Gardens Tours in England

Gardening is more popular in England than anywhere else and this is reflected in the number of gardens open to visit in England. As an island surrounded by choppy seas and protected by a powerful navy, Britain's territory was physically secure from an earlier date than other European countries. English towns could spread beyond their medieval walls much earlier than in continental Europe. Instead of apartment blocks, the typical English dwelling was a small house with a small garden. The aristocracy always wanted 'a place in the country' for the summer and a town house for the winter. Also, the climate is never very cold and partly because it is never very hot.  One usually has to be up and doing something.

A wide range of design styles are well represented in England, although the most famous period in English garden history is the eighteenth century, when the original English landscape gardens were made.  England has some wonderful cloister gardens attached to the great cathedrals. The best are simple rectangles of grass. England also has many castles - but no ancient castle gardens. Nor are there many renaissance survivals. There are baroque gardens but not nearly so many as in France and Germany. But from the eighteenth century onw

ards Britain has excellent examples of most styles of garden design.

Escorted Garden Tours in England

3
nights

The Gardens of Kent and Sussex, departing 16th May, 20th June and 16th August 2013

This is an excellent tour for visitors to London who would like to visit gardens in Kent and Sussex. The countryside is varied, well-wooded and very favoured from the points of view of garden makers and garden visitors. The tour includes visits to Lullingstone Castle, Great Comp, Nymans, Leonardslee, Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Hever Castle.

 

3
nights

Chelsea Flower Show, 23rd May 2013

The tour includes a full day at the Chelsea Flower Show, which is the most famous horticultural event in the world, a visit to one of the best known Arts and Crafts gardens in England ( Sissinghurst ), a tour of the RHS's flagship garden ( Wisley ) with its new glasshouse, and a visit to one of most complete historic gardens and estates in England ( Tatton Park ).

 

3
nights

Northumberland - Passionate Lady Gardeners, 17th May, 7th June, 6th September 2013

Four distinctively different gardens, four passionate lady gardeners – all this and the Alnwick Garden too.

 

 

ADDERLEY TRAVEL +44 (0) 1953 606 706

Small group garden tours
Adderley Travel Limited specialise in quality, small-group (max. 12 people) garden tours throughout Britain, especially for overseas visitors to the United Kingdom.

"...I would recommend this to anyone who didn't want a big travel tour experience, loves food, wants to see the English county through lanes and paddocks, doesn't mind a laugh, and wants to be looked after..." Rosemary, Gloucester NSW 2010

Email us at info@adderleytravel.com or visit www.adderleytravel.com to see our tours.

6/7
nights

Sisley Garden Tours, departing 18th May and 7th July 2013

Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
Please join us on one of our delightful small group garden tours in 2013. Our popular tour of English Spring gardens including Sissinghurst, Great Comp, Great Dixter, Hever Castle and RHS Wisley, culminates at the fashionable Chelsea Flower Show - departs 18th May 2013. Or join our English Summer Gardens tour to experience the very best of the Cotswolds including Hidcote, Kiftsgate Court, David Austin Roses and Coughton Court before heading to Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Sissinghurst, Hever Castle and RHS Wisley - departs 7th July 2013.

 

4
nights

‘Glimpses of Paradise’: Herefordshire Country Gardens, 8th to 12th June 2013

With Boxwood Tours, led by David Gilchrist
Rich red loams support cider & perry orchards, deep woodlands and great cattle in greener-than-green pastures, a landscape that hides a host of beautiful and intriguing gardens created by some key figures in the gardening world today. Castle House, Hereford is the perfect base for the tour, an elegant, comfortable and peaceful hotel with fine dining. David Gilchrist is a first rate tour leader, attentive to every detail & with wonderful plant knowledge.

 

2
nights

‘Gardens of East Anglia’: A garden tour hosted by Dr Noel Kingsbury, 17th to 19th May 2013

With Boxwood Tours
First of our ‘Ring o’ Roses’ long week-end breaks visiting a handpicked selection of the finest, mostly private gardens and nurseries in an easily accessible area centred on a good hotel with excellent food and comfortable accommodation. This tour is timed to run prior to the Chelsea Flower Show. The Angel Hotel in the heart of historic Bury St Edmunds successfully combines traditional Georgian elegance with contemporary design. The award-winning restaurant with 2 rosettes serves locally sourced produce.

 

2
nights

‘Gardens of the Upper Cotswolds’: A garden tour hosted by Helena Attlee, 14th to 16th June 2013

With Boxwood Tours
Second of our ‘Ring o’Roses’ long week-end breaks visiting a hand-picked selection of the finest, mostly private gardens and nurseries in an easily accessible area centred on a good hotel with excellent food and comfortable accommodation. Carefully selected, outstanding private gardens, including Stone House, Bourton House and Upton Wold. Award-winning Manor House Hotel in the heart of historic Moreton-in-Marsh is justly renowned for warm hospitality and good food.

 

2
nights

‘Gardens of the Heart of Sussex’: A garden tour hosted by David Wheeler, 12th to 14th July 2013

With Boxwood Tours
Third of our ‘Ring o’Roses’ long week-end breaks visiting a hand-picked selection of the finest, mostly private gardens and nurseries in easily accessible locations, centred on good hotels with excellent food and comfortable accommodation. Here we focus on gardens of Sussex, venturing to Great Dixter to meet head gardener, Fergus Garret. Ockenden Manor Hotel, a charming and tranquil Elizabethan Manor House, offers the very best hospitality and cuisine recognised by AA and Michelin awards.

 

4
nights

Cornish Riviera: Exotic Plants & Gardens, 23rd to 27th April 2013

With Boxwood Tours
The Cornish peninsula is famous for sheltered gardens harbouring collections of magnolias, camellias, palms, tree ferns and many other ‘exotic’ plants. We avoid the ‘honey pots’ to discover a vibrant new collection of gardens & nurseries off the beaten track. The Meudon Hotel is a haven of beauty and peace where guests enjoy comfort, fresh local cuisine, and traditional, unobtrusive service, all set in magnificent hanging gardens sweeping down to the sea.

 

4
nights

The Lakeland Collection: Gardens of Windermere & the South, 16th to 20th September 2013

With Boxwood Tours
Wordsworth & Ruskin we find fine Arts & Crafts gardens as well as contemporary creations at this outstanding garden-rich location in the warm south of the English Lake District. The Lakeside is a very welcoming friendly hotel set on the shore of Lake Windermere in its own gardens and close to the Lake Steam Boat & Steam Train, each of
which we use to visit gardens.

 

7
nights

Cotswold English Country Gardens, 6th to 13th July 2013

Cotswold Walking Holidays specialises in small group guided tours with a mix of beautiful scenery and walking. Based in the heart of the Cotswolds our local knowledge is unsurpassed. Paul Williams (former head gardener at Bourton House) is your guide and he lives and works in the Cotswolds. Gardens include Hidcote, Kiftsgate, Sezincote, Bretforton Manor and Whichford Pottery as well as many smaller private gardens. All walks are optional. Bespoke garden tours can be provided for private groups.

 

7
nights

Arts and Crafts Gardens and Architecture, 24th to 31st August 2013

The Cotswolds is synonymous with the Arts and Crafts Movement and you will discover what made it so inspirational to its greatest exponents such as William Morris, C.R Ashbee and Ernest and Sidney Barnsley. Your guided tour will visit the best examples from Hidcote garden, Rodmarton Manor, Kelmscott Manor and craftsmen continuing the movement to this day.

Photograph (left) © S. Randall