2026 TOURS
The coming year’s tours include two NEW tours to Europe, to Berlin and to Lisbon. In Berlin we offer you a mixture of the old and the new with visits to the Jewish Museum by Daniel Liebeskind and the palace of Frederick the Great at Potsdam. Berlin is a thrilling city with art and cultural centres covering the centuries.
Lisbon, once the centre of a global empire, reflects that prosperity in its art collections and palaces. The palace at Frontiera is famous for its tile (a notable Portugese product) collection and its interiors and gardens, whilst the Gulbenkian Museum houses “Only the Best” as collected by Calouste Gulbenkian.
Here in the UK my interest centres on Country Houses. Particularly popular in 2025 have been the holidays in East Yorkshire and the Ribble Valley. Both regions which are something of a terra incognita to many people. In County Durham I am particularly pleased to introduce clients to the extraordinary collections at Ushaw as well as a little known Palladian villa at Rokeby. Staffordshire offers another little-known house Chillingham, as well as a chance for the ceramic lover to visit the Spode Museum. Finally in Cheshire, we visit Rode Hall, a privately owned house with its own collection of ceramics including rare work by Walter Crane.
Plenty of variety encompassing Portugese recollections of Empire and medieval textiles at Ushaw.
YOUR 2026 PROGRAMME
In conjunction with Travel Editions
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The following tours were originated by myself, Nicholas Merchant, as lecturer for Travel Editions. I have been a lecturer for Travel Editions for over 15 years. In suggesting these destinations to you I try to show you not just interesting destinations but also places which are not over-visited by mass tourism. My main interest is Country Houses, but I have a broad interest in the decorative and fine arts, hence my extensive list of lectures.
BERLIN AND POTSDAM
24th-29th March 2026
Berlin is one of the great cities of Europe. During our stay we shall sample not just the works of art and architecture of the past, but also that of the current century. From the 18th century splendour of the Prussian “Versailles” at Potsdam to the zig-zag architecture of Daniel Liebskind’s Jewish Museum we will discover the many aspects of this city, it is one of the most vibrant in Europe.
COUNTRY HOUSES OF CO DURHAM
1st-4th June 2026
Staying at 17th century Headlam Hall, which I have used on a number of occasions, is the nearest a hotel can be to staying a private house. Set in its own grounds with spa and golf course it is an ideal place from which to visit our destinations on this tour. Ushaw is unique. A former Roman Catholic seminary it now offers its treasures to the public, in the form of a chapel designed by Pugin, books not found in the British Library and sumptuous textiles surviving from medieval times. Only one of the destinations, including the Bowes Museum, home of the Silver Swan, and Beamish, the re-creation of a northern town of the early 20th century and winner of the ‘Museum of the Year Award 2025.’
COUNTRY HOUSES OF CHESHIRE
12th-15th July 2026
Probably the highlight of this tour to the Country Houses of Cheshire is actually over the border in Wales! This is Erdigg. It was not just the house and contents that were given to the National Trust in 1973 but all its ancillary buildings and, one might say, a vanished way of country house life. It is unique. Nearby is Chirk. A castle built at the time of Edward I. Latterly owned by the Myddletons, who transformed it into a “country house” Also on the list is Rode Hall home of the Wilbraham family (interesting ceramics), Tabley, (picture collection), Little Moreton Hall, (timber-framed), and Capesthorne. (Victorian house with earlier chapel).
COUNTRY HOUSES OF THE RIBBLE VALLEY
16th-19th August 2026
This was one of our most popular tours of 2025.Unwrecked Britain. The Ribble Valley was never tainted by trade and remains to this day as rural as it was in days gone by. This quiet is partly accounted for by the fact that the county was always loyal to the “Old Religion” and apart from the mainstream. The country houses of the area reflect this loyalty, the most remarkable being Stonyhurst, now an important school. But we also visit the Harris Art Gallery in Preston, created as a consequence of the boom-years of the 19th century.
