Join us in July for a guided walk round the leafy suburb of Dulwich led by Diane Burstein who showed us the sights of Marylebone a few years ago. Diane is a hugely experienced Blue Badge guide and has led walking tours all over London.

Dulwich owes much even today to the charitable foundation of Edward Alleyn, The College of God’s Gift ( 1619. )  The modern successor of Alleyn’s charity still owns 1500 acres in the area.

We will hear how Alleyn’s guilty conscience originally led to the foundation of almshouses and ultimately to three famous schools. We will see the art gallery which is also a mausoleum, pass London’s only remaining tollhouse, walk through two delightful parks and finish in a real London village street – Dulwich Village itself.

 Getting there

So as to make sure everyone arrives at the same time and fresh for the walk we will be organizing transport to Dulwich. The journey will be by a vintage London Transport RF class bus familiar to those of us who grew up in the area and regularly travelled on routes 440 and 447.

 The bus will start from the Red Cross at 9.30am and drop us off at West Dulwich Station.

The walk

The walk will start at about 11am depending on the time of our arrival and last approximately 2 hours.

Getting back

Open-ended. Diane will leave us in Dulwich Village about 10-15 minutes’ walk away from North Dulwich Station. We can enjoy lunch in Dulwich, visit the Picture Gallery or the park and go home by train when we’re ready.

Cost

Inclusive of transport by vintage bus to Dulwich and guided walk - £25

 To book a place on this trip please contact Paul Fletcher on paul.fletcher627@ntlworld.com 

Join us for a visit to these two local attractions - Thursday 7th May 2026 - £35 per member (£45 for non-members)

The dustcover of the recently revised Pevsner guide to Surrey shows two exotic-looking buildings neither of which seems to belong amid the green, wooded hills of our county. On the front is the bizarre flint construction of Horsley Towers while the back cover shows the Gothic Temple at Painshill with a distant view of the Turkish Tent. In May we will be visiting both locations to get to know them better.

We have not booked transport on this occasion as we think most members would be happy to make their own way to the two destinations. Precise directions to both Painshill and Horsley Towers can be provided later.

Painshill is the creation of Charles Hamilton, a younger son of the Earl of Abercorn. Without any realistic chance of becoming an earl himself but having reasonable if not lavish financial resources and ample time at his disposal, Hamilton cast around for alternative occupations. Having travelled extensively in Europe he became interested in landscaping and gardening and in 1738 bought a parcel of land near Cobham with the intention of transforming it into an idyllic wonderland. In the course of the next few decades he created a unique ‘circuit garden’ of hills, valleys, lakes and panoramic views. 9 buildings of all shapes and sizes were positioned throughout the landscape including what was then the largest artificial grotto in Europe.  Perhaps predictably, Hamilton overreached himself financially and had to sell up in the 1770s. Initially, Hamilton’s landscape was maintained and even developed by subsequent owners but by the mid-20th century it had fallen into decline and many of the buildings had collapsed. Thankfully, a consortium of enthusiasts and public bodies emerged in the 1980s and the park has been restored to its 18thC glory.

In May we are offering a choice of tours on foot or by buggy. Each will have a knowledgeable and experienced guide with them.

A hundred years after Hamilton’s work at Painshill the first Earl of Lovelace moved to East Horsley from Ockham Park. There had been a house here since the 18thC but the Earl had plans of his own which became increasingly extravagant as the years went by. Over the next 20 or so years Lovelace created the Horsley Towers , with which every driver on the A246 between Guildford and Leatherhead must be familiar, developing his own outlandish style of neo-gothic in flint and polychrome brick. His successors sold the estate in the early 20thC and it is now a hotel and wedding venue.

We have arranged a tour of the principal attractions.

The programme for the day is as follows:

Members make their own way to Painshill to arrive by 10am.

10am Arrive at Painshill & refreshments ( included )

10.30 Tour on foot or by buggy ( 2 separate tours )*

12.00 ( Approx ) Tours finish

12.00-14.00 Time for further exploration of the park and lunch - not included. Members might wish to bring their own packed lunch or make use of ‘Mr Hamilton’s Tearoom’ which serves  a good selection of hot and cold food and drinks.

