Great Houses and Gardens of Yorkshire & the Lake District – this tour is now FULLY BOOKED. If you would like to join a waiting list for this tour please email us on tours@sisley.co.uk
Saturday 2nd – Saturday 9th September 2023 (7 nights)
This delightful, late season tour takes in some of the very finest country houses and gardens of Yorkshire and the Lake District. We’ll explore York, one of England’s greatest historic cities and travel through the spectacular landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks visiting iconic stately homes and hidden, private gardens.
- Private garden tours at Littlethorpe Manor and Levens Hall
- Private interior tours of Castle Howard (Bridgerton and Brideshead Revisited filming location) and Newby Hall
- A day of private gardens in the stunning Howardian Hills with time to explore the picturesque market town of Helmsley
- Walking tour of York, medieval capital of the North and a visit to the mighty York Minster
- RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr
- Private Lake Cruise on Windermere
- Visit to Beatrix Potter’s home
- Stunning scenery of two National Parks
- The Dan Pearson garden at Lowther Castle and Piet Oudolf’s masterpiece at Scampston Walled Garden
Photo credits: Images courtesy of Littlethorpe Manor, Lowther Castle and D Liss; Harlow Carr copyright RHS.
Our tour starts in the early afternoon at our base for the first four nights of the tour, the 5-star Grand Hotel, in the heart of the historic city of York. From here we’ll take a walking tour of York. We will explore medieval streets, the ‘Shambles’, city walls and visit the mighty York Minster. Dinner in the hotel (included).
Sunday 3rd September
Today we begin at one of the most recognised and loved of Britain’s stately homes, Castle Howard – home to the Howard family and made famous by its central role in the filming of Brideshead Revisited, and more recently, Bridgerton. We’ll be treated to a pre-opening tour of the house, followed by free time to explore the gardens.
After lunch (independent) we’ll discover one of Yorkshire’s newest and most interesting gardens, Scampston Walled Garden. It a contemporary master-piece of the renowned Dutch designer, Piet Oudolf. We return to York and enjoy dinner (included) in the hotel.
Monday 4th September
We begin our day with a visit to Newby Hall, a delightful Queen Anne-style house with award-winning gardens, and home to one of the world’s finest dolls house collections. Here we’ll enjoy a private guided tour of the house before enjoying a traditional English Afternoon Tea in the private Orangery (included).
In the afternoon, we visit one of Yorkshire’s finest private gardens, Littlethorpe Manor. The head gardener will take us on a tour of the garden, which recently enjoyed a major extension, and now boats a stunning apothecaries garden. Your evening is at leisure in York.
Tuesday 5th September
Our first garden today is located within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This private garden has been developed since 2009 and features 12 distinct garden rooms with exceptional plant combinations. We take a tour with the owner, then make our way to the handsome market town of Helmsley, where there is free time for lunch (independent).
In the afternoon we visit a second stunning private garden that was designed by Tom Stuart-Smith and incorporates a vast, productive walled garden, stepped parterres and a deep gorge woodland garden. We enjoy dinner in a local country pub (included).
Wednesday 6th September
Checking out of our York hotel, we head west and stop at the Royal Horticultural Society’s northern home, Harlow Carr. There is time to explore these fabulous gardens and the excellent shop. We then travel through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with it’s ancient dry-stone walls, big skies and breath-taking scenery. We stop off for lunch (included) at the Craven Arms – a rather special Yorkshire Dales pub complete with medieval designed cruck barn. Afterwards, we visit the nearby Parcevall Hall, an historic hall (now a retreat) hidden in a dale, which reveals a delightful Arts & Crafts style garden and unique bedrock limestone rock garden.
In the afternoon, we travel onwards to the Lake District, one of the finest corners of England, full of superlatives – England’s largest National Park, largest lake and highest mountain, the most wonderful views and home to some of our most celebrated poets and authors. We check into our 4-star Lakeside Hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere for the final three nights of our tour. Dinner at the hotel (included).
