Summer visits 2024

All outings pick up from outside Waitrose and the Beacon Centre.   There is NO PICK UP from the Old Town due to the volume of parked cars.  Should the visit be oversubscribed, then preference will be given to members of Beaconsfield Historical Society.   Please note that we have introduced closing dates for bookings. 

19^th April – Vale Brewery Tour                                                   Cost: £33 (Please book by 1^st April)

A later start means that the first stop is at The Pheasant, Brill for a light lunch (not included in the price) after which we will proceed to the Vale Brewery in Brill for a tour.  The family-owned brewery has created its ales since 1995 and are dedicated to creating exceptional beers. Their team spans across the generations, with a shared passion for the craft. The tour includes tasting six beers 2x paddles 2 pints in total although non drinkers will be catered for.

Coach leaves: Waitrose: 11:00 a.m; Beacon Centre: 11:15 a.m; Brill 3:30 p.m.

24^th May – The National Archive and The Poppy Factor y                              Cost: £39.50 (Please book by 1^st May)

Our first stop is the National Archive in Kew where we can see The Great Escapes Exhibition (mentioned by Helen Fry in her talk in February).  There is a café here for refreshments. Leaving here at 12.00 p.m. we then go to the Poppy Factory for a tour at 12:30 p.m.  The Poppy Factory was set up in 1922 and as well as hearing their history and their work with veterans, we will make our own poppies, followed by tea or coffee and cake (included in the price).

Coach leaves: Waitrose: 9:00 a.m; Beacon Centre: 9:15 a.m; Richmond: 4:00 p.m

19^th June 2024 – Knole – Sevenoaks                                       Cost £28 (NT) £43.20 (non NT). (Please book by 1^st June)

In 1946 Knole was gifted to the National Trust to be opened to the public.  It wears its centuries of history gracefully. From modest manor house to the home of Archbishops and royalty, the grand ancestral home of the Sackville family.  As well as seeing the showrooms and gatehouse tower, we will also have a tour of the rarely opened private Sackville family gardens.

Coach leaves: Waitrose: 9:00am; Beacon Centre: 9:15am; Knole House 3:30pm

10^th July 2024 – Apsley House/Number One London                                      Cost: £42 (Please book by 24^th June)

Apsley House is also known as Number One London and was purchased by the 1^st Duke of Wellington in 1807 from Lord Aspey.  It contains a treasure trove of many of the objects, paintings and memorabilia collected by him as gifts or spoils of war. The practice has been to maintain the public rooms as far as possible in the original style and decor of the 1st Duke.  Standing alone on Hyde Park corner, it was the Duke’s townhouse and was originally designed by Robert Adam.  It is, perhaps, the only preserved example of an English aristocratic townhouse from this period.  Traffic permitting, we will start our tour of the house just before it is open to the general public. There is no café on the property but there is The Lodge café a few minutes’ walk away and the Serpentine café in Hyde Park.

Coach leaves: Waitrose: 9:00 a.m; Beacon Centre: 9:15 a.m; Apsley 4:00 p.m

12^th August 2024 – Richard III Leicester                                  Cost £36 (Please book by 26^th July)

 In 2012 the body of Richard III was found under a carpark in Leicester.  His body was later reburied in Leicester Cathedral.  We will tour the King Richard III Visitor Centre that showcases the life of King Richard III and the story of the discovery, exhumation, and reburial of his remains in 2012-2015.  The tour will end with a visit to the Cathedral to see his grave and to find out why the decision was made to inter him in Leicester rather than York. Refreshments are available at the Visitor Centre in The White Boar Café, as well as in the Cathedral.  There are other places in the surrounding area to eat or explore at your leisure.

Coach leaves: Waitrose: 8:30 a.m; Beacon Centre: 8:45 a.m; Leicester 4:00 p.m.

19^th September 2024 – RAF Hendon                                                    Cost £30 (Please book by 1^st September)

The RAF Museum at Hendon houses examples of the most iconic aircraft that have ever graced our skies as well as showing the history of aviation and the actions of the RAF during WW1 and WW2. There are over 100 aircraft in the museum.  As well as learning about the RAF, we will have a talk on the Cold War, and how the RAF responded in the age of uncertainty.

Refreshments are available on site or there is picnic area should you wish to take your own food

Coach leaves: Waitrose: 9:00 a.m; Beacon Centre: 9:15 a.m; Hendon: 4:00 p.m