14.00 ( Approx ) Depart for Horsley Towers

14.30 ( Approx ) Arrive at HT

14.45  Tour

15.30  Refreshments ( included )

16.00 ( Approx ) Depart

 Cost = £35 per member, £45 for non-members (Includes entrance, tours and refreshments)

To join the tour please contact Paul Fletcher first to make sure of a place, then pay the Arts Society Reigate in the usual way.

Paul Fletcher  paul.fletcher627@ntlworld .com

*Those who would like a buggy tour at Painshill must let me know at the time of booking as places are strictly limited and cannot be requested on the day.

Join us for a visit to Leighton House and add in a visit to Sambourne House, too!

Venue: Leighton House 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ.  (Travel independently but please contact Catherine Shevlin on 07768 020367 or via email: shevlinc@aol.com if you would like directions).  

Date: Wednesday 20th August 2025

Cost: £20 per member for the guided tour of the house. (Non-members £30).  N.B. refreshments not included.

It is imperative to contact Catherine (see above) before paying for this visit.

The Leighton House Museum is an art museum and historic house in Holland Park, west London. 

Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896) was one of the most famous British artists of the Victorian age, establishing an international standing and reputation.  The recipient of many national and international awards and honours, he was well acquainted with members of the royal family and with most of the great artists, writers and politicians of the late Victorian era.  He became the figurehead for the new found prestige and popularity of Brtitish art in the late Victorian period.

Leighton house remains largely unchanged today.  It is an extraordinary building which has much to show us and a few surprises up its sleeve!

We will be meeting at Leighton House at 11.00.  Our group's guided tour of the house will start at 11.30 and will last approximately 90 minutes.  There is a small cafe in the house where refreshments can be purchased. There are also many cafes and restaurants in the area for lunch.

Sambourne House is situated nearby at 18 Stafford Terrace, London W8 7BH and is the home of Edward Linley Sambourne (1844-1910). Leighton and Sambourne lived as neighbours for over 20 years and had many acquiantances in common.  They were widely known to their contemporaries: Leighton as the most prominent artist of his day, a celebrated painter and president of the Royal Academy and Sambourne as chief cartoonist at the infamous satirical magazine, Punch.  Their simliar tastes were reflected in the furnishings of their homes.  This house also remains largely unchanged today and is an interesting historic home in its own right.

Sambourne House can be visited on the same day, but this visit is not included in the price above and will be a free flow visit.

Join us for a private tour of Godinton House and a chance to explore the gardens of this ancient estate surrounded by magnificent, tranquil parkland. Godinton House dates back to the 14th century and has a long social and architectural history.  It is home to an extensive collection of porcelain, art, and furniture. This rich heritage has been preserved by its owners for over 600 years despite the rise and fall of a score of monarchs, uprisings, rebellions, Civil War and threat of invasions.

Date of Visit : Tuesday 8th July
Cost: Member £45
Coach Travel
Lunch (not included) is available to book in advance.

Schedule for the day:

09.00: Depart by coach from Reigate. Pick up TBA

10.00:  Arrive Godinton for coffee and biscuits.

11:15 Tour of the house in groups for 1hour.

12:30 Lunch (Not Included but available to book. Speak to Sue for further details)

14:00 Free time to explore the gardens

16:00 Depart Godinton

To book your place please contact Sue Casbon – email: sue@casbon.co.uk 

It is imperative that your contact Sue before paying.
 

This visit is now fully booked.  Please contact Paul Fletcher to go on the waiting list.

Join us for a guided tour of Westminster Abbey, interspersed with music from the Purcell Club choir.

The visit will begin with a welcome in the Cloisters at 6.45pm.  From here we will move into the Abbey where a guide will describe particular points of interest e.g. the Choir, Sacrium, High Altar.  This will be accompanied at intervals by contributions from the choir who will sing pieces from the 16th century until the present day.  We will also enjoy a demonstration of the magnificent Abbey organ.  The tour will end with the choir singing a solemn piece around the Unknown Warrior's tomb while the lights dim.  The evening concludes at approximately 9.15pm.

The Purcell Club tours are known to be a uniquely special way to see the Abbey and enjoying the great English choral tradition.

We will meet outside the Abbey on the right as you face the west end, near the entrance to Dean's Yard at 6.30pm before making our way to the Cloisters.

