England: The RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Classic English Gardens20th May 2024
From:£1,745
Summary
This tour combines the colour and excitement of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with some of the south of England’s finest gardens, affording the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of horticultural excellence.
Our two centre holiday starts in the West Country where we enjoy a wander round Tyntesfield, a fine National Trust Victorian country house with a glorious walled garden. Next we visit Henry Hoare’s famous landscape garden of Stourhead and spend some time in the town of Bath, famous for its Roman baths and elegant Georgian terraces. We visit the ancient Bishop’s Palace in Wells; Hestercombe, one of Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edwin Lutyens’ greatest masterpieces, and the Harold Peto designed garden at Iford Manor, before transferring to our hotel near London, breaking our journey at the beautiful gardens of Wilton House near Salisbury.
Following an extended visit to RHS Garden Wisley, with its vast range of expertly curated horticultural delights, we spend a full day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show before concluding with visits to Sissinghurst and Great Dixter.
What to Expect
- The Great British gardening event of the year, The Chelsea Flower Show
- Guided tour of the ornamental and experimental gardens of RHS Wisley
- ‘Early-Bird’ visit to the world-renowned courtyard gardens of Sissinghurst Castle
- Temples, urns and grottos in the timeless landscape of Stourhead
- Hestercombe Gardens – a horticultural masterpiece from Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens
Departure Routes
| Location | Pickup Time | Dropoff Time |
|---|---|---|
| To be advised | 00:00 | 00:00 |
| Bristol - Bus stop outside DoubleTree Hilton, Redcliffe Way | 07:30 | 21:45 |
| Swindon - Holiday Inn Express, Frankland Rd | 09:00 | 20:15 |
| Reading - Outside Sainsbury’s, Jcn 12, M4 | 10:15 | 19:00 |
| Heathrow - TBC | 11:00 | 18:00 |
| London - Coach Bays on Tothill Street, Westminster | 12:00 | 17:00 |
** Please note that all timings are approximate and subject to change. Final timings and pick-up points will be confirmed with your joining instructions approximately 10 days prior to departure. **
Day by Day Itinerary
We depart from our pick-up points in London and transfer to Tyntesfield, near Bristol, a fine Victorian country house created by one of England’s richest commoners, William Gibbs, who built his fortune on fertiliser. Spiralling turrets and pinnacles adorn the roof, ornate stone carvings and church-like windows complete the Gothic look, giving the feel of a mysterious, fairytale mansion. Beyond the grandeur that visitors of the Gibbs family would have seen, you will also discover a family home and the evidence of their changing fortunes. Terraced lawns give way to spacious parkland filled with hundreds of trees collected by the family, and a glorious walled kitchen garden beyond. The rolling Somerset hills in the distance create an atmospheric backdrop.
Later we continue to our hotel.
Meals includedDinner
