Arrive London, England
Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your luxury hotel surrounded by gardens. Enjoy a private welcome dinner with your fellow guests at this historic manor house.
Storrington | Parham House
Journey to Storrington for a private tour of the 16th-century Parham House and its landscaped Pleasure Grounds. Stroll Veronica’s Maze and The Walled Garden, learning how they are organically maintained. After lunch at Parham House, visit magnificent and historic Arundel Castle.
Sissinghurst & Great Dixter | Arts & Crafts Gems
Today, enjoy a private tour of the late Christopher Lloyd’s garden at Great Dixter, conducted before opening hours. Built in the Arts and Crafts style, note how it mingles vegetables and flowers, a large orchard with pockets of wild flowers and a magnificent herbaceous border. Later, drive to Sissinghurst Castle and stroll its garden. Learn how Harold Nicolson, a diplomat and author, laid down its main lines, while his wife, Vita Sackville-West, a poet and garden writer, handled the planting. View the influential White Garden, which exemplifies Gertrude Jekyll’s idea of using color themes.
Hampshire | West Green House
Drive north to the quaint and charming Cotswolds area, pausing in a wooded corner of North Hampshire for a visit to the gardens of West Green House. Learn how acclaimed designer Marylyn Abbott masterfully fused neoclassical and contemporary influences as you tour the grounds with the senior gardener. Afterward, enjoy lunch with West Green House’s owner. Later, toast your day with a Scenic Sundowner before dining at your hotel.
The Cotswolds | Kiftsgate & Hidcote Manor
Enjoy a private visit to Kiftsgate Court Gardens and stroll the harmonious, color-schemed upper gardens. Continue to nearby Hidcote Manor — one of England’s greatest gardens and a real Arts and Crafts masterpiece — for a guided tour through a series of unique outdoor “rooms.” Nestled in the Cotswolds, a range of hills known for their beauty, the garden offers stunning panoramas across the Vale of Evesham. Afterward, drive to the lovely town of Chipping Campden to visit its attractive High Street, Jacobean Market Hall and impressive Church of St. James.
The Cotswolds | Abbey House: Royal Resting Place
Visit the storied grounds of Abbey House, home to a historic estate and five acres of mature Cotswold gardens. The estate’s owner greets you before opening hours for a privately guided tour of the garden. Tended in the shade of Abbey Church for some 1,300 years, the garden marks the final resting place of England’s first king. Continue inside the estate for a tour of the house itself. After lunch on the grounds, enjoy a private visit to Badminton House, country home of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort. Tour the house and gardens, pausing to enjoy a traditional cream tea.
Blenheim Palace | Birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill
Drive to Blenheim Palace, a magnificent edifice set in 2,100 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by Lancelot “Capability” Brown. Enjoy a special talk and tour focused on the life of Sir Winston Churchill, who was born here in 1874. Examine the breadth of his talent and achievement, from bricklayer to the “Greatest Briton.” After lunch at leisure, continue to London.
The Chelsea Flower Show | A World of Inspiration
Attend the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show on an exclusive, members-only day. Enjoy a four-course luncheon and an open bar, as well as morning and afternoon tea, in an exclusive Royal Horticultural Society hospitality area. Walk countless exhibits showcasing the finest examples of English gardening and some of the most avant-garde show-garden designs in the world. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon, gathering in the evening for a farewell dinner.
Depart London
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.
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