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The Last Kingdom Tour

Embark on a captivating journey through the Kingdom of Northumbria and the enchanting region of Northumberland.

Over a millennium ago, the Kingdom of Northumbria spanned from Edinburgh to York, weaving a tapestry of history and natural splendour. In this 5-day chauffeur-driven exploration of Northern England, we invite you to immerse yourself in the legacy of "The Last Kingdom" and uncover the magic of Northumberland's landscapes and heritage. From the historic marvels of York and Durham to the iconic treasures of Alnwick Castle and Bamburgh Castle, this tour promises an unforgettable blend of history, culture, and breath-taking scenery. With the enchantment of the Lake District as the grand finale, our journey promises cherished memories and answers to the question often asked: "Where is The Last Kingdom filmed?" Join us on this extraordinary adventure through Northern England, where every moment is a discovery waiting to unfold. Important information: Your preferred drop off and collection point will be agreed with your driver prior to the tour start date .

Tour includes

Price from: £475.00 per day

Tour vehicle

Private chauffeur guide

Free bottled water

York Minster Cathedral, The Jorvik Viking Centre, The Shambles

High Force Waterfalls, Auckland Castle, Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle

Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Holy Island, Alnmouth

Hadrians Wall, Carlisle, England/Scotland Border

The Lake District Lake Windermere, Ambleside

Discovering York

Your journey commences in York, a city steeped in history.

More than a millennium ago, the Kingdom of Northumbria stretched from Edinburgh to York, encompassing a rich tapestry of history and scenic beauty. Our 5-day chauffeur-driven journey through Northern England immerses you in the legacy of The Last Kingdom and the enchantment of Northumberland, showcasing national treasures and landscapes at their finest.

Marvel at the York Minster Cathedral, delve into Viking history at the Jorvik Viking Centre, and wander the medieval charm of The Shambles, which inspired Diagon Alley. This captivating walled city harbours more historical gems.

High Force to Durham

On the second day, we venture to County Durham...

On the second day, we venture to County Durham, visiting the awe-inspiring High Force Waterfalls, a true British wonder. Then, Auckland Castle beckons with tales of Old Bishops and captivating Zurbaran paintings. Your day culminates with visits to the UNESCO-listed Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle, both steeped in history.

Northumberland’s Treasures

Your third day unfolds in Northumberland, home to Alnwick Castle.

Your third day unfolds in Northumberland, home to Alnwick Castle, renowned for its beauty and ties to Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. Explore the majestic Bamburgh Castle, dating back to AD 420, and Holy Island, a Christian epicentre with Lindisfarne Priory.

Hexham and Border Tales

Hexham, a market town with two millennia of history, is your starting point.

Hexham, a market town with two millennia of history, is your starting point. Travel to Hadrian’s Wall, where you can stroll along this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Carlisle, explore the rich history of border conflicts between England and Scotland at the Border Reivers Museum.

The Lake District Finale

Your journey concludes amidst the natural splendour of the Lake District.

Your journey concludes amidst the natural splendour of the Lake District. Behold Lake Windermere’s breath-taking beauty and visit Ambleside. The World of Beatrix Potter awaits, offering enchantment for all ages. Your unforgettable Last Kingdom Tour concludes with a drop-off at your chosen destination For those craving more time in the Lake District, additional days can be arranged. Curious travellers often ask, “Where is The Last Kingdom filmed?” You’ll find the answer embedded in our captivating tour as we unveil the secrets of Northumbria’s past and present. Experience England’s glory on your private chauffeur tour of Northern England, creating cherished memories to last a lifetime. Explore the wonders of Northumberland and its rich heritage on our immersive tour of The Last Kingdom and Northumberland. Read more about The Last Kingdom at Wikipedia.

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Embark on a captivating journey as we explore the enchanting landscapes...

Immerse yourself in the stories shared by our experienced guides, who will transform your trip into an unforgettable saga of discovery. We would love to hear from you regarding your tour requirements. If you cannot find the perfect tour on our site we can create a custom itinerary for you.

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The last kingdom exhibition returns to bamburgh castle.

An exhibition showcasing costumes and props from global hit Netflix series The Last Kingdom returns to Bamburgh Castle – the saga’s historical homeland – on 10 February.

Being displayed for the first time are costumes worn by Mark Rowley (Finan) and Arnas Fedaravičius (Sihtric), both who starred in the show from series two onwards and in the feature-length Netflix movie, Seven Kings Must Die.

The exhibition also includes costumes worn by Alexander Dreymon who plays protagonist Uhtred, Thea Sofie Loch Næss who starred as Skade and Cavan Clerkin as warrior-priest Father Pyrlig.

To crown it all, destiny is all for visitors who can become queen or king of the north and sit in the Wessex Throne from the series.

The Last Kingdom was produced by Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. Adapted for Netflix from Bernard Cornwell’s historical novels The Saxon Stories, the plot centres on the Anglo-Saxon citadel of Bebbanburg – Uhtred’s ancestral home – today called Bamburgh Castle.

Nigel Marchant, Executive Producer and Managing Director of Carnival Films who have loaned the collection, said: “We are delighted that Bamburgh Castle is putting on this exhibition and giving the show’s loyal fans and members of the public the chance to step into The Last Kingdom. The props and costumes are such an integral part of the series, so it seems only right they stand proudly on display in Uhtred’s ancestral home of Bebbanburg.”

Kate Newman, events manager at Bamburgh Castle, said: “We’re so excited that The Last Kingdom exhibition is returning to Bamburgh, the true kingdom of Bebbanburg.

“Carnival Films has curated this fascinating collection of items that will be instantly recognisable to fans of the series and equally intriguing to anyone with an interest in Bamburgh’s past. The exhibition explores how the series was drawn from real life with a plotline inspired by its gripping history.”

Alongside the exhibition, additional Follow in the Footsteps of Uhtred guided tours led by Ragnar the Viking of award-winning Lundgren Tours, compare the real history of Uhtred with the fictional version. Tours last two-hours long and include free entry into the Castle and staterooms. Go to bamburghcastle.com for tour dates, pricing and times.

Entry into The Last Kingdom exhibition is included with general admission (adults £17 / children £8.50. Under-fives free. Family tickets £47.00). Tickets are available on the gate or at www.bamburghcastle.com

The Last Kingdom exhibition opens on Saturday February 10 when Bamburgh Castle reopens daily to visitors from 10am until 4.00pm (last admission 3.00pm). Entry into the exhibition is included with general admission.

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Bamburgh Castle launches The Last Kingdom tours as props and costumes 'come home'

The exhibition launches on Saturday February 18 alongside the announcement of feature-length Netflix movie Seven Kings Must Die, which is based on the series

11:43, 14 FEB 2023

Bamburgh Castle and Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred

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Netflix fans in Northumberland will be able to enter one of their favourite shows for real with a new Last Kingdom exhibition and tour at Bamburgh Castle.

Costumes and props worn by actors in the sword-wielding saga will be on display at the original fortress of Bebbanburg on the Northumberland coast from Saturday February 18. The exhibition includes costumes worn by Alexander Dreymon who plays Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Thea Sofie Loch Næss who starred as Skade, Ola Rapace who played Viking warrior Bloodhair and Cavan Clerkin who played warrior priest Father Pyrlig.

The Last Kingdom has been filmed at the Bamburgh Castle since 2018 and is one of many TV series and films to use it as a backdrop. It will be on the big screen later this year for the latest instalment of the Indiana Jones series, which was filmed at Bamburgh in June 2021.

Read more: Hadrian's Wall attraction in Northumberland one of sixteen English Heritage sites that had record year in 2022

Karen Larkin, visitor services manager at Bamburgh Castle, said: "Fans of The Last Kingdom will be able to see for themselves that Uhtred’s sword has returned to Bebbanburg as he said it would! The exhibition includes a bespoke selection of key props and costumes from the series.

"It’s located in the Castle’s King’s Hall on the very footprint of Bebbanburg’s medieval banqueting hall – our Valhalla – where the real Uhtred could have feasted. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it!

Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred, Arnas Fedaravicius as Sihtric and Mark Rowley as Finan

"Even if you haven’t watched the series, the exhibition will bring to life characters based on Bamburgh’s epic past as capital of the Kingdom of Northumbria and the kings and queens of its Golden Age."

Nigel Marchant, producer at Carnival Films who make The Last Kingdom, said: " It’s truly wonderful that Bamburgh Castle are putting on this exhibition and giving the show’s loyal fans and members of the public the chance to step into the real Last Kingdom. The props and costumes are such an integral part of the series, it seems only right they get to stand proudly on display at Uhtred’s ancestral home of Bebbanburg."

News of the exhibition comes as Carnival Films announced the release date for the feature-length movie based on the series - Seven Kings Must Die - on April 14 on Netflix. The Last Kingdom at Bebbanburg exhibition opens on Saturday February 18 when the castle reopens daily to visitors.

Follow in the Footsteps of Uhtred tours will take place on Saturdays throughout March and are free with general admission, and there will be a chance for visitors to become Queen or King of the North and be photographed sitting on the Wessex Throne. Tours will be led by Ragnar the Viking who'll be comparing the real history of Uhtred with the fictional version.

For more information, including opening times and admission prices, visit the Bamburgh Castle website .

