DETAILS
The prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show has come a long way since its humble single-marquee beginnings in 1913; the kaleidoscopic event is now an unmissable highlight of the British calendar and is world-famous for its stunning displays, vibrant colors and innovative designs. On Albion’s most popular tour, we are lucky enough to visit on Members’ Day, where RHS members, royals and celebrities take an exclusive first look at the floral extravaganza before the general public. Alongside this wonderful event, we discover iconic horticultural treasures and hidden gems in Kent, the Garden of England, from a private tour of Great Comp to out-of-hours access at Sissinghurst Castle Garden.
- Pricing from
- $6,800
No Single Supplement! Very limited availability.
- Trip Type
- International Land & Rail Tours
- Departure Dates
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May 12, 2027 - May 21, 2027
ITINERARY
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day 1 & 2
Depart from your US Airport for London Heathrow Airport/Arrival
On arrival at Heathrow Airport, a private transfer will take you to our overnight hotel, the Macdonald Windsor Hotel in Windsor. In the evening, join the group for a welcome drink and canapés, followed by dinner.
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day 3
RHS Garden Wisley & Great Comp Garden
We head to RHS Garden Wisley, the Royal Horticultural Society’s flagship garden. From beautiful rose and demonstration gardens to tranquil tracts of woodland, Wisley offers a wealth of inspirational ideas and boasts a state-of-the-art Glasshouse. While at Wisley, we also enjoy lunch. A private guided tour awaits at Great Comp, an RHS Partner Garden surrounding a lovely 17th-century manor. It’s full of stunning plants such as salvias, magnolias, azaleas, rhododendrons and hellebores and also features an Italian Garden, pretty woodland walks plus the Old Dairy Tearooms.
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day 4
Great Dixter House & Gardens & Hole Park
We visit Great Dixter today, home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. An experienced horticulturalist treats us to a guided tour of the famous gardens, home to a spectacular mix of topiary, mixed borders, an orchard and a wildflower meadow. We also take a peek around the largely medieval house. Today also includes Hole Park, owned by the Barham family for generations. We enjoy refreshments and time to admire the garden, discovering the wide range of blooms, bursting with fragrance and set against the far-reaching views over the hills and woodland.
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day 5
Sissinghurst Castle Garden & Lullingstone Castle
An exclusive out-of-hours tour awaits at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, created in the 1930s by novelist Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson. Set around the ruins of an Elizabethan manor house, these world-famous gardens are laid out as a series of individually planted ‘rooms’. We also make our way to Lullingstone Castle today. The World Garden here is home to thousands of rare plants collected from around the world by Tom Hart Dyke, the current heir. We find out more during our captivating gardens tour with a Blue Badge guide.
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day 6
Eltham Palace Greenwich
Today we visit Eltham Palace. Once a medieval palace, then highly popular for Christmas celebrations in Tudor times, it was leased from the Crown and transformed by millionaires into an Art Deco mansion in the 1930s. Outside, we take a guided tour with an expert Gardener, who shows us the Sunken Rose Garden, quiet Rock Garden, idyllic wildflower meadow, medieval embankment and the series of garden rooms. We also spend time in maritime Greenwich today, home to fascianting attractions including Greenwich Park, Observatory and Royal Naval College.
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day 7
Kew Gardens & London’s Secret Gardens Tour
A springtime stroll is the order of the day with a guided walking tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Exploding with color and with no less than 50,000 plants, there is a range of different areas to explore including the Arboretum, the peaceful Japanese garden and the remarkable indoor rainforest climbing within the Palm House. No visit to London would be complete without a Secret Garden Tour of London, taking in a host of hidden gems tucked away in the bustling metropolis. As we stroll from garden to garden, our Blue Badge guide also reveals the layers of history to be found round every corner in one of London’s oldest neighborhoods.
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day 8
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Today we enjoy Members’ Day entry to the Royal Horticultural Society’s most sought-after event, the Chelsea Flower Show. Here we take an exclusive first look at the show, discover the finest in garden design, listen to expert advice and soak up the unique atmosphere of this world-famous floral extravaganza. We also indulge in a quintessentially British afternoon tea here.
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day 9
London
Explore the iconic sights of London at your leisure today. Later, we enjoy a farewell dinner together.
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day 10
Departure
A private transfer will take you back to Heathrow Airport for your return flight home.
Everything you need to know about the tour
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Night One – Macdonald Windsor Hotel, Windsor
The Macdonald Windsor Hotel is situated in the heart of the historic town of Windsor, opposite the famous Windsor Castle. The classic interiors, with a contemporary edge, fit perfectly with the Georgian elegance of this townhouse hotel. Featuring free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee-making facilities, the luxury bedrooms are individually-designed and the hotel also offers a stylish bar and restaurant.
Nights Two to Four – Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, East Sussex
The Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club is a quintessential English retreat nestled in the heart of the Ashdown Forest, an enchanting woodland that inspired A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories. This luxurious hotel and country club offers a harmonious blend of elegance and tranquility, set against the backdrop of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The hotel boasts luxury accommodation, fine dining and an array of leisure facilities including a spa and golf course plus extensive gardens and woodlands just waiting to be explored.
Nights Five to Eight – Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, London
Tucked away behind Hyde Park and Oxford Street in the sophisticated Marylebone area of the capital, the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill Hotel maintains a distinctly British charm. The hotel boasts two restaurants, an award-winning bar and al fresco terrace plus sophisticated en-suite rooms with HD TV, complimentary toiletries, robes, slippers, mini-fridge and tea and coffee-making facilities. Throughout the hotel, look out for design elements and features that subtly honor Sir Winston Churchill’s life.
Return airport transfers from London Heathrow*
*Supplement applies for transfers from all other airports and all other locations, including central London.
PLEASE NOTE!
Important UK Entry requirements
It is your responsibility to ensure you have a full passport and we recommend that it is valid for 6 months after the return date of your trip. Tourist visas are not required for US citizens visiting the UK however a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will now be required.
Apply for an ETA
Applications can done via a smartphone app – UK ETA app or online at Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This is a simple process, and decisions are usually communicated within 3 days. It remains your responsibility to ensure you have the correct travel documentation for your trip.
VACATION CANCELLATION BY YOU: If you want to cancel your booking after we have confirmed it with you either verbally, over the telephone or by email, you can do so over the phone or in writing. The following cancellation charges will apply:
More than 121 days prior to departure $1000
120 days or less before departure 100% of the program cost is non-refundable
If any member of your party is prevented from travelling, that person may transfer their place to someone else (introduced by you) providing we are notified no less than two weeks before departure.
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