ABOUT THE TOUR
Enjoy another tour in this successful series of ‘Great Houses and Gardens’ in the UK with Tania Illingworth, an opportunity to see the best of little-visited Shropshire at this prime time of year. The county’s mineral wealth attracted landowners to build creatively in Shropshire from early medieval times and its coal and iron deposits became the source of our great Industrial Revolution. The manufacture of machinery and new technology from the 1750s transformed industrial growth world-wide, contributing immeasurably to Britain’s economy.
This one-off tour includes visiting great houses of historic interest, built during the 18th and 19th-century boom times, with guided tours by the owners and head gardeners and some private lunches with friends of Tania’s. See the world-class collection of paintings at Weston Park privately; the Iron Bridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site; Hatton Grange, an 18th-century architectural jewel; magnificent Millichope Park; the family landscaped gardens at Hodnet Hall; as well as other mature, heavenly gardens set within the hills, woods and rivers in one of England’s prettiest rural counties.
TOUR LEADER
Tania Illingworth
5 dayS from £2,195 per person
TOUR DATE: 15 – 19 JUNE 2026
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £295
Price Includes
- Accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary
- Breakfast daily; 4 lunches; 2 dinners
- All entrance fees, visits, excursions and transportation as per the itinerary
- Gratuities in restaurants for included meals; gratuities to guides/s; gratuities to driver/s; porterage
- The services of your tour leader throughout
Price Excludes
- International flights / rail tickets
- Travel insurance
- Items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.)
- Government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 09/05/25.
DAY-BY-DAY OVERVIEW
Monday 15 June: Wolverhampton / Ludlow
Depart by train from London Euston Station to Wolverhampton Station (not included in the cost of the tour).
Lunch under own arrangements. Group transfer on arrival. Visit Weston Park and Burwarton House including afternoon tea. Transfer to Ludlow and check in at the Clive Arms hotel where four nights are spent. Dinner at the Ludlow Kitchen.
Four nights at the Clive Arms Hotel, Ludlow
Tuesday 16 June: Bromfield / Morville / Shifnall
Visit Oakly Park House followed by Aldenham Park house and gardens.
Private lunch at Aldenham Park. Visit David Austen Roses and Hatton Grange house and gardens. Dinner under own arrangements.
Wednesday 17 June: Ironbridge / Willey / Bridgnorth
Visit Ironbridge village. Continue for a visit to Willey Hall and Stanley Hall house and garden.
Private lunch at Stanley Hall. Visit Woodlands Hall Gardens followed by Acton Round Hall house and gardens. Dinner under own arrangements with option to drive into Ludlow for dinner at own expense.
Thursday 18 June: Hodnet / Willerton / Cound
Visit Hodnet Hall Gardens.
Lunch at Maynards restaurant at Hodnet. Visit Wollerton Old Hall Gardens and The Leasowes Garden and Arboretum at Cound. Dinner at the Ludlow Kitchen.
Friday 19 June: Munslow / Church Preen / Wolverhampton
Visit Millichope Park house and garden. Continue to Church Preen and visit Preen Manor Gardens and the church (time permitting).
Box lunch. Group transfer to Wolverhampton Station for a train to London Euston (train not included).
The service we received from The Ultimate Travel Company was second to none. Tania took the time to understand exactly what we wanted and helped us explore every option clearly and thoroughly. Her first-hand knowledge of Kenya and safaris made a real difference – she explained everything brilliantly. The thoughtful extras, like the travel wallet and documents, were such a lovely touch – especially for someone who loves to travel well-organised! Thank you so much. We’ll definitely be back for future adventures.
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