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Bamburgh Castle: The Real Bebbanburg of The Last Kingdom

The long-awaited film Seven Kings Must Die , bringing the story of Uhtred, son a Uhtred and The Last Kingdom to a thrilling climax, has finally arrived on Netflix. But where was Bebbanburg, the ancestral home that obsessed our Anglo-Viking hero? Travel journalist and history fan Paul Bloomfield explores the history of Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is an imposing coastal fortress in North-East England

Paul Bloomfield
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Over five dramatic seasons of The Last Kingdom spanning several decades, protagonist Uhtred, son of Uhtred has endured a rollercoaster existence. Born an Anglo-Saxon noble but raised as a Dane, he’s been orphaned and adopted, betrayed – more than once – and sold into slavery. He’s won and lost battles and loves, switched allegiances, consorted with kings and with Vikings . Throughout it all, though, one obsession has dominated his hopes and schemes: a determination to reclaim his birthright – his ancestral home, Bebbanburg.

Is Bebbanburg a real place?

Uhtred himself, hero of Bernard Cornwall’s hugely popular Last Kingdom novels and the BBC/Netflix series based on them, is a composite character, albeit named for at least one real medieval noble from Northumbria. But Bebbanburg, the fortress on which Uhtred is fatefully fixated, is far from fictional. Today it’s known as Bamburgh Castle.

Where is Bebbanburg?

Like so many castles around Britain , Bamburgh was planted in a border region. This is a liminal point where land meets sea, standing between the peoples of what’s now Scotland and England, the territories of the Anglo-Saxons and the Danelaw, paganism and Christianity. Today it’s just 15 miles south of the Tweed, which marks the modern border with Scotland.

In the Iron Age , a Celtic people now commonly known as the Votadini inhabited the area. They built a fort called Din Guaydri (or Din Guarie) that may have stood on the site now occupied by Bamburgh.

After the Roman retreat from Britain in the fifth century AD, Anglo-Saxon conquerors pushed north, establishing the kingdom of Bernicia. It was here, in AD 547, that – says the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – Ida the Flame-bearer, first king of Bernicia, founded his capital, building a fortified wooden stockade.

Why is it called Bebbanburg?

According to at least one source, Ida’s grandson, Æthelfrith, gave the fortress to his wife, Bebba – from whom it took the name Bebbanburh (or Bebbanburg).

His son, Oswald, ruled a unified kingdom of Northumbria, where he promoted Christianity and gave the nearby island of Lindisfarne to the monk Saint Aidan. According to the historian-monk Bede, after Oswald’s death in battle in AD 642, his arm was brought back to Bamburgh, where it was venerated as a holy relic in the castle chapel.

Bede’s description makes it clear that Bamburgh was an important urban centre by the turn of the seventh century. Archaeological excavations have unearthed artefacts from that era backing up that impression, including the embossed gold ‘Bamburgh Beast’ brooch, an iron sword and fragments of a carved stone seat that may have been a throne.

Read more | The Viking raid of Lindisfarne

Was Bebbanburg attacked by Vikings?

All too soon, a new enemy arrived in Northumbria: Vikings. The attack on Lindisfarne, just five miles from Bamburgh Castle, on 8 June AD 793 marked the start of terrifying waves of assaults by Danes hungry for loot, slaves and land.

Seven decades later, the Great Heathen Army invaded, conquering and occupying much of eastern England, which became known as the Danelaw . And in AD 993, Bamburgh was sacked by Vikings, then left to fall into disrepair.

Bamburgh in the medieval period

Rebuilt after the Norman Conquest , it was certainly back in defensible shape by 1095, when the rebel Earl of Northumbria Robert de Mowbray made the mistake of defying William II. Following a siege that ended with Robert’s capture, Bamburgh became crown property, and was further developed.

The mighty stone keep, oldest part of the extant fortifications, probably dates from the early reign of Henry II , who came to the throne in 1154. Over the next few centuries, a number of monarchs stayed in this key north-eastern base, including King John , Henry III and the first three Edwards.

Read more | Reassessing Edward I: battle-hungry aggressor or dutiful conqueror?

One less-willing guest was the Scots King David II, son of Robert Bruce , held as a wounded hostage after defeat at the battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346.

Years of relative calm at Bamburgh came to an end in 1462, when the Wars of the Roses arrived at the castle gates. Then a Lancastrian stronghold supporting Henry VI , that December a Yorkist siege masterminded by Richard Neville, the ‘Kingmaker’ Earl of Warwick , forced the garrison to surrender.

A brief respite followed but a second, much longer siege by Yorkists in 1464 ended with the castle largely in ruins – making Bamburgh the first British castle to be substantially damaged by artillery fire.

Read more | Did the Tudors invent the Wars of the Roses?

Who was the last king to hold Bamburgh Castle?

Bamburgh, somewhat rebuilt, was granted to prominent local landowner Claudius Forster in 1609 by James VI and I, who – after the union of the crowns in 1603 – had no further need for a border fortress. Forster and his descendants didn’t have the money to maintain such a large property, which crumbled into ruins once more.

In 1700, the last Forster heir, Dorothy, married the bishop of Durham, Lord Nathaniel Crewe – a man well over twice her age – who invested heavily in the restoration of the castle. That work continued after this death through a charitable trust in his name, directed by influential trustee Dr John Sharp. Much of Bamburgh village was rebuilt and its people supported through the foundation of a hospital, school and pharmacy within the citadel.

On the podcast | The North: Brian Groom shares some notable moments in the history of northern England

Who owns Bamburgh Castle today?

Castles are expensive, though, and in 1894 the Lord Crewe Trustees were forced to sell Bamburgh for £60,000 to inventor and arms manufacturer William Armstrong. His renovation of the castle cost more than £1 million, and wasn’t completed until after his death in 1900. The result of his ambitious remodelling is a romantic melange of faux-Medieval fortress and grand Victorian mansion – a suitable home for a wealthy industrial magnate.

Armstrong’s family live in the Grade I-listed Bamburgh Castle to this day – though it’s also open to visitors keen to discover the ancestral home of the legendary Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

Five things to see at Bamburgh Castle

The Great Hall

In the 13th century King Henry III, one of successive monarchs who held Bamburgh, was keen to make it a more comfortable residence. He’s credited with installing glass windows and constructing a magnificent great hall. That original construction is long gone, but on the same site now stands a replacement matching William Armstrong’s vision of a grand medieval hall. Though lined with historic artefacts and artworks, the main draw of the Victorian Great Hall is the spectacular hammer-beam ceiling made with teak imported from Thailand.

The square stone tower, believed to have been built by Henry II in the decade after he took the throne in 1154, is the oldest surviving part of the Norman castle. With walls more than three metres thick, it stands on a platform of solid rock to prevent attackers from tunnelling into it from below. Today it houses the armoury, a collection of weapons including pikes, halberds, muskets, a composite 15th-century bow and a 17th-century Flemish crossbow. You can also explore the vaulted Keep Hall, where an Anglo-Saxon well was sunk over 40 metres into the rock.

Read more | How to build a medieval castle: 9 top tips

The archeology museum

With a recorded history stretching back nearly 15 centuries, Bamburgh has been the focus of major archaeological study. Today, some of the fruits of various excavations in and around the castle can be admired in the Archaeology Museum. Highlights include the Bamburgh Beast, an ornately embossed gold brooch featuring a curious creature, and a rare pattern-welded iron sword from the seventh century. Together the artefacts highlight the importance of this site during the Anglo-Saxon period.

The Armstrong and aviation artefacts museum

William Armstrong, who bought Bamburgh Castle in 1894 and funded its restoration and redevelopment, was an industrialist and inventor who rose from lowly beginnings to make his fortune from hydraulic engineering then arms manufacturing. This museum in the castle’s West Ward explores his life and work, featuring not just artefacts and inventions from his own career but also a range of items relating to aviation during both World Wars.

Read more | Who was the original king of the castle and who was the dirty rascal?

The wards and grounds

From a historical perspective, almost more fascinating than the surviving buildings are the echoes of the past to be found wandering outside. The Inner Ward, protected by battlements facing the sea, was likely the site of the earliest fortification. Remains of the 12th-century chapel remain at its eastern end, probably built over St Peter’s Chapel, where Saint Oswald’s arm was kept following his death in the seventh century. At the opposite end of the grounds, past the Keep in the Western Ward, stands St Oswald’s Gate – the medieval entrance to the fortress. And from the Battery Terrace, fortified with cannons in response to the threat of invasion by Napoleon’s forces, you can enjoy views across to the Farne Islands and holy Lindisfarne.

More from us

Bernard Cornwell on writing historical fiction and his blockbuster series The Last Kingdom : your questions answered
What is it like to be an historical consultant on a period drama?

Bamburgh Castle is open daily between mid-February and autumn. There are regular family-friendly events, many themed around Uhtred, and a special exhibition featuring props and costumes from The Last Kingdom runs until 5 November 2023. Find out more at bamburghcastle.com

Paul Bloomfield is a writer and editor who has contributed to BBC History Magazine since 2013. He's worked in various publishing roles for over a quarter of a century, holding staff positions at the likes of Lonely Planet Publications, Wanderlust magazine and BBC Wildlife Magazine.

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Coastal Custodian

Aug 1, 2022

‘Vikings’ The Last Kingdom Themed Tour of Lindisfarne & Bamburgh with Lundgren Tours

‘ Vikings’ The Last Kingdom Themed Tour … Would you like to experience Holy Island and Bamburgh with a uniquely fun and entertaining guide whilst learning about how the Viking era started with the Viking raid on Lindisfarne in the year AD 793 and how this links not only to Uhtred’s future but also his bloodline? Yes well this is just the tour for you.

