Group Tour Testimonials
We welcome groups tours to the House & Garden all year round, and are proud to share some of the great feedback we have received from recent groups:
Wimpole Volunteers Club – September 2019
I would like to thank everyone at Boughton House, on behalf of Wimpole Volunteers Club, for making our day so enjoyable.
The tour guides were excellent, the catering staff were friendly and the food was delicious, we also had some favourable comments from our members on the way back to Wimpole that afternoon.
Judy Barker
Wallace Collection – May 2019
We all had the most brilliant visit to Boughton and it proved the perfect end to our three-day trip. It’s always important to end on a high note! Most people as you are aware had never been before and it was a real treat for them to see the house and the collection; and many thanks for handling the tour yourself [Charles- Property Manager]– that was much appreciated. You are so knowledgeable, and everyone learnt a lot. I am sorry that we were so rushed for time, but you could not have managed it better and we saw everything we could have hoped for, including Orpheus. Please would you pass on our particular thanks to your Stable staff, who produced the best lunch of the trip!
Dr Helen Jacobsen
Senior Curator
St Ives U3A – April 2019
Boughton House and its treasures are indeed exceptional and demand the highest praise. However, they were fully backed up by a seamless service demonstrated by your staff throughout our visit. This level of professionalism doesn’t happen by accident and you are to be congratulated. Please pass on our grateful thanks to all who were involved both before and on the day.
Wendy Waggstaffe
Chorleywood Fine Arts Group – October 2018
Just a line on behalf of Chorleywood Fine Arts group to thank you and Lisa for making us very welcome at Boughton House yesterday. Everyone enjoyed the quite extensive tour with our excellent guide, and we were very appreciative of the coffee and lunch.
Juliet Hale
David Brown – October 2018
Thank you for the fabulous visit to Boughton last Wednesday morning. We were fortunate to have Pamela as our guide and she was superb. She was exactly what we wanted. We had a lovely relaxed, informal visit so that we could enjoy all the marvellous rooms and contents at leisure. Boughton is, of course, a very special place and so wonderfully cared for, but still a family home. It was also good to see the Kim Wilkie garden. Several of you in the office were also very kind and helpful, and I thank all of you. With all good wishes.
David Brown
The Art Fund, Somerset Branch – September 2018
A short note to thank you and your colleagues for such an excellent visit to Boughton earlier this week. Please pass on our thanks to your well informed guides and a big thank you to the catering staff who ‘went the extra mile’. The visit to Warkton Church was one of the highlights of our week and so thank you for arranging Michael Jeans to be on hand to guide us. He did an exemplary job and I have written to him to say so. Again many thanks.
Michael Armstrong
Leamington Spa Local National Trust – August 2018
This email is to let you know how much we enjoyed our visit to Boughton House. We were made to feel very welcome and your assistance in helping me to organise this trip, helped enormously. Our lunch was excellent and Gloria busied herself making sure we all had what we needed. We were all very impressed with the selection of puddings, dare I say, some went up for seconds including me! So a big thank you to all who made our visit so memorable.
Carol Andrews
Oakham WI – August 2018
To everyone at Boughton House a very big thank you to you all for making our day go so well today. All the staff were so kind, polite and helpful. The guides were amazing, so interesting to listen to and so knowledgeable. From the moment we stepped off our coach we felt very welcome, coffee, lunch and Ice creams were all delicious. What a great team you all are! Many many thanks, we all enjoyed a great day out.
Maureen Jenkins
Sawbridgeworth U3A – July 2018
I would like to ‘thank you’ for the wonderful day you gave to our party yesterday. The house looked magnificent in the summer sunshine and the tour guides were very relaxed, informative and amusing. I would like to mention Pamela who took us on the guided coach trip to the exquisite Montagu monument, she was immensely knowledgeable and delivered that to us all in the most wonderful manner, not rushed and in the sort of tones that made us a most attentive group.
The other ladies in the Stables who served us our lunch and tea were also very welcoming, with nothing being too much trouble for them. The soup and sandwiches were of a very high quality and delicious. To all the others that i had dealings with over the last few months, you were all very pleasant and joy to negotiate with – so thanks to one and all at Boughton. We hope you have a wonderful season – you deserve it .
