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The RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Behind-the-Scenes with Colin Crosbie
From £845
Summary
This unique, specially arranged tour is led throughout by Colin Crosbie, who will give us personally guided tours of RHS Garden Wisley, of which he is a former Curator, and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with which he has been involved for many years and has visited 29 times.
After an exclusive private dinner at Wisley, Colin will also give us a talk revealing the secrets of what goes on behind the scenes at the world’s most famous flower show, as well as anecdotes from his time both at Wisley and as a former Head Gardener to HM The Queen Mother in Windsor, where our short tour ends.
Tour highlights:
Departure Routes
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.
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Your Departure date
Today's Price
£845
Deposit: £125 Single supplement: £195
Meet your Experts
Colin Crosbie
Tour Manager
Colin Crosbie was the Head Gardener to Her Majesty The Queen Mother in Windsor prior to taking up the position of Curator at RHS Garden Wisley, and is currently the President of the Scottish Rock Garden Club.
Your itinerary
Day 1 -
Travel independently to London and the 4-star Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington, (check-in available from 3.00pm). At an agreed time we will assemble in the foyer and depart by coach for RHS Garden Wisley, one of the world’s great gardens. Here Colin Crosbie will give us a personal guided tour, picking out some of the horticultural highlights and sharing with us some of the projects he was involved with during his time as Curator. Once the site has closed to the public we will enjoy private access to the garden before gathering in one of the restaurants where we will be privileged to enjoy an exclusive three-course dinner with wine. Following dinner Colin will give us a talk encompassing his experiences as Curator of Wisley and before that as Head Gardener to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, before moving on to the subject of the Chelsea Flower Show. Colin will reveal what goes into the creating of displays at Chelsea from his own experience as well as some of the other behind-the-scenes activities, plus give a look ahead to our visit tomorrow.
| Hotel | Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Dinner |
Day 2 -
After breakfast this morning we depart for our full day visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which holds a rare position as a great British tradition and an exciting source of inspiration and advice. One of the highlights of the show is the collection of over 20 full-sized show gardens. Inside the Great Marquee visitors have their senses ravished by the hundreds of floral displays, many of them incorporating new, rare and unusual plants. Other popular features here include flower arranging, floristry and garden design marquees, courtyard gardens, window boxes and hanging baskets.
We will be accompanied by our guide Colin Crosbie, who will divide our party up into a number of smaller groups and give each group a personal guided tour of the show ground, picking out highlights among the display gardens and exhibits and giving us a unique insight into the hidden secrets of Chelsea.
We return to our hotel for dinner, which includes a glass of wine.
| Hotel | Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
Day 3 -
We check out of the hotel this morning after breakfast and depart for our final visit, the Savill Garden at Windsor. Our guide Colin will accompany us once again and although he was engaged as Head Gardener at the Queen Mother’s private garden in Windsor, he is of course familiar with the Savill Garden and Windsor Great Park within which it is set. Neither a botanical garden, nor a kitchen garden attached to a great house, the Savill is a garden for the garden’s sake, enjoyed by horticulturalists and enthusiasts alike. It never fails to charm visitors who come to explore its 35 acres of contemporary and classically designed gardens and exotic woodland. Developed under the patronage of Kings and Queens, The garden was created in the 1930s by Sir Eric Savill. It began as a woodland garden, with native oak, beech and sweet chestnut trees, but has since evolved by incorporating many new plants over the years.
In the afternoon we will assemble for our transfer to our original meeting point in central London, or you may leave the tour here in Windsor.
| Meals included | Breakfast |
|---|
Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Accommodation
- Services of a professional tour manager
- Comfortable coach travel throughout
- Meals - as per the itinerary
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single supplement | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 2023 | BCBS230524 | 24 May 2023 (Wednesday) | 26 May 2023 (Friday) | Colin Crosbie | £845 (ex. flights) |
£125 | £195 | Book your trip |
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