I was kindly invited along with Lundgren Tours an award winning, family run tour company based in the heart of rural Northumberland to experience one of their guided tours, the Last Kingdom Themed Tour Of Bamburgh Castle (Bebbanburg) and Linidisfarne

📸 Lindisfarne Castle from the Harbour

The tour started from Durham where you can be collected by coach or pick up point at Newcastle though I met Ragnar (aka Rob Lundgren the founder of the company) on Holy Island where the tour started (please always check crossing times before hand)

As we set off on our tour Ragnar announced to the group that he was taking us on a journey of the real Uhtred the Bold who defended his home of Bebbanburg, dressed in authentic costume and wielding his Viking sword I believed every word he said!

📸Ragnar wielding his mighty (but blunt!) sword

Throughout the day I really felt that Rob (and his family parents Karen and Tim and of course little Bobby 🐶💙) aim was to provide more than just an informational tour, and they strived to deliver an experience at the same time, really bringing the tour to life. They showcased the region whilst sharing their local knowledge and anecdotes such as stories about St Cuthbert’s living as a hermit on the island whilst preaching gospels eating fish and mussels and making the Eider ‘cuddy’ ducks as friends, all of which really helped create an authentic and immersive experience with fun Viking ‘challenges’ along the way.

📸Fun Viking challenges

The tour included sufficient historical content and local knowledge and with Rob’s enthusiastic style it was so engaging and his storytelling so immersive that it really is an experience rather than a tour

Some of the highlights included:

A visit and Free tasters of the ‘nectar of the gods’ Lindisfarne Mead at St Aidan’s Winery

The Hill of Doom Battle with Ragnar (great photo opportunities)

A guided tour of Holy Island showcasing the start of the viking era and how this not only affected Uhtred’s future but also his bloodline

A walk over to the picturesque St Cuthbert’s Isle (if safe crossing times permit)

A guided tour of Bamburgh and the castle showcasing Uhtred’s beginning, his rise to power and his inevitable demise as well as the similarities and differences between the real history and the fantasy

Some free time to enjoy these fantastic locations

📸 The ‘nectar of the gods’ Lindisfarne Mead tasting

If you’re not wanting to join the coach

trip you can make your own way there and join the tour from Holy Island as part of your own stay in Northumberland just advise when booking.

The Viking trip to Lindisfarne and Bamburgh really is no ordinary guided tour – its a performance and an interactive experience, so if the thought of battling with Ragnar and wielding a Viking sword appeals to you, (a blunted one that is) – as they really don’t want any nasty accidents and insurance claims! want to sample the ‘nectar of the gods’ Lindisfarne Mead or be crowned King or Queen of Bebbanburg then this is just the experience you are looking for.

📸Will you be King or Queen of Bebbanburg?

To read more about the tour click here:

https://lundgrentours.com/blog/viking-tour-of-lindisfarne-and-bamburgh/

To book click here:

https://lundgrentours.com/our-tours/last-kingdom-themed-tour-of-bamburgh-bebbanburg-and-lindisfarne/

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in

collaboration with Lundgren Tours. Please mention the Coastal Custodian recommendation if you book.

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ExpatExplore tour guide (Peter W) and coach driver (Mintee) were exceptional on the Great Britain tour. All of the individuals on the tour were very accommodating and cooperative with respect to the schedule and personal interactions. We met many very good people from throughout the world who in reality are very similar to ourselves. The places visited were well selected and very informative.

10-Day Ultimate Ireland Small Group Tour

This tour checked all the boxes for us. Ireland is gorgeous and to be introduced to her by Finn who clearly loves his homeland and is so knowledgeable of the history and "troubles" that Ireland has experienced. We had a great group of travel mates and Finn went out of his way to make it successful and fun for all. Bless you Finn. Five thumbs up! ????????❤????

What people love about UK And Great Britain Tours

Very nice itinerary ... jam packed days and evenings. I chose not to do any of the extra evening excursions that were offered so I was able to use the time to explore every overnight stop on my own. The tour guide was amazing... so full of knowledge about all the countries/areas we visited.

The driver, Billy, and tour director, Speedy, made the trip very interesting and informative. They were both very helpful. We were disappointed that some of the hotel didn’t really cater for the older tourist with rooms a fair distance from reception, climbing stairs and dragging our luggage.

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The Last Kingdom

As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred--born a Saxon but raised by Vikings--seeks to claim his ancestral birthright. As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred--born a Saxon but raised by Vikings--seeks to claim his ancestral birthright. As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred--born a Saxon but raised by Vikings--seeks to claim his ancestral birthright.

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Episodes 46

Aethelflaed

King Edward …

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Trivia The family name of the author's birth father was Oughtred and he is descended from the Saxons who took the name Uhtred. They had owned Bebbanburg (now Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland) and held it through the Danish invasion and occupation of northern Britain
Goofs It is incorrectly stated that the Danes would only use the raven symbol on flags and other objects. It is well-known that Norse warriors would use different symbols from tribe to tribe, much like a coat of arms or a family crest.

Uhtred : Destiny is all.

Connections Featured in History Buffs: Vikings Historical Accuracy and Season 4 (2016)
Soundtracks The Last Kingdom: Opening Theme Music Composed by John Lunn Vocals by Eivør Pálsdóttir (as Eivør)

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THE LAST KINGDOM EXHIBITION RETURNS TO BAMBURGH CASTLE

New displays added to hit netflix series showcase.

An exhibition showcasing costumes and props from global hit Netflix series The Last Kingdom returns to Bamburgh Castle – the saga’s historical homeland – on Saturday (February 10).

The exhibition also includes costumes worn by Alexander Dreymon who plays protagonist Uhtred, Thea Sofie Loch Næss who starred as Skade and Cavan Clerkin as warrior-priest Father Pyrlig.

To crown it all, destiny is all for visitors who can become queen or king of the north and sit in the Wessex Throne from the series.

The Last Kingdom was produced by Carnival Films , which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. Adapted for Netflix from Bernard Cornwell’s historical novels The Saxon Stories,the plot centres on the Anglo-Saxon citadel of Bebbanburg – Uhtred’s ancestral home – today called Bamburgh Castle.

Kate Newman, events manager at Bamburgh Castle, said: “We’re so excited that The Last Kingdom exhibition is returning to Bamburgh, the true kingdom of Bebbanburg. Carnival Films has curated this fascinating collection of items that will be instantly recognisable to fans of the series and equally intriguing to anyone with an interest in Bamburgh’s past. The exhibition explores how the series was drawn from real life with a plotline inspired by its gripping history.”

Entry into The Last Kingdom exhibition is included with general admission. Buy tickets online or on the gate.

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Best UK Tours 2023/4 – Reviews & Itinerary Guide

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: June 13, 2023

Taking one of the many UK tours on offer can be a great way to explore the United Kingdom if this is one of your first trips in the UK. There are several advantages to taking a guided or self-guided tour for part (or all) of your time visiting the UK.

Guided tours of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland allow you to minimise the travel hassle as you’ll have a company to do most of the planning for you, and many of the United Kingdom tour package options we’ve included here allow you to see far more of the UK in a shorter period of time than it would be possible to do on your own.

Guided tours of UK can also offer good value for money, and there are some great UK trip packages on offer. Unfortunately, choosing which UK tour to take is not so easy – as the choice of tours in UK can be really overwhelming. There are just so many, so where to start looking?

In this guide I’ll walk you through some of my favourite UK tour itineraries and how to choose the best UK tour that’s right for you. Whether you’re looking for England tours, cheap UK tours, all-inclusive England vacation packages, or the best coach holidays UK has, you’ll find plenty of options in this blog. I’ve also included some of my recommended cycling and walking holidays UK has for those looking for an active break.

Let’s get started with the best Great Britain tours 2023/4 options on offer!

Best Tours of Great Britain – Comparison Chart

When is the best time to go on your uk trip , mode of transport, pace of travel, elegance of great britain – insight vacations – 11 days, castles & kilts – trafalgar tours – 10 days, great britain 7 days, uk by train – great rail journeys uk – 12 days.

The Lake District & Scotland – Rabbie's – 9 Days

Highlights of Scotland – G Adventures – 7 Days

Country roads of scotland – insight vacations – 9 days.

Best of Scotland

8 Day Isle of Skye, Orkney & North Coast

Britain and ireland, essential britain & ireland – globus – 10 days, britain & ireland explorer – insight vacations – 13 days, walk hadrian’s wall, g adventures, globus journeys , great rail journeys, insight vacations, intrepid travel, indus travels , trafalgar travel, rabbie’s tours, extending your british tour with extra days in london.

If you want to compare even more of the best coach trips the UK has or other styles of tour, I recommend TourRadar as a great place to compare tours and read more UK tour reviews.

When planning for your trip to England or the rest of the UK, it’s important to take seasonality into consideration. I go over all the details of the weather and the seasons in the UK here in this article .

When comparing tour operator UK options and which trip to take, be aware that UK tours tend to run with reduced frequency during the winter months, with many of the best UK tour packages running more frequently in spring and summer (April – August).

While some British coach holidays run year-round, speciality outdoor trips such as cycling holidays UK options may only run during summer months.

Suitcases with signposts to various UK destinations.

Best United Kingdom Tours – Choosing the Best Tour for you

When searching for the best UK travel packages and tours, there are many factors to consider. Here are some of the top things I recommend taking a few minutes to think about before deciding on the best tour of Britain for you:

Many of the most popular UK guided tour options are small group tours. UK small group tours vary widely in size with what is deemed to be a ‘small’ group – with some having up to 50 in a group while others keep it to 12 or under.

