Tortoise).
D ay 4 – High basalt plateau of Gesturi for walk through cork oak woodland (sand crocus, cyclamen, orchids, migrant birds, woodlarks, wild ponies) and Su Nuraxi (Nuraghic site).
D ay 5 – Via Santa Cristina (sacred well, orchids, butterflies and bees) and Giant’s Tomb of S’Ena e Thomes to Cala Gonone for three nights at Hotel Bue Marino.
D ay 6 – Day spent exploring the surroundings of Cala Gonone, including boat trip and gorge walk at Cala Luna and Bue Marino caves. If the weather does not permit this, we will visit the Cala Gonone Aquarium, highlighting the off-shore world near the east coast of Sardinia.
D ay 7 – Supramonte Mountains: eagles, Barbary partridge, wildflowers and clifftop site of Nuraghe Mannu with Nuraghic tower and village. Traditional dinner on local farm.
D ay 8 – Further explorations, subject to final flight times. Flight from Sardinia Olbia to London.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3495 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, one picnic lunch, one packed dinner (day 1), six dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £265.
TOUR CODE: SARD26
Giara horse amongst cork trees
Art Treasures of Lucca
May, 2026
Discover the history of Lucca, preserved in its enchanting medieval streets and ancient city walls
Encounter incredible art and architecture, from the stunning facade of the Basilica di San Frediano to the Dumo di San Martino
Experience the grand interiors and gardens of Villa Reale di Marlia and Villa Torrigiani
Unlike some of its more crowded counterparts, the city of Lucca maintains an enchanting sense of calm. Walking its historic streets, we will discover an array of treasures, from the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro – a central plaza echoing Lucca’s original amphitheatre – to the Basilica di San Frediano with its brilliant Byzantine mosaic façade.
The Duomo di San Martino is rendered in polychromatic marble; its exterior balances intricacy and grandeur, whilst inside we will appreciate Gothic aesthetics and the famous Volto Santo relic that has attracted pilgrims for centuries.
We will venture to Lucca’s environs to experience two grand villas and their peaceful grounds: Villa Torrigiani is adorned with frescoes, and at the Villa Reale di Marlia, we will soak up elegant and airy interiors and wander its spectacular parkland.
The ancient town of Pistoia – its architectural landscape brimming with
This tour will be led by Andrew Spira , who was a specialist in Byzantine and Russian icons, worked as a curator for the V&A Museum and Programme Director at Christie’s Education. He has and has been leading tours in Russia, Armenia, Georgia and all across Europe for over 20 years.
medieval watchtowers, arcaded piazzas and stunning striped marble churches – never fails to spark wonder. We will explore the town’s history from the Fortezza di Santa Barbara, a 14th century castle, to modern and contemporary art at Museo del Novecento e del Contemporaneo di Palazzo Fabroni.
We will stay at a central hotel, located within the ancient city walls of Lucca, perfect for exploring on foot and accessing our visits.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires participants to walk around sites, mainly on the flat, but some historical sites have uneven ground and require climbing steps and navigating gentle inclines. Participants should be comfortable taking part in walking tours around the city centre and standing during site visits. For further guidance please refer to ACE’s fitness criteria in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that opening times in Italy are regularly subject to change. While we will aim to adhere as closely as possible to the itinerary, some details may be altered nearer the time and certain visits may be subject to confirmation.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 0825 on British Airways, arriving Pisa 1140. Transfer to hotel for five nights. Welcome and introduction. Orientation walk including visit to Orto Botanico Comunale di Lucca (botanical gardens).
D ay 2 – Visits in Lucca: Porta Santa Maria (pilgrims’ entrance), Piazza dell’Anfiteatro (built on the remains of a Roman amphitheatre), Basilica of San Frediano (Byzantine mosaic and
“I feel I have learned to appreciate art on a different level… I could not recommend Andrew more highly”
– ACE customer on a previous tours led by Andrew Spira
Romanesque architecture) and Museum of Villa Guinigi (Renaissance Lucchese art).
D ay 3 – Morning visits in Lucca: Chiesa di San Michele in Foro (Pisan-Romanesque façade) and Palazzo Pfanner (museum and gardens). Afternoon excursion to Villa Torrigiani (16th century estate and gardens). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Visit to Duomo di San Martino (stunning Gothic cathedral with Volto Santo relic), including museum. Afternoon excursion to Villa Reale di Marlia (17th century estate and renowned gardens).
D ay 5 – Visits in Pistoia: Fortezza di Santa Barbara (14th century castle), Museo del Novecento e del Contemporaneo di Palazzo Fabroni (modern and contemporary art) and Museo dello Spedale del Ceppo (museum in 13th century hospital). Free time in Lucca.
D ay 6 – Depart Pisa 1155, arriving Heathrow 1320.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including hotel and tour cost, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest. TOUR CODE: ATLU26
Façade of Basilica di San Frediano
Opera in Berlin: Rossini, Strauss & Verdi
March 26–30, 2026
Attend three world-class productions in Berlin’s magnificent opera houses: Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier and Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera
International stars Charles Castronovo and Anna Netrebko perform in Verdi’s dramatic work
Explore cultural sites including the Gemäldegalerie, Deutscher Dom and Jewish Museum
One of our most beloved recurring music departures, this short tour to Berlin showcases world-class opera in one of Europe’s most important cultural capitals.
Our itinerary takes in three very different operas presented at two splendid opera houses. Berlin’s Deutsche Oper will bring us an energetic performance of Rossini’s classic opera buffa The Barber of Seville, brimming with sunshine, buffoonery and vintage motifs.
Our second opera, at Berlin’s preeminent State Opera House on Unter den
“Excellent talks and lectures by Paul Jackson”
“Paul is a skilled communicator, very thoughtful, sensitive and with a good sense of humour”
– ACE customers on a recent tour to Germany led by Paul Jackson
Linden, continues the humourous tones courtesy of Richard Strauss, whose wonderfully rich orchestration conjures up a fantastical version of 18th century Vienna in Der Rosenkavalier. Christian Thielemann conducts, with Peter Rose in his preeminent role as Baron Ochs and the outstanding German soprano Julia Kleiter as the Marschallin.
This tour will be led by Paul Jackson , PhD, conductor, pianist, and former Director of Music at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Paul has performed widely in the UK, Europe and America. He looks forward to returning to Berlin in 2026 for these superb productions.
We build towards a performance of Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, a work whose plot – centring on the assassination at a masked ball of King Gustav III of Sweden – matches the turbulence of its development. The starry cast includes American operatic tenor Charles Castronovo as Riccardo, French baritone Ludovic Tézier as Renato and the widely acclaimed Russian and Austrian soprano Anna Netrebko as Amelia.
These operas will be complemented by a series of lectures given by our Tour Director, as well as a carefully chosen selection of cultural excursions around Berlin and a good amount of free time to balance later evenings. Visits will include the Museum of Musical Instruments, home to one of the largest collections of its kind in Germany, and one of Berlin’s lesser-known but fascinating gems, the Parliamentary Historical exhibition of the German Bundestag in the Deutscher Dom.
We will stay at the comfortable three-star Martas Hotel Albrechtshof in Berlin, chosen for its convenient proximity to museums and galleries.
Staatsoper Under den Linden
GERMANY
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
While this tour is not particularly strenuous, participants should have a good level of overall fitness, as we will be exploring Berlin on foot as well as traversing uneven ground and steps.
Please note that productions at Berlin State Opera often adopt an imaginative, contemporary approach to their material. The Barber of Seville and Un ballo in maschera will be performed in Italian with German and English surtitles. Der Rosenkavalier will be performed in German with German and English surtitles and will include two intervals.
We are anticipating a high level of interest in this tour due to scarcity of tickets for Un ballo in maschera, so would encourage those interested to contact the ACE office as soon as possible.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer. Certain elements are subject to confirmation and some itinerary details may be adjusted nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1235 on British Airways, arriving Berlin 1530. Transfer to Hotel Martas Albrechtshof, Berlin, for four nights. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture introducing The Barber of Seville. Coach orientation and guided architectural tour of Berlin (exteriors), including Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie, Friedrichstrasse, Nikolaiviertel, Unter den Linden, New Parliament buildings and Brandenburg Gate. Free time followed by evening performance at the Deutsche Oper with Katharina Talbach (director) featuring Carlo Goldstein (conductor) Simone del Savio (Bartolo), Martina Baroni (Rosina), Dean Murphy (Figaro) and Volodymyr Morozov (Basilio): Rossini The Barber of Seville
D ay 3 – Morning lecture introducing Der Rosenkavalier. Visit to the Museum of Musical Instruments (one of the largest collections of its kind in Germany, spanning five centuries, including the mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ, a
fortepiano owned by Carl Maria von Weber, a glass harmonica and a harpsichord that may have been owned by J S Bach). Free time followed by early evening performance at Berlin State Opera with André Heller (director) featuring Christian Thielemann (conductor), Julia Kleiter (the Marschallin), Peter Rose (Baron Ochs), Patricia Nolz (Octavian) and Nikola Hillebrand (Sophie): Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier
D ay 4 – Morning lecture introducing Un ballo in maschera. Visit to the Parliamentary Historical exhibition of the German Bundestag (fascinating displays tracing the evolution of Germany’s parliamentary system), housed in the Deutscher Dom. Free time followed by evening performance at Berlin State Opera with Rafael R Villalobos (director) featuring Enrique Mazzola (conductor), Charles Castronovo (Riccardo), Ludovic Tézier (Renato), Anna Netrebko (Amelia), Anna Kissjudit (Ulrica) and Enkeleda Kamani (Oscar): Verdi Un ballo in maschera
D ay 5 – Free morning to explore Berlin. Depart Berlin 1505, arriving Heathrow 1605.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3495 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described (categories 1 & 2), four breakfasts, three lunches, one dinner with water & coffee, two light teas with drinks at operas, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £275.
TOUR CODE: OPBE26
Anna Netrebko
Museum of Musical Instruments
Wagner’s Ring Cycle at La Scala: 150th Anniversary Tour
March 9–16, 2026
Attend a new production of Wagner’s Ring at La Scala in the 150th year since the cycle’s first complete performance
Explore the significance and meaning of the operas with Wagner expert Michael Downes
Enjoy the world’s most famous opera house from its renowned private boxes with PremiumBronze category tickets
We are delighted to be attending a highlyanticipated new production of Wagner’s monumental Ring Cycle in the 150th year since its first full performance. Milan’s Teatro alla Scala will welcome us for all four operas, directed by David McVicar and conducted by Simone Young, Chief Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Among her many accolades, Young was the first female conductor to both record Der Ring des Nibelungen and conduct the cycle at Bayreuth (in 2024). Supported by richly textured orchestration and performed by a range of excellent soloists – including Michael Volle, Camilla Nylund and Klaus Florian Vogt – each opera will lead us deeper into the worlds conjured by the mythology of Germany and Scandinavia, expressed through Wagner’s famous score.
All performances at Teatro alla Scala will be enjoyed from Premium-Bronze category boxes, offering both superb vantage points and excellent acoustics.
To complement these magnificent performances, we will also visit a trio
Tour Director
Michael Downes , MA, MPhil, DPhil, OBE, is Director of Music at the University of St Andrews. Michael’s latest book Story of the Century: Wagner and the Creation of the Ring was published by Faber & Faber in November 2024.
of galleries: the Pinacoteca di Brera, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and Pirelli HangarBicocca. The latter’s collection includes the extraordinary, monumental Seven Heavenly Palaces by Anselm Kiefer, an artist whose work has often been inspired by the Ring Cycle
Further highlights will include the historical Duomo complex, Santa Maria delle Grazie and the wonderful La Scala Theatre Museum, whose collection includes a Steinway piano belonging to Franz Liszt and a room dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi.
We will stay at the Hotel dei Cavalieri, a classic and comfortable four-star property located close to the Duomo and a fifteen minute walk from the Teatro alla Scala.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness and mobility, particularly for our walks around the city and to and from our performances. Our mornings will have later starts than normal, with some free time in the afternoon to balance the longer evenings. Travellers should be prepared to navigate busy streets and museums, and traverse some steps and uneven or slippery ground.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We cannot confirm all the artists mentioned and La Scala reserves the right to update the cast list.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1015 on British Airways, arriving Milan Linate 1315. Transfer to Hotel dei Cavalieri for seven nights.
Please note that this is an exclusive small-group tour, limited to a maximum of 16 participants.
Short orientation tour followed by welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Duomo complex: cathedral and museum. Some free time followed by lecture and evening performance: Das Rheingold.
D ay 3 – Santa Maria delle Grazie (da Vinci’s Last Supper). Free time followed by lecture and evening performance: Die Walküre.
D ay 4 – Return visit to La Scala for a tour of the opera house and Theatre Museum. Optional visit to the Museo Poldi Pezzoli or free time to explore Milan.
D ay 5 – Pinacoteca di Brera. Free time followed by lecture and evening performance: Siegfried
D ay 6 – Pirelli HangarBicocca. Free afternoon and independent dinner.
D ay 7 – Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. Some free time followed by lecture and evening performance: Götterdämmerung
D ay 8 – Depart Milan Linate 1410, arriving Heathrow 1515.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £6295 Includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a classic twin or double bedded room, performances as described (premium-bronze category boxes), seven breakfasts, four lunches, three drink & sandwich vouchers at three of the performances, three dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, classic double room for single use supplement £995. TOUR CODE: WRCM26
Siegfried discovers the sleeping Brünnhilde, 1917
GERMANY
Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Berlin: 150th Anniversary Tour
May 25 – June 1, 2026
Attend Stefan Herheim’s magnificent production conducted by Donald Runnicles
Explore the cycle’s score, text and history of its composition with musician and broadcaster Sandy Burnett
Discover Berlin’s cultural heritage, from the Museum of Musical Instruments to historical Spandau
To mark the 2026 anniversary of the Ring Cycle, we are very pleased to have secured tickets to multi-award-winning Norwegian director Stefan Herheim’s Deutsche Opera production, lauded for its detailed, thought-provoking staging and outstanding cast members. The event also marks the final farewell of renowned General Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles. Performed by the celebrated Deutsche Oper and a range of excellent soloists – including Clay Hilley as Siegfried, Iain Paterson and Thomas J Mayer as Wotan and Ya-Chung Huang as Mime – each opera will lead us deeper into the worlds conjured by the mythology of Germany and Scandinavia, expressed through Wagner’s famous score.
The tour will feature all four performances across several days, interspersed with illuminating lectures courtesy of expert musicologist, lecturer and broadcaster Sandy Burnett. We will also delve into some of Berlin’s cultural highlights, carefully selected to offer a complimentary and balanced experience around our operas. A visit to the Museum
Tour Director Sandy Burnett , MA, is one of the UK’s most versatile musicians and commentators, enjoying a career that combines broadcasting, performing and lecturing. He spent a decade as one of the core team of presenters on BBC Radio 3.
of Musical Instruments will acquaint us with one of the largest collections of its kind in Germany, including the mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ, a fortepiano owned by Carl Maria von Weber and a harpsichord possibly owned by J S Bach. The Jewish Museum charts Jewish life in Germany’s capital from the Middle Ages to the present; while an excursion to Spandau will introduce us to one of Berlin’s leafier, less discovered districts, home to a medieval citadel and one of the city’s oldest surviving townhouses.
We will stay at the comfortable three-star Martas Hotel Albrechtshof in Berlin, chosen for its convenient location to museums and galleries.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
While this tour is not particularly strenuous, participants should have a good level of overall fitness, as we will be exploring Berlin on foot as well as traversing uneven ground and steps. Performances will finish late, so we have incorporated later starts and some free time in the afternoons to ensure a balanced experience. We will travel to and from the Deutsche Oper by coach.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We cannot confirm all the artists mentioned and the Deutsche Oper reserves the right to update the cast list.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1115 on British Airways, arriving Berlin 1410. Transfer to Martas Hotel Albrechtshof for seven nights. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture followed by guided architectural tour by coach: Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie, Friedrichstrasse, Nikolaiviertel, Unter den Linden, the Reichstag, new Parliament buildings and the Brandenburg Gate (exteriors). Some free time. Evening performance: Das Rheingold
D ay 3 – Morning lecture followed by a guided tour of the Museum of Musical Instruments (one of the largest collections of its kind in Germany). Evening performance: Die Walküre
D ay 4 – Guided visit to the Jewish Museum (Middle Ages to the present) and optional afternoon visit to Museum Island.
D ay 5 – Morning lecture and free time to explore Berlin independently. Evening performance: Siegfried
D ay 6 – Morning excursion to Spandau (leafy district): medieval Kolkviertel and one of the oldest surviving townhouses in Berlin. Free evening.
D ay 7 – Morning lecture. Visit to the Parliamentary Historical exhibition of the German Bundestag (tracing the evolution of Germany’s parliamentary system) in the Deutscher Dom. Evening performance: Götterdämmerung
D ay 8 – Depart Berlin 1505, arriving Heathrow 1605.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £5295 Includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described (category 1), seven breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners with water & coffee, opera plates and a glass of wine at three of the performances, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £465. TOUR CODE: WRBL26
Portrait of Richard Wagner after Pierre Petit French, 1861
Ancient Macedonia: The Empire of Philip II & Alexander the Great
May 21–28, 2026
Delve into Ancient Macedonian sites, from Philippi to Olynthos, where Philip II and Alexander the Great once trod
Sample the ancient flavours of the region during a visit to a vineyard at Naousa
Uncover the astounding treasures of Vergina, Macedonia’s first capital
Originating in the mountains of northern Greece, Macedon dramatically expanded when Philip II triumphed over the powers of Thebes and Athens. Alexander’s campaigns expanded the empire far beyond its original borders, stretching eastward to the Indus Valley, marking a brief but impactful period of Macedonian dominance.
Thessaloniki will provide glimpses into the era of the late Macedonian Empire following Alexander’s death, a period marked by civil unrest, encountered at the Palace of Galerius, Arch of Galerius and Rotunda. The archaeological museum, meanwhile, offers a comprehensive collection of artefacts from ancient Macedon.
Rita Roussos , PhD, was born in Athens, and read Ancient Greek and Latin at the University of California before gaining her PhD in History of Art at Courtauld Institute of Art. Rita has worked on archaeological projects in the Peloponnese.
At Pella, former capital of Philip’s empire and Alexander’s birthplace, we will discover the region’s natural beauty alongside impressive ruins and a museum. We will also explore the restored palace and bath complex and marvel at the exquisite mosaics and inscriptions adorning the peristyle houses.
Vergina was the first capital of Macedonia and site of Philip’s burial and Alexander’s coronation, and the Royal Tombs of Lefkadia are home to a remarkably preserved archaeological museum. At nearby Naousa, we will sample authentic Macedonian wine from the Xinomavro grape, which Alexander himself may once have tasted.
The empire’s military strength is evident at Olynthos and Philippi, while Amphipolis was a crucial centre during Alexander’s campaigns; excavations of the site have revealed tombs, political buildings, ancient walls and artefacts, including the Lion of Amphipolis.
Dion housed the principal Macedonian sanctuary dedicated to Zeus, and would once have witnessed Alexander’s offerings to this ruling and protective deity ahead of his Persian campaign. We will also encounter Aristotle – famously Alexander’s teacher and a fundamental figure in Western philosophy – during visits to his birthplace with its ancient remains and possible tomb.
We will stay at the four-star City Hotel, located in the heart of Thessaloniki. With its modern and eco-friendly design, this hotel provides a comfortable, clean and welcoming base for our visits.
Arch of Galerius, Thessaloniki
GREECE
Owing to the early outbound flight departure, we are offering a complimentary overnight stay (room only) at Heathrow Airport on the 18 May. Please let our Sales Team know, when you make your booking, if you would like us to arrange this for you.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour is designed to make the most of our stay in northern Greece with a wide variety of visits. The itinerary contains some longer days, so participants should have a good overall level of fitness, mobility and stamina. At some sites the ground is uneven or hilly, and there are steps to navigate. Please note that some archaeological sites are exposed, and the weather will be warm. For ACE’s minimum fitness criteria, please see the Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and certain visits may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Some sites in Greece can close at short notice, so minor adjustments may be made, including to the order of visits.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 0615 on British Airways, arriving Thessaloniki 1135. Transfer to City Hotel for seven nights. Optional orientation walking tour of Thessaloniki including Fortification Walls (time permitting). Welcome and introductory talk.
“Dr Roussos as always was well-briefed, informed, helpful and happily shared her wealth of information with us”
“Her scholarly evening talks were most welcome”
– ACE customers on previous tours to Greece led by Rita Roussos
D ay 2 – Along Via Egnatia to Pella (capital of Philip of Macedon’s empire and birthplace of Alexander the Great): peristyle houses and museum. Vineyard tour, included lunch and tasting in Naousa with the option to sample Macedonian wine from the Xionmavro grape followed by visits in Lefkadia including tombs and School of Aristotle. Free evening.
D ay 3 – Excursion to Vergina (former capital of Macedonian empire) for visits to the Polycentric Museum of Aigai and Museum of the Royal Tombs. Evening lecture: The Derveni Krater
D ay 4 – Archaeological Site of Olynthos (sacked by Philip of Macedon in 348) and Archaeological Museum of Polygyros. Evening lecture: Philip and Alexander
D ay 5 – Visits including Stagira (ancient walls and tomb of Aristotle), Amphipolis (archaeological museum, park and gymnasium) and Archaeological Site of Philippi (founded by Philip of Macedon; theatre, forum and basilicas). Free evening.
D ay 6 – Full day visits in Thessaloniki including Palace of Galerius, Arch of Galerius, Roman Forum, Rotonda, Statue of Alexander the Great and Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (displays of permanent exhibitions on the history of Ancient Macedonia).
D ay 7 – Visits to Dion at the foot of Mount Olympus, a sacred place in Ancient Macedonia followed by a further visit in Thessaloniki including Venizelou excavations. Evening lecture: Roman Thessaloniki
D ay 8 – Depart Thessaloniki 1225, arriving Heathrow 1400.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including the tour cost, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest.
TOUR CODE: MACE26
Archaeological site of Philippi
Wildlife & Walking in Romania
May 26 – June 2, 2026
Discover Romania’s abundant bird and animal life in varied and spectacular mountain and wetland habitats
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Danube Delta from a floating hotel
Learn about Romania’s distinct, fascinating culture and history as we cross landscapes that have changed little in centuries
With its patchwork fields and golden hayricks, mountainside citadels and fortified Saxon churches, the landscapes of Carpathia and Transylvania seem lost in time. In dense woodlands roam brown bears, lynx and wolves; high above soar eagles, kites and hawks. It is all fairytale familiar, yet vanishingly rare in today’s connected world.
This new itinerary reveals the wild majesty of the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta, with the opportunity to spot numerous bird and animal species, explore a variety of spectacular habitats, and gain a deep cultural appreciation of a country only a
couple of flying hours away but still very much undiscovered.
Our first base is the spectacularly scenic 700-year-old village of Magura. Even from the grounds of our guesthouse, we may spot brown bears and chamois. In the adjacent Piatra Craiului National Park, we may encounter bird species such as wallcreepers and woodpeckers, alpine
This tour will be led by conservationist, ornithologist and environmental consultant Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM, who has been leading tours for ACE since 1992. He previously acted as President and Vice President of the Cambridge Natural History Society and continues to act as a Trustee.
Kevin will be supported by Liam Northfield , an environmental scientist and expedition guide with a background in conservation work, including at the Manx Wildlife Trust, where his group received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
“Such a lovely leader and full of knowledge on everything”
– ACE traveller on a 2025 ‘Wildlife & Walking’ tour with Kevin Hand
swifts and willow tits. We will also enjoy colourful wildflower meadows pollinated by myriad species of butterfly.
From Magura we will visit Bran Castle, of Vlad Tepes and latterly ‘Dracula’ renown, which presents a fascinating insight into Vlad’s turbulent 15th century world.
We will then journey to the Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. This region is world-famous for its biodiversity, and we will appreciate some of that natural richness during a stay aboard one of Tulcea’s floating hotels. Amongst more than 300 species of birds in the region, we hope to see the likes of bee-eaters, whiskered terns, pygmy cormorants, white-tailed eagles and pied wheatear, along with golden jackals, sousliks, marsh and tree frogs. We will also make a visit to one of the traditional village homes. Our tour concludes on the shoreline of the Black Sea, home to rare waders, rollers, hoopoe and red-footed falcons.
Whiskered Tern
ROMANIA
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness and stamina. We have a full itinerary with some optional early starts, and as the title suggests many days will involve a significant amount of walking, much of it across uneven ground and some on an incline. Participants must meet ACE’s fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We cannot guarantee the presence of all wildlife mentioned.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1205 on British Airways, arriving Bucharest 1725. Transfer via Sinaia to the picturesque sheep-farming village of Magura, within Piatra Craiului National Park. Three nights at the Mosorel Guesthouse, which offers spectacular views of the mountains.
D ay 2 – Morning: optional pre-breakfast wildlife walk in the hotel grounds followed by locallyguided walking excursion to Zarnesti Gorge, one of the impressive limestone ‘karst’ features of the Piatra Craiului landscape. Bird species recorded in the area include harriers, hawks and kites; flycatchers, nutcrackers and bee-eaters; shrikes, warblers and buntings. Flowers including bird’snest orchids and broad-leaved helleborine, along with butterflies such as the eastern swallowtail and mountain ringlet, add colour to wildflower meadows. Optional evening village walk.
D ay 3 – Full day excursion to Bran Castle which, though once besieged by Vlad Tepes (‘the Impaler’ and inspiration for Bram Stoker’s titular vampire), has become known as ‘Dracula’s Castle’ more for its close resemblance to the fortress described in the novel. Wildlife stops en route.
D ay 4 – Transfer to the Danube Delta, Europe’s largest river delta outside Russia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the third largest biodiversity area in the world after the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands. More than 300 bird species have been sighted in this
natural wonderland. We stay aboard one of the delta’s floating hotels for three nights.
D ay 5 – Full day of cruising and wildlife watching in the Danube Delta. Sightings may include Dalmatian pelicans, pygmy cormorants, bearded and penduline tits, white-tailed eagles, Pallas and Caspian gulls, golden jackals, sousliks and tree frogs.
D ay 6 – A further day of cruising and wildlife watching, also including a visit to a traditional village home. The Danube Delta is home to the Lipovans, or ‘Old Believers’, ethnic Russians with their own distinct language and customs, who split from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 18th century in protest at its reforms and emigrated to escape persecution.
D ay 7 – Transfer to Vadu, on the shores of the Black Sea, for one night, with a wetlands walk. A subtly different habitat to the rest of the Danube Delta, Vadu is an essential inclusion in any wildlife or birding tour of Romania, and we can expect to see several species of endemic and migratory birds.
D ay 8 – Return to Bucharest and depart 1815, arriving Heathrow 1940.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, four lunches (some packed), seven dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £575. TOUR CODE: WWRO26
Piatra Craiului National Park
Golden jackals
Albania and North Macedonia: A Legacy of Empires
May 27 – June 6, 2026
Delve into the diverse history of Albania and North Macedonia from antiquity to the communist era
Become immersed in the history and modern life of Albania at Berat, an ancient fortification encompassing residences, churches and mosques
Trace North Macedonia’s fascinating past at Stobi, the largest archaeological site in the country
Nestled amidst dramatic mountains, lush valleys and crystal-clear waters, Albania and North Macedonia are rich in historical and cultural treasures. These often-overlooked Balkan nations possess a deep, intertwined history stretching
Our Tour Director is Eireann Marshall, PhD, a Research Associate and Associate Lecturer with the Open University. Eireann is an expert in the classical and ancient worlds and has led many tours across Europe and North Africa.
from ancient times to the present, where remnants of Byzantine, Ottoman, Roman and communist influences are woven into modern life.
