GARDENS OF ENGLAND TOUR | couples • families • small groups

GARDENS OF ENGLAND
The very best of the 'green and pleasant land'

● Day-tour options from London in private vehicle with accredited driver-guide.
● Tailor-made for couples, families or small private groups (up to 7 persons).
● Pick-up/drop-off at any London hotel or residence. Typical timings: 09:00-18:00.
● Subject to openings & availability. Any admission fees payable on entry.
● Price (per car): 1-2 persons=£400.00; 3-4=£440.00; 5-7=£480.00. Admissions extra.

ITINERARY - CHOOSE ANY 3 FROM THE FOLLOWING 7 OPTIONS

Option 1) Thames Valley: Kew Gardens & Savill Gardens
Kew, the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens in south-west London opened in 1759. It contains 1/8 of all flowering species known on earth, and many rare trees and plants. There are 40 listed buildings such as the humid Palm House, built in 1888, which maintains a tropical rain-forest climate, and contains the world's oldest pot plant. Other highlights include the Temple of Arathusa, a Japanese bamboo house, and a tree-walk. Your guide will conduct you on a short walking tour, then you can take advantage of the land-train to see the full extent of the gardens.

Next, a visit to the world renowned 35-acre Savill Gardens. Owned by the Queen, and partially designed by Prince Philip. During the summer it is also possible to take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the gardens. Then we investigate Royal Windsor Great Park. Covering almost 5,000 acres and with a circumference of 14 miles, it is owned by the Royal Family. Discover little-known royal places such as Snow Hill, the Royal Lodge and Smithsfield. There's the Long Walk, with a spectacular view of the castle, and Home Park. Pop into the Windsor Farm shop here and indulge in some organic royal produce.
● Open daily. Entry fee payable. You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 2) Beds & Bucks: Wrest Park & Stowe
Stowe was built in the 18th century by the Temple family, the richest in the UK. No expense was spared on the property. The greatest gardeners and architects of the time worked on it, including John Vanbrugh, Robert Adam, William Kent, James Gibbs and Capability Brown. They created the most influential stately home and landscape gardens in the country. In fact, it was the first garden to have its own guide book for visitors (1744). By the 19th century, thanks in part to the money spent on Stowe, they became the UK's biggest debtors. In 1848, the creditors moved in, and in what was termed the 'sale of the century' the interior was emptied. However, the National Trust preservation society took over and restored Stowe, according to them: 'Britain’s largest work of art'.

Recently restored to former glory by the preservation society English Heritage, Wrest Park is one of Britain's largest and most important historical gardens. Part of a country estate located in the county of Bedfordshire, it comprises a Grade I listed French-style country mansion, parkland woodland and formal gardens. The present house was built in the 1830s and some rooms are open to the public. The landscape covers 90-acres with miles of pathways to help the visitor enjoy the features which include pavilions, canals, lakes, statues and fountains. The formal sections include Italian and rose gardens. The eastern part of the gardens contains a memorial column dedicated to Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, the great 18th century English landscape architect most responsible for the look and feel of Wrest Park.
● Mar-Oct: Wed-Sun; Nov-Feb: Sat & Sun. Entrance fee payable. You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 3) Kent & East Sussex: Great Dixter & Sissinghurst
Great Dixter was originally built in 1450, but in the 20th century it was knitted together with a 16th century house by designer Nathaniel Lloyd. It was the birthplace of his son, Country Life garden writer Christopher Lloyd, thus naturally boasts 57 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows.

Sissinghurst is a six-acre site described as the epitome of the English country garden. Brought in the 1930s by the controversial aristocratic writer Vita Sackville-West and her politician husband Harold Nicholson, it was turned into a designer playground, with ten garden rooms and an architectural layout. Also contains the largest herb garden in England. Timed entry tickets demonstrate its popularity with passionate gardeners.
● Open Mar-Oct: Fri-Tue. Entry fee payable. You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 4) Surrey & West Sussex: Wisley & Nymans
10 miles from Central London lies Wisley, Britain's best loved garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society. It’s a working garden with a diverse and unique collection. It is said ‘If it can grow at Wisley it can grow anywhere.’ Features include the Alpine Meadow, Arboretum, Bamboo Walk, Fruit Field, Model Gardens, Pinetum, Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Vegetable Garden, Vineyard and Tropical Glasshouse. If you love flowers and plants you cannot miss it.

