Royal Sutton Coldfield Centre
for the National Trust
NTSC holiday to the Thames Valley – 28 May to 1 June 2026
Our first visit was to Mercedes World sited on the old Brookland’s racing circuit. In addition to F1 cars there were many new Mercedes models on view. The viewing gallery enabled us to watch members of the public trying their skill on the skid pan. We continued our journey to the Holiday Inn at Shepperton for our four night stay.
Friday morning our guide was waiting for us at The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede. This Memorial overlooks the River Thames on Cooper's Hill at Englefield Green and commemorates by name over 20,000 men and women who have no known graves. The beautifully peaceful memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe with sculpture by Vernon Hill. The engraved glass and painted ceilings were designed by John Hutton and the poem engraved on the gallery window was written by Paul H Scott. The Memorial was unveiled by The Queen on 17 October 1953.
In the afternoon we travelled to Windsor to board a boat for a two hour trip on the Thames. The commentary was informative and we experienced travelling through one of the locks.
Our last visit of the day was back in Runnymede at the site of the signing of Magna Carta.
Saturday morning we visited the National Trust Property, Polesden Lacey. The grounds and gardens (including croquet pitches) offer plenty of opportunities for walks. The house had an extensive display of paintings, ceramics and French furniture.
After lunch we had a guided visit to Strawberry Hill House - Horace Walpole’s magnificent 18th century ’little gothic castle’, set back from the River Thames in Twickenham. It is home to a unique collection of Renaissance painted glass.
Sunday we travelled the short distance to Hampton Court Palace. The highlights included the Great Tudor Hall and Tudor kitchens so important to Henry VIII, the Baroque Palace built for William III and Mary II, the gardens and grounds and the ancient vine which still produces plenty of grapes. Not forgetting the famous maze.
Monday we returned to Sutton Coldfield via Cliveden. This is a National Trust property and also a functioning hotel. NT volunteers escorted us on a guided tour of the public rooms and then we had free time to explore the extensive grounds.
The Holiday Inn was a very convenient centre for this holiday as it meant the journeys each day were quite short. It was situated in spacious grounds with wild flowers, especially poppies in abundance. Often after breakfast Egyptian Geese could be found grazing behind the hotel.
NATIONAL TRUST HOLIDAY TO THE THAMES VALLEY
A party of 38 left the Crown carpark at 8.00 on 28 May for this five day holiday. Fortunately the temperature had dropped a few degrees from the very high values recorded a few days earlier. Our first visit was to Mercedes World sited on the old Brookland’s racing circuit. This was ideal for our Group Chair, Carole, as she had the opportunity to be in touching distance of a F1 car driven by Lewis Hamilton. In addition to F1 cars there were many new Mercedes models on view but no prices. There was a good viewing gallery so that we could watch members of the public trying their skill on the skid pan. We continued our journey to the Holiday Inn at Shepperton for our four night stay.
Next day we made the short journey to Runnymede and Windsor. The first visit was a guided tour of the Royal Air Force Memorial which stands on a hill and commemorates 20,000 men and women of the air force who have no known grave. The guide told interesting stories of a number of the people remembered at the site. The view from the top of the monument was spectacular and reminded us of present day air travel as we watched aircraft leaving and approaching Heathrow.
We moved on to Windsor to make our own lunch arrangements then boarded a boat for a two hour boat trip on the Thames – a chance to see how ‘the other half lives’ and experience travelling through one of the locks.
Our last visit of the day was back in Runnymede at the site of the signing of Magna Carta. This led to many discussions about why it was signed there and where exactly it was signed. It was interesting (possibly disappointing) that the memorial was paid for by an American and there is also a memorial to JF Kennedy. As the memorial is some way up the hillside it is unlikely to be the exact position of the signing. A chair nearer the river is a much more likely spot! There was also a plaque relating to an Indian Prime Minister’s visit. It seems some other countries find Magna Carta of more significance to the writing of their constitutions than the British.
Saturday, we first visited the National Trust Property, Polesden Lacey. The grounds were extensive with plenty of opportunities for walks – especially the Long Walk - for those able to do so. I found the rose garden the best feature outside. We were only able to explore the ground floor rooms in the house. There was an extensive display of paintings, ceramics and French furniture.
The temperature and humidity increased in the afternoon for our guided visit to Strawberry Hill built by Horace Walpole in the 18th. Century. It is in the Georgian Gothic Revival Style. The two guides were very knowledgeable but most of us found it difficult to cope with the heat especially as some of the rooms were quite small. I was fortunate that the guide leading my group gave the introductory talk in the shade of a large tree. The other group had to suffer being exposed in the sun. It was an interesting visit but quite exhausting.
Sunday we made the very short journey to Hampton Court Palace. This is a huge building that has witnessed many important episodes in our country’s history. It is only possible here to mention a few of the highlights – the Great Tudor Hall and Tudor kitchens so important to
Henry VIII, the Baroque Palace built for William III and Mary II, the gardens and grounds and the ancient vine which still produces plenty of grapes. I did not venture into the famous maze because I had that experience quite a few years ago. It was very pleasant to have lunch outside at the Tiltyard café but no longer any jousting for entertainment.
On the way home we visited Cliveden which is another National Trust Property but also a very expensive hotel. We were fortunate that the coach was met by a National Trust representative who brought tickets so that we could have a guided tour of part of the house even though it is a functioning hotel. This is another property with very extensive grounds. There is even a way down to the Thames but I do not think any of our party attempted the steep walk down with many steps. The Long Garden is spectacular but was not yet at its most colourful. It has been replanted since I last saw it when it was full of yellow tulips and did look amazing. The water garden was very interesting and again there was a rose garden.
The house visit gave an insight into the way previous generations lived especially Lady Astor – famous as the first woman to take her seat in Parliament. The guide was most discrete and did not mention Christine Keeler until we arrived in the last room.
The Holiday Inn was a very convenient centre for this holiday as it meant the journeys each day were quite short. It was situated in spacious grounds with wild flowers, especially poppies in abundance. Often after breakfast Egyptian Geese could be found grazing behind the hotel.
Many thanks to Iris for organising the holiday; I know it involved a great deal of work to achieve the successful outcome. Also thanks to Carole who did so much to add to the success of this trip.