Downton Abbey, The Crown, Outlander – it appears that many of us are obsessed with historical dramas. Find out about the incredible past from the lands that inspired these shows using a cruise through the beautiful Uk.
We're making our way down Edinburgh's busy Royal Mile when out of the blue our tour guide – a stately Scottish gentleman named Peter – darts from the group. “Quick, follow me!” he cries, setting a cracking pace while he winds with the crowds before indicating a sharp right turn at what appears to be a completely unremarkable alleyway.
He points under its low brick archway and in to the cobblestoned lane beyond – that's empty, save for any lone bicycle chained to some staircase.
“Jamie Fraser's print shop,” he whispers, and nods prior to leaving me to explore. Peter turns to collect the audience, who he's leading on the walking tour of Scotland's capital. My Outlander secret is safe, for the moment.
I standalone in Bakehouse Close – named because once the city and it is castle was still being walled, this laneway was a dead-end, closed to the world outside. I turn on the location twice – looking up at the sandstone walls as 1700s Jacobite-era Edinburgh appears amid the dreary Scottish weather.
You see, I have been romanced by historic TV dramas like Outlander, The Crown, Downton Abbey and Vikings. History has higher than a moment on our small screens at the moment, so I'm taking a voyage round the Uk using the reason for better knowing the incredible past of these islands – as well as the inspiration for several a Television show.
The Thinking Cruise
My journey is by using Viking Cruises, the line that bills itself as 'the thinking person's cruise'. Though I've pondered the way i will marry that philosophy with some of my more 'guilty pleasure' TV viewing habits, the good thing about Viking would be that the itineraries, excursions and enrichment activities are designed to suit both subject material experts and entry-level historians like myself. The only real requirement is the fact that you're hungry to understand.
I'm sailing for 15 days onboard Viking Sea – a lovely 930-guest cruiseship with tasteful Scandinavian interiors and lots of cosy nooks to sip a glass or wine and take in the greenery and also the drama of Britain's coast. Sailing between London and Viking's home port of Bergen in Norway, the 'Uk Explorer' itinerary visits ports in England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
My pick from the very best three destinations for lovers of historic TV drama are listed below:
Oxford & Surrounds
Before we set sail, I've chosen to take part in the three-day 'Oxford & Highclere Castle' extension. This is an exclusive Viking excursion that can take guests to the rolling hills in the English countryside, with privileged accessibility country home known as Highclere Castle – famed since the setting for Downton Abbey – in addition to Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill.
At the magnificent Highclere Castle, Viking guests are treated to some bag and tour of their many stately public rooms. Climax very much home because of its current inhabitants the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, fans from the Downton Abbey series will note that the majority of the furnishings are much like it appears on the program – a real delight to behold.
Also included is really a trip to Blenheim Palace – the rich history of who've served as inspiration for Downton storylines. Located just down the road in Oxfordshire, the palace served just like a convalescence hospital during WWI, and at forget about the 1800s, the Palace was saved from financial ruin with the Duke of Marlborough's marriage to American railroad heiress, Consuelo Vanderbilt. Both are plot points that'll be familiar to fans from the show.
Edinburgh
At the water's edge in Edinburgh, a short stroll where Viking Sea is berthed, you will find top beloved Royal Yacht Britannia. This shore excursion is recommended for fans of The Crown, who'll know that the ship assumes a starring role in season two for Prince Phillip's world tour, visiting far-off reaches of the commonwealth like Australia, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. Although the onboard scenes were actually filmed in the house in South London, this can be a special piece of history nonetheless.
Commissioned in 1952 by King George VI just days before his death, the duty to finalise the look and details fell for the new monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
During its lifetime, the yacht sailed higher than a million nautical miles and served as a floating royal palace – bearing witness to convey visits, official receptions, royal family holidays and honeymoons.
After 44 many years of service, the ship was eventually decommissioned in 1997. Since that time, nothing has changed onboard, as a result of your family photos along with the crew quarters. The clocks read 3:01 Time the Queen disembarked for that final time.
The Shetland Islands
Viking history is filled with the united kingdom – however, because the Shetland and Orkney Islands were once area of the Danish-Norwegian empire, there's arguably nowhere else in the united kingdom where the Viking connection is actually visible – and so celebrated. While Vikings was really filmed in the Irish countryside, for anyone wanting feel the genuine thing, these remote islands in the Atlantic would be the ultimate location to uncover Viking history. The buildings within the Shetland Islands look much more Scandinavian than British. Listen closely and you'll realize that the local dialect is affected by Norwegian words – as well as the names of people, places, geographical options that come with the landscape and birds have their origins in Scandinavian language. Throughout the hawaiian islands, there are lots of examples of proof of Viking occupation, however a holiday to a Up Helly Aa Exhibition truly brings these stories alive. Each year round the last Tuesday in January, the Up Helly Aa fire festival happens – a convention that has its roots firmly within the Shetland Islands' Viking past. Hundreds of local costumed 'Vikings' march through the city of Lerwick, while a Viking ship is burnt in ceremonial fashion and songs such as The Norseman's Home are sung. If you aren't brave enough to visit the Shetland Islands in chilly January, then your exhibition is the next most convenient thing. Back onboard Viking Sea, Norse influence abounds. Everything from the interior decoration remains taken into account, as a result of the option of books inside the library, curated by Heywood Hill bookshop in Mayfair. Clinker boat-building design – which helped the Vikings end up being the most well-known sea-faring individuals the planet – are available in the Viking Bar within the Living Room, and through the traditional Nordic spa facilities. There's a vast selection to inspiration for drama within this part of the world, because why is the hawaiian islands from the Uk and Ireland unique would be that the history is lived. Fortresses, castles and palaces dot the landscape – such everyday occurrences, they may be your next-door neighbour. And visitors welcomed with open arms through the residents who inhabit these vibrant islands today, and who still share their stories of history. Viking Cruises is the 'thinking person's cruise', offering journeys that help you explore one of the most intimate how to go about your destination; its food, culture, countryside and customs. The 2022 'British Isles Explorer' itinerary can be a 15-day cruise incorporating England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For more information, visit vikingcruises.com.au
