Saturday 29th May Assemble at London Victoria at 11.30am to meet your guide and join the coach for the departure to Kent. The first visit of the tour will be to the garden of Great Comp, set around its 17th century Manor House. This is an Italian Garden, with a huge collection of shrubs, perennials and other hardy and half hardy plants from all over the world, and a large collection of salvias. It is a plantsman's haven. (A light lunch can be obtained here). Later continue to check in at the hotel where we shall stay for four nights.
Meet for a get together drink before dinner to get to know your tour guide and learn more about the tour programme Dinner and overnight: The Spa Hotel Tunbridge Wells (D)
Sunday 30th May Make a leisurely start this morning to explore the gardens of Merriments, which were created during the early 1990’s and have quickly developed into a stunningly beautiful 4 acres of densely planted borders where the plants grown in the nursery can be seen in a garden context. There will be time to purchase a snack in the restaurant here. In the afternoon continue to Scotney Castle, one of England's most romantic gardens surrounding a ruined 14th-century lakeside castle featuring superb displays of rhododendrons and azaleas and an unusual heather-thatched ice house. Return afterwards to the hotel for a free evening to explore the local restaurants. Overnight: The Spa Hotel Tunbridge Wells (B)
Monday 31st May This morning starts with some leisure time in the historic spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, with its tempting shops. Then we continue to Sissinghurst Castle Gardens. These renowned gardens designed by writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson, in the grounds of an Elizabethan mansion, are famous for their garden rooms filled with colourful floral displays. Enjoy the woodland and lakeside walks and see the new vegetable garden now open and in full production. After some time to purchase lunch in the coffee shop continue in the afternoon visit Groombridge Place, which features a series of magnificent, traditional walled gardens, including herbaceous borders, a white rose garden, a knot garden, and a drunken garden with crazy topiary. These contrast dramatically with the quirky gardens developed by modern designer Ivan Hicks in the ancient woodland of the “Enchanted Forest”. Return afterwards to the hotel for a free evening. Overnight: The Spa Hotel Tunbridge Wells (B)
Tuesday 1st June Today’s gardens are full of colour. The garden of Great Dixter was begun in 1910, and the late Christopher Lloyd, gardening writer, created one of the most experimental and ever changing gardens of the 20th century. There is a wide variety of interest to be found here, from yew topiary, carpets of meadow flowers, to dazzling mixed borders (including the famous Long Border) and the striking Exotic Garden. There will be time to purchase lunch and explore in the picturesque little town of Rye before the afternoon visit to Pashley Manor, a quintessential English garden offering a blend of romantic landscaping, imaginative plantings with the emphasis on colour and form, together with fine old trees, fountains, springs and large ponds. Mr and Mrs James Sellick opened their gardens to the public in 1992, having brought them to their present splendour with the assistance of the eminent landscape architect Anthony du Gard Pasley. This evening meet in the bar for a ‘Farewell’ drink before dinner. Dinner and overnight: The Spa Hotel Tunbridge Wells (BD)
Wednesday 2nd June Our final visit is to Yalding Organic Garden. This is a collection of 16 stunning gardens, which illustrate some of the significant developments of garden history in the UK, ranging from the medieval Apothecary's Garden, Tudor Knot Garden, to the 19th century herbaceous border and a 21st Century Garden, to name but a few. Make the return journey to arrive in the early afternoon at London Victoria for onward journeys homewards. End of tour (B)
Tour Cost | Price per person | Twin/Double | £745.00 | Single Supplement | £135.00 |
Coach transportation for the duration of the tour 4 nights’ accommodation at the Spa Hotel Tunbridge Wells 4 breakfasts, and 2 dinners Entrance fees to visits as per itinerary and garden guides where necessary. STITA guide to accompany the group throughout
Not included: - Meals other than those indicated
- Personal expenses, (laundry, telephone etc)
- Tip to your personal guide and driver
NOTE: National Trust members are entitled to a reduction in the cost of entries to National Trust properties, please declare membership on the booking form. NOTE:For those wishing to attend the Chelsea Flower Show accommodaton and tickets to the show will be available. Details will be sent on application to those who are interested. How to Book To make a booking, please call us on 01242 515712 or click on our Booking Details. |
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