The Classic English Civil War 1642 -1651

The Classic English Civil War 1642 -1651

Bible in One hand, Pistol in the Other

General History ToursMilitary History and Battlefield Tours

The Classic English Civil War 1642 -1651

Bible in One hand, Pistol in the Other

General History ToursMilitary History and Battlefield Tours

Your Holiday Essentials

To be confirmed

click here to register your interest

Tour Introduction

This nine-day tour of England takes us to the scenes of all the major battles: Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby; the King’s capital of Oxford; the wonderful cities of York and Worcester; key fortresses and houses; and the sites of many other the key battles and sieges. We start and end at our hotel situated on the outskirts of Oxford which boasts easy reach of rail and air links and offers ample parking for the duration of the tour.

Background

The English Civil Wars (1642-51) comprised the deadliest conflict ever fought on British soil. Although much historical attention has focused on the events in England and the key battles of Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby, this was a conflict that engulfed the entirety of the Three Stuart Kingdoms, led to a trial and execution of the King, the establishment of a Republic, and profoundly shaped the history of Britain and Ireland. Churchill, in his History of the English-Speaking Peoples, wrote of the English Civil War that ‘underlying the apparently clear-cut constitutional issue was a religious and class conflict’. Suggesting that one of the main drivers was based on class and material considerations is both misleading and unhelpful; yet this vision of the wars as David (in the guise of the Parliamentarians) rising up against Goliath (the Royalists) pervades. This was simply not the case. In the English Civil War brother fought against brother, and father against son and nothing has imprinted itself so deeply on the nation’s memory as the national civil struggle of the mid-17th Century.

Highlights

  • Explore civil war Oxford and its environs
  • Stand on the iconic battlefields of Edgehill, Naseby and Marston Moor
  • Visit besieged Basing House and Broughton Castle
  • See where King Charles I spent his last night of freedom
  • Discover the historic cities of York and Worcester

What's Included

  • 3 & 4 Star Hotels
  • Expert historian throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
  • Buffet breakfast each morning
  • Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
  • Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening
  • Dedicated Tour Manager
  • Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
  • Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned coach
  • Tour information booklet
  • The company of like-minded travelers

Itinerary

Day 1. Oxford
Assemble at our hotel on the outskirts of Oxford for morning coffee prior to exploring the Royalist capital and discussing its three sieges. We will visit South Park where the besieging batteries were sited. Then on to Old Marston and Cromwell’s House and St. Nicholas Church, where Cromwell and Fairfax ‘enjoyed’ a fiery two-hour sermon by the chaplain of the New Model Army. Finally, we venture into the centre of the city, where we will enjoy a guided tour of this wonderful city, looking at the civil war aspects and much more.

Day 2. Edgehill and Broughton Castle
Travel to the battlefield of Edgehill (1642) which was the first major engagement between the two armies. The Royalists came out on top in a closely fought battle with Prince Rupert, the Kings’ nephew, proving himself as a brash, but talented cavalry commander. But the King fails to capitalise on his advantage and places his army between London and the Parliamentarian force. This afternoon we visit Broughton Castle (home to the Fiennes family), a hotbed of the Parliamentarian movement that was besieged, and taken, by Royalists following the battle of Edgehill.

Day 3. Lansdown and Roundway Down
We visit the field of Lansdown (1643), a long battle which ended with a Roundhead withdrawal that a much-depleted Royalist army was not strong enough to pursue. Thence to the battlefield of Roundway Down (1643), considered the ‘the greatest cavalry victory of the War’ where a Royalist force under Lord Wilmot relieved the Parliamentarian siege of Devizes.

Day 4. The battles of Newbury and Basing House
We explore the Parliamentarian victories around Newbury. Firstly, in 1643 when the Earl of Essex outmanoeuvred the King’s army and opened the road to London. Then, the following year, at the second Battle of Newbury, the King’s forces were able to escape the clutches of the three Parliamentarian armies, who were beset by internecine disputes. We visit the (magnificent Elizabethan) Shaw House gallantly defended by Lisle’s Tercia, and Donnington Castle, where the Royalists left their artillery for safekeeping after the battle. Thence to the ruins of Basing House, a former royalist stronghold that came under siege on three separate occasions before finally capitulating to Cromwell in 1646. Dinner at your own expense this evening.

Day 5. Cropredy and Naseby
Check-out of our hotel and travel to Cropredy Bridge where Sir William Waller botched his attack on the strung-out Royalist army on 29th June 1644. Thence to magnificent and possible best preserved battlefield at Naseby where, on 14th June 1645, the New Model army narrowly defeated the main Royalist Army, in what transpired to become the most decisive battle of the First Civil War. Continue to Southwell where we spend the night.

Day 6. Southwell and Newark
We take a short walk around civil war Southwell, the King’s Arms and the Bishops Palace, where Charles surrendered to the Scottish Commissioners. Then we travel the short distance to Royalist Newark to discuss its three sieges by Parliamentarian forces. We will visit the National Civil War Centre with its fascinating exhibits, as well as enjoy a civil war tour around the town taking in the ruins of the town’s large castle, where King John met his fate in 1216. Continue to York where we spend the next two nights.

Day 7. Marston Moor and York
We spend the morning exploring the field of the decisive battle of Marston Moor and see where the Parliamentarian cavalry under Cromwell released their surprise attack. We examine the battle area, and look at the aspects that ultimately ended in the complete rout of the Royalists forces. We return to the beautiful city of York to recount the great Parliamentary siege of 1644 which, although relieved by Prince Rupert, was to fall a few days after the battle of Marston Moor. The battle and the siege destroyed the Royalist power base in the north and was the turning point in the war.

Day 8. Powick Bridge and Worcester
Drive to Worcester for the final battle of the Third Civil War fought on 3rd September 1651. We see the fight for Powick Bridge, the site of the audacious opposed river crossing undertaken by Cromwell’s army across the rivers Severn and Teme, the Royalist command post at the Commandery and visit the magnificent Cathedral, from where Charles watched the battle unfold. We spend our final night of the tour on the outskirts of Evesham.

Day 9. Broadway Tower and Stow-on-the-Wold
We visit Broadway Tower and then the lovely Cotswold town of Stow-on-the-Wold, which was the scene of the last engagement of the First Civil War on 21st March 1646. We will visit the marvellous exhibition in St Edwards Hall, which houses an interesting collection of paintings cataloguing the period of the English Civil wars. After a lunch in this lovely town, we return to Oxford and disperse.

Recommended Reading List

Photo Gallery

tours by datethemesperiodsdestinations

direct link

Subscribe to Our E-Newsletter

For up to date news as well as details about all of our tours please subscribe to our fortnightly e-newsletter

Subscribe