Overnight Historic Church Tour: Shakespeare, Spires & Saints

All Saints' Church, Billesley, Warwickshire

In this special anniversary year, marking 400 years since Shakespeare's death, we explore churches in the Bard's backyard and follow in his footsteps as we visit a church local to Anne Hathaway's childhood home, rumoured to be where the couple wed.

This overnight tour starts at Worcester Shrub Hill railway station, visiting six extraordinary churches over two days and overnighting at the Elizabethan Billesley Manor, just a few miles from the family homes of Shakespeare's mother, Mary, and his wife, Anne.

Day 1

Discover St Lawrence, Evesham, a treasure trove of craftwork with breathtaking stained glass and intricately carved ceiling. Next, Gloucestershire's St Mary, Little Washborne, has traces of medieval wall-paintings and is hidden in an orchard with spectacular Cotswold countryside views. Then, at St Nicholas, Saintbury, explore recently unveiled medieval wall-paintings which sit alongside striking Arts and Crafts details. Later, enjoy dinner, a talk and lodgings at the Elizabethan Billesley Manor Hotel.

Day 2

The day begins 400 years after Shakespeare’s death at All Saints, Billesley, rising from a wooded Warwickshire churchyard where, tradition has it, the Bard married Anne Hathaway. In Worcestershire we visit All Saints, Spetchley, with monuments featuring life-size figures in glorious 17th-century costume. We finish at the elegant Georgian St Swithun, Worcester. As well as a striking three-decker pulpit and Grade I listed 1795 organ, the church is our latest exciting regeneration project.

Coach: Collects from Worcester Shrub Hill railway station at 11am and returns at 4pm the following day.

N.B. The tour includes breakfast and dinner, one night's accommodation, pick up and drop off at Worcester Shrub Hill and travel between sites. Please note, it may be necessary to alter some details of the tours. Guests will be advised of any such amends as soon as possible.