Coach tours UK options are a convenient way to travel around with the rest of your group and often allow more to be fitted into an itinerary than independently travelling by train.

These range in style and you can find plenty of luxury coach holidays UK options as well as budget bus tours UK.

If you want to take the train but also like the idea of a guided tour, you could consider one of the train holidays UK options listed below.

This is the one most of us forget to consider! In order to fit as much in as possible, some of the popular coach holidays in England and the rest of the UK move very fast, taking in multiple cities and sights in a day and usually spending only 1 night in a place.

This can get tiring, so if you prefer to spend at least a couple of nights in each place, check for itineraries that allow you more time or you could consider choosing one of the self-drive holidays UK options available.

Also, see our tips at the end of this article for extending your stay in the UK by spending extra days in London, Edinburgh, or any of the other common UK tour starting and endpoints.

England vacation packages and tours have different inclusions depending on the style of trip and company.

Most include transport, guide, accommodation and some meals, but check the small print so you know what you are and aren’t getting included on tours to England.

The entrance fees to many sights are often not included in tour pricing.

Best Great Britain Tours (England, Scotland, Wales)

Below you’ll find our favourite United Kingdom trip tour packages that take in England, Scotland and in some cases Wales, too. For tours that also include Ireland, see the next section.

Best for seeing England & Scotland at a more leisurely pace

Starting in Edinburgh and finishing in London, this 11-day journey through some of England and Scotland’s finest sights is a great option for those wanting to travel in comfort or who are looking for the best UK tours for seniors.

This is one of our favourite England and Scotland tour packages if you prefer a tour that spends 1-2 nights in each place and allows you to relax more in the places that you visit.

Staying at 4* accommodations throughout the trip, this itinerary starts in Edinburgh and takes in Gretna Green, the stunning Lake District , historic York, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Cotswolds and Bath before finishing up in London.

Travel is by private coach.

As trips to England and Scotland go, this Insight Vacations UK trip is one for those who want to see the best of the UK’s history, natural beauty and culture in comfort and style. If you have additional time, we highly recommend adding on extra days in London or Edinburgh (or both!).

Click here for more info and pricing

Chester is included in some of the best UK tours.

Best for fitting lots of England in at a great price

Starting in London and finishing in Edinburgh, this 10 day London – Scotland tour by Trafalgar Tours England is a great option for those who want to see as much as possible during their trip and don’t mind travelling at a faster pace.

One of the popular tours of England and Scotland, this itinerary spends 3 days taking in the sights of London at the start of the tour, so you don’t need to worry about booking additional time at the start of the tour (unless you want to).

From London, head north to Oxford and Bath before crossing the Welsh borders and exploring some fine Welsh castles . You’ll also visit Chester, Lancaster and Hadrian’s wall before finishing in Edinburgh.

If you want to include a trip to Wales in your UK tour itinerary then this is a great tour to go for, and history lovers will enjoy every stop of this trip that showcases the UK’s history from the Wars of the Roses to Roman Bath – you even get to stay at Ruthin Castle in Wales – a 13th century castle with its original moat!

Best for seeing it all in seven days

If you only have seven days to spend in the UK, this whistle-stop tour will whisk you up and down the length and breadth of Britain to introduce you to the highlights. Included on the itinerary are a list of destinations for day trips outside London – and beyond.

The cities of Bath, Cambridge and York in England, plus the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, are included. Stratford-upon-Avon is also visited as the home of the UK’s most revered playwright. Experiences to savour include seeing Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis in Scotland, and enjoying a traditional roast dinner in historic, compact York.

In addition to Georgian Bath and the capital London, this seven day tour takes you to some other fascinating UK locations too. There’s sculptor Antony Gormley’s famous Angel of the North artwork, a Scottish border town, Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, and the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness.

Once you head down the west coast, the musical and sporting city of Liverpool awaits. You’ll also venture into Wales to see the city of Cardiff and a mediaeval Welsh castle. After touring Bath, the last stop en route back to London is Stonehenge. This ancient site is shrouded in mystery – and a must on the itinerary of every visitor to the UK.

Steam train crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct.

Best for train travel and rail holidays UK

There’s arguably nothing more quintessentially British than train travel – and if life on the rails in Britain is what you’ve been romanticising about, then this is one of the train tours UK for you.

This UK rail itinerary takes in the best of Scotland and England, with the chance to ride on one of the best-known steam train trips UK has to offer on the Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Mallaig.

You’ll travel on the West Highland Line, North East Main Line that links Edinburgh and York, and the West Coast Mainline south from Glasgow.

Travel is at a more leisurely pace with 2 nights spent in most cities, staying in mostly 4* hotels. You’ll also get to see Bath and Stonehenge before finishing in London.

If you’re looking for guided tours of England and Scotland by train, this is a great itinerary to go for. You’ll get to experience many of the UK’s best-known railways and take in the country’s top historic and cultural sights along the way. Travel is by train and private coach.

The Lake District & Scotland – Rabbie’s – 9 Days

Best for taking in the beautiful scenery of the Lake District & Scottish Highlands

Rabbie’s tours of the UK offer great value for money, and if you want to be immersed in some of the UK’s finest landscapes and are interested in guided walking holidays UK options, this is a great way to dip your toes in.

Starting in Manchester, this itinerary is a ‘rail and trail’ combination of 2 Rabbie’s trips , meaning you’ll change minibus and guide half way through.

First you’ll explore the stunning Lake District in the beautiful north west of England, enjoying Windermere and Ullswater before taking the train up to Edinburgh for your Highlands adventure that visits some of the most scenic spots on Scotland’s west coast: Uban, Mull and Skye before heading back to the mainland to visit the iconic Eilean Donan castle.

If you’re looking for the best adventure tours UK has, then we recommend Rabbie’s who deliver great tours at a budget-friendly price point for those who love the outdoors.

View over Loch Ness can be seen on some of the best UK tours.

Best for Scottish Highlands exploring and Solo Trips UK.

If you’re looking to focus your UK trip on Scotland , then this 7 day Scotland tour from Edinburgh by G Adventures is well worth a look.

G Adventures also offer very reasonable single supplements if you’re looking for the best solo holidays uk options – or you can choose to share a room with another traveller of the same sex. Either way, G Adventures UK is popular with solo travellers.

Starting in Edinburgh and finishing in Glasgow, this Scotland tour takes in Inverness and the famous Loch Ness, Culloden Moor (famous for the Jacobite rising of 1745), the beautiful Isle of Skye and Fort William, with a chance to snap the famous Jacobite Steam Train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct (a must for Harry Potter fans) en route.

Accommodation is on a twin-share basis in 3* hotels and travel is by private minibus.

If you want the highlights of the highlands of Scotland, this is a good tour to go for, with the option to add on extra days at the start or end of your tour – you could easily spend more time in Edinburgh, or head down to London.

Off the beaten-path Highlands of Scotland

One of our favourite Great Britain vacation packages for getting a little off the beaten path is this wonderful northern Scotland adventure by Insight Vacations. Perfect for those wanting to see more of the Scottish Highlands or try something different when it comes to the many UK holiday packages.

Starting in Edinburgh, on this upscale tour you’ll take in Inverness and Loch Ness, the beautiful and remote Orkney Islands at the northern tip of Scotland – a part that few visitors see – before heading south down the west coast of Scotland to take in the Isle of Skye, the stunning Glencoe pass and Loch Lomond before finishing up in Glasgow.

Accommodation is in 4* hotels and travel is by private coach.

This is certainly one of the best UK coach holidays 2021 has to offer if the Scottish Highlands have been calling to you. You’ll love this one if you want to see the full diversity of landscapes and richness of community and culture that Scotland has.

Best of Scotland

Best for uncovering all four corners of Scotland

If you want to find the best luxury coach tours in the UK that cover much of what lies north of the border, then the Best of Scotland tour from Trafalgar is a popular option for summer. The adventure begins in the capital of Edinburgh on day one. You’ll then be transported around Bonnie Scotland for seven days before ending up in Glasgow.

This vibrant city lies to the west of Edinburgh. It’s the biggest in Scotland in terms of both population and square mileage. The metropolis is renowned for its magnificent architecture and as a cultural hub for fans of music, museums and more.

After arrival and on the second day of the tour, you’ll delve deeper under the surface of the historic and breathtakingly beautiful Scottish capital. Key sights including Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and Palace of Holyroodhouse are visited during your guided tour, and you’ll also enjoy free time to spend as you wish.

Between leaving Edinburgh and arriving in Glasgow – both of which are in southern Scotland – you’ll head north. The first stop is St. Andrews, where Prince William met Kate Middleton, before overnighting at a hotel in the Cairngorms National Park. During day four, you’ll visit the site of the famous Jacobite uprising, see Eilean Donan Castle, look out for the Loch Ness Monster and head over to the Isle of Skye.

The fifth day of the tour includes Ben Nevis and Glencoe en route to Glasgow. After staying overnight there, you’ll take a city tour before calling at Clydeside whisky distillery and Stirling Castle on day six. Day seven is departure day, unless you decide to stay on in Glasgow for longer.

Best for touring unspoiled Scotland

If what appeals to you most about the British Isles is the chance to spend time in Bonnie Scotland, this tour to far northern Scotland might be the one for you. It’s what Great Britain vacations are made of for many – beguiling cities, beautiful coastline and of course a dazzlingly rich and varied history.

