Tour Overview
Tour well known gardens, and some little known and private gardens; meet the owners and head gardeners; visit The Chelsea Flower Show in London, accompanied by two distinguished tour leaders from the USA.
Expert guides from Britain will join the group. Travel in the good company of gardeners, in a small select group.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart USA on or before Sunday, May 16th 2010 for London.
We will have pre tour rooms booked in the London tour hotel.
Day 2: Monday, May 17th.
Arrival in England. Visit Oxford and the Cotswolds west of London.
Arrive at London Heathrow. Transfer by coach to Oxford. Take lunch at an interesting historic riverside pub in Oxford. The Botanic gardens in Oxford are one of the oldest Botanic gardens in the world and are well worth a visit.
The Cotswolds, with its soft rolling hills, sheep farms and fascinating gardens is our destination for the next few days.
The Old Bell hotel is considered the oldest hotel in England and offers a great welcome, carefully updated accommodations and a sense of being in England, which is hard to beat.
Well known for its good food and welcoming attractive bar and public rooms and bedrooms.
Overnight and dinner in the Cotswolds - The Old Bell Hotel, Malmesbury.
Day 3: Tuesday, May 18th.
Visit some fascinating private gardens in the Cotswolds
Visit two private gardens today - Stone House garden which has been developed over 18 years by Katie Lucas and is a cottage garden with a series of rooms, and Bourton House garden, home of Mr and Mrs Paice,
in a lovely setting, with potager, colored borders and much more. Lunch will be at a local pub. Return to Malmesbury in time to visit the private Abbey house gardens which are adjacent to the hotel.
Dinner at the hotel. Overnight - The Old Bell Hotel, Malmesbury.
Abbey House Gardens, Malmesbury
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Day 4: Wednesday, May 19th.
Visit famous gardens owned by the National Trust and travel to Jersey.
After breakfast at the hotel, visit two lovely National Trust gardens to day located very close to each other. Hidcote and Kiftsgate court gardens. Hidcote is one of England's great gardens,
filled with rare and unusual plant species. The garden is also known for its displays of Bluebells in late April to May. Take Lunch in the garden cafe. Kiftsgate court has been developed over 3 generations of women gardeners
and is a plantsman's garden. Transfer by coach to arrive at London Gatwick in time for an early evening departure and fly to Jersey.
Arrive in Jersey, transfer by coach to the Four Star Greenhills Country Hotel. This charming hotel stands within delightful gardens, in the heart of the Parish of St Peter, Jersey. The Inn retains the character and architectural
features of its origins, circa 1674. Enjoy the unique atmosphere and intimacy of this small country house of that period. Experience a sense of being in Jersey in a hotel with the character and history of this small
island off the coast of France and England, surrounded by the sea it is a tranquil place.
Dinner and Overnight at the Four Star Greenhills Country Hotel - Jersey.
Day 5: Thursday, May 20th.
Private Garden visits today in Jersey -
Le Clos du Chemin, St Peter owned by Mrs. Susan Lea.
Le Clos du Chemin is a medium sized garden set on a hillside overlooking the Bay, with lawns and wide herbaceous borders. There is a small wildflower garden featuring daffodils, bluebells and other wild flowers which bloom
in succession. Finally we arrive at the Italian garden with its pond and statue.
Lunch in Wayside Cafe, St Brelade's Bay - followed by a short visit to Winston Churchill Memorial Park, if time allows.
This afternoon visit La Maison des Pres, St Peter, owned by Lord and Lady Brownlow.
La Maison des Presis a very natural garden with a fine selection of trees including a tulip tree liriodendron tulipifera and a metasequoia. The wildflower meadow bordered by lime trees is followed by an orchard leading
to the formal garden with its summerhouse and the secret garden. This garden features statues in different parts of the garden.
Dinner and overnight at the Greenhills Country Hotel Jersey.
Day 6: Friday, May 21st.
Jersey visits to carefully selected private gardens including Radier Manor owned by Lord and Lady Jersey.
We are privileged to visit this lovely garden at Radier Mano the residence of the 10th Earl and Countess of Jersey.
There are views across the estate to the sea, a 37 year old camellia walk, the walled garden, exotic plant border and large lake surrounded by manicured lawns and woodland.
This historic house and garden offer an insight into the lives of this family.
Lunch will be at the Jersey Potteries with an opportunity to visit the gardens and take a look in the shop. This is a Jersey business built over three generations and welcomes us on this visit.
This afternoon visit to Les Vaux owned by Lady Guthrie, who has developed this lovely informal garden over the past 40 years to great acclaim. Les Vaux is a garden planted for all year round colour and effect.
