Great Gardens of England and Hampton Court Flower Show

12 days
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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Group Tour
This trip has been discontinued. Instead see Essential Britain Celtic Highlights Scenic Britain Survey the heritage of the English garden from the 18th century to the present day. In Kent, the “Garden of England”, and in the Cotswolds, renowned for beautiful countryside and quaint villages, examine a broad range of garden styles that have ...

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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • Relish a day at the world’s largest flower show at Hampton Court Palace.
    • Meet privately with the director of the Painswick Rococo Garden Trust.
    • Venture through the Cotswolds to Chipping Campden and the unique spa town of Bath, and enjoy the company of expert horticulturalist, botanist, landscape ecologist and garden historian Jane Longland throughout your journey.

What's this trip about?

    This trip has been discontinued. Instead see Essential Britain Celtic Highlights Scenic Britain Survey the heritage of the English garden from the 18th century to the present day. In Kent, the “Garden of England”, and in the Cotswolds, renowned for beautiful countryside and quaint villages, examine a broad range of garden styles that have complemented homes, palaces and castles for centuries, and gain professional insights into selected species, climate and soil conditions with an expert horticulturalist. Our gardens experience culminates in a field trip to largest flower show in the world: Hampton Court Flower Show.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityLondon
End CityLondon

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • Europe

Attractions

  • London

Activities

  • Educational/ learning
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Nature

Trip includes

    • 10 nights of accommodations
    • 28 meals: 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 10 dinners
    • 6 Expert-led lectures
    • 15 Field trips
    • Learning led by expert instructors who are authorities in the field of study.
    • An experienced Group Leader attuned to the needs of Road Scholar participants.
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program that you would normally pay yourself.
    • The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant and provides 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance services coverage.
    • Taxes
    • State-of-the-art QUIETVOX listening devices

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1:            

In Transit: Overnight flight

Day 2:            

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel

Arrive To: London and transfers by private car to Maidstone.

Lunch: A light lunch is served in the hotel.

Afternoon: Free afternoon. Introduction to the programme with ...

Day 3: Great Dixter.             

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel

Breakfast: Full English breakfast in hotel dining room.

Morning: Our lectures this morning consider "10-17th Century Gardens" and "18th Century English Landscape Sc...

Day 4: Canterbury and Goodnestone Park Gardens.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel

Breakfast: Full English breakfast in hotel dining room.

Morning: Hear two lectures: "Victorian Gardens" and "Edwardian Gardens".

Lunch: Packed lunch.

...

Day 5: Lecture: "Modern Gardens and Hampton Court Flower...        

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel

Lecture: "Modern Gardens and Hampton Court Flower Show".Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

Breakfast: Full English breakfast in hotel dining room.

Morning: This mor...

Day 6: RHS Wisley.     

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hatherley Manor Hotel

Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Transfer by coach to the Cotswolds via RHS Wisley, Woking. The Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley is one of Britain’s b...

Day 7: Hidcote Manor Gardens. Kiftsgate Court Garden.   

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hatherley Manor Hotel

Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Explore the "Jewel of the Cotswolds" on a field trip to Chipping Campden as we pass through the surrounding landscape of ...

Day 8: Painswick Rococo Garden.    

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Hatherley Manor Hotel

Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Journeying to the beautiful Cotswold town of Painswick we explore the honey-stone architecture before stepping back in time to t...

Day 9: Stourhead.   

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hatherley Manor Hotel

Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: After an early breakfast and start our excursion to Bath takes us through history from Roman Baths to magnificent Georgia...

Day 10: Blenheim Palace.         

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt

Breakfast: Full English breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: We transfer to London via the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace. The Palace is a Baroque masterpie...

Day 11: Hampton Court Flower Show.         

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Our gardens experience culminates in a field trip to largest flower show in the world -Hampton Court Flower Show. We depart early to avoid the crowds.

Lunch: Excluded.

Afternoon: Continues.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: Farewell meeting.

Day 12:      

Meals: Breakfast

Depart From: London for return flights to North America.

Breakfast: In the hotel unless transfers for flight departures are early.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $0
Price per day$0
Last Updated: 8/9/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Road Scholar

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

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Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

What they’re known for
Popular global tours with a unique focus on educational experiences for mostly senior travelers.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International Flights
    • Passport charges
    • Any kind of insurance
    • Personal Expenses
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

16 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches and 13 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-GreGarRoa

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