Garden 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 onwards Britain has excellent examples of most styles of garden design.

Escorted Garden Tours in England

3
nights

Chelsea Flower Show, 24th May 2018

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 ).

 

6
nights

Sisley Garden Tours - Summer Gardens Tour with Hampton Court Flower Show, 2nd – 8th July 2017

Beautiful English countryside of the Cotswolds and Kent, wild flowers and gardens at their high summer best with roses and herbaceous borders in their prime. Experience historic Stratford-upon-Avon and visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage garden, David Austin’s world famous rose nursery, Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate and Coughton Court before heading south to enjoy the lovely Hever Castle, Sissinghurst, Windsor Castle, RHS Wisley and the wonders of a members-only day at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. Tour includes 1 year RHS membership.

 

4-5
nights

FLORA Garden Tours, 2017 small group tours

Flora guided tours of gardens in England take 4 to 10 people to the best English gardens, large and small. The tours last 3-6 days but special interest tours can be run to suit your group.

In 2017 FLORA will tour Lake District and Yorkshire gardens 2nd - 7th May; Cotswold gardens 17-21st May; Wiltshire and Somerset gardens 4-8th June; Rose gardens in southern counties 22-26th June; Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampton Court Flower Show 4-9th July as well as Cambridge and Norfolk gardens 22nd-27th September. Dr. Barbara Sommerville plans and escorts all garden tours in England and gives evening power-point talks on subjects relevant to touring English and British gardens.

 

6
nights

Cotswold Gardens and their 20th Century designers, 17th to 23rd June 2018

The Cotswolds is blessed with an abundance of celebrated gardens and we invite you join us to discover some of the best examples of 20th-century design from Hidcote to Highgrove. Our expert local guides Vivienne McGhee and Mel Tanner will give a unique insight into the history and inspiration into each our carefully selected gardens.

 

4
nights

Gardens of Sussex & Kent, 1st to 5th June 2017

Led by Kew trained, Dutch speaking guide, Sophieke Piebenga
This is a Boxwood Tour for those finding itineraries just that bit too full and for those who prefer a more relaxed pace. This is a hand-picked selection of the finest gardens in the south-east of England combining high quality and ease of accessibility For this tour, we are working in partnership with Can be Done, travel experts for less able travellers, who organise your accommodation and transport.. You are accommodated in the 4 star Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel with dinners with wine, bed and breakfasts all included.

 

7
nights

Sisley Garden Tours - The Exclusive Chelsea Flower Show Tour, 20th – 27th May 2017

Join us on our tour of one of the most charming and quintessential corners of England. We visit the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show on ‘members-only’ day and explore London before proceeding to Kent. Here we visit some of England’s finest gardens and explore the architectural gems of Rye and Royal Tunbridge Wells. Tour includes 1 year RHS membership.

 

7
nights

Sisley Garden Tours - Great Houses and Gardens of Yorkshire & the Lake District, 18th – 25th September 2017

This delightful, high season tour takes in some of the very finest country houses and gardens of Yorkshire and the Lake District in the north of England. We’ll explore York, one of England’s greatest historic cities and travel through the spectacular landscapes of the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks visiting both iconic stately homes and hidden, private gardens.

 

6
nights

The Legacy of Gertrude Jekyll, departing 20th May 2018

Follow in the footsteps of Gertrude Jekyll on this tour across the south of England, visiting many of her commissions including Hestercombe, Upton Grey and also the rare opportunity to visit Munstead Wood, her home for almost 40 years.

 

3
nights

The Gardens Illustrated ‘Wiltshire Collection’, 18th to 21st September 2017

Featuring a day with Tania Compton
The southern English county of Wiltshire contains many world heritage sites including Stonehenge, Avebury and Salisbury Cathedral. Almost half the county is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, so it is not surprising to find such a collection of outstanding private gardens. We are accommodated at The Manor House Hotel, set in the heart of Castle Combe, often named the prettiest village in England: a stylish, comfortable hotel with fine food and peaceful ambience. This tour features a day with Tania Compton, garden writer, designer and author of The Private Gardens of England.

 

5
nights

Sisley Garden Tours - The Cotswolds Exclusive with Highgrove Garden, 18th – 23rd June 2017

Join us on our exclusive garden tour to the Cotswolds – an area of outstanding natural beauty with dry stone walls, open skies, rolling grasslands, beech woods and captivating villages. Staying in a luxury five-star hotel we will enjoy visits to beautiful gardens in their early summer glory including Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate Court, Bourton House, Sezincote, Upton Wold, Rodmarton Manor, Barnsley House, Througham Court, The Laskett garden and a tour of H.R.H. Prince of Wales’ private gardens at Highgrove.

 

2
nights

A Norfolk Weekend, 1st to 3rd July 2017

Hosted by Helen Yemm, TELEGRAPH
A quintessentially English region of rural Britain: a little-known landscape of flint & red brick architecture, steeply pitched roofs of tile and thatch, round church towers and long sandy beaches. Gardeners George Carter, Roger Last, Henry Crawley, & Alan Gray will introduce to us some of the most remarkable and enjoyable gardens in Britain today. We are accommodated at Titchwell Manor Hotel, a small hotel on the north coast with views across wild marshes to the sea. The rooms are simple, fresh & comfortable; the restaurant holding three AA Rosettes for excellent, innovative food.

 

3
nights

The Gardens of Kent and Sussex, departing 29th May and 25th June 2017

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, Sussex Prairie Garden, Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Hever Castle.