Testimonials

I am truly grateful for your support and partnership. Knowing I can rely on you to advocate for our mutual clients and help troubleshoot issues behind the scenes is invaluable, and I deeply appreciate everything you have done for this client.
Mari Fecke, Tailored Travel Adventures

Our itinerary was very easy to follow, and when adjustments needed to be made Janet reached us immediately, taking away any undue stress. I hope we get to work with you again in the future whenever we make it back to Scotland!
Lynie MacKenzie, USA

I just want to let all of you know how wonderful it was to work with you and the MacKenzies had the most wonderful trip because of all of you and the care that you gave them. Thank you!
Jill Bowen, Springfield Travel Shoppe, USA

I just had the chance to debrief about the Hendrix Youth Institute Roots of Methodism trip. Overall, it was a great trip and they had a wonderful experience. There was a lot of care and attention to detail and it showed. Thanks so much for your partnership! This one was another winner!!"
Katherine Lu, 417 Travel, USA

Neil, we can't thank you enough for leading us on such a wonderful week in the UK as we explored our Methodist roots.
The Hendrix Youth Institute, Arkansas, USA

Hi Dawn, what a wonderful trip and phenomenal job you and your team did for us. Everyone is still talking about how much they enjoyed it all.
Sandra Conrad, Pilgrimage Organizer, USA

Thank you again for the superior trip throughout Scotland, Wales, and England. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and appreciated every stop and learned so much. I thought your company did an outstanding job in providing an excellent itinerary.
Karen Brady, Pilgrimage Group Member, USA

Many thanks for incorporating all arrangements into one easy to use itinerary. The hotel arrangements in Glasgow and Edinburgh were great - convenient for train travellers and walking distance to sites.
Catharine Bauer, USA

I wanted to briefly tell you how much you have exceeded our expectations in the planning and execution of every part of this pilgrimage!! With my heartfelt gratitude for all you and your team have done for us.
Sandra Conrad, Pilgrimage Organizer, USA

Janet, thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip for us! We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Scotland and greatly appreciate all that your company contributed. Thanks again to you and your hard-working staff for making our second trip with your company such a huge success.
Mr & Mrs Bruce, USA

We just want to thank you for helping make our trip to Scotland an unforgettable experience - in the best sense. You advised us well and handled our hotel arrangements, suggested excellent places to visit, arranged terrific tour guides and transportation.
Mr & Mrs Robinson, USA

We have had an excellent stay in London and a wonderful trip overall. Our passengers are very enthusiastic about the experience. Let me say how much I appreciate your cheerful assistance and expertise!
Stephen Gunter, Tour Leader, USA

My sincere thanks to everyone on the Janet Redler Travel team for a most marvelous trip to Scotland! Everything was flawless! The accommodations were wonderful, our drivers were most knowledgeable and fantastic! Every day was filled with lots to see!
Janet Thorp, USA

I saw the family last night, and they again told me they had the most amazing time. They especially loved their driver / guide in Scotland. A big thank you to Janet's entire team for taking such wonderful care of my special clients. Hoping we get to work together again soon!
Tamara Humphrey, The Good Life Travel, USA

Hi JRT, we are enjoying our trip. Yesterday we enjoyed getting to know our driver Kieran, Kylemore Abbey, the wonderful Ashford Castle high tea and special call out and show at Trad on the Prom last night. We are settling into another lovely room here in Killarney Royal and just had a nice light dinner at the hotel. Thanks for your great organization!
Debra Kreitter, USA

Hi Janet. Hi Dawn. I wanted to let you know that Deborah and I thoroughly enjoyed our recent trip to the Cotswolds. Your choice of Steve as our driver made it a time to remember. We hit it off immediately and were blessed by his knowledge of the area and your choice of local history. Thanks again.
James Howell, USA

Thanks for finding Mr Imran for us. He was spot on time and a very good driver/conversationalist. He took us on a route thru the western highlands that suited our needs for spectacular scenery -- excellent!
Mr & Mrs Bruce, USA

Let me start off with we had an amazing two weeks in Ireland and Scotland. I want to thank you for everything you’ve done. I fell in love with Scotland, I would definitely go back. The locations were amazing, just a walk or a drive away to attractions, shops and restaurants.
417 Travel client, USA

I think I speak for everyone when I say we had an absolutely wonderful time! A perfect amount of activities and down time! We laughed a lot, enjoyed wonderful food and experienced so much! The hotels were great! The walking tours were great! I could go on and on but I'll end with just saying, it is almost impossible to pick my favorite thing because I loved it all!
417 Travel client, USA

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Arts, Crafts & Quilting Tours

An arts and crafts tour with Janet Redler Travel can be tailor made to match the interests of you or your group, whether that is quilting and patchwork, tapestry making and embroidery, pottery and sculpture, woodwork and furniture making, or any one of a number of traditional arts and crafts.

