Cambridge, Burghley House & Deene Park House

Tour Information

Express your interest in this tour by completing the form and we will contact you when bookings open September 2024.

A short summer break combining two contrasting historic properties and a day in Cambridge.

Ever since Jacky visited Deene Park in Northamptonshire back in the Autumn of 2023 we have been looking forward to this all inclusive private visit.

Add in a day in historic Cambridge with a walking tour. Packed full of stunning architecture and nature, Cambridge is a beautiful university town renowned for its impact on history. The tightly packed city centre is perfect for exploring ancient colleges, cobbled streets and the picturesque “Backs” alongside the River Cam. Finally, after a private introduction we can explore the grandeur of Burghley House, Lincolnshire. Bliss!

Included in this tour

All inclusive private visit to Deene Park, Northamptonshire with guided house tour

A day in Cambridge with optional Green Badge Guided walk

Burghley House & Gardens, private introductory talk with morning coffee and self-guided house tour

2 night’s dinner, B&B at the 4* Delta Hotel, Peterborough, with leisure facilities and pre-dinner drinks on the first night

Tour accompanied by Wisteria Tours

Coach travel throughout the tour with award winning Lakeside Coaches of Ellesmere.

Cambridge, courtesy RMG Photography
Cambridge, courtesy RMG Photography
Cambridge, courtesy RMG Photography
Cambridge, courtesy of RMG Photography
The South Garden, Burghley House
Burghley House, Lincolnshire
Burghley House Garden
View of Burghley House
Kitchen at Burghley House
Burghley House
Burghley House Garden
Burghley House
Gates at Burghley House
View of Burghley House
The Victorian Kitchen, Deene Park
The grounds at Deene Park
Deene Park
The grounds at Deene Park
Deene Park

Itinerary

Tour Details

Day 1, Private visit to Deene Park, Northamptonshire

Deene Park Guided House Tour, refreshments on arrival and lunch

Built over six centuries, the house evolved through the Tudor and Georgian periods to the mansion it is today. Deene Park is a treasure trove of art, antiques, and family history, boasting a captivating collection of portraits, period furniture, and rare artifacts. The unique blend provides the visitor with an impressive yet intimate ambiance; a family home spanning the lifetime of many generations.

On arrival morning coffee will be served in The Old Kitchen, a charming Victorian tea room which was the old kitchen for the main house.

Following coffee, enjoy a 90-minute private guided tour of up to 15 rooms of the house. Explore the Tudor Great Hall, admire Lady Cardigan’s Victorian ball gown, meet Ronald, who rode at Balaklava, and see the Georgian wing of the house which was built for entertaining.

Lunch

A 2-course light lunch of soup and sandwiches with tea or coffee and a biscuit is included in today’s visit and will be served in The Old Kitchen tea room.

RHS Partner Garden

After a house tour the grounds and gardens are open for group members to explore at their leisure. Managed by a team of two gardeners, head gardeners Andrew Jones has been caring for and developing the gardens since 2001.

Planted in 1990, low box hedges enclose formal planting that gives colour throughout the year in relaxing shades of blue, purple and white. Delightful topiary teapots, clipped lollipops of hawthorn and frames festooned with roses complete the scene. Roses are an important feature of the gardens, covering the walls of the house and old Kitchen Garden.

Immediately to the south of the house is a large parterre designed by David Hicks. Running west from the parterre, backed by the walls of the old Kitchen Garden are the Long Borders and White Garden. Here, formality gives way to a more relaxed feel, where shrubs, herbaceous perennials and bulbs tussle and mingle to form a kaleidoscope of colour throughout the season.

Departing at 16.00 we aim to arrive at the hotel with time to settle in and relax before we get together for pre-dinner drinks about 19.00.

Day 2, A Day in Cambridge

Today we will spend the day in Cambridge, arguably the country’s most beautiful historic city. Enjoy elegant architecture surrounded by green spaces and home to the University of Cambridge’s world-famous colleges.

Wander through the winding streets and follow in the steps of the city’s luminaries including Charles Darwin, Alfred Tennyson and Sylvia Plath to name but a few.

Green Badge Guided Walking Tour

An optional guided walking tour is a great way to get the most from a city visit so a local Green Badge Guide will join us for a couple of hours meeting the coach on our arrival in Cambridge. This tour will include an in-depth visit to one of the historic colleges and a number of the key sights in the historic centre of Cambridge. If you prefer to make your own arrangements for the day you can leave the group on arrival in the city and meet us at the end of the day for the coach journey back to the hotel.

Things to do in Cambridge

If you enjoy art galleries and museums you simply wont be able to fit them all into one day. There is the free-to-enter University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, which houses world-class collections of art and antiquities spanning centuries and civilisations. At Kettle’s Yard, one of the country’s finest galleries and a major centre for 20th century and contemporary art, visitors will find a wide range of artworks, sculpture trail walks and galleries to appreciate. Follow this link to explore more places to visit.

15-minutes walk from Cambridge city centre is the Cambridge University Botanic Garden (CUBG) which holds a collection of over 8,000 plant species from all over the world to facilitate teaching and research. The Garden provides resources including plant material, horticultural expertise and facilities to research workers and lecturers. Watch a fascinating video about the gardens here. The coach will pick up from the gardens at approximately 15.30.

