Frequently Asked Questions

To book a place on one of our scheduled tours, please complete our online booking form, link here: https://www.sisley.co.uk/booking-form/ . As soon as we receive your booking form, we will confirm availability on the tour of your choice and arrange collection of your deposit which secures your booking.

There are three ways to pay for your tour and you will be asked on the booking form which you prefer:

With our travel partner in North America: You can book your tour in USD$ or CAD$ by credit card or check with our partners at DHTour – a London and UK specialist travel agent who can assist with all aspects of your trip. Find out more about DHTour here.

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.

With your own travel agent: We are happy to work with your preferred travel agent. Just provide us with their contact details on the booking form and we will take care of the rest.

We have been offering small group garden tours to Britain’s finest gardens and beyond since 1992, so you’ll be in safe hands and can be assured of excellent service and care. The company was founded by the late Tony Sissons, a garden writer and plantsman and is now run by Tony’s daughter-in-law, Fran Pride and close family friend, Colette Walker. Colette and Fran are both registered Blue Badge Tourist Guides, keen travellers and garden enthusiasts. We have built up an in-depth knowledge of the gardens and places we visit, and have long-standing relationships with the garden owners, hotels and coach companies we work with. You can be assured that from the moment you join our tour, we’ll do our utmost to give you a wonderful and inspirational holiday experience.

We select the finest gardens and where possible, arrange private tours so you’ll meet the owners and see the gardens at their very best – without the crowds. But besides gardens and gardeners, we will see spectacular countryside, pretty villages and some fascinating historic houses and castles. We select high-end hotels where high levels of comfort and service is a priority. And by staying in a limited number of hotels for several nights, we avoid much packing and unpacking.  Each year, we are delighted to welcome back many repeat clients who travel with us year after year. 

Unlike a large coach company we can offer a truly personal experience exploring beautiful gardens and meeting head gardeners, volunteers and garden owners with a real passion for the gardens they tend. You will meet like-minded friends and enjoy the special attentions of a professional driver plus your own Sisley Tour Director who will impart their local knowledge and ensure you get the very best out of the gardens, historic houses and towns that we visit.

It is your responsibility to obtain any visas which might be necessary enabling you to join the tour. Please check with your home government website or the U.K. Government website to check visa requirements for entry into the UK.

Different visa arrangements are in place for tours running in France or Ireland.  Links to the relevant websites can be found here:  Ireland: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-visit-ireland/visit-ireland-travel-path/.  France: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/general-information

The U.K. and the E.U. are introducing new electronic travel authorisation systems (similar in nature to the US ESTA system).  These will be the United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system and the European Union’s European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).  The U.K. will be introducing the ETA system for those travelling to the U.K. in 2025.  You can find out more in the section below.

The United Kingdom is introducing a new Electronic Travel Authorisation system (ETA) system which will require all travellers to England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland to preregister for authorisation for entry before travelling to the U.K.  This system is designed to work like many other electronic pre-entry systems such as the US, ESTA system and will be in place before our 2025 garden tours take place.

The process to apply is simple. About a month before arriving in the UK, you will need to submit an online application and pay a fee of £10GBP  for each traveler, regardless of age. Once approved, you will be notified that the authorisation is now electronically linked to your passport. Most applications will be reviewed quickly — many within minutes, most within one day, and nearly all within three business days. But we would still recommend that you apply at least one month ahead of your arrival, just in case questions arise about your application.  Once authorised, the ETA lasts for 2 years.

You will need to upload the photo page of your passport as well as a photo of the person applying for the travel authorisation.

Detailed information on the implementation of the United Kingdom’s ETA system and a link to the application form can be found on the U.K. Government website here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta .  There is also an ETA App. available to download from the App Store or Google Play.

Please allow plenty of time before you travel to apply for your ETA.  Any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us, tours@sisley.co.uk .

