Following the course of the English Civil Wars this tour traverses landscapes, towns and battlefields where the dramatic conflict unfolded. We begin in Oxford, Royalist capital and a city repeatedly besieged, exploring its defences, colleges and the Ashmolean Museum. From here we visit Newbury, scene of two major battles, and the ruins of Basing House, a Royalist stronghold that endured three sieges before falling to Cromwell.

Travelling north, we explore Broughton Castle, a centre of Parliamentarian plotting, before continuing to Cropredy Bridge and the battlefield of Edgehill, the first major clash of the war. From our base in Stratford upon Avon we spend a day in Worcester, where Cromwell defeated Charles II in 1651, visiting Powick Bridge, the Commandery and the Cathedral.

A full day at Naseby reveals one of the best preserved battlefields in Britain, site of the decisive 1645 victory of the New Model Army over the King’s forces. We then continue to Newark to visit the excellent National Civil War Centre before heading to York for two nights. Here we explore Marston Moor, the battle that broke Royalist power in the north, and finish with a walking tour of York, scene of the pivotal 1644 siege.

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.

**This tour will include a special visit to the battlefield at Naseby guided by the Naseby Battlefield Project and including access to areas not open to the public**

Day 1: Oxford
Arrive Oxford midday and check in to our hotel (rooms may not be available at this time). Here we enjoy a light lunch followed by an introductory talk by our expert historian. We then embark upon a walking tour where we learn about the role of Oxford in the Civil Wars. Key sites to visit will be the city’s defences (Oxford was put under siege three times), the King and Queen’s lodgings at Christ Church and Merton colleges respectively, and the Ashmolean Museum. Hotel in Oxford - 2 nights. (L, D).

Day 2: Battles of Newbury and Siege of Basing House
This morning we drive to the lovely Berkshire town of Newbury, the site of two major battles in the war. The First Battle of Newbury (20 Sept 1643) is considered by some to be the most crucial engagement of the First Civil War, when the Earl of Essex outmanoeuvred the King’s army and opened the road to London. In the Second Battle (27 Oct 1644) the King’s forces were able to escape the clutches of the three Parliamentarian armies, who were beset by internecine disputes. We then visit the magnificent Elizabethan Shaw House, gallantly defended by Lisle’s Tercio, before pausing for lunch. We then visit the ruins of Basing House, a former royalist stronghold that came under siege on three separate occasions before finally capitulating to Cromwell in 1646. Return to Oxford. (B, D).

Day 3 Broughton Castle, Cropredy Bridge and Edgehill
We leave Oxford and travel to the beautiful 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. Before the outbreak of war Parliament’s future leaders met here in ‘the room that hath no ears’. We then move on to Cropredy Bridge where Sir William Waller botched his attack on the strung-out Royalist army on 29 June 1644. We then travel the short distance to the battlefield of Edgehill (23 October 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 place his army between London and the Parliamentarian force. Drive to Stratford-on-Avon and our hotel - 2 nights. (B, D).

Day 4 Worcester
A day trip from Stratford to Worcester the site of a Third Civil War battle fought on 3 September 1651, when Oliver Cromwell faced the army of Charles II. We start at Powick Bridge, the site of the audacious river crossing undertaken by Cromwell’s army across the Severn and Teme, and site of the first meaningful skirmish of the civil war in England in 1642. We then move to the Royalist command post at the Commandery and the hill at Fort Royal Park where we gain a rewarding view over the city. We also enter the magnificent Cathedral, from where Charles watched the battle unfold. (B).

Day 5 Battle of Naseby
Today we move from Stratford to visit Naseby where we have the privilege of a special full-day tour guided by the Naseby Battlefield Project who will take us to areas not normally open to the public. This is possibly the best-preserved battlefield of the Civil Wars where, on 14 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. We drive to our hotel nearby – 1 night. (B, L, D).

Day 6 Siege of Newark and National Civil War Centre
From our hotel we travel to Newark where we visit the excellent National Civil War Centre. Here the Civil Wars are put in context alongside the social life and conditions of the time and the seismic political circumstances of an England in turmoil. After lunch we enjoy a brief walking tour of Newark where we see buildings connected to the Wars in the town. Drive to York and our hotel – 2 nights. (B, D).

Day 7 Marston Moor
We spend most of the day exploring the field of the decisive battle of Marston Moor (2nd July 1644) which we explore by coach and on foot. Here we will explore key aspects of the battle, such as where the Parliamentarian cavalry under Cromwell released their surprise attack, and the events which ultimately ended in the complete rout of the Royalists forces. We then visit St James' Church at nearby Bilborough to see the grave of prominent Parliamentarian commander Sir Thomas Fairfax, (1612 – 1671) and his indomitable wife Lady Fairfax. Return to York where we have free time to explore this fascinating city. (B, D).

Day 8 York in the Civil War and depart
On our last day we explore the beautiful city of York and its role in the Civil War on a walking tour with our expert guide. We learn about 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. After lunch we return to our hotel and say our farewells. York main railway station is nearby with excellent connections to many parts of the country including regular trains to London (2 hours 20 minutes – 2 hours 50 minutes). (B).