Amazing garden designs, gorgeous floral displays and exclusive shopping
A private garden designed by the owners over the last 40 years, noted for its national collection of Walnuts (Juglans) and Pterocarya.
“This place is a jungle of beauty,” wrote Vita Sackville-West and it is still true today.
Traditional Cotswolds elements and contemporary areas such as the Cosmic Evolution garden, Fibonacci’s walk, and Pico Mound in the new perennial style.
While firmly anchored in tradition, this garden is full of quirky surprises.
We meet at the Sofitel Airport Hotel at Heathrow, a convenient place to stay and get over jet lag if you fly in the day before. On our way to the Cotswolds, we visit Rousham, designed by William Kent in the 18th Century and pretty much untouched since then as it is still in the same family.
Considered one of the most important gardens in England, we enjoy a private tour of the gardens.
Our second garden today is the iconic Kiftsgate Court in Chipping Camden, designed and tended by three generations of women.
We enjoy lunch at the tearoom before exploring the garden on our own. We check in to our hotel for two nights.
Having settled in, we gather for welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Our first garden today is known as “the hidden garden of the Cotswolds”, this private garden was designed by the owners over the last 40 years.
It is particularly noted for its wide variety of plants including the national collection of Walnuts (Juglans) and Pterocarya.
We are welcomed by the owners who will give us a tour before lunch in the barn.
Our second garden of the day is described by Gardens Illustrated as “A triumphant English garden on a grand scale, with majestic topiary and exuberant planting”.
We visit with the head gardener.
This evening is at leisure.
We’ll be back at the hotel in time for you to enjoy the town.
You can dine at the hotel or choose a local eatery (a list will be provided).
This morning we say goodbye to our hotel in the North Cotwolds.
Before heading south, we visit another iconic garden in the area, Hidcote Manor.
Created by American designer and horticulturalist Lawrence Johnston (1918-2011), the gardens at Hidcote established the fashion for garden rooms, here embellished by borders packed with unusual plants.
“This place is a jungle of beauty,” wrote Vita Sackville-West and it is still true today.
In the afternoon we visit a private garden designed by a hematologist turned landscape designer. Blending science and garden design, this is an experimental garden, featuring traditional Cotswolds elements such as yew topiary and dry stone walls but also contemporary areas such as the Cosmic Evolution garden, Fibonacci’s walk, and Pico Mound in the new perennial style.
Dinner this evening is at our hotel.
Today we visit two private gardens open by appointment only.
The first was created by the owners over the past thirty years around a typical Cotwolds manor.
While firmly anchored in tradition, this garden is full of quirky surprises, not least through the interplay of art and perspective.
Our second garden has mature hedging and clouds of roses and clematis spilling over ancient stone walls.
What could be a sleepy overgrown garden is not that at all: it is vibrant with fresh, imaginative borders, all under the benevolent shade or mature specimen trees.
In both places we are welcomed by the owners who show us around.
Dinner this evening is at the hotel.
Today we leave the Cotwolds and cross through Wiltshire on our way to London.
We stop by two private gardens.
The first is the recent creation of a plantswoman, passionate about both plants and conservation.
Articulated around a series of rooms, the place is at once formal and relaxed, a wonderful place to be in sync with nature and recharge.
The second is a more formal affair.
Set around an imposing Queen Anne brick house, the garden is an elegant blend between a traditional English formal garden with borders, tall shade trees, an orchard and a walled garden and a sculpture park showcasing remarkable contemporary sculptures.
We reach London in the early evening.
We gather for a light dinner.
We depart early morning to reach Chelsea at 8:00am when the doors to the Chelsea Flower Show first open.
This way we can enjoy the horticultural displays in the Great Pavilion before the crowds.
You are free to enjoy the fair at your own pace, admiring the show gardens, large and small, gaining inspiration and design ideas from the renowned designers who contributed to this year’s show.
After a full day at the fair, we go back to our hotel.
We bid each other farewell with a traditional English high tea at one of London’s iconic addresses.
The most common questions I get about the tours. If you have any further questions, send me a message here.
No, you don’t need to be a professional gardener.
The tours are designed for anyone who enjoys gardens and the natural world.
My travelers range from expert horticulturists to passionate amateurs, all of whom love discovering a country through its gardens.
Yes! Most tours include two or three free evenings on a week-long itinerary. This gives you time to explore local restaurants, enjoy a spa or massage, order room service, or simply relax at a café or hotel bar. Group dinners are lovely, but having personal time ensures the experience remains enjoyable and balanced.
You can contact me directly to book by clicking on the “Taking bookings. Enquire here” button on the tour page or via the contact page here.
If the tour is SOLD OUT, you can be put on the waiting list to receive information about the next tour here.
If you need personal assistance or have questions before booking, you’re always welcome to get in touch with me directly also.
Cancellations made up to four months before the tour receive a full refund of your deposit, minus a small administrative fee.
After that, cancellations are only possible if you find someone to take your place.
The ideal time depends on the destination, but as a general rule, spring and early autumn offer the most vibrant blooms and comfortable weather.
This is indicated in the summary information at the top of each tour page.
Specific gardens may have peak times for flowering or seasonal displays, which I consider when planning each tour.
Tours involve walking through gardens, which can include stairs, slopes, and uneven paths.
You should be able to walk at least a mile comfortably and manage steps.
Read my blog post for more information: How fit do I need to be for a garden tour?
Groups are intentionally small and intimate, with a maximum of 15 people.
This allows for a personal, immersive experience and easy conversation with fellow travelers.
Just let me know in advance, and I will ensure that the restaurants we visit accommodate your dietary needs.
Breakfast is included on all tours.
Lunch is usually a light meal to refuel after morning visits and give you energy for the afternoon.
Occasionally, we may enjoy a more elaborate lunch depending on the country or location.
Dinners are relaxed and carefully planned to showcase local cuisine and provide a memorable dining experience.
Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a hat for sun protection, and a camera or notebook if you like to record your impressions.
A more detailed list will be sent a couple of months before the tour dates.
Read my blog post for more information: Ten tips on what to pack for a garden trip.
All tours include private, comfortable transportation between gardens and accommodations, so you can relax and enjoy the journey without worrying about logistics.
Often transfers between to and from the airport may also be arranged.
Airfare to the destination is not included.
