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Hampton Court Flower Show Tour - 9 Day Extended Tour - (Tour No. GDN02) |
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DAY TWO - SATURDAY Sudeley Castle, with its connections dating back 100 years or more, has seven enchanting gardens. Amongst these are a Tudor Knot garden with water features and a delightful mosaic, and a lovely rose garden (which may be in bloom). Seizencote is one of the most English of parks with a distinct feel
of Repton influence. It’s an ideal garden for our first day. Highlights
include an orangery and an exotic oriental water garden. Another of the areas many pretty gardens is Kiftsgate Court near the lovely Cotswolds village of Chipping Campden. This will also afford us the opportunity of spending some time in the village itself. Like many of these honey-coloured, picture postcards scenes, life appears to have stood still. One of the village's main advantages is its proximity to Hidecote Manor
Gardens - one of the most delightful in England. Created by horticulturist
Major John Lawrence, this garden consists of a series of small gardens
within the whole, separated by walls and hedges of different species.
It's famed for rare shrubs, trees, herbaceous borders, and interesting
plant species. Today, we have two 'formal' gardens, some informal ones and as a contrast, a visit to the wonderful mediaeval city of Gloucester. We'll enjoy a late start to the day, with perhaps some local scenic touring before visiting Painswick. This is a most attractive Rococo garden; a unique 18th century restoration in a hidden 6 acre Cotswold's combe (valley). Thence to Gloucester where we'll lunch and tour the magnificent cathedral. This afternoon we'll concentrate on one of the earliest formal water gardens laid out in England at Westbury Court Gardens in Westbury-on-Severn. Hopefully, there will also be a number of informal gardens visits today.
We'll make our decision based as to which based on the weather and which
private gardens are open today as part of the National Gardens Scheme.
Our first visit is a private one to see a recreation of George Washington's Mount Vernon garden at Claverton Manor. We'll also take the opportunity of enjoying a brief tour of that jewel of Georgian architecture, Bath. Our next two days are spent discovering homes and gardens in two of England's more 'hidden' counties, Dorset and Wiltshire. This lovely corner of Britain was where Thomas Hardy set many of his novels and it not only retains a timeless feel but some exquisite sightseeing opportunities. It's a wonder that it's not overrun with the tourist herd, but thankfully apart from Stonehenge, it isn't and we'll enjoy unhurried visits at the sights we choose. However, en route, we'll stop at the marvellous Barrington Court. Here there's the magnificent white garden, influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, iris garden and rose garden. It has also a working kitchen garden. Forde Abbey provides for our last visit. Founded by Cistercian monks
over 900 years ago, you can enjoy real peace in over 30 acres of garden
featuring an arboretum, 5 lakes and a Bog garden. We've something of a choice today; in fact, we're spoilt for one. Athelhampton House and Gardens is a 15th century manor house surrounded by one of the great architectural gardens of England. This is a garden of vistas and glorious surprises. Mapperton is a Jacobean (1660) house with an Italianate garden. Parnham House is interesting as much for its interiors and exhibitions of contemporary work in glass, textiles and wood, as it is for its garden. Minterne Gardens is a landscaped garden of over 30 acres with rare rhododendrons, magnolias, stream and water cascades. We've also Thomas Hardy's cottage to consider and the ancient town
of Dorchester! This is probably a day when some advice and guidance
from your guide-companion will be welcome! Stourhead has a landscaped garden laid out between 1741-80. There are classical temples, lakes, rare trees and plants. The house is another that tempts us with examples of Chippendale furniture and many fine paintings. There's only time today for one other property as both demand our full
attention. The second is the magnificent Wilton House. Here there's
one of the finest art collections in Europe (including Rubens, Van Dyke,
Breughel) housed in magnificent state rooms. Outside, there are 21 acres
of landscaped parkland. HAMPTON COURT FLOWER SHOW Our main highlight of the tour is kept for the last wonderful day. We spend today at The Royal Horticultural Society flower show at Hampton Court. This superb show, growing in international importance and prestige
year on year, could not be run in grander settings than Henry VIII’s
Thames-side palace. In addition to the show itself, Hampton Court boasts
several historical garden styles, one stands out in particular its authentic
renovation having only comparatively recently been completed. Alas, it’s time to bid farewell to fair England. All good times must come to an end and you’ll be transferred to an appropriate airport – unless, of course, you’re staying on to join another memorable tour! We’ve tried to create a balanced programme of visits for the next 10 days, combining the more formal and better-known gardens with some lesser-known properties. In many places there’s a house (often a stately home) to also explore and we've tried to present a mix of differing garden styles. It is possible that you’ll not be able to see every single garden listed on the tour as the weather, or the group’s preferences, may dictate that we spend longer in particular properties than anticipated and have to omit others. There will be other visits to smaller private gardens (members of the National Garden Scheme) not mentioned here as their limited opening times are not published at the time this tour is designed. |
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DAY
ONE - FRIDAY 
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