Day one transports you from Edinburgh to Inverness, via the famous Forth Bridge, picture-perfect Perthshire, the peaceful village of Dunkeld, the fascinating Highland Folk Museum, the Cairngorms National Park, bloody Culloden Battlefield and the standing stones at Clava Cairns.

Next up on the second day is the spectacular North Coast 500 trail, via French-style Dunrobin Castle, en route to the island of Orkney. Puffin territory and an astonishingly well-preserved Neolithic settlement await after overnighting on Orkney.

Both the better-known and lesser seen sights of Scotland make up much of the tour’s second half. These include Smoo Cave in Sutherland, the harbour village of Ullapool, Eilean Donan Castle, the Isle of Skye, the Jacobite Steam Train from Mallaig to Fort William and Glencoe.

During the last day, you can also choose to take an optional side trip to one of the Western Isles – namely Iona, Kerrera, Mull or Staffa. Alternatively, climb up Battery Hill in Oban or call into the

local Whisky Distillery. Finally, before heading back to Edinburgh, visit the Kelpies and Stirling Castle.

Aerial view of Keswick in the Lake District

Best England, Ireland, Scotland Tour packages

Some of these itinerary options include the best England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales tours for a comprehensive circuit of the British Isles, while others combine Ireland and Scotland to get a fuller taste of the Celtic lands.

View of evening in Dublin can be appreciated on some of the best UK tours.

Best for a whistle-stop tour of the UK and Ireland

If seeing England and Scotland isn’t enough for you, then you might like to add on Ireland. This ten day trip is arguably the best way to see England, Scotland and Ireland in one hit. It lasts for ten days, and packs far more into that time than you could feasibly manage on a self-guided basis.

First up after departing London is Shakespeare country and Stratford-upon-Avon, then it’s the Yorkshire cities of York and Bradford. The Yorkshire Dales, Lake Windermere, Gretna Green and Glasgow are then on the agenda for day three.

There’s a day in Edinburgh for the fourth day, before heading to Ayrshire, Belfast, Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford on day five and six. Cardiff, Bath and Windsor are the final stops before the tour winds up back in London.

This tour offers incredible value for money, and really maximises each and every day when time in the UK is tight.

Best for trips to England and Ireland that include the main highlights

If you’re looking at tours of England, Scotland and Ireland, then this 10 day trip by Globus may tick all the right boxes.

Start and end in London on this tour that takes in the English highlights of Stonehenge and Bath before exploring Newport and Cardiff in Wales en route by ferry to Waterford and Dublin in Ireland.

Head north through Ireland towards the up-and-coming city of Belfast and crossing back into Scotland to take in the sights of the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

On the final leg you’ll head south through York and Stratford upon Avon to London to soak up the best of English history. Travel is by coach.

This is one of the best tours of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland if you’re tight on time and don’t want to forgo any of the countries of the British Isles. The travel is at a fairly fast pace though – so you may wish to add on a few days to relax at the end of your trip.

Best for combining Scottish Highlands & Ireland

One of the comprehensive UK tours from London options in this list, this itinerary works well if you want to start in London and have a few days before your trip starts to explore the UK’s capital – either through an extension booked through Insight or under your own steam.

Leaving London, this ultimate UK tour takes in the historic English highlights of Stratford and York before heading past Hadrian’s Wall to Edinburgh and circling the Scottish Highlands.

Take in the legendary sights of Loch Ness, Glencoe and a boat trip on Loch Lomond before heading back south into England and Wales, and crossing over into Ireland.

Travel is by private coach and accommodation is at 4* hotels.

On this grand UK tour, you’ll spend a total of 5 nights in Ireland and 7 in England & Scotland, making this the perfect UK tour packages from London when you just want to see it all!

Best for English countryside and Roman history

Following the route of Hadrian’s Wall makes for one of the best road trips in the UK. Though the wall is quite justifiably famous, the route along it is far less touristy than other parts of the British Isles. The wall stretches from near Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the east to the compact city of Carlisle in the west.

Hadrian’s Wall can be found within the more peaceful parts of England’s two most northerly counties. As this is a walking tour you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness, but this also means you’ll get up really close to the sights of Cumbria and Northumberland. And of course the unspoiled English countryside, with its dry stone walls and sheep-dotted emerald fields.

To give you some idea of the distances, the first day’s walk is around eight miles, between Carlisle and Irthington. Other walks include the six mile trek between Lanercost Priory and Gilsland, the three-and-a-half Walltown Crags to Haltwhistle route and seven miles from Once Brewed to Brocolitia Fort. It’s also nine miles from Chollerford to East Wallhouses, and about five from East Wallhouses to Wylam.

Highlights of this tour include the pretty Cumbrian village Crosby-on-Eden; Birdoswald, Housesteads, Brocolitia and Vindolanda Roman Forts, Walltown quarry, Sycamore Gap, the site of the victory of Oswald and the historic old Military Road.

Best Tour Companies UK Reviews

Not sure which of the best travel agency UK options you should pick? Below you can find a short review of what to expect when travelling with any of the UK tour companies mentioned above.

G Adventures tours are known for their good value and experience-rich approach. They attract travellers of all ages, both couples and solo travellers, thanks to their twin-share policy where single travellers can travel at no extra cost if they share with another traveller of the same sex.

Travel is in small groups (max 12) and includes a local tour guide “CEO”. Accommodation is in mid-range hotels and guest houses, and typically breakfasts and entry to some sights are included.

Travel in the UK is mostly by private mini-bus unless otherwise stated.

Popular for coach tours in the UK and around the world, Globus Journeys offer guided coach tours in the UK and Ireland, either with smaller groups (max 24) or larger groups (up to 50) depending on the style of the trip.

Accommodation is typically in tourist class hotels (3* and 4*) with well known brands. Globus is popular among travellers aged in their 50’s, 60’s and up for the convenience of travel by coach and their tours have more meals and excursions included than some.

Expect itineraries that pack places in, so you’ll see a lot, and stays are typically 1 night.

GRJ are the go-to for UK steam tours and railway journeys around the UK and beyond, so if travelling the UK by train is what you’re hoping to do, look no further.

Itineraries are designed to take in iconic lines and to provide the best steam train holidays UK has (or ‘regular’ trains). Journeys are escorted by a Tour Manager, and the majority of travellers are either solo travellers or couples aged between 45 – 80.

Accommodation is in 3* hotels or higher. The maximum group size on any trip is 50, or you can opt for a tailor made travel experience.

Insight Vacations are an upscale tour company offering luxury UK coach tours with up to 40 people per group.

Travellers are typically 45 and up, and itineraries are a little more relaxed than many other tour companies, including 2 night stays at many destinations and “relaxed starts” in the morning spread out through the trip allowing time to catch up on rest if you need it.

Accommodation is in 4* hotels and trips are accompanied by a tour manager.

Famous for great value adventures around the world, in the UK Intrepid offer a range of shorter ‘retreat’ style trips – so if you’re after hiking trips UK or a guided walking and cycling holiday, look no further.

Accommodation is in local guest houses and you’ll be accompanied by your own Intrepid Travel guide for the duration of the trip.

Maximum group size is 12, and rooms are on a twin share basis with the same sex if you’re a solo traveller, or you can pay a supplement to have your own room.

Offering a mix of small group tours, independent adventures, cruises and self-drive vacations, Indus Travels allows you to set your own pace of travel with flexible itineraries when you choose one of their ‘unbundled tours’ or self-drive trips.

Self-drive trips are just you, your car rental, itinerary and accommodation, whereas group tours have up to 22 travellers, English-speaking local guides, deluxe accommodation and air conditioned coaches included.

Indus is popular with younger and older travellers alike, with many travellers in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.

Well known and popular Trafalgar Tours England have been offering coach travel around the UK for many years and have many happy customers behind them.

Group tours have a maximum of 50 people, travelling by coach to the most popular destinations. They are popular for England tours for seniors (and younger people), and on any of their England tour packages you’re guaranteed to have a lot packed into your itinerary. That’s one thing to bear in mind – this is definitely not slow travel – but it’s a good way to get an overview of the British Isles.

All tours are accompanied by a guide and accommodation is tourist class 3* or 4* international standard hotels.

Rabbie’s tours have some great England travel deals (and beyond). They’re a small group tours company providing great value breaks that help you get off the beaten track in the UK and Europe.

Rabbie’s aim to support local communities and promote responsible travel, by keeping tour groups small (10 people). They also work differently to other tour companies in that accommodation is not included in the tour price – once you book your tour you can choose your accommodation from a selection offered by Rabbie’s to suit your budget and preferences.

The name Rabbie’s comes from the nickname for famous Scot, Robert Burns!

Image of the river Thames and the London Eye in London sights included in a few of the best UK tours.

If you have a day, two, or more aside from your tour, we highly recommend taking advantage of those to explore London, or another city if your tour is starting from elsewhere – Edinburgh is another popular starting point for the UK tours mentioned in this guide.

While some tours include sightseeing in London (or another departure city), not all do – or they include a very shortened version – and trust us that 1 day is definitely not enough to see London in, especially if you’re jetlagged.

If you can, arrive a few days before your tour begins to enjoy the top London sights and get onto UK time if you’re flying in from far away. You can find our complete London travel guide here to get you started.

If you have specific questions about a destination in the UK why not join my UK and London Travel Planning Group on Facebook where you can chat with others planning their trip.

