UK Gardens & Hampton Court Flower Show - 10 days

10 Glorious days travelling the beautiful English countryside visiting memorable gardens, castles and palaces with the tour highlight being the Hampton Court Flower Show.

Day 1. London, Sissinghurst Gardens. The tour begins at Rydges Kensington Plaza Hotel. Visit Sissinghurst Gardens, the famous 1930s ‘white garden’ created by influential Vita Sackville-West and her husband, Sir Harold Nicholson.

Day 2. Great Dixter and Scotney Castle.

Enjoy an exciting day at Great Dixter, famous for its long border. Created by the legendary late Christopher Lloyd, this garden will impress. The gardens lie around the house, and a circuit of the gardens gives excellent views of the house. Journey to Scotney Castle Garden, considered one of England’s most romantic gardens. The new Scotney Castle, built in the 1830s, leads down to the ruins of a 14th century moated castle, where roses and clematis scramble over the ruins.

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Day 3. Hever Castle and Wakehurst.

At Hever Castle we admire the enormous Italian garden designed chiefly to showcase the amazing collection of classical statuary. Wakehurst Place Gardens are set in 72 hectares and boast a walled garden with cottage-style plantings, a water garden, the Himalayan Glade and the Millennium Seed Bank.

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Day 4. Hampton Court Flower Show.

Depart for Oxford enjoying a full-day visit to Hampton Court Flower Show on the way. This is considered the largest and most spectacular of all the English garden shows and, with the backdrop of Hampton Court Palace, you can see why. Continue to the university city of Oxford for our hotel check-in and dinner.
Three Night Stay: Oxford, Linton Lodge Hotel.
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Day 5. Blenheim Palace and Oxford.

Explore Blenheim Palace – the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. This immense palace was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and the park was landscaped by famous English landscaper Capability Brown. Then return to Oxford for a walking tour and time at leisure.

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Day 6. Hidcote Manor and Sudley Castle or Snowshill.

Enjoy a visit to Hidcote Manor this morning to see the famous Arts and Crafts Garden. Continue on to Sudley Castle to see the garden set among castle walls or Snowshill Garden. Return to Oxford.

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Day 7. Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle, Cotswolds.

Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, before continuing to Warwick Castle – a royal castle since 1066. Then, travel through the picturesque Cotswold countryside, with its gorgeous villages, en route to Bath.
Three Night Stay: Bath, Hilton Hotel.
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Day 8. Hestercombe Gardens, Bath.

We spend time this morning at one of Britain’s premier garden sites – Hestercombe Gardens, renowned as one of Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyen’s greatest masterpieces. The gardens combine informal landscape vistas and formal gardens accented with numerous water features. Enjoy free time later this afternoon to explore the elegant spa town of Bath with its quaint shops and streets.

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Day 9. Stourhead Gardens, Mottisfont Abbey and Gardens.

Journey to Stourhead Gardens, perhaps the best example of a garden inspired by great landscape painters of the 17th century. The main features are the lake and Pantheon Temple. Continue to Mottisfont Abbey and Gardens, beautifully set by the River Test. Enjoy the tranquil surroundings before heading back to Bath. Time permitting, we’ll visit Stonehenge (entrance fee not included), one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments.

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Day 10. RHS Wisley Garden.

This morning, drive to RHS Wisley Garden – Britain’s best loved garden. Spend time wandering the impeccable gardens before heading into London for a short sightseeing tour ending at 5.00 p.m.

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For more information or to book call your holiday centre consultant 1300296543