You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy dinner and a lecture about the Chelsea Flower Show by garden designer Tracy Foster. Stay: London, The May Fair Hotel or similar (D)
Explore the Chelsea Flower Show's gardens, marquee and stalls. The world's greatest flower show will once again take place with the usual cutting-edge garden design, fabulous floral displays and garden retail exhibits.
Sit back and relax as you enjoy a special lunch on-site before departing London for Chartwell, the magnificent home and gardens of Sir Winston Churchill. The house is still much as it was when the Churchill family lived here, with pictures, books and personal mementoes evoking the career and wide-ranging interests of this influential family. Stay Two Nights: Sevenoaks, Donnington Manor Hotel or similar (B/L/D)
Enjoy an early morning visit to Sissinghurst to see the 1930s White Garden created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband. Arrive before the grounds are open to the general public, in order to fully appreciate what Sackville-West described as ‘a refuge dedicated to beauty'. Explore Great Dixter, the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. The garden, and his writings about it, were the focus of his energy and enthusiasm for the better part of his life. Admire the property's wildflower meadow and long border with hot colours. (B/D)
Explore Malmesbury and visit The Abbey House Gardens, nestling beside the Avon River. Made famous by the television program The Naked Gardeners, its beautifully clipped topiary, secluded garden rooms, flower beds and variety of plants make this one of the best private gardens in England.
Afterwards, visit the Welsh modern romantic garden at Veddw House Garden. The garden has been described as having a satisfying blend of formality and informality, and of wildness and control. It makes good use of colour and texture, and boasts a distinct personality. Stay: Tortworth, De Vere Tortworth Court Hotel or similar (B/D)
This morning, visit Sir Roy Strong's garden, The Laskett, which has continued to evolve since works began there in 1974. Roy was the curator of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Stop in at Powis Castle and admire its world-famous terraced garden and medieval castle, which contains one of the finest collections of paintings and furniture in Wales. The garden, meanwhile, boasts stunning vistas from its series of terraces, embellished by clipped yews and herbaceous borders. Stay Two Nights: Betws-y-coed, Royal Oak Hotel or similar (B/D)
Visit the expansive Bodnant Garden, with views across Conwy Valley. With its intimate corners, sweeping lawns, grand terraces and verdant woodland, Bodnant lays claim to possessing many gardens within one, across its expansive grounds. Marvel at the stunning Laburnum in full spring bloom. Travel to Portmeirion, designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, which served as the setting for the TV series The Prisoner.
Afterwards, visit Williams-Ellis's most famous creation Plas Brondanw Garden, which was his home for more than 70 years. (B)
This morning, visit Hidcote Manor Garden, one of England's great arts and crafts gardens, and explore its colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms', before continuing to Oxford.
Later, enjoy a short orientation tour of the university city. Stay Two Nights: Oxford, Randolph Hotel or similar (B)
Explore Waddesdon Manor, known for its colourful parterre, walks, fountains and statuary. Built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885, the manor also boasts a collection of artworks numbering in the thousands. From here, we travel to Hatfield House to enjoy its West Gardens. As you wander the grounds, notice the massive yew hedge, inside which are spring bulbs, geraniums, iris, shrubs, herbaceous plants, roses and annuals. (B/D)
Today we visit the country estate of Cliveden House, exploring the gardens, including their celebrated Parterre, season-long floral displays, distinctive topiary and collection of exceptional sculptures. Cliveden's impressive gardens and majestic woodlands capture the grandeur of a bygone age. Your tour concludes at The May Fair Hotel at 5:30pm. (B)
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. At 6.30 pm, enjoy dinner and a lecture about the Chelsea Flower Show by a leading garden designer. Stay: London, The May Fair Hotel or similar (D)
Explore the Chelsea Flower Show's gardens, marquee and stalls. The world's greatest flower show will once again take place with the usual cutting-edge garden design, fabulous floral displays and garden retail exhibits.
This afternoon, visit the world-famous Kew Gardens. Not only is it London's largest UNESCO World Heritage site, Kew Gardens also houses the world's most diverse collection of living plants. From here, we continue to Oxford. Stay Two Nights: Oxford, Randolph Hotel or similar (B)
Explore Waddesdon Manor, known for its colourful parterre, walks, fountains and statuary. Built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885, the manor also boasts a collection of artworks numbering in the thousands. From here, we travel to Hatfield House to enjoy its West Gardens. As you wander the grounds, notice the massive yew hedge, inside which are spring bulbs, geraniums, iris, shrubs, herbaceous plants, roses and annuals.
Later, enjoy a short orientation tour of Oxford. (B/D)
This morning, visit Hidcote Manor Garden, one of England's great arts and crafts gardens, and explore its colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms', before continuing to Betws-y-coed in Wales. Stay Two Nights: Betws-y-coed, Royal Oak Hotel or similar (B/D)
Visit Sir Clough Williams-Ellis's most famous creation, Plas Brondanw Garden, which was his home for more than 70 years. Then travel to Portmeirion, also designed by Williams-Ellis, which served as the setting for the TV series The Prisoner.
Afterwards, visit the expansive Bodnant Garden, with views across Conwy Valley. With its intimate corners, sweeping lawns, grand terraces and verdant woodland, Bodnant lays claim to possessing many gardens within one across its expansive grounds. Marvel at the stunning Laburnum in full spring bloom. (B)
This morning, visit Powis Castle and admire its world-famous terraced garden that boasts stunning vistas from its series of terraces, embellished by clipped yews and herbaceous borders. Stop in at Sir Roy Strong's garden, The Laskett, which has continued to evolve since works began there in 1974. Roy is the former director of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Stay: Gloucestor, Hatherley Manor or similar (B/D)
Travel to RHS Wisley Garden. This world-renowned garden is home to a wide variety of plants, from stunning flowers to towering trees. Explore the various gardens, including the Rock Garden, the Mediterranean Garden, and the Glasshouse. Enjoy lunch in the Terrace restaurant before continuing to Hever Castle where we will spend the next two nights. This stunning castle and gardens were once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife. Stay Two Nights: Hever Castle (Astor Wing) or similar (B/L/D)
Enjoy a visit to Great Dixter, the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. The garden, and his writings about it, were the focus of his energy and enthusiasm for the better part of his life. Admire the property's wildflower meadow and long border with hot colours. Continue to Sissinghurst to see the 1930s White Garden created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband. (B/D)
Today, visit Chartwell, the magnificent home and gardens of Sir Winston Churchill. The house is still much as it was when the Churchill family lived here, with pictures, books and personal mementoes evoking the career and wide-ranging interests of this influential family. Our tour ends at The May Fair Hotel in London at approximately 5.30 pm. (B)
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