Travel great UK gardens with Marianne Willburn, award winning author, columnist, speaker, and American/British dual national.  On this trip you’ll experience the incredible Chelsea Flower Show and linger over the great gardens and cities of Oxford, Bath, and Wells. Visit the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge, explore the incomparable RHS garden at Wisley, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Above all, relax on a garden and cultural adventure, and we'll take care of all the details. May 22-30, 2024 This is a small group tour and availability is limited. Don't wait to complete your booking!

Here's an overview of the trip, please scroll down to the bottom to see the day by day itinerary-

Wednesday, May 22nd

Individually arrive at London Heathrow Airport to be met by driver.

Transfers will be arranged to hotel in Richmond (Early arrivals may be able to leave their luggage at this 4-star hotel prior to afternoon check in.)

Free day for personal exploration. We recommend visiting nearby Kew Gardens or Petersham Nurseries, or take a short tube journey into central London for sightseeing or the theatre.

Join us for a welcome dinner and drinks in the hotel’s private dining room.

Thursday, May 23rd

The incomparable Chelsea Flower Show beckons! Luxury coach transfer to a fabulous day of browsing, photographing, shopping, eating, drinking, and gawking!

Return transfer to the hotel after a full day at Chelsea.

Dinner on your own in one of Richmond’s well-known restaurants, or relax with dinner at the hotel on your own.

Friday, May 24th through Sunday, May 26th

This morning we will leave the bustle of London and drive to Oxfordshire, visiting the iconic gardens of Kiftsgate, Buscot Park, Rousham, Waterperry, Blenheim Palace and the Oxford Botanic Garden over the next three days and three nights. 

We’ll enjoy a memorable dinner together on the water at The Folly restaurant, and take a guided Blue Badge walking tour of historic Oxford.

Our five-star hotel provides a full breakfast each day and a centralized location to allow you to plenty of time to explore this magnificent city on your own.

Monday, May 27th

After a full breakfast at the hotel, we will check out and make our way westward towards Bath and surrounds. Morning visit to the beauty and tranquility of Iford Manor Estate in Wiltshire, taking lunch on your own at their café or full restaurant.

Afternoon visit to the many garden rooms of The Courts Garden in Wiltshire.

Check in to our central four-star hotel in the city of Bath for two nights and enjoy a short rest before coming together for dinner and drinks and a visit with garden writer (and fellow GardenRanter!) Anne Wareham, and her husband, garden photographer Charles Hawes -- owners and creators of The Veddw Garden in Wales. They'll talk with us about building a world-class garden as amateur gardeners.

Tuesday, May 28th

A very special day is planned today as we will be crossing the Severn river to the Welsh border town of Chepstow and visiting Anne & Charles’ fine garden at Veddw – selected as one of the United Kingdom’s top 100 gardens in 2020. 

We’ll continue into the Wye Valley to view the 12th century ruins of Tintern Abbey on the banks of the Wye River, made famous by Wordsworth’s poem of the same name. On our way back to Bath, we’ll stop by the must-see Special Plants Nursery, whose owners have created an incredible display garden featured on BBC’s Gardener’s World.

In the afternoon, enjoy free time in Jane Austen’s beloved Bath, visiting the Roman baths, Bathwick Fields, or Bath Abbey or simply wandering through this beautifully walkable city from the doorstep of our hotel.  Dinner on your own at one of Bath’s incredible restaurants.

Wednesday, May 29th

Making our way east, back towards London and RHS Wisley. 

But first, we’ll make a leisurely morning stop at Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain to marvel at this prehistoric UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We’ll arrive at the incredible multi-faceted RHS Garden at Wisley for an afternoon of exploration, idea-gleaning, and shopping in their massive gift shop. 

Lunch on your own at their large café, but make sure to save room for our memorable Farewell Dinner and Drinks later that evening, once we've checked back into our four-star hotel in Cobham.

Thursday, May 30th

Morning group transfer to London Heathrow Airport for journey home, or to continue your adventure in London and beyond.

Full day by day Itinerary is below

*Please note that although we will endeavor to provide the itinerary as listed, as with all tours, all items are subject to change in accordance with supplier.