Our Tour this year takes us to Manchester, ranked as one of the UK's most vibrant cities, with a rich historical and cultural heritage.  We will include Chetham's Library, the Manchester Art Gallery, the Bridgewater Hall, the Lowry, the Whitworth Art Gallery and the Imperial War Museum North. Our coach will also take us to the stunning new RHS Bridgewater garden, opened in 2021.  On the way to Manchester we will stop off at Wightwick Manor and on the way home the rest stop will be at Haddon Hall.  We set off from Petersfield on Monday 6th October, returning on Friday 10th.

For details contact: info@theartssocietypetersfield.org.uk

Our Tour group will be heading to Madrid to visit some of the wonderful galleries and churches, as well as enjoying a day trip to Toledo the old capital of Spain.

 Glasgow & Edinburgh: Cultural and Arts Treasures of Scotland.

Monday 9th  to Friday 13th  October 2023

From our base in Glasgow, we will visit the House for an Art Lover, and learn about the creative genius of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who helped to define Glasgow’s very particular architectural style, and was so crucial in the development of the Art Nouveau movement.

Edinburgh blends ancient buildings, including the famous castle, with the Georgian splendour of its New Town.  Here, we will visit Holyrood House and the Royal Yacht Britannia.  

A whole day has been set aside for Dumfries House, a stunning Palladian mansion, saved by the intervention of HM King Charles in 2007. It houses an unrivalled collection of original furniture and is surrounded by 2,000 acres of beautiful grounds.

The tour also includes trips to the Burrell Collection, with its tapestries, oriental treasures, Degas pastels and works from 15th to 20th century artists, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with over 8,000 exhibits, including paintings by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso.

For further information, please contact Faith Charnock-Wilson  at faith.tasp@gmail.com

Monday 10th to Saturday 15th October 2022

The Golden Age in Holland witnessed a period of enormous prosperity, during a time when the Dutch Empire spanned the globe. Dutch Art also flourished during this time, with painters such as Frans Hals, Vermeer and Rembrandt at the peak of their prowess. We will visit the galleries exhibiting their works.

The coach departs Petersfield Festival Hall car park at 06.00. We will be leaving St Pancras at 11.04 by Eurostar and travelling direct to Rotterdam from where we have a short coach journey to the Park Hotel in The Hague. From the hotel we will enjoy a series of visits within the city itself, including the Mauritshuis and its superb collection of Dutch Masters, but also visit the historic cities of Amsterdam (and its famous Rijksmuseum), Haarlem and Delft.

The five night tour includes bed and breakfast, three dinners and two lunches, plus all guides, travel and tips. The price for an adult based on sharing is £1695, and there is a single supplement of £250. Final payments must be made by 01 August.

ALL TOUR MEMBERS CAN MEET FAITH IN THE COFFEE ROOM AFTER THE LECTURE IN SEPTEMBER.

In terms of art and architecture, the area which encompasses Madrid and Aranjuez is perhaps the richest in all of Spain. Madrid is a wonderfully diverse and visually striking city with a compact centre, featuring over 50 museums and galleries. Yet beyond the modern Spanish capital, this area of Spain contains a number of other impressive towns which have played vital roles in the development of art and architecture in the region, including Aranjuez.

Monday 18 October

We transfer by coach from Petersfield to London Gatwick and check in for our 12.05 Easyjet flight to Madrid. Upon arrival in Madrid, we will be met by our guide, Mauricio Larumbe, and board our coach for a short orientation tour of the city before continuing to the 4 star Hotel Liabeny, where we will enjoy a welcome dinner.

Tuesday 19 October

In the morning we will visit the Real Academia de Bellas Artes, the former art school where both Dali and Picasso studied. Before lunch we will embark on a guided walk of the literary quarter. After lunch, the afternoon will be devoted to the Museo del Prado, one of the world's most important art galleries. In the evening, there will be an informal lecture led by our guide, followed by free time for members to make their own dinner arrangements.

Wednesday 20 October

This morning, we will travel to the Real Fabrica de Tapices, the royal tapestry factory. Next we will continue to the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, the collection brings together the contents of the former Spanish Contemporary Art Museum, the 20th century works from the Prado and bequests by Dali and Miro. In the afternoon, we will visit the Sorolla Museum, situated in Joaquin Soraolla's own house. The remainder of the day will be at leisure.

Thursday 21 October 

After breakfast we will travel from Madrid to Aranjuez. The 18th century Royal Palace of Aranjuez is a summer palace situated at the confluence of the rivers Tagus and Jarama, and is surrounded by 740 acres of beautiful gardens. There will be free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will make the short journey to Chinchon, one of the most picturesque towns in the region. The evening will be at leisure.

Friday 232

After breakfast we will enjoy a full day of visits in Madrid, starting with the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, a small church renowned for its Goya fresoces. Next, we will continue to the old town for a walking tour, followed by a visit to the Palacio Real, the lavish royal palace built by Philip V. After free time for lunch, we will transfer by coach to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which houses works of art collected by this family over two generations. This evening we will dine together in the beautifully restored 17th century inn, the Posada de la Villa. 

