Classic British Gardens

On this tour we experience the modern horticultural creations of Britain’s oldest families. The gardens on this tour represent bold, imaginative people who appreciate heritage and ancient skills, and today are blending them with modern vision to create unique places that are beautiful and highly personal.

Tour highlights can include:

Prince Charles’ private estate at Highgrove
Britain’s first botanic gardens at Kew Palace and Oxford
Private dinner & cruise on Queen’s river boat
Cotswold gems Blenheim Palace Gardens & Rousham House
Tour of Duchesses’ London home and gardens at Syon House
Shopping in London’s Luxury Quarter, Bicester Village
London tour & Buckingham Palace

What's included...

Day 1 - Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace, Rousham House Gardens and Oxford Tour...

Blenheim Palace is a World Heritage Site and birthplace of Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. The grounds, equal to the palace in splendour, were landscaped by ‘Capability' Brown and spread over 2,000 acres including beautiful formal gardens. Our guided tour will bring this national treasure to life. Farther into the glorious Cotswold countryside we arrive at Rousham House, a private residence which has been in the same family since it was built in 1635. The gardens are a place of pilgrimage for students of William Kent, who designed gardens which have remained almost unchanged for nearly 400 years. We will take a private tour of the family home, not normally open to the public, as well as of the gardens. Returning to Oxford our local guide will take us on a walking tour including entrance to a University College. Later we will be guided around Britain’s first botanic gardens, founded in 1621 and containing the most compact, yet diverse, collection of plants in the World.

Day 2 - Highgrove Gardens and Bicester Village Shopping...

Highgrove is HRH Prince Charles' private estate and the Prince of Wales has devoted himself to transforming the gardens around the ancient house, in keeping with his belief that working with nature is better than working against it. At Highgrove we will visit one of the most creatively inspired gardens of our age. Taking a break from glorious gardens this afternoon, we travel to Bicester Village which is renowned for its tax free shopping.

Day 3 - London, Buckingham Palace and Syon House Gardens...

Arriving in London mid-morning we will take a driving tour of the city’s famous landmarks, before disembarking at Buckingham Palace for a tour of its impressive State Rooms. Next, on to Syon Park where the house and gardens are London’s last remaining private Ducal residence – the London home for the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. Our tour will include grounds landscaped by Capability Brown who was brought to London by the Duke himself.

The Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace

Day 4 - Kew Palace and Gardens, London’s Luxury Quarter and Queen’s River Boat...

The royal gardens at Kew changed the way the people looked at the natural world. Famous throughout the world and across the centuries, these gardens are wonderful to visit, especially in the company of an expert guide - as you will discover. This afternoon we take time for shopping in London’s Luxury Quarter, including an appointment at Fortnum & Mason, grocer to the Queen. There we will meet our personal shopper and take a traditional English Tea in rooms recently opened by the Duchess of Cambridge. Back to the hotel to dress for our private evening cruise along the Thames, including dinner and drinks on the Royal Barge of Queen Elizabeth II.