Day 1 - London, England
Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your luxury
hotel set among gardens. Enjoy a private welcome dinner at
this historic manor house.
Day 2 - West Sussex
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 nearby Borde Hill Garden, set on 200 acres of
traditional English landscape.
Day 3 - Sissinghurst & Great Dixter
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, it mingles vegetables and
flowers, a large orchard with pockets of wildflowers and a
magnificent herbaceous border. Later, drive to Sissinghurst
Castle and stroll its garden. Learn how Sir Harold Nicolson, a diplomat and author, laid down its main lines while his wife,
Vita Sackville-West, a poet and gardening writer, handled
the planting. View the influential White Garden, which
exemplifies early 20th-century garden designer Gertrude
Jekyll’s use of color themes.
Day 4 - Hampshire
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 fused neoclassical and contemporary influences as you
tour the grounds with the senior gardener. Then, stay on site
for lunch. Later, toast your day with a Scenic Sundowner before
dining at your hotel.
Day 5 - The Cotswolds
Drive to the lovely town of Chipping Campden to visit its
High Street, Jacobean Market Hall and impressive Church
of St. James. Afterward, 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 true Arts and Crafts
masterpiece — to explore its 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.
Day 6 - The Cotswolds
Visit Jackdaws Castle, a renowned facility for British jump
racing. Follow horses from their indoor school outdoors to
watch them work on their various gallops under the watchful
eye of the owner-trainer and his team, all the while taking
in the stunning scenery of this magical setting. Return to the yard to watch a horse swim in an equine pool and then
join a guide who introduces you to some of the amazing
thoroughbreds. Finish with a cordial visit to the owners’
suite. This afternoon, explore Sudeley Castle (resting place of
Katherine Parr) or stroll the scenic Cotswolds Way to enjoy
the idyllic English countryside.
Day 7 - Blenheim Palace
Drive to Blenheim Palace, a magnificent edifice set among
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.
Day 8 - The Chelsea Flower Show
Attend the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show on an
exclusive Royal Horticultural Society Members’ 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.
Day 9 - London
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.