Gardens of Southern England & the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
13th May 2026
Key Highlights
- Spend the day at the Great British gardening event of the year, The Chelsea Flower Show
- Enjoy lunch and an extended visit to the ornamental and experimental gardens of RHS Wisley
- Experience an ‘early-bird’ visit to the world-renowned courtyard gardens of Sissinghurst Castle
- Discover the temples, urns and grottos in the timeless landscape of Stourhead
- Admire Hestercombe Gardens, a horticultural masterpiece from Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens
Summary
This crème de la crème of springtime tours combines the colour and excitement of the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show with some of Southern England’s finest gardens, providing the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of horticultural excellence. Our journey takes us through Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Hampshire, Surrey and Kent, exploring several hidden gems alongside world-famous gardens. Just a few highlights include an early-bird discovery of Sissinghurst, as close to gardening perfection as you can get, a guided tour of Hestercombe Gardens, one of Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edwin Lutyens’ greatest masterpieces, and an extended visit to RHS Garden Wisley with its vast display of expertly curated delights. Around every corner lies another surprise on this delightful tour: expect contemporary sculptures, medieval layouts contrasted with innovative designs, Japanese-style features, sub-tropical plants, stunning terraces, peaceful lakes and beautiful seasonal blooms such as azaleas, peonies, wisteria and rhododendrons.
What's included
- Accommodation
- Meals as per itinerary
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- Services of an expert tour manager
- Comfortable coach travel throughout
Meet your tour manager
Sue Pomeroy
Having studied horticulture in places ranging from New Zealand to Chile, Sue now lives in the north-west Highlands. Her personal garden is open to the public and it has featured in Country Life and Gardeners’ World. Previously, she worked at Inverewe Garden for 14 years as a propagator.
Day by Day Itinerary
Heale House Gardens
We depart from our pick-up points and head to Heale House Gardens, a beautiful garden designed by Harold Peto in both Edwardian and Tudor styles. Set in the grounds of historic Heale House, mostly unchanged since King Charles II hid there in 1651, these eight acres of beautiful gardens include a delightful mixture of styles, including a walled garden and Japanese water garden with its authentic Japanese tea house and red Nikko bridge.
Afterwards, we continue to our hotel.
Meals includedDinner
Departure Routes
| Location | Pickup Time | Dropoff Time |
|---|---|---|
| London, Tothill St | 08:30 | 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. **
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