There are fine specimen trees from all over the world and a few years ago, Lady Guthrie developed newly purchased additional land into a wildlife haven. It is a garden with a sense of fun and enjoyment, well worth a visit.
Dinner and overnight at the Greenhills Country Hotel Jersey.
NTPL/Ian Shaw
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Day 7: Saturday, May 22nd.
Visit Creux Baillot Cottage garden, St Ouen Jersey owned by Mr. and Mrs. Nigel Queree.
Creux Baillot Cottage garden is set in a peaceful valley along a small country lane. This cottage garden has been created with a diverse collection of mainly herbaceous perennials from all over the world.
It provides a lovely setting for the old granite hewn cottage, and has been featured in magazines and television programs. It is included in the book "1001 Gardens You Must See before you Die."
Lunch at El Tico in St. Ouen's Bay.
In the afternoon visit the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, one of the finest collections of orchids in the world. Jersey orchid breeders are considered amongst the best and this collection has won many awards.
In the early evening viist Longueville Manor garden followed by dinner at the Longueville Manor Hotel.
Overnight at the Greenhills Country Hotel
Day 8: Sunday, May 23rd.
Depart Jersey, travel by air to England and the Kent countryside and unique famous gardens.
Early Check out of hotel in Jersey, transfer to the airport and fly to London. On arrival in London Gatwick airport, met by coach and driver and Transfer to Canterbury.
Today visit two famous gardens - Sissinghurst Castle garden in Kent, now owned by the National Trust and
created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Nigel Nicolson. It includes the well known white garden a wonderful meadow garden and the fascinating tower where Vita wrote and much more. Great Dixter
is quite near by in the Sussex countryside, now owned by a Foundation since the death of its creator Christopher Lloyd who inherited the house and garden from his parents. Now the Head Gardener at Great Dixter -
Fergus Garrett.
Dinner in Canterbury at the hotel
The Lodge at Canterbury which will be our home for the next few days is a special experience as it has a beautiful simplicity and sense of peace, the only modern building within the Canterbury Cathedral precincts
and set in its own gardens. Originally developed to house visiting church dignitaries, it is not a luxury hotel, but a welcoming and pleasant place, the uniqueness of which lies in its setting.
Many rooms have views of the cathedral. At night only residents of the hotel and people connected with the Cathedral are allowed to be in the precincts. Walking out at night into Canterbury through the huge medieval wall doors is
a unique experience.
Overnight at The Lodge Hotel Canterbury in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral.
Day 9: Monday, May 24rd.
Visit private gardens in Kent
Visit Goodnestone, a fascinating private garden with a lovely walled garden, and the home of Lady Fitzwalters who often greets her visitors. This home has associations with Jane Austen who stayed here often.
After lunch at the gardens visit another private garden - Hole Park also in Kent, a lovely private garden.
On return to Canterbury there is an opportunity to tour the Canterbury Cathedral gardens and optional tour of Canterbury cathedral in the evening with a local guide.
Overnight Canterbury - The Lodge Canterbury.
Day 10: Tuesday, May 25th.
Travel to the other side of Kent. Visit Hever Castle, and to London for the evening.
Travel to the other side of Kent to Hever Castle. Meet the Head Gardener at Hever Castle or other local gardens in Kent or Surrey. Lunch in local pub. Option to Visit Tunbridge wells for antique shopping or just shopping.
After a cup of tea transfer to London to the London tour hotel. The Arch - London, in Marble Arch opening now. The hotel takes up several Georgian buildings close to Marble Arch thearchlondon.com
Overnight in London .in a central London 4* hotel - The Arch Hotel, London.
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Day 11: Wednesday, May 26th.
Full day at the Chelsea Flower Show on Members Day.
Early breakfast and Visit Chelsea Flower Show on second Members day - all day event. All day at the Chelsea Flower show to view the outstanding displays and Show gardens.
Option to choose not to attend the Chelsea Flower Show and to take the day as free time in London, with advice on where to go, where to shop, what to see.
Overnight in London central London 4* hotel, the Arch London - Marble Arch. Optional drink in a private London club to get together and review all that we have seen and experienced. Dinner in London.
Overnight in London at The Arch Hotel - London.
Day 12: Thursday, May 27th.
After breakfast at the hotel, coach transfer to the airport and depart London for the USA.
Tour itinerary and price subject to change.
If you have questions or wish to book please get in touch with us:
The British Connection. Inc.
PO BOX 15495
Atlanta, GA 30333
USA
Telephone: 404 373 1420 / 1 800 420 2569
sales@thebritishconnection.com
Cost and included / not included information in regards to the tour cost:
