Threads of Bayeux in London with Dr. Alexandra Makin | 24th to 27th January 2027

• Three nights’ accommodation in a centrally located London hotel.
• Daily breakfast.
• Welcome Dinner on Sunday evening.
• Group Dinner on Monday evening.
• Early Dinner on Tuesday evening.
• Two lunches during the embroidery workshops.
• Planned admission to the British Museum to view the Bayeux Tapestry, subject to museum ticket availability.
• Expert-guided interpretation of the Bayeux Tapestry by Dr. Alexandra Makin.
• Two full days of embroidery tuition with Dr. Alexandra Makin.
• Ticket to a West End performance of The Devil Wears Prada.
• Informal hosted visit to MacCulloch & Wallis and Liberty.
• Services of a Creative Experiences Tour Manager throughout the retreat.

• Travel to and from London.
• Airport, rail station or hotel transfers.
• Travel insurance (comprehensive cover is strongly recommended).
• The Bayeux Tapestry Montage embroidery kit, which must be purchased directly from Dr. Alexandra Makin prior to the retreat.
• Embroidery equipment required for the workshop, including:
  • 26cm (10”) embroidery hoop
  • Embroidery scissors
  • Pencil
  • Small screwdriver for tightening the embroidery hoop
• Meals not specifically listed in the itinerary.
• Alcoholic beverages and drinks not included with meals.
• Personal purchases, shopping and optional activities during free time.
• Gratuities and personal expenses.
• Admission to attractions visited during guests’ free time.

Your home for the retreat is the elegant The Montague on the Gardens, a charming four-star boutique hotel in the heart of Bloomsbury. Overlooking tranquil private gardens and just a short walk from the British Museum, the hotel provides the perfect base for this unique London embroidery experience.

By Rail

The hotel is easily reached from London’s major railway stations:

• London St Pancras International & King’s Cross – Approximately 20 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by Underground or taxi. St Pancras International is the arrival station for Eurostar services from mainland Europe.
• London Euston – Around 20 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride.
• London Paddington – Approximately 20 minutes by Underground or taxi.
• London Waterloo – Around 20 minutes by Underground or taxi.

The nearest Underground station is Russell Square (Piccadilly Line), just a five-minute walk from the hotel.

By Air

London is served by several international airports with excellent connections to central London:

• Heathrow Airport (LHR) – Approximately 60 minutes via the Piccadilly Line to Russell Square or 45–60 minutes by taxi, depending on traffic.
• Gatwick Airport (LGW) – Around 60 minutes via the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station, then Underground or taxi.
• London City Airport (LCY) – Approximately 40 minutes by Underground or taxi.
• Stansted Airport (STN) – Around 75–90 minutes by rail and Underground.
• Luton Airport (LTN) – Approximately 60–90 minutes by rail and Underground.

By Car

As the hotel is located in central London, travelling by rail is recommended where possible. The hotel does not have on-site parking, although several public car parks are available nearby (charges apply).

Arrival

Check-in at The Montague on the Gardens is available from 3:00pm on Sunday 24 January 2027.

After settling into your room, you’ll have time to relax before joining Dr Alexandra Makin, your fellow guests and the Creative Experiences team for a Welcome Dinner, where you’ll be introduced to the fascinating story of the Bayeux Tapestry and the memorable days ahead.

The retreat concludes after lunch and the afternoon workshop on Wednesday 27 January 2027 around 4.30pm.

Please note: Travel to and from London, together with airport or railway station transfers, is not included, allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel arrangements that best suit your plans.

Throughout your stay you will enjoy three nights at the elegant The Montague on the Gardens, a charming four-star boutique hotel in the heart of Bloomsbury. Overlooking peaceful private gardens and just a short stroll from the British Museum, this award-winning hotel combines timeless English elegance with exceptional hospitality, providing the perfect base for your London embroidery retreat.

Beautifully appointed guest rooms offer a comfortable and relaxing retreat after each day’s adventures, while the hotel’s central location places many of London’s famous museums, theatres, shopping districts and historic landmarks within easy walking distance.

Each morning begins with a full English and continental breakfast, ensuring you are ready for the day ahead. During the retreat you will also enjoy a carefully curated selection of dining experiences, beginning with a Welcome Dinner on your arrival evening where you will meet Dr. Alexandra Makin and your fellow guests.

Following our visit to the Bayeux Tapestry, you will experience one of Britain’s most cherished traditions with a full Afternoon Tea at The Montague. Served in elegant surroundings, you will enjoy a delicious selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves, handcrafted pastries, and your choice of fine teas or coffee—the perfect opportunity to reflect on the morning’s discoveries before enjoying the rest of your afternoon.