In Tirana, we will take in a myriad of exteriors, including the National Museum which houses an iconic mosaic illustrating Albanian history from antiquity to communism. Meanwhile, at the Et’hem Bej Mosque we will be inspired by breathtaking Ottoman design blended with Islamic and Albanian styles and intricate frescoes.
We will observe Albanian daily life at Berat, Gjirokastër and Krujë. In Berat, preserved Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques are adorned with beautiful motifs and frescoes; while Gjirokastër Castle boasts panoramic views and museums showcasing centuries of Albanian history. The impressive Fortress of Krujë also focuses on Albanian history and the country’s resistance against Ottoman forces.
Visits to Apollonia and Durrës will allow us to trace Albania’s ancient past. Apollonia reveals the country’s philosophical heritage with preserved Roman baths featuring intricate mosaics and a 4th century amphitheatre. Durrës,
one of Albania’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, features the Forum of Anastasius providing glimpses into the wealth and politics of the Roman and Byzantine eras.
Stobi, North Macedonia’s largest archaeological site, is home to many well-preserved remains, including a lavish palace and basilica. Mosaics portraying animals, plants and geometrical patterns line the floors and walls, offering insight into the lives of North Macedonia’s ancient elite.
During this tour, we will stay in three comfortable hotels in Tirana, Gjirokastër and Ohrid. These clean and welcoming properties have been chosen particularly for their close proximity to our visits as we explore our sites.
In North Macedonia, we will be based in Ohrid, one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Situated on Lake Ohrid, the town offers stunning mountainside views sweeping into vivid blue waters. Here, we will take in the Ancient Theatre of Ohrid, the only Hellenistic structure of its kind in the country.
Berat Castle
Lake Ohrid
Rediscovering the Past
Active efforts in these countries to reestablish their national identities and promote tourism are ongoing through the preservation and promotion of their natural landscapes and ancient treasures.
Recent archaeological finds in North Macedonia – such as Crnobuki near Bitola, thought to be ancient Lyncus, birthplace of Alexander the Great’s grandmother (not yet open to the public) – underscore the region’s efforts to rediscover its past.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness, mobility and stamina is required for this tour, as it involves a significant amount of coach travel and different hotel stays, as well as time spent walking and standing at historical sites, where there are not always frequent opportunities to sit down. Participants should be prepared for traversing uneven ground, steps and cobbles, as well as dimly lit interiors. This tour also involves two border crossings so travel between the two countries may take longer. Please note that Eireann will be joining the tour part way through Day 1, however, the group will be supported by an excellent guide and a Tour Manager on the walking tour. Please consult ACE’s minimum fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 0835 on British Airways, arriving Tirana 1240. Welcome followed by afternoon walking tour with local guide of Tirana (Et’hem Bej Mosque). Overnight in Tirana.
D ay 2 – Visits in Berat including Berat Castle (museums, churches, mosques) and Onufri Museum. Transfer to Gjirokastër for four nights.
D ay 3 – Morning: Gjirokastër Castle (Bronze Age fortress with museums). Afternoon: Skënduli House and Zekate House (well-preserved Ottoman-style homes). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning: Mesopotam Churches (Monastery of Saint Nicholas and Holy Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul). Afternoon: Butrint National Archaeological Park (theatre, Roman baths, museums, palace and basilica) and Ali Pasha’s Castle (exterior – lakeside view).
D ay 5 – Morning: Archaeological Park of Antigonea (fortified settlement with early Christian mosaics). Afternoon: Labova e Kryqit (selection of nearby churches) Evening lecture.
D ay 6 – Byllis Archaeological Park (fortified settlement with early Christian mosaics) and archaeological park of Apollonia (amphitheatre, Odeoni and museum). Transfer to Elbasan for overnight stay.
D ay 7 – Visits on Lake Pogradec including St Naum Monastery and the stilt-house settlement. Transfer to Ohrid for three nights. Free evening.
D ay 8 – Heraclea (major waypoint and Episcopal seat) followed by return to Ohrid for visits including theatre, Holy Mary Peryblotos church and fortress. Evening lecture.
D ay 9 – Full day exploration of the archaeological park of Stobi (well-preserved remains including palace and basilica) followed by included lunch at Lazar winery (subject to final confirmation). Free evening.
D ay 10 – Royal Tombs of Selca in the village Selcë e Poshtme (rockface burial tombs) followed by Durrës for amphitheatre and Byzantine Forum of Anastasius. Transfer to Tirana for overnight.
D ay 11 – Morning: Krujë Castle followed by free time (subject to final flight times). Depart Tirana 1850, arriving Heathrow 2100.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3295 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, ten breakfasts, five lunches, seven dinners with a glass of wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £395. TOUR CODE: ALNM26
Ancient ruins at Stobi
Art Nouveau in Belgium
May 7–12, 2026
Gain a detailed understanding of the Art Nouveau style of architecture, furniture and decorative arts in Brussels
Trace the evolution of Victor Horta’s architecture from Autrique House to Solvay House
Enjoy privileged guided tours of private Art Nouveau buildings, rarely open to the public
Inspired by writers including Wilde, Proust and Huysmans, and by art movements including Symbolism, Japonisme and Arts & Crafts, the Art Nouveau movement was financed by ‘Nouveau Riche’ industrialists. Young designers made the most of technological advances to create the dazzlingly opulent style that still astonishes us today.
In addition to exploring the exterior characteristics of Art Nouveau architecture, situating their aesthetics against the wider backdrop of Brussels typography and history, our tour will feature special access to house interiors. Private tours will take place at the exceptional Van Eetvelde House, lavish Solvay House and elegant Max Hallet Mansion, all designed by Victor Horta.
We will also have time to discover several of the Royal Museums of the Fine Arts of Belgium, including the Old Masters and Magritte galleries, the Musical Instruments Museum and newly renovated Cinquantenaire museum housing Art Nouveau and Art Deco treasures. A further highlight will be the Winter Garden room at the Ursuline
This tour will be led by Christopher Bourne , BA, an Art Nouveau expert who has led groups in the UK and Belgium for over 20 years. Having lived in Brussels, he has acquired an in-depth knowledge of the city’s architectural, artistic and cultural history.
“Christopher has a deep knowledge of the subject and was able to put it into a wider context. His lectures and onsite expositions were clear and informative”
– ACE customer on a previous tour led by Christopher Bourne
Institute, with its original furniture and magnificent stained glass.
Continuing the narrative, we will explore how Art Nouveau was superseded by the more austere, streamlined Art Deco style after 1914, exploring exceptional examples of early Art Deco architecture, influenced by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright.
We will stay in the heart of Brussels at the four-star Hotel Le Plaza, a welcoming establishment known for its elegant and traditional atmosphere.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness, as it will involve significant amounts of walking and standing, including over cobbled streets, and also navigating stairs in properties that do not have lifts. For ACE’s minimum fitness requirements, please see the Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements (including the private house visits) may be subject to change or final confirmation nearer the time.
ay 1 – Depart London St Pancras 1104 on Eurostar, arriving Brussels 1405. Transfer to Hotel Le Plaza for five nights. Introductory lecture and orientation walking tour to the Grand-Place.
D ay 2 – Morning: private tour of Autrique House (Horta’s first house in Brussels) followed by private tour of the Horta Museum (former home and workshop). Afternoon: private tour of the Max Hallet House.
D ay 3 – Morning: short walk to view façades at Avenue de la Brabançonne and Squares district followed by private tour of the Van Eetvelde House. Afternoon: option to visit Galleries of Old Masters and Magritte or Musical Instruments Museum independently. Free evening.
D ay 4 – Excursion to Ursuline Institute at Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver for private tour of interiors (Winter Garden room). Afternoon visit to Cinquantenaire Museum for independent visit (introduction by Tour Director). Free evening.
D ay 5 – Morning: private tour of Solvay House and Van Buuren House and garden (in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, garden by René Pechère). Afternoon: private tour of Cauchie House.
D ay 6 – Morning Lecture at hotel, followed by optional visit to Belgian Comic Strip Centre or free time. Depart Brussels on Eurostar 1452, arriving London 1557.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2895 includes: return travel, accommodation based on sharing a classic twin or double bedded room, five breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, classic double room for single use supplement £385. TOUR CODE: ARNO26
D
Winter Garden, Institute of the Ursulines
GERMANY
Bach Festival in Leipzig
June 12–18, 2026
Vox Luminis and The Constellation Choir & Orchestra perform Bach cantatas
Enjoy a late-night concert with one of the world’s most beloved classical vocal groups, VOCES8
Appreciate the timeless Goldberg Variations with Sir András Schiff
Leipzig lies at the heart of the classical music tradition: Wagner was born here, Mendelssohn died here and Bach spent nearly three decades as Kapellmeister at the Thomaskirche. It is fitting, therefore, that Leipzig plays host to a magnificent annual festival centred on Bach and the composers he inspired.
At the heart of our 2026 tour will be a selection of Bach’s most popular cantatas, performed by Vox Luminis, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir and The Constellation Choir & Orchestra. We will only discover the final line-up during the festival itself, building towards two climactic concerts on our penultimate day.
The Nikolaikirche will present a latenight concert featuring VOCES8 whose exquisite polyphonic strands are sure to lift our spirits. Meanwhile at the Gewandhaus, Sir András Schiff will perform Bach’s stupendous Goldberg Variations. We round off our tour with a grand finale unveiling the top four cantatas courtesy of Sir John Elliot Gardiner and his excellent orchestra.
In addition to the Bach Festival, our tour also includes a visit to Halle, home of the annual Handel Festival, and we plan to include a performance of Rinaldo while here.
Tour Director Sandy Burnett , MA, is a musician who spent over a decade as a presenter on BBC Radio 3. He has conducted many orchestras and choirs, and masterminded a complete cycle of Bach’s sacred cantatas.
Concert Tickets
The Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche are both historical settings that evoke the performances that Bach would have known. In the Thomaskirche, the audience often faces away from the performers; while in the smaller Nikolaikirche, sightlines are often interrupted by pillars. The quality of the sound, however, is always superb. The ACE team will review ticket categories once confirmed and may make small adjustments to ensure a good quality experience.
We will stay at the Seaside Park Hotel, a four-star Art Deco residence situated within easy walking distance of the Thomaskirche.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour involves excursions to museums and walking tours, and participants should therefore feel comfortable staying on their feet for extended periods of time, as well as navigating cobbles, steps and staircases (lifts are not always available). There are stone steps at the Nikolaikirche. Please be aware that some interiors may be dimly lit. A good general level of fitness is required for this tour.
ITINERARY
The itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements, including the musical programme, may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1035 on British Airways, arriving Berlin 1330. Transfer to Seaside Park Hotel, Leipzig, for six nights. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture followed by walking tour of Leipzig with visit to the Bach Museum.
performance at the
in C minor, Italian Concerto, Goldberg Variations. Nighttime performance at the Nikolaikirche featuring VOCES8: J S Bach motets including Jesu, meine Freude and Komm, Jesu, komm.
D ay 3 – Excursion to Halle for visit to the Handel House and Handel Festival performance: Handel Rinaldo
D ay 4 – Morning lecture followed by a visit to the Mendelssohn House Museum. Late afternoon performance at the Thomaskirche featuring Vox Luminis: ‘Top 50’ Cantatas VII (2421). Free evening.
D ay 5 – Morning lecture followed by free time to explore Leipzig independently. Evening performance at the Thomaskirche featuring The Constellation Choir & Orchestra and soloists with Sir John Eliot Gardiner – ‘Top 50’ Cantatas X (12-9).
Day 6 – Morning lecture and farewell lunch. Late afternoon performance at the Thomaskirche featuring Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir with soloists and Ton Koopman (conductor) –‘Top 50’ Cantatas (8-5). Evening performance at the Nikolaikirche featuring The Constellation Choir & Orchestra and soloists with Sir John Eliot Gardiner – ‘Top 50’ Cantatas (4-1).
D ay 7 – Transfer to Berlin for 1505 flight, arriving Heathrow 1605.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3785 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described, six breakfasts, one lunch, four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, small double room for single use supplement £275. TOUR CODE: BACH26
Afternoon
Gewandhaus featuring Sir András Schiff (piano): J S Bach French Overture
Statue of Bach in Leipzig
Artists & Artisans of Umbria
May 31 – June 6, 2026
Discover the rich artisanal legacy of Umbria with special visits to ceramic, hand weaving and painting workshops
Trace art through the ages from Perugino’s Renaissance frescoes to the modern work of Alberto Burri at the renowned Burri collection
Explore the charming streets and architecture of medieval towns including Spello, Spoleto and Bevagna
On this specially crafted new tour we will discover the rich legacy of art preserved in Perugia and its environs, housed in wonderful galleries and museums and embedded in the architecture of medieval streets.
The historic university town of Perugia has always been one of Italy’s foremost cultural and artistic centres, home to Perugino’s immense frescoed interiors at the Nobile Collegio del Cambio and the magnificent Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria that traces the evolution of art from the 13th century to the present.
“Engaging, interesting, full of fascinating information… (Marie-Anne) was wonderful at connecting with each and every individual on the tour about their interests… couldn’t recommend her more highly”
– ACE customer on a previous Italian tour led by Marie-Anne Mancio
The outskirts of Perugia are home to the Collezione Burri Ex Seccatoi del Tabacco, an innovative space showcasing the work of internationally renowned artist Alberto Burri in his native city of Città di Castello. Exploring the themes of destruction and repair, Burri’s work
This tour will be led by Marie-Anne Mancio, MPhil, DPhil, an art historian, writer, experienced tour leader and Arts Society accredited lecturer. As a resident of Perugia, she looks forward to sharing her love and personal connections to the region.
reflects his experiences of World War Two, and maintains an important position in Umbrian artistic identity.
We will walk the enchanting streets of Montefalco, Spello and Bevagna, discovering their idyllic churches, while in Spoleto we will trace Roman relics such as the Arch of Druso and Germanicus.
At the heart of our tour is an exploration of Umbrian artisanal culture, where artistic skills continue to thrive. We will visit a local painter’s studio, a paper and candle-making workshop, a glass painters’ workshop and an artisanal ceramicist; these skilled craftsmen will show us ancient techniques that have endured for generations and share personal insights into Umbrian craftsmanship. In particular, the Museo Atelier Brozzetti holds one of the last remaining hand-weaving workshops in Italy, and we will see original looms from the 18th and 19th centuries at work.
We will stay at the four-star Sangallo Palace Hotel, ideally located in the historic centre of Perugia for efficient access to our visits on foot and further afield.
Medieval old town and Roman aqueduct, Perugia
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Participants should have a high level of mobility and be comfortable following walking tours around the cobbled and uneven streets, as well as standing during site visits. Towns in the region are undulating, and there will be some steep sections, including an uphill walk from Museo Atelier Brozzetti to the hotel. For further guidance please refer to ACE’s fitness criteria in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
“Marie-Anne is an extremely knowledgeable guide and very willing to share her expertise with unfailing enthusiasm, I learnt a great deal from her” – ACE customer on a previous Italian tour led by Marie-Anne Mancio
ITINERARY
Please note that opening times in Italy are regularly subject to change. While we will aim to adhere as closely as possible to the itinerary, some details may be altered nearer the time and certain visits may be subject to confirmation.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow on British Airways 0815, arriving Florence 1135. Transfer to Perugia and check into the Sangallo Palace hotel for six nights. Welcome and introduction followed by orientation walking tour.
D ay 2 – Visits in Perugia including the Nobile Collegio del Cambio (Perugino’s immense frescoed interiors) and Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria (art from the 13th century to the present including Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Pinturicchio and Perugino). Afternoon visit to Studio Moretti Caselli (glass painters’ workshop).
D ay 3 – Walking tour of Spello followed by visit to Cappella Baglioni (stunning frescoed chapel by Pinturicchio) and Museo di San Francesco in Montefalco (works by Gozzoli and Perugino). Continue to historical town of Bevagna for visit to a paper and candle-making workshop. Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning visit to the Collezione Burri Ex Seccatoi del Tabacco in Cittá di Castello (exhibition space of the renowned modern artist Alberto Burri), followed by Museo Atelier Giuditta Brozzetti (one of the last remaining hand weaving workshops.
D ay 5 – Excursion to Spoleto for walking tour (Bridge of the Towers, Arch of Drusus and Germanicus and Roman Theatre) and Duomo di Spoleto. Afternoon visits to Complesso Museale di San Francesco di Trevi (picture gallery with works by Giovanni di Pietro and Pinturicchio), Villa Fabri (17th century villa with gardens and panoramic views) and Centro Italiano Arte Contemporanea. Free evening.
D ay 6 – Morning in Deruta (famous Renaissance ceramics) including visits to an artisan ceramicist and Museo Regionale della Ceramica di Deruta. Afternoon visit in Perugia to a painters studio.
D ay 7 – Depart Florence 1225, arriving Heathrow 1350.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2695 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a superior twin or double bedded room, six breakfasts, one lunch, four dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, superior double room for single use supplement £255. TOUR CODE: ARUM26
Studio Moretti Caselli
Triptych of Perugia (Marzolini Triptych) by The Master of the Perugia Triptych, 1280-1290
In the Footsteps of Le Corbusier: His Life & Legacy
June 8–14, 2026
Travel through France tracing the life and works of Le Corbusier, one of the pioneers of modern architecture
Explore fascinating buildings in Paris, including the Maisons La Roche-Jeanneret and Porte Molitor
Stay overnight in a UNESCO-listed building designed by the architect himself, now preserved as the Hotel Le Corbusier in Marseille
The Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner and writer Le Corbusier, born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret in 1887, is one of the most
This tour will be led by Alan Powers , PhD, one of the UK’s leading architectural historians and an expert in 20th century architecture and design. He is a former Professor at the University of Greenwich and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
“Alan’s depth of knowledge and his enthusiasm for his subject are exemplary”
“Very helpful and extremely knowledgeable. Clearly an expert with so much interesting information to impart. A very good Tour Director”
– ACE customers on previous tours led by Alan Powers
important and influential figures in modern architecture. This brand new tour devotes a week to exploring his life, work and legacy on a journey from Paris to Lyon and Marseille.
The Villa Savoye was originally conceived for its patrons as a retreat from urban life in Paris and was preserved for posterity and listed by UNESCO in 2016. Porte Molitor, a glazed apartment block, was designed by Le Corbusier in the early 1930s, and was also his home from 1934 until his death. The maisonnette he occupied was restored between 2014 and 2018 and now provides an insight into
the way the architect himself lived within the architectural style he promoted.
From Lyon we will visit the former steel town of Firminy, where Le Corbusier assisted in significant postwar redevelopment. The cultural centre, Sainte-Pierre Church, Couvent Sainte-Marie de la Tourette and a Unité d’habitation – the type of modernist residential housing building developed by Le Corbusier – were all designed by the architect, and demonstrate the versatility of his work.
Our tour begins with three nights in Paris at the Hotel Auteil Tour Eiffel, conveniently located for our explorations in the Auteuil area. We will then spend a further two nights at a hotel in Lyon.
Our tour concludes with an overnight stay at the UNESCO-listed Hotel Le Corbusier in Marseille, occupying the architect’s iconic Cité radieuse. While the rooms are smaller and less luxurious, they retain their authentic modernist character, and offer a unique opportunity to stay in an original building designed by Le Corbusier. Please note that all hotels are subject to final confirmation.
Unitié d’habitation, Firminy
FRANCE
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness is required for this tour, and participants should meet ACE’s usual fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions. At some visits it is necessary to ascend steps and staircases, and there may not always be frequent opportunities to sit down. Please note that the tour involves three separate hotel stays as well as two train journeys through France, so a good level of stamina is required, and participants should feel comfortable handling their own luggage on and off the trains and through the stations, which can be busy.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Some visits will be exterior only.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1155 on British Airways, arriving Paris 1415. Transfer to the Auteuil area of Paris for three nights at the Hotel Auteil Tour Eiffel. Welcome and introductory lecture.
D ay 2 – Morning visits in Auteuil: Rue Franklin, Rue Maillart Stevens, UNESCO-listed Maisons La Roche-Jeanneret (Le Corbusier and Jeanneret, 1923-25) and Porte Molitor (apartment block designed by Le Corbusier and Jeanneret 1931-34, where Le Corbusier lived for over 30 years).
Afternoon: Cité Seurat and Maison Guggenbuhl (Lurçat – exteriors), Maison Ozenfant (one of the first Purist houses in Paris – exterior), Pavillon Suisse and Maison du Brésil, and Cité de Refuge (Armée du Salut, Le Corbusier and Jeanneret’s third building for the Salvation Army).
D ay 3 – Excursion to Poissy for UNESCO-listed Villa Savoye followed by exterior views of Villa Steine et Garches (Le Corbusier and Jeanneret, 1926-28). Visit to Museum of the Thirties, Boulogne-Billancourt, followed by the exteriors of Maison Cook, the former home of sculptor Froriep de Salis (Lurçat) and Maisons Jaoul. Free evening.
D ay 4 – Transfer by TGV to Lyon. Afternoon: architectural tour of new buildings in La Confluence area, including Musée des Confluences (museum of science and anthropology, Coop Himmelbau, 2014). Two nights in Lyon. Evening lecture.
“Alan’s knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject was a highlight of the tour”
– ACE customer on a previous tour led by Alan Powers
D ay 5 – Excursion to Firminy (former steel town, redeveloped in the post-war period to create a new way of living) for Le Corbusier trail (cultural centre, sports stadium, Sainte-Pierre Church, housing). Afternoon: Couvent SainteMarie de la Tourette (Dominican Order friary, 1953-61). Free evening.
D ay 6 – Transfer by TGV to Marseille. Afternoon excursion to Villa Noailles (early modernist house, Mallet-Stevens). Overnight stay at UNESCO-listed Hotel Le Corbusier, Marseille. Evening talk.
D ay 7 – Morning lecture followed by tour of hotel. Transfer to Marseille Airport for 1355 departure, arriving London 1500.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including tour cost, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest.
TOUR CODE: CORB26
La Cité radieuse de Marseille
Sainte Marie de La Tourette
Bordeaux Through The Ages: Historical & Cultural Riches
June 29 – July 5, 2026
Explore the rich history of Bordeaux and Aquitaine, from ancient history to the prosperous ‘golden era’, Revolution and WWII
Trace the region’s medieval legacy at Saint-Émilion with its characterful façades, astonishing Monolithic Church and wine heritage
Enjoy private châteaux tours, an exclusive introduction to Bordeaux’s wine at the Bar à Vin, and a Michelin-starred menu at Le Chapon Fin
Beginning with the city’s earlier history – from its ancient ruins and UNESCOlisted cathedral of St André, which once witnessed the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Louis VII, to its 18th century ‘golden era’ architecture – we will explore Bordeaux on foot, wandering through charming squares and light, airy streets. A visit to the Musée d’Aquitaine will illuminate the city’s evolution from prehistory onwards, while at the astounding Bassins des Lumières we will reflect on its more recent past.
Wine production has been woven into the cultural fabric and history of the region since Roman times. The hermit St Émilion is said to have lived in the village of the same name in the 8th century, drawing the monks who started commercial wine production; and medieval pilgrims also visited while walking the Camino de Santiago. Following in their footsteps, a guided walk will lead us into the awe-inspiring Monolithic Church, an 11-12th century
Tour Director Eireann Marshall , PhD, is a Research Associate and Associate Lecturer with the Open University who has led many tours throughout Europe and North Africa. In 2019, Eireann was chosen as the Top History & Culture Guide for Wanderlust magazine. We are delighted that ACE Tour Manager Leonie Loudon will be joining Eireann. Leonie has worked as a Tour Manager and wine guide for over 15 years, and will help to introduce travellers to the wines of Bordeaux.
monument carved out of a single limestone cliff which would once have welcomed weary travellers with its rich decor.
The region’s wine production will be explored further during visits to two local châteaux – Château de Ferrand (1702), which integrates modern architecture with original features, and the more recently founded Château la Garde. Both sites will offer tours and tasting sessions, explaining how their wines are produced, stored and sold.
Local gastronomy will also come to the fore in the stunning Bay of Arcachon, known for its seafood culture and links with Napoleon III, who helped to develop the site into a 19th century resort with characteristic architecture. We finish on a high with dinner at the famous Michelin-starred Chapon Fin, a restaurant and wine merchant in the heart of the city with a history stretching back 200 years, welcoming everyone from Sarah Bernhardt to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
We will stay at a comfortable four-star hotel in Bordeaux, well located for our visits.
Saint-André Cathedral
FRANCE
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Participants should possess a good level of fitness as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions. Bordeaux is generally clean, spacious and pedestrian friendly, however travellers should be comfortable traversing more uneven ground at times, taking public trams during one of our mornings here, and looking out for trams and bicycles. The full walk around Saint-Émilion includes some steep slopes and cobbles (which could be slippery if wet), and the Monolithic Church is dimly lit.
ITINERARY
Please note that opening times in Italy are regularly subject to change. While we will aim to adhere as closely as possible to the itinerary, some details may be altered nearer the time and certain visits may be subject to confirmation.
D ay 1 – Depart London Gatwick 1025 on EasyJet, arriving Bordeaux–Mérignac 1225. Transfer to Bordeaux, for six nights. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture introducing the history and wine of the region, followed by historical walking tour of Bordeaux (Gallo-Roman ruins, UNESCO-listed Cathédrale St André, Opera House and an array of wonderful 18th century architecture built during the city’s ‘golden era’ when it was one of the busiest ports in the world – some exteriors). Afternoon visit to the Musée d’Aquitaine (collections tracing the history of Bordeaux and Aquitaine). Evening visit to Bar à Vin (part of Bordeaux Wine Council) for a predinner wine tasting workshop.
“Superb! Great breadth and depth of knowledge delivered without a note and with good humour... She is a great asset and I would very happily travel with (Eireann) again”
– ACE customer on a previous 2024 tour led by Eireann Marshall
D ay 3 – Whole day visit to the UNESCO-listed Saint-Émilion (beautiful and famous medieval village surrounded by vineyards, which gives its name to the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru): guided walk including visits to the Romanesque Eglise Collegiale (with cloister) and spectacular Monolithic Church (11th-12th century church carved out of a single limestone cliff), including an opportunity to try the traditional local macarons and enjoy wine pairings with lunch. Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning lecture introducing Bordeaux’s modern history, followed by a visit to Cité du Vin (fascinating displays and rooftop views) including wine tasting and lunch. Afternoon: Bassins des Lumières (awe-inspiring digital art display set within a huge WWII German submarine base) for an introduction and self-guided visit. Evening: Château La Garde (more modern wine estate) for a short tour and an included dinner.
D ay 5 – Morning lecture followed by a visit to Arcachon (links with Napoleon III, who helped to develop the site into a 19th century resort): private boat trip on traditional Pinasse boats
along the peninsula (views of cabanas and villages, Chapel of the Algerian Villa), architecture and the remarkable Dune of Pilat. Free evening.
