Nostalgia & Tradition in the Heart of England

Based in a countryside 4* hotel, take a nostalgic journey to explore the treasures and traditions of times gone by in lovely Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Discover the Crich Tramway Village, home of The National Tramway Museum with its world renowned vintage trams trundling along a unique period street. Denby Pottery Village, Southwell Minster and Newstead Abbey Gardens make a wonderful contrast on this fascinating tour. There is also a visit to Sir Richard Arkwright's Cromford Mills, a UNESCO World Heritage site and time at leisure in Matlock Bath
Tour Highlights
- Hotel for 4 nights with breakfast & dinner (in a function suite)- Entrance to Crich Tramway Village- Visit to The Denby Pottery Village- Visit to Newstead Abbey Garden- Visit of Southwell Minster with guided tour- Guided tour of Cromford Mills- Time at leisure in Matlock Bath- Porterage

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Day 1 - After joining your holiday coach, head to Central England. There will be comfort stops on the way to Eastwood Hall for your 4-night stay with breakfast and dinner.\n\nDays 2 - 4 - At leisure with three included excursions\n\nINCLUDED EXCURSIONS:\n\nCrich Tramway Village & Denby Pottery Village\nHead to the Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum, to be transported back in time on a vintage tram through the unique period street and out into the open countryside for spectacular views. Watch as trams are restored from the Workshop Viewing Gallery and soak up the atmosphere in the period shops or the unique Red Lion pub. Admission included.\n\nSource: British Pathe\n\nAfterwards pop over to Denby Pottery Village and visit the Factory Shop, home to both the latest designs as well as discontinued ranges in quality seconds, glass, and accessories. Don't miss the excellent farm shop, deli and cafe.\n\nCromford Mills & Matlock Bath\nCromford Mills was rescued from dereliction in the 1970s by the newly formed Arkwright Society, and has been restored back to how it would have looked in the 1770's when Sir Richard Arkwright changed the world by building the first successful water powered cotton spinning factory and introducing the world to mass production. It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and the original mill houses a major interactive exhibition immerses the visitor into the average working day in the mill in the 18th century. There are also numerous shops on the Derwent Valley Mill's site, as well as a café and local cheese shop. The village of Cromford was originally built by Sir Richard Arkwright especially for his mill workers and is full of picturesque cottages, shops and an attractive market square\n\nLater on, head off to characterful Matlock Bath, set in the beautiful gorge of the river Derwent, with attractive riverside gardens, wooded hillsides and rocky limestone crags. A popular tourist destination since the late 17th Century when the spa waters were discovered, its' heyday was in Victorian, times when it became known as "Little Switzerland" by the poet, Lord Byron. There is a cable car ride (fare not included) that takes you up to The Heights of Abraham, where the wooded country park is crowned with the Victoria Prospect Tower\n\nSource: Cromford Mills\nSouthwell Minster & Newstead Abbey Gardens\nTake in the awe-inspiring view as you approach those impressive towers looming up over Southwell. Southwell Minster wouldn't look out of place in Game of Thrones, and never fails to inspire wonderment at the human capacity to conceive and create such an incredible, iconic structure. Built over Saxon and Roman foundations, it blends 12th and 13th century features, including zigzag door frames and curved arches. Its chapterhouse features some unusual stained glass and detailed carvings of faces, animals and leaves of forest trees\n\nNewstead Abbey is a treasure trove of the rare, beautiful and historically significant - from Romantic poet Lord Byron through Medieval, Victorian and Gothic Revival. Boasting stunning grounds and parklands, explore acres of meandering pathways, secret gardens, waterfalls and woodlands where peacocks roam and romantics wander. Please note: the house is not open\n\nDay 5 - Enjoy breakfast, check out and join the coach heading to interchange, with a stop in pretty Stamford on the way.Eastwood Hall, Nottingham ****
\n\nLocated in an unforgettable setting, easily accessible and just a short drive away from the city of Nottingham. A contemporary hotel with modern and stylish space. \n\n150 comfy guest rooms each with TV and tea/coffee making facilities. Leisure Centre and Lift. \n\nPlease note: Single rooms are doubles for sole use.