Full breakfast is included daily except on the day of arrival, other included meals are indicated by L (Lunch), D (Dinner) T (Tea or Snack)
5 September, 2022: Depart from your home airport for your overnight flight to London. Most flights arrive before noon the next day. A later arriving flight is better for quick hotel check in.
6 September, 2022: Arrive independently in London and make your way to our beautiful 4 star hotel in Knightsbridge, located just across the street from the V&A Museum. Take the day to rest up and get used to the time zone or explore the wonderful area around our hotel. Late this afternoon we will meet for a welcome traditional British High Tea. At times early arrival will prevent immediate room access. The hotel will have secure storage for your luggage should this be the case and you will be free to explore the area. Overnight London. T
7 September: This morning we will depart for London for Nottingham. Along our way we’ll be stopping for a behind the scenes viewing at England’s second largest public textile archives and is known as a favorite among British textile scholars. Following tea and cakes here, we will make our way to a lovely quilt shop before ending our day in Nottingham which makes claim to England’s oldest pub, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem. Take time to enjoy the contrasts between London and this village, known for it’s role in the Robin Hood legend. B, T
8 September: After breakfast today we will head to York with a stop at Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mill which was the first cotton spinning mill. Here we will take a tour of the facility and have some free time before making our way to our York hotel. Once we check in be sure to take a walk and enjoy York’s medieval areas. B
9 September: Today we will enjoy a visit with the curator of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles and see quilts in their collection. We will also have additional time to enjoy the historic areas of York, including York Minster and the Shambles. If you like, take time for some of York’s traditional sweets such as sticky pudding. Overnight York. B
10 September: As we depart York, we will head for the Bowes Museum where we have an appointment with the curator for a special viewing of early quilts in their collection. After our visit here we will enjoy time in Barnard Castle for some exploring of their antique shops before ending our day in Newcastle upon Tyne, this area is home to North Country Quilts. Overnight Newcastle upon Tyne. B, D
11 September: A slight departure from quilts today we will visit Alnwick Castle and Garden and enjoy a private tour of the historic rooms of the castle before taking time for lunch and to enjoy the garden. Do look for the beautiful silks in the castle which have been locally recreated from the original hangings and furnishings. Before we return to Newcastle upon Tyne, we will make a stop at Bamburgh Beach to see the castle. Overnight Newcastle upon Tyne. B, L
12 September: A special day is planned for the Beamish Museum where curator’s will be sharing some of their favorite quilts from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. We will enjoy Joe the Quilter’s cottage as well as take time to explore the grounds seeing just how life was in urban and rural Durham county in the early 20th century. We will return to Newcastle upon Tyne late in the afternoon. B, L
13 September: Today we depart Newcastle and head to Carlisle where we will have a curatorial visit at a private museum which boasts a fabulous early quilt and costume collection dating back to 1689. After our visit here we will check into our Carlisle hotel and the remainder of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy the area. Overnight Carlisle. B
14 September: After breakfast an exciting day is planned as we will visit one of Cumbria’s most famous textile archives. The curators will be sharing sample books and flat printed textiles from several local early manufactures including those from the Stead McAlpin Company which started printing fabrics around 1835.
After our visit with the books, we will make our way to the Fairfield Mill in Cumbria, close to Yorkshire Dales National Park. The facility here, has been restored from a Victorian woolen mill is now the leading venue for textile arts in the North West. Here we will find heritage displays, working looms, regularly changing textiles exhibitions, craft demonstrations as well as arts and crafts for sale by resident and visiting artists. Time permitting, on our drive to Manchester this afternoon we will make a stop at one of the area’s favorite quilt shops. Overnight Manchester. B
15 September: A full day is planned around Manchester, a city known for its important role in textile manufacturing and the industrial revolution. We will be seeing two important collections in the area, one, early printed fabrics and the other 18th and 19th century quilts from a noteworthy local collection. Overnight Manchester. B, L
16 September: This morning we depart Manchester and drive toward London. Along our way we’ll be stopping in Redditch to see the Forge Hill Needle Museum. This historic site illustrates the rich heritage of the needle industry and has scenes depicting how needles were once made and how the town of Redditch once produced 90% of the world’s needles. After checking into our hotel the remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy London. Overnight London. B
17 September: Today we are in for a special treat at the John Lewis Heritage Center where we will enjoy a tour as well as see early fabrics in their vast collection. Several years ago the John Lewis company acquired the holdings of the Stead McAlpin company which included many of their early fabric samples, many are Bannister Hall prints. After our visit here, we will return to London where you are free to enjoy the remainder of the day. Overnight London. B
18 September: Today is a day to relax and enjoy a free day in London. Do as you wish as we’ve traveled far on our journey. We will regroup tomorrow for more quilt and textile discoveries. Our hotel is conveniently located next to some of London’s most important museums and is just around the corner from a tube station so if you are wanting to go out, we are in a perfect location. B
19 September: – Today is about fabrics and quilts! We will start with fabric shopping in an area known to Londoner’s as Fabric Mecca. We will also visit Antique Textiles Company where you will enjoy hundreds of antique British, American and French quilts. During our time at Antique Textiles Company we will enjoy a special show and tell of rarely seen important quilts from the personal collection of the owner, Christopher Wilson-Tate. During our day we will make a stop at one of my favorite places for a farewell lunch together. Overnight London. B, L
20 September: Today, with our heads dancing full of images of early quilts and textiles we will leave for home with newfound knowledge and a host of memories of our trip together. B
OPTION:
20 & 21 September: If you wish, you may enjoy 2 additional nights on your own at our hotel and depart on 22 September.
***Due to circumstances out of our control, the scheduled itinerary is subject to change without notice.