England’s Greatest Gardens & the Chelsea Flower Show

Check-in to your hotel in Richmond, London. Meet your tour leader Colin Barlow and fellow travellers for our Welcome Dinner this evening.

Leave London this morning to visit the magnificent Gravetye Manor, the former home of celebrated Victorian gardener William Robinson, who revolutionised English gardening with his naturalistic planting style. Enjoy a guided tour of the beautifully restored gardens, renowned for their colourful herbaceous borders, wildflower meadows and impressive kitchen garden.

Afterwards, enjoy an exceptional lunch at the manor’s Michelin-starred restaurant, where seasonal produce harvested from the estate’s own kitchen garden takes centre stage.

Check-in to your stylish boutique hotel in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells, just steps from the historic Pantiles.

Today we explore two of England’s most iconic gardens, beginning at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, the masterpiece created by writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson. Discover its beautifully designed garden rooms, each with a distinct character, including the celebrated White Garden, Rose Garden and colourful herbaceous borders. The historic Elizabethan tower provides a magnificent backdrop to this romantic garden.

Continue to Great Dixter, the former home of renowned gardener and plantsman Christopher Lloyd. Famous for its bold planting combinations, vibrant Long Border and experimental approach to garden design, Great Dixter is a remarkable celebration of colour, texture and seasonal interest. Its historic timber-framed house and surrounding meadows complete an unforgettable day exploring two of Britain’s most influential gardens.

Depart Tunbridge Wells this morning and travel north into East Anglia to visit the renowned Beth Chatto’s Garden in Essex.

Created by the pioneering plantswoman Beth Chatto, this remarkable garden demonstrates her philosophy of choosing the right plant for the right place. Explore the celebrated Gravel Garden, designed to thrive without irrigation, along with beautiful water gardens and woodland plantings.

Continue to the historic university city of Cambridge, where we visit Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Established in 1846, this magnificent 40-acre garden is home to over 8,000 plant species from around the world, with impressive glasshouses, herbaceous borders and beautifully landscaped grounds. Check-in to your hotel for the next four nights. 

Visit Anglesey Abbey, a beautiful country house surrounded by extensive gardens and landscaped parkland. Discover its celebrated collection of trees, sweeping lawns, formal gardens and the famous Winter Garden, designed for year-round interest.

Continue to Hatfield House, one of England’s finest Jacobean country houses, set within the historic estate where Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood. Explore the beautifully restored gardens, including the formal East Garden, colourful herbaceous borders and impressive topiary. The estate’s rich history, magnificent architecture and carefully maintained gardens make this a memorable day of English garden discovery.

Wimpole Hall is Cambridgeshire’s grandest mansion, surrounded by sweeping parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, formal gardens and a beautifully restored Victorian walled kitchen garden.

In the afternoon, visit Audley End House & Gardens, one of England’s finest Jacobean mansions, where elegant gardens, ornamental lakes and a productive kitchen garden reflect centuries of horticultural history.

Two remarkable East Anglian gardens today. East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden in Norfolk was created by Alan Gray and Graham Robeson. This extraordinary garden features imaginative garden rooms, colourful borders, exotic plantings and striking architectural features.

Up next is Helmingham Hall Gardens in Suffolk, where beautifully restored formal gardens surround a magnificent moated Tudor hall. Explore the celebrated walled gardens, colourful herbaceous borders and ancient parkland, home to a herd of deer.

Depart Cambridge this morning and travel south towards London, stopping at Capel Manor Gardens in Enfield. Explore 30 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds featuring a diverse collection of themed gardens, including formal displays, colourful borders, a Japanese garden and innovative contemporary designs.

Continue into central London and check-in to your hotel in Mayfair. Optional afternoon walk down Sloane Street for ‘Chelsea in Bloom’. Shops and squares are decorated with stunning flower displays.

‘Opening Day’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is reserved for VIPs and members of the Royal Horticultural Society. We have arranged tickets so that you can enjoy it without the crowds that flock on public days.

Meet our favourite designers and exhibitors, enjoy the multimillion-dollar show gardens. You might like to sip a Pimm’s in the shade and gasp at the flower displays in the Great Pavilion. Late afternoon transfer to your hotel has been arranged.

Farewell Dinner at your hotel tonight.

Your tour ends after breakfast.