GREAT GARDENS OF GREAT BRITAIN

Great Gardens of Great Britain

with Sara Williams May 12 – 26, 2016 

“Great Gardens of Great Britain” showcases “la crem dela crem” of British gardens – the best of the gardens visited in over two decades of tours, some centuries old, others of very recent vintage. We include those that are privately owned, National Trust gardens, a botanic garden and a royal garden. Some are hundreds of acres, others less than two acres. Among them are Alnwick, Levens, Hidcote, Penshurst, Great Dixter, and, of course, Sissinghurst.

As always, our itinerary includes a balance of gardens and historical and cultural visits, from Stonehenge to Roman ruins; a steamboat trip on Lake Windemere; Beatrix Potter’s farm home; Georgian Bath and Victorian Beamish.

We hope you will be able to join us on this great Britain tour. This customized small group tour will amaze you.

Gardens for Great Britain Tours

Itinerary 

Thursday, May 12 Arrive Britain

After landing in Newcastle we transfer to Durham. Following a welcome lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon at Beamish, an outdoor Victoria era museum where you can wander through town and farm or go underground in the coal mine. Overnight Durham. (LD)

Friday May 12, Northumberland

Today we visit two of Northumberland’s special gardens. Bide-A-Wee has been created out of a sandstone quarry, using the dramatic topography and natural rock amphitheatre to plant a remarkably wide spectrum of plants. The Alnwick Garden is a stunning combination of classical and modern, quirkiness and play, from the intrigue of the Poison Garden to the astounding water sculptures. Overnight Durham. (BLD)

Saturday, May 14 Northumberland

We begin our day in the Roman era with Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The surrounding countryside is scattered with Roman forts, “milecastles”, and temples. We’ll tour the National Trust Visitor Centre and Housesteads Roman Fort. In the afternoon, a visit to Herterton House Gardens, a sixteenth century farmhouse with a walled garden, topiary, a physic and flower garden. Overnight Durham. (B)

Sunday May 15 Lake District

Today we journey west to the Lake District. En-route we’ll visit Farfield. A woollen mill for 156 years, it now houses heritage displays, working looms, exhibitions, and a host of craft demonstrations and studios. The gardens of Levens Hall contain the oldest and most extensive topiary collection in the world with over 100 pieces. It’s like entering the looking glass of Alice-in-Wonderland. Holker Hall’s award-winning gardens feature a water stairs, stilt garden, 400 year old lime tree, a labyrinth, and masses of spring flowering bulbs. Overnight WIndermere. (BD)

Monday, MAY 16 Lake District

Today we’ll enjoy a cruise on a beautifully preserved 19th century steamboat, take a wildflower/ foraging walk searching for ransoms garlic, and visit the original farm home of Beatrix Potter. Overnight Windermere. (BD)

Tuesday, MAY 17 from Lake District to Chester

Our first visit is to Holehird Gardens known for specimen trees and shrubs, extensive rock and heather gardens, a walled garden, alpine houses and herbaceous borders. Cobble Hey, a working farm since 1681, raises rare breeds of sheep and cattle. We’ll enjoy a guided walk of the farm, gardens and plant nursery. Ness Botanic Gardens, with 64 acres overlooking the River Dee, has a 110 year old rock garden, herbaceous borders and varied collections. Then on to Chester, one of the best preserved walled cities in Britain. Overnight in Chester. (B)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 SHROPSHIRE

Today we visit two of Shropshire’s lovely gardens. Hodnet Hall’s sixty acres vary from the kitchen garden to flower borders, magnificent forest trees, sweeping lawns, a dovecot and a chain of ornamental pools that provide habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Wollerton Old Hall, a series of garden “rooms”, contains a yew walk, a rill, roses, a hot garden, topiary, and herbaceous borders. There are significant collections of clematis, salvias and roses. Overnight Evesham. (BD)

THURSDAY, MAY 19 STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

Hidcote Gardens, in the Arts & Crafts style, was developed by Major Lawrence Johnston in the early 1900s. Explore the maze of narrow paved pathways and discover the white garden, the fuchsia garden, herbaceous borders, roses, and the pool garden along with magnificent vistas. In Stratford-upon-Avon we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Holy Trinity Church, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Mary Arden’s Farm. Overnight Evesham. (B)

FRIDAY, MAY 20 BATH

On to one of England’s most historic cities. The Roman City of Bath is known for its natural hot springs and 18th-century Georgian architecture. Our visit includes the Roman Baths and Number 1 Royal Crescent, a magnificently restored Georgian townhouse built between 1767 and 1774. In the evening, there will be an option to relax with a soak in one of the hot springs. Overnight Bath. (B)

