Liverpool: City of Culture & Tudor Speke Hall
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Port
Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$109.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
This captivating tour takes you to Speke Hall -- one of England's finest examples of a Tudor half-timbered house -- set in delightful grounds overlooking the River Mersey.
Enjoy a brief panoramic tour of Liverpool's city center, taking in such famous sites as the Royal Liver Building and Albert Dock, as well as the city's two vastly contrasting cathedrals -- the contemporary Metropolitan Cathedral and the historical Anglican Cathedral. You will then head out to the suburb of Speke.
Originally built in the 15th century, Speke Hall is an impressive, wattle-and-daub Tudor manor house. It is absolutely one of the finest surviving examples of its kind. The Great Hall dates back to Tudor times and boasts fine Jacobean plasterwork and intricately-carved furniture. The Oak Parlour and smaller rooms date from Victorian times and include some delightful Arts & Crafts Movement decorations by the likes of William Morris. There is also a fully-equipped Victorian kitchen and servants' hall, making it easy to form a picture of what life was like upstairs and downstairs -- for the wealthy and for their servants -- throughout the long life of the house. Ask a docent to show you the location of the priest's hole -- a feature added to many manor houses in England. This was an alcove in which Catholic priests could be hidden during the reign of King Henry VIII, when the clergy was persecuted after the King founded the Church of England.
During your visit to this incredibly picturesque property, enjoy a delicious cream tea -- a traditional British refreshment consisting of a cup of tea or coffee and scones with jam and cream.
Step out into the restored gardens, which were created between 1855 and 1865. Don't miss the outstanding summer border and stream garden, as well as woodland walks and magnificent views of the Mersey Basin and North Wales.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes.