British Gardens and Chelsea Flower Show

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Overview

Take a once in a lifetime trip across Britain, hobnobbing with London’s high society at the Chelsea Flower Show and promenading through the RHS Bridgewater Gardens. This grand three-week journey showcases the vast Victorian Greenhouses of the Royal Botanical Society at Kew, the exotic floral beds of Bodnant Gardens and the interlaced lakes and colorful blooms of Leonardslee. From the shores of England’s Lake District to Queen Victoria’s retreat on the Isle of Wight, these horticultural highlights are a joy to behold.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive London

On arrival you are transferred from London Heathrow Airport to your hotel, Thistle London Marble Arch. Your base for the next two nights, ideally situated in central London, maybe take a stroll through nearby Hyde Park? This evening join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a trip briefing and Welcome Dinner.

Meals: Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Thistle Marble Arch, London

Day 2: London Sightseeing and Wisley Gardens

With a Local Expert, explore the iconic sights and streets of London. See famous landmarks including Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London and Trafalgar Square. Admire the Royal residence of Buckingham Palace and savour a taste of British pageantry as you watch the Changing of the Guard (if operating). The gardens of Wisley were gifted to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1903 and since then it has evolved into a world class garden. Explore the beautiful Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden and delight the senses with roses of all shapes, sizes, colours, and fragrances. Stroll through the picturesque orchard, the huge cathedral like Glasshouse and the Exotic Garden.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Thistle Marble Arch, London

Day 3: Garden Hyde Hall and Cambridge

RHS Garden Hyde Hall, in the heart of rural Essex, in a landscape of rolling hills with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. An oasis of tranquillity, it combines diverse garden styles and inspirational planting, with its eclectic mix of traditional and modern styles. In the university city of Cambridge, join your Local Expert for a walking tour, experience some of the most famous universities, seeing architectural highlights including Kings College and Trinity College.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Clayton Hotel Cambridge.

Day 4: Medieval York

One of the Treasure Houses of England, the historic Georgian Harewood House sits within a landscape designed by Capability Brown. Enjoy tea and delicious scones before you discover rare Chippendale furniture and stunning interior designs in the State Rooms. Admire the remarkable views from the award-winning Terraces. Your journey continues to York, one of the oldest cities in England.

Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea
Accommodation: Holiday Inn York Centre

Day 5: York to English Lake District

Your Travel Director will show you the York Minster, the city walls and the medieval Shambles during your orientation of the city. Visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden. The magnificent abbey was established by devout monks seeking a simpler existence. The atmospheric ruins are a window into a way of life which shaped the medieval world, and Studley Royal with its awe-inspiring water garden, follies and lawns make this a World Heritage Site. Traversing the Yorkshire Dales to the Lake District, see some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa, Windemere.

Day 6: English Lake District Experience

Visit the village of Hawkshead, famous for its whitewashed cottages and cobbled lanes. Admire the gardens of Holker Hall. The gardens have evolved over many hundreds of years, under the guidance of generations of the Cavendish Family. Each owner has made their mark, adding new features and plantings, to create a garden that is now rich in character and beauty. Spring time provides a riot of colour with displays of tulips, daffodils, wallflowers and spring meadows, framed by majestic Rhododendrons and Magnolias. Later, perhaps take a cruise on Lake Windermere?

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa, Windemere.

Day 7: English Lakes to Chester

Visit RHS Bridgewater, the gardens opened in 2021, on the former site of the 154-acre garden is the biggest hands-on horticultural project undertaken in Europe since planning permission was granted in 2017. Built on the former Estate of Worsley New Hall, and named after the nearby Bridgewater Canal, the garden today is an incredible resource for garden enthusiasts and local communities. During your orientation of Chester with your Travel Director see the Jubilee Clock, the cathedral, city walls and famous black and white Rows. Enjoy a delightful dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza, Chester.

Day 8: North Wales Excursions including Bodnant Garden

Journey into north Wales, passing the massive Conwy Castle before a visit to the beautiful Bodnant Gardens. Bodnant is home to the earliest and grandest laburnum arch built in 1880, and to Britain’s earliest magnolias introduced from China in the late 1800s. Admire the fine collection of exotic plants, from the Blue Poppy of the Himalayas to the Fire Bush of the Andes, and enjoy Wales’ largest collection of UK Champion Trees.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza, Chester.

Day 9: Chester - Stratford-upon-Avon, Cotswolds and Bath

Discover how William Shakespeare and his incredible works continue to delight audiences today when you visit his birthplace, full of interesting memorabilia and artefacts relating to his life. Cross the beautiful Cotswold hills, a chocolate box scene of golden stone villages with roses round the doors. Continue to the elegant Georgian city of Bath, built in amphitheatre style on the surrounding hills. Your Travel Director introduces you to the Pulteney Bridge, built in mellow local stone. See the angels climbing Jacob’s Ladder on Bath Abbey.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Francis Hotel Bath MGallery.