Carol Dixson-Smith
Norfolk Garden Group – June 2018
Thank you so much for allowing us to visit Boughton on 13 June. We had a simply marvellous visit with the very informative guide … He told us so much about the building of the house and the various land forms around it.
Judy Watson
Probus Group – 24th August 2017
A belated thank you to you and your staff for such a successful visit on 24 August. I have received numerous comments saying how much it was enjoyed and how well organised it was. This is all more down to you than to me. From the moment you boarded the bus the group felt welcome and in capable hands and they were not disappointed. The lunch was excellent and the ladies extremely helpful and friendly. Having the separate room was much appreciated. We cannot take any credit for the weather or for the Duchess of Buccleuch appearing a few days later in an episode of Victoria but it all helped to make the visit rather special.
Ace Cultural Tours – 18th July 2017
Just to say that my group very much enjoyed its visit to Boughton last Tuesday. The weather was idyllic, and as always the house was a joy to go round. Our guide was really excellent, and the two ladies gave us a delicious lunch
Roger White
The Explorers Club – 26th June 2017
‘Thank You’ for giving me such a wonderful day out, today. Your guides were not only very knowledgeable but also very entertaining in telling us about the house and the people associated with it. The young lady in the tearoom was also delightful and clearly loved her job. You already know, but now I do too; that Boughton House, and its estate, is such a wonderful place…
GH from Derbyshire
King’s Lynn Decorative and Fine Arts Society – 15th June 2017
Just a brief note to thank you and the guides for a superb visit to Boughton last week – as all your visitors, I am sure, we were struck by the wealth of treasures within the house and it was a privilege to see them. Your caterers also produced an excellent buffet. In all we could not have asked for more, many thanks.
Carolyn Adams
Convenors Blackbourne U3A – 22nd May 2017
None of us were really sure what to expect but were all really impressed with the whole day. Credit goes to everyone who made the day so interesting, our house and coach guides, whose knowledge of the estate is amazing, yourself for the administration pointing me in the right direction as to how to select our itinerary, and not forgetting the lovely meal we had, served by a group of lovely ladies who even asked if we wanted seconds, which quite a lot did, myself included!
All in all a very enjoyable day which I would recommend to others, I think that our garden visits group may be interested and will pass on the information given to us yesterday. Once again thanks to everyone for a lovely day.
Linda & Maureen
Newbury U3A – 16th May 2017
On behalf of Newbury U3A I should like to thank you and everyone at Boughton for a splendid day yesterday. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, the guides were very knowledgeable and informative and the venue delightful. Lunch was delicious and we should like you to pass our thanks on to the Café staff – very tasty soup and sandwiches.
A.B
Leicester Probus Club – 3rd May 2017
May I express our sincere thanks for our excellent visit by the Leicester Probus club to Boughton House today. The House itself with its architecture, paintings, tapestries, furniture and the armoury was very beautiful and interesting. Many members expressed how superb were the guides, with their depth of knowledge and their very pleasant manner. Please convey our sincere thanks to Pamela Walker, Richard Marshall, and Maureen Coles and their assistants. The tour of the Estate in the afternoon was very enjoyable and again very ably guided by Pamela. The visit to St Edmund’s Church at Warkton was quite unique. We all enjoyed the excellent hot lunch served by the friendly team. Finally, but by no means least, may I thank you, Lisa and Chloe for your very efficient and relaxed approach in all our dealings with the visit
Peter Hubner
Cotswold DFAS – 30th March 2017
Many thanks to you and the other staff at Boughton House for giving us such a good day yesterday…We were all amazed by the fantastic collection in the House and the guided walk around the landscape and gardens was lovely…The catering was brilliant, really lovely soups, sandwiches and freshly made biscuits to go with the teas and coffees…I shall certainly recommend a visit to Boughton House to others, and may well return myself. My only comment is that perhaps you could warn future visitors to wear a coat indoors! Some people got rather cold though the hot soup made up for it. Please could you thank the caterers, the two guides and their “shepherds”, the lady who manned the shop for us and of course yourself and your colleague who gave us such a lovely welcome.