For tours running in the EU (e.g. Ireland and France), the EU is introducing its own Electronic Authorisation system, the European Union’s European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).  A date for the implementation of this sytem is not yet set but you can read more about the EU’s planned systems here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/index_en .  If you are travelling to France or Ireland to join one of our tours, please check the relevant government websites for latest information.  Ireland: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-visit-ireland/visit-ireland-travel-path/.  France: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/general-information

Whilst our head office is in the UK, DHTour is our longstanding Travel Agent partner in North America who is able to assist with travel planning, tour bookings and travel arrangements to join our tours. They can accept payment in USD$ or CAD$.  An option to book the tour through them is included in our online booking form. 

We welcome clients from the U.K. and across the World – please email us at tours@sisley.co.uk with any enquiries.

We can accept payment by wire transfer (invoice with full details provided) or we can send you an electronic invoice from the PayPal system which enables you to pay securely online using your debit or credit card. You do not have to open a PayPal account to pay using this method. All direct tour payments are due in GBP£.

Not at all – whilst DHTour are U.K. & London specialists and happy to help with trip planning and bookings, if you have any questions about the tour or your plans to join us, we are always happy to hear from you. The best way to get in touch is via email: tours@sisley.co.uk but our full contact details are below:

Sisley Garden Tours Ltd,
Duncanne House, Roecliffe Lane, Boroughbridge
North Yorkshire, England, YO51 9LN
Telephone: +44(0)1423 396506 / +44(0)7988 447573
Email: tours@sisley.co.uk

A 10% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place(s) on the tour. Your tour balance payment is due 120 days prior to the tour departure.

We are delighted to design and operate bespoke tour itineraries for groups (minimum 12 people). Please contact us to discuss your bespoke tour requirements.

Yes, all tour gratuities are included. However if you go to a restaurant or cafe independently during the tour, it is common to leave a small gratuity if you have received good service (typically 10% on top of the bill).

Unless the tour itinerary specifically states that the tour starts at the airport, transfers are not included. Some tours start and end at an Heathrow Airport hotel, some start and end at a central London train station and others start at a central point relevant to the tour, e.g. the City of York for our Yorkshire & Lake District tour. The tour itinerary will clearly state where each tour starts and ends and in addition, each tour has detailed Tour Joining & Tour End Arrangements which can be found by following the link on the ‘Additional Information’ tab on the tour webpage. If you need any assistance with arrival or departure planning, please just ask.

Delicious breakfasts are included daily. Dinner and/or lunch is also included every day. Please check the specific tour itinerary to check which meals are included. Dinner times in the UK & Europe are likely to be 7.00pm at the earliest and often later in mainland Europe.

Air fares except where included in the itinerary; drinks, items of a personal nature; entrance fees when not included on our tour itinerary; guide books and other literature for sale at the gardens we visit; incidental expenses, such as telephone bills, newspapers, laundry and room service incurred at the hotels is the responsibility of the individual client. All expenses are to be settled at check-out.

All entries to the gardens and flower shows set out in the tour itinerary are included in the tour price. In addition, we include entrance fees to historic houses that form part of our itinerary when they are open to the public and a number of garden talks/ tours by head gardeners and garden owners.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all clients joining a Sisley Garden Tour. Your travel insurance policy must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency medical repatriation. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, trip curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects, and that it is purchased at the time of booking.

The details of such insurance (including travel insurance policy number and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number) must be provided as part of the pre-tour information form that we ask all clients to complete around 6 weeks in advance of the tour; you will not be able to join the tour without these details. If you have travel insurance connected to your credit card or bank account, please ensure you have the policy number and emergency contact number rather than just the bank’s name and credit card details.

NB: travel insurance is not mandatory if you are resident in the country where the tour is taking place, however we would always recommend cancellation cover.

If a tour is running but you have to cancel, through illness or any other reason, you would be due a refund of your tour costs in line with our standard Terms & Conditions. So, if you cancelled more than 120 days before the tour, you would forego your deposit but be refunded everything else. Between 119-60 days, loss of 50% of your tour cost, and 59 days and less before departure – 100% cancellation penalty. We regret that if the tour is running we are liable for payments in advance to our suppliers (eg hotels, flower show tickets etc.) which we cannot recover if a client cancels due to their personal circumstances. If we are able to re-sell your place, we would be happy to refund you. We strongly recommend that you take out cancellation insurance as part of your travel insurance policy when booking your tour.

