Boughton House - once a simple Tudor manor with a Great Hall at its heart - was transformed by its owner Ralph Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu, into a palatial residence. Montagu had been an ambassador to France, and on inheriting the house in 1683 he expanded it to reflect the contemporary style of the French Court. The State Rooms so impressed the King and Queen, William and Mary, that William III commissioned the State Rooms in his Hampton Court Palace.

After the death of Ralph’s son John the Dukedom became extinct, and for two centuries, the House ‘slept’. In the 20th century it became a family home again and the residence of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, a descendant of the Montagus.

The House’s world-renowned Buccleuch Collection includes paintings by El Greco, Van Dyck and Gainsborough, and exceptional French furniture and porcelain, while the State Rooms display stunning ceilings by Huguenot artist Louis Chéron.

Our visit will encompass a private viewing of the House, a tour of the estate with a guide who will join us on the coach, and some free time to enjoy the gardens. Coffee and biscuits will be offered on arrival. There is a café, and we will also have an area for those bringing a packed lunch. Cost is £55 per person.