Carolyn Walton
Kibworth & District U3A Gardening Group – 26th October 2016
Thank you to you and your staff for making the K & D U3A Gardening Group so welcome when we visited Boughton House and Gardens last Wednesday. The guides brought the fascinating history of the house to life brilliantly and the gardens still had much to see so late in the season. As discussed we would like to consider another visit to the gardens earlier in the year either to see the snowdrops or the herbaceous borders and roses in full bloom. Many thanks again for a most enjoyable afternoon.
Gail Goldie
Peterborough Decorative & Fine Arts Society – 20th October 2016
Just a note to say thank you for a delightful visit to Boughton House today. Your guides were extremely good and full of interesting information. The ladies in the tea room who provided us with coffee, homemade biscuits and an excellent lunch were very friendly and welcoming. Many people commented on how pleasant your staff were and we would be grateful if you could pass on our thanks.
Janet Lee
Bishop’s Stortford Decorative & Fine Arts Society – 18th October 2016
Our visit on Tuesday was my swansong and such a good way to complete my 3/4 years as Outings Secretary! Thank you ALL so much for a wonderful day – the rain cleared just before we arrived and there was blue sky and sunshine although the wind was a bit chilly on the high ground! The ladies in the Cafe made us feel very welcome and the refreshments in the morning and at lunchtime were just what we required. The guides were very knowledgeable and helpful and I think most of us found suitable bargains in the shop. So, overall it was a great day. Thank you again.
Rosemary Thomson
Banbury Fine Arts Society – 4th October 2016
I would like, on behalf of those from Banbury Fine Arts Society who came to Boughton yesterday, to thank you all for making our day so enjoyable. The food prepared by the ladies was both lovely and plentiful and much appreciated! Thank you for the excellent tours of the house. We were all stunned by the beauty of the house and its contents. Please also pass our thanks to Alan who made our tour around the villages and church both informative and interesting and to the administrative staff who over several months have assisted me with the booking. We all thoroughly enjoyed our day which was, of course, enhanced by such perfect weather. I am sure many of the group will visit again.
Sue Nottingham
Boston U3A Local History Group – 29th September 2016
Just a note to tell you how much our group enjoyed their visit to Boughton last Thursday. We were fortunate in having good weather to enjoy stroll in gardens after guided tours. The group also enjoyed the splendid cold buffet.
Ann Morgan
South Leicestershire U3A Local History Group – 20th September 2016
Thank you so much for allowing us to visit Boughton House yesterday. All our members were absolutely thrilled with the tour around the house, looking around the gardens and the refreshments served. Will you please extend our thanks to all the staff who helped to make our visit such a pleasant one, especially Chloe and our guides. We were received by all with such warmth and friendliness. We all had a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
Jan Tilley
Hilton Women’s Institute – 14th July 2016
Many, many thanks to all your staff for making our visit so successful. Everyone enjoyed the day and would like to thank the guides for their very detailed tours and to the catering staff for a delicious lunch. The gardens were a delight in the sunshine.
Wendy Webb
Great Oakley & District Gardening Group– 6th July 2016
Just a quick note of thanks to all the staff who looked after us last Wednesday 6th July, when we visited Boughton for a group visit.
All staff concerned were very knowledgeable and informative and the weather, thank goodness, was very kind to us. Although we are a local U3A group many of our members had not visited Boughton at all and others not for several years. Therefore, everyone was pleasantly surprised at how many new developments had taken place in recent times. The day was rounded off fantastically with the lovely tea and cakes provided. All in all, a lovely day out!
I know that some of us will be visiting the shop again nearer the Christmas season, me included!
Sue Robertson
Reading National Trust – 9th June 2016
On behalf of the members who visited Boughton House today, a huge thank you to all concerned who made our visit memorable.
From the time we arrived and Charles welcomed us, to our super knowledgeable guides who brought the house, it’s art, furniture and past inhabitants to life, to the truly wonderful ‘supercooks’ who provided and served the delicious lunch and afternoon tea, we all enjoyed a wonderful day.
It was a first visit to Boughton for all but myself and one other, and everyone thought the house and contents exceptional. It truly is a gem.
Many thanks for your help in arranging this private visit and please convey my gratitude to the members of staff who helped us today.