The Last Kingdom Filming Locations

‘ The Last Kingdom ‘ is a historical television series filled with epic battles and stunning visuals. The BBC/Netflix co-production (Netflix became the sole producer after the third season) is set in the late 9th Century A.D. when England was divided into seven different kingdoms. The story follows Uhtred, a young Saxon successor who is captured by the Danes as a child. When he becomes an adult, he finds his loyalties being tested by his captors.

Where is The Last Kingdom Season 4 Filmed?

‘The Last Kingdom’ has often been compared to ‘ Game of Thrones ‘ due to its high production value and an extravagant depiction of epic battles. The story takes place in 9th Century A.D. when England was divided into seven different kingdoms. Given how exuberant almost every frame looks, it is natural for viewers to wonder where the show was filmed. This article will highlight where the fourth season was filmed first, followed by the filming locations of the previous seasons.

The fourth season of the series has mostly been filmed in Hungary , like the rest of the show. Filming for ‘The Last Kingdom’ is mostly carried out just outside Budapest on a set that sprawls over 8 acres. This set is owned by Korda Studios. The site has a man-made lake where some (not all) scenes near the sea are filmed. To be more specific, this set is located in Göböljárás in Fejer county . Have a look at the following Instagram post which includes photos from the set:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by krisztian wolcsanszky (@wolcsanszkyofficial)

Apart from the above, the cast members have also shared a horde of behind-the-scenes photos, which confirm that filming for the fourth season was also carried out near Budapest, Hungary. For instance, the actor Magnus Bruun shared the following photo after shooting for the season had finished:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Magnus Bruun (@magnusbruun)

He had also shared several other pictures while filming. Have a look:

Bruun is not the only one who shared photos when filming was going on.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eliza Butterworth (@elizabutterworth)

Apart from Budapest, a few other posts by Bruun have also revealed another filming location: P est County in Hungary ( Páty and Sóskút , to be specific). From the first post, it appears as if a battle scene had been filmed in Páty. Have a look:

Furthermore, Mark Rowley also shared how filming was carried out in the kingdom of Wessex and how the crew won free tickets to a festival. Those who have watched ‘The Last Kingdom’ would instantly know that he was joking (Wessex was a kingdom in southern England).

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByzZhtWHAnJ/?utm_source=ig_embed

Other seasons

Most of the filming for ‘The Last Kingdom’ is carried out in the Korda Studios set in Hungary. The massive property gives the filmmakers the opportunity to effortlessly film scenes set in diverse locations in the same place. Furthermore, the facility has medieval village sets that can be easily modified to suit the requirements of ‘The Last Kingdom.’ However, the Korda Studios set is not the only place where ‘The Last Kingdom’ has been filmed.

For instance, a battle scene had been filmed at Bamburgh Golf Club on 40 The Wynding, Bamburgh, United Kingdom. Apart from that, several major coastal scenes in the television series are filmed in the United Kingdom since Hungary is a landlocked country. Several scenes in the first season had been filmed in North Wales. Apart from that, coastal scenes in the other seasons were mostly filmed in Durham County. For instance, the scene where (SPOILER) Uhtred is sold into slavery was filmed at Nose’s Point in Seaham.

'The Last Kingdom' season 5 — release date, cast, plot, trailer, and everything we know so far

'The Last Kingdom' season 5 is set to see Uhtred's hard-won peace under threat once again.

The Last Kingdom Season 5: A battle-scarred Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon) stands in dark clothing with his back to a darkened doorway, looking toward the camera with a foreboding expression on his face

The Last Kingdom season 5 will be released on Netflix in March, and will be the final season of the epic historical drama following the battle for control of Britain in the 9th century.

Season four ended on a bittersweet note for Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon) as peace was brokered between the Saxons and Danes, but at the expense of his daughter Stiorra (Ruby Hartley), who offered to become the companion of Dane leader Sigtryggr (Eysteinn Sigur∂arson) as a guarantee of the deal. Meanwhile, Uhtred managed to avoid perishing at the hands of his nemesis Brida (Emily Cox), but she vowed that either he would perish at her hands, or she at his.

So here's everything we know about the final season of The Last Kingdom ...

'The Last Kingdom' season 5 release date

All 10 episodes of The Last Kingdom season 5 will be available on Netflix on Wednesday, March 9.

'The Last Kingdom' Season 5 cast

Alexander Dreymon returns as Uhtred of Bebbanburg, with other returning cast members including Emily Cox as Brida, Eliza Butterworth as Aelswith, Mark Rowley as Finan, Arnas Fedaravicius as Sihtric, Adrian Schiller as Aethelhelm, Cavan Clerkin as Pyrlig, Ruby Hartley as Stiorra, Millie Brady as Aethelflaed, Timothy Innes as King Edward, Stefanie Martini as Eadith, Ewan Mitchell as Osferth and James Northcote as Aldhelm.

There will also be some newcomers joining the show, including Patrick Robinson ( Casualty , Sitting In Limbo ) as Father Benedict, Harry Gilby ( Tolkein ) who takes over the role of Aethelstan from Caspar Griffiths, Ewan Horrocks ( Domina ) as Aelfweard, and Sonya Cassidy ( Humans , Vera ) as Eadgifu.

A bloodied Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon) in dark clothing, reacting in horror to something he has seen

'The Last Kingdom' season 5 plot

The fifth season begins at a time of hard-won peace between the Danes and the Saxons, but Uhtred is ill at ease, and can't help feeling that something ominous is looming towards his settlement — which leaves him worried for the safety of his people, and particularly his children.

"Uhtred started out in the first season as somebody who very much had his blinders on and was just out for himself," says Alexander Dreymon. "Season five is all about him putting out fires left and right, trying to protect his children and the people he loves, the people to whom he's devoted. I'm very grateful that I've been able to play a character with such a human arc to him."

Fearing that Brida is making good on her threat to return and destroy him, Uhtred prepares his troops for an impending attack — but Brida has other plans, and has set her sights on Eoferwic (modern-day York), where Stiorra and Sigtryggr are. The ramifications of this will be felt across the season, as Sigtryggr's dark side emerges, tensions between Danes and Saxons threaten to spill into further violence, and Uhtred finds himself desperately trying to prevent a full-on war...

Will there be a season 6 of 'The Last Kingdom'?

Not exactly. Netflix has confirmed that season five will be the show's last — but there will be a follow-up feature film called Seven Kings Must Die , which will tell one final story in Uhtred's world. A release date has not been confirmed yet, but the movie is currently filming in Hungary, with a special on-set video posted on the show's official Twitter account...

We have officially started filming Seven Kings Must Die. Now that is special…#TheLastKingdom pic.twitter.com/rQxyLGWJyE January 31, 2022

Is there a trailer for 'The Last Kingdom' season 5?

There is! You can check it out below.

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Steven Perkins is a Staff Writer for TV & Satellite Week, TV Times, What's On TV and whattowatch.com , who has been writing about TV professionally since 2008. He was previously the TV Editor for Inside Soap before taking up his current role in 2020. He loves everything from gritty dramas to docusoaps about airports and thinks about the Eurovision Song Contest all year round.

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The Pale Horseman

The wessex of alfred the great.

Experience Tours General History Tours Military History and Battlefield Tours

26th - 30th June 2025 (5 Days)

Expert Historian : Prof Ryan Lavelle

Your Holiday Essentials

26th - 30th June 2025 (5 Days)

Incl. travel from UK: N/A

Tour Introduction

Travelling and walking through some of the finest English landscapes, we will try to understand how Anglo-Saxon kingship worked during this crucial period in English history as the most famous son of Wessex, Alfred the Great, fought for survival against his Viking enemies. Examining the remains of ancient fortifications and taking the high ground as we search for likely battlefields, the tour allows us to explore the reality behind Bernard Cornwell’s popular novels, The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman, as Alfred moved from near total defeat to crucial victory. Situated in the heart of historic Wessex, we will enjoy stunning scenery, a series of short walks and one or two country pub sandwich lunches. Our expert historian will be Professor Ryan Lavelle, author of a range of publications on the lands and politics of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, including Alfred’s Wars(2010). He was also historical adviser on the BBC TV adaptation The Last Kingdom

Alfred of Wessex (871–99) is renowned as one of the great kings of medieval English history and is the only English king to be remembered as ‘the Great’. A major part of this reputation is built on his military leadership of the West Saxon kingdom, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to survive the Viking onslaught of the ninth century. The youngest of five brothers to rule Wessex in turbulent times, Alfred’s accession to the throne of Wessex in 871 took place in a ‘year of battles’, the most important of which was the Battle of Ashdown, when the young prince proved his mettle against his enemies. A series of treaties with the Vikings bought time for the West Saxons but, after a surprise attack in the winter of 878, the king took refuge and finally rallied his forces to victory at the Battle of Ethandun. The peace treaty which resulted allowed the king to build a series of fortifications throughout his kingdom, which provided the heartland of the West Saxon kingdom with the strength it needed to withstand future Viking attacks.

