Hello fellow history lover!

This is the first tour for 2025 and the 7th ‘The Anne Boleyn Tour,’ I have directed, the first being in 2018. The buzz of seeing a tour which has been in the planning for over a year, come into reality, is always thrilling. Meeting the guests, who I have been speaking to and emailing for months, is such a pleasure - I love it! Within meeting the group today there were also several reunions as previous guests, some for whom this is their 3rd or 4th tour with us, are returning - it’s really special seeing them again.

• Arriving at Hever Castle

• Welcome Drinks

• Opening Talk, from Gareth Russell, ‘The Rise of Anne Boleyn. From Hever to Hampton Court.’

• Dinner in the Tudor Suite Dining Room

Earlier today I met the group at our convenient London pick up point and we made our way on our private coach to Hever Castle, where the staff gave us a wonderful welcome and showed everyone through in to the Astor Wing, which is completely our own while we are here! A sign at the entrance states that British History Tours are hosting a private event - I don’t think I will ever tire of seeing that sign.

Guests had a couple of hours to settle into their individually decorated bedrooms, once used by the guests of William Waldorf Astor and, subsequently, John Jacob Astor in the early 20th century (including the future Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother), and explore the Astor Wing with its Billiard Room, Music Room, private Dining Room and our own private lawns with croquet!

In the early evening we joined up for welcome drinks, which gave guests a chance to meet each other and for me to formally welcome everyone.

After drinks, British History Tours’ Historian in Residence, Gareth Russell, opened up the tour’s Anne Boleyn related activities with his talk where he discussed Anne Boleyn’s time at Hever, what her life was like when she was here and topics which have caused huge debate…what did she look like, and when was she born! The talk will be available on Patreon.com/BritishHistory later this year.

The talk was followed by our first evening meal in our private dining room. Three courses followed by tea or coffee - no one goes to sleep hungry on my watch!

Arriving at a Castle…the feeling never gets old!

My first visit to Hever Castle was in 2018, and I don’t know how many visits I have made since but, a lot! It never fails to draw me in with its magic and beauty. It is not a large castle, hence Waldorf Astor’s need to build the “Tudor village” to house bedrooms, guest rooms and the service wing, but that makes it easier to imagine the Boleyn’s and the Waldorf’s living here, welcoming visitors and friends.

The sun was shining all day which made taking photos of this enchanting place even easier.

I am writing an article each day of the tour, with images included for paid Substack subscribers (and Patreon members over at Patreon.com/BritishHistory) about where we have been and what we have been doing!

Join me and Gareth Russell on The Anne Boleyn Tour in 2026!

You can join in yourself on The Anne Boleyn Tour in 2026! The tour dates are 18th - 22nd May 2026.

Unexpectedly, we have some space available on…

The Catherine Howard Tour

With the author of ‘Young & Damned & Fair',’ historian, author and broadcaster, Gareth Russell, we will be spending 9-days charting the progress Catherine Howard made as Queen to York, during which she began a deadly liaison, followed by the places which saw her terrifying demise.

Find Out more