D ay 6 – Morning visit to Château de Ferrand (built in 1702; fascinating combination of old and new styles with links to Baron Bic, inventor of the BIC pen) for welcome and tour of the estate, followed by a wine tasting and light lunch. Optional afternoon visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux (wide-ranging collection featuring works by French, Dutch and Flemish artists). Farewell dinner at Le Chapon Fin (Michelin starred ‘Belle Epoque’ restaurant and wine merchant with a history stretching back nearly 200 years).
D ay 7 – Depart Bordeaux 1445, arriving Gatwick 1530.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including the tour cost, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest. TOUR CODE: BORD26
Saint-Émilion
Wildlife and Walking in Austria
July 15–22, 2026
Wander the meadows and forests of one of Europe’s most stunning regions, nestled between Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland
Look out for a rich variety of birdlife, from snowfinch and Alpine chough to red crested pochard and golden oriole
Enjoy the culture and environment of nearby neighbours, from the vineyards of Liechtenstein to peaceful nature reserves in Germany’s Bodensee
The state of Vorarlberg is a nature enthusiast’s paradise, where Alpine meadows cluster around dramatic mountain peaks; modern architecture mingles with medieval cityscapes; and stretches of tranquil forest are home to an array of wildlife.
Based in the charming medieval town of Feldkirch, this rich and varied tour will go in search of some of the most rewarding outlooks and natural environments the region has to offer, as well as touching on the area’s culture
“Kevin is an excellent tour leader and was well supported by local guides. All were very willing and able to give explanations”
– ACE customer on a previous tour to Austria led by Kevin Hand
and history. We will seek out a variety of birdlife, flowers, mammals and insects while also exploring the ways in which this predominantly mountainous landscape has harboured human life throughout its past.
This tour will be led by Kevin Hand , MSc, MCIEEM, who has been President and Vice President of the Cambridge Natural History Society and continues to act as a Trustee. He currently also chairs the Newmarket Chalk Streams Trust, and has been a Trustee of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
A particular highlight will be an excursion to the area around Lake Constance and the Rhine delta. Walking through the serene wetlands overlooking the lake, we may catch sight of red-crested pochard, golden oriole, black kite, flycatchers, orchids and the rare yellow-bellied toad. We will also take a boat trip on the lake from Friedrichshafen to Bregenz.
The Alpine meadows near Warth will be teeming with gentians and mountain butterflies during our visit, not to mention birdlife including nutcracker, water pipit and Alpine chough. A wander through the beautiful nature reserve of Bangs-Matschels on the border of Switzerland and Liechtenstein will introduce us to a remarkable variety of meadow flora and rare butterflies. Surrounded by captivating scenery, we will gaze at snowy peaks reflected in the blue mirror of the Lünersee and the Kanisfluh massif, voted one of the most beautiful mountains in the Austrian Alps.
We will stay throughout the tour at the Best Western Plus Central Hotel Leonhard. This comfortable four-star establishment is situated in a quiet area in the medieval town of Feldkirch.
Kanisfluh massif
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Participants should have a good overall level of fitness for this tour. Vorarlberg is a mountainous region; however, our visits will be taken at a leisurely pace, with high-up sites accessed by road or cable car. Although most walks will be over flat ground, participants should be comfortable ascending mild slopes and walking across rugged terrain. They should also be prepared for walks at high altitude, which may be chilly even during the summer months.
“(Kevin) is such a lovely leader and full of knowledge on everything, he is kind and interested in everyone”
– ACE customer on a previous tour to Austria led by Kevin Hand
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation. Certain visits are weather dependent and the Tour Director may make adjustments on the ground to take advantage of the best wildlife conditions.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1145 on British Airways, arriving Zurich 1430. Transfer to Best Western Plus Central Hotel Leonhard, Feldkirch, for seven nights. Short walking tour (time permitting) followed by welcome and introduction at hotel.
D ay 2 – Visits along the shore of Lake Constance: Rheinholz (lake and woodland walk; chance to spot red-crested pochard, kingfisher, white storks, variety of frogs and toads), Bangs-Matschels nature reserve (meadows with red backed shrike, wetland flowers and many butterfly species such as the dryad).
D ay 3 – Excursion to Lünersee (Moon Lake) via cable car for walks (beautiful Alpine lake with abundant flora, butterflies and birdlife including mountain ringlets, water pipit, alpenrose and fragrant orchid) followed by late afternoon visit to St Peter’s Priory, Bludenz (ancient convent).
D ay 4 – Whole day excursion to Liechtenstein: walk along the Sassweg trail (Alpine forest, seasonally grazed meadows, variety of birdlife including crested tit, crossbill, citril finch and woodpeckers) followed by local wine tasting at the Prince of Liechtenstein’s Vineyard.
D ay 5 – Visit to Eriskircher Ried (peaceful nature reserve in the German Bodensee area, home to many protected species) followed by a Lake Constance ferry cruise from Friedrichshafen to Bregenz. Guided tour of Feldkirch Castle.
D ay 6 – Guided walk along the shores of Lake Korber (opportunities to spot alpine marmot and abundant Alpine butterflies), followed by afternoon visit to the Rüfikopf via cable car (breathtaking panoramic views, highest cable car in the region). Free evening.
D ay 7 – Mellau for explorations in the Kanisfluh area (one of the most beautiful places in Austria with chances to spot ibex, Alpine chough and golden eagle).
D ay 8 – Depart Zurich 1520, arriving Heathrow 1605.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3295 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, two lunches, six dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £295. TOUR CODE: WWAU26
Black Kite
Feldkirch
Princely Courts of Central Germany
July 20–26, 2026
Discover the magnificent Wartburg Castle and its significance in German history
Enjoy the elaborate Baroque interiors at Heidecksburg Palace and elegant Rococo schemes at Mosigkau Palace
Explore scenic parklands and charming gardens, with a highlight visit to Wörlitz Palace
This new tour explores the outstanding collection of palaces, castles and fairytale gardens in the regions of Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.
Our journey begins with the Belvedere Palace, instantly charming visitors with its saffron exterior, Baroque interiors and splendid porcelain collection. Wandering into its grounds, we will be met with an abundance of landscaped delights. Wartburg Castle meanwhile offers majestic views to match its imposing façade. Martin Luther famously took refuge here to translate the New Testament into German, and the Great
“A
delightful and knowledgeable expert guide”
“The breadth and depth of Tom’s knowledge was astonishing and he was an excellent host”
– ACE customer on a 2025 tour to Germany led by Tom Abbott
Hall remains vastly unchanged with its grand Romanesque mosaics, while its permanent collection displays medieval artefacts and a rare cabinet engraved by Albrecht Dürer.
Visiting the Living Room and Picture Gallery at Heidecksburg Palace, we will encounter Baroque aesthetics such as intricate stucco ceilings, complete with golden accents and lavish chandeliers.
The Garden Realm of Dessau-Wörlitz is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose historic grounds, informed by English landscape garden principles, will lead us past idyllic lakes and woodlands, a NeoGothic structure, a small synagogue and replicas of Roman temples.
We are delighted to include a visit to Germany’s most esteemed royal estate, Sanssouci Palace and Gardens in Potsdam. Its interiors champion the meaning of its name – ‘without worry’ – by harmonising beautifully balanced Baroque and Rococo aesthetics. In its gardens, greenery cascades down a series of terraced platforms toward vast Baroque-style grounds, decorated with a series of statues, sculptures and pavilions.
Our first four nights will be spent in the Dorint Hotel Am Goethepark in Weimar, followed by two nights in the Landhaus Wörlirter Hof in Wörlitz. Whilst some facilities are of a more basic standard, both hotels offer comfortable stays in excellent proximity to our visits.
This tour will be led by Tom Abbott, BA, MA, an independent art and architectural historian associated with the Foundation of Prussian Palaces and Gardens. His expertise ranges from the medieval to modern, and is highlighted in his knowledge and fascination with the Baroque and Rococo.
Wartburg Castle
GERMANY
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Please note that this tour requires a good level of fitness and stamina, as it involves a significant amount of walking and standing. Due to the historic nature of sites, participants will have to navigate cobbled floors, dimly lit interiors and staircases. In palace gardens, there are often grassy paths to follow and inclines to traverse. Participants should meet ACE’s fitness criteria as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks, and visits may be subject to change due to last minute renovations.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1115 on British Airways arriving Berlin Brandenburg Airport 1410. Transfer to Dorint Hotel Am Goethepark Weimar for four nights’ stay.
D ay 2 – Visits to City Palace of Weimar (castle chapel) and Goethe’s summer house, followed by Belvedere Palace and Park (Baroque interiors, porcelain collection and beautiful gardens including an Orangery). Walking tour of historical Weimar.
D ay 3 – Morning visit to Wartburg Castle (where Matin Luther translated the New Testament into German; grand Romanesque mosaics and rare engraved cabinet by Albrecht Dürer). Afternoon: Friedenstein Castle (early Baroque palace and former residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Gotha, with on-site museum).
D ay 4 – Visit to Kochberg Castle (moated Renaissance-style castle built around 1600, associated with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) and Heidecksburg Castle (tour of Baroque interiors including living room and picture gallery) and Landesmuseum. Afternoon: Molsdorf Palace (16th century palace with Baroque interiors and butterfly garden).
D ay 5 – Morning visit to Mosigkau Palace and Gardens (Rococo palace with a grand collection of oil paintings displayed in the style of a 17th century art collector). Continue to Dessau
“Tom was unfailingly kind and attentive to all in the group”
– ACE customer who travelled with Tom Abbott recently
for Luisium Palace (built by Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau, for his wife Louise in the 18th century) and Georgium Palace and Park (Neoclassical structure built for Leopold III’s younger brother Johann Georg von AnhaltDessau). Transfer to Landhaus Wörlirter Hof, Wörlitz for two nights’ stay.
D ay 6 – Wörlitz Palace and Grounds (UNESCO World Heritage site designed according to English Landscape Garden principles, NeoGothic structure, small synagogue and replicas of Roman temples) with gondola trip on the lake. Afternoon visit to Oranienbaum Palace (17th century Dutch Baroque architecture, UNESCO World Heritage Site).
D ay 7 – Morning visit to Sanssouci Palace and Gardens (famous palace with extensive Baroque and Rococo interiors, terraced gardens and numerous classical pavilions). Depart Berlin 1645, arriving Heathrow 1745.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3495 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, six breakfasts, one light lunch, six dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £365. TOUR CODE: PCCG26
Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz
Inside the courtyard at Friedenstein Palace
Medieval Burgundy
July 2–9, 2026
Explore Guédelon, an authentic recreation of a medieval castle using only the techniques and materials of the Middle Ages
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Vézelay, an enduring masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque architecture
Spend a day in Dijon, exploring the Cathedral of St Bénigne, Archaeological Museum and Palais des Ducs
The region of Burgundy has been a hub for political and cultural development from its earliest establishment through to the modern day. Absorbed by the Franks in the 6th century, the region evolved into an independent duchy, dominated by a fractious elite, powerful church, and the most important monastic community in the Latin West.
Burgundy continued to expand during the Romanesque and Gothic ages, giving rise to the imposing abbey at Cluny, the great churches at Autun and Tournus, and the pilgrimage centre of Vézelay. Here, the 12th century Sainte MarieMadeleine, with its complex imagery, is a tour de force of the Burgundian Romanesque style. The Carolingian church in Auxerre houses 9th century frescoes – the oldest wall painting in France – while the magnificent 10th century church at Tournus is a superb example of First Romanesque architecture.
Gothic art can be viewed in its emergent form at the Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay and in its late flowering at Brou Monastery with the fine choir stalls and
Meg Boulton , PhD, FRSA, has held the post of Teaching Fellow in History of Art at the University of Edinburgh and lecturer on the ‘Early Medieval’ at V&A Academy. Her monograph is entitled Visualising Jerusalem: Space in Early Medieval Art
tombs, including of Margaret of Austria and her husband Philibert, who founded the church.
Beaune’s Hotel-Dieu holds one of the greatest masterpieces of Flemish art –The Last Judgement by van der Weyden – whilst on the outskirts of Dijon, the former Carthusian monastery of the Chartreuse de Champmol is home to sculpture by Claus Sluter.
We begin in Vézelay with two nights at the elegant four-star Hotel de la Poste et du Lion d’Or before moving to Beaune, where we will stay at the four-star Hotel de la Poste, which enjoys classically decorated rooms and a location close to the famous Hôtel-Dieu.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Please note that this tour will involve walking over ground that can be uneven, steep or cobbled, and slippery if wet. A good level of fitness is required to complete the itinerary and participants should meet the minimum fitness criteria in ACE’s Booking Terms & Conditions. Please note that some church interiors can be dimly lit, and several visits involve traversing steps, including a spiral staircase at St Philibert.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer. Some elements may be subject to change or confirmation, or may be reordered nearer the time. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks listed, and historical sites can occasionally close at short notice for restoration works.
D ay 1 – Depart London St Pancras 1022 on Eurostar and TGV via Paris, arriving Montbard 1754. Transfer to Vézelay for two nights at
D ay 2 – Morning in Auxerre: Abbey of St Germain (9th century frescoes) and Gothic Cathedral of St Etienne. Afternoon: visit to Guédelon (authentic recreation of a medieval castle). Free evening.
D ay 3 – Vézelay: Basilica of Sainte-MarieMadeleine (UNESCO-listed, Burgundian Romanesque architecture). Afternoon: via 12th century Fontenay (Gothic art) to Basilica of St Andoche, Saulieu. Transfer to Beaune for five nights at Hotel de la Poste.
D ay 4 – Morning excursion to Cluny. Afternoon: Berzé-la-Ville.
D ay 5 – Excursion to Dijon: Musée Archéologique, Cathedral of St Bénigne, Palais des Ducs and Chartreuse de Champmol (sculpture by Claus Sluter).
D ay 6 – Excursion to St Philibert at Tournus (superb example of First Romanesque architecture) and Monastery of Brou (fine tombs and choir stalls). Free evening.
D ay 7 – Morning in Autun: 12th century Cathedral of St Lazare. Afternoon in Beaune: Collegiate Church of Notre Dame and HôtelDieu (van der Weyden’s The Last Judgement).
D ay 8 – Transfer to Dijon for 1202 departure on TGV and Eurostar via Paris, arriving London St Pancras 1730.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3795 includes: return travel, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, one lunch, five dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £530. TOUR CODE: MBUR26
Hotel de la Poste et du Lion d’Or. Short evening lecture: An Introduction to Medieval Burgundy.
Entrance to St Philibert, Tournus
Sibelius Festival in Finland
August 25–30, 2026
Experience Finlandia, Valse Triste, the Violin Concerto and Symphonies 2-4 alongside works by Richard Strauss and Rachmaninov
Hear acclaimed musicians including South Korean violinist Inmo Yang and pianist Kirill Gerstein
Explore the composer’s lakeside home of Ainola
There is something extraordinary about enjoying the music of Jean Sibelius within the breathtaking landscapes he knew so well, and this is surely why so many music aficionados flock to the Finnish city of Lahti for the International Sibelius Festival. Performances take place in the spectacular Sibelius Hall on the southern shores of Lake Vesijärvi, home to the acclaimed Lahti Symphony Orchestra.
Sibelius’s orchestral music anchors our 2026 programme, including the Violin Concerto featuring acclaimed South Korean artist Inmo Yang, Symphony No 2, Valse Triste and Finlandia Richard Strauss’s Don Juan appears in our opening concert, paired with the Violin Concerto, which Strauss himself conducted at its Berlin premiere in 1905. Meanwhile, Symphony No 2 began life as an attempt to create music for the story of Don Juan, bringing this concert’s musical story full-circle.
In our second concert, Ferruccio Busoni’s monumental Piano Concerto – performed by the award-winning Kirill Gerstein – accompanies Finlandia, Symphony No 3 and the heartbreaking Valse Triste. We finish with an arresting duo, The Bard and Nightride and Sunrise,
Tour Director
Sandy Burnett , MA, is a musician and broadcaster who spent a decade as a presenter on BBC Radio 3. He is the author of the Idler Guide to Classical Music and has recently been appointed as the Hogwood Fellow of the Academy of Ancient Music.
alongside Rachmaninov’s The Bells and Sibelius’s Symphony No 4. Our evening concerts are interspersed with smallerscale daytime chamber recitals, to be announced nearer the time.
We will visit Ainola, the composer’s house with its evocative atmosphere, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sibelius Hall. We end our tour in Helsinki, home to the Sibelius Monument and the fabulous Ateneum Art Museum, part of the Finnish National Gallery and home to the largest collection of classical art in the country.
Our Helsinki accommodation will be the four-star Solo Sokos Hotel, and in Lahti we will stay at the four-star Solo Sokos Lahden Seurahuone Hotel.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour has a full itinerary to make the most of our time at the festival, so a good level of stamina is required. While the walking is not especially demanding, participants should be comfortable staying on their feet for 2-3 hours (with stops) during the Helsinki walking tour, and some ground in Helsinki is cobbled and uneven. Participants should also be comfortable ascending and descending stairs and steps.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. The guided visit to Sibelius Hall is subject to final confirmation.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 0930 on Finnair, arriving Helsinki 1420. Two nights at Solo Sokos Hotel, Helsinki. Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Walking tour of Helsinki: Ateneum Art Museum, Lutheran Cathedral, University Library (exteriors).
D ay 3 – Via Sibelius Monument to Solo Sokos Lahden Seurahuone Hotel, Lahti, for three nights. Lecture followed by opening concert featuring Sinfonia Lahti with Hannu Lintu (conductor) and Inmo Yang (violin): R Strauss Don Juan; Sibelius Violin Concerto, Symphony No 2.
D ay 4 – Morning: Villa Ainola (Sibelius’s house) followed by afternoon chamber concert (to be announced). Evening concert featuring Sinfonia Lahti with Hannu Lintu (conductor), Kirill Gerstein (piano) and YL Male Voice Choir: Sibelius Valse Triste, Symphony No 3, Finlandia ; Ferruccio Busoni Piano Concerto.
D ay 5 – Morning lecture and tour of Sibelius Hall. Afternoon chamber concert (to be announced). Evening closing concert featuring Sinfonia Lahti with Hannu Lintu (conductor), Olga Heikkilä (soprano), Mihails Čulpajevs (tenor), Gabriel Kivivuori-Sereno (baritone) and Dominante Choir: Sibelius The Bard, Nightride and Sunrise, Symphony No 4; Rachmaninov The Bells
D ay 6 – Transfer to Helsinki Airport with enroute visit to Hvitträsk (famous mansion) – final flight times permitting. Depart Helsinki 1600, arriving Heathrow 1705.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Lahti Symphony Orchestra © VEIKKO KÄHKÖNEN VIA SINFONIA LAHTI
Serbian Monasteries
September 14–25, 2026
Enjoy access to remote monasteries and churches in the unspoilt countryside of Serbia
View outstanding pieces of medieval European art such as the White Angel fresco situated at Mileševa Monastery
Visit one of the oldest churches in the Balkans, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Novi Pazar, with 14th century foundations
The unspoilt sweeping countryside and authentic small towns of Serbia are little visited and provide the perfect backdrop for its wealth of culturally significant monastic complexes.
Alex Koller, PhD, is an expert in art history and architecture. An accomplished linguist and experienced Tour Director, he has travelled extensively throughout Europe and the Far East and has been leading tours since 1998.
“I have travelled a lot with Alex, in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe, where his intellectual mastery and erudition have always amazed me”
“I think Alex put his heart and soul into everything he didhis commentaries, notes and enthusiasm”
– ACE customers on previous tours in 2025 led by Alex Koller
Located at the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, Serbia has historically been influenced both by the Byzantine East and Central European West, which led to the creation of an extremely sophisticated artistic culture in the high and late Middle Ages and a flurry of intensive monastic building projects. The majority of the nation’s art treasures are therefore assembled in Orthodox monasteries and include some outstanding pieces of medieval European art.
Our tour begins in the northern region of Vojvodina and its capital, Novi Sad, where the nearby Fruška Gora mountain range is home to a large number of
beautiful monasteries founded by Serbian migrants fleeing from the 16th century Turkish conquest.
Some of the most important monastic sites are located in central Serbia, where they are invariably situated in extremely scenic locations, often quite isolated among mountains and forests. Many belong to the Morava and Raška schools, which feature varying architectural outlooks and monumental schemes of wall paintings. Particular highlights include the frescoes of Sopoćani, Studenica and Mileševa.
To put these religious buildings into context, our journey also takes in the country’s most important historical towns, including Kruševac, Novi Pazar and Niš, birthplace of the Emperor Constantine.
We will stay in a selection of hotels of three to four-star quality, including the Hotel Vrbak in Novi Pazar with its unique 1970s architecture. While facilities may be of a more basic standard, the hotels are comfortable, welcoming and have been chosen for their convenient locations allowing exploration of this beautiful country.
Krušedol Monastery
SERBIA
“Alex clearly has an expert’s knowledge of the subject, but is also very good at sharing what he knows”
– ACE customer who travelled with Alex Koller in 2025
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This is one of ACE’s more strenuous tours and requires a good level of fitness. We have a full itinerary, making the most of our time in Serbia to take in a wealth of sites. The tour will involve walking (including uphill and over uneven ground) and standing for significant periods of time. Participants should be prepared for several hotel changes, some early starts and coach journeys of up to 2 hours in duration. During the visit to the City Museum on the Petrovardin Fortress, the group may have the opportunity to visit the underground military galleries; please note that these underground galleries are in corridors approximately 900m in length, and those suffering from claustrophobia may prefer to opt out of this visit.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation. Sites can sometimes be closed at short notice and adjustments may be made on the ground.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1330 on Air Serbia, arriving Belgrade 1710. Transfer to Novi Sad for two nights at Hotel Leopold I.
D ay 2 – Morning in Novi Sad: Orthodox and Catholic cathedrals, St Nicholas’s Church, Petrovaradin Fortress. Afternoon excursion to nearby historical town of Sremski Karlovci for Lady of Peace Chapel, Orthodox Cathedral of St Nicholas, Main Square, Upper and Lower Churches and Krušedol Monastery (restored 16th century murals).
D ay 3 – Excursion to monasteries of the Fruška Gora mountain range: Beočin, VrdnikRavanica, Jazak, Novo Hopovo and Staro Hopovo. Continue to Belgrade for two nights at Courtyard by Marriott Belgrade City Centre Hotel.
D ay 4 – Belgrade: Kalemegdan Fortress, St Michael’s Cathedral, Residence of Princess Ljubica, Bajrakli Mosque, Church of St Sava (one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world). Free evening.
D ay 5 – Monasteries of Manasija (15th century) and Ravanica (14th century). Continue to Čačak for overnight at Hotel Beograd.
D ay 6 – Morning visit to Church of Jesus’ Ascension in Čačak. Continue to Monastery of Blagoveštenje and the medieval Nikolje Monastery, both located in the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge, followed by Arilje Church. Afternoon: open-air museum of Sirogojno. Continue to Zlatibor for overnight at Hotel Buket.
D ay 7 – Banja Monastery (14th century frescoes) and Mileševa Monastery (home to the 13th century White Angel fresco). Transfer to Novi Pazar for two nights at Hotel Vrbak.
D ay 8 – Morning: Church of Saints Peter and Paul (one of the oldest churches in the Balkans, with 4th century foundations) followed by
monasteries of Sopoćani and Đur đ evi Stupovi (13th century frescoes). Afternoon in Novi Pazar: fortress and 16th century Altun-alem Mosque.
D ay 9 – Morning visits to Nova Pavlica Monastery and Gradač Monastery. Via monasteries of Studenica (13th and 14th century Byzantine frescoes) and Žiča to Vrnjačka Banja for overnight at Hotel Slatina.
D ay 10 – Depart for monasteries of Ljubostinja, Kalenič and Veluće (fine examples of the Morava school of architecture). Afternoon in Kruševac: ruins of Lazar’s Palace and Lazarica Church. Continue to Niš for overnight at Radisson Hotel Park.
D ay 11 – Morning in Niš: 18th century fortress and Orthodox cathedral. Via 14th century Poganovo Monastery (16th century wall paintings) and across the Serbo-Bulgarian border to Sofia for overnight at Grand Hotel Sofia.
D ay 12 – Morning: National Archaeological Museum (14th century Poganovo icon) and Boyana Church (13th century frescoes) – time permitting. Depart Sofia 1420 on British Airways, arriving Heathrow 1555.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3695 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, eleven breakfasts, two lunches, ten dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £465. TOUR CODE: SERB26
White Angel, Mileševa Monastery
Art Treasures of Siena and San Gimignano
September 28 – October 3, 2026
Discover Renaissance masterpieces and trace the decorative frescoes and gold-ground paintings of the Sienese School
Enjoy the magnificent architecture and collections of Siena’s cathedral, including the Piccolomini Library and Museo dell’Opera del Duomo
Explore winding medieval streets and ancient city walls within the picturesque scenery of Tuscany
From abbeys to churches and galleries, we will trace the region’s rich cultural legacy and the exquisite work of the Sienese school of artists that flourished here between the 13th and 15th centuries.
The Duomo di Siena displays stunning Romanesque-Gothic architecture and encompasses a complex of important collections including the Piccolomini Library, where Pinturicchio’s frescoes are a feast for the eyes, and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo that displays the spectacular Maestà altarpiece by Duccio.
Meanwhile the Pinacoteca Nazionale gallery traces a chronological journey
“Sarah is so knowledgeable whilst also being humorous and entertaining. Her enthusiasm is infectious”
“...a fount of knowledge who clearly loved what she was telling us about… altogether a model Tour Director”
– ACE customers on previous Italian tours led by Sarah Burles
through Sienese art history, presenting dazzling gold-ground paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries.
We will journey to one of Italy’s oldest functioning abbeys, Abbazia
Tour Director Sarah Burles , MA, studied History of Art at Cambridge and gained a Masters at University College London before going on to a career in museum and gallery education, including 12 years at the Fitzwilliam Museum.
di Sant’Antimo, nestled in the idyllic countryside, discovering its ancient origins through Romanesque architecture and the Garden of St Hildegard. Continuing to Montalcino, we will experience magnificent paintings by Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti of the Sienese School.
The historically significant town of San Gimignano, its imposing skyline of towers rising above the landscape, was once a key trading point on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. Its enduring cultural status can be traced in the Palazzo Comunale’s Civic Museum and Town Hall, where the splendid iteration of Maestà by Lippo Memmi lies, painted after Duccio’s piece of the same name that we will encounter earlier in the tour. Exploring the town’s churches, we will appreciate the power of historical frescoes within their original contexts, such as the immense scenes of the Old and New Testaments at the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta.
We will stay in Siena for the first three nights of our tour followed by two nights in San Gimignano. Our hotels will be comfortable and located in the historic hearts of both towns.
Piccolomini Library in Siena Cathedral
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness is required for this tour, as many of our visits will be made on foot and will involve navigating steps, narrow streets and cobbles which can be steep or without handrails. Visits will involve spending time standing, as seats are not always available, and churches may be dimly lit. Participants should meet ACE’s fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
“I am delighted to be leading this new ACE tour to Siena and San Gimignano. In Siena, we’ll discover a city dedicated to the Virgin Mary and full of civic pride, reflected in masterpieces such as Duccio’s Maestà and Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Allegories of Good and Bad Government. Our tour will then take us to San Gimignano, where the churches are a treasure trove of vibrant frescoes. The tour promises to be a feast for both the eyes and the mind as we go back to a time when politics, power, art and theology shaped urban life.”
