This rarely-viewed historic grade 1 listed home is only open 4 or 5 times per year and we have been lucky to book a slot for a maximum of 30 STRADFAS members. The group tour of the house and church lasts 1½ hours and is led by the owner of the house, Mr. Benjamin Wiggins. It is scheduled for Wednesday 8th July at 10.30 am.  Honington Hall is approximately 10 miles from Stratford, just off the Shipston Road, and there is ample signed parking outside the house.
The Hall is a fine Caroline manor house built in the early 1680s in mellow red brick with stone quoins decorated with carved busts and with tall chimneys.
The perfect model for a dolls’ house, the interior was lavishly remodelled in 1740s and includes good plasterwork and an octagonal salon.
The tour costs £15.00 per person. To avoid any additional handling charges, payment will be made by card or cash only on lecture days in April, May and June.
Ater the tour, why not visit the historic market town of Shipston-on-Stour for a pub lunch at the White Bear, a light lunch at Mrs Browns or a leisurely restaurant experience at the Bower House?
*Please note that your email address, mobile number and an emergency contact number will be required when booking.

Set in the rural landscape of Herefordshire, Hellens is a much-loved Tudor/Jacobean home with an incredible collection of stories, characters, art, furniture, grounds and gardens.
The manor has a striking half-timbered facade and classic Tudor brickwork, whilst its beautifully preserved oak-panelled rooms offer a glimpse into the past. Amongst its many treasures are heirlooms linked to Anne Boleyn and an impressive art collection, including paintings by renowned artists such as Gainsborough, Van Dyke and Goya.
The gardens of Hellens are designed in Tudor style, featuring a yew labyrinth, a rare octagonal dovecote, a physic garden and a knot garden. The grounds also encompass ancient woodlands and wildflower meadows, offering picturesque views of the Malvern Hills.
After travelling by coach from Stratford, we will begin our visit to Hellens with coffee and cake in the tearooms and a chance to look around the gardens and shop before taking the guided tour of the Manor.
Once our tour of Hellens is completed, we will travel the short distance to the historic market town of Ledbury, where there will be time for lunch and a short stroll around the historic cobbled streets before returning to Stratford.

You may book by clicking HERE, or at the forthcoming lectures.

Charting the rise of Cartier from its inception in 1847 to becoming ‘the jeweller of kings and king of jewellers’, this exhibition looks at the evolution of the house’s legacy in art, design and exceptional craftsmanship.

This dazzling collection features precious jewels, historic gemstones, and iconic watches and clocks. The 350 pieces on display follow Cartier’s rise from a 19th-century Parisian workshop to a global symbol of luxury and influence. For an excellent V & A lecture on the Cartier brothers and background information on the exhibition, use the following link: https://youtu.be/UpHUIYBc494?feature=shared

Schedule for the day
We will leave Stratford from one of the three pick up points listed below, stop for a short break on the way to the London before arriving at the V & A at 11.15 am – 11.30am. We will all have plenty of time to view the exhibition, have a leisurely lunch and take in the other attractions of South Kensington before leaving for Stratford at 4.15pm.

Board the coach at the following pick up points:
Johnsons depot, Henley in Arden              7.30 am
The Racecourse, Stratford on Avon           8.00 am
The Arts House, Rother Street                     8.15 am
Coffee stop at Beaconsfield services (subject to traffic)
Arrive at the V & A                                       11.15 am – 11.30 am
Timed tickets are for 11.45 am, 12.15 pm, 12.45pm and 13.15 pm
We will depart London at 16.15 pm arriving back in Stratford at 19.05 pm.
To book your place click HERE

Day Visit to Madresfield Court

Thursday, June 5th 2025

Booking is now open via the link in the special bulletin dated 24th march, or at the April and May lectures while places remain available.

Madresfield Court is a privately owned, moated stately home at the foot of the Malvern Hills.  Reputedly Evelyn Waugh’s inspiration for Brideshead Revisited and with strong connections to Elgar, the house is an architectural masterpiece and contains a fine collection of paintings, furniture and ceramics. On arriving at Madresfield Court, we will have a short talk before spending the morning relaxing in the beautiful estate gardens and enjoying a fascinating 90 minute guided tour of the house. Tea or coffee and cake is included in the price.  You will then have free time for lunch in Malvern before we return to Stratford.
The cost for the day is £48.00

Detailed Itinerary:
8.00 am                Board the coach at Johnsons coach park, Stratford race course, 8.30 am or The Playhouse at 8.45 am.
10.00 am             We arrive at Madresfield and begin our visit with a short talk in the visitors centre before dividing into two groups.
10.30 am             Group 1 will begin the 90 minute guided tour of the house whilst group 2 will have time to  walk around the gardens and have tea/coffee and cake in the visitors centre.
11.30 am             Group 2 begin their guided tour of the house.
12.00 pm             Group 1 finish their house tour and have time to complete their visit to Madresfield with a walk around the gardens and refreshments in the visitors centre
1.00 pm               Group 2 complete their guided tour of the house and all board the coach for Malvern.
* Approximately 10 main rooms are open to visit during the house tour including the Staircase Hall, Dining Room, Library and Chapel.
Unfortunately, due the restrictions of a listed building, the upstairs Galleries and Chapel may not be accessible to those with restricted mobility.
1.10 pm               Arrive Malvern where we will have approximately 2 hours to have lunch, (not included), and look around the town where there are a number of independent shops and places of interest, such as Great Malvern Priory https://www.greatmalvernpriory.org.uk/priory-open,  and the local museum https://malvernmuseum.co.uk/.
3.00 pm               Board the coach for the return journey to Stratford.
4.10 pm               Arrive Stratford. Arrival time at the racecourse will be approximately 4.25 pm and arrival in Henley in Arden will be approximately 5.00 pm

This event is now Sold Out. Plase contact info@stradfas.org.uk to join the waiting list.

STRADFAS arranges several day visits throughout the year.

Members have priority booking but non-members may join if there is space.

Details of the visits are notified in the newsletter, the monthly bulletin, on the website and at lectures.

For further information contact dayvisits@stradfas.org.uk

STRADFAS arranges several day visits throughout the year.

Members have priority booking but non-members may join if there is space.

Details of the visits are notified in the newsletter, the monthly bulletin, on the website and at lectures.

For further information contact dayvisits@stradfas.org.uk