History Tour of England by Estra Tõnisson

Day 1 Hastings, East Sussex

estratonisson — 2024-03-06 09:19:18 UTC

Our first stop is the beach at Hastings, where William the Conqueror's armies arrived from Normandy in 1066, then we visit Battle Abbey built by William to celebrate his victory and watch actors in period costume to re-enact (taaslavastama) the battle and the death of the English King Harold.The Battle of Hastings (14 October 1066) was a battle between the Anglo-Saxon English and an invading Norman army.The day-long battle ended in the death of the Anglo-Saxon king and a decisive victory for the Normans. William, the Duke of Normandy, was crowned as King William I of England 10 weeks later. The Norman conquest was a major turning point in England's history.

Day 2 Tilbury Fort, Tilbury, Suurbritannia

estratonisson — 2024-03-06 09:25:37 UTC

Elizabeth I's reign was a Golden Age of sea exploration, discovery and military history. On the second day of our tour we visit the exact spot where in 1588, Elizabeth gave her famous speech to her troops on the day before they faced the much superior Spanish Armada - and defeated them! The Spanish Armada was a Spanish naval fleet (army of ships) most famous for being used by Spain's King Philip II against Britain in 1588. The ships were on their way to Flanders (across the English channel from England) to fetch an army to invade England. The Royal Navy of England during queen Elizabeth I's reign caught up with them on the way. The English defeated the Armada by using the wind to blow ships that were lit on fire into the anchored fleet. This started on 12 July 1588 and ended during August 1588.

Day 3 Tower of London, London, UK

estratonisson — 2024-03-06 12:19:32 UTC

London's most famous landmark was built by William the Conqueror in 1078,but its best-known historical connections are with the Tudor monarchs. Two of Henry VIII six wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were beheaded (had their heads chopped) here at his command. After his death his daughter Elizabeth was imprisoned here by her older sister Mary, but when Mary died in 1558 she was obliged to make Elizabeth her successor.

Day 4 (morning) Stonehenge, Salisbury, Suurbritannia

estratonisson — 2024-03-06 12:24:10 UTC

On day 4 we visit the West Country stopping at mysterious Stonehenge built by the native Celtic Britons around 2,000 BC. Stonehenge is a prehistoric World Heritage Site 13 kilometers) north of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. It is made of a henge, with standing stones in circles. No one knows who built Stonehenge or why they built it. During the summer solstice, the sunrise lines up with some of the stones in a particular way. This suggests that the arrangement of stones may work as a calendar. It also may have been a burial site or place of worship.

Day 4 (afternoon) Roman Baths, Abbey Churchyard, Bath, Suurbritannia

estratonisson — 2024-03-06 12:27:15 UTC

Then we are spending the afternoon at Bath, once the Roman spa town of Aquae Sulis ('the waters of the goddess Sulis'). The tour includes a visit to the famous hot springs and Roman baths (Rooma termid = avalik kümblusasutus Vana-Roomas, koos higistamisruumi, pesemisruumi ja basseiniga). Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has preserved some of its Roman remains and its 18th century architecture.

Day 5 Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK

estratonisson — 2024-03-06 12:30:23 UTC

No tour of England is complete without a visit to Elizabethan Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of the most famous writer of that age, William Shakespeare and home to many historic buildings. in the evening we will see a play at the world famous Royal Shakespeare theatre.

Day 6 Fountains Abbey, Fountains, Ripon, Suurbritannia

estratonisson — 2024-03-06 12:37:38 UTC

On day 6 we travel north and visit the majestic ruins of Fountains Abbey, perhaps the best example of the destruction caused by Henry the VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536-1540) when Henry sold all the buildings and land that belonged to the Catholic monasteries.The king had broken away from the Catholic church in 1534 and made himself the Supreme head of the Church of England. Henry VIII increased the power of the monarchy and government over the country. Many people he did not like were executed under his orders, including two of his own wives.

Day 7 Hadrian's Wall, Brampton, Northumberland, UK

estratonisson — 2024-03-06 12:41:28 UTC

On our final day we visit the most famous symbol of the Roman occupation of Britain, Hadrian's Wall. Although Julius Caesar led the first invasion of Britain in 55 BC, it was under the emperor Hadrian that the Roman Legions reached the most northern point of their Empire and built a wall from coast to coast as protection against the attacks of the Scottish tribes. It is a stone and turf fortification. There were three legions working on it and in 10 years it was nearly finished. The original wall was 6 metres tall and 2.5 m wide. It had a fort every 10 km that housed a force of over 500 soldiers and for each mile there were smaller forts and watchtowers. The full length of a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site is 117 km coast to coast, across some of the most dramatic countryside in England.