Our aim is for every client to fully enjoy the gardens, historic houses and towns we visit. Therefore, all clients must be fit and able enough to fully participate. Our tours are active in nature and, to make the most of our time, the itinerary is busy with visits every day. As such, they require a good level of mobility, physical and mental fitness, and stamina. Expect to be on your feet for much of the day – walking/standing whilst participating in guided tours or exploring towns and villages. Visits are mainly outdoors with some indoor visits, and they will take place in all weather conditions. In addition, many gardens include uneven ground, steps and rough paths. With two or three different destinations each day, you will be frequently negotiating the steps on and off the coach. Where tours include travel by train, you will be required to manage your own luggage on and off the train and through the stations at either end.

Whilst our primary aim is to look after all our client’s needs, we must ensure that the particular needs of individuals do not adversely affect the experience of other group members. As such we ask all clients joining our tours to confirm, as part of their booking, that they are fit enough to fully participate.

The nature of exploring the gardens and historic towns we visit means there is a reasonable amount of walking involved in our daily itineraries (see FAQ section on fitness).  If you are generally fit, but concerned about steps and uneven ground, you may wish to consider bringing a hiking stick/pole to aid balance and some clients have brought folding stick seats in the past to lean on during garden tours. Sturdy/ supportive shoes are strongly recommended. Please note: if you have a mobility problem or concern, you may not find our tours suitable. Please contact us if you have any doubts.

If your health problem is minor and you can self-manage it without additional care or special facilities, then we should be able to accommodate you. Again, it is best to check. Whilst our primary aim as tour directors is to look after all our client’s needs, we must ensure that particular needs of individuals do not adversely affect the experience of other group members.

We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, but you must ensure that they are made clear to us at the time of booking so we can share the information with the hotels and restaurants.

It is no longer mandatory to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before joining our tours. If Government guidance changes, we will update our policy.

We use all 4 and 5 star Hotels ranging from modern custom-built hotels to historic country houses. All our hotels are chosen for their excellent levels of comfort and service and their location to minimise travel time to our tour destinations.

All rooms are ensuite and many hotels have leisure facilities. Some of our favourite hotels are located in fascinating and beautiful historic buildings and for this reason, rooms are often different shapes and sizes and the layout of the hotel may be ‘unusual’.

Not all hotels have air-conditioning or lifts to every floor. Please ask if you would like more information about a specific hotel.

Our main aim is to give you a relaxing, fun and informative tour experience and the trials of multiple hotel changes is one of our ‘pet hates’. We rarely use more than two hotels during a tour and sometimes base 5-night tours at one beautiful hotel, chosen for its location, service and comfort.

An important point to note when you are booking is that we need to know whether you want a twin room (two single-sized beds in a room) or a double room (one standard-sized bed for two people).

Many of our hotels do not offer triple availability but please ask and we will confirm availability for the tour you are interested in.

All hotel rooms are private ensuite. In Europe, bathroom facilities can vary and you may find that some rooms will have a bath/tub, some showers, some both.  Many hotels in the U.K. feature showers over baths/tubs. 

We do not ‘match up’ single travellers but if you are keen to find a room share, we will let our Travel Agents know and if both parties agree, put you in touch with any other single travellers with the same request. All hotels charge per room which makes solo occupancy more expensive than sharing. As a solo traveler, you will be allocated a double room with a large bed, sized to accommodate two people.

We include porterage wherever possible in the hotels. There are no porters available at British train stations so if your tour includes a train journey, you will be responsible for managing your own luggage on and off the train.