Since its foundation, however, the Garden has also provided a beautiful place for everybody to enjoy and benefit from – a series of wonderful landscapes through which to discover the drama of plant diversity. Explore the different Garden sections – from tropical glasshouses to British wild flowers.

Cambridge is a fabulous destination for foodies! From local pubs to lavish eateries, the city caters to every gastronomic taste. Grab a drink, tuck into a delicious meal, and enjoy the culinary delights of one of the UK’s finest cities. Our Guide will provide some suggestions on good places to eat.

If it’s shopping you are after Cambridge has it all, from some of the finest independent boutiques around, a seven day a week market and all the high street brands you might expect, you won’t be disappointed. There’s something for every budget, with luxury boutiques blending seamlessly alongside more affordable fare.

The coach will pick us up at 16.00 to take us back to the hotel arriving around 17.00 and dinner will be served at 19.30.

Day 3, Burghley House, A Stately Retreat

Burghley House is close by so we can enjoy a leisurely breakfast with the coach departing for Burghley.

Prepare to be transported to a realm of opulence and history as you step into the grandeur of Burghley House, one of England’s most magnificent stately homes. Located in the heart of the picturesque Lincolnshire countryside, this exceptional estate is a testament to the rich architectural and artistic heritage of the United Kingdom.

Built in the late 16th century, Burghley House is a masterpiece of Elizabethan architecture. Its imposing façade, adorned with intricate stone carvings and turrets, leaves visitors in awe. Inside, a treasure trove of art and antiques awaits, including a remarkable collection of Old Masters paintings.

Private Welcome Talk, Morning Coffee & Self-Guided Tour

On arrival at Burghley we have arranged a very special experience. Before the house is open to the public we will have tea and coffee served in the Loggia room, overlooking the beautiful Rose Gardens. While we enjoy our refreshments one of the house guides will give an introductory talk providing insight to Burghley’s history and the Cecil family before we view the House. After the talk explore the house at your own pace.

The Gardens

The Gardens are bursting with life, imaginative planting, sculpture and surprises sure to delight. Explore two spectacular gardens, each with their own distinct atmosphere and beauty. Find hidden trails, imaginative planting and Elizabethan trickery. Discover horticulture, sculpture and sensational seasonal colour as you stroll through the undulating landscape of our Sculpture Garden, Capability Brown’s lost gardens.

The Garden of Surprises is a visual and sensory experience inspired by the Elizabethan fascination with astrology, astronomy and Classical civilisations, originally built by the 1^st Lord Burghley. Watch the tranquil water features as fountains bubble and a gentle rill winds its way, disappearing into Neptune’s shell grotto. Explore the misty depths of the moss house, venture through the mirrored maze and find yourself at the centre of the world using the longitudinal dial.

The Sculpture Garden, rediscovered after substantial clearing, Capability Brown’s lost lower gardens were reclaimed in 1994. An astonishingly undulating landscape revealed a charming domed ice-house, hidden limestone cliff and meandering stream below a dramatic rise up to Brown’s great lake.

This intriguing and evolving garden, along with its ancient trees, provides a wonderful gallery for Burghley’s sculpture exhibitions. Annual themed shows of sculpture are specially curated to demonstrate the versatility of the medium. The innovative sculpture are both loaned and commissioned and often take their inspiration from the house and the context of the gardens. The works are displayed alongside sweeping borders, diverse plantings and broad drifts of wildflowers.

When you are ready for lunch choose from The Orangery restaurant which serves locally sourced dishes throughout the day, including a seasonal lunch menu and luxury afternoon teas. You can book ahead or simply walk in on the day. For something more casual visit the Garden Café for a freshly made barista coffee, light lunch and homemade cake. If you are looking for gifts then stop by The Courtyard Shop which offers a beautiful range of homewares and accessories as well as jewellery, toiletries and food gifts.

Departing Burghley for Shrewsbury around 15.00 we will have a comfort break en-route aiming to arrive in Shrewsbury at approximately 18.30.

Booking your place

£654 per person for 2 people sharing a twin or double room + sole occupancy supplement of £90.

£100 non-refundable deposit is payable on booking. Full payment is due 10 weeks before departure.

And finally…

You are strongly advised to take out your own travel insurance to cover you for any emergency or cancellation or loss of luggage etc.

We have an ‘All Weather Policy’ which means the tour will go ahead come rain or shine unless the Met Office announces it is unsafe to travel. You are advised to check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.

Please look at the Hotel Information and Mobility & Accessibility sections further down this for information on venues.

Delta Hotel by Marriott, Peterbrough

Delta Hotel, by Marriott, Peterborough, located on 11-acres of gorgeously landscaped grounds. A prefect base for exploring the area. Facilities include a fitness centre and in-door pool.

Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, England, United Kingdom, PE2 6GB

Tel: +44 1733-371111

Accessibility & Mobility Information

We want you to enjoy your holiday so if you have any mobility concerns we recommend you look at the links below which take you to the accessibility and mobility policies for the venues we are visiting. If wheel chairs or mobility vehicles are available for hire please make any arrangements directly with the venues.

For information on Deene Park follow the link and scroll down the FAQs page to the section on accessibility in the house and garden.

Burghley House provides lots of detailed information on this page.