– Tour Director Sarah Burles
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation. Sites can sometimes close at short notice and adjustments may be made on the ground. Please note we cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks listed.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 0830 on British Airways, arriving Florence 1150. Transfer to Siena for three nights. Orientation walking tour followed by welcome drinks.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture followed by Palazzo Pubblico for the Museo Civico and the Duomo
di Siena (Pinturicchio frescoes in the Piccolomini Library, Cathedral Baptistery, Crypt and Museo dell’Opera del Duomo for Duccio’s spectacular Maestà altarpiece). Free evening.
D ay 3 – Visits to Pinacoteca Nazionale and Santa Maria della Scala (gallery set within a former hospital). Afternoon visit to the Archivio di Stato (State Archives of Siena – subject to final confirmation) and walking tour of the city walls (including the Basilica di San Francesco and San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi).
D ay 4 – Excursion to Abbazia di Sant’Antimo (one of Italy’s oldest functioning abbeys), followed by Montalcino for the Civic and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art (extensive collection from medieval to modern) and Chiesa di Sant’Agostino (frescoes by Bartolo di Fredi). Transfer to San Gimignano for two nights. Free evening.
D ay 5 – Visits in San Gimignano: Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, Palazzo Comunale (Civic Museum and Town Hall with Sienese and Florentine art) and Iglesia de Sant’Agostino (frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli).
D ay 6 – Transfer to Florence Airport for 1225 departure, arriving Heathrow 1350.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2795 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, five breakfasts, three dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £395. TOUR CODE: ATSS26
Annunciation by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, 1344
Inner courtyard of San Gimignano town hall
Art Treasures of Moravia
September 29 – October 7, 2026
Discover a wealth of monuments, from the star-shaped Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk to the flower gardens of Kroměříž
Uncover important witnesses to Jewish history, including T řebíč’s Jewish Quarter and the 1920s masterpiece Villa Tugendhat, created for the Tugendhat family
Take in the cultural landscape surrounding Lednice and Valtice castles, established by the dukes of Liechtenstein
Witness to centuries of civilisation, the historical region of Moravia in Czechia is home to a remarkable collection of UNESCO sites. Indeed, the entire cultural landscape surrounding the Lednice-Valtice valley – blending natural and man-made features – is lauded by UNESCO both for its uniqueness and exceptional beauty, a place where “architecture and landscape are intimately associated with one another.”
Our new tour will go in search of Moravia’s history, architectural and artistic
“I have travelled a lot with Alex, in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe, where his intellectual mastery and erudition have always amazed me” – ACE customer on a previous 2025 tour led by Alex Koller
excellence. The region’s Jewish identity will come to the fore in Mikulov with its Upper Synagogue, once the centre of a large and thriving community and now a museum; while in Třebíč, the grouping of the well-preserved Jewish Quarter, cemetery and Basilica of St Procopius testifies to the historical co-existence of Jewish and Christian communities.
Brno is home to some outstanding monuments including the Gothic Cathedral of St Peter and Paul and the iconic Villa Tugendhat, and Lilly Reich. Moravia’s former capital of Olomouc, meanwhile, contains ecclesiastical treasures including Holy Trinity Column, an astonishing example of Moravian Baroque, which soars to a height of 32 metres and gleams with religious sculpture courtesy of artist Ondřej Zahner.
We will explore the fairy-tale streets of Telč with their colourful Renaissance and Baroque facades, and Czechia’s Wallachian region with its superb Open Air Museum and characterful timbered structures. Magnificent church architecture will also come to the fore in Žďár nad Sázavou, home to the highly unusual 18th century Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk. Poised between the Gothic and Baroque, the church’s starshaped ground plan is deftly referenced throughout the site.
We will stay in a hotel of a four or fivestar standard in Brno, well positioned for all our visits and excursions.
Tour Director and art historian A lex Koller, PhD studied in Vienna, Salzburg and Cambridge, and gained his PhD at Magdalene College, where he also lectured and supervised. An accomplished linguist, Alex has led many art and architecture tours across the globe.
Castle Lednice
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Participants should be prepared for a significant amount of walking and standing, including over cobbled and uneven ground, and up steep steps for example at castle sites. To make the most of our time in the region and take in a rich breadth of visits, we will have a full itinerary, so participants should have a good level of stamina and be prepared to cover several visits in a day.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation once the tour is fully released and on sale. Some of the smaller churches and other sites are not able to guarantee availability until closer to departure, and if our planned visit coincides with a baptism, wedding, funeral or other community service, we may only be able to view the exterior. Some visits may also be time permitting on the day.
D ay 1 – Flight from London to Vienna. Transfer to hotel in Brno for eight nights.
D ay 2 – Visits in nearby Lednice, including Lednice Castle and Valtice Castle (UNESCOrecognised cultural landscape, created by the dukes of Liechtenstein, combining natural and man-made elements). Continue with visits to Mikulov for selection of churches and rich Jewish heritage. Wine tasting – subject to confirmation.
D ay 3 – Visits in Brno including Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (‘Kapistránka’ Pulpit), Church of St Jacob, Jewish heritage and Villa Tugenhat (masterpiece of modernist architecture).
World Heritage Sites
Moravia is impressively rich in UNESCO sites, from the stunning Baroque-style flower gardens at Krom ěříž and the Jewish Quarter and Basilica of St Procopius in T řebíč , to the masterpiece of modernist architecture in Brno, Villa Tugendhat. Equally lauded is the fusion of nature and architecture in the region surrounding Lednice and Valtice: “It is the mingling and interplay of Baroque and Romantic elements that gives it a special character: architecture and landscape are intimately associated with one another.”
D ay 4 – Day spent exploring Brno’s environs including Veveři Castle (literally ‘Squirrel’s Castle’, dating back to the 11th or 12th century), Blansko (St Martin’s, wooden Church of St Paraskieva) and Křtiny (Church of the Name of the Virgin).
D ay 5 – Excursion further afield to Třebíč (UNESCO-recognised Basilica of St Procopius and Jewish Quarter) and Telč (UNESCOrecognised historical centre; Renaissance castle with Chapel of All Saints).
D ay 6 – Visits to Kroměříž for Archbishop’s Palace, palace gardens and Flower Garden (exceptional Baroque-style flower beds recognised by UNESCO) and St Maurice’s; Přerov (Komenský Museum); and Olomouc
“Alex Koller is truly outstanding not only in his vast knowledge of the art and history… but also in his clear instructions and awareness of the needs of the members of the group”
– ACE customer on a previous 2025 tour led by Alex Koller
(former capital with UNESCO-recognised monuments including Holy Trinity Column).
D ay 7 – Explorations of Žďár nad Sázavou (Castle, Basilica of the Assumption and St Nicholas, St Procopius, UNESCO-recognised Pilgrimage Church of St John Nepomuk) and Jihlava (historic main square and city churches, including St Ignatius, St James the Great).
D ay 8 – Excursion to Rožnov pod Radhoštěm (Wallachian Open Air Museum showcasing traditional ways of life) and Velké Karlovice (traditional timbered architecture in a protected landscape).
D ay 9 – Return flight from Vienna to London.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including tour cost and hotels, will be released in late 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest. TOUR CODE: ATMO26
Church of St John of Nepomuk
Lucerne Summer Festival
September, 2026
Attend some of the highest calibre classical concerts in the world, headlined by the Lucerne Festival Orchestra under Riccardo Chailly
Explore the city’s fabulous Rosengart Gallery and Wagner’s villa at Tribischen
Discover Switzerland’s stunning landscape, including a mountain excursion
Few locations embody natural beauty, architectural charm and historical character like Lucerne. Switzerland’s most picturesque city sits poised on the country’s fourth largest lake, whose shores – which bear delightful paddle steamers to and from the region’s towns and villages – rise steeply towards the mountains.
The area is today home to some of Switzerland’s oldest communities, and the city boasts foundations stretching back to the 12th century. Perhaps its most emblematic historical treasure is the Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, bearing paintings from the 17th century.
Lucerne is, moreover, a major centre for music-making, with concerts based around three seasonal festivals which have their origins in the elite orchestra formed by Arturo Toscanini to perform at Wagner’s villa at Tribischen in 1938. Connecting to this legacy, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra comprises an array of highly acclaimed international artists
This tour will be led by Nicholas Wearne , BA (hons), MPhil (Oxon), a former ACE Bursary student and Senior Tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. A previous winner of the Poul Ruders Prize at the Odense International Organ Competition, Nicholas’s career has taken him all over the world.
“What an asset to ACE. I, and several others in the tour party, will be very keen to go on future ACE visits where Nicholas is the lecturer”
“He has a great sense of humour and fun which endeared him to all of us” – ACE customers on recent a tour led by Nicholas Wearne
under the baton of Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly. Together with resident ensembles and soloists, the orchestra produces what is often regarded as the very best classical musical performances in the world. Showcasing both classic and contemporary works, the event also demonstrates a commitment to future musical stars and younger audiences through its accessible programming and the work of the Lucerne Festival Academy.
The largest of the three festivals takes place in the summer and features around 30 symphonic concerts, interspersed with a selection of more intimate performances. Deftly balancing the old and the new, many concerts take place in the Culture and Congress Centre –renowned for its exceptional acoustics and brilliant lakeside views – with others happening in local historical landmarks.
Kapellbrücke, Lucerne
2026 marks the first year under the tenure of Festival Director Sebastian Nordmann and Academy Artistic Director, the composer Jörg Widmann, and is therefore likely to be a particularly outstanding occasion.
Our tour will include around five to six evening and daytime concerts, subject to final scheduling. In addition to the music, we plan to take in lunch at the historical Château Gütsch with its superb panoramic views, visit the fabulous Rosengart Gallery containing works by Paul Klee and Picasso, explore Wagner’s villa (now a museum) and embark on a day trip into the mountains.
We will stay at the Hotel Wilden Mann, Lucerne, a historically charming, spacious and comfortable property in a prime position for our concerts and historical visits. The hotel is around 15 minutes’ walk from the Culture and Congress Centre.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Fenland Abbeys
March 19–23, 2026
Discover the landscape, industry and character of the Fens during medieval times
Explore the artistic and architectural treasures of the region, from the angel roof at St Wendreda’s Church to the Octagon at Ely Cathedral
Learn about the role and growth of monasticism in the Fens
The atmospheric and remote Fens and their borderlands were one of the principal cradles of English monasticism, largely due to the popular cults of Anglo-Saxon saints. By the Middle Ages, the Fenlands were a prosperous region, with several arterial waterways, fertile farmland and plentiful fish and wildfowl.
Our itinerary focuses on the long, broad history of monasticism in the region, from early Saxon foundations, through Benedictine reform and architecture of the high Middle Ages, to late medieval challenges in the aftermath of the Black Death. We will also see signs of the Dissolution and subsequent Puritan turn, embodied by Oliver Cromwell, whose former home in Ely stands opposite our hotel.
With origins dating back to 673 CE, when the Anglo-Saxon princess St Etheldreda founded the first monastery on site, Ely has been a cathedral priory since 1109. Following layers of rebuilding and restoration, this immense structure is now home to architectural marvels, including the aweinspiring 14th century Octagon Tower. Peterborough became a cathedral after the Dissolution and showcases wonderful Norman architecture behind an Early English Gothic façade.
Smaller monasteries will include Crowland, founded on the site of St Guthlac’s hermitage, and Denny, once a cell of Ely but successively a house of the Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller and Franciscan nuns. St Wendreda’s Church possesses a stunning double hammerbeam roof complete with 120 carved angels;
“One of the best ACE tours I have had the pleasure to experience”
–
ACE customer on the 2025 Fenland Abbeys tour led by Oliver Coulson
while Isleham Priory Church was once the property of a French mother house. Moving forward in time, we end with a morning talk exploring the life of Oliver Cromwell in Ely.
This tour will be based at the four-star Poets House Hotel, a stone’s throw from Ely Cathedral.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness as it will involve walks of up to 1.5 hours at a time. We will traverse uneven ground and steps at some sites, and church interiors can be dimly lit. Fenland roads can be bumpy. In Ely, Prior Crauden’s Chapel and the Stained Glass Museum are accessed via a couple of tight spiral staircases. Some rooms on the top floor of our hotel are only accessible by stairs; please discuss with our Sales team upon booking if you require lift access or a ground floor room.
Tour Director Oliver Coulson , MA, PhD, is an architectural historian with a special interest in medieval ecclesiastical and vernacular architecture. He has lectured at conferences internationally.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Check in from 1500 at the Poets House Hotel & Restaurant, Ely, for four nights’ stay. 1800 welcome and introductory lecture: Medieval Fenland.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture: Ely Cathedral followed by visits in Ely: guided tour of the cathedral (14th century Octagon Tower, Lady Chapel) including a visit to the Stained Glass Museum (only collection of its kind in the UK) and walking tour exploring Ely’s monastic buildings with lunch at the Almonry tearoom.
D ay 3 – Morning: St Wendreda’s Church, March (remarkable double hammerbeam roof with 120 carved angels) and Crowland Abbey. Afternoon: Peterborough Cathedral (Norman architecture) and Thorney Abbey.
D ay 4 – Morning: Isleham Priory Church followed by Denny Abbey (former cell of Ely, house of the Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller and Franciscan nuns) and the Farmland Museum. Afternoon: Wicken Fen (National Trust’s oldest nature reserve and one of Europe’s most important wetlands: history, conservation and wildlife). Optional evensong at Ely Cathedral.
D ay 5 – Morning guest lecture: Cromwell in Ely, followed by visit to Oliver Cromwell’s House. Tour disperses approx 1200 at the museum.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1995 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, three lunches, four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £315.
TOUR CODE: FABB26
Crowland Abbey
Country Houses of Derbyshire
April 27 – May 1, 2026
Discover Derbyshire’s historical country houses, from the grandeur of Chatsworth to the balanced Georgian exterior of Melbourne Hall
Enjoy access to splendid private houses including Tissington Hall and Radbourne Hall
Examine world-famous collections of furniture, paintings and decorative arts
Derbyshire boasts several of the finest country houses in England, and this tour provides an introduction to their rich heritage. Great architecture, fabulous art collections and extraordinary families combine to build a picture of the social life of the county from the early modern period to the present day.
With medieval origins and 17th century additions, Bolsover Castle presents remarkable interiors and dominates the surrounding countryside from its hilltop perch. Haddon Hall offers further insights into the medieval era, from its grand Banqueting Hall to ancient parklands.
We also look forward to exploring several private houses, including Radbourne Hall, a Grade I listed Georgian country house on an estate that has been held by the Chandos family since the Norman Conquest and is rarely open to the public; and Tissington Hall, where we will appreciate layers of history through the estate’s handsome Jacobean architecture and 18th century additions, surrounded by picturesque grounds.
This tour will be led by Charles Hind , MA, FSA, an architectural historian and Chief Curator Emeritus at the Royal Institute of British Architects. He is Chairman of the Lutyens Trust and a Trustee of Great Dixter, Sussex and Hestercombe, Somerset.
“Charles was a superb Director, a knowledgeable and excellent communicator”
“Charles put across his erudition in a very pleasant and relaxed way, and was never lost for an answer”
– ACE customers on previous Country House tours led by Charles Hind
A further highlight will be the beautiful gardens at Melbourne Hall, considered the best surviving early 18th century garden in England in the manner of the famous French landscape designer André Le Nôtre. We will enjoy a visit to the delightful house, which remains a livedin family home, and view its collection of paintings and furnishings dating from the 17th to the 21st centuries.
We will stay throughout at the four-star Makeney Hall Hotel, a historical and comfortable base for our tour.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness is required for this tour as it involves a moderate amount of standing and walking, including in dim lighting and over uneven ground. Please note that historical buildings do not always have lifts, so participants must be comfortable with navigating stairs, often without handrails. Participants must meet ACE’s fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change. Due to the special nature of the visits, some may be confirmed nearer the time (Locko Park, Radbourne Hall and Melbourne Church and Hall). Please rest assured that if it is not possible to visit a particular property, another of similar quality and historical significance will be substituted. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks listed.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles 1400 at the Makeney Hall Hotel, Milford, for four nights. Locko Park (18th century manor house with Italianate features – subject to confirmation). Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning: Tissington Hall (Jacobean house with later additions). Afternoon: Haddon Hall (fortified medieval manor house and extensive ancient parklands).
D ay 3 – Morning: Staunton Harold Church (17th century with fine panelled interior) and Melbourne Church. Afternoon: Melbourne Hall and gardens (art collections and early 18th century garden – visit subject to confirmation) followed by Radbourne Hall (fine Georgian country house – subject to confirmation).
D ay 4 – Morning: Bolsover Castle (Stuart castle built for Sir Charles Cavendish). Afternoon: Chatsworth House (world-famous art collections). Evening talk.
D ay 5 – Tour disperses after breakfast at the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1695 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, two lunches, four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £165.
TOUR CODE: CHDB26
Bolsover Castle
Romney Marsh Churches
May 11–15, 2026
Trace the fascinating history and geography of Romney Marsh through visits to evocative churches
Glimpse the Marsh’s medieval past, rich with dramatic stories of storms and smugglers
Discover less-frequented churches and hidden details, including the ship mural at St Dunstan’s in Snargate
“The world, according to the best geographers, is divided into Europe, Asia, Africa, America and the Romney Marsh” – so claimed Richard Harris Barham’s alter ego Thomas Ingoldsby in his 1837 Legends. Yet much of this tranquil land may not have existed had the Romans and subsequent settlers not reclaimed it from the sea. Today the landscape is full of natural charm and echoes of the past –not least the famous Romney sheep who have grazed the marshes for centuries, and the smugglers who once considered it a haven for their illicit trades.
A clergyman himself, Barham must have been only too familiar with the Marsh’s famous churches. Most were built with their medieval communities in mind and reflect their characters: isolated and weather-beaten, but harbouring unexpected treasures.
St Clement’s in Old Romney is one of the oldest churches in Kent, with distinctive medieval features, and St Dunstan’s in Snargate possesses a 16th century nave roof and a stunning wall painting of a ‘great ship’. Meanwhile the
This tour will be led by medieval historian Imogen Corrigan , BA, MPhil. Imogen obtained a first-class degree in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History from the University of Kent and an MPhil from the University of Birmingham. Her books include Stone on Stone: The Men who Built the Cathedrals and The Green Man: Myth & Reality.
Church of St Mary the Virgin contains elegant medieval features and is also the burial place of children’s author Edith Nesbit. All Saints in Lydd is notable for its very early history, dating back to the 5th century, while at St George’s in Ivychurch, rumour has it that old smugglers’ tunnels connect the church to the pub next door.
Our tour will investigate these and other famous and lesser-known churches, seeking to understand the overarching history of the Marsh while exploring the details that are all too easy to miss at a first glance.
We will be based throughout at the three-star voco The Clifton Folkestone, an IHG property located close to Folkestone’s famous Leas cliff top promenade and occupying stately Victorian buildings.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness. Travellers should be particularly prepared for walks across uneven, hilly, steep and grassy terrain – notably at Hythe and Rye – and we will also cross some busier roads. The ground can be slippery underfoot, and there may be uneven steps into the churches, with handrails not always available. The churches can be dimly lit and chilly, and not all are easily accessible by coach, which on occasion necessitates a longer (sometimes uphill) walk of up to half a mile at a time.
ITINERARY
Please note that while we will endeavour to deliver the itinerary in full, some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Churches may change their opening
arrangements at short notice, and some visits may be time permitting on the day.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles at voco The Clifton Folkestone for four nights. 1400 welcome and introductory lecture followed by visit to St George, Ivychurch (rumoured smugglers’ tunnels).
D ay 2 – Morning: St Peter & St Paul, Newchurch and St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea. Afternoon: St Eanswith, Brenzett and St Augustine, Snave.
D ay 3 – Morning: All Saints, Burmarsh (lowest church on the Marsh) and St Mary, Rye (beautiful west window donated by E F Benson). Afternoon: St Mary the Virgin, Stone-in-Oxney (medieval glass, Roman altar) and St Peter & St Paul, Appledore (medieval altar slab, 12th century floor tiles).
D ay 4 – Morning: St Dunstan, Snargate (‘great ship’ wall painting), St Thomas à Becket, Fairfield (iconic structure, original timberwork) and All Saints, Lydd (early history dating back to the 5th century). Afternoon: St Nicholas, New Romney (harbourside position) and St Clement, Old Romney (distinctive medieval features).
D ay 5 – Please note the visits on this morning are time permitting. St Augustine, Brookland (detached wooden bell tower); St Mary the Virgin, St Mary in the Marsh (elegant medieval features; burial place of Edith Nesbit) and St Leonard, Hythe (including crypt). Return to Folkestone where tour disperses approx 1530 at the station followed by the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1475 includes: accommodation based on sharing a deluxe twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, deluxe double room for single use supplement £130.
TOUR CODE: RMMC26
St Clement’s Church, Romney Marsh
Walking the Thames Path: William Morris & the Arts
May 10–14, 2026
& Crafts Movement
Enjoy daily walks along the Thames Path, tracing details in nature that inspired William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement
Discover the charming gardens and collections at Kelmscott Manor, described by William Morris as “the loveliest haunt of ancient peace”
Enjoy exquisite Pre-Raphaelite paintings by Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti at Buscot Park
“Suzanne was excellent in every way – her in-depth knowledge, warmth, patience, and love of her subject came across strongly”
– ACE customer on a previous tour led by Suzanne Fagence Cooper
Our daily walks will familiarise us with medieval buildings and churches loved by Morris, like the Tithe barn at Great Coxwell. We also hope to enjoy a visit to Buscot Park, home of Edward BurneJones’s ‘Briar Rose’ paintings, works by John William Waterhouse and other PreRaphaelite treasures. William Morris’s daughter, May, remembered the artist and designer’s great affection for the landscape of ‘The Stripling Thames’ and observed how “Knee deep grows the flowered grass... the quivering of the warm air alive with butterflies”. With these words in mind, we are delighted to introduce a brand new exploration of William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement through a selection of Thames Path walks from Oxford to Kelmscott Manor. We will immerse ourselves in nature, walking at a gentle pace, noting small details in foliage and observing wildlife as we progress.
This tour is led by Suzanne Fagence Cooper, MA, PhD, a curator and historian whose specialisms include 19th and 20th century British art. She is an Arts Society accredited lecturer and author of How We Might Live: At Home with Jane and William Morris.
In Oxford we will explore the colleges so familiar to Morris from his days as a student, and the Pre-Raphaelite treasures preserved within them; while the Ashmolean Museum will acquaint us with an abundance of Pre-Raphaelite work and murals painted by Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and their friends at the Oxford Union.
At the heart of the tour lies the magnificent Kelmscott Manor, Morris’s beloved country home, which he fondly described as ‘Heaven on Earth’. It houses original furniture, ceramics, metalwork and needlework creations by Jane and May Morris. When exploring Kelmscott and its gardens, it will not be long before elements of Morris’s work come to life before our eyes. The trailing flowers and flowing water are reminiscent of his wallpaper and tile designs, and the sight of thrushes stealing fruit from the kitchen garden inspired his popular ‘Strawberry Thief’ pattern.
We will stay in a four-star hotel in Oxford throughout for efficient access to our walking routes and visits.
Strawberry Thief by William Morris, designed 1883, printed 1934
“This tour coincides with the 150th anniversary of William Morris first seeing the old house at Kelmscott. I cannot think of a better time to visit, when the meadows are full of buttercups and the roses are starting to open”
– Tour Director Suzanne Fagence Cooper
“Suzanne
was extremely knowledgeable, explained things clearly and was very approachable, I have just booked another tour with her”
– ACE customer on a previous tour led by Suzanne Fagence Cooper
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
As one of ACE’s walking tours, this programme involves a significant amount of walking including approximately four miles at a time along the Thames Path as well as at visits. The terrain can be grassy, muddy and uneven at times, so appropriate clothing must be worn. Some of the historical sites do not have lifts, so it is necessary to climb steps and stairs to access upper floors. At Buscot Park the approach to the house through the gardens is on an incline, and at Kelmscott Manor, access to the attic is via a steep split staircase where there are several low beams, although participants can opt out of these elements of the visits if they wish. Participants must meet ACE’s fitness requirements as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions, and have a good overall level of mobility.
ITINERARY
The following itinerary is a guide to what we hope to offer and we cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks mentioned.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles 1430 in Oxford for an afternoon walking tour including Exeter College (where William Morris studied), Holywell Street (where Jane Morris lived) and evensong at one of
the university’s college chapels. Four nights at a central hotel in Oxford.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture followed by Thames Path Walk 1: four mile walk from hotel to Wolvercote ending in Jericho (with stop at St Barnabas Church and Sepulchre’s cemetery). Afternoon visits to the Ashmolean Museum (Pre-Raphalite gallery), Keble College (William Holman Hunt’s The Light of the World ) and Harris Manchester College (stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones).
D ay 3 – Morning lecture and visit to St Michael’s Church, Stanton Harcourt, followed by Thames Path Walk 2: four mile walk from Bablock Hythe to Newbridge. Visits to St John the Baptist Church, Burford and St Mary’s Church, Swinbrook (Fettiplace memorials). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Visit to Great Coxwell Barn (13th century grange and beloved structure of William Morris) followed by Radcot Bridge. Thames Path Walk 3: three miles from Radcot Bridge to Kelmscott. Afternoon visit to Kelmscott Manor (William Morris’s country home featuring works by his wife Jane and daughter May).
D ay 5 – Morning visit to Church of St John the Baptist, Inglesham (conserved with the help of William Morris) and Buscot Park (18th century mansion with Pre-Raphaelite rooms). Tour disperses early afternoon at the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including tour, cost will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest.
TOUR CODE: WATP26
Kelmscott Manor
The Thames path near Oxford
Children’s Literary Classics: Winnie-the-Pooh at 100
June 22–26, 2026
Explore idyllic Ashdown Forest and sites associated with A A Milne
Visit Rudyard Kipling’s Bateman’s and The Manor in Hemingford Grey, inspiration for Lucy Boston’s Green Knowe series
View the manuscripts of Winnie-thePooh and The House at Pooh Corner in Trinity College’s Wren Library
A rich vein of natural inspiration runs through much of our best-loved children’s literature, from The Hobbit to Wind in the Willows. As the world celebrates the centenary A A Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh in 2026, there could be no better year to rediscover the landscape that inspired its creator, the development of these famous stories and other important works of children’s fiction inspired by their environments.
The real Christopher Robin lived at Cotchford Farm in the beautiful village of Hartfield. The farm lay on the edge of the Ashdown Forest, “an enchanted spot” which would become home to Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger. Our time
in Ashdown will incorporate both the history of the book’s creation – visiting the memorial dedicated to A A Milne and illustrator E H Shepard – and an exploration of the wildlife and landscape.
We will also visit Bateman’s, the 17th century family home of Rudyard Kipling and where he wrote Puck of Pook’s Hill and Rewards and Fairies. The interiors reflect his strong association with India, while the twelve-acre garden includes a river, wildflower meadow, watermill and formal rose garden.
This tour will be led by Caroline HopkinsonWoolley, BA, who has published fiction, won awards (including Country Life’s 2013 short story competition) and contributes to the Times Literary Supplement , Spectator, Literary Review and Country Life. She has worked closely with ACE to develop this brand new tour and will be joined by several experts who will give guest talks on a variety of connected topics.
