Guided Tours

Our new service was conceived to allow overseas visitors a way to explore carpet and architectural highlights that can be seen within the UK, with the help of our local knowledge. Intimate and tailored to individual requirements, Ed can take you directly to the exhibits of interest making the most of your valuable time in the capital. Below is a suggestion of possible venues, but requests to visit specific destinations are welcome. Please contact us to plan a bespoke tour.
A guide to the amount of time needed for each visit is indicated below the listing.
Full day = 8 hours. Half day = 4 hours

Suggested venues

Ham House, Near Richmond, Surrey. Built in 1610, the house contents have been virtually unchanged since the mid 18th Century. This Thames-side house contains some interesting textiles, carpets and paintings of the period. A house long believed to be haunted. (Half day)

Hampton Court Palace. Now fully restored after a devastating fire a decade ago. Much of the 16th Century Tudor Palace is still intact and can be visited. The Great Hall is hung with Tapestries, woven specifically at the time for this room, and now considered to be one of the foremost treasures of England. The 18th Century part of the palace was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and contains decorations of that period, including some interesting rugs, carpets and textiles. (Full Day).

Parham House, Pulborough, West Sussex. A 16th Century country house and estate that has been owned by only three families since it’s construction. It houses some fine embroideries & tapestries, several rugs including two 18th Century Caucasian carpets, stump work panels and the saddle of James the First of England (1603-12). An hour and a half’s drive from central London (full day).

Post Great Fire of London Churches. Churches that were designed by Wren, Hawkesmoor and Hooke in the decades after the Great Fire of London (1666) and those built in response to the following period of the growing non-conformist movement. (Full or half Day)

V&A Museum The Islamic Gallery houses one the world’s greatest carpets, The Ardabil Carpet, now displayed on the floor, The Chelsea Carpet and a fine early Ushak carpet among others. In other galleries are fine Mughal carpets and textiles. (Half day).

We also offer a bespoke service that can combine many of the above attractions and other points of historical and carpet interest. Please contact us and we can incorporate what you wish to see into an established or your owned design tour.

Rates

The rates for 2010 Tours are £150 a day (8 hours) and £75 per half day (4 Hours) plus any expenses at cost. Entrance to venues is not included. Tours are limited to 8 people, the cost being the same regardless of the number on the tour. Unless otherwise requested tours will be on foot and by public transport. Where requested a mini bus may be hired for out of Central London destinations at the customers expense.