Thursday 7th September
We begin the day with a visit the Elizabethan Levens Hall with its unique and ancient collection of topiary figures under-planted with over 30,000 seasonal flowers. The gardens were laid out in the 1690’s and have changed little since. We will enjoy access to the Hall and a guided tour of the gardens with the head gardener and have time for lunch (independent).
Later we head to Holker Hall, the home of Lord and Lady Cavendish – great garden enthusiasts. We enjoy a tour of the magnificent Jacobean stately home, set in exceptionally beautiful countryside with gardens that merge into parkland framed by the lakeland hills. This evening we have dinner in the hotel (included).
Friday 8th September
Today, we begin with a a private lake cruise from our hotel to Bowness-on-Windermere. We continue through the Lake District National Park and make a in Grasmere, home of William Wordsworth and the famous gingerbread shop. We continue onto Lowther Castle, an intriguing contemporary garden, designed by Dan Pearson and set within the dramatic ruins of the castle. Here we have lunch (included) in the Sculpture Gallery followed by a tour of the gardens.
In the afternoon we take a scenic drive back to the hotel for dinner (included).
Saturday 9th September
Our final day takes us back to York. Before leaving the Lake District, we make a visit to Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter, author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist, best known for her Tales of Peter Rabbit. The cottage feels as if Beatrix has just stepped out into the surrounding countryside that she loved so well. We have lunch (included) on our return journey to York, arriving late-afternoon for independent onward travel.
NOTE: Our tour starts and ends in the city of York. We can assist with travel planning. This tour can be combined with our Scotland tour to create a fascinating 2 weeks exploring.
Please read our Tour Joining and Departure Arrangements information sheet here. To download a printable version of this itinerary, please click here.
Our hotels are 4-star and 5-star and are selected for their high standards of comfort and service. All rooms are ensuite and offer free wifi access.
The Grand was once the HQ of the North Eastern Railway Company, one of the wealthiest businesses of the Edwardian era. Now reborn as a 5-star hotel and retaining its original splendour, The Grand, York features beautiful public spaces, spacious rooms, two restaurants and bars, and a delightful spa. The hotel sits within the city’s historic walls and ideally located to enjoy the many restaurants, shops and museums on its doorstep.
This luxurious 4-star hideaway is located in the heart of the English Lake District on the shores of Windermere. With restful bedrooms, delicious fine dining inspired by fresh local produce, beautiful gardens and indulgent spa, Lakeside is the perfect place to relax and soak up the atmosphere and views from its terraces and conservatory.
| Tour cost per person (sharing twin or double room) | Single supplement (for single occupancy of a double room) |
| £4,000 (GBP) | £560 (GBP) |
PRICES INCLUDE:
- 7 nights’ accommodation at 4 and 5-star hotels with en-suite facilities.
- Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 6 dinners.
- All garden visits including tours with garden owners and head gardeners.
- All tour gratuities (driver, tour director and hotels).
- Deluxe coach travel with professional driver.
- Gift information pack with detailed information about the gardens we will be visiting.
- Services of your Sisley tour director throughout
PRICES EXCLUDE:
- Airfares.
- Passport and/or visa fees if applicable.
- Meals not included in the tour, drinks, laundry, and telephone calls.
TOUR PAYMENT: A 10% non-refundable deposit is requested at the time of booking to secure your place on the tour. Your tour balance payment is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION:You can get an idea of the cost of the tour in your local currency by using a currency converter. Conversion rates are based on institutional or inter-bank daily rates. Retail conversion rates include fees and will generally differ from these rates.
You can book and pay for your tour in three ways:
With your own travel agent: You can book a Sisley Garden Tour in your local currency through your own travel agent. Just provide us with their contact details in your booking form and we will take care of the rest.
With our travel partner in the USA: After 20 happy years of partnership, Worldwide Traveler has retired as our US travel partner. We are currently seeking to appoint a new representative to work with in the US. Please contact us for details.
With Sisley Garden Tours: All clients are welcome to book a tour directly with us. We can accept payment in GBP£ by bank transfer or by credit/ debit card.
Book nowFull details of our booking Terms & Conditions can be found at here. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section for further information.
We very much look forward to welcoming you, but please email tours@sisley.co.uk if you have any queries.
