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

The Gardens of Kent and Sussex, departing 28th May 2021, 24th June and 19th August 2022

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.

 

3
nights

Chelsea Flower Show, 26th May 2022

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, Wilton House, Capability Brown's timeless Stourhead and Harold Peto's Iford Manor.

 

6
nights

Cotswold Gardens and their 20th Century designers, 19th-25th June 2022 and 18th-24th June 2023

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

Mike Nelhams’ Great Gardens of Cornwall, 2nd April 2022

This tour offers a fantastic opportunity not just to visit some of Cornwall's best loved gardens, but also to meet the people behind them, including Mike Nelhams (Tresco Abbey Gardens), Sir Tim Smit (The Lost Gardens of Heligan) and Charles Williams (Caerhays Castle) and Lord Falmouth (Tregothnan Estate).

 

6
nights

The Legacy of Gertrude Jekyll, dates TBC

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.