Hatfield House

Cost £62 TBC

Booking opens 4 June 2026

Visit Thursday 3rd September 2026 - NEW DATE

THE BOOKING FORM IS IN THE DOCUMENTS SECTION (which can be found in 'Our Society')

We will visit Hatfield House for a tour of the house in the morning which you will be able to re-enter in the afternoon. There will also be tine in the afternoon to walk in the garden, don’t miss Renaissance, the large water sculpture by Angela Connor and perhaps explore the park and woodland walks.  Hatfield Houses is the home of the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury and has been in the Cecil family, one of England’s foremost political families, for 400 years.

In 1611, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury built his fine Jacobean House adjoining the site of the Old Palace of Hatfield. The house was splendidly decorated for entertaining the Royal Court, with Staterooms rich in paintings, fine furniture and tapestries. Superb examples of Jacobean craftsmanship can be seen throughout Hatfield House such as the Grand Staircase with its fine carving and the rare stained-glass windows in the private chapel.

Booking opens 7 May, 2026

Price £65

The Booking Form can be found in the Document Section (which can be found in 'Our Society').

Deene Park has been the home of the Brudenell family since 1514. A largely 16th century house incorporating a mediaeval manor with important Georgian additions. It was the seat of the Earls of Cardigan, most notably the 7th Earl who led the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava in 1854. The house today is the home of Robert and Charlotte Brudenell and their son William. Visitors see the house as it is lived in. All the main rooms and the gardens are regularly in use. There is a large collection of art, furniture, and porcelain, together with a display of uniforms and memorabilia of the Crimean War.

The gardens feature herbaceous borders, a rose garden and a grand parterre designed by the late David Hicks.

Monday 8th June 2026

Cost: National Trust £25     Non-National Trust £46

Wimpole Hall is a working estate, with an impressive mansion, parkland, gardens and rare breed farm. The estate has been in existence for over 2000 years and over the years was lived in by many families including those of the Earls of Hardwick and the Viscounts Clifden.

It was eventually bought by Elsie Bamridge and her husband in 1942. She was the daughter of Rudyard Kipling and used his royalties to restore the house. The house was largely empty of contents, so they bought back  pictures and furniture which had once been owned by Wimpole’s previous families.

Mrs Bambridge bequeathed Wimpole Hall to the National Trust on her death in 1976.

Booking opens Thursday 2nd April.  THE BOOKING FORM CAN BE FOUND IN OUR SOCIETY/DOCUMENTS

Price £62.50 (£45.00 for HHA  members)

Booking opens Thursday 12 March 2026 (Please note change of date for the March meeting).

BOOKING FORM IS IN THE DOCUMENT SECTION (which can be found in 'Our Society')

Do come and join us to explore one of the best Tudor castles in England and enjoy a fascinating day out at Sudeley.
With royal connections spanning a thousand years, Sudeley Castle has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past.
Sudeley Castle remains the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds - Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII – who lived and died at Sudeley.
Henry himself, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Elizabeth I and Richard III have all played a part in Sudeley’s story. King Charles I found refuge here during the Civil War, when his nephew Prince Rupert established headquarters at the Castle. Following its ‘slighting’ on Cromwell’s orders at the end of the Civil War, Sudeley lay neglected and derelict for nearly 200 years.
Sudeley Castle & Gardens is now the home of Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe, and her son, daughter and their families. The family is committed to the continued preservation of the castle, its treasures and the ongoing restoration and regeneration of the gardens.
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Cost: £46 pp. Maximum number: 30

BOOKING FORM IS IN THE DOCUMENT SECTION (which can be found in 'Our Society')

This former home of Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and his wife Annie overlooks the sea at Bournemouth. It is filled with many objects from their extensive worldwide travels including British art, delicate and fine ceramics and an extensive Japanese collection.  The visitor steps back in time to see an impressive Art Nouveau style Victorian seaside home completed in 1901 and given by Sir Merton to his wife Annie for her 65th Birthday !  After their deaths , some twenty years later , the house and its contents were bequeathed to the Local Council for ‘ the enjoyment of the public of Bournemouth and visitors to the town ‘ 
 

Booking opens Thursday 5th February 2026

Cost: £46 pp. Maximum number: 51

BOOKING FORM IS IN THE DOCUMENT SECTION (which can be found in 'Our Society')

Christmas at Kew is an opportunity to see the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens spectacularly lit up along 3 kms of well surfaced paths . As well as seeing amazing one off special light creations and being able to visit the Fun Fair there is no shortage of hot tasty dishes , sweet treats , mulled wine and hot chocolate to enjoy along the route .  The trail is well lit but where this is low level , a torch is useful .  Warm , waterproof clothing is suggested for the cold nights , possible rain showers and of course , comfortable shoes .