Hilary Brindle
Active Outdoorsy – 1st June 2016
Thank you so much for such a memorable group visit this Bank Holiday Monday. The group has been very complimentary about how knowledgeable you were as guides to the house and what a treat to have a private viewing.
Tea and cake were scrumptious and served seamlessly to the 50 of us. We then very much enjoyed the gardens despite the overcast day.
Many of us will be coming to join you again for the theatre events in the summer.
Annabelle
Guildford Wey Valley DFAS – 22nd May 2016
I led a party from Guildford Wey Valley DFAS, booked through Heritage Group Travel, for a private guided tour of Boughton House on 17 May. We were extremely well looked after throughout – a warm welcome, an excellent tour of the House which brought the history, contents and personalities to life and a very tasty lunch! The visit was a highlight of our trip and I am sure that many of us will want to return. Please pass on our warm thanks to all concerned for a memorable visit.
Brian Hawtin
King’s Lynn Decorative & Fine Arts Society – 19th May 2016
A very big thank you on behalf of King’s Lynn Decorative & Fine Arts Society for our visit to Boughton House yesterday.
Despite the inclement weather, we all managed to enjoy a very informative visit. We were so impressed with what the house had to show us and feel we need to return to take in more!
The lunch was fresh and tasty and enjoyed by all.
The drive round the estate and church visit was much appreciated when the rain kept on returning and from me, a special thanks to Charles Lister for his personal chauffeuring to enable me to also see the same….
We are sorry only that we did not have time or be able to enjoy the gardens fully but as you are not far from King’s Lynn, I think many of us will return.
So, best wishes for a good summer and thanks again to all involved in making this a most enjoyable early summer visit.
Margaret Thursfield
S.S.Enterprise – 5th May 2016
Just to say an enormous thank you to all concerned who made our visit so terrifically enjoyable and memorable. Firstly, much appreciate your efforts in co-ordinating the visit and I really appreciate the warm welcome and bonus of discovering the House in such great depth. Lunch was perfect, a delightful buffet served by willing and hospitable staff – please pass on to Gloria and her team our sincere thanks.
The House Guides, Maureen and Brenda, did a sterling job; everyone was impressed and entertained by their great knowledge and passion for the wonderful history of such a great house.
All in all, may I say thanks to you (and Lisa) for making the event possible, and our gratitude to His Grace The Duke for allowing us such a privileged visit.
Boughton House surely is a real jewel in the crown of English tourism and it will be with much pleasure that I recommend it as a perfect location for the enjoyment of visitors seeking an absolutely glorious sight-seeing experience.
Susan Barnett
Study Group – 25 June 2015
I would like to thank you and all the staff for providing a wonderful day for us yesterday at Boughton House. You were all very welcoming and our tours were excellent. In our group, the guide was outstanding and this was much commented on by our members. She also gave us a very informative tour of the gardens.
Finally, please thank all the staff in the Stable Restaurant for providing such a delicious and generous lunch – again many favourable comments from our members.
Ashby de la Zouch U3A Group – 28 May 2015
Many thanks again for your help with our visit yesterday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, and all were pleased to have been to such an impressive house about which they knew nothing. The majority had never heard of it before, but I believe my interest was first caught by a television reference to the work in the garden restoration a few years ago. Please pass our thanks to our guides and everyone else who helped, including those in the tearoom.
Dorothy Chapman
David Lock Associates Ltd – 7 September 2014
A great day out, with well informed staff on the house and its history.
Debbie Hayhurst
Wrekin DFAS Group – 4 September 2014
Please pass on our sincere thanks to everyone involved with making our visit to Boughton so successful. Pat took the second group around the house and accompanied the afternoon coach tour. Her enthusiasm for everything Boughton was palpable and her knowledge of the family and house contents most impressive. We were amazed to hear she will soon be 80, no sign of slowing down! I understand the gentleman who took the first group was also excellent and was able to help some of the members who volunteer at Weston Park in Shropshire to understand some of the technical descriptions of furniture.
It was fascinating to see the conservationists at work at Warkton – I am sure a number of us will return to see the monuments when the work is finished. Please let me know when you have an open day there in Spring and I can circulate the information to the attendees.
