Hidden Gardens of Eastern England with Sandringham Flower Show 

After our morning pick up at Heathrow Airport, we head north to our first hotel, the charming 4-star Titchwell Manor Hotel, on the North Norfolk Coast.

En-route we visit a delightful private garden which surrounds an idyllic thatched cottage where we meet the owner, a skilled and knowledgeable plantswoman and enjoy a guided garden tour and lunch (included).

We check into the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner in the hotel (included).

Monday 6th July

Today we take a scenic rural drive across Norfolk to East Ruston Old Vicarage. This beautiful, 32-acre masterpiece of garden rooms has herbaceous borders, gravel gardens, sub-tropical gardens, a sunken rose garden, a desert wash and a large woodland garden. We visit when the garden is closed to the public and will be joined by the owner for a tour with lunch (included).

In the afternoon we stop off at Holt for some free time in this historic market town before returning to the hotel where your evening and dinner is at leisure (independent).

Tuesday 7th July

Today we spend the day at the Royal Horticultural Society’s newest addition, the RHS Sandringham Flower Show. Located within the grounds of His Majesty’s residence at Sandringham House, this show promises all the highlights of an RHS Show including show gardens, expert growers and excellent shopping. There will be time for lunch (independent) and to soak up the festival atmosphere.

We return to the hotel for dinner (included).

Wednesday 8th July

This morning we are treated to a tour of the incredible private walled garden at Houghton Hall, one of the region’s most impressive stately homes constructed in the 1720s for Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and now the residence of the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley. We enjoy a tour of the walled garden and house followed by lunch (included).

In the afternoon we visit a private garden surrounding a delightful old Grange which showcases how colour, shape and form can be created by the use of foliage plants, from large shrubs to small alpines.

We return to the hotel stopping en route at a country pub for dinner (included).

Thursday 9th July

After checking out of the hotel, we head south to Suffolk. En route we stop at the 18th century Palladian-style Holkham Hall, home of the Earl of Leicester to visit the 6-acre walled garden which was originally laid out by Samuel Wyatt during the late 1700s and has recently undergone extensive restoration.

We continue to Wyken Hall Garden, a garden divided into rooms which surround the Elizabethan manor house, all set in lovely countryside and the Wyken vineyard. We enjoy lunch (included) in the restaurant before exploring the garden.

We arrive in historic Lavenham in the late afternoon and check into the 4-star Swan Hotel. Your evening and dinner is at leisure (independent).

Friday 10th July

Today we visit the spectacular Grade 1 listed gardens of the Tollemache family and learn about their 500 year history at the moated Helmingham Hall. We have an exclusive tour of the magnificent gardens which are surrounded by historic parkland.

We then return to Lavenham where there is time for lunch (independent) and a walking tour around the village, considered to be Britain’s best preserved medieval settlement. Dinner is in the hotel’s restaurant (included).

Saturday 11th July

Today we begin with a visit to the home of Beth Chatto OBE, who was an award-winning plantswoman, author and lecturer. After a talk about the gardens which highlight sustainable gardening through diverse environments like the Gravel Garden which thrives without irrigation, there is time to explore and have lunch in the garden cafe (independent).

In the afternoon we visit The Old Vicarage, private home of garden designer, Jeremy Allen. With interesting design and wonderful late summer planting, we will be taken on a tour by Jeremy before returning to the hotel for our final night dinner together (included) in the hotel’s medieval Wool Hall.

Sunday 12th July

After checking out of the hotel our final visit is to RHS Hyde Hall garden, famed for its expertise in gardening in dry conditions. Its diverse landscapes are packed with dramatic colour and texture. We have a tour of the garden followed by a private lunch (included).

In the late afternoon we drop off at the Sheraton Heathrow Hotel and Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 for inter-terminal transport links and the Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line trains into London.

Note: This tour includes one year’s individual membership of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Some garden visits await final confirmation at the time of publication.

Please read our Tour Joining and Departure Arrangements information sheet here. To download a printable version of the itinerary, click here.

Titchwell Manor, North Norfolk (4 nights)

Titchwell Manor is an attractive boutique 28-bedroom country retreat offering relaxed fine dining. The Victorian farmhouse has recently been restored and offers bright airy bedrooms, an excellent restaurant, pretty garden with seating and warm welcome. It is perfectly located for exploring the nearby gardens and coastline.

The Swan Hotel, Lavenham (3 nights)

Set within the charming and historic medieval village of Lavenham, this luxury 4-star hotel has an oak beamed interior giving it a cosy feel and a sense of stepping back in time. The rooms are comfortably furnished and the hotel has a bar, two restaurants, a spa and garden and a very comfy lounge.

PRICES INCLUDE:

• 7 nights’ accommodation at 4-star hotels with en-suite facilities.
• Breakfast daily, 5 lunches and 5 dinners.
• All garden visits including tours with garden owners and head gardeners.
• One year’s membership of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
• RHS Sandringham Flower Show.
• All tour gratuities (driver, tour director and hotels).
• Deluxe coach travel with professional driver.
• An information pack with detailed booklet 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 120 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.

To book your place(s) please complete our online booking form at www.sisley.co.uk/booking-form/ or click the BOOK NOW button below. As soon as we receive your booking form, we will confirm availability on the tour of your choice and arrange collection of your 10% deposit which secures your booking.

HOW TO PAY

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 via secure online payment link.

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.

TRAVEL INSURANCE AND BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

It is mandatory for all overseas visitors to the UK to have travel insurance before joining our tours. Full details of our booking terms & conditions can be found at www.sisley.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section on our website for further information www.sisley.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

We very much look forward to welcoming you, but please email tours@sisley.co.uk if you have any queries.