Historically, the U.K. has benefitted from a temperate climate with few extremes of temperature. All hotels benefit from central heating, but many do not have air conditioning (a/c) systems.  Often, hotels are located in historic and listed buildings or in conservation areas where the retro-fitting of a/c units would not be permitted. Where air cooling systems are in place, they may not be as powerful or efficient as the ones you have at home.

We do our very best to select hotels that offer the greatest comfort to our clients including great service, location minimising drive times to gardens, good food and room facilities including a/c. However, there are times when suitable hotels with a/c are just not available in the area in which we are touring. If this is something that impacts your choice of tour please speak to us and we can give you exact information on the tour you are interested in.

Yes, if rooms are available we will be happy to arrange extra nights for you. Please let us know at the time of your booking and we will confirm availability and prices. Many clients from overseas find it beneficial to arrive in the days before the tour, so that they are fully rested for the tour start.

Our clients are come from all over the world with many joining us from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe. Most are English-speaking and all our tour commentaries are in English. Our tours appeal to a wide variety of individuals but all with a common love of beautiful gardens. All have a desire to explore the finest gardens and historic houses in small groups of like-minded colleagues with the expert guidance of a Sisley Tour Director. Tours are run in a relaxed manner with our sole aim to provide you with a wonderful holiday experience. We hope our clients join us as much-valued guests and leave us as friends.

Our tour groups vary in size and are typically around 18-20 passengers – usually no more than 22.  Unlike a large coach company, we can offer a truly personal experience.

We use all 4 and 5 star Hotels ranging from modern custom-built hotels to historic country houses. All our hotels are chosen for their excellent levels of comfort and service and their location to minimise travel time to our tour destinations. All rooms are ensuite and many hotels have leisure facilities. Some of our favourite hotels are located in fascinating and beautiful historic buildings and for this reason, rooms are often different shapes and sizes and the layout of the hotel may be ‘unusual’. Not all hotels have air-conditioning or lifts to every floor. Please ask if you would like more information about a specific hotel.

Luggage is restricted to 1 x checked airline style suitcase weighing no more than 23kgs please plus 1 x day-pack/ hand luggage per person.

Where train travel is included at the start and/or end of a tour, you will need to be able to manage your own luggage on and off the train and there may be specific luggage size restrictions. See detailed tour itineraries for more information. 

We include porterage wherever possible in the hotels. There are no porters available at British train stations so if your tour includes a train journey, you will be responsible for managing your own luggage on and off the train.

We design tours so that there is as little wasted time as possible on the bus and plenty to see while aboard. Inevitably, there are days when travelling between locations may involve motorway driving and more mileage. We do travel along scenic routes wherever possible and you will see more of the countryside and local village life than on a regular tour.

Days can sometimes be fairly long, but we aim to take things at a relaxed pace and build in time for rest and relaxation in the day. We might typically leave at 9am and arrive back at our hotel at 5pm, however, some days may be longer and others shorter depending on what needs to be covered that day.

Sisley Garden Tours has a number of established partnerships with professional coach operators who provide both a professional driver and deluxe midi-coach for our tours. We like to use local companies with excellent local knowledge and the coaches we use are chosen for their comfort and sized appropriately for the tour group size.

Luggage is stored in a rear compartment and our coaches benefit from air conditioning and a PA system. Some have USB charging points. WC/bathroom facilities are not generally available on the coach, but we make regular comfort stops. We choose mid-sized vehicles in order to be able to access private gardens which are often located down small country lanes. Unfortunately WCs are usually only available on much larger vehicles.

Day wear is informal and we would recommend layers for variable temperatures, a lightweight waterproof/windproof jacket and sturdy and supportive footwear. If you have concerns about the many steps, uneven ground and rough paths we will be encountering in the gardens you may wish to bring a hiking pole/ stick to assist you or even a folding stick-seat to lean on during guided tours. We do spend much of the day outside so a folding umbrella in the case of rain is often useful and a small daypack to store an umbrella, layers, a coat etc. is a sensible addition. A refillable water bottle will be provided as part of your welcome pack. In the evening we suggest ‘smart casual’. Gentlemen are not required to wear jackets or tie.