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William the Conqueror Group Tour

William the Conqueror Group Tour

William the Conqueror Group Tour

1066 signalled a major crux in the Middles Ages, when Anglo-Saxon England was conquered by the illegitimate son of a Norman Duke. Edward the Confessor died, sparking a three-way battle for the English throne. William, Duke of Normandy, boasting a very tenuous claim to the throne, landed on the south coast and overthrew King Harold's army at the famous Battle of Hastings. Visit Pevensey, where William landed. Walk the battlefield trail at Battle to encounter carved wooden sculptures depicting Norman and Saxon soldiers and explore the atmospheric abbey, built by William soon after the conquest. Dig deeper into the past in the interactive exhibition and head to the gatehouse roof for stunning views over the battlefield. Explore other Norman castles still standing today, nearly 1000 years on.

Tour Highlights

  • Visit the site of the Battle of Hastings, where William the Conqueror defeated King Harold. See Battle Abbey and an exhibition exploring events leading up to the Battle. Tour the Battlefield and listen to a detailed account of the Battle day itself with an exciting audioguide narrative.
  • Pevensey, where William landed.
  • The seaside town of Hastings, to see the remains of William's first English castle. Learn about the smugglers who dominated the coastline, visit the Shipwreck Museum or enjoy traditional fish and ships.
  • Herstmonceux Castle with its wide moat and rolling parkland.
  • Canterbury, which surrendered to William, with its medieval city walls and Gothic cathedral, where Thomas a Beckett was murdered by William's descendant Henry II.
  • Dover, with its famous White Cliffs, where William strengthened his defences immediately after the Battle. Visit Dover Castle, a stronghold built by the Conqueror's descendant Henry II to safeguard England against further invasions.
  • London with William's great Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, where he was crowned.
  • Windsor Castle, one of William's first castles and the family home of British monarchs for almost 1000 years, making it the world's oldest and largest inhabited castle.

What Our Clients Say

I was very fortunate to be on their 70th and 75th D-Day celebration tours. The service and attention to details was exceptional. It was very moving to go back.

As a Jane Austen enthusiast, this tour was perfect - and the Jane Austen Festival in Bath was just fabulous to see!

Words fail me...The Downton Abbey was a perfectly wonderful travel experience! We did not know we would be the ONLY guests at the Abbey. When we realised how truly exclusive our tour was we were speechless! Surreal being there and actually meeting Lady Carnarvon.