 Booking opens on Thursday 4th September 2025

Click here for a booking form. It can also be found in the Documents Section  (which can be found in 'Our Society')

The Foundling Museum

In 1739 philanthropist Thomas Coram established the Foundling Hospital to care for abandoned babies.  He was appalled by the conditions faced by children in London: pollution, disease, terrible maladies and poverty.

The charity continues today Caring for and educating vulnerable children.

The artist William Hogarth and composer George Frederic Handel were instrumental in realising Coram’s dream. They transformed the hospital into the first public art gallery and one of London’s most fashionable venues. Leading artists of the time were encouraged by Hogarth to donate their works and Handel held benefit concerts where the great and the good could be seen.

The Museum is situated in the grounds of the old hospital.  Built in the 1930 it incorporates features from the original 18th century building.

The Charles Dickens Museum

Charles Dickens’ home from1837 to 1839, he lived here with his wife and family including his brother, Frederick, and Mary, his wife’ sister who inspired many characters in his books.

It was in this house he completed The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.

The Museum was opened in 1925 and houses first editions, original manuscripts and letters as well as personal items.

 Booking opens 3 July 2025

 BOOKING FORM IS IN THE DOCUMENT SECTION (which can be found in 'Our Society')

Chichester Festival Theatre was founded in 1962 by local optician Leslie Evershed-Martin which was effectively ‘crowdfunded’ by local individuals and businesses. 

Our visit to the Theatre includes a 60 minute backstage tour and is a brilliant way to explore how theatre is made! Discover the backstage spaces, how shows are created and experience the famous Festival Theatre stage.

You will hear all about the theatre’s beginnings and what makes the building so special and what happens behind the scenes and you may even have the chance to ‘tread the boards’ yourselves.

 Chichester Cathedral has stood at the centre of life in Chichester for 950 years, welcoming thousands of visitors and pilgrims who wish to discover the rich sacred heritage.

 2025 marks the 950th anniversary of the formation of the Diocese of Chichester and Chichester Cathedral.

In 1075 the decision was made to move the seat of the Bishop from Selsey to the more populous Roman settlement of Chichester, then Noviomagus. This was followed by the construction of the Cathedral, a sacred place of worship and Mother Church to the Diocese - a flourishing Christian community that falls within the boundaries of East and West Sussex.

We will be having a General Guided Tour at 2pm which encompasses all aspects of the Cathedral including its history, art and architecture.

22 September 2025 - 26 September 2025

Click here for the terms and conditions. The document can also be found in the Documents Section

The program format of the itinerary, provided by Heritage Travel, is incompatible with this section: ithe itinerary can be found in the 'Documents' section.

Booking opens Friday 7th February

Visit to Deene Park House and Gardens

Monday, 14th July 2026

Price £65

The Booking Form can be found in the Documents Section (which can be found in 'Our Society'

Deene Park has been the home of the Brudenell family since 1514. A largely 16th century house incorporating a mediaeval manor with important Georgian additions. It was the seat of the Earls of Cardigan, most notably the 7th Earl who led the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava in 1854. The house today is the home of Robert and Charlotte Brudenell and their son William. Visitors see the house as it is lived in. All the main rooms and the gardens are regularly in use. There is a large collection of art, furniture, and porcelain, together with a display of uniforms and memorabilia of the Crimean War.

The gardens feature herbaceous borders, a rose garden and a grand parterre designed by the late David Hicks.

Total of 30 Members only: £45 per person.

Wilton House is the home of the Earls of Pembroke and the present house is built on the foundations of a former Benedictine nunnery.  It contains an impressive collection of works by Rembrandt, Van Dyke and other famous artists of the 16th and 17th Century as well as an historic collection of Classical sculpture.  The grounds are a mixture of the 18th Landscape style of Capability Brown plus the more formal layout of the North Forecourt where one enters the house.  Wilton also has a beautiful Palladian Bridge crossing the River Nadder, which runs through the grounds, and an ever changing display of Lord Pembroke’s classic car collection on view in the Old Riding School.