Day 10: Bowood House and Southampton

After a relaxed start, we discover the rich and fascinating history of Bowood House Bowood House & Gardens is part of a 4,000-acre country estate, 2,000 acres was designed in 1762 by the landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability Brown’ and a 1 mile long lake. Surrounding the Georgian House is the Italian-inspired Terrace Garden, the Private Walled Gardens, and the herbaceous border, all radiating colour throughout the seasons. Driving through the New Forest, you arrive at your hotel in Hampshire for two nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa

Day 11: Isle of Wight Excursion

The Isle of Wight was possibly Queen Victoria’s favourite place on earth. Which is why she built her opulent holiday home here. Marvel at the gorgeous Italianate architecture and unearth the royal family’s secrets to relaxation. There was nowhere Queen Victoria loved more than the Isle of Wight, a diamond-shaped pearl in the English Channel. Visit Osbourne House, her opulent holiday home, marvel at the gorgeous Italianate architecture and gardens. Take in the islands stunning scenery, thatched cottages before returning to the mainland.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa

Day 12: Leonardslee Gardens and to London

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens re-opened in 2019 after a major restoration project. Set in a steep-sided valley, the gardens offer a variety of scenic walks, with seven interlaced lakes, extensive woodlands and lovely parkland. During the seasons the estate features outstanding displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias and bluebells in spring, summer wildflowers to its beautiful autumnal colours. From March to June the garden comes alive in a riot of colour. At every turn, you will find flowers in so many different colours, a joy to see. Returning to London in the afternoon the rest of the day is yours.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Thistle Marble Arch, London

Day 13: Chelsea Flower Show

This morning we head to the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Be amazed by the extensive displays of show gardens and magnificent floral displays and pick up tips from the experts, before returning to your hotel in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Thistle Marble Arch, London

Day 14: Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses over 50,000 living plants within its grounds. Visit stunning glass houses and walk through beautiful, sculptured gardens, featuring floras from Asia to the Alps. This evening enjoy a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant, the perfect way to complete your journey.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Thistle Marble Arch, London

Day 15: Farewell London

After breakfast bid your Travel Director and fellow travel companions farewell, and transfer to London Heathrow Airport to meet your ongoing flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Trip Inclusions

Dining Summary

6 Dinner with Wine (DW)
14 Breakfast (B)
1 Afternoon Tea (AT)

Insight Experiences

Woking: Visit the beautiful gardens of Wisley, which is one of the world’s great gardens, packed with horticultural inspiration.
Chelmsford: Visit one of the finest gardens in the East of England with its 365-acre site is a haven of peace and tranquillity, encompassing a diverse mix of garden styles from traditional to modern.
Ripon: Explore a great abbey and elegant water garden at this World Heritage Site. Cistercian monks chose this place to establish Fountains Abbey, then follow the riverside path to Studley Royal, a playful water garden.
Leeds: During your visit of one of the Treasure Houses of England, Harewood captures your imagination and feeds your curiosity. It’s a place filled with art, culture and heritage.
Grange-over-Sands: Visit to Holker Hall and its Gardens, the home of the Cavendish Family and is one of the best-loved stately homes in Britain.
: RHS Garden Bridgewater established in 2021 is the fifth RHS garden and one of the largest and most spectacular gardening projects undertaken in Europe in recent years. The transformation of this 154-acre green space will enrich the lives of local communities and their environment for the future.
Wiltshire: Enjoy a guided visit of the Bowood House has been home to the Lansdowne family since 1754.
Isle of Wight: Visit Osbourne House, a former royal residence designed by Prince Albert himself in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo.
Crawley: Visit this magnificent Grade 1 listed garden was nearly lost forever and has been the subject of the largest garden restoration in England and possibly Europe.
London: Experience the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show, an inspiring and enjoyable showcase of fabulous floral displays and cutting-edge garden design. Immerse yourself in colour and ingenuity as you enjoy the very best show gardens, flowers, and gardening from around the world.

Top Rated Highlights

London: See Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square. Witness the pomp and pageantry of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if operating).
Cambridge: Join your Local Expert for a walking tour of a city renowned for its unique, ornate buildings and culture, Cambridge is a historic city full of character.
Hawkshead: Admire the magnificent views of the English Lake District and visit the village of Hawkshead.
Chester: During your orientation with your Travel Director see the Jubilee Clock, the cathedral, city walls and famous black and white Rows.
Conwy: See Conwy Castle, the magnificent medieval fortress still towering over the town after 700 years. Climb the restored spiral staircase, scale the great towers and walk a complete circle around the battlements. Admire the unbroken town walls of Conwy down and enjoy amazing views out across the craggy mountains of Snowdonia. The spectacular castle was built by King Edward I and his architect Master James of St George in just four years between 1283 and 1287.
Wales: Bodnant is home to the earliest and grandest laburnum arch built in 1880, and to Britain’s earliest magnolias introduced from China in the late 1800s. Admire the fine collection of exotic plants, from the Blue Poppy of the Himalayas to the Fire Bush of the Andes, and enjoy Wales’ largest collection of UK Champion Trees.
Stratford-upon-Avon: Learn about the life of William Shakespeare, arguably history’s most famous writer, when you visit his birthplace. Then enjoy some time to explore this pretty town with its iconic Tudor houses.
Cotswolds: This breathtaking area is about as quintessentially British as it gets. Honey-coloured stone houses line the winding streets of the area’s most beautiful towns and villages, while rapeseed fields decorate this colourful part of the UK in splashes of gold. See the pretty market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, before heading to the historic city of Bath, with its Roman and Georgian architecture.
Bath: During an orientation you will see the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey.
Isle of Wight: Enjoy an orientation drive of this diamond shape island just off the off the south coast of England.
London: Kew Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has over 50,000 living plants within its grounds. Its magnificent scientific collection contains plants from tropical, temperate, arid and alpine climates. Visit stunning glass houses and walk through beautiful, sculptured gardens, featuring floras from Asia to the Alps.