Explore Saxon Winchester
Travelling through the fine English countryside during mid summer
Fascinating discovery of ancient Wessex
Battles of Ashdown and Ethandun
Visit superb museums in Winchester and Salisbury

What's Included

3 & 4 Star Hotels
Buffet breakfast each morning
Expert historian throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
Dedicated Tour Manager
Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
The company of like-minded travelers
Helpful and friendly travel advice
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening

Day 1 – Winchester We meet at midday to enjoy a sandwich lunch at our hotel in Winchester, the city most often associated with the memory of Alfred the Great and our home for the first two nights. Spend the afternoon on a walking tour of the city centre where we explore the layout of the old Roman city as it was converted to the master plan of a West Saxon burh. We also visit the magnificent Cathedral with its excellent Kings and Scribes exhibition. Here we learn about the origins of the Cathedral in Anglo Saxon times and its special importance as a key ecclesiastical centre. A relaxing evening starts with welcome drinks followed by a well-earned dinner and introductory talk.

Day 2 - Wantage to Wallingford We start the day at Wantage, now in Oxfordshire, Alfred’s birthplace, on the northern edge of the West Saxon kingdom. A short drive to the Ridgeway, one of the most important routes across northern Wessex, helps us to understand how the king’s childhood home became threatened by Viking forces. We take a gentle walk along this ancient route (4 kms) to examine locations associated with the battle of Ashdown (871) and enjoy a sweeping panorama of the Anglo-Saxon landscape fought over between West Saxons and Danes. Thence to Wallingford, to examine a second Alfredian burh site before visiting a second, and perhaps, more convincing site for the battle of Ashdown overlooking the Thames Valley.

Day 3 – Winchester and Salisbury We spend the morning enjoying Winchester’s superb museums where we get close to Alfred’s burgh and its legacy. First we visit the fantastic AD 878 Immersive Experience where we step back in time to Anglo-Saxon England before perusing the rich collection at Winchester City and Westgate Museums. After lunch we drive the short distance to the lovely town of Salisbury to tour the ancient stronghold of Old Sarum; with over 2,000 years of history this was the site of Salisbury’s first cathedral. The site was used during the disastrous reign of Alfred’s great- great-grandson, Æthelred ‘the Unready’ (978–1016). Standing atop its ramparts will help us to understand the tragic epilogue to Alfred’s story as the attacks on southern England took their toll during the ‘Second Viking Age’ and the English kingdom finally fell to a Danish King, Cnut, in 1016. We then visit Salisbury Museum where we view some superb Anglo-Saxon artefacts including the rare Warminster Jewel, dating from the time of Alfred. We proceed to our Hotel in Shaftesbury – 2 nights.

Day 4 - Athelney, Alfred’s Tower, Ethandun The drama of Alfred’s story really comes alive when we travel to the area overlooking Selwood, where the three shires of Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset meet and ‘Ecgberht’s Stone’ was once used to assemble the forces of Wessex. We ascend the eighteenth-century ‘Alfred’s Tower’, overlooking this ancient landscape, and then continue to the ancient Bratton Camp with its White Horse and stunning views, near the small Wiltshire village of Edington, to discuss the most likely site of the bloody battle of Ethandun, which saw Alfred’s 878 victory. We continue west to where Alfred was forced into exile into the Somerset Levels. A visit to the refuge upon raised ground at Athelney, ‘the Princes’ Isle’, helps us to understand how, surrounded by marshes, the king was able to hold this last western toe-hold of his embattled kingdom. Return to Shaftesbury.

Day 5 – Wareham, Shaftesbury Abbey, Badbury Rings This morning we explore the remains of Shaftesbury Abbey, built by Alfred around 888, with its fine modern statue, and visit the museum with its Saxon exhibits. We will have time to enjoy stunning views over the Blackmore Vale before driving to the Dorset town of Wareham, where Vikings used subterfuge to escape the West Saxons in 876. Thence to the Iron Age fort at Badbury Rings occupied by Alfred’s son, Edward the Elder, in 899 as he opposed the revolt of Aethelwold following his father’s death. Return to Winchester mid afternoon.

Prof Ryan Lavelle, FRHistS

Ryan Lavelle, BA (Hons) MA PhD FRHistS SFHEA, is a professor of Early Medieval History at Winchester University. Author of a range of publications on the lands and politics of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, he was historical adviser on the BBC TV adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom, whilst his own book Alfred’s Wars (2010) was awarded the prestigious Verbruggen prize by the Society for Medieval Military History in 2012, and his most recent credits include contributing to and editing the important collection of essays Danes in Wessex (2016).

Photo Gallery

St Martin's church Wareham
On the walls of Old Sarum
Dr Lavelle discusses the legend of Wayland's Smithy
Wayland's Smithy
Monument to the battle of Ethandun / Edington 878
King Alfred's Tower
Pre tour briefing from Ryan Lavelle in the lounge of hotel
Dr Lavelle recounts the truce of 876 upon Wareham's western walls
The views from the top of Alfred's tower
Battlefield of Ashdown
Stunning view from Uffington Castle on Ashdown

Tour Reviews

Take a look at some independent reviews of this tour by previous participants here

Take a look at some of the images taken on our most recent tour

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UFC Makes Highly Anticipated Return To Manchester On July 27 With UFC 304

UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, has announced its first European event of 2024, UFC 304 .

Arriving in Manchester on Saturday, July 27 , UFC 304 is the first-ever sporting event announced for Co-op Live , the UK’s largest indoor arena. The prelims will begin at 11 p.m. BST (6 p.m. ET in the U.S.), followed by the main card airing at 3 a.m. BST (10 p.m. ET in the U.S., the traditional start time for a UFC Pay Per View).

UFC 304 tickets go on sale from 10:00 a.m. BST on Friday, June 7, via Ticketmaster. UFC Fight Club members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets early on Wednesday, June 5, at 9:00 a.m. BST. Those who registered their interest to the event will gain access to a special pre-sale which starts Thursday, June 6, at 10:00 a.m. BST.

The card marks the first sporting event announced for Co-op Live , the UK’s largest and most sustainable live entertainment arena. With state-of-the-art technology and a carefully curated unique design, the venue promises to bring fans right into the heart of the action.

“I’m so excited to get back to Manchester. And no better time than this summer,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White . “We have two champions from the UK and fans have been dying for a UFC PPV event. So here we come to the largest indoor arena in the UK. See you soon, England!”

Co-op Live Executive Director & General Manager, Gary Roden said: “With the north of England home to so many of the world’s leading fighters, we are primed and ready for UFC and its knowledgeable, passionate fanbase. Offering a state-of-the-art platform for globally broadcast events, Co-op Live is extremely proud to welcome entertainment of this scale and caliber as the future home of combat sports in the UK.”

The UK has always been the home to landmark UFC events and has played host to some of the most memorable Octagon® moments in UFC history, including Michael Bisping’s spectacular defeat of the legendary Anderson “The Spider” Silva in February 2016. UK fans also watched as Leon Edwards successfully defended his title in front of a home crowd last year at UFC 286 , cementing his legacy as one of the UK MMA greats.

UK MMA is currently experiencing what is being described as an unheralded golden era, with stars such as welterweight champion Leon Edwards, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, and local favourites, including Paddy Pimblett , Molly McCann , Muhammad Mokaev , Michael Page , and Arnold Allen , with more rising through the ranks.

VIP Experience packages will be available soon via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that can feature premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes and more. For additional information, visit UFCVIP.com to view package details.

Fans are advised to register their interest early via ufc.com/Manchester to secure their tickets and to follow @UFCEurope on social media for the latest updates on this event.

Beneil Dariush poses interacts with fans during the UFC Fan Experience at The Park & Toshiba Plaza on September 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Beneil Dariush Named 2024 Recipient Of Forrest Griffin…

As The 2024 Recipient Of The Forrest Griffin Community Award, Beneil Dariush Will Receive A $25,000 Donation To The Charity Of His Choice.

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Top-Tier MMA Talent From Central And South America Vied For Continued Training And Support From Industry-Leading Facility

Powering down: end times for the UK’s final coal-fired station

At Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, the turbines will stop spinning for good this year as the UK meets its pledge to ban coal use. We meet staff proud of the site’s 56-year history

From the northernmost reaches of the River Soar in Nottinghamshire , the towers of Britain’s last coal-fired power station emerge from the flat countryside like concrete monuments to another time.

For more than half a century Ratcliffe-on-Soar has burned millions of tonnes of coal to generate the electricity needed to power the British economy. But one by one Britain’s coal power stations have closed, leaving Ratcliffe the sole survivor. In less than six months it, too, will finally power down for good, extinguishing the last embers of the once-mighty coal industry.

With its last winter behind it, the sprawling site, which covers the same acreage as the City of London, is quiet save for the hum of a single turbine and the crackle of electricity power lines overhead.

It once employed up to 3,000 people, but now a total of about 350 engineers are working there, in shifts, as Ratcliffe ekes out its final months, unsure of how many hours the site has left to run before it closes around the end of September .

“Last Saturday night was my last night shift,” says Ian Jackson, a shift leader at the site. “I’ve worked night shifts for the past 30 years. In that time, I’ve become a father and a grandfather. My family has only ever known me as a shift worker.”

Jackson was on duty in January this year, when Ratcliffe was called upon to fire up all four of its generating units and supply extra power as an icy Arctic blast chilled the country. It was almost definitely the last time the plant will run at full capacity. Jackson was also there earlier this month, when the first of these units was put into “preservation”, awaiting the plant’s final shutdown.

“It was the quietest I’ve ever seen the team,” he says. “You could see people reflecting on the moment. There were quite a few lifers there, but it was emotional for all of us. What it will be like for us when it does close, I can’t imagine.”

‘The end of the first Industrial Revolution’

When Ratcliffe was opened in 1968 by the Central Electricity Generating Board, the very first series of Dad’s Army was about to be broadcast, the Beatles were topping the charts and coal power was in its heyday.