“When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen”
– A A Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Frances Hodgson Burnett lived at nearby Great Maytham Hall, whose original walled garden provided inspiration for The Secret Garden; while the Manor in Hemingford Grey inspired Lucy Boston’s Green Knowe stories.
Cambridge is a fitting place to end our tour, as it was here that A A Milne studied mathematics at Trinity College. Before his death, Milne bequeathed his original manuscripts of Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner to his alma mater, and they are now held in the architecturally stunning Wren Library at Trinity.
Guest speakers – from a natural historian to writers of children’s literature and academic experts – will provide valuable insights throughout. In Tunbridge Wells we will stay at the Hotel du Vin; while our Cambridge base will be the four-star University Arms Hotel, ideally situated in the centre of the city.
Page 1 of Winnie-the-Pooh by A A Milne 1926
Accommodation in Royal Tunbridge Wells
We are delighted to be spending three of our four nights at the fabulous four-star Hotel du Vin in Tunbridge Wells. Less than half a mile from the station and close to the Pantiles, the hotel is a converted Grade IIlisted sandstone mansion and local architectural landmark. In keeping with the classic feel of our tour, the property’s bedrooms and public spaces have a wonderfully capacious and historical feel, with attention to detail throughout.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
While this tour will not be overly strenuous, participants should be comfortable walking and standing at sites, in gardens, and within the natural surroundings of Ashdown Forest. The terrain will be uneven and rugged at times, and there will also be some steps and dimly lit interiors. Cambridge can be busy with bicycles, so care must be taken. At The Manor in Hemingford Grey, the top staircase does not have a bannister, but participants can opt out of this part of the visit if wished.
ITINERARY
The itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be adjusted nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Tour Assembles from 1500 at Hotel du Vin, Royal Tunbridge Wells, for three nights.
“As our ‘expotition’ leads us from the unspoilt expanses of Ashdown Forest through the enchanting Weald of Sussex and into hidden corners of Kent, we’ll discover why this beautiful area of England provided such fertile imaginative territory for other children’s writers including Rudyard Kipling and Frances Hodgson Burnett, and I’ll be sharing my passion for the stories which take root in our earliest years. After all, good writing is for everyone, not just for children!”
– Caroline Hopkinson-Woolley
1530 orientation walk of Tunbridge Wells including the Pantiles (colonnaded walkway with historical architecture) followed by 1830 welcome and introduction at the hotel.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture followed by excursion to Hartfield for sites associated with A A Milne and Winnie-the-Pooh including Pooh Corner (fascinating small exhibition space), Pooh Sticks Bridge and memorial to Milne and E H Shepard. Afternoon: Ashdown Forest Centre and nature walk in Ashdown Forest (Exmoor ponies,
ground-nesting birds, butterflies). Free evening and independent dinner.
D ay 3 – Visit to Bateman’s (17th century house and former home of Rudyard Kipling) for a guided tour of the house and secluded garden, followed by Great Maytham Hall (beautiful walled garden which provided inspiration for Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden). Return to Tunbridge Wells via Rye for further literary associations (E F Benson, Henry James) – time permitting. Free evening and independent dinner.
D ay 4 – Transfer to Cambridge via The Manor at Hemingford Grey (one of the oldest continually inhabited houses in the UK and former home of Lucy M Boston, author of the Green Knowe children’s books) for guided visit. Overnight at the University Arms Hotel, Cambridge. Evening farewell lecture and summary.
D ay 5 – Morning visit to Trinity College for the Wren Library for a special viewing of the Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner manuscripts, followed by optional visit to two excellent second hand / rare edition local bookshops featuring children’s literature. Tour disperses c 1230 in central Cambridge.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1995 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, two lunches (one light), two dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £410.
TOUR CODE: POOH26
Pooh Sticks Bridge
Archaeology & Legend in St Patrick’s Country
June 24–30, 2026
Delve into the history and mythology of St Patrick at sites including Down Cathedral, his final resting place, and Saul Cathedral, his first church
Explore Christian history in Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland
Marvel at the awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway in Antrim, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest natural wonders in the United Kingdom
“Mike is a an excellent Tour Director, combining his vast knowledge with a natural ability to communicate and teach”
“Mike was always well informed and interesting, and it was a pleasure travelling with him”
– ACE customers on a previous tour to Ireland led by Mike King
reputed grave, and St Patrick’s Cross. Also relevant is Armagh’s 5th century cathedral, one of the most important churches in Gaelic Ireland. This new tour charts a course through the enduring legends associated with St Patrick and Northern Ireland’s ancient past, focussing on the counties of Down, Armagh and Antrim. Here, St Patrick began his pivotal missions, founded his first church at Saul Cathedral and ultimately designated Armagh as the spiritual heart of Northern Ireland.
Down is home to the St Patrick Centre –site of the only permanent exhibition in the world illustrating his life – as well as the 12th century Down Cathedral, early Irish Christian iconography at the saint’s
Mike King , BA, MA, was a museum professional for over 30 years and has a passion for Irish archaeology, Britain and Ireland’s early medieval culture. He has worked as Heritage Manager for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and co-ordinated the protection and movement of a 10th century high cross in Downpatrick.
We will explore the early days of Irish Christianity at the wonderfully-preserved Donaghmore High Cross, which features mythological imagery alongside Celtic ornamentation, while Ardboe High Cross displays scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Ulster Museum showcases Irish history and art from prehistory onwards, and at Armagh County Museum, we will encounter compelling local stories through fine art, archaeology and natural history.
Northern Ireland’s past has fuelled an array of further legends – including Dunluce Castle, thought to have inspired Cair Paravel in Narnia, and Bonamargy Friary, where religion and folklore intersect. The UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway – an array of basalt columns rising from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean that, according to geomythology, were created by the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill – today continues to inspire stories, art and even modern television, including Game of Thrones.
We will stay at the five-star Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle followed by the spectacularly situated Causeway Hotel, next to the world-famous monument.
Giant’s Causeway
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour involves many visits to outdoor archaeological sites or ruins. Participants should therefore have a good level of overall fitness and mobility, and be comfortable navigating uneven and rugged ground, as well as occasional tracks to access sites. Some sites will require navigating stiles and crossing roads as well as steep inclines. In particular, Giant’s Causeway is a natural formation of stones that may be slippery when wet and lie close to an unfenced cliff edge, so care must be taken around the area. We advise all participants to consult our minimum fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to confirmation or reordering nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Depart London Heathrow 1135 on British Airways, arriving Belfast 1300. Transfer to Newcastle for four nights at the Slieve Donard Hotel. En route visit to St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick. Welcome and Introduction.
D ay 2 – Visits to St Patrick’s Grave, St Patrick’s Cross and Down Cathedral followed by Down Country Museum for displays including the High Cross. Afternoon: Saul Church (site of St Patrick’s first church), Struel Wells (ancient holy well complex) and Norman Cistercian Abbey of Inch (built by John de Courcy). Free evening.
D ay 3 – Morning: Ulster Museum (prehistoric, medieval and art galleries) with optional visit to Botanic Gardens and Tropical Ravine. Afternoon: Nendrum (early medieval monastic site and tidal mill) and Tullynakil Church (mainland successor to Nendrum). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Navan Centre & Fort (Iron Age ritual site associated with Tain legends), Protestant Cathedral, Armagh County Museum (fine art, archaeology and natural history) and St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral. Free evening.
D ay 5 – Donaghmore High Cross (mythological imagery alongside Celtic ornamentation) and Tullaghoge O’Neill inauguration site (open air woodland cathedral) followed by Ardboe High Cross (scenes from the Old and New Testaments). Transfer to Causeway Hotel (situated next to the Giant’s Causeway, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean) for two nights. Evening talk: St Patrick – his inheritance and legacy.
D ay 6 – Morning: Giant’s Causeway (basalt columns along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, which legend tells were created by the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill) and visitor centre followed by Dunluce Castle (thought to have inspired C S Lewis’s Cair Paravel). Afternoon: Bonamargy Friary (religious history and local legend).
D ay 7 – Morning visit to Carrickfergus Castle (subject to final flight arrangements). Depart Belfast 1625, arriving Heathrow 1745.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2995 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, six breakfasts, two lunches (one packed), three dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £610. TOUR CODE: SPCO26
Norman Cistercian Abbey of Inch
Dunlace Castle
Gardens of the Cotswolds
June 30 – July 4, 2026
Discover beautiful gardens spanning centuries of design in one of Britain’s best-loved landscapes
Explore Kiftsgate Court Gardens, the creation of three generations of female gardeners
Visit some of the world’s finest Arts & Crafts-inspired gardens, including at Hidcote Manor
For garden enthusiasts, the Cotswolds offer a truly unparalleled experience. Exquisite planting schemes are bathed in the glow of golden stone, and rolling hills – the ‘wolds’ – form an idyllic backdrop to some of the world’s most famous garden designs. Exploring a handpicked selection of these spaces, alongside dedicated lectures by our Tour Director and talks with Head Gardeners, we will gain an appreciation of their design, planting styles, horticulture and history.
The influence of the Arts & Crafts movement will be felt at visits to Miserden Park Gardens and Hidcote. Situated at the heart of a family-run estate that takes a particular interest in
This tour will be led by David Hurrion . With over four decades of gardening knowledge, practical experience and botanical and scientific training, David has worked in gardens and nurseries around the UK and has travelled extensively abroad. He has also designed, built and planted show gardens and display stands at many major garden shows, including the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show.
environmental sustainability, Miserden features stunning flowering beds, shrubs and topiary, with elements of design by Edwin Lutyens. Meanwhile, Hidcote’s carefully crafted ‘garden rooms’ are famous across the world for their beauty, intricacy and impact upon subsequent garden design.
Kiftsgate Court Gardens are the creation of three generations of female gardeners. Famous for its roses, Kiftsgate also features a sunken white garden, a double border comprising shrubs, small trees and herbaceous plants in shades of pink, mauve and grey, and stunning views
towards the Malvern Hills, as well as a wild garden.
Sezincote, located near Moreton-inMarsh, features a notable 19th-century garden. Set on a vast private estate, the Humphrey Repton landscape provides the backdrop for an ‘Indian palace’-style house and the gardens themselves display Mughal motifs and plantings that evoke a sense of paradise.
We also hope to include a visit to Highgrove, the private residence of Their Royal Highnesses King Charles II and Queen Camilla. Highgrove is renowned for its beautiful and innovative gardens, which have been designed and regenerated over the past 40 years with passion and skill. Offering a variety of intriguing and beautifully kept landscapes, the gardens and estate are managed in accordance with organic and sustainable principles.
We will stay throughout at the boutique four-star Malmaison in the spa-town of Cheltenham. Located in the heart of the fashionable Montpellier district, this hotel boasts modern design with traditional regency architecture.
Bourton House Garden
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness and mobility is required for this tour, as it will require significant amounts of time spent on foot outdoors, walking and standing in gardens. The terrain may be uneven, with steps, stone paths, bridges (which may be slippery when wet) and slopes (some of which are steep) to navigate. Some of the gardens are located on multiple levels, and several feature ponds, pools and streams. Handrails and benches are sometimes available but cannot be guaranteed.
Special Visits
Throughout our tour, we will benefit from exclusive insights into many of the Cotswolds’ most beautiful gardens from owners, head gardeners as well as the Tour Director. In particular, on our visit to Cerney House we will be welcomed by the owner who will provide an introduction to their garden over tea, coffee and cake. A Victorian walled garden, the grounds are part of the family home and have been lovingly developed over the years. Meanwhile Head Gardener, Greg Powers, is delighted to be welcoming ACE travellers to the magnificent estate of Sezincote.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and due to the special nature of the visits, some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. In particular, while we very much hope to include a visit to Highgrove, and have done so on previous tours, the site will not be able to confirm our visit until closer to departure owing to confirmation of the royal schedule.
D ay 1 – Assemble at Malmaison, Cheltenham for four nights. 1800 Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning: Miserden (beautiful 17th century Arts & Craft garden with 200-year-old sycamore and ancient mulberry tree – subject to
confirmation). Afternoon: Highgrove (tour of the beautiful gardens at the residence of HRH King Charles II and the Queen Consort – subject to confirmation). Free evening.
D ay 3 – Morning: Rockcliffe Gardens (traditional English garden developed over the last 30 years blending classic gardening style and a contemporary edge – subject to confirmation) and Bourton House Garden (imaginative topiary and exotic herbaceous borders). Afternoon: Sezincote Gardens (19th century landscape garden with Indian influences). Evening lecture.
D ay 4 – Morning: Kiftsgate Court Gardens (created by three generations of women gardeners over the 20th and 21st centuries) followed by Ernest Wilson Memorial Garden. Afternoon: Hidcote Manor Gardens (influential Arts & Crafts garden with linked garden ‘rooms’ of hedges, trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders). Evening lecture.
D ay 5 – Short walking tour of Cirencester followed by a visit to Cerney House Garden (Victorian walled garden). Tour disperses at lunchtime (approx 1300).
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1995 includes: accommodation based on sharing a standard twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, one lunch, three dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, standard double room for single use supplement £325. TOUR CODE: GOTC26
Kiftsgate Court Gardens
Irises at Hidcote Gardens
The Shetland Islands
June 22–29, 2026
Explore the atmospheric, uninhabited Island of Mousa, home to seabirds and waders including storm petrels
Absorb the remarkable history of Shetland from Neolithic settlements to Viking remains
Venture to the Island of Unst to visit the Keen of Hamar Nature Reserve with its otherworldly appearance and rare plantlife
The Shetland Islands are like no other place in Britain, featuring landscapes carved by their sub-Arctic location and thousands of years of human influence. This remote, wild archipelago is an ideal place to study birds, observe sea mammals and identify wildflowers – the three main themes of our summer tour.
Our tour will cover the full length of Shetland, from Sumburgh Head in the south where we will look for colourful puffins to the northern Island of Unst. Here we will visit the remote Hermaness Reserve, over 2000 acres of dramatic coastal scenery and wild moorland with thousands of nesting seabirds. Nearby lies
Storm petrels at dusk
The evening boat trip to view storm petrels is a unique experience and one of the tour’s highlights; it takes place under darker conditions and participants will need to return along a coastal path at night, however torches are provided and the group will be supported throughout by experienced local guides in addition to the Tour Director and Tour Manager. You will also enjoy Shetland’s famous ‘Simmer Dim’, or late-night twilight. Those who wish to remain at the hotel instead, however, are welcome to do so.
the Keen of Hamar, a unique lunar-like landscape of fractured serpentine rock home to some of Britain’s rarest plants.
We will visit the Island of Mousa by day to see its many seabirds and waders, and again at dusk as storm petrels come ashore. Our tour will also explore the vegetation and geo-morphology of the spectacular sandy causeway that leads to St Ninian’s Isle, famed for the hoard of Pictish treasure uncovered in the ruins of the 12th century church.
We also hope to encounter Shetland’s very early history, including Jarlshof,
where the original Stone Age dwellings are topped by Pictish wheelhouses, Viking longhouses and the remains of a 16th century mansion.
We will stay for the first four nights at the Glen Orchy House, a friendly and modern establishment based in Shetland’s principal town. Whilst the accommodation is of a relatively basic standard, it is clean, comfortable and ideal for many of our daytime visits. We will then transfer to the three-star Brae Hotel, perfectly positioned at the northern end of the mainland.
This tour will be led by Peter Exley, BSc, an ecologist and ornithologist who has worked for the RSPB. Peter has also held posts with BirdLife International and the Albatross Task Force in South Africa. He has led and managed many ACE tours in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Algarve, New England, Madeira, the Faroes and Shetland.
Shag sea birds, Island of Mousa
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of overall fitness. The itinerary will involve frequent walks, some short and others of up to four miles, mostly over paths but occasionally along cliff tops and over rough ground. The longest walk is around three hours, and participants should be prepared for periods of standing. The walk to Hermaness Nature Reserve is up a wide, well-paved path followed by a boardwalk, with an approx 100m ascent. The Sumburgh Head walk is short with an approx 50m ascent up a paved road. Participants should also be prepared for several private boat trips to view birds; while these will only take place when weather conditions allow, please note that the water can sometimes be choppy. For ACE’s minimum fitness requirements, please see our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation. Visits in Shetland depend heavily on weather conditions; to make the most of our stay, the Tour Director may need to adjust the order and nature of the visits on the ground. Ferry and flight schedules, which are released nearer the time, may also affect elements of our itinerary.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles in the morning at Glen Orchy House, Lerwick, or at Sumburgh Airport (guidance will be issued in advance of the tour). Afternoon: Sumburgh Head (puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes with possibility of seals and cetaceans) and Jarlshof prehistoric site. Transfer to Lerwick for four nights at Glen Orchy House. Welcome and introduction.
Travel Arrangements
Travel to and from Shetland is not included in the cost of this tour. To ensure maximum enjoyment of the itinerary, we strongly recommend that you plan to arrive in Shetland either before June 22, or in time for a morning departure by coach from Lerwick (if travelling by ferry) or morning airport pick-up (if travelling by air) on June 22. If you would like to arrive the day before the tour starts and spend an additional night at the hotel (at your own expense), please mention this to the Sales team upon booking. On the final day (June 29) we recommend booking a midday or afternoon flight to ensure efficient airport transfer arrangements.
D ay 2 – South Mainland for St Ninian’s Isle then by boat to uninhabited Island of Mousa (broch with towering walls): seals and seabirds.
D ay 3 – Tingwall: valley (wildflowers) and loch (whooper swans), 18th century Tingwall Kirk and Scalloway Museum & Castle. By ferry to Island of Whalsay (centre of Shetland fishing industry): restored Hanseatic booth (warehouse), Kirk Ness and Skaw (birds, seals). Late night excursion by boat to Mousa to view storm petrels (weather permitting – please see ‘storm petrels at dusk’ box for more information).
D ay 4 – By boat to bird cliffs of Noss (guillemot, gannet, Shetland wren, rock pipit) followed by
walking tour and free time in historical Lerwick (esplanade, 17th century Fort Charlotte, Victorian town hall).
D ay 5 – North Mainland: moorland and coastal scenery around Ronas Hill with visits to Mavis Grind (regular crossing point for otters), Urraforth Ayre and Tangwick Haa Museum. Evening talk. Three nights at Brae Hotel.
D ay 6 – By ferry via Yell to Unst for visit to Hermaness National Nature Reserve (puffins, gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes), Viking Longhouse reconstruction at Haroldswick and Keen of Hamar (serpentine desert landscape). Please note this day is subject to updated ferry schedules and local weather conditions.
D ay 7 – By ferry via Yell to Fetlar (waders, whimbrels): Hamars Ness. Return by ferry from Fetlar to Toft. Please note this day is subject to updated ferry schedules and local weather conditions.
D ay 8 – Tour disperses after breakfast, with coach transfer to Sumburgh Airport in time to catch a midday or afternoon flight. Please note today’s itinerary will depend on updated flight and ferry information for 2026.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2995 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, five lunches (mostly packed), seven dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: return travel, travel insurance, single room supplement £335. TOUR CODE: SHET26
Jarlshof
Walking Norfolk’s Coastal Path
June 29 – July 3, 2026
Discover Norfolk’s astounding landscapes on this walking tour, from pristine beaches to salt marshes
Encounter the coast’s teeming wildlife, including breeding seals, terns, marsh harriers, sea lavender and even natterjack toads
Walk along one of the UK’s finest coastal stretches from Wells-nextthe-Sea, past dunes, black pine forests, freshwater marshes and rewilding streams
With its endless skies, beaches stretching towards the horizon, and remarkable flora and fauna, Norfolk’s coast has long captivated travellers. This brand new tour has been specially designed for those who enjoy exploring on foot, and our three walks will showcase the best wildlife at a particularly beautiful time of the year.
At Blakeney Harbour we will discover a superb area of salt marsh, mudflats and grazing marsh; while close by lies the famous Cley Reserve, where the Wildlife Trust began. We may spot breeding seals, waders, Sandwich and little terns
“Kevin was brilliant at making sure everything was seen and for putting our sightings in context. His knowledge of both birds and habitats and conservation were phenomenal”
– ACE customer on a 2025 tour to Norfolk led by Kevin Hand
feeding their chicks, alongside families of bearded tits and reed and sedge warblers. The elusive bittern could be more conspicuous when rearing their young, while marsh harriers teach hunting skills to their offspring.
Our second day takes us west through Morston Salt Marshes and Stiffkey Greens to the mouth of Blakeney Harbour. We will watch the progress of the tides in the creeks, driving clouds of waders and ducks onto drier land, while seals are likely to have pups with them by now. The marshes should be a riot of colourful sea lavender and sea aster, with delicious samphire that we may discover fresh on our dinner plates this evening.
We finish with a walk along one of the finest coastal stretches in the country,
following Holkham Bay from Wellsnext-the-Sea. Our Tour Director will lead us between shifting sand dunes and empty beaches, as well as black pine forests planted 150 years ago to stabilise the huge dunes. We will take in the National Nature Reserve managed by the Holkham Estate, and look out for natterjack toads breeding in the temporary dune slacks towards the beaches at Burnham Overy Staithe.
This tour is based at The Manor Coastal Hotel & Inn, an award-winning four-star property perfectly positioned on the coast and offering delicious seasonal food.
This tour will be led by Kevin Hand , MSc, MCIEEM, an experienced Tour Director with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism. He has been President and Vice President of the Cambridge Natural History Society and currently chairs the Newmarket Chalk Streams Trust.
Sand dunes at Holkham Nature Reserve
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This is one of ACE’s walking tours and so requires a good level of fitness and stamina. Participants should be comfortable walking several miles a day, ranging from 5–6 miles on Day 2 to 7–9 miles on Day 4 (including plenty of stops). The terrain will mostly be flat and easy, with occasional shelter or shade, and some sandier and uneven ground. Participants should come prepared for the weather, particularly in hotter conditions. Some sections will be optional, with opportunities to wait or return to the hotel by coast hopper bus. Lunch will be taken either independently at local cafes, or packed from the hotel.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to adjustment or confirmation nearer the time. The itinerary may be altered to allow for changes in weather, tides and bird movements. We cannot guarantee the presence of all the wildlife mentioned.
D ay 1 – Assemble 1600 at Norwich Railway Station (those travelling by train) for transfer to Blakeney for four nights at The Manor Coastal Hotel & Inn. 1800 welcome and introductory talk.
D ay 2 – Cley Reserve and Blakeney Harbour. Walk east along the coastal path to Cley next the Sea for Blakeney Harbour (one of the best areas of salt marsh, mudflats and grazing marsh in Britain), Norfolk Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre (cafe, gallery, bookshop and viewing areas) and the famous Cley Reserve (one of the oldest nature reserves in Britain – conditions permitting):
“Brilliant tour leader – retained his enthusiasm throughout all five days”
– ACE customer on a 2025 tour to Norfolk led by Kevin Hand
breeding seals, waders, Sandwich and little terns, bearded tits, reed and sedge warblers, bitterns and marsh harriers. Evening: informal round-up session at the hotel. Today’s walk will be approx 5–6 miles in total, with stops.
D ay 3 – Morston and Stiffkey Salt Marshes. Walk west through Morston Salt Marshes and Stiffkey Greens to the mouth of Blakeney Harbour: waders and ducks, great and common seals (potentially with pups), colourful sea lavender,
Our Accommodation
We are delighted to be staying at one of Norfolk’s most delightful and welcoming hotels, The Manor Coastal Hotel & Inn at Blakeney, whose prime position will allow us to access most of our walks directly from the front door. The hotel has won awards for the high quality of its accommodation and use of delicious local produce in its restaurant. Much lauded for its peaceful, elegant atmosphere, The Manor is nestled within Norfolk’s stunning natural landscape and offers beautiful views from many of its rooms.
sea aster and samphire. Evening: informal talk at the hotel focusing on coastal management. Today’s walk will be approx 6–8 miles total, with stops.
D ay 4 – Wells-Next-the-Sea and Holkham Bay. Drive to Wells and walk along one of the finest stretches of the Norfolk Coastal Path, with spectacular wildlife and landscape, following Holkham Bay: shifting sand dunes, deserted beaches, black pine forests (planted 150 years ago by Thomas William Coke to stabilise the dunes), National Nature Reserve managed by the Holkham Estate (freshwater marshes and rewilding streams). Optional walk towards the beautiful beaches at Burnham Overy Staithe (possible breeding natterjack toads). Evening: informal round-up session at the hotel. Today’s walk will be approx 7–9 miles total, with stops.
D ay 5 – Tour disperses after breakfast at the hotel (those travelling by car) or approx 1030 at Norwich Railway Station (those travelling by train). We recommend booking onward trains from 1100.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1595 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, one lunch (packed), four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £420.
TOUR CODE: WNCP26
Wooden footbridges at Stiffkey salt marshes
Wild & Ancient Islay, Jura and Colonsay
May 12–19, 2026
From a base on Islay, delve into the region’s flora, fauna, geology and culture
Encounter astonishing birdlife, from moorland birds of prey to rare waders and seabirds
Absorb the islands’ past, evoked by ancient churches, inscribed stones and medieval strongholds
This tour will provide an immersive introduction to the landscape, wildlife and history of Islay and its neighbours Jura and Colonsay. May is a particularly fruitful time of year to visit, with the passage of birds north in midflow and the region experiencing a ‘second spring’.
Islay is famous for its birdlife, especially the rare chough, twite and corncrake, alongside moorland birds of prey such as the golden eagle, hen harrier, merlin and peregrine. Lochs are the haunts of the white-tailed eagle, red-throated diver, gannet, eider and shag, while ferry crossings often provide sightings of guillemots, razorbills, Manx shearwaters and sometimes whales and dolphins. Common and Atlantic grey seals can be spotted along the coast, and we may even encounter otters.
The vegetation is rich and varied, with coastal machair grasslands, woodland on the limestone, and peat bog – so important for malt whisky – on the less fertile areas. One of the island’s finest independent whisky distilleries, Kilchoman, will welcome us for a visit and tasting.
This tour will be led by Mark Welch , PhD, a former research scientist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Natural History Museum for over 25 years. He taught crystallography at Cambridge University and has led many field trips in the UK.
Our itinerary includes an excursion to the neighbouring island of Jura, one of the wildest of the Hebridean islands. We also hope to visit Colonsay – home to beautiful flowers and wildlife – subject to ferry schedules.
We will stay at the three-star No 1 Charlotte Street in the coastal town of Port Ellen.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
The group size will be restricted to 14. Participants should have a very good level of fitness and be comfortable walking for several miles over often rugged terrain. The walks will generally be no longer than a few miles, and will include stops, however the ground will sometimes be challenging. The tour involves boarding ferries as foot passengers so participants should feel comfortable handling their own luggage. There is no lift at the hotel and bedrooms are located on the first and second floors.
ITINERARY
This itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Our itinerary may also be adjusted and reordered further on the ground, to allow for last-minute changes to ferry schedules, weather conditions, tides and local reports of wildlife sightings. In particular, our excursion to Colonsay is dependent on final ferry schedules; if we are unable to visit, we will instead enjoy a day visiting several famous geological sites to enrich our understanding of Islay’s magnificent landscape.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles 1100 at Glasgow Central Station followed by approx 1130 at Glasgow Airport. By coach and ferry via Loch Lomond, Inveraray and Kennacraig to Port Askaig. Seven nights at No 1 Charlotte Street, Port Ellen. Welcome and introduction.
ay 2 – Colonsay: flowers, wildlife and seabirds. Subject to ferry schedules; if we are unable to visit Colonsay we will instead explore several famous geological sites.
