England: Secrets of County Durham & North Yorkshire with Nicholas Merchant
24th May 2026
Key Highlights
- A guided tour at Ushaw and an opportunity to meet the curator
- A guided tour of Hovingham Hall
- The fine art and furnishing collection of Rokeby Park
- The extensive collection at the Bowes Museum
Summary
Delve into the some of the hidden treasures of County Durham in the company of Nicholas Merchant, an expert lecturer on Decorative and Fine Arts. Set in picturesque countryside, this quiet corner of northern England is home to a collection of lesser known, yet equally fascinating, country houses and historical buildings packed with fine furnishings and fascinating art collections.
Highlights of this tour include a guided tour at Ushaw College and an opportunity to meet the library Curator and see up close some of the delicate artefacts housed in the collections here, a guided tour of Hovingham Hall and a visit to the Bowes Museum, home to "The Curiosity Project," shortlisted for Permanent Exhibition of Year at the Museum & Heritage awards.
What's included
- Accommodation
- Meals as per itinerary
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- Services of an expert tour manager
- Comfortable coach travel throughout
Meet your tour manager
Nicholas Merchant
Nicholas Merchant is a freelance lecturer on the Decorative and Fine Arts. He lectures extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Europe as one of the accredited lecturers of the Arts Society formerly National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts. In addition he has lectured in the United States, South Africa and recently by zoom to New Zealand.
Day by Day Itinerary
Darlington
We depart London Kings Cross station for Darlington. On arrival we make our way to our hotel and in the early evening we enjoy a welcome talk & drink with our expert Nicholas Merchant before proceeding to dinner.
(please note: connecting rail travel to Darlington from other stations is available on request or there is a discount of £100pp for those making their own way to Darlington)
Meals IncludedDinner
Departure Routes
| Location | Pickup Time | Dropoff Time |
|---|---|---|
| Darlington Rail Station | 00:00 |
** Please note that all timings are approximate and subject to change. Final timings and pick-up points will be confirmed with your joining instructions approximately 10 days prior to departure. **
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