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with optional Cotswolds tour extension
With a Royal Palace as a backdrop, The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is a gardening paradise combining inspiration, innovation, quality and creativity. Featuring a spectacular collection of show gardens, horticultural exhibitors and gardening accessories. Meander through a wondrous landscape in the grand setting and draw inspiration from a multitude of beautiful and accessible ideas demonstrating how to make the most of outdoor living.
At the heart of the show will be the 50 awe inspiring show gardens incorporating Water Gardens, Conceptual Gardens and Inspiring Spaces and the ever popular Country Living Pavillion returns, showcasing the best of British food, art, crafts and furniture. The worlds largest annual flower show is the perfect setting for you to relax and unwind, with ideas to enhance your garden guaranteed. Read on for the complete day-to-day itnerary.
~ Afternoon or evening departure on British Airways from your nearest gateway to London, England. D,B (in flight)
~ Arrive London and meet your Huron Tours guide who will be with you the entire tour. Transfer by private motorcoach to your four-star hotel in the prestigious South Kensington area of London. Prior to hotel arrival, we’ll enjoy a visit to the world-renowned Queen Mary’s Rose Garden. With more than 30,000 roses of 400 different varieties, it is one of the greatest collections of roses in existence. Afterward, the afternoon is free to enjoy as you like. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a cocktail reception and welcome dinner in the Regency hotel. D
~ After enjoying the large breakfast buffet at the hotel, we depart for two wonderful visits. Just one hour south of London is Wisley, the Royal Horticultural Society's most famous garden (and largest gift shop!). Wisley is always top-rated by all our travelers and you will see why. Then, in a private event exclusively for Huron Tours Travel members, we'll enjoy some tea and snacks. While at tea we will review the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show program guide and maps, discuss the best way to enjoy the show and answer any questions you may have regarding the world’s largest flower show. B,T
~ The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show opens at 10:00 a.m. and you will be there when the gates open! You'll be personally escorted to the Show's front gates to enjoy Member's Only Day. B
~ The morning is free for you to relax* before our afternoon private London City tour. We'll see the highlights and learn about the history as we enjoy views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Hyde Park, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the shopping arcades along Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul's Cathedral.
*Or consider our optional full-day outing to some of London’s Premier Private Gardens and a visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden and Museum of Garden History, only $99 per person (If you include this option you will miss the London City Tour.)
We’ll return to London in time for our special evening in London’s famous theatre district that includes a lovely pre-theater dinner followed by a very exciting and fun show. B,D
~ A completely free day to enjoy London and its many museums, shops, parks, and historic attractions. Spend some time exploring the city on your own, visit the world-renowned British Museum, with archaeological collections from all over the world. London's best known street market, Portobello Road, is a short taxi ride away and the famous Victoria & Albert Museum is just around the corner. Enjoy Covent Garden opera singers and street performers and if you would like to see another show, you have plenty of time to catch a matinee performance (we’ll help you find the best tickets available). For our last night together we'll enjoy our outstanding Farewell Dinner Cruise on the River Thames! B,D
~ Sadly we must bid farewell to England and its wonderful treasures and transfer to the airport for our return flight, arriving home the same day. B,L
Or, stay on for our optional Cotswolds extenstion, see itinerary below.
• Membership in the Royal Horticultural Society (one per family)
• Full-day Member's Only Day ticket to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
• Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Guide
• Admission to: Queen Mary’s Rose Garden and RHS Wisley Garden
• Meet & greet service at London’s airports (only with HTT air)
• Private deluxe motorcoach transportation
• 5 nights hotel (first-class)
• All hotel taxes
• Guided London city tour
• Many meals, including daily breakfast, Welcome reception, Pre-Theatre dinner and elegant farewell dinner cruise
• Private tea/snacks
• Theatre ticket to one of London’s most popular shows
• Some free time in London
• Huron Tours & Travel escort
• Round-trip international airfare on British Airways
• Optional later return from London for only $100 per person
• Outstanding local guides
• MANY MORE INCLUSIONS!
is priced at , double occupancy.
• Per person, double occupancy, Includes airfare from JFK, Newark, Boston, Philadelphia and Dulles
• Fly from Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas for an additional $200 per person.
• Fly from Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles for an additional $150 per person.
• A $1,000 per person deposit will hold your place. If you are using the included air your deposit is non-refundable.
• If you do not need airfare a $400 discount will apply at final payment.
• Optional travel insurance is advised, only $235 per person.
• Air taxes are additional, (approximately $390).
We can help you make flight arrangements, but if you prefer to book air on your own, please consult with us for appropriate flight times.
