Introduction:

I offer a range of private guided tours either walking or chauffeur-driven, in the City of York and York Minster and across the beautiful Yorkshire region including the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Yorkshire Heritage Coast. I am also an accredited York Minster guide. Tours of York would include the highlights of the Minster, City Walls, The Shambles and Clifford's Tower to name but a few.

My area of expertise is Architectural History having worked in the Heritage sector for the past 25 years at the National Trust, English Heritage/Historic England, York Minster and Castle Howard. Exclusive tours of stately homes and country house estates are my speciality. I can share with you my little black book of contacts in Yorkshire and the North to find the places that other tourists dream of finding.

Downton Abbey has always been set in North Yorkshire although filmed elsewhere. The recent Downton Abbey film features Yorkshire locations such as Harewood House, Wentworth Woodhouse and the North York Moors Railway at Pickering. Come with me to see these locations for yourself. We can also follow in the footsteps of the characters who regularly visit the beautiful places on our doorstep such as York, Ripon, Richmond, Thirsk and Malton.

I would love to show you the other real Downton Abbeys of Yorkshire. Some are world-famous such as Castle Howard, famous for starring in “Brideshead Revisited” "Bridgerton" and most recently "The Courtship", others are in private family hands, unheard of outside Yorkshire and not open to the general public. Castle Howard is my particular favourite and a must see on any trip to Yorkshire. I am lucky enough to live in a cottage on the Estate so it's very much part of my everyday life. My village of Coneysthorpe even featured as a location in Bridgerton and it was a great thrill to take part in the filming alongside Rege-Jean Page and Phoebe Dyvenor as an extra.

I was also an extra in the Downton Abbey film and as such I have an in-depth knowledge of the locations and scenes of both these produtions that other guides cannot offer!

An example real Downton Abbey itinerary would be exploring Harewood House in the morning, lunch and a private tour with a Lady in the best stately home in Yorkshire not open to the public followed by the afternoon visiting Castle Howard. Perhaps we could even pop into my house for a cup of tea afterwards! A second day could include Wentworth Woodhouse and Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire.

Let me share my expert knowledge of Yorkshire's stately homes, the Downton Abbey film and Bridgerton to create the perfect tour for you.