Saturday 23 October

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and transfer by coach to El Escorial, the vast and impressive royal mausoleum. In the afternoon we will transfer to Madrid airport by coach to catch the Easyjet 15.05 to London Gatwick.

THE TOTAL COST IS £1530 PER PERSON SHARING A TWIN/DOUBLE ROOM. THE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IS £260.

A five-night, six-day tour has been arranged from Monday 23rd to Saturday 28th September

Monday 23rd September

Depart from Petersfield by coach for Cambridge where we will visit Anglesey Abbey, dating back to 1600, the house was built on the site of a 12th century Augustinian priory. It was adapted in the 20th century by Hittleston Broughton, the first Lord Fairhaven and his sumptuous collections are on display. There will be time to visit the 100-acre landscaped garden and arboretum before heading to Norwich.

In Norwich we will check into the 3 star Best Western George Hotel, our home for the next five nights' dinner, bed and breakfast.

Tuesday 24th September

The morning will be spent exploring central Norwich in the company of a blue badge guide. In the afternooon we will have a guided tour of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art at the University of East Anglia.

Wednesday 25th September

We rejoin our coach and travel to Sandringham for a visit to Sandringham House, Her Majesty the Queen's charming country retreat, for a free-flow visit of both the house and gardens. In the afternoon we will continue with a visit to Houghton Hall, built in the 18th century by Sir Robert Walpole and designed by Colin Campbell, with interiors by William Kent. Situated in beautiful parkland, the house is regarded as one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture in England.

Thursday 26 September

After breakfast we will take the coach to Wells-next-the-Sea for a private guided tour of Holkham Hall, another fine example of Palladian architecture, built by William Kent. Renowned for its fabulous collection of art, its most striking room is the marble hall. The 3000 acre park, with it mile-long lake, was landscaped by Capability Brown in 1762 and the formal terraces were laid out by Nesfield in 1854.

After lunch, we will travel to East Ruston for a private visit of East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens. Alan Gray and Graham Robeson incorporated innovative design and clever planting when they laid out 32 acres of garden round the Arts & Crafts vicarage over 15 years ago.

Friday 27 September

This morning we will join the coach for a short drive to Aylsham where we board the train for a journey on the Bure Valley Railway to Wroxham station, then in Wroxham we board a boat to cruise on the beautiful Norfolk Broads. In the afternoon, we continue to the National Trust's Blicking Hall. Dating from the early 17th century, this Jacobean house was built in red brick with a gabled facade and elegant corner turrets, it was greatly altered in the 1760s. The formal garden dates from 1729 with a temple, an orangery, a park and a lake.

Saturday 28 September

We will check out of our hotel after breakfast and travel home via Ely for a guided visit of Ely Cathedral, a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture. Following major restoration the Octagon and Lady Chapel are of special interest. The cathedral is surrounded by the largest collection of medieval buildings still in domestic use. After lunch we will continue our journey back to Petersfield. 

For further information and prices please contact Linda Boataswain on linboatswain@john-lewis.com

Sunday 23 September

We will depart by coach and head for Dover where we board the ferry to Calais. We will then continue through France via Reims to Nancy where we check in to our first hotel, Hotel Mercure, for two nights' dinner, bed and breakfast.

Monday 24 September

This morning we meet a local guide for a tour of elegant 18th century Nancy, including the Museum of Fine Arts. After lunch we have a private guided visit of the Ecole de Nancy museum.

Tuesday 25 September

After breakfast we check out and head to the popular resort of Gerardmer where we take a short boat cruise on the lake before lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to Colmar and check in to the Hotel Europe, where we will stay for four nights (dinner, bed and breakfast). 

Wednesday 26 September

After breakfast we travel to the ancient university town of Basel with its very fine medieval churches. We meet our guide for an orientation tour of the city, including a vist to the Kunstmuseum. After lunch we visit the Beyeler Foundation with its masterpeices of French impressionism.

Thursday 27 September

This morning we have a local walking tour through the cobbled streets of Colmar with its half-timbered medieval houses, we will end up at the Unterlinden Museum where early Rheinish paintings are on display. After lunch we travel to the Alsatian wine region, visiting Ribeauville and ending with a wine tasting at a local vintner in beautiful Riquewihr. 

Friday 28 September

Today we take the coach to Strasbourg, the cultural and economic capital of Alsace, seat of the European Parliament. Here we meet a local guide for a walking tour prior to a boat trip along the waterways which encircle the old town.

Saturday 29 September

We check out of the hotel after breakfast and head home on the late afternoon ferry from Calais to Dover. 

The tour price is £1165 per person sharing a twin/double room. £215 for a single supplement. This price includes all coach travel, ferrry crossings, 6 nights' dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation, locval guides, boat trips, wine tasting and all entrance charges and fees.