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Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens of Southern England
Chelsea Flower Show & Southern English Gardens
Enjoy the open spaces of London and get lost in The Hampton Court Palace Maze before spending an unforgettable day at the Chelsea Flower Show. Then, visit many of the famous and historic gardens that help give Kent the title "Garden of England. Like all our tours this one can be easily adapted to perhaps avoid the busy time of Chelsea or to include specialist visits to places such as the headquarters of The Royal Horticultural Society in Surrey, The Beth Chatto Garden in Essex or any of the smaller gardens available via The Red Cross or Yellow Book Charities.
SAMPLE DAILY ITINERARY BELOW
SOME OF THE TOUR’S SIGHTS.
Day 1 — London Arrival
On arrival meet with your professional tour guide for an extended guided tour of London's major landmarks highlighting the verdant nature of the capital. London is well known for its open space - the parks, squares, community gardens, cemeteries and churchyards. Overnight stay in London.
Day 2 — Hampton Court Palace and Gardens
This morning visit Hampton Court, one of Britain's most magnificent Royal palaces, with stunning state rooms and over 60 acres of spectacular riverside gardens. Take time to wander the Privy Garden, the Rose Garden or possibly get lost in the world famous Maze. In contrast to the grand Palace gardens this afternoon a visit is arranged to one of the several private gardens in London that opens its doors for the National Garden Scheme, raising money for charity, and enjoy a tour of the garden guided by the owner. On certain dates, usually in July, Hampton Court has its own flower show which is the largest in the world and is run by the same people who run the Chelsea Flower Show. Overnight stay in London.
Day 3 — Chelsea Flower Show
Today enjoy a full day at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, organized by the Royal Horticultural Society. Chelsea is the undisputed highlight of the horticultural calendar and has over 600 exhibitors. An early transfer to the show is provided, but make your own way back to the hotel so that each group member can spend as long as they like at the show. Overnight stay in London.
Day 4— Kent
This morning depart London and head into Kent, the ‘Garden of England’. Visit Chartwell , the home of Sir Winston Churchill, and see the rooms and garden that remains much as he left them. The beautiful terraced gardens give superb views and contain the lakes Sir Winston dug, the water garden where he fed his fish, and his garden studio in which many of his paintings are displayed. Nearby visit Emmetts Garden owned by the National Trust. The garden, which covers an area of about six acres (approximately 2.5 hectares), occupies a commanding site on a 600-foot (180 m) sandstone ridge, overlooking the Weald. One of the highest points in Kent, it offers expansive views towards the North Downs. It is mainly planted with trees and shrubs in the form of an arboretum and a magnificent 100-foot (30 m) Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). There is also a rose garden located next to the Victorian house to which the gardens once belonged. Overnight stay in Kent.
Day 5 — Canterbury
To Canterbury this morning and a visit to Goodnestone Park, a haven of beautiful tranquillity hidden away in south-east Kent. The gardens have been created by generations of the FitzWalter family and Jane Austen was a regular guest. In the afternoon a fully guided visit to Canterbury cathedral is naturally included. Overnight stay in Kent.
Day 6 — Great Dixter & Sissinghurst
Today visit two of Kent’s most prestigious gardens. Great Dixter is a Tudor house with a famous twentieth century Arts and Crafts garden designed by Nathaniel Lloyd and planted by his son Christopher Lloyd, and restored by Edwin Lutyens. Sissinghurst, the creation of Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson, enjoys an intimate setting in the grounds of an Elizabethan mansion, a sophisticated garden where rare plants are neighbours to traditional cottage garden flowers. Overnight stay in Kent.
Day 7 — Royal Tunbridge Wells
Enjoy a full day at leisure for individual shopping and sightseeing in and around Tunbridge Wells which retains much of the charm and elegance of its Georgian heyday. It lies at the heart of one of the most scenic stretches of countryside in England surrounded by the unspoilt beauty of the Weald. In Georgian times this popular spa town gained a reputation as the place to see and be seen amongst royalty and fashionable members of the aristocracy. Overnight stay in Kent.
Day 8 — Leeds Castle and Great Comp Garden
Leeds Castle has long been a favourite of royalty and aristocracy alike, from King Henry VIII, who courted Ann Boleyn here, to Lady Baillie, who bequeathed a trust to preserve the castle for the nation. Great Comp Garden is an exceptionally beautiful 7-acre garden surrounding an early 17th century manor. The skilful design of sweeping lawns, winding woodland paths and formal areas entices the visitor to explore around the next corner. Romantic ruins combine with luxuriant planting to great effect, allowing panoramic views of the garden whilst creating the perfect microclimate for the extensive range of exotic plants collected by their RHS Award Winning Curator, William Dyson. Overnight stay in Kent.
Day 9 — Hever Castle and Penshurst Place
This morning a visit to romantic Hever Castle which was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Enjoy the majestic formal Italian Garden and topiary, the informal meanderings of the lakeside and Sunday Walk, the Water Maze on Sixteen Acre Island and the Yew Maze that challenges both adults and children alike! Later visit Penshurst Place and Gardens which has changed little over the centuries and is set in the rural Weald of Kent surrounded by picturesque countryside and ancient parkland. Overnight stay in Kent.
Day 10 — Departure
An executive motor coach is provided for the transfer to London's Heathrow Airport.