Iconic Gardens of England & Wales with Chelsea Flower Show
with Botanica World Discoveries
- Travel with a small group of 15-20 guests
- Escorted by an expert Botanical Guide
- Accommodation in centrally located four-star hotels
With over 20 years’ experience Botanica World Discoveries are the experts in garden travel, offering a wide range of small group tours and cruises hosted by expert Botanical Guides. We visit a vast range of private gardens not accessible to the general public as well as the must-see sights of the region.
Explore iconic gardens, including Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, Bodnant, Powis Castle, and Plas Brondanw. Spend the day at the Chelsea Flower Show, and enjoy a pre visit lecture on the exhibits. All escorted by an expert Botanical Guide.
Highlights
- Chelsea Flower Show: Spend the day at the Chelsea Flower Show, and enjoy a pre visit lecture on the exhibits.
- The Grandeur of Powis Castle: Admire Powis Castle, the imposing medieval fortress standing proud before its striking terraced gardens.
- Hidcote Manor: Visit this National Trust property located just north of the Cotswolds, whose gardens are divided into distinct ‘rooms’.
- Stay in Hever Castle of Anne Boleyn fame
- Visit Winston Churchill’s magnificent garden Chartwell, as well as RHS Wisley and Dyrham Park
Inclusions
- 8 nights’ accommodation in centrally located four- to five-star hotels
- 15 meals and select beverages
- Return private transfers from door to door
- Tipping and porterage
- Escorted by an expert Botanical Guide
- Relax aboard a comfortable coach with an experienced and informative Tour Manager
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
Day 1: Chelsea Flower Show Lecture, London (England)
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. At 6.30 pm, enjoy dinner and a lecture about the Chelsea Flower Show by a leading garden designer.
Stay: London, The May Fair Hotel or similar
Daily: Dinner
Day 2: Chelsea Flower Show And Kew Gardens
Explore the Chelsea Flower Show’s gardens, marquee and stalls. The world’s greatest flower show will once again take place with the usual cutting-edge garden design, fabulous floral displays and garden retail exhibits. This afternoon, visit the world-famous Kew Gardens. Not only is it London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage site, Kew Gardens also houses the world’s most diverse collection of living plants. From here, we continue to Oxford.
Stay: Two Nights: Oxford, Randolph Hotel or similar
Daily: Breakfast
Day 3: Waddesdon Manor, Hatfield House Gardens And Walking Tour Of Oxford
Explore Waddesdon Manor, known for its colourful parterre, walks, fountains and statuary. Built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885, the manor also boasts a collection of artworks numbering in the thousands. From here, we travel to Hatfield House to enjoy its West Gardens. As you wander the grounds, notice the massive yew hedge, inside which are spring bulbs, geraniums, iris, shrubs, herbaceous plants, roses and annuals. Later, enjoy a short orientation tour of Oxford.
Daily: Breakfast & dinner
Day 4: Hidcote Manor Garden And Betws-Y-Coed (Wales)
This morning, visit Hidcote Manor Garden, one of England’s great arts and crafts gardens, and explore its colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’, before continuing to Betws-y-coed in Wales.
Stay: Two Nights: Betws-y-coed, Royal Oak Hotel or similar
Daily: Breakfast & dinner
Day 5: Plas Brondanw, Portmeirion And Bodnant Garden
Visit Sir Clough Williams-Ellis’s most famous creation, Plas Brondanw Garden, which was his home for more than 70 years. Then travel to Portmeirion, also designed by Williams-Ellis, which served as the setting for the TV series The Prisoner. Afterwards, visit the expansive Bodnant Garden, with views across Conwy Valley. With its intimate corners, sweeping lawns, grand terraces and verdant woodland, Bodnant lays claim to possessing many gardens within one across its expansive grounds. Marvel at the stunning Laburnum in full spring bloom.
Daily: Breakfast
Day 6: Powis Castle And The Laskett (England)
This morning, visit Powis Castle and admire its world-famous terraced garden that boasts stunning vistas from its series of terraces, embellished by clipped yews and herbaceous borders. Stop in at Sir Roy Strong’s garden, The Laskett, which has continued to evolve since works began there in 1974. Roy is the former director of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Stay: Gloucester, Hatherley Manor or similar
Daily: Breakfast & dinner
Day 7: RHS Wisley And Hever Castle Gardens
Travel to RHS Wisley Garden. This world-renowned garden is home to a wide variety of plants, from stunning flowers to towering trees. Explore the various gardens, including the Rock Garden, the Mediterranean Garden, and the Glasshouse. Enjoy lunch in the Terrace restaurant before continuing to Hever Castle where we will spend the next two nights. This stunning castle and gardens were once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife.
Stay: Two Nights: Hever Castle (Astor Wing) or similar
Daily: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Great Dixter And Sissinghurst Gardens
Enjoy a visit to Great Dixter, the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. The garden, and his writings about it, were the focus of his energy and enthusiasm for the better part of his life. Admire the property’s wildflower meadow and long border with hot colours. Continue to Sissinghurst to see the 1930s White Garden created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband.
Daily: Breakfast & dinner
Day 9: Chartwell And London
Today, visit Chartwell, the magnificent home and gardens of Sir Winston Churchill. The house is still much as it was when the Churchill family lived here, with pictures, books and personal mementoes evoking the career and wide-ranging interests of this influential family. Our tour ends at The May Fair Hotel in London at approximately 5.30 pm.
Daily: Breakfast
| Travel Dates | Price Per person, twin share* |
|---|---|
| 22 May - 30 May 2025 | From $13,495 |
*Prices are per person, twin share. Price and availability are subject to change. Please enquire with your RAC travel consultant for availability and pricing.