D ay 3 – Port Charlotte (Museum of Islay Life), Nerabus and Port Wemyss (seal colony), Portnahaven (crofting fields), corncrakes and seals, Claddach for Wave Power site and cliff vegetation, Frenchman’s Rocks and Tormisdale (coastal walk). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Port Alsaig cove (shorebirds, chough, glacial geology, illicit stills), RAMSAR wetland at Duich Moss (diverse birdlife), Bowmore (Round Church and Islay Natural History Trust Centre) and Finlaggan (‘Lords of the Isles’).
D ay 5 – Jura: birdwatching, botanising and views of historical sites (including Camas standing stone, Kiels, Knockrome Bay and Craighouse).
D ay 6 – Loch Gruinart RSPB (moorland birds, hen harrier and flora), Machir Bay, Kilchoman Church (Celtic high cross), Loch Gorm and Kilchoman Distillery – subject to confirmation. Free evening,
D ay 7 – Mull of Oa moorland and spectacular cliffs (rare chough breeds) and walk to the American Monument. Optional afternoon walk to The Aird peninsula.
D ay 8 – Transfer to Glasgow where tour disperses approx 1600 at Glasgow Airport and approx 1630 at Glasgow Central Station.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3495 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, two packed lunches (three if remaining on Islay on day 2), five dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, small double room for single use supplement £425, double room for single use supplement £595. TOUR CODE: ISLA26
D
Finlaggan, Islay
Wild & Ancient Orkney
July 7–14, 2026
Enjoy stunning Orcadian flora and fauna, from seabirds to the Scottish primrose
Explore a myriad of archaeological treasures, including UNESCOlisted Neolithic monuments
Journey to Rousay and other islands for an introduction to life in the extreme north of Britain
On this popular tour we will uncover Neolithic Orkney through visits to a selection of cairns and to Skara Brae, the best preserved prehistoric settlement predating Stonehenge and the Pyramids, before extending our reach to Scapa Flow, to learn about Orkney’s wartime heritage. At Papa Westray, we hope to visit the Knap of Howar, the oldest standing stones in north-west Europe.
Woven throughout our tour will be the unique and special Orcadian wildlife. The waters are rich in marine life and teeming seabird ‘cities’. Inland, rich moorland and farmland are home to curlews and oystercatchers, as well as majestic birds of prey. They also host one of the UK’s few endemic plants, the rare and delightful Scottish primrose.
We will also take small ferries over to Westray, Hoy and Rousay, visiting fishing and crofting settlements to meet locals and begin to understand some of the
This tour will be led by Peter Exley, BSc, and Gillian Hovell , BA (Hons). Peter is an ornithologist and conservationist who worked for the RSPB for over 27 years and has led and managed many ACE tours in the United Kingdom and abroad. Gillian is an archaeologist and actively digs at major sites in the UK and Europe. She is also an experienced tour leader and lecturer.
challenges of island life in the extreme north of Britain.
We will stay at The Orkney Hotel in Kirkwall, a 17th century property chosen for its location, ideally situated in the town centre. While the accommodation is of a more basic standard, the hotel provides a comfortable base close to Kirkwall’s amenities and our visits.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Participants should have a good overall level of fitness, mobility and stamina. Please consult our Booking Terms & Conditions for general fitness guidance. Conditions are often windy and some sites require walking on rough, often boggy ground, over uneven paths, and near cliff edges, where care must be taken. Please note The Orkney Hotel has no lift and all rooms are located on the 1st and 2nd floors, however staff will be on hand to aid with luggage.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer. Ferry timetables and tides can affect travel, so some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Please note that wildlife can be unpredictable and we cannot guarantee all sightings.
D ay 1 – Assemble at The Orkney Hotel, Kirkwall, for seven nights (tea and coffee available from 1600). Tour commences 1815 at the hotel with welcome and evening talk: Introduction to the archaeology of Orkney.
D ay 2 – Neolithic Orkney: Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, Yesnaby and Stromness.
Please note travel to and from Orkney is not included in the cost of this tour as we find participants prefer a variety of arrangements for travel. Advice can be provided on travelling by ship and air – please contact the ACE office for further information.
D ay 3 – By ferry to Westray and Papa Westray for a tour of the archaeology and wildlife of the islands.
D ay 4 – Rennibister Earth House, followed by ferry to Rousay: Taversoe Tuick and Blackhammer. Afternoon: Midhowe Broch and Midhowe Cairn. Evening lecture: Island Wildlife.
D ay 5 – Kirkwall: 17th century St Magnus Cathedral and Earl’s and Bishop’s Palaces. Afternoon: Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers followed by coastal walk to Deerness.
D ay 6 – Iron Age Broch of Gurness, Marwick Head, Hillside, view of Earl’s Palace, Brough of Birsay and Kirbuster Farm Museum.
D ay 7 – By ferry to Lyness, Hoy via Orphir Round Church. Visits to Dwarfie Stane and Rackwick dunes followed by Scapa Flow Museum.
D ay 8 – Tour disperses after breakfast at the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £3295 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, one lunch, seven dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: return travel, travel insurance, executive single room supplement £295, double room for single use supplement £395. TOUR CODE: ORKN26
Skara Brae Neolithic village
Smaller group – limited to 20 guests.
Constable & Gainsborough in Suffolk: 250th Anniversary Tour
July 13–16, 2026 | July 20–23, 2026
Celebrate 250 years of John Constable’s landscapes and legacy with a visit to the special anniversary exhibition at Christchurch Mansion
Explore the Suffolk countryside and the iconic scenes of Constable’s paintings that have changed little over two centuries
Visit Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, following a major redevelopment
Join ACE as we celebrate 250 years of the landscapes and legacy of John Constable alongside the magnificent work of fellow artist Thomas Gainsborough. For this monumental anniversary, we are pleased to be visiting the exhibition at Christchurch Mansion entitled ‘Constable: Walking the landscape’ which will feature works on loan from the Tate, V&A, Royal Academy and the National Galleries of Scotland, many of which will be displayed in Suffolk for the very first time.
As we wander along the banks of the River Stour we will discover that Flatford
“I have never experienced as much content that I really learned from, and delivered with such enthusiasm and joy, as I experienced with Sarah” – ACE customer on a previous tour led by Sarah Burles
Mill, Dedham Lock and Willy Lott’s cottage – immortalised in The Hay Wain – have changed little over two centuries. We will explore the country lanes of East Bergholt, where the artist’s first studio was located, and view his Ascension in Dedham’s parish church.
This tour will be led by Sarah Burles , MA who studied History of Art at Cambridge before gaining a Masters at University College London and going onto a career in museum and gallery education, including 12 years at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Sarah is an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society.
We will immerse ourselves further in Constable’s 250 year history with a coach tour of Stour Valley, encountering the Parish Church of Stratford St Mary, an edifice that he painted many times. The backdrop of this memorable anniversary will create a particularly poignant atmosphere when walking through the locations that inspired Constable and viewing his paintings in situ.
Our tour will also examine Thomas Gainsborough’s roots in his native Suffolk on a visit to the market town of Sudbury. Here, a major redevelopment and refurbishment has recently transformed the artist’s former house into a National Centre for Gainsborough, winning the prestigious RIBA East Building of the Year Award in 2024.
We will stay at the four-star Hintlesham Hall Hotel, a comfortable and traditionally decorated hotel occupying a 16th century Grade I listed manor house, set in 175 acres of Suffolk countryside. The hall has historical links to Gainsborough: it was purchased in 1747 by Sir Richard Lloyd, one of the artist’s early patrons.
Willy Lott’s Cottage
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour will involve a significant amount of walking and standing, much of which is outdoors (including through a field in Dedham). There is uneven ground to navigate at times, for example in the churchyards and at Flatford Mill, which has a gentle incline over bark-covered steps with a handrail. There is no lift at the hotel or at Christchurch Mansion, so participants must feel comfortable ascending and descending stairs. Some sites can be dimly lit. A good level of fitness and mobility is necessary, and participants should meet ACE’s fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
“I should paint my own places best” wrote John Constable and what better way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this great artist’s birth than by walking in his footsteps through the Suffolk landscape. This special anniversary tour will take us on a journey through what has now become known as “Constable Country”. We will visit the places that inspired some of Constable’s greatest masterpieces including Willy Lott’s Cottage, Flatford Mill and Dedham Church, and reflect on the enduring influence of his birthplace on his paintings.”
– Tour Director Sarah Burles
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. We cannot guarantee the availability of all artworks listed.
D ay 1 – Assemble 1300 at Ipswich Station or 1330 at Hintlesham Hall Hotel. Afternoon coach tour of Stour Valley and the Suffolk villages of Stoke by Nayland, Nayland and Stratford St Mary (churches associated with Constable). Three nights at Hintlesham Hall Hotel.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture: Constable’s Country – Artist & Landscape. Visit to East Bergholt (Constable’s birthplace) for walking tour viewing Constable’s first studio and the site of his parents’ house (exteriors), St Mary’s Church and bell cage. Afternoon: walking tour of Dedham viewing Dedham Mill and Dedham Lock (featured in Constable’s paintings – exteriors) followed by Flatford Mill and Flatford Lock (subjects of many of Constable’s paintings), Willy Lott’s Cottage (featured most famously in The Hay Wain – exterior) and site of Boat Building on the Banks of the Stour
D ay 3 – Short morning lecture: Thomas Gainsborough – Portraits & Land-skips followed by private visit to the Munnings Art Museum (oil paintings and watercolours by Sir Alfred Munnings and antique furniture collection). Continue to Sudbury (where Gainsborough was born) for afternoon at Gainsborough’s House (newly developed galleries).
D ay 4 – Morning: Christchurch Mansion (special exhibition with works on loan). Tour disperses approx 1300 at Ipswich Station followed by approx 1330 at the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1495 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, three breakfasts, one lunch, three dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £245. TOUR CODE: CGS126/CGS226
The Vale of Dedham by John Constable, 1828
The Ascension by John Constable, 1821-1822
Hadrian’s Wall: Emperors, People & Gods
July 6–12, 2026
Consider how the Roman army and local tribes lived, worked and died on the Empire’s northernmost frontier
Explore the fascinating ancient forts, turrets and castles that line the Wall and learn about its history and construction on this newly expanded tour
Discover the settlement of Vindolanda, where ongoing excavations continue to reveal new archaeological insights
UNESCO-listed Hadrian’s Wall is a formidable engineering achievement that spans over 70 miles of beautiful, often rugged countryside. This wild outpost is home to an array of astounding artefacts, and its remains illuminate much of Roman life in Britain.
Throughout our specially expanded 2026 tour, we will explore the full length of Hadrian’s Wall, from its easternmost point at Segedunum, home to wellpreserved buildings and foundations, to the western fort at Bowness, journeying along Rome’s northern frontier.
“Mike
was a very knowledgeable guide, had prepared carefully for the tour and communicated his longstanding enthusiasm for the subject throughout”
– ACE customer on a previous tour led by Mike King
The substantial collection of artefacts at the Great North Museum will bring this past vividly to life, and we also hope to see an active archaeological dig at the Roman Army Museum. Chesters, built to protect the passage of Hadrian’s Wall over the River Tyne, is Britain’s most imposing Roman cavalry fort and among the most complete to survive, with well-preserved baths and a museum of Roman finds. Meanwhile, the ancient fort of Housesteads, perched high on a ridge overlooking wide expanses of Northumbrian moorland, is notable for its extensive barracks, granaries and hospital.
The garrison and civilian settlement at Vindolanda, where the eponymous wooden writing tablets were unearthed, lies next to one of the best-preserved sections of the Wall; while at Birdoswald
Roman Fort we will explore the on-site museum and wander the structures of bygone years.
As one of the earliest seats of Christianity, Hexham Abbey witnessed periods of turmoil and change. Its 7th century Anglo-Saxon crypt, constructed almost entirely out of salvaged Roman masonry, is one of the oldest surviving sections of St Wilfrid’s Benedictine Abbey.
We will stay in the market town of Hexham, at the three-star Beaumont Hotel, a comfortable and welcoming establishment situated in a Victorian townhouse close to the Abbey.
This tour will be led by Mike King , BA, MA, a museum professional for over 30 years. Mike has studied the transition from the Roman to early medieval era, focusing on the Roman stones at Hexham Abbey. He looks forward to leading this newly expanded tour, which incorporates his work in Durham as well as his experience walking the length of the wall in 2022.
Hadrian’s Wall near Waltown Crags
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good overall level of fitness, particularly for the visit to Housesteads. Participants should be comfortable walking outdoors for up to 1.5 miles at a time, often over rugged terrain that can be slippery if wet, and negotiating steps and occasionally steep inclines. Please consult our general fitness requirements in the Booking Terms & Conditions before booking.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles 1600 at Newcastle Station (for those travelling by train) followed by 1700 at the Beaumont Hotel, Hexham, for six nights. 1800 welcome and introductory talk.
New for 2026
New for our 2026 departure, this tour will delve more deeply into life on Britain’s Northern Frontier. We will take in a complete view of the Wall, exploring it from East to West. While on the tour, we will engage with the intricacies of Roman life from the Emperors, Legion soldiers and the Roman citizens, illustrated through onsite remains, high quality digital projections and active archaeological projects.
“Very enthusiastic and keen for us to see as much as possible”
“Mike
is a real enthusiast and this was catching! Who knew that individual Roman stones ‘recycled’ from the forts along the wall could be so interesting?”
– ACE customer on the 2024 Hadrian’s Wall tour led by Mike King
D ay 2 – Arbeia (Roman fort and museum), Segedunum (Roman fort, museum, Wall Mile 0 and Roman bathhouse), Great North Museum (Roman antiquities from the Wall) and a short walking tour including Temple of Antenociticus, Vallum Crossing and Benwell Roman fort.
D ay 3 – Morning: Brunton Turret (built by men of the 20th Legion) followed by the Roman town and military depot at Corbridge and Hexham Abbey (crypt and small museum). Afternoon: Chesters (fort, well-preserved bathhouse, sculptures, inscriptions and museum). Evening lecture: Emperors and gods on the Wall: looking at inscriptions and sculptures.
D ay 4 – Carrawburgh (Roman fort and 3rd century Temple of Mithras), Housesteads (fort with museum, commandant’s house, headquarters, well-preserved latrines) and Vindolanda (ongoing excavations, Roman Army Museum with writing tablets). Free evening.
D ay 5 – Roman Army Museum (visit to annual dig on site – subject to confirmation and Roman fort), Birdoswald (Roman fort situated on one of the longest stretches of Hadrian’s Wall, with exhibitions) followed by a walk along the Wall including Harrow’s Scar milecastle and remains of Roman bridges at Willowford. Visit to Lanercost Priory (partly built using Roman stones from Hadrian’s Wall). Evening lecture: People of the Wall and their origins.
D ay 6 – Carlisle: Tuillie House Museum (Roman finds from Carlisle and the Wall), Carlisle Cathedral. Continue to St Michael’s Church (Uxelodunum/Stanwix Roman fort), Bowness (Maia Roman fort) and Burgh by Sands Church (built from Roman stones in the former Roman fort of Aballava).
D ay 7 – St Oswald in Lee Church on the Wall (church and sites of 7th century battle of Heavenfield) and Corbridge Church (Roman arch and altar). Tour disperses approx 1330 at the hotel followed by approx 1430 at Newcastle Station.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2195 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, six breakfasts, five dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £395. TOUR CODE: HADW26
Chesters Roman Fort
Country Houses of Herefordshire & the Welsh Borders
July 20–24, 2026
Discover the array of architecture presented by magnificent country houses, from the Gothic revival facade of Treberfydd to the Neoclassical Berrington Hall
Enjoy private guided tours at Hellens Manor and Llanvihangel Court
Be immersed in wonderful gardens, including those at High Glanau and The Laskett, and take in the delightful landscape of the county
Along the Welsh border lies one of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain, populated with many fine houses and gardens which will be the focus of our tour.
The charming manor at Hellens is one of the oldest dwellings in England; with foundations dating back to the 12th century, the house features late Tudor, Jacobean and Georgian architecture, and contains artwork ranging from fulllength portraits by Anthony van Dyck to exquisite miniatures by Nicholas Hilliard.
Llanvihangel Court is a Tudor country house with medieval origins set in beautiful surroundings near the Brecon Beacons. It is close to Llanover, where an elegant neoclassical house is surrounded by a listed historical garden resplendent with exquisite herbaceous borders.
This tour will be led by Oliver Gerrish , MSt, an architectural historian who studied at the University of Cambridge. Oliver is an experienced tour leader and trustee of the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust. Oliver has close family links with High Glanau in Herefordshire, and looks forward to introducing an ACE group to the area’s fine houses in summer 2026.
“Tour Director Oliver Gerrish was outstanding… He was very knowledgeable and added many personal touches”
– ACE customers on previous country houses tours led by Oliver Gerrish
Moving into the Victorian era, the remote countryside near Brecon is home to the Gothic Revival Treberfydd, while the magnificent Eastnor is a 19th century revival castle built for the 2nd Baron Somers and still inhabited by his descendants today.
The region also features some beautiful but contrasting 20th century gardens. High Glanau was created before the First World War by H Avray Tipping, Architectural Editor of Country Life and highly adept garden designer whose work also includes the garden at Chequers, and we will visit Sir Roy Strong’s innovative landscapes at The Laskett Gardens.
We will stay throughout at the comfortable Green Dragon Hotel, located in the heart of Hereford within a 17th century former coaching inn.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness and mobility as it involves periods of time spent walking and standing where there are not always opportunities to sit down. Participants should be prepared to navigate uneven ground, including grass and cobbles, which can be slippery if wet. The grounds at Eastnor Castle are fairly hilly. Lifts are not available at most of the sites we visit and light levels can be low to preserve collections.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and owing to the special nature of the visits, some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles 1400 at the Green Dragon Hotel, Hereford for four nights. Afternoon: Berrington Hall (Neoclassical facade, art collections and vast parklands). Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Morning lecture followed by private visit to Hellens Manor (late Tudor, Jacobean and Georgian architecture). Eastnoor Castle (guided tour and free time in the gardens).
D ay 3 – Morning visits to St Nicholas’s Church and private tour of High Glanau Manor (20th century house and gardens created by H Avray Tipping). Afternoon visit to The Laskett Gardens (innovative, complex and entertaining garden). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning visit to Llanvihangel Court (Tudor country house with medieval origins located on the edge of the Brecon Beacons). Afternoon private tour of Treberfydd (Gothic Revival mansion overlooking Llangorse lake surrounded by gardens and woodlands) followed by visit to Llanover House (Jacobean revival house with listed historical garden initially built to promote Welsh culture).
D ay 5 – Tour disperses after breakfast at the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1695 includes: accommodation based on sharing a classic twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, classic double room for single use supplement £225. TOUR CODE: CHWB26
Laskett House and Gardens
Art & Ceramics of the Industrial Revolution
August 3–7, 2026
Study the rich history of the ceramics industry in Staffordshire and Shropshire, with visits to Gladstone Pottery, the Wedgwood Museum and the Emma Bridgewater Factory
Discover the unique assembly of architecture and museums that charts the story and legacy of the Industrial Revolution
Visit the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and view the world’s oldest iron bridge, listed by UNESCO
Britain’s Industrial Revolution saw extraordinary cultural and social change as well as technical innovation and entrepreneurship in the ceramics industry, and the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire are at the heart of this rich heritage.
At the Etruria Industrial Museum we will witness the only operational steamdriven potters’ mill in the world, and at Cheddleton we will experience the preindustrial water mill that was converted to flint grinding for the production of ceramics in the 1780s.
A highlight of the tour will be the World of Wedgwood Museum, home to the V&A Wedgwood Collection and the site of the Wedgwood Factory, which has been manufacturing its famous ceramics since 1759. We will also visit the Gladstone Pottery Museum – the last
This tour will be led by Lars Tharp, MA, FSA, an art historian, lecturer and broadcaster who is well known for his work on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. Lars is a ceramics specialist and former Director of the Foundling Museum, as well as the author of works including Hogarth’s China and The Little Brown Encyclopedia of Antiques (with Paul Atterbury).
“Lars is a distinguished man of immense charm and intelligence and it was a joy to benefit from his huge wealth of knowledge”
– ACE customer on the 2024 Art & Ceramics of the Industrial Revolution tour led by Lars Tharp
complete Victorian pottery factory and the filming location for The Great Pottery Throwdown.
Emma Bridgewater’s contemporary earthenware is much loved for its colourful designs and use of traditional techniques – a factory tour here will bring our understanding of ceramics heritage in the area to the present day.
This tour will be based at the four-star Upper House Hotel. Originally built in 1845 for Josiah Wedgwood’s grandson, the property enjoys classically decorated rooms, its own restaurant and beautiful landscaped gardens.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness and mobility, as it will involve a moderate amount of walking, including over uneven ground, which may be wet at canals. Care must be taken at the sites, particularly those with industrial machinery (which can be moving or hot). There are not always opportunities to sit down, so participants should be prepared for spending periods of time standing, and be aware that some sites are dimly lit. Please consult ACE’s fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – 1545 coach-pick up at Stoke-onTrent Station (for those travelling by train).
Tour assembles 1745 at the Upper House Hotel, Barlaston, for four nights. Welcome and introductory lecture.
D ay 2 – Morning: excursion to Ironbridge (toll booth and bridge) and Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron. Afternoon: Jackfield Tile Museum (decorative tile collection in the former Craven Dunhill factory) and Etruria Industrial Museum (only operational steam driven potters’ mill in the world).
D ay 3 – Morning in Stoke: tour of the Emma Bridgewater Factory (showcasing traditional skills and craftsmanship) and Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Afternoon excursion to Cheddleton Flint Mill (pre-industrial water mill converted to flint grinding for the ceramics industry in the 1780s).
D ay 4 – Morning lecture: Victorian Ceramics –Innovation & Style followed by visit to Gladstone Pottery Museum (last complete Victorian pottery factory in Britain). Afternoon: World of Wedgwood Museum (V&A Wedgwood Collection).
D ay 5 – Morning: Middleport Pottery (home of Burleigh – heritage tour and virtual factory tour). Tour disperses approx 1230 at Stoke-on-Trent Station followed by the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1695 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, two lunches, four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £245. TOUR CODE: INRV26
Gladstone Pottery Museum
TED AND JEN / CC BY 2.0 VIA FLICKR
Churches of Norfolk: An Appointment with Angels
August 4–7, 2026
View the ‘Memento Mori’ panels of a surviving medieval rood screen at Sparham
Experience St Botolph’s in Trunch, with its beautiful 15th century hammerbeam roof and a stunning font canopy
Appreciate the stained glass at Bale alongside fascinating murals at Wickhampton and Hemblington
Around one thousand medieval churches once stood in Norfolk, and over six hundred and fifty remain – the largest concentration anywhere in the world. Rising above the gently rolling landscape, they survive from the time when East Anglia was the economic heartland of late medieval England, prospering from the wool trade, the wealth of its great landed families and its thriving coastal port.
John Betjeman famously mused that “lovers of Norfolk churches can never agree which is the best and I think one is either a Salle or a Cawston man”. These represent two of Norfolk’s most spectacularly vast church buildings, but our exploration of the religious architecture, art and iconography of the Middle Ages will also encompass some smaller and lesser-known examples, many housing unexpected treasures.
We shall delve into the various media for church art, from misericords and woodcarving to wonderful stained glass at Bale, and fascinating murals at Wickhampton and Hemblington. St Botolph’s in Trunch presents a stunning collection of features, from its beautiful 15th century hammerbeam roof to its
Tour Director Imogen Corrigan , BA, MPhil, FRHistS, FRSA, is an expert in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History. Her books include Stone on Stone: The Men Who Built the Cathedrals and The Green Man: Myth & Reality.
“This trip far exceeded my expectations, and I came away wanting to learn more”
– ACE customer on the 2024 Churches of Norfolk tour led by Imogen Corrigan
superb oak font canopy, one of only four of its kind in England.
Also included will be the much-maligned doodling of the medieval graffiti artist, as seen at St Margaret’s in Cley, the grandest of the four churches that stood at the great harbour mouth of Blakeney Haven. Particular highlights will be those treasures that elucidate the rich pre-Reformation sacramental life of England’s parish churches, such as the splendid rood screens at Cawston and at Ranworth, where the 26 painted saints panels represent one of the great survivals of English medieval art.
We will stay throughout at the Park Farm Hotel & Leisure, Hethersett, a four-star establishment set in beautiful countryside a few miles outside Norwich.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
This tour requires a good level of fitness and mobility. The ground at some sites is uneven underfoot and participants should be prepared for navigating steps (sometimes steep or without handrails) and occasional ramps, as well as dimly lit areas. It is also necessary to negotiate steps at our hotel, which does not have a lift. Please be aware that not all churches have toilet facilities, but we will have an on-board WC.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Assemble 1600 at Norwich Station for coach pick-up (those travelling by train) and transfer to Park Farm Hotel & Leisure, Hethersett, for three nights. 1800 welcome and evening lecture: The Dregs of the People Remain –Black Death and its Aftermath
D ay 2 – St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Knapton (extraordinary double hammerbeam roof, rafters filled with angels); St Botolph’s Church, Trunch (beautiful 15th century hammerbeam roof and superb oak font canopy); St Margaret’s Church, Cley (medieval ship graffiti); All Saints’ Church, Bale (wonderful stained glass).
D ay 3 – St Mary’s Church, Sparham (remarkable surviving ‘Danse Macabre’ rood screen partition); All Saints’ Church, Weston Longville (mural and Apostles’ Creed screen); St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Salle (magnificent wool church); St Agnes’s Church, Cawston (splendid rood screen).
D ay 4 – St Andrew’s Church, Wickhampton (14th century murals); St Edmund’s Church, Acle (plague inscription); St Helen’s Church, Ranworth (beautiful painted saints panels – one of the great survivals of English medieval art); All Saints’ Church, Hemblington. Tour disperses approx 1530 at Norwich Station followed by approx 1545 at the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1375 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, three breakfasts, three dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £210.
TOUR CODE: CHNF26
St Botolph’s Church Trunch, Norfolk
Sussex Modernism: Artists & Writers on the Downs
August 5–8, 2026
Step into the former houses of the Bloomsbury Group, including Monk’s House, home to Virginia Woolf, and Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant’s Charleston
View paintings by Eric Ravilious at the Towner Eastbourne, and gain unique insights into the life of Lee Miller at Farleys House & Gallery
Explore the beautiful Arts & Crafts interiors at Standen House
At the heart of our tour is an exploration of the life and work of the Bloomsbury Group. Virginia Woolf, Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell and their friends desired to create a modern movement in Britain, and the transformation of the old Sussex farmhouse of Charleston, through bold colour and abstract pattern-making, bears witness to their ingenuity and creativity.
At Farleys House, the former home of Surrealist photographer, Vogue model and Second World War correspondent Lee Miller, we will discover the remarkable stories of its inhabitants as well as the characterful interiors. In addition, we hope to enjoy a private talk from a member of the family, gaining uniquely personal insights into the house and the lives led there.