COUNTRY HOUSES OF EAST YORKSHIRE
14th-17th September 2026
Turn off the A1 eastwards and you will find yourself in a different world. So popular was this “unknown” part of England, that we had to repeat the tour in 2025. For the Country House afficianado there are some remarkable houses, Burton Constable, with its extensive collection of Chippendale furniture, Burton Agnes, a family home combining in its contents the 17th and 21st centuries. And what about the “Sykes Churches”? Not to forget the town of Beverley and its Minster, worthy of Miss Austen and her novels.
COUNTRY HOUSES OF STAFFORDSHIRE
11th-14th October 2026
Chillington deserves to be better known. For those interested in architecture it has associations with some of the greatest architects of the 18th century, Smith of Warwick, Sir John Soane, and James Paine, not to mention the omnipresent Capability Brown. Victorian Sandon Hall is also little known and is also on the list of visits. Whilst Wightwick Manor represents the fruits of 19th century trade, arising from the paint fortune of the Manders family. You cannot visit Staffordshire without a reference to its pottery industry and this we do with a visit to the Spode Museum. A chance to discover some unfrequented destinations.
ONLY THE BEST, LISBON
Art and Architecture
24th-29th November 2026
Portugal is our oldest ally. Thanks to its maritime and imperial history, it has, for its size, one of the richest cultural heritages in Europe. Sited on the banks of the River Tagus are museums and palaces which recall that past, be it the Palace of Frontiera, or the Museu Antigue Arte, every one of the destinations on this tour recalls the wealth drawn from Portugese exploration either in the Far East, Africa or Brazil. A personal favourite is the Gulbenkian Museum. The creation of the renowned collector Calouste Gulbenkian, whose motto was “Only the Best”, it houses a collection ranging from ancient coins, Isnik pottery and Rembrandt portraits to 18th century French furniture and the jewellery of René Lalique.
TOURS IN CONJUCTION WITH BRIGHTWATER HOLIDAYS
Secrets of County Durham and North Yorkshire
with Nicholas Merchant
5 DAYS from £1,295
24th-28th May 2026
Discover 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 rare art collections.
Highlights of this tour include:
- A guided tour at Ushaw College and an opportunity to meet the Librarian and Curator and see up close up some of the rare artefacts housed in the collections,
- A guided tour of Hovingham Hall, former home of the late Duchess of Kent.
- A visit to the Bowes Museum, home to “The Curiosity Project,” shortlisted for Permanent Exhibition of Year at the Museum & Heritage awards.
Day 1 We depart London Kings Cross station for Darlington or travel independently to our hotel, the Mercure Kings Hotel Darlington. At our hotel we will enjoy a welcome talk and drink with expert Nicholas Merchant before dinner.
Day 2 This morning, we explore Ushaw, a former Roman Catholic seminary, with a guided tour. Its centrepiece is a chapel by Augustus Pugin, famed for his work in the Houses of Parliament. After a light lunch, we tour the library and view rare tomes unknown in the British Library. We meet the Curator to see rare Catholic heritage items, including medieval textiles. After tea and free time in the gardens, we return to the hotel for a talk with Nicholas on tomorrow’s destinations.
Day 3 Today we visit Raby Castle, the seat of Lord Barnard, with silken-walled state rooms showcasing Meissen porcelain and art by Marco Ricci, Joshua Reynolds, and David Teniers. Later, we explore the Bowes Museum, a French-style chateau with a strong collection of 18th and 19th century French art, including the famous automaton, the silver swan.
Day 4 After breakfast, we visit Hovingham Hall, home to Sir William Worsley, and the former home of the late Duchess of Kent. The Palladian style house, built by Thomas Worsley from 1750, features a unique riding school which now forms the entrance to the house . The gardens boast yew hedges, lawns with a celebrated cricket pitch and a 17th century dovecote. In the afternoon, we visit Rokeby Park, a Palladian villa by the amateur architect Sir Thomas Robinson, known as the designer of Castle Howard’s West wing. Home to the Morritt family since 1769, it houses an intriguing collection of furniture and objects including a version of the Rokeby Venus.
