Arts & Crafts – The William Morris Tour

Staying at The Oxford Belfry Hotel & Spa, Oxford

4 DAYS | 13th September 2026

The Arts and Crafts movement emerged in Britain in the late 19th century as a reaction against dehumanised mass production. It elevated beauty and romanticism and called for a return to traditional craftsmanship, valuing well-made, handcrafted goods over industrial austere wares. This tour follows in the footsteps of William Morris, a key player in the movement—textile designer, poet, artist, writer, conservationist, translator, and social activist. With visits to Kelmscott Manor, Buscot Park, and Rodmarton Manor, as well as a free day in Oxford to visit countless key works of the Arts and Crafts movement, this trip promises to bring forth beauty and joy.

Our base for the tour is the Oxford Belfry Hotel and Spa; a modern hotel surrounded by countryside, it is the perfect base for our explorations. The Spires restaurant provides a mix of contemporary dishes and tempting home comforts, all made where possible with locally sourced produce. The bar is a lovely spot for a relaxing beverage at the end of a busy day, as is the indoor swimming pool and spa. All bedrooms have WiFi, TV, and a spacious bathroom, as well as tea and coffee making facilities. The hotel has ground floor rooms and a lift to the upper floors.

SUNDAY

We depart Macclesfield making a quick coffee stop en-route to the romantic Cotswold village of Broadway, where you will have time for a stroll and lunch. Why not also pay a visit to the Gordon Russell Design Museum, another notable contributor to the Arts and Crafts movement? Early afternoon we take the short journey to Chipping Campden and Court Barn, a museum celebrating the Arts and Crafts artisans of the Cotswolds. Our guided walking tour around the village will showcase the legacy of the craftspeople who worked in the region from 1900 through to the present day. You will also have time to visit the museum before we head to Oxford and our hotel.

MONDAY

Today we have a free day in Oxford, the famous ‘City of Dreaming Spires’. To continue with the William Morris theme, why not visit the Ashmolean Museum with its Pre-Raphaelite gallery? Or seek out Harris Manchester College with its stained glass by Morris. The Oxford Union Library has some wonderful Pre-Raphaelite murals, and Christ Church also houses stunning stained glass windows in the Pre-Raphaelite style. Oxford has endless sights to behold: get lost in the Botanical Gardens, jump aboard the hop-on hop-off bus for a tour, stroll along the river, or relax in one of the many local eateries or pubs.

TUESDAY

This morning we make our way for a private tour of Kelmscott Manor, the Morris family’s country retreat. This Grade I listed farmhouse borders the River Thames and houses a celebrated collection of Morris and Rossetti’s works. After our buffet lunch in the tea rooms we visit Buscot Park and Gardens, home of Lord Faringdon with its spectacular artworks by Burne-Jones and Rossetti (NT Members: Free; Non-members: £12.00). We will have time to explore the 18th-century house and the landscaped grounds that represent the Arts and Crafts garden movement, emphasizing a natural, romantic style contrasting with formal, ordered gardens.

WEDNESDAY

We say farewell to our hotel and journey to Rodmarton Manor for a guided tour. A supreme example of a house built and furnished according to Arts and Crafts ideals, Rodmarton was one of the last with everything done by hand using local stone, local timber, and local craftsmen. Completing our tour with tea and cake, we join the motorway north, calling for a late lunch at Tewkesbury Garden Centre and Designer Shopping Outlet. We rejoin the motorway making a quick comfort stop en-route and aim to arrive in the Macclesfield area early evening.