 ITINERARY

09.15 Depart Amersham by coach (Tesco Lay-by: loo on coach) 

11.15 Arrive Wilton House (coffee/tea available in café at own expense)                      

12.00 Group 1 begin Guided Tour of house (60 minutes approx.)                                   

12.30 Group 2 begin Guided Tour of the house (60 minutes approx.)                             

Lunch in café (at own expense)                                                                                     

15.45 Depart for Amersham by coach                                                                              

17.45 approx Arrive Tesco Lay-by                                                                                    

Booking opens on Thursday 1st May

Visit organiser: Josephine Allen (07871 844867), assisted on the day by Jenny West (07817 455887)

Payment by cheque to: The Arts Society Amersham or Bank Transfer : a/c 00060151 : Sort Code: 40-52-40

Ref: Visit name and your name.  Payment needed within seven days to guarantee a place.

Please note that there is no refund unless a member on the waiting list can fill your place

Please reserve …….. place(s) @ £45 pp for the above visit.

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Bookings opens 3 April 

The booking Form is in the Documents Section

Chiswick House & Gardens is one of the foremost gems of 18th century British architecture, with over 300 years of discovery, inspiration and delight.  The House and its 65 acres of landscaped gardens evoke the work of some of the greatest names in architecture and design, including Andrea Palladio, Inigo Jones and William Kent.   June is a wonderful time to see the rosary (possibly the first English rose garden) and the Italian Garden.

Hogarth’s House is where the painter, engraver and satirist William Hogarth lived from 1749 until his death in 1764.  The House, a Grade 1 listed building, boasts a large collection of his work.  The charming small garden contains a mulberry tree present in Hogarth’s time. 

The Royal Pavilion guided tour (with free time in the afternoon to explore Brighton).

BOOKING FORM IS IN DOCUMENT SECTION         

Come with us to discover, during our guided tour, the striking beauty and fascinating history of The Brighton Royal Pavilion which was the  18th century seaside retreat and pleasure palace for King George IV. It is the perfect architectural example of his eccentric personality and  love of oriental décor. Its well-known appearance, with its domes and minarets is the work of architect John Nash.

The Pavilion was sold to the city of Brighton in 1850as it did not suit the more austere tastes of Queen Victoria. It is now maintained by them as are the Regency style gardens surrounding it.

During the First World War the elaborate  music rooms, where high society would dance the night away, became a military hospital for wounded soldiers.

The day starts with coffee, then you will have plenty of time to explore Brighton. Nearby suggestions are The Lanes, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and Pavilion Gardens. The seafront is only a five-minute walk away- ideal for a picnic and there are several cafes and brasseries close to the Royal Pavilion.

 BOOKING OPENS 6th MARCH 2025

**The Royal Pavilion is on level ground but has stairs to the bedrooms. There is no lift.

BOOKING FORM IS IN DOCUMENT SECTION

In 2024 Simon Whitehouse gave a lecture rated as excellent by us, on the world’s greatest paintings in the National Gallery. Many of you have asked to hear Simon again.

This morning Simon will show us the oldest painting in the National Gallery collection and then lead on to the most recent acquisitions with a focus on those that have played a key role in the gallery’s story. We’ll meet the people involved including a Duchess who nearly disappeared & a Duke who did!

As we walk through the Gallery we will learn how the building itself is an architectural marvel adapting to accommodate the ever expanding collection.

In the afternoon Simon will lead a walk and we will explore neighbouring Covent Garden, once home to artists whose work is in the National Gallery. We will hear how Inigo Jones created the first planned square in London and learn about the many characters who have populated this historic neighbourhood through the centuries, including famed actors, writers and the infamous Covent Garden ladies!

 Booking opens 5 December

THE BOOKING FORM IS IN THE DOCUMENTS SECTION

Dorney Court near Windsor is a striking warm pink brick and timber late medieval house standing in landscaped gardens and surrounded by mature English parkland. Visitors will encounter a unique historic home filled with wonderful paintings, antique furniture and needlework. Our guided tour offers an intimate and familiar glimpse into the history of England and a remarkable family story.

The afternoon will be spent at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge which now includes a large Exhibition and Visitor Centre opened in March 2018 with state-of-the art museum displays. The Bunker was the secret heart of Britain’s wartime air defence in the garden of Hillingdon House. It was here that the Battle of Britain was observed, planned and controlled and the original operations room appears exactly as it did at the height of the Battle of Britain on 15 September 1940. Please note that access to the Bunker is down 76 steps and can be unsuitable for those with reduced mobility. It is a Grade I listed building and there is no lift available. The Visitors Centre has an on-site café and shop.