England
Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens: A British Tradition
Program No. 22576RJ
Inspiration blooms when you join us for the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show and explore some of England’s best-loved gardens with experts!
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13 days
12 nights
29 meals
11B 7L 11D
1
In Transit To Program
In Flight
2
Arrive London, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
London, England
3
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
London, England
4
Transfer to Ashford, Lullingstone Castle, Ightham Mote
Ashford, Kent
5
Rye, Great Dixter
Ashford, Kent
6
Sissinghurst Gardens
Ashford, Kent
7
Penshurst Place and Great Comp
Ashford, Kent
8
Canterbury Cathedral & Gardens
Ashford, Kent
9
Transfer to Cheltenham, RHS Wisley
Cheltenham.
11
Painswick Rococo Garden
Cheltenham.
12
Transfer to London, Rousham Gardens, Oxford
London, England
13
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
Renowned by horticulturalists as one of the greatest flower shows in the world, the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show brings the best of blooms and latest trends in landscaping to the public eye. Immerse yourself in the botanical world as you attend this inspiring event and explore some of the finest gardens in England. Meet head gardeners and lifelong experts at castles, cathedrals and country houses, and spend time in the beautiful Cotswolds — home to one of Britain’s best-loved gardens, RHS Wisley. Learn the secrets to creating a quintessentially English country garden and get the latest on gardening trends at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking and standing for up to three hours on field trips.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Spend a full day at the world class Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show, one of the most prestigious in the world.
- With RHS judge Kevin Tooher as your instructor, meet members of the gardening teams at the World Garden in Lullingstone.
- Discover iconic gardens such as Sissinghurst Castle Garden, RHS Wisley, Painswick and Rousham.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Kevin A Tooher
An expert horticulturalist and Royal Horticultural Society judge, Kevin Tooher can be found giving speeches on a variety of garden-related topics around the UK. But before his interests turned green, Kevin was a detective at New Scotland Yard for over 20 years, where he worked in Covert Operations, Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Operations; this experience later landed him an advisory role on the famed British police drama ‘The Sweeney’ for several years.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Kevin A Tooher
View biography
An expert horticulturalist and Royal Horticultural Society judge, Kevin Tooher can be found giving speeches on a variety of garden-related topics around the UK. But before his interests turned green, Kevin was a detective at New Scotland Yard for over 20 years, where he worked in Covert Operations, Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Operations; this experience later landed him an advisory role on the famed British police drama ‘The Sweeney’ for several years.
Suggested Reading List
(16 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens: A British Tradition
Program Number: 22576
Gloucester & Cheltenham Walker's Map
Great for outdoor activities like walking and hiking, this British-produced map is printed in amazing detail. Scaled at 1:25,000 (2.5 inches equals one mile).
Great Gardens of Britain
A photographic tour through 20 of the finest gardens in Great Britain, ranging from famous 18th-century landscapes such as Stourhead to the rather quirky Garden of Cosmic Speculation.
The English Garden
An illustrated history of English gardens and styles of landscaping, with 350 photographs and a focus on gardens open to the public.
The English Cathedral
In this photographic tribute to each of England's 42 Anglican cathedrals (including the great UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Durham and Canterbury) award-winning photographer Peter Marlow evokes the greatness and humbling power of each magnificent building.
The Cotswolds, A Cultural History
In this cultural guide, Bingham introduces the churches and manor houses, rich history and celebrated landscapes of southern England.
A Traveller's History of England
Historian and archeologist Daniell delivers a comprehensive history of the region since the time of the hunter-gatherers in this compact volume, taking you through the Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans, and Medieval monarchs to the Reformation, Renaissance, the world wars and the modern state of things.
Insight Guide England
This lavishly illustrated guide includes excellent color maps and thoughtful short essys on history, culture and attractions.
The English Garden
This illustrated survey of 100 iconic gardens in England includes an unrivaled range of gardens by designers, patrons, artists, architects and literary figures.
In Search of England
The much-beloved, enduring account of Morton's ramblings through the English countryside in the early days of the motorcar. Morton charmingly mixes a deep appreciation of the art, culture and history of the place with his own keen observations.
Londoners
Drawing on the unforgettable stories of nearly 100 Londoners, Taylor provides a rich and vivid kaleidoscopic view of modern-day London through the diverse voices of those who, regardless of whether they love or hate it, capture the heart and soul of one of the world's greatest cities.
The English Garden, A Social History
This short piece of scholarship discusses how English gardens are not merely beautiful, but represent lifestyle, money and class. The narrative ushers readers from the walled-off secret gardens of the 1500s to the present day, when gardening is a common pastime.
Sissinghurst: Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden
This illustrated tribute to the renowned Sissinghurst Castle Garden incorporates the popular weekly columns of gardener extraordinaire and award-winning writer Vita Sackville-West, who founded and tended to the garden for many years.
Watching the English
Fox's clever guide to the conversation, behavior, quirks, habits and foibles of the English is wildly popular back home in Britain. Second edition.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
A world expert on the Chelsea Flower Show, Brent Elliott shows how the show has evolved and influenced over the course of 100 years. Includes 200 color and black-and-white illustrations as well as pieces from gardeners and nurserymen and women.
English Gardens, A Journey Through the Seasons
A visual feast of pure gardening inspiration. From England’s most modest herb patches to its sweeping landscape gardens -- carpets of bluebells at Emmets Garden, the wild meadows at Tyntesfield -- the National Trust offers a glorious tour.
England and Wales
A colorful, double-sided map of England and Wales at a scale of 1:400,000.