The retreat also includes a relaxed group dinner on Monday evening, an early dinner before our West End theatre visit on Tuesday, and lunch on both workshop days, allowing you to make the most of your time learning with Dr. Alexandra Makin without interruption.

Any dietary requirements or food allergies will be catered for wherever possible. Simply let us know when completing your booking form, and we will be delighted to make the necessary arrangements.

Combining elegant accommodation, exceptional hospitality and carefully selected dining experiences, The Montague on the Gardens provides the perfect setting for this intimate and memorable embroidery retreat.

To help you make the most of your time in London, we recommend packing for both comfort and the season.

• Comfortable walking shoes suitable for city streets and museums.
• Smart casual clothing for dinners, Afternoon Tea and our West End theatre visit.
• A warm coat, scarf and gloves, as January temperatures in London can be cold.
• A compact umbrella or waterproof jacket, as winter weather can be changeable.
• A small day bag for carrying personal belongings during excursions.
• Personal medications and any essential toiletries.
• Mobile phone, charger and, if required, a power bank.
• Camera or smartphone for capturing memories throughout the retreat.
• A credit/debit card or some cash for personal purchases, drinks and optional shopping.

Please Note: A separate packing list will be provided for the embroidery workshop, including details of the project kit and any equipment required for your classes with Dr. Alexandra Makin.

To ensure you enjoy the retreat to the fullest, please consider the following before booking:

• Mobility: This retreat involves a moderate amount of walking each day, including walking between nearby attractions and shops, as well as extended periods on your feet. In particular, the visit to the British Museum is expected to involve significant walking and standing while exploring the galleries.
• Workshop Participation: Guests should be comfortable sitting and stitching for extended periods during the two full workshop days.
• Luggage: As airport and railway station transfers are not included, guests should be able to manage their own luggage when travelling to and from the hotel.
• Accessibility: While the hotel and planned venues are generally accessible, some shops and historic buildings visited during the retreat may have steps or other accessibility limitations. If you have any mobility concerns, please contact us before booking so we can discuss the itinerary with you.
• Dietary Requirements: We are happy to accommodate most dietary requirements and food allergies. Please advise us at the time of booking so arrangements can be made in advance.
• Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended and should include cover for cancellation, medical expenses and personal belongings.
• Level of Independence: A Creative Experiences Tour Manager will accompany the group throughout the retreat and will always be on hand to provide assistance and ensure everything runs smoothly. However, they are responsible for the wellbeing of the group as a whole and are unable to provide one-to-one personal care or continuous individual assistance. Guests should therefore be able to participate in the retreat independently or travel with a companion if additional support is required.

The Bayeux Tapestry Montage

£105

Description

Create your own Bayeux Tapestry rider and horse using authentic materials

Skill level: beginner / intermediate

This kit is part of the Authentic Bayeux Tapestry Collection. The design is a montage of a number of motifs from across the hanging. The rider, Harold, and horse come from scene 8, 'Where Harold, an earl of the English and his soldiers ride to Bosham'. The tree can be found dividing scenes 11 and 12 and the lion / griffin is one of the many animals seen roaming the top and bottom borders of the hanging.

This 21 x 23cm design is handprinted onto the linen ground fabric handwoven to the specifications of the original Bayeux Tapestry fabric. The embroidery is worked in crewel wool threads that are hand dyed with natural dyes, creating similar tones to those seen in the original Tapestry. The kit also includes a handmade bronze needle. All kits are hand produced to order by Alex. Stitches

The embroidery incorporates three different stitches:

- Stem stitch

- Satin stitch

- Laid and couched work

Contents

• Handwoven linen with hand printed design
• Handmade bronze needle
• Lambswool 2-ply crewel wool threads - complete skeins
• Fully illustrated, step-by-step instruction book with stitch and colour charts

You will also need (not provided)

• a 26cm (10 inch) embroidery hoop
• embroidery scissors
• a pencil
• a small screwdriver to tighten you embroidery hoop

This itinerary has been designed to coincide with the landmark exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry in London. At the time of publication, the museum has not yet released details of its group booking process or ticket allocation, and demand is expected to be exceptionally high.

Creative Experiences fully intends to include admission to the exhibition as part of the retreat and will make every effort to secure tickets as soon as they become available. However, as ticket availability and booking arrangements remain entirely under the control of the museum, admission cannot be guaranteed until tickets have been officially confirmed.

Should exhibition tickets prove unavailable despite our best efforts, the programme will be adapted to include an exclusive illustrated lecture by Dr Alexandra Makin exploring the Bayeux Tapestry in greater depth, together with additional embroidery tuition. We are confident this alternative will provide an equally enriching and memorable experience, allowing guests even more time to learn from one of the world’s leading authorities on medieval embroidery while continuing their authentic Bayeux embroidery project.