Artists like Eric Ravilious were walking the Downs in the 1920s and 30s, wrestling with the desire to paint the landscape while responding to the upheavals in art and design since the First World War. A visit to the Towner Eastbourne will offer an opportunity
This tour will be led by Suzanne Fagence Cooper, MA, PhD, an Arts Society accredited lecturer, historian and curator who specialises in 19th and 20th century art. She was a curator and Research Fellow at the V&A Museum for 12 years and has collaborated with many of Britain’s regional museum collections.
“Suzanne was so very knowledgeable and helpful. I really enjoyed the tour and learnt a lot!”
– ACE customer on a previous tour to Sussex led by Suzanne Fagence Cooper
to absorb highlights from the gallery’s extensive collection of works by Ravilious.
We will stay at The Star in Alfriston, a beautiful property ideally located for our tour.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness is required for this tour, and participants should be prepared for walking and standing for up to an hour at a time during visits where seats are not always available. Some sites have gravel, uneven ground and narrow staircases, and many do not have lifts. The coach cannot always park close to site entrances so some walking is involved to access sites, including along lanes. For ACE’s minimum fitness requirements, please see our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements, including certain visits, may be subject to adjustment or confirmation nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles 1300 at Eastbourne Station or 1345 at The Star, Alfriston. Afternoon visit to Charleston (house and gardens of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant). Welcome and introductory lecture. Three nights at The Star, Alfriston (interiors curated by designer Olga Polizzi).
Our Accommodation
We will stay throughout at The Star in Alfriston, with exquisite interiors curated by renowned hotelier and interior designer Olga Polizzi that feature a mix of antiques, original features, contemporary design and pieces by local artists. Set in the quaint village of Alfriston, this charming hotel provides a fitting base for our explorations.
D ay 2 – Excursion to Standen (Arts & Crafts house with Morris & Co interiors), followed by Gravetye Manor for lunch at its Michelin-starred restaurant and free time to explore gardens independently. Free evening.
D ay 3 – Morning: Farleys House & Gallery (home of Lee Miller and artist Roland Penrose) with private talk (subject to confirmation). Continue to Berwick for St Michael’s & All Angels’ Church (Bloomsbury set murals) and Firle for St Peter’s Church (John Piper stained glass). Afternoon visit to Monk’s House (once home to Leonard and Virginia Woolf). Evening lecture.
D ay 4 – Morning excursion to Eastbourne for Towner Art Gallery (Ravilious gallery). Tour disperses approx 1300 at Eastbourne Station followed by approx 1345 at the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £2195 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, three breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £450.
TOUR CODE: SUMO26
Cuckmere Haven by Eric Ravilious, 1939
Country Houses of Yorkshire
August 10–14, 2026
Experience a fine selection of Yorkshire’s country houses and their fascinating histories
Discover the estates’ collections –from fashion at Lotherton Hall to Chippendale furniture at Burton Constable Hall
Wander through the flourishing gardens of Temple Newsam and the sculpture garden at Thirsk
The rolling hills and dramatic scenery of Yorkshire bear a rich heritage spanning many centuries, and we will delve into one facet of the county’s history by exploring a selection of superb country houses.
Lotherton Hall became a museum in 1969, leading to the preservation of both its Victorian and Edwardian architecture and over 3,000 objects. Its collections include Eastern and Victorian porcelain, exquisite jewellery and historic garments in the Fashion Galleries.
The collections at Burton Constable Hall also house several artistic highlights including classic Chippendale furniture, Georgian telescopes, and tiny intaglio stone portraits. Meanwhile, Farnley Hall – famous for inspiring a number of works by J M W Turner – contains a range of artwork within elegant interiors.
The captivating history of East Riddlesden Hall is evident in its architecture, where the original 14th century framework endures in the Starkie Wing and the Great Hall displays an intricate Flemish tapestry thought to depict a scene in the life of Alexander the Great.
This tour will be led by Andrew Taylor, BD, MA, a lecturer and tour leader with expertise in the art and architecture of the English country house. He currently works as a rare book dealer, researcher and cataloguer at Voewood House in Norfolk.
“Knowledgeable as well as friendly and willing to answer questions”
“Andrew was an excellent guide, I will look out for tours led by him”
– ACE customers on previous country house tours led by Andrew Taylor
Temple Newsam, a Tudor mansion with later additions, was recorded in the Doomsday Book and features historic gardens designed by Capability Brown, while Sledmere House presents further horticultural beauties, including a traditional walled garden and wonderful topiary. A final highlight will be Thirsk Hall, where we will explore exquisite Georgian architecture alongside a modern sculpture garden.
We will stay throughout at a comfortable hotel in Yorkshire.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness is required as there will be a moderate amount of standing and walking. Historical buildings do not always have lifts, so participants must be comfortable with navigating stairs, often without handrails. To make the most of the country houses in the region, some coach journeys will take roughly 1.5 hours (Sledmere House and Burton Constable Hall). Participants must meet ACE’s fitness criteria, as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer and some visits may be confirmed nearer the time.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles 1300 at hotel in York for four nights, or at York Station approx 1345 for collection by coach. Afternoon visit to Lotherton Hall (Victorian and Edwardian architecture, collections of art and historical objects, including Fashion Galleries). Welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Farnley Hall (private house with original Elizabethan architecture and Georgian additions), followed by East Riddlesden Hall (14th century architecture and magnificent Great Hall).
D ay 3 – Excursion to Temple Newsham House (Tudor mansion with Elizabethan and Jacobean additions, historic gardens, and talk from curator – subject to confirmation). Free afternoon in York and free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning visit to Sledmere House (traditional walled garden, exotic plant borders and topiary) followed by afternoon at Burton Constable Hall (ornate interiors with vast collections of artefacts).
D ay 5 – Morning visit to Thirsk Hall (impressive sculpture gardens showcasing temporary exhibitions, and tour of the house and its architecture). Tour disperses approx 1200 at the hotel followed by approx 1230 at York Station. We recommend travellers book onward trains from 1300.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including tour cost and hotel, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest. TOUR CODE: CHYK26
Burton Constable Hall
Wild & Ancient Anglesey
Summer 2026
Enjoy a stunning variety of coastal and wetland flora and fauna, including migrating birds and marine animals
Delve into Neolithic and Iron Age remains, including the ‘sacred lake’ at Llyn Cerrig Bach and the chambered tomb of Bryn Celli Ddu
Discover ‘the best castle never built’ at Beaumaris, the final stronghold of Edward I
Anglesey, an island off Wales’s northwest coast, boasts diverse habitats including sea cliffs, dunes, marshes, plains and coasts, which support a rich variety of birds, plants and wildlife.
Our journey begins at the 6th century Penmon Priory featuring a holy well and impressive cross dating from the 10th century. Moving to the coast, we will observe diverse wildlife including razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars, and marine animals such as seals and porpoises, while also looking for land animals including roe deer and badgers. We also hope to spot puffins from the nearby Puffin Island, which breed here in considerable numbers.
The Menai Strait’s complex tides create a multi-directional water flow, leading to a unique and diverse ecosystem. As we follow this route, we will explore the beautiful scenery of Ynys yr Eglwys –‘Island of the Church’ – where we can admire its distinct marine and birdlife.
RSPB South Stack, where heathland and farmland meet rugged sea cliffs, is a crucial breeding ground for guillemots,
This tour will be led by Kevin Hand , MSc, MCIEEM, a longstanding ACE Tour Director with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism. Kevin also enjoys exploring historical sites and has helped to develop numerous ‘Wild & Ancient’ tours with ACE.
razorbills, choughs and puffins and also features Ellin’s Tower, a Victorian castlelike building overlooking the cliffs and sea.
Journeying deep into Anglesey’s past, we will delve into a rich variety of ancient sites. We shall visit the Iron Age huts at Ty Mawr and the ‘sacred lake’ at Llyn Cerrig Bach, before continuing to explore the ancient village of Din Lligwy and the Neolithic chambered tomb of Bryn Celli Ddu. Moving to the medieval period, we hope to visit Beaumaris, the final castle of Edward I’s Welsh campaigns. Its large size and near-perfect symmetrical plan represent a magnificent incomplete military undertaking.
We will stay throughout at a comfortable hotel set in the tranquil foothills of Snowdonia.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness, mobility and stamina is required for this tour, as it involves a significant amount of time spent walking and as well as standing at historical sites, where there are not always frequent opportunities to sit down. Participants should be prepared for traversing uneven ground, steps and cobbles as well as steeper sections. Please consult ACE’s minimum fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Wildlife can be unpredictable and we cannot guarantee all sightings.
Menai Bridge Anniversary 2026 marks 200 years since the opening of the Menai Suspension Bridge. Connecting the island of Anglesey to mainland Wales, this was the world’s first major suspension bridge.
D ay 1 – Coach pick-up from Bangor Railway Station at 1500 (those travelling by train). Transfer to hotel for five nights. 1800 welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Visit to Penmon Priory followed by a walk to Puffin Island (razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars). Continue for visits to Din Lligwy (Romano-British enclosed settlement) and Bryn Celli Ddu (Neolithic chambered tomb). Evening lecture: Ancient Life in Anglesey
D ay 3 – Walk along the Menai Straits to Ynys yr Eglwys followed by Dinas Dinlle hillfort. Evening lecture: Wildlife in Anglesey
D ay 4 – Morning: RSPB South Stack (guillemots, razorbills, choughs, puffins) and Ty Mawr Hut Circles. Afternoon: Llyn Cerrig Bach (Iron Age finds and ducks, grebes, teals) and Cemlyn Bay (sandwich, common and arctic terns).
D ay 5 – Morning: RSPB Cors Ddyga (marsh harriers, kestrels, otters). Afternoon: Newborough Reserve (ospreys, seals, red squirrels).
D ay 6 – Morning: Beaumaris Castle (final military construction project of Edward I). 1200 coach drop-off at Bangor Railway Station followed by hotel, where tour disperses.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Full details, including the confirmed itinerary and tour cost, will be released later in 2025. Please contact the ACE office or visit our website to register your interest. TOUR CODE: ANGS26
South Stack
Roman Sussex
August 19–23, 2026
Delve into the Roman history of Chichester, one of the major Romano-British settlements in Sussex
Support ongoing excavation efforts at Bridge Farm, dating from the 1st century CE
Explore the largest known Roman estate north of the Alps at Fishbourne Palace & Gardens
The Roman Invasion of Britain began in 43 CE, resulting in the construction of strategic defences along the English Channel. Aiming to deter coastal attacks and facilitate trade, Roman Sussex was central to their expansion into Britain.
Originally named Noviomagus Reginorum, Chichester was a key settlement established in the 1st century CE. While little survives above ground, its extensive Roman and Norman history is evident in its street layout, surviving walls and gateways.
Chichester Cathedral showcases a stunning mix of Norman and Gothic architectural styles. Unique amongst England’s medieval cathedrals, it is home to a free standing medieval bell tower and double aisles, as well as astonishing mosaics which pay tribute to its Roman past.
Situated atop a Roman bathhouse complex, the Novium Museum houses a diverse range of artifacts. Notable exhibitions include the Jupiter Stone – a fragment of column or pedestal which would once have supported the Roman god Jupiter – and the Chilgrove Mosaic,
This tour will be led by expert in ancient history, Jamie Sewell , PhD. Jamie has many years’ experience supervising excavations across Europe. His ongoing research is focused on how and why larger settlements transformed as a result of the Roman conquest.
a beautiful work in vivid colours and a symmetrical pattern.
Further Roman remains can be found at Fishbourne Roman Palace & Gardens, Bignor Roman Villa and Pevensey. At Fishbourne, we will enjoy the site’s grandiose rectangular palace with formal gardens and impressive mosaics. Meanwhile at Bignor, we will view some of the most complete and intricate mosaic floors in the country. By 290 CE, Pevensey had become the biggest Roman Saxon Shore Fortress and was also the site of the Norman landing in 1066, today showcasing a fascinating amalgamation of Norman and Roman architecture.
We hope to include a visit to Bridge Farm near Lewes. Managed by the Culver Archaeological Project, this site hosts ongoing excavations with numerous unearthed artifacts dating from the midto-late 1st century CE.
We will stay throughout at The Millstream Hotel. Nestled in Bosham, a historic village on the shores of Chichester Harbour, this hotel has been elegantly converted from 17th century workmen’s cottages offering a combination character, charm and comfort.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
A good level of fitness, mobility and stamina is required for this tour, as it involves a significant amount of walking and standing at historical sites, where there are not always frequent
opportunities to sit down. In particular, the wall walk in Chichester is approximately 1.5 miles. Participants should be prepared for traversing uneven ground, steps and cobbles. Please consult ACE’s minimum fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles at The Millstream Hotel for four nights. 1800 welcome and introduction.
D ay 2 – Full day excursion to Chichester including a walking tour of the wall, Cathedral (Norman and Gothic architecture with stunning Roman mosaic pavement fragments) and Novium Museum (Roman bathhouse complex showcasing the city’s history from the Roman, Norman and modern eras).
D ay 3 – Morning: Bridge Farm (Culver Archaeological Project and Romano-British settlement) and Pevensey Castle (Saxon Shore Fort and Norman Castle). Evening lecture.
D ay 4 – Morning: Fishbourne Roman Palace & Gardens (large estate with remains of formal gardens, residential areas, mosaics, a hypocaust and baths). Afternoon: Bignor Roman Villa (Roman home with beautiful well-preserved mosaic floors).
D ay 5 – Tour disperses after breakfast.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1995 includes: accommodation based on sharing a classic twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not included: travel insurance, classic double room for single use supplement £350, premium double
Mosaic depicting Venus and Gladiators, Bignor Roman Villa
Northumbria in the First Millennium
August 24–28, 2026
Uncover the ‘Dark Ages’ as we investigate the history of Northumbria during the Early Middle Ages
Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims at the early Christian monasteries at Lindisfarne and Monkwearmouth-Jarrow as well as Escomb church
Marvel at the architecture of Durham Cathedral, containing shrines to St Cuthbert and St Bede
Our tour will transport travellers back to the Early Middle Ages as we explore glittering Anglo-Saxon England, illuminated by artefacts and manuscripts as well as an abundance of personalities. Controversially termed the ‘Dark Ages’, the Middle Ages dominated the period between the fall of the Roman Empire in the west and the Renaissance, encompassing Viking invasions from the east as well as the wider spread of Islam and Christianity. They witnessed the reign of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, as well as the lives of the Venerable Bede and St Cuthbert, who would become the most powerful saint in the north.
Our journey to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne will follow in the footsteps of pilgrims as we explore one of the most important centres of early Christianity. Founded by St Aidan, the island was a Christian stronghold and bishopric housing many important figures, including St Cuthbert and St Wilfrid.
Benedict Biscop founded the double monastery at Monkwearmouth-Jarrow, the second to be seized, and marked it as
Tour Director Imogen Corrigan , BA, MPhil, FRHistS, FRSA, is an expert in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History. Her books include S tone on Stone: The Men Who Built the Cathedrals and The Green Man: Myth & Reality
“Imogen’s
knowledge of
her subject is both extensive and deep and her enthusiasm is quite infectious”
– ACE customer on the Northumbria in the First Millennium 2024 tour led by Imogen Corrigan
a centre of learning and scholarship. Its continued development produced one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon scholars, Bede.
Our itinerary will unearth clues about our Anglo-Saxon past in a range of contexts, including at parish churches, such as Escomb – one of northern Europe’s finest examples of early Christian architecture. We will also spend time at the glorious cathedral in Durham, examining the building’s interior and exterior, and enjoy the cathedral’s collections in its dedicated museum.
We will stay at the four-star Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County, with splendid views of Durham’s cathedral and historical quarter.
FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES
Some visits will involve walking over rugged, cobbled, uneven and occasionally steep ground, and church interiors may be dimly lit. To visit the crypt at Hexham Abbey involves a flight of steep stone stairs (with handrails), but this element of the visit is optional. Participants should have a good overall level of fitness and mobility and consult our general fitness requirements in our Booking Terms & Conditions before travel.
ITINERARY
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. The timing of our excursion to Lindisfarne is subject to tides and local conditions, and our visits and excursions may be reordered accordingly.
D ay 1 – Tour assembles 1700 at Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County for four nights. Welcome and introduction. Evening lecture: Bede & the world in which he lived.
D ay 2 – Visits to St Paul’s Church, Jarrow; St Peter’s Church, Monkwearmouth and St Mary Magdalene, Hart. Evening lecture: The Lindisfarne Gospels
D ay 3 – Morning visit to Escomb Church (dating from c 675). Return to Durham for afternoon at the cathedral (including museum). Free evening.
D ay 4 – Morning excursion to Lindisfarne: St Mary’s Church (reputed site of original monastery) and Priory (home of St Cuthbert). Precise timings for this day will depend on tide times. Afternoon visit to Rothbury for All Saints’ Church (font stands on part of a 9th century Market Cross).
D ay 5 – Hexham Abbey followed by Chesterle-Street (St Cuthbert’s Church and Anker’s House Museum). Tour disperses approx 1530 at Durham Station followed by the hotel.
BOOKING AND PRICES
Cost of £1495 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, three dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £130. TOUR CODE: NFMN26
Lindisfarne Priory and Castle
Tours by Subject
ARCHAEOLOGY
Ancient Treasures of Luxor 16–17
From Spain to Morocco: Roman Hispania and Mauretania 28–29
Byzantine & Ottoman Türkiye 36–37
Ancient Macedonia: The Empire of Philip II & Alexander the Great 44–45
Albania and North Macedonia: A Legacy of Empires 48–49
Archaeology & Legend in St Patrick’s Country
Hadrian’s Wall: Emperors, People & Gods
Roman Sussex
ART & ARCHITECTURE
Art Treasures of Madrid and Malaga
Art Treasures of Berlin
Art Treasures of Vienna
Great Art Collections of New York: 250 Years of Independence 22–23
Frida, Diego & Modernism in Mexico City 24–25
Art Treasures of Lucca 39
Art Nouveau in Belgium
Artists & Artisans of Umbria
In the Footsteps of Le Corbusier: His Life & Legacy
Princely Courts of Central Germany
Medieval Burgundy
Serbian Monasteries
Art Treasures of Siena and San Gimignano
Art Treasures of Moravia
Walking the Thames Path: William Morris & the Arts & Crafts Movement 74–75
Constable & Gainsborough in Suffolk: 250th Anniversary Tour
Art & Ceramics of the Industrial Revolution
Sussex Modernism: Artists & Writers on the Downs
HISTORY
The Story of the Raj: from Calcutta to Delhi
Bordeaux through the Ages: Historical & Cultural Riches 56–57 Fenland Abbeys
Marsh Churches
LITERATURE
SCHEDULE
Iceland: Forces of Nature
2026 Schedule
We are delighted to share an overview of our planned 2026 departures. More information, including Tour Directors and prices, can be found on our website and will be made available later in the year. For tours not yet on sale we would like to invite you to register your interest by completing the form on our website; this will ensure you receive the full tours details by email as soon as they become available.
To register your interest in a tour please complete the form on our website or contact the ACE office by calling 01223 841055 or emailing s ales@aceculturaltours.co.uk
Please note that some departures may be subject to change or confirmation, and we cannot guarantee that all the tours listed below will go ahead.
January
17–23 Music, History & Art of Malta
19–31 A Journey through Vietnam: History, Art & Culture
26–1/2 Pompeii with Herculaneum (First Departure)
27–2/2 Mozart Festival in Salzburg: 270th Anniversary Tour
28–2/2 La Folle Journée de Nantes: Rivers of Music
TBC Winter at the Royal Shakespeare Company
February
5–9 Ancient Treasures of Luxor
11–14 Wild & Ancient Somerset: Winter Tour
17–23 Venice: The Triumph of Light & Colour
23–28 Art Treasures of Madrid and Malaga
23–2/3 Art Treasures of Naples: From the Romans to the Baroque
24–1/3 Imperial Rome: The Might of the Emperors
TBC Bath Bachfest
March
2–6 Roman & Byzantine Ravenna (First Departure)
2–6 Cardiff: A Cultural Capital
2–9 Art Treasures of the Côte d’Azur (First Departure)
9–14 Aquileia: City of Antiquity (First Departure)
9–16 Wagner’s Ring Cycle at La Scala: 150th Anniversary Tour
9–23 South Korea: Pagodas, Palaces & Temples
18–25 Wildlife & Walking in Extremadura
19–23 Fenland Abbeys
23–2/4 Byzantine & Ottoman Türkiye
24–5/4 Algeria: Encounters between Rome & North Africa
26–30 Opera in Berlin: Rossini, Strauss & Verdi
27–2/4 Music & Art in Provence
April
7–14 Wild & Ancient Sardinia
8–12 Art Treasures of Berlin
9–16 Wildlife & Walking in the Alentejo & Algarve
10–17 Art Treasures of Tuscany & Umbria: Masterpieces of the Renaissance
13–16 Art Treasures of Liverpool
13–18 Cornwall Calling: The Artists of Newlyn and St Ives
13–23 Towns & Palaces of Poland
15–28 Bolivian Baroque: Music from the Missions
17–3/5 Uzbekistan & Tajikistan: Traversing the Silk Road (First Departure)
20–24 Churches of Herefordshire & Shropshire
20–26 Pompeii with Herculaneum (Second Departure)
21–26 Art Treasures of Belgium: The Flemish Masters
24–30 Wild & Ancient Cornwall
27–1/5 Country Houses of Derbyshire
TBC Radical East Anglia: A History of Rebellion and Dissent
May
7–12 Art Nouveau in Belgium
5–9 Great Bardfield & Beyond: MidCentury Art & Design in East Anglia
5–19 Wonders of Georgia: Archaeology, Culture & Landscape
8–15 Douro River Cruise on the Royal Barge
10–14 Walking the Thames Path: William Morris & the Arts & Crafts Movement
11–15 Romney Marsh Churches
12–19 Wild & ancient Islay, Jura and Colonsay
12–19 Wildlife & Walking on the Isles of Scilly
12–22 Ancient Sicily (First Departure)
18–25 Art Treasures of the Côte d’Azur (Second Departure)
21–28 Ancient Macedonia: The Empire of Philip II & Alexander the Great
25–1/6 Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Berlin: 150th Anniversary Tour
26–2/6 Wildlife & Walking in Romania
27–6/6 Albania and North Macedonia: A Legacy of Empires
31–6/6 Artists & Artisans of Umbria
TBC Art Treasures of Lucca
TBC Wildlife & Walking in Dorset
June
2–12 Iceland: Forces of Nature
5–19 Kazakhstan: From The Silk Road to Sir Norman Foster
8–14 In the Footsteps of Le Corbusier: His Life & Legacy
12–18 Bach Festival in Leipzig
16–21 Art Treasures of Vienna
19–26 Rhône River Cruise: Ancient Treasures & Musical Legacies
22–26 Children’s Literary Classics: Winniethe-Pooh at 100
22–29 The Shetland Islands
24–30 Archaeology & Legend in St Patrick’s Country
29–3/7 Walking Norfolk’s Coastal Path
29–5/7 Bordeaux through the Ages: Historical & Cultural Riches
30–4/7 Gardens of the Cotswolds
TBC Aldeburgh Festival
TBC East Neuk Festival
TBC Longborough Opera Festival
TBC Summer at the Royal Shakespeare Company
TBC Wild & Ancient Hebrides
SCHEDULE
Lycian Cruise
July
2–9 Medieval Burgundy
6–12 Hadrian’s Wall: Emperors, People & Gods
7–14 Wild & Ancient Orkney
13–16 Constable & Gainsborough in Suffolk: 250th Anniversary Tour (First Departure)
15–22 Wildlife & Walking in Austria
20–23 Constable & Gainsborough in Suffolk: 250th Anniversary Tour (Second departure)
20–24 Country Houses of Herefordshire & the Welsh Borders
20–26 Princely Courts of Central Germany
TBC Agatha Christie at 50
TBC Aix-en-Provence Summer Festival
TBC Alvar Aalto: Life & Legacy
TBC Buxton Opera Festival
TBC Gloucester Three Choirs Festival
TBC York Early Music Festival
August
3–7 Art & Ceramics of the Industrial Revolution
4–7 Churches of Norfolk: An Appointment with Angels
5–8 Sussex Modernism: Artists & Writers on the Downs
6–10 International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival – Pirates of Penzance 150th Anniversary
10–14 Country Houses of Yorkshire
19–23 Roman Sussex
20–27 Schubert in Schwarzenberg
24–28 Northumbria in the First Millennium
25–30 Sibelius Festival in Finland
TBC Country Houses of East Dorset
TBC Rossini in Pesaro
SCHEDULE
September
1–7 Mackintosh’s Glasgow
5–12 Lycian Cruise
7–12 Aquileia: City of Antiquity (Second Departure)
7–12 Art Treasures of Scotland: Art & Craft in Edinburgh & Dundee
7–12 Isle of Wight
11–27 Uzbekistan & Tajikistan: Traversing the Silk Road (Second Departure)
14–20 Great Art Collections of New York: 250 Years of Independence
14–25 Serbian Monasteries
15–20 Bauhaus: German Modern Art & Design
21–25 Roman & Byzantine Ravenna (Second Departure)
21–26 Country Houses of North Norfolk
21–28 Art Treasures of the Côte d’Azur (Third Departure)
28–2/10 Country Houses of the North & South Downs
28–3/10 Art Treasures of Siena and San Gimignano
29–7/10 Art Treasures of Moravia
TBC Arctic Norway & the Lofoten Islands: History & Landscape
TBC Autumn at the Royal Shakespeare Company
TBC In the Footsteps of Raphael
TBC Lucerne Summer Festival
TBC Wild & Ancient Anglesey
TBC Wildlife & Walking in Corsica
TBC Wildlife & Walking in the Dolomites
October
5–10 Pre-conquest York: Creating England’s Second City
5–17 Northern Greece
6–16 Ancient Sicily (Second Departure)
12–19 Art Treasures of Valencia
15–21 Al-Andalus: Córdoba and Granada
19–22 Connoisseur’s Cambridge
23–2/11 Athens, Delphi & the Peloponnese
26–30 Stained Glass in England: Style, Technique & Colour
29–8/11 Ancient Cyprus
31–7/11 Pompeii with Herculaneum (Third Departure)
TBC Country House Music Festival
TBC Ethiopia
TBC Hidden London: Exploring London’s Roman Past
TBC Luxembourg: Crossroads of Europe
TBC Palladio’s Villas in the Veneto
TBC Verdi Festival in Parma
TBC Wexford Opera Festival
November
1–10 Tunisia
2–6 Art Treasures of Bruges
3–9 Secret Venice
3–18 The Story of the Raj: From Calcutta to Delhi
4–9 Everyday Life in Ancient Rome
4–10 Hidden Athens
17–22 Vienna 1900
17–23 Caravaggio in Italy
20–3/12 From Spain to Morocco: Roman Hispania and Mauretania
26–1/12 Ancient Treasures of Cairo
30–8/12 Frida, Diego & Modernism in Mexico City
TBC Art & Architecture of Puglia
TBC Art Treasures of Bologna & Parma: A Feast for the Soul & Senses
TBC Bath Mozartfest
TBC The Coto Doñana & Seville
TBC Glyndebourne Autumn Tour
TBC Music & Opera in Vienna
TBC Oxford College Chapels & Organs
TBC Wild Canaries
December
14–21 Ancient Treasures of Naples: From Ischia to the Hidden City
TBC Rhine Advent Cruise
Our Experts
Chosen not only for their specialist knowledge, but equally for the clarity and enthusiasm with which they communicate and impart their passion to others, our expert Tour Directors are personally involved in the creation and planning of our tours. To see our full range of Tour Directors and their biographies please visit our website.