The members were extremely complementary about the lunch too – it was a fantastic spread and some very interesting combinations in the salads. One of the vegetarian members commented on how pleased she was to find the dishes labelled.
So, a very successful day was had by all – thank you all very much.
Nicky Lipscombe , Wrekin DFAS
Spilsby U3A Visit – 18 August 2014
Our members have been spreading the word ever since our visit – telling all their friends all about the glories of Boughton. Definitely our best summer visit so far
Rugby National Trust Association Visit – 16 July 2014
On behalf of all our members who visited Boughton House on Wednesday 16th July I want to send our thanks to all the staff who looked after us. I had several comments about how helpful and friendly they were. The guides were very interesting and informative and as for the catering one member said it was the best lunch he had ever had on one of our outings. With best wishes to you and all your staff.
Aileen E Brown, Rugby National Trust Association
Herts Art Fund Group, 25 June 2014
Ours is a reasonably critical group of members – well travelled generally in UK and abroad. I was happy that we had a beautiful sunny day and were looking forward to our visit on a non public day. It did not disappoint and the mix of the rich history of the Montagues in the house plus our tour of the Estate villages and Warkton in particular to see the restoration work was a high spot for most of our group – as it was so unusual and special to see conservation at first hand. We took our own picnic lunches but used the teashop which worked out very well for us. All in all a memorable visit – one of the best some of the group said to me.
Garry Griffiths
Fairbridge Garden & Arts Society, 24 June 2014
A wonderful day at Boughton included a tour of the house with a very knowledgeable guide, a delicious lunch and a stroll around the gardens.. Altogether a great day out.
Vanessa Scholfield
HALI Group – 18 June 2014
Thanks for your email. The HALI group had a wonderful time on the UK Tour and I think that Boughton and Drumlanrig were amongst the highlights for many. The guides at both locations were all extremely well informed and enthusiastic. The fact we were allowed up close to the rugs and the delicious buffet lunch with excellent service provided at Boughton were specifically mentioned by individuals in our party.
Rachel Meek, Assistant Editor – HALI
NADFAS Group – 12 June 2014
I brought my local NADFAS group to visit Boughton House on the 12th June. We really enjoyed our visit very much. Please tell Pat and Margaret, also their colleagues who took the other group round, just how much we appreciated the way they performed their guiding. Your welcome on our arrival, the coffee and biscuits, a very good lunch served by delightful ladies, the young lady in the gift shop, and all your work organising our visit made for a most enjoyable and interesting experience. Thank you all for making our visit so pleasurable.
On behalf of Heather Edge, BDFAS
North Yorkshire Art Fund – 21 May 2014
Thank you for organising such an excellent day for us on Wednesday. It went like clock work and we were made most welcome and your guides were first class. It is difficult to do justice to a property when a family have lived there for such a long period of time, your guides certainly did. Our group thought that the visit to St Edmund’s a highlight of our visit. Quite amazing what is being achieved with the restoration project.
On behalf of Gillian Fieldhouse, North Yorkshire Art Fund
Group Gardens Visit – 15 May 2014
Thank you very much for the wonderful guided tour of the gardens that we were given on Tuesday. We all enjoyed the history, information and anecdotes concerning Boughton House. I hope we will be able to return with more time and visit the house as well in the near future.
On behalf of Fiona Smith
EHDFAS Group Visit – 31 March 2014
This is just a quick note to say again how much we all enjoyed the tour yesterday. It is certainly a wonderful house stuffed full of ‘goodies’ – too much to take in in one tour so we will have to come again soon! The whole feeling was of a family who welcomed visitors, wanted us to be well fed and share their heritage with us. Thank you very much.
The restoration in Warkton Church was a bonus and of particular interest to those who are church recorders. Thank you again for all your help and kindness.
On behalf of Julia Fulton
Newmarket DFAS Group Visit – 19 March 2014
Our party on Wednesday were absolutely delighted with the visit. We can’t thank you enough for organising such an excellent tour of Boughton. The guides were superb. The food was just perfect and plenty of delicious hot soup was a bit of a life- saver! Please pass on our thanks to all concerned. Several of us will be coming again. It was such a special day.
With best wishes, Caroline Revitt (Chairman, Newmarket DFAS)