To reserve, or for any questions, contact Katie Kosta or Melissa Becker at Huron Tours & Travel, 800.734.1192 or 504.267.2057 or email@hurontoursandtravel.com.
Space is limited so don't delay!
After breakfast, depart your London hotel with Huron Tours’ private motorcoach, Blue-Badge Guide and escort. We’ll spend the next five days in the “Heart of England” exploring the small towns and villages that make up this breathtaking region. Enroute to our hotel we will make a brief photo stop in the historic city of Oxford, the home of Oxford University, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Afterward, we’ll make our way to Blenheim Palace and Gardens, named the 2008 Garden of the Year by Christie’s and the Historic House Association.
Set in 2100 acres of beautiful parkland, Blenheim Palace was built for the first Duke of Marlborough and is the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The vast mansion is a unique example of English Baroque Architecture and one of England’s largest houses. The gardens, landscaped by the famous landscape architect , Capability Brown, offer quite the variety! From the beauty and tranquility of the formal and rose gardens to the charm of the Arboretum, there is something to suit every taste at Blenheim. The Secret garden is one of the most popular attractions for plant lovers as it is a garden for all seasons combining mature trees with new plantings.
From Blenheim Palace it is a short drive to the spa town of Cheltenham and The Queen’s Hotel, our home base for the next five nights. The village of Cheltenham, known as ‘The Garden Town of England,’ is home to many lush gardens and ancient architecture as well as a multitude of shopping opportunities. The spectacular Queen’s Hotel is located on the tree-lined Promenade between the Imperial and Montpelier gardens and is the perfect location for our stay in the Cotswolds. This evening we’ll enjoy a wonderful dinner together in the hotel’s award winning restaurant. B, D
This morning we’ll depart for Hidcote Manor Garden. Nestled in the beautiful North Cotswolds with stunning views of the Valley of Evesham, Hidcote is one of England’s greatest arts and crafts gardens and consists of a series of outdoor “rooms” each with its own distinct character and theme. You will have plenty of time to explore this astonishing creation and enjoy lunch at your leisure before we depart for our next stop, Kiftsgate Court Gardens.
Famous for its roses, Kiftsgate is the creation of three generations of women gardeners and is all about plants and use of color. It is home to the world-famous Kiftsgate Rose, the largest rose bush in the UK, it stands an amazing 50 feet tall and blooms in July - just in time for our visit! Dinner this evening in on your own, perhaps at an English pub in Cheltenham or at the hotel. B
Today we begin our tour of the Cotswolds in the market town of Stow-On-The-Wold. At a height of 800 feet, it is the highest settlement in the Cotswolds and offers beautiful hill-top views. The large market square bustles with pubs and outdoor cafes and there are many quaint tea shops and art galleries to explore as well as several historic churches that are worth a visit. Stow is also a major center for English antiques and you will have plenty of time to shop till you drop if you so choose.
We’ll enjoy a memorable lunch at a surprising venue before our short ride to the picturesque village of Bourton-On-The-Water. This quintessential Cotswolds village is known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds” and is regularly voted as one of the prettiest villages in England. In addition to the gorgeous scenery there are several museums, a nature center and an amazing model village to explore. B, L
A completely free day to explore the village of Cheltenham, or perhaps explore more local Cotswold villages on your own. This evening we’ll enjoy fine dining at a surprise location that any garden lover is sure to find memorable. B, D
Early morning departure from the hotel for our flights, arriving home the same day. (Please consult us for appropriate flight times.) B
Extension Package Price: $1,459 per person, double occupancy (Single room, + $559)
Included with your package:
• Four nights hotel at the Queen’s Hotel, including taxes and bellmen gratuities
• Admission to: Blenheim Palace, Hidcote Manor Garden, Kiftsgate Court Gardens
• Free time in the villages of Oxford, Cheltenham, Stow-On-The-Wold and Bourton-On-The-Water
• Breakfast daily, lunch in the Cotswolds and two dinners
• Private, deluxe motorcoach transportation
• Blue Badge Guide
• Huron Tours Escort
To reserve, or for any questions, contact Katie Kosta or Melissa Becker at Huron Tours & Travel, 800.734.1192 or 504.267.2057 or email@hurontoursandtravel.com.
Space is limited so don't delay!
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The Nostalgia Rose, Queen Mary's Rose Garden
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One of Hampton Court's many show gardens
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Queen Mary's Rose garden, thousands of blooms!
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Garden creativity at its best in the show gardens
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The hedge maze at Blenheim Palace
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B= Breakfast included
L= Lunch included
D= Dinner included
T= Tea included |
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