Wool_Spinning_c_VisitEngland-NYMNPA-Chris_J_Parker_-_Copy.jpg Wool spinning at Beck Isle Museum in North Yorkshire © VisitEngland/NYMNPA/Chris J Parker

The UK and Ireland have a long history of decorative arts and crafts, practiced in homes for centuries, perhaps originally out of necessity but, in more recent times, often as leisure activities. Popular arts and crafts involve textiles, wood, metal, glass, paper or flowers and, on one of our tailor-made tours, you will be able to investigate the story of your favourite hobby and see modern day craftspeople in action.

Paradise Mill in Cheshire

For those interested in the history of textiles, a visit to the Silk Museum and Paradise Mill in Cheshire is a must. Macclesfield was once the world's biggest producer of finished silk and the mill boasts Europe's largest collection of Jacquard silk handlooms in their original setting.

A quilting and patchwork tour, for example, would enable you or your group to explore the fascinating history of these traditional textile techniques, which date back to medieval times and beyond. There are a number of quilt and patchwork collections around the country, as well as regular events and exhibitions, which make a tour of the UK a must for anyone interested in these age-old crafts.

The Mortlake Tapestries at Forde Abbey in south west England

The Mortlake Tapestries at Forde Abbey in Somerset are well worth a visit. Woven from cartoons painted by Raphael that are now on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the tapestry depicts scenes from the lives of St Peter and St Paul. The original tapestries were commissioned for the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and were first woven in Brussels in about 1520. The set on display at Forde Abbey was made in London at the Mortlake factory about one hundred years later.

Commissioned in 1997, The Last Invasion Tapestry (pictured above) is an incredible display of advanced needlework. The embroidered tapestry commemorates the 200th anniversary of the last ever invasion of mainland Britain. Designed and sewn by around 80 local women, the tapestry is housed in Fishguard Library in south west Wales.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland

The Great Tapestry of Scotland should not be missed! One of the world’s largest community arts projects, the tapestry tells the visual story of Scotland’s history, heritage and culture from its formation to the present day. A purpose-built gallery and visitor centre has recently opened in the Scottish Borders to provide this incredible artwork with a permanent new home.

The Overlord Embroidery

For those keen to discover more about the rich heritage of Irish hand-weaving, a guided tour of Swallow Studios in Castleblayney in the Irish Republic, close to the border with Northern Ireland, is an unforgettable experience. The creative home of renowned textile artist Liz Christy, visitors can find out about the meticulous craftsmanship involved as they witness the weaving process in action.

The Overlord Embroidery at the D-Day Story, Portsmouth in England, is an extraordinary piece of visual art, which tells the story of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War through 34 hand-stitched panels stretching to a total length of over 270 feet. It is based on a series of paintings by Sandra Lawrence, which now hang in the Pentagon in Washington DC in the United States.

Arts and Crafts Movement

The 19th Century ‘Arts and Crafts’ movement, led by William Morris and John Ruskin, saw a revival of interest in traditional ways of working and creating. It championed the craftsmanship of the past, in reaction to the rapid industrialisation of society which was then taking place. The impact of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the UK and Ireland was very strong, lasting well into the 20th Century, and indeed influencing artists and craftspeople to this day.

Blackwell_Arts_and_Crafts_House_in_Bowness_c._VisitEngland-CumbriaTourism_-_Copy.jpg Blackwell Arts and Crafts House in Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria © VisitEngland/Cumbria Tourism

Enjoy an Arts and Crafts tour with Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, taking in many of the sights most associated with the movement, such as William Morris’s inspirational homes, Kelmscott Manor in the Cotswolds and the Red House in South East London; Brantwood, John Ruskin’s home in the Lake District, and Standen, an Arts and Crafts house set amidst the romantic Sussex hills, which is crammed full of Arts and Crafts items. Perhaps take in famous Arts and Crafts gardens such as Hidcote in Gloucestershire, or enjoy Plas Brondanw Gardens in North Wales designed by famous Arts and Crafts architect, Clough Williams-Ellis.

Plas Brondanw Arts and Crafts Garden in North Wales

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour exploring the arts and crafts of the UK and Ireland, please do contact our friendly team.