Tom Abbott
Imogen Corrigan
Rima Hooja
Marie-Anne Mancio Andrew Spira
Meg Boulton
Oliver Coulson
Caroline Hopkinson-Woolley
Eireann Marshall
Andrew Taylor
Christopher Bourne
Michael Downes
Gillian Hovell
Stephen Nelson
Lars Tharp
Sarah Burles
Suzanne Fagence Cooper
David Hurrion
Alan Powers Mark Welch
Sandy Burnett
Oliver Gerrish
Paul Jackson
Rita Roussos
Emilie Capulet
Kevin Hand
Mike King
Jamie Sewell
Ian Covin
Charles Hind
Alex Koller
Ashley Solomon
Peter Exley
Tom Abbott
Tom Abbott, BA, MA, is an independent art and architectural historian associated with the Foundation of Prussian Palaces and Gardens. A proficient lecturer and tour leader, Tom has led groups around many destinations including Germany, France, Italy and Poland. His expertise is highlighted in his knowledge and fascination with the Baroque and Rococo, the Romantic Movement, garden history and the musical heritage of Germany, as well as all aspects of European modern and contemporary art, architecture and history.
Meg Boulton
Meg Boulton, PhD, FRSA, has held the posts of Teaching Fellow in History of Art at the University of Edinburgh, and lecturer on the ‘Early Medieval’ year course at the V&A Academy. She has studied and taught at the universities of York and Leeds and has published on a range of topics, including medieval art, sculpture and theories of space. Her monograph is entitled Visualising Jerusalem: Space in Early Medieval Art.
Christopher Bourne
Christopher Bourne, BA, is an expert in 19th and 20th century art and architecture and has been leading art and architectural history tours in the UK and Belgium for over 20 years. He read History and French at the University of Manchester and then lived and worked in Brussels for 15 years. He developed an early interest in 19th century art and architecture into specialist knowledge of William Morris and the PreRaphaelites, the Arts & Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
Sarah Burles
Sarah Burles, MA, studied History of Art at Cambridge and gained a Masters at University College London before going on to a career in museum and gallery education. This included 12 years at the Fitzwilliam Museum as well as work in other Cambridge museums. An accredited Arts Society lecturer, Sarah has a passion for making museums and their collections accessible.
Sandy Burnett
Sandy Burnett is one of the UK’s most versatile musicians and music commentators, enjoying a career that combines broadcasting, performing and lecturing. After studying at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, and working as a leading theatre music director, Sandy Burnett spent a decade as one of the core team of presenters on the UK’s classical music station BBC Radio 3. Since 2013 he has devised and led cultural holidays all over the world; he is an accredited Arts Society lecturer, runs an online classical music appreciation Listening Club and is the author of the Idler Guide to Classical Music.
Emilie Capulet
Emilie Capulet, MA, MMus, PhD, is an award-winning Franco-British concert pianist, lecturer and musicologist. She performs worldwide in international music festivals and concert halls in Europe, the USA, Canada, Latin America and Asia. Emilie studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is the BMus (Hons) Programme Leader at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She is currently the recipient of a prestigious Leverhulme Research Fellowship and is a Visiting Fellow at Keble College, University of Oxford, in 2025.
Ian Colvin
Ian Colvin has extensive experience leading tours to Armenia, Georgia, Turkey and the southern Balkans. He trained as a historian and Byzantinist at Oxford in the 1990s, specialising in late Antiquity and the Roman Eastern Frontier. He moved to the University of Cambridge in the 2000s to become a researcher with the Cambridge School Classics Project. In 2001 he established an archaeological excavation at Nokalakevi in Georgia in collaboration with the Georgian National Museum, which continues to train students and investigate sites in Western Georgia to this day.
Imogen Corrigan
Imogen Corrigan, BA, MPhil, FRHistS, FRSA, spent nearly 20 years in the British Army and retired in the rank of Major before turning to a life-long interest in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History, which she studied at the University of Kent. Imogen is a proficient lecturer on medieval history, particularly church art and architecture, and accredited with the Arts Society. Her book Stone on Stone: The Men Who Built the Cathedrals was published in 2019 and The Green Man: Myth & Reality was published in 2025. In 2022 Imogen was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Oliver Coulson
Oliver Coulson, MA, PhD, is an architectural historian with a special interest in medieval ecclesiastical and vernacular architecture. His research focuses on the relationship between religious devotion and artistic representation in late-medieval England. Before taking up the position of Head of Operations and Conservation at the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, Oliver designed academic study tours on a range of subjects across Europe.
Michael Downes
Michael Downes, MA, MPhil, DPhil, OBE, is a conductor, lecturer and writer who has lectured for most of the UK’s leading opera companies and writes programme notes for organisations including Wigmore Hall and Snape Maltings. He collaborated with Nike Wagner, great-granddaughter of Richard, on the English version of her book about her family’s history, and his latest book, Story of the Century: Wagner and the Creation of the Ring, was published by Faber & Faber in November 2024.
Peter Exley
Peter Exley, BSc, is an ecologist, ornithologist and conservationist who worked for the RSPB for over 27 years, where he led the communication and community elements of projects such as the reintroduction of cranes to Somerset and the restoration of seabirds on islands. Before that, Peter was a Director at nhbs. com, a global leader in supplying ecology, wildlife and conservation literature. He has also held posts with BirdLife International in South Korea and the Albatross Task Force in South Africa.
Suzanne Fagence Cooper
Suzanne Fagence Cooper, MA, PhD, is a curator and historian whose specialisms include 19th and 20th century British and French art. An Arts Society accredited lecturer, she was a curator and Research Fellow at the V&A Museum for 12 years and has collaborated with many of Britain’s regional museum collections. She is the author of To See Clearly: Why Ruskin Matters (2019) and How We Might Live: At Home with Jane and William Morris (2022) and curated the 2019 exhibition ‘Turner, Ruskin & the Storm Cloud’ at York Art Gallery.
Oliver Gerrish
Oliver Gerrish, MSt, is an architectural historian who studied at the University of Cambridge. He is a trustee of the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust as well as founder of their Architecture Awards. Oliver has written for Country Life , appeared in a number of BBC and ITV television series on architecture, and organised and led numerous tours to many of Britain’s historical buildings.
Kevin Hand
Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM, is a longstanding ACE Tour Director with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism. He has been President and Vice President of the Cambridge Natural History Society and continues to act as a Trustee. He currently also chairs the Newmarket Chalk Streams Trust, has been a Trustee of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, as well as a reserve warden, and is now a Biodiversity Surveyor for the RSPB.
Charles Hind
Charles Hind, MA, FSA, is an architectural historian and Chief Curator Emeritus at the Royal Institute of British Architects. He is Chairman of the Lutyens Trust and a Trustee of Great Dixter, Sussex, and Hestercombe, Somerset.
Rima Hooja
Rima Hooja, PhD, is an archaeologist, historian, heritage specialist and educationist who lives and works in Jaipur and is an experienced tour leader and lecturer. Rima’s many hats include Managing Trustee of the Jaipur Virasat Foundation, Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, President of ICOMOS India, Founder-member of the Bhopal Literature & Art Festival and Director of MSMS II Museum City Palace Jaipur. Her books include Maharana Pratap, Crusader for Selfrule , Rajasthani Stories Retold, Rajasthan: A Concise History and History of Rajasthan
Caroline Hopkinson-Woolley
Caroline Hopkinson-Woolley, BA, gained her degree in English Language & Literature from Merton College, Oxford, before training as a lawyer. She is a freelance writer who has published her fiction in anthologies and won several awards, including Country Life’s short story competition, judged by Alexander McCall Smith, in 2013, as well as contributing to the Times Literary Supplement , Spectator, Literary Review, The Oldie , Slightly Foxed, Oxford Today, The Lady, The Tablet and, most regularly, Country Life
Gillian Hovell
Gillian Hovell, BA (Hons), is a specialist in the ancient world and archaeology. Known professionally as ‘The Muddy Archaeologist’, she has excavated at internationally important sites from the Neolithic through to Roman times. Gillian specialises in bringing ancient cultures vividly and engagingly to life for diverse audiences in publications, lectures and events and in the media. She lectures at York University and is an accredited Arts Society lecturer.
David Hurrion
David Hurrion has over four decades of gardening knowledge, practical experience and botanical and scientific training. He has worked in gardens and nurseries around the UK and has travelled extensively abroad discovering plants and gardens, both independently and while accompanying groups. David has also published for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , has appeared on TV and radio and has designed, built and planted show gardens and display stands at many major garden shows, including the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show.
Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson, MA, PhD, is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and was, for over twenty years, Head of Music and Performing Arts and Director of Music and Performance at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Paul has also enjoyed an extensive career as a conductor of choirs, orchestras and opera, and as a solo and chamber music pianist, performing in the UK, Europe and America. He has published widely on the music of the Australian composer Percy Grainger and is President of the Percy Grainger Society, New York.
Mike King
Mike King, BA, MA, is a museum professional with over 30 years’ experience who has worked in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Currently Heritage Manager for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Mike lectures, guides and publishes widely and is particularly interested in engaging travellers in Irish archaeology, the early medieval culture of Britain and Ireland and European pilgrimage.
Alex Koller
Alex Koller, PhD, is an expert in art history and architecture. Born in Vienna, Alex has lived and studied in Vienna, Salzburg and Cambridge, gaining his PhD in the history of art from Magdalene College, Cambridge. Alex is an accomplished linguist and has travelled extensively throughout Europe and the Far East. Alex has worked with ACE for many years and has led tours all over the world, from Hungary and Austria to Bulgaria, Serbia, Vietnam, Korea and Japan.
Marie-Anne Mancio
Marie-Anne Mancio, MPhil, DPhil, is an art historian, writer, experienced tour leader and Arts Society accredited lecturer.
Marie-Anne originally trained as an artist before gaining a DPhil at the University of Sussex in art and critical theory. She has written and presented courses for Tate and Dulwich Picture Gallery; writes reviews, catalogue essays and historical fiction, and is a frequent visitor to Italy. She is currently writing a book about Caravaggio.
Eireann Marshall
Eireann Marshall, PhD, is a Research Associate and Associate Lecturer with the Open University. She has published a number of articles on ancient North Africa and co-edited volumes on Death and Disease in the Ancient City, as well as Women’s Influence on Classical Civilisation. Bilingual in Italian, she has led many tours throughout Europe and North Africa over a prolonged period of time. In 2019, Eireann Marshall was chosen as the Top History & Culture Guide for Wanderlust magazine’s World Guide Awards.
Stephen Nelson
Stephen Nelson, BA, MA, is an artist and sculptor who works in a range of materials and media. His work has been exhibited at galleries and museums globally, including Camden Arts Centre, the Whitechapel Gallery, the Fine Arts Society and at the Royal Academy Summer Show. Stephen also curates exhibitions, which have included shows in Eritrea and Tanzania for the British Council and an exhibition about British art and the Italian arte povera movement, for the Estorick Collection, London. Stephen has led numerous art and cultural tours throughout Europe and further afield, and has acquired specialist knowledge of Italy and Mexico.
Alan Powers
Alan Powers, PhD, is one of the UK’s leading architectural historians and has published widely on all aspects of 20th century architecture and design. Alan was Professor at the University of Greenwich School and currently lectures at New York University in London. His books include Bauhaus Goes West: Modern Art & Design in Britain & America
OUR EXPERTS
Rita Roussos
Rita Roussos, PhD, read ancient Greek and Latin at the University of California, Berkley, and earned her PhD in History of Art at London’s prestigious Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. She has taught archaeology and art history at the American University of Athens and worked on many archaeological projects in the Peloponnese. Her research interests range from the place of women in ancient Greece and Rome to 4th century BCE sculpture from Greece.
Jamie Sewell
Jamie Sewell, PhD, has many years’ experience supervising excavations in Britain, Germany, Romania and Italy, including Pompeii and Sicily. He has authored a book and many articles on the archaeology of towns in Hellenistic Italy and in the broader Mediterranean. His ongoing research is focused on how and why larger settlements in Italy transformed as a result of the Roman conquest of the peninsula. Jamie has lectured at Durham University and Humboldt University in Berlin and has more than a decade’s worth of experience working as a historical guide.
Ashley Solomon
Ashley Solomon, FRAM, FRCM, is Chair and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music and Director of Baroque ensemble Florilegium. As a result of his commitment to editing and performing music from the Mission Churches of Chiquitos and Moxos Indians in Bolivia, Ashley was the first European to be awarded the coveted Hans Roth Prize in 2008.
Andrew Spira
Andrew Spira, MA was a specialist in Byzantine and Russian icons at the Temple Gallery, London, for several years before working as a curator at the V&A Museum. He was subsequently Programme Director at Christie’s Education and has been leading tours to cultural sites in Russia, Armenia, Georgia and all across Europe for over 20 years. His recent publications include The Invention of the Self: Personal Identity in the Age of Art (Bloomsbury Academic, 2020), Simulated Selves: The Undoing of Personal Identity in the Modern World (Bloomsbury Academic, 2020) and Foreshadowed: Malevich’s Black Square and Its Precursors (Reaktion Books, 2022).
Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor, BD, MA, is a lecturer and experienced tour leader with expertise in the architecture and art collections of the English country house. He studied at the University of St Andrews, UEA and Birkbeck, University of London, and also works as a rare book dealer, researcher and cataloguer at Voewood House in Norfolk.
Lars Tharp
Lars Tharp, MA, FSA, Hon DLitt, is a Danish-born art historian, lecturer and broadcaster who has worked on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow as well as Hidden Treasures and Art of the Baroque. A former Director of the Foundling Museum, Lars is a ceramics specialist who has curated or overseen exhibitions at York Art Gallery and the Foundling Museum. Lars’s publications include Hogarth’s China
Mark Welch
Mark Welch, PhD, was a research scientist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Natural History Museum in London for over 25 years. He has a PhD in geosciences from Edinburgh University and taught crystallography at Cambridge University for nine years. Mark has led many field trips in the UK as a geologist and naturalist and is currently involved in surveying bees and flies for a wide range of sites in East Anglia.
Booking Conditions
IINTRODUCTION
ACE Cultural Tours meets or exceeds all the requirements of the Package Travel Regulations 2018, full details of which can be found online at: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/ made
In addition, flight-inclusive tours benefit from the financial protection afforded by our Air Travel Organiser’s License (ATOL 10204), whilst UK and other tours without flights are protected through the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). We are also long-term members of the Association of Independent Tours Operators (AITO). For your own safety and financial security we do not recommend you book a holiday that does not benefit from the above protection.
The Package Travel Regulations 2018 together with the following booking information and our promotional material form the basis of your contract with ACE Cultural Tours. We have tried to keep this as concise and simple as possible, so please read all the following paragraphs to make sure you understand and are happy with the terms of your booking.
PAYMENT
If you are booking 10 weeks or more before departure, the following deposits are payable at the time of booking:
£300 per person for UK tours.
£400 per person for all European tours. £550 per person for Worldwide tours. £500 per person for all cruises.*
The balance must be received by us not less than 10 weeks prior to departure. This date will be shown on the confirmation invoice. We do send an email reminder but ask that you also make a note of the date in your diary.
If you are booking less than 10 weeks before departure, full payment for all tours must be made at the time of booking.
*In addition to the deposit at the time of booking all cruises require a further payment of £500 six months prior to sailing.
NO SURCHARGES
Tour prices are confirmed at the time of booking and thereafter will not be subject to any surcharge. We have forward purchase of currency and other precautions in order to guarantee your holiday is not affected by fluctuations in fuel or currency rates. In the event of extraordinary circumstances making the tour unviable we would offer you a full refund or credit note or an alternative tour.
CANCELLATION BY YOU
You may cancel your booking at any time before departure. Notice of cancellation must be in writing and because we incur costs from the time we confirm your booking, the following charges will apply (for which we suggest you purchase appropriate insurance):
Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us Cancellation charge
70 days or more Deposit only
69-29 days 60% of total booking value
28-15 days 90% of total booking value
14 days or less 100% of total booking value
CANCELLATION BY YOU DUE TO COVID-19 OR OTHER ILLNESS
Please note that if you are personally prevented from travelling as a result of COVID or any other illness our normal cancellation charges will apply. For this reason we highly recommend that you take out travel insurance at the time of booking that specifically includes cover in the event that you are personally unable to travel. In addition you should have insurance to cover additional accommodation/transport/repatriation costs incurred due to local/national quarantine requirements.
CANCELLATION BY US
We reserve the right to cancel your booking if there are insufficient bookings on your tour (this will depend on tour type and destination) or for other unforeseen operational reasons. In such an event, we will provide you with at least 70 days’ notice of cancellation and provide you with a full refund.
Very occasionally, due to extraordinary circumstances in the immediate vicinity of the destination, it may be necessary to cancel the tour with less than 70 days’ notice, in which case we will likewise provide you with a full refund.
Note that in either situation we cannot reimburse any incidental expenses you may have incurred (for example, train fares, additional accommodation or connecting flights). If you are buying your own flights, please liaise with the office before committing to significant expenditure.
CHANGES BY US
We do our utmost to ensure that all the arrangements and visits are as described. However, it is in the nature of travel that changes are sometimes inevitable, although most of these will be minor in nature. In the event that a particular visit is not possible, we will aim to replace it with another of equal interest. If we have to make more significant changes to the itinerary in advance of departure, we will provide you with a choice of a refund, credit note or an alternative itinerary.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in hotels is in twin/double bedded rooms, the majority of which have private bath/shower and toilet.
On cruise ships, accommodation is in cabins with shower and toilet only.
Single rooms: As a general rule, we aim to provide our solo travellers with double/twin rooms for sole use. However, this is not possible on all tour departures, and occasionally, despite a supplement being payable, only single rooms may be available, and such accommodation may not meet exactly the same standard as double/ twin accommodation or be located in the same area of the hotel. ACE Cultural Tours very much welcomes single travellers and we make no profit from single room supplements. The costs are simply down to the economics of running a hotel.
Porterage is included on overseas tours where available.
FLIGHTS & TICKETS
Specific instructions relating to the departure and travel arrangements will be sent with your air and/or other travel tickets approximately two weeks before departure. It is essential that you check your tickets carefully immediately upon receipt to ensure you have the correct flight times. Occasionally carriers will make late changes to departure times but we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs.
We will always aim to provide you with the name of your likely airline and flight times when you make a booking. However, flight schedules are set by the airlines and outside our control. We therefore reserve the right to change the actual carrier and flight times for your tour.
In accordance with the regulations, we are required to bring your attention to the Community List of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the UK & EU: https:// transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/eu-airsafety-list_en
HEALTH & SAFETY
We operate a safety audit system and work hard with our suppliers to ensure the safety and comfort of our travellers. However, please note that some of the destinations to which we travel have lower requirements and standards than those of the UK. It is therefore essential that you follow any instructions and guidance provided by your tour manager or director.
FITNESS
The majority of ACE Cultural Tours are active in nature and, to make the most of our time in a destination and provide excellent value for money, they are busy with visits every day. As such, they require a certain minimum level of mobility, physical and mental fitness, and stamina. Our visits may involve navigating steps, uneven ground, steep ascents and descents, and embarking and disembarking aircraft, coaches, trains, cruise vessels and even Zodiac dinghies. Plenty of walking, punctuated by lengthy periods of standing, is the norm, and some tours may involve long coach journeys. All customers must be fit and able enough to fully participate. Furthermore, every tour comprises a group of guests. We cannot allow the entire group to be
negatively impacted by one participant, either holding up the pace we reasonably need to maintain or disproportionately requiring the attention and support of the tour staff.
We carefully consider the intensity, fitness and other requirements of each itinerary and describe them on the tour pages of our brochures and website. Please study these descriptions closely. When you call to book, we will reiterate those requirements and ask you to confirm that all group members are indeed fit enough and otherwise able to meet the criteria. It is your responsibility to answer fully and honestly. If it transpires that you are not able to keep pace with the tour and/or it reasonably appears you are negatively impacting (or are reasonably likely to negatively impact) the enjoyment of the rest of the group (including their ability to complete all scheduled visits), we may ask you to sit out certain days/visits, take a taxi at your own expense (if available in the location), or even, if we consider there is no other reasonable alternative, ask you to leave the tour and make your own way home.
As a minimum, participants should be able to successfully complete the following selfassessment tests:
• Walk for one hour at a reasonable pace and without needing to take a break to rest
• Climb at least two flights of stairs at a reasonable pace
• Stand unaided for at least 30 minutes
• Stand up and sit down ten times in one minute
• Carry or otherwise move your own luggage
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS IN ADVANCE
Whilst we will provide details of any compulsory health requirements applicable to British citizens for your tour, it is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of all recommended vaccinations and health precautions in good time before departure. Please check with a doctor or clinic not less than ten weeks prior to departure to ensure that you have met the necessary requirements and have the applicable information.The following website may also be helpful: travelhealthpro.org.uk
For tours in the EU/EEA you should obtain an GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) prior to departure from https://services.nhsbsa.nhs. uk/cra/start. Please note that an GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance.
You must be in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure (and pay for any related costs). We regret that we cannot accept any liability if you incur fees or are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry all required documentation.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS, OR REDUCED MOBILITY, OR DISABILITY
We aim to provide authentic cultural experiences and to provide excellent value for money. As a result, the majority of itineraries are quite intensive and can be tiring. They may involve a significant amount of walking, uneven surfaces at outdoor sites or in historic buildings, long journeys, and uncomfortable climatic conditions which might exacerbate existing medical or mobility issues. Destinations include many countries with lower standards of health and safety than the UK and limited adaptations for people with reduced mobility. Some destinations do not (and cannot reasonably be expected to) provide emergency and/or health care to the
standard that travellers with mobility and/or health conditions may require in the event of any form of incident or emergency.
For the above reasons, our holidays may not be suitable for people with certain disabilities, medical conditions or significantly reduced mobility.
If you suffer from any medical condition, disability or reduced mobility (including any which affect the booking process) or have any special requirements as a result, please tell us before making your booking so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and in order that we can assess the potential risks to your welfare and health and safety.
If we feel that we cannot reasonably accommodate your needs, we reserve the right to decline your booking or, if full details are not given at the time of booking or the condition of disability develops after booking, cancel when we become aware of these details.
When we refer to reduced mobility, this means any material reduction in mobility whether this is permanent or temporary and whether caused by age or by physical or mental disability or impairment or other cause of disability.
If you have a medical condition, disability or restriction (from whatever cause) which develops or becomes worse after booking your tour and before travelling, please let us know as early as possible so that we can discuss the situation including any new requirements. In certain such circumstances, we reserve the right to cancel your booking if we reasonably feel unable to accommodate your requirements or limitations.
DIETARY AND SPECIAL REQUESTS
Please advise us at the time of booking of any food allergies or special dietary requirements you may have for medical or religious reasons and we will do our very best to assist. Please note, it is important that you distinguish between food allergies and other dietary requirements which have or are likely to have medical consequences if they are not met and food or dietary preferences. It is your responsibility to ensure that requirements which have (or are likely to have) medical consequences if not met are clearly communicated in writing as such. We are entitled to assume that failure to meet a request will not have medical consequences if the risk / likelihood of medical consequences is not made specifically clear in writing at the time the request is made. We may ask for independent verification of the medical consequences where we consider it appropriate to do so.
We are happy to cater for vegetarians or pescatarians. It is not, however, possible to offer extensive choices at every meal to cater for food preferences or requirements as many of our menu selections are fixed. Inclusion of the dietary or special request on your booking confirmation or any other documentation is not a guarantee that the request will be met. Food / dietary related requirements which have a medical consequence if not met must be discussed and specifically agreed with us at the time of booking to ensure we fully understand and can meet these requirements.
INSURANCE
It is a requirement of booking with ACE that all participants have comprehensive travel insurance for overseas tours, including cover for medical expenses, infectious diseases including Covid,
quarantine, repatriation and personal liability, as well as cancelled, delayed and missed departure and loss or damage to personal possessions. Whilst accidental damage is a rare occurrence, your insurance should also cover any damage or loss caused by you and cover any resultant claims made against you or us. For overseas tours, you must give us details in writing of your insurance, preferably on your booking form but in any case no later than before the departure date of your tour. If you fail to do so, we reserve the right to cancel your booking.
We strongly recommend insurance for our UK tours to cover cancellation for medical reasons.
We recommend that insurance premiums are paid as soon as you receive your booking confirmation as cover (in particular cancellation cover) will not be effective until you have done so. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs.
We cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of this contract, for example, any additional services or facilities that you agree directly with a local hotel or other supplier. Please make sure you have adequate insurance to cover such services and the acts of other third parties.
CONSIDERATION FOR FELLOW TRAVELLERS
One of the great pleasures of ACE tours is meeting other people with shared interests and making new friends. This has always depended on mutual consideration for your fellow travellers. We therefore reserve the right that in the unlikely event you cause danger, upset or distress to any third party, we are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate your tour without liability for any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.
PASSPORTS & VISAS
Whilst we will provide guidance for each individual tour and help where we can, your specific passport, visa and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant embassy or consulate. In particular, if you are not a British Citizen or hold a non-British passport, you must check the requirements for all countries to or through which you are intending to travel. Requirements may change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.
For some tours and destinations we will require a copy of the picture page of your passport.
ISSUES
If you are unhappy with any element of your tour or the arrangements, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can attempt to resolve the issue. If you are on tour you should speak directly to your tour manager or tour director and not wait until you return home, when it may be impossible for us to help. In the unlikely event that we cannot agree on a satisfactory outcome between us, we will ask AITO’s Independent Dispute Settlement Service to find an amicable solution.
Our contract with you is subject to English law (and no other) and the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales only.
Quality Charter
AIR TRAVEL ORGANISER’S LICENSE
All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertificate.
ABTOT
ASSOCIATION OF BONDED TRAVEL ORGANISERS TRUST LIMITED
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under ABTOT Combined and The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for ACE Cultural Tours, ATOL number 10204, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following:
• non-flight packages;
• flight inclusive packages that commence outside of the EU, which are sold to customers outside of the EU;
• flight inclusive packages, flight only and linked travel arrangements (LTAs) sold as a principal under ABTOT Combined.
ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if you are abroad. Please note that bookings made by customers outside the EEA are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with ACE Cultural Tours.
In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call ABTOT’s 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.
You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/ contents/made
All the flights and flight inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected either by ABTOT or the ATOL scheme. When you pay for something protected by the ATOL scheme you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate
AITO
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT TOUR OPERATORS
ACE Cultural Tours is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the Association, visit www.aito.co.uk or call 020 8744 9280
AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually owner- managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating.
EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP
AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct.
FINANCIAL SECURITY
An AITO member is required to arrange financial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This financial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must comply with UK Government regulations. Members are required to submit details of their financial protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis.
ACCURATE HOLIDAY DESCRIPTIONS
All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENTS
All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards.
MONITORING STANDARDS
AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a postholiday questionnaire from their tour operator, the results of which are scrutinised by the Association. In addition, customers can leave detailed feedback, accessible from the homepage of this website, or via a direct link supplied by their AITO tour operator, about their holiday.
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Our members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable Tourism ethos, which recognises the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating.
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, either party can call on an arbitration service to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion.
The Story of the Raj: from Calcutta to Delhi