SATURDAY, MAY 21 SOMERSET

Today we’ll visit two beautiful gardens to the south of Bath. Hestercombe House Gardens, an Arts & Crafts garden created by Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, is famous for its Great Plat, rill and pergola as well as the Dutch Garden and Orangery, and landscape garden. Tintinhull was created in the 1930s. A small garden of only 1.5 acres, it is divided into 7 rooms by clipped yew hedges and walls: among them a lovely pool garden, fountain garden, colourful mixed borders, kitchen garden and orchard. At Willows & Wetlands we’ll discover the history of willow culture and the art of basketmaking. Overnight Taunton. (BD)

SUNDAY, MAY 22 TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Today we journey east. En-route, we’ll visit one of the best-known prehistoric monuments in Europe, Stonehenge. The 11 acres of Penshurst Place showcase an Elizabethan walled garden, theatre lawn, orchard, parterre, rose garden and much more. Royal Tunbridge Wells became a town when Queen Victoria made it a regular holiday sojourn. There are many attractions to enjoy here during our stay. Overnight Royal Tunbridge Wells. (BD)

MONDAY, MAY 23 KENT

Sissinghurst Castle is one of England’s premier gardens and you won’t be disappointed. Vita Sackville-West, poet and writer, began developing the garden in the 1930s with her diplomat and author husband, Harold Nicolson. Harold’s architectural planning of the garden rooms, and the colourful, abundant planting in the gardens by Vita, reflect Gertrude Jekyll’s design and garden philosophy. Its most famous and influential feature is the White Garden that exemplified Jekyll’s use of colour. Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and garden writer Christopher Lloyd. From the sunken garden to the topiary lawn, the vegetable garden, the meadow, the blue garden, to the house, oast house and barn, it’s quite amazing. There’s even a cat garden. Overnight Royal Tunbridge Wells. (B)

TUESDAY, MAY 24 LONDON

Journey into London to explore one of its best known gardens. From the kitchen garden to the yew maze, Hampton Court Palace Gardens feature fountains, glorious displays of over 200,000 flowering bulbs, wisteria, magnolia, herbaceous borders and 750 acres of tranquil royal parkland graced by bluebells. Our return to central London will be a unique experience as we travel by boat along the Thames. With the remainder of the day “at leisure,” you may choose to visit the Chelsea Physic Garden or continue to London and your hotel. Overnight in London. (BD)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 LONDON FREE DAY

A day to explore the sights of London on your own. Our hotel is a leisurely 20 minute walk from major London sights. For those who are members of the Royal Horticultural Society, it is member’s day at the Chelsea Flower Show. On our last evening together, we can relive our travels at a Farewell Dinner. Overnight in London. (BD)

THURSDAY, MAY 26 DEPARTURE

Transfer to the Airport and departure to Canada. (B)

Our Host: Sara Williams

Retired as the Horticultural Specialist of the University of Saskatchewan, Sara Williams has been hosting garden tours for over 20 years – to Great Britain, Europe, Ireland, and further afield to Turkey, Hawaii and Morocco. She is author of many gardening books, including the recently revised Creating the Prairie Xeriscape and The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo: A Photographic History and has written hundreds of articles. Sara was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2013 and received an Honorary Doctorate of Law degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2015 for her horticultural and humanitarian work.

Tour Information


Tour Length: 15 days / 14 nights
Date: May 12 – 26, 2016
Land Price: $5985CAD per person
Single Supplement: $990CAD per person (See single supplement note below) All prices quoted are accurate at the time of publication; although not anticipated, the itinerary and pride are subject to change.
Great Gardens Of Great Britain Includes:
  • All transfers and transportation per itinerary 
  • 14 nights accommodation 
  • Meals: Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 9 dinners 
  • Visits and activities as noted in the itinerary 
  • Entrance fees as noted in the itinerary 
  • Professional Guide 
Great Gardens Of Great Britain Doesn’t Include:
  •  International Fare 
  • Travel Insurance 
  • Pre- or post-tour accommodation 
  • Meals not included in the itinerary 
  • Excursions, activities, and entrance fees not included in the itinerary 
  • Gratuities to guides and driver 
  • Personal Items 
Single Supplement: Accommodation is based on double occupancy. A single supplement is paid by participants who request accommodation on single occupancy.

Single accommodation is subject to availability and may be limited. If you prefer single occupancy it is advised to book early.

If you are travelling alone and wish to share accommodation, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender.
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