Cost: £50 per member

Please contact Paul Fletcher paul.fletcher627@ntlworld.com to book your place.  Please do not pay until you have contacted Paul.

Join us on Tuesday April 22nd for a visit to Rochester Cathedral, The Huguenot Museum and a guided walking tour.

We will have coffee provided on arrival at Rochester Cathedral, followed by a guided tour of Rochester Cathedral, the second oldest in England.

This will be followed by a guided visit to the small Huguenot Museum which contains a wide range of items from tiny bibles to beautifully crafted silverware. Also on display is the magnificent Lethieullier Dolls House which was given to the daughter of a Huguenot merchant.

In the afternoon there is a guided walking tour of the major sights in the old City, the Cathedral precincts and the Castle grounds.

Click here for full details

Cost: £50 per member

To book your place please contact Ann Morris on:
01737 247650 
or email:
amorrisartssocietyreigate@gmail.com

NB: It is imperative to contact Ann before you book.  Or you can pay by card at a monthly lecture.

This upcoming visit is fully booked.  Please contact Paul (details below) to go on the waiting list.

Firle Place is owned by the Gage family who built it in the 15th century and have lived there ever since. It offers 'a captivating fusion of Tudor and Georgian influences' and is home to a significant collection of old masters and other treasures.  After coffee, we will enjoy a private guided tour before the house opens to the public at noon.

Towner, Eastbourne first opened over 100 years ago, but transferred to its striking new building in 2009.  It is best known for its modern British art, including the largest and most significant body of work by Eric Ravilious.  We will have our own private art store tours as well as  access to all the public areas.

Schedule for the day:

9am:  Depart by coach from Reigate, Brightlands Road to Firle Place

 10.30 – 12.15 approx Tour of Firle Place preceded by coffee/biscuits (included)

 12.15 – 12.45 Transfer to Eastbourne

 Approx 12.45 – 1.45 Free time in Eastbourne. (Own lunch arrangements in Towner’s own restaurant, ‘Light,’ their ‘Cinema Café & Bar’ or nearby.)

2pm - 4pm. Towner Gallery visit. We split into 2 groups for the art store tours (2-2.45 and 2.45-3.30 respectively) and will have free time in the gallery either before or after our tour. 

 4pm. Return to Reigate

 5.30pm approx Arrive in Reigate

Accessibility:

Firle Place say:

Due to the historic nature of the property, we regret that we are only able to offer access to the ground floor rooms to those visitors in wheelchairs.  The stairs to the first floor are wide and have a handrail. A chair can be provided in each room for those who cannot easily stand. 

On arrival in Eastbourne the coach will go straight to Towner and set down there. The gallery itself has easy access and a lift to upper floors.   Please make us aware of any special needs before booking.

Cost: £57.00 for members (includes transport by coach, coffee on arrival and private tours).  Lunch is NOT included.

To book your place please contact Paul Fletcher paul.fletcher627@ntlworld.com  Please do not pay until you have contacted Paul.

Do please join us for this day's visit to Syon House.

Syon House is the spectacular London home of the Dukes of Northumberland, the Percy family.
The house was built in the sixteenth century on the site of the medieval Syon Abbey.  We shall have a guided tour of the house which has spectacular Robert Adam interiors and an extensive art collection.  Also included is a guided tour of the Capability Brown garden, with its beautiful landscaped gardens and extensive plant collection.

Itinerary

09.00: Meet at Brightlands Road/Wray Park Road junction, Reigate

09.15: Depart from Reigate by coach

10.15: Coffee on arrival at Hilliers Garden Centre adjacent to Syon House

11.00: Guided tour of Syon House, approximately 90 minutes We may be split into two groups

12.30: Lunch (not included in the cost) at Hilliers café or bring a picnic.

13.30: Guided tour of the gardens, approximately 60 minutes

15.00: Depart for Reigate

16.00: Arrive in Reigate

Cost: £45 per member

Please contact Veronica Readman: veronica.readman@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

Once a favoured medieval palace and then royal Tudor residence, Eltham Palace was transformed into a striking art deco mansion by millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld. We will see how they incorporated historic features of the ancient palace and enter into their fashionable world by exploring their eccentric ultra-modern 1930s home, set in 19 acres of award-winning gardens.