Coal-fired stations mushroomed through Britain’s mining heartlands in the late 1960s and 1970s to provide baseload power for Britain’s electricity network. The 2,000-megawatt Ratcliffe broke up the skyline for drivers on the new M1 motorway, and provided power to heat and light 2m homes.

It was built in an area rich in coal, where collieries employing tens of thousands of miners dotted the landscape. By the early 1980s, Ratcliffe was burning 65% of south Nottinghamshire’s coal output.

The new power stations were built at speed. At the time, their scale and engineering complexity were unprecedented, and their impact on the climate unforeseen.

When Ratcliffe generates its last megawatts this year, it will represent the final dismantling of Britain’s coal heritage and end almost 150 years of coal-powered economic growth.

“It’s the end of the first Industrial Revolution, really,” says engineering manager Nigel Bates. He first stepped on to the Ratcliffe site more than 40 years ago, as a 16-year-old mechanical apprentice with a handful of O-levels. “Coal started it all, and soon we’re going to end it,” he says.

For many, the closure of Britain’s last coal plant cannot come soon enough. Coal power is considered an environmental disaster, threatening the globe with climate catastrophe. Experts believe the world needs to close coal power plants at almost five times the present rate , and to stop building new ones, to meet Paris climate agreement goals.

Britain has sought to lead the way internationally: in 2016 ministers set out a plan to ban coal power from the UK by 2025. And they brought the deadline forward by a year in 2021 as the government prepared to host the Cop26 climate talks in Glasgow .

“The time is right, realistically,” Bates says. “We need to do our bit for the planet and this place is well past its sell-by date. It was built to run for 25-30 years. And 57 years later, we’re still here.”

Coal-fired power plants generated four-fifths of the UK’s power for decades until the North Sea boom saw a dash for gas-fired plants through the 1990s.

Over the past decade, coal power has been relegated to the margins of Britain’s power system by costly carbon taxes and the rise of cheap renewables. Some plants, such as Drax in North Yorkshire, adapted to replace coal with wood pellets. But most were forced to close, calling time on an industry created in 1882, when the Edison Electric Light Station in Holborn, London, became the world’s first plant to generate electricity for public use.

“For a time, coal plants like Ratcliffe made up the backbone of the energy system,” says Peter O’Grady, Ratcliffe’s site manager. “Latterly, I guess, we have been the scaffolding that the energy system has leaned on to enable renewables to play a bigger part.”

Coal was responsible for just 1% of the power generated in the UK last year, and was called on to increase its output only as a last resort (contributing 3.4% during this winter’s cold spell). “Whether coal has provided 80% of Britain’s power or nearly zero, we’ve been here to help keep the lights on,” O’Grady says.

‘They don’t make them like this any more’

On a cool spring day, Ratcliffe’s turbine hall continues to hum. Sean Atton strides along its steel grids, passing a turbine that spins at 3,000 times a minute. He returned to work at the site last year, after a stint at another of Britain’s big power plants, to lead a skeleton team of engineers tasked with decommissioning the plant over a period of about two years.

“They don’t make them like this any more,” he says, from the top of the plant’s 60-metre boiler house. To the west, Ratcliffe’s eight giant concrete cooling towers crowd the skyline.

It has been estimated that at Britain’s coal-generating peak, there were as many as 250 cooling towers up and down the country. Today, only 50 remain, with between five and 10 demolished each year. By the end of this decade, Ratcliffe’s towers will be gone too.

East of the boiler house, Ratcliffe’s near-empty coal yard stands as a reminder, if one were needed, that the site’s operational life is running low, too. The yard has taken more than 140,000 deliveries of coal since the late 1960s – originally from the collieries that mined Britain’s rich seams of coal.

At its peak in the early 1980s, Ratcliffe would burn as much as 6.5m tonnes of coal in a single year. Over the past winter it needed less than 960,000 tonnes of coal, and that was imported from South Africa and Australia.

For Chris Kitchen, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the closing of Ratcliffe marks the end of an industrial decline which has its roots four decades ago in the miners’ strikes of 1984-85.

At the time, Ratcliffe was close to the centre of the bitter internal battle that brought the NUM to its knees. Some Nottinghamshire miners opposed the union bosses and the way strikes were called, and this led to the formation of the breakaway Union of Democratic Mineworkers in 1985, as Margaret Thatcher’s government brought the industry to heel.

“It was a very strange time,” recalls Richard Montgomery, who has worked as a mechanical engineer at Ratcliffe for the past 43 years. “We had all been brought up in an era of unions, so we felt this loyalty to the union but we also felt strongly that we needed to keep the lights on. It was very difficult to cross the picket lines as a young man back then.”

In the intervening 40 years, the pits have closed and communities have been left to founder . The NUM’s membership has tumbled from 170,000 in 1981 to just 82 today, echoing the collapse in mining and power station jobs.

British mining had been in decline for many years before Thatcher’s decision to shutter its older collieries. But the economic scars of the abrupt closures reverberate in today’s climate agenda through the calls for a “ just transition ” to protect communities built on fossil fuels.

Kitchen fears that while Britain may be greener, it has lost something important in the process. “Since the miner’s strike, Britain has talked about opening up to do business with the world,” he says. “But we’ve been opened up to being exploited by the world. That’s what capitalism does.

“We have lost jobs to other countries, as well as our energy security and the ability to control our own costs. The coal industry never made great profits, you know. It was about the national good. I’m not a dinosaur who wants to exist in the dark ages. We do need to address climate change. But let’s do it without the blinkers on.”

‘To me, it’s home’

For Ratcliffe’s remaining staff, the abiding memory of the site will be of a community forged by a sense of duty instilled under the days of state ownership.

“We have been bound by a common purpose – keeping the lights on,” says Montgomery. “We do feel that responsibility, and it has kept us together through it all. If it’s 3am and we’re struggling to keep the lights on, we’ll all be there in our overalls. It’s ingrained into you: you keep the lights on at whatever cost.”

Bates recalls how during the “ beast from the east” storm , which plunged Britain into Arctic temperatures for about a week in 2018, workers would set off for the site in the early hours of the morning to be sure they made it in for their shifts.

“What makes a person do that when it would be the easiest thing in the world to say, ‘I can’t be there. It’s snowing’? I think it’s instilled as part of this sense of service that isn’t usual in today’s society.”

About half Ratcliffe’s current workforce will remain on the site until 2025 to decommission it before the demolition begins. It will be a complicated process: the plant is tucked into a triangle formed by the main railway line to London and the A453 linking Nottingham to the M1. It’s an inconvenient location for a controlled implosion of eight giant concrete towers.

In the coming months, Ratcliffe is expected to set out plans for its green legacy. Its owner, the German energy giant Uniper, has already set out plans to produce green hydrogen at the site by the turn of the decade.

According to Ruth Edwards, the Conservative MP for nearby Rushcliffe, it is a transformation that will bring jobs and investment to the whole east Midlands region.

“The closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar, the last coal-fired power station in the UK, is a big moment. Its closure is a time to recognise the huge contribution the power station has made and to celebrate the progress the UK has made in decarbonising its energy supply,” she says. “The future of the site as a green energy hub is incredibly exciting.”

But many who have grown up with the towers as a fixture on the Nottinghamshire skyline have more mixed feelings. “I’m gutted, to be honest,” says Claire Taylor, manager at the Victoria pub in Beeston, a few miles from the Ratcliffe site. “I’m going to miss those towers when they’re gone. So many of us will. To me, they look like home.”

The Observer
Energy industry
Fossil fuels
Nottinghamshire

The Cult add extra London show to 2024 UK anniversary tour

It comes after the band announced a 40th-anniversary tour earlier this month

Ian Astbury, left, and guitarist Billy Duffy of The Cult perform at The Pearl concert theater at Palms Casino Resort on October 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Cult have added an extra London show to their upcoming anniversary tour. Check out ticket details below.

The announcement comes just days after the rock icons announced details of an upcoming UK tour for the end of 2024 – which will see them celebrate 40 years as a band.

Upcoming shows will be held in 10 cities across the country, and mark the milestone anniversary of Ian Astbury and co. coming together as we recognise them today – swapping their name from the original title ‘Death Cult’ into ‘The Cult’.

Now, following the initial date at London’s Royal Albert Hall selling out, the band have announced details of a second show in the UK capital, this time held at the Roundhouse venue in Camden.

The date is added as an extension to the original run of shows and will take place on Tuesday, November 5 – the day after the Royal Albert Hall gig. Tickets are available now and you can check out an updated itinerary for the UK shows below.

Ian Astbury of The Cult performs at The Pearl concert theater at Palms Casino Resort on October 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Cult 2024 updated tour dates are:

OCTOBER 21 – Leicester, De Montfort Hall 22– Swansea, Swansea Arena 24 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall [SOLD OUT] 25 – Manchester, O2 Apollo 27 – Bristol, Beacon [LOW TICKETS] 29 – York, Barbican 30 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall

Announcing the new run of dates, guitarist Billy Duffy said: “Following up from the great energy of ‘Death Cult 8323’ shows, I’m looking forward to bringing that sense of celebration of the band’s music, and the communion with our fans, to ‘Cult 8424’… CFFC. Let the ceremony commence!”

More recently, Billy Duffy joined Johnny Marr on stage in Frome last summer to play tracks by The Smiths and Depeche Mode .

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