Nymans Gardens is homely garden on a grand scale (12 hectares). It was built in Victorian times by a German family with advice from the foremost gardeners of the day. Despite the house burning down, the gardens carried on, with the burnt walls claimed by nature. It was one of the first gardens to be preserved by the National Trust in 1949.
● Open daily. Entry fee payable. You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 5) North Cotswolds: Hidcote, Kiftsgate, Sezincote
In close proximity to each other in the north Cotswolds are some unique gardens: Hidcote, one of England's most influential 20th-century gardens, Kiftsgate, the creation of three generations of women gardeners, which features the largest rose in England, and Sezincote, the extraordinary inspiration for Brighton Pavilion, with Indian gardens designed by Repton. If time, visit the ‘Chinese’ Wilson Memorial Garden at Chipping Campden.
● Variable openings. Check first. Hidcote Sat-Wed; Jul-Aug daily. Entrance fee payable. You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 6) South Cotswolds: Painswick, Westonbirt, Abbey House, Kelmscott
Choose two from the four alternatives here: a visit to the Rococo Gardens in the village of Painswick, known as the Queen of the Cotswolds; or for something a little more rugged, the beautiful Westonbirt Arboretum. Alternatively, visit the Abbey House Gardens – home of the famous ‘Naked Gardeners’. On Wednesdays and the first Saturdays of the month, there is also the option of Kelmscott, the home and gardens of Arts & Crafts guru William Morris.
● Variable openings. Check first. Entrance fee payable. You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 7) Wiltshire: Stourhead
A full day at this famous landscape garden. Near the Wiltshire village of Stourton where the River Stour rises sits one of the first Palladian manor houses in UK, but it is best known for its magnificently landscaped gardens. The designer Henry Flitcroft worked with nature for a basic structure, shifting rivers and lakes by hand, creating tree lined avenues, and using twists, turns and techniques which later inspired the most famous of landscape gardeners Capability Brown. Paths around the lakes are punctuated with repro temples, effecting an epic and dramatic English version of the Grand Tour. Inside the replica of the Pantheon temple, there is a statue of Hercules, with a body modelled on a local prize fighter hired by the sculptor. Stourhead is truly an Arcadian paradise. There is also an option to visit the nearby village of Shaftesbury.
● Open daily. Entry fee payable. You will be escorted personally on tour by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

ALL ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE. FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE.

PRICE OPTIONS:

GARDENS OF ENGLAND: PERSONALLY-GUIDED FULL DAY TOUR	PRICE (Full day 9 hours).
BY PRIVATE CAR (1-2 passengers)	£400.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (3-4 passengers)	£440.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (5-7 passengers)	£480.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.

HOW THE TOUR WORKS:

● Important note: 'Private tour' means a privately chartered guided tour. It does not entail exclusive private access. We do not offer tours to individuals wishing to join a larger group (for this you require a scheduled coach tour operator).

● The guide: Your tour will be conducted by a friendly qualified guide (or driver-guide for car tours) providing a knowledgeable commentary, and assisting with practical issues. Where venues offer in-house guides or audio devices, your guide will still escort you.

● Pick-up/drop-off: You can be picked-up for your tour anywhere in the London area, whether at your hotel, place of residence, or venue of your request. The same applies as a dropping-off point after the tour.

● Timings: The guide will meet you at the recommended start time or at a start time of your request. The duration of this tour is timed from pick-up to drop-off and includes built-in stops for photo opportunities, facilities, and a 1-hour lunch break.

● Lunch: An appropriate restaurant, traditional pub, or sandwich stop can be arranged for lunch (note: tour price does not include food or refreshments). Alternatively, you may want to bring a pre-packed lunch. The guide usually takes a rest during this period.

● Clothing: Clients should dress appropriately making allowances for the changeable British weather, outdoor activities or visiting churches, etc. Our main tip is to dress comfortably. For more tips to help make your tour even more enjoyable click here.

● Format: The tour has been specially researched and designed by our staff (copyright applies) and is exclusive to Your London Tours & associates. Selected elements of different tours can be combined to create even more options. See our Pick & Mix page.

● General: Rest assured with Your London Tours: All our tours are tailored to YOUR requirements. The guide will be exclusively dedicated to your family or group during the tour itself, so you will be able to relax and enjoy your day.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TOUR IN 3 EASY STEPS:

STEP 1: Send e-mail to tours@yourlondontours.com with the following information:
● Name or brief description of tour required.
● Date service required.
● Number of adults/children, age of children.
● Full address of hotel, place of residence or venue to be picked up from or met.
● Special interests or information to help us make your tour more enjoyable.
● Lead contact name and full billing address.
● Home phone number or cell phone number.

STEP 2: On receiving this information we will e-mail a reply confirming availability, price and payment procedure. If the tour is unavailable, eg, attractions are closed or we are fully booked, we will inform you or provide details of another operator.

STEP 3: If you are happy with your tour booking please make payment as directed.
Payments can take up to 48 hrs to process. On receiving payment, we will e-mail a tour confirmation and receipt. Please check details carefully and e-mail us with any queries.

BOOKING POLICY AND NOTES:
• Bookings are dealt with on a one-to-one basis via e-mail only.
• We do not accept bookings with less than 72 hours notice.
• To secure your preferred date we recommend booking well in advance.
• All tours subject to availability. Booking will not go ahead until availability is confirmed.
• Tour is not guaranteed to go ahead until 100% of payment is received.
• Administration fees may be added for extensive itineraries or supplementary guide hire.
• We do not arrange flights, accommodation, travel tickets or tickets for events.
• We do not usually pre-book tickets for attractions. We recommended these are paid
for at the gate on the day. In circumstances where pre-booking is the only option for
attractions, tickets must be paid for in advance and are non-refundable.

FOR ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE. FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE.

Vehicle spec:
Silver Mercedes-Benz Viano V6, seven-passenger luxury people carrier, high-spec interior trim with leather seats, armrests, headrests, air-conditioning, climate control, sound system, front and rear electric sunroof, sliding passenger doors, luggage space.

Driver-guide info:
Our driver-guides are smartly presented, knowledgeable and friendly. They are professionally qualified and drive fully insured private hire vehicles. They carry the 'Blue Badge' accreditation allowing them to conduct tours, walks and interior visits of the major London venues and many other attractions in the UK.