We will have a guided tour of the house and a free multimedia guide for the gardens.

Schedule for the day:

9.00: Meet at Brightlands Road/Wray Park Road junction, Reigate

9.10: Depart by coach from Brightlands Road

10.10: Arrive at Eltham Palace for coffee (not included in cost) in their café

11.00: Guided tour of the house (meet at the house entrance)

12.30: Lunch (not included in the cost) in the café or bring a picnic to have in the grounds

13.30: Time to view the gardens with a free multimedia guide or return to the house, if desired.

15.00: Depart for Reigate

16.00: Arrive in Reigate

Cost:

 £46 which includes transport, admission with a private guide and multimedia guide for the garden.

Book your place by bank transfer to  The Arts Society Reigate  

Or pay by card at a lecture

Accessiblity:

The entrance to the house is 250 metres from the coach drop off point.

There is an accessible toilet next to the visitor centre.

Wheelchair access is provided in the house and grounds and wheelchairs are available to borrow for the visit.

There is a lift to the first floor.

Please make us aware of any special needs before booking.

Contact details – Before the visit please send to Ann (amorrisartssocietyreigate@gmail.com) the following information:

·         your mobile number 

·         an emergency contact number

·         whether you are 65+

Refunds only given if there is a waiting list

The walk described below is now full.  Please contact Paul Fletcher (paul.fletcher627@ntlworld.com) to be put on the waiting list.

Following the success of Charlie Forman’s December lecture ‘Eight Buildings for eight Faiths’ we have arranged for Charlie to lead a walk in Central London which he calls ‘Churches of High Society.’ Charlie describes the walk as follows:

Fashionable West London burgeoned – from St James’s in the late 17th Century, to Mayfair in the 18th and Marylebone in the 19th. Every new neighbourhood needed its church and had to raise money to provide it. This walk takes you to churches which truly befitted their wealthy patrons while taking you behind the scenes to show just how they got paid for. Starting with St James’s Palace itself, there’s Inigo Jones’s little jewel of a Queen’s Chapel. ( Shown ) Move on to Christopher Wren’s exemplar of a parish church at St James, with its original Grinling Gibbons carvings. There’s John Nash’s coda to Regent’s Street – the great rotunda of All Saints. Don’t miss elegant St George’s by Hanover Square. Its vestrymen included 7 Dukes, 14 Earls and 15 Lords who purloined public money to get the church built. There’s much more – including a church ‘designed’ by James Gibbs of St Martins-in-the-Fields fame and a look at how the Catholic faith emerged from the shadows, with works like Farm Street’s high altar designed by Augustus Pugin. Where else can you find such a cluster of buildings by the greats of English architecture so close together you can walk them all in a morning? Don’t miss the chance!

The walk takes just over 2 hours and begins and ends at Green Park Tube Station where we will meet for an 11am start. ( South side near coffee kiosk.)

Cost: £15 per person for the walk (£17 for non-members).  Make your own way to London.

Payment by BACs transfer to The Arts Society Reigate.  Please give your surname & initial as reference.

Refunds only given if there is a waiting list.

You are invited to join our trip to Warley in SW Essex on 29th June 2023.  This will be a full day excursion, by coach, visiting St Mary the Virgin Church - a gem of the Arts and Crafts movement,  the grounds of Weald Park for lunch and an afternoon guided tour of Ingatestone Hall which dates back to Tudor times and is set in 10 acres of gardens.

Cost - £43 per person which includes coach travel to and from Reigate, tea and coffee at St Mary the Virgin church and guided tours of the church and hall.

For details of how to pay and to book your place please email: info@theartssocietyreigate.org.uk

Visit Itinerary:

9.15 Pick up in Reigate

10.45 Arrive at Warley

11.00-11.30 Coffee

11.30-12.30 Church visit

12.30-1.00 Continue to Weald Park

1.00-2.15 Lunch/walk/optional visit to South Weald Church

2.15-2.45 Continue to Ingatestone Hall

2.45-4.15 Tour of Hall

4.15-4.45 Tea

4.45 Return

6.15 Arrive back in Reigate

VISIT NOW FULL. To be placed on the waiting list in case of cancellations, please email:-  info@theartssocietyreigate.org.uk  

This trip was originally scheduled for 2020 and will now take place this April. The essentials remain the same.

