Visitors from Calgary, Canada - where should I take them?

[FordPolo]

I'll be having relatives from Calgary to stay for 3 weeks next spring, and currently looking for inspiration on where to take them for day trips etc. They are all adults (20s - 60s), three originally from the UK and two have never left Canada. They like sightseeing and I think the two Canadians are looking forward to seeing some history and heritage. I live in rural Leicestershire and am thinking of visiting a stately home or two, afternoon tea somewhere pretty like Stamford and a couple of country walks with a pub at the end. Other than that, I'm feeling a bit conscious of how beautiful their home area is and how deflated they might feel coming over here! Where else can I take them?

Hi Canadian here. You are right re some stately homes and castles and pretty town. Stamford would be great, plan for the cathedral maybe when there is a concert going on, st Matthew passion or something at Easter.
They will probably love cultural things like theatre ballet and opera, most Canadians are a bit starved of that. Also art galleries. I think you will ideally need to plan for a few days in London and do the national gallery, the B&H and a ballet for eg. Or a west end musical if that’s where their tastes lie. If you don’t want London then Birmingham for shopping, jewellery quarter, concert/ballet. They may like to go to an antiques fair or even an agricultural show. Anything “fun”. If you feel like going a bit further afield take them to the Yorkshire sculpture garden - it’s beautiful!

V&A not B&H!!!!

Stratford upon Avon?
Lake District
Chatsworth or Blenheim
Bletchley
Lunch on a barge?

The only thing nice about Calgary, IMHO, is its closeness to the Rockies, which are wonderful, of course. England will be a total change for them.

Cambridge or Oxford. Blenheim Palace is beautiful. For something a little different maybe but I really enjoyed the The Black country museum (it was used to film some scenes for peaky blinders)

They may like Sandringham because of the royal connection and Castle Rising nearby with perhaps a walk at Holme.

Definitely Cambridge Punting.

Train to York. Train to London and V&A museum.

Sandringham and Burghley are close to you. Nip to Cambridge or Oxford for colleges and punting. Up to York or across to Stratford. I took a Canadian for a hike in the Peak District once - went down like a lead balloon! Not remote or challenging enough, which in hindsight was fair!

I know Leicestershire isn’t very near the beach, but it’s a damn sight nearer than Calgary is to the coast! Take them to a nice beach if you can. Ideally with fish and chips!

Take them to Bosworth Fields then to see Richard 111 grave in Leicester cathedral the battlefield is well set out and documented and the story of the finding of Richard 111 is just amazing there’s an exhibition all about that in Leicester also we went a few years ago it made such an interesting day with a level of history that will be new to Canadians I imagine.

Bradgate Park with a visit to Jades tearooms.
Mrs Bridges in Leicester with a trip to the museums there
Oakham
Rutland Water

You could do Hunstanton / Wells or Cromer too !

Our American friends liked the Peak District - blue john mine, Crich tramway museum, Chatsworth and Eyam.

history and historic, my dh and i love the bridges and any restoration work using what seems like ancient techniques to us.
farmers markets with local produce, scotch eggs.
it might sound like a strange one and not necessarily near where you are but we absolutely love battersea park in london.
if you do wander about a city remind them to look both ways before crossing the road.
calgary is so "new" not much in the way of old history, it's layout is so "planned" it's fun to spot how older cities come together with modern needs.
any roman stuff to be seen?

Warwick Castle and Warwick visit to see the old buildings and soak up some history.
North Yorkshire Coast if they hire a car, Scarborough Castle, Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay area all nice.
Howarth is quaint, bonus if any are Bronte fans.
Stock up on brochures for them to browse from English Heritage and National Trust sites for inspiration.

Foxton Locks maybe if your near there,

Stratford Upon Avon
Coventry Cathedral
Warwick Castle
Bosworth Battlefield
Tamworth Castle

I have friends that live in Ladysmith BC( now that is a place of outstanding beauty!). When they come to visit, a trip to Chatsworth is a must for them and they have been several times.

Stratford for sure, the Shakespeare sites then a play, there's a hotel i the centre that's meant to be haunted!

@FordPolo possible starting points

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/region/eastmidlands/

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g7398616-Activities-East_Midlands_England.html

https://www.canalsideheritagecentre.org.uk/Event/archaeology-walk-august-2023

Everybody is differant and find some ideas interesting and some boring. I think the visitors need to do research of what the area has and I agree on them probably needing time in London to see all it has to offer.

I personally would have no interest in going to a stately home. But many good suggestions by pp's.

Belvoir Castle
A trip on the Great Central Railway
A really nice old pub with local real ales - Check out CAMRA website - campaign for real ales - has list of pubs with historic interiors.
Fish and Chips at Whitby
Leicester will have many great Curry Houses
A Canal barge trip