Day 5 Depart after breakfast.
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.
► Four nights dinner, (with wine) bed & breakfast at the 4-star Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel
► Return standard rail travel from London to Darlington (regional connections can be arranged and upgrades are also available at a supplement; £100pp (Reduction for no rail travel)
► One Lunch
► Comfortable coach travel throughout
► All visits as outlined in the itinerary
► Services of expert lecturer Nicholas Merchant as tour manager
BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS
DEPARTURES & PRICES PER PERSON
24th – 28th May 2026
£1,295 Single Supplement £150
Brightwater Holidays | UK & Worldwide Holidays 2026
01334 800 669 | info@brightwaterholidays.com | brightwaterholidays.com
“Rothschildshire” The Vale of Aylesbury
with Nicholas Merchant
4 DAYS from £995
3rd – 6th August 2026
Join us on this exclusive vacation to discover some of the architectural marvels and treasures associated with the Rothschild family, and neighbouring sites.
Highlights of this tour include:
We go to fascinating destinations, such as Stowe House, the Natural History Museum at Tring and Waddesdon Manor, learning about the legacy of one of the world’s most renowned families. With expert guidance from Nicholas Merchant, this tour combines in-depth historical narratives, curated visits to exquisite collections amid the verdant expanse of the Vale of Aylesbury.
The gardens at Stowe are one of Capability Brown’s greatest achievements, forming a background to the majestic palace, the former home of the Dukes of Buckingham. Waddesdon represents the finest remaining Rothschild house in the valley. Its architecture and collections are unsurpassed.
Day 1 Our first visit is to the Natural History Museum Tring. Once the private museum of Lionel Walter, 2nd Baron Rothschild, it lies on the Rothschild family’s former estate at Tring Park. The museum is a unique example of a Victorian Natural History Museum. Before dinner, your guide Nicholas Merchant will give a short talk on the Rothschilds’ local ties.
Day 2 After breakfast, we head to Stowe House, a Grade I listed mansion. Home to Stowe School, it is managed by the Stowe House Preservation Trust, which has invested over £25 million in its restoration. We enjoy a guided tour before some free time for lunch (not included) at the National Trust café. In the afternoon, we explore on foot the Stowe Landscape Garden, where Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown began his work as Head Gardener in 1741. Over time, Brown created a world-famous landscape with valleys, lakes, rivers, and over 30 temples and monuments designed by prominent 18th-century architects. Recent restoration efforts have revitalised many garden buildings and thousands of shrubs and trees have been planted.
Day 3 Our morning starts at the Rothschild Foundation at Windmill Hill, which continues the Rothschild tradition of architectural innovation. With spectacular views, over the estate this transformed dairy farm houses the extensive records of the Rothschild family. Later, we visit Ascott House, a Jacobean farmhouse remodelled between 1876 and 1884 by George Devey for Leopold de Rothschild. Inside, Ascott boasts a remarkable collection of paintings, fine furniture, and oriental porcelain. Donated to the National Trust in 1949 by Anthony de Rothschild, Ascott remains a countryside residence of the Rothschild family.
Day 4 After breakfast, we travel to Waddesdon Manor, renowned for its superb collection of French 18th-century decorative arts and paintings. Assembled by three Rothschild generations, the collection includes over 15,000 works of art, celebrated for their beauty and craftsmanship. Waddesdon’s French 18th-century furniture, porcelain, and textiles are particularly notable. The catalogue runs to 12 volumes. We enjoy a guided tour of the ground-floor rooms, followed by an included lunch.
Later, Mia Jackson, Curator of Decorative Arts, will talk on the furniture collection. The afternoon is free to explore the gardens, a marvel of Victorian “bedding out”.
BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS
DEPARTURES & PRICES PER PERSON
3rd – 6th August 2026
£995 Single Supplement £120
Brightwater Holidays | UK & Worldwide Holidays 2026
01334 800 669 | info@brightwaterholidays.com | brightwaterholidays.com
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