In the morning the highly experienced London guide Diane Burstein will lead a walk round Marylebone. Entitled ‘Squares and Byways of Marylebone’ her tour will introduce us to the fascinating history of one of London’s less well-known districts. It will include London’s most unspoiled railway station, a luxury hotel, the Town Hall where many famous marriages have taken place, cobbled mews, elegant squares and attractive town houses. We will hear of connections with authors, musicians, society hostesses, and a famous scandal.

The walk will finish at around 12.30pm not far from the Wallace Collection and there will be time for lunch before we re-assemble outside the Wallace itself for our afternoon visit. This will begin at 2pm with our own private guided tour of the Collection after which we may stay on longer and eventually make our own way home.

The total cost for the day will be £25 per person which covers the walking tour and the Wallace visit based on a group of 20.

Details in brief are as follows:

Participants make their own way to London in time to meet Diane Burstein for the Marylebone walk at 10.45am outside Baker St Station by the Sherlock Holmes statue.

Walk 11am – 12.30pm approx.

Lunch ( not included ) 12.30pm – 1.30pm approx.

Meet outside Wallace Collection, Manchester Square at 1.45pm.

Guided tour of Wallace 2pm – 3pm approx.

Disperse.

Join us for a wonderful virtual tour of The Amalfi Coast at 14.30 on Thursday 6th October.

Cost £10.00 per device.

The Amalfi Coast is celebrated for its Mediterranean landscape and natural diversity and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

The town of Amalfi is the main historical and political centre and was a frequent stopover for upper-class Europeans on their Grand Tours.

Our guide will be Anna Targett who will escort us around this beautiful coastal area of Italy.

You will be able to ask questions at the end of the tour.

Please pay via BACs to:

The Arts Society Reigate

Sort code 40-52-40

Account No 00033085

Please reference your payment with your name.

Closing date for payments is 26th September.

You will then be sent the Zoom link at the beginning of October

Any problems please email veronica.readman@hotmail.co.uk

Join us for a visit to Stanley Picker House and Collection with lunch at Warren House Hotel.

Stanley Picker House is a late-modernist house in Kingston-upon-Thames, designed in 1965 by architect Kenneth Wood, for arts philanthropist Stanley Picker to live amongst his growing collection of art and design objects.
It is only open by arrangement. Unfortunately, due to stairs, it is not suitable for those with limited mobility.

Warren House Hotel.

A breathtaking Victorian Grade 2 listed house which stands within 6 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens. 
We shall have a light sandwich lunch here, with tea or coffee, in a private function room.

Cost:  £42 per head for passengers   £36 per head for drivers.

This includes Gallery Visit Tickets and Tour, sandwich lunch (gluten free and other dietary options are available on request), tea or coffee in a private function room with access to The Warren House Hotel Gardens.

Stanley Picker Booking Information

To secure your place on this interesting visit and to volunteer as a car driver please contact Ann Tompkin on 07770 782549 or email anntompkin@gmail.com

Online payments to The Arts Society Reigate

Sort Code 40-52-40

Account No. 00033085

Reference payment with your name.

We will also take debit/credit card payments at the next meeting

This two hour walk will be with Diane Burstein who is a qualified London Blue Badge Guide, historian, author and broadcaster.

On this walk we go back to 1951 when the Festival of Britain took Londoners out of post war austerity to marvel at the latest innovations in art, design, industry and technology at a festival to celebrate the centenary of the Great Exhibition in 1851.  Find out how this event was a catalyst for the regeneration of the entire South Bank which is today famous for its arts centre.  We trace the surviving remnants of the festival including The Royal Festival Hall.  We view the post festival arts centres such as the National Theatre and finish with a great riverside panoramic view.

Meet at Blackfriars Station - South Bank exit - ready to start the tour at 11am.

We have a maximum limit of 25 members.  To check availability please contact Ann Morris by email: amorrisartssocietyreigate@gmail.com or telephone 01737 247650 and then pay £12 to secure your place.

Bank details:  The Arts Society Reigate  Sort code; 40-52-40.  Account No. 00033085

We shall also take credit/debit card payments at the next meeting.

Walking Tour South Bank