Come to an England up to its knees in wildflowers. It’s a mix of heavenly gardens: Sissinghurst, Blenheim,

Rousham, Hatfield, Hestercombe, Stourhead and the landscapes of Wells, Bath, Oxford and the Cotswolds. And opening day at the Chelsea Flower Show - bliss!

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

19 MAY - 2 JUNE 2018

AND THE GARDENS OF ENGLAND

OXFORD

LONDONBATH

Let us take you to the most beautiful places in the world.

The excitement of London’s Chelsea makes a day forever etched in your memory. Chelsea is the highlight of our signature tour of England’s best-loved gardens, villages and cultural sites; all swirling beneath a whirlwind of spring blossom. All swirling under a whirlwind of spring blossom. It’s not rushed; there’s time for Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral Oxford, time out at the Ashmolean next to your Oxford Hotel Randolph, time for High Tea in Kensington Palace and time to sit in the shade with a Pimms at Chelsea.

Graham Ross, founder of Ross Garden Tours

TO BOOK PLEASE CONTACT ROYCE OR ROSLYN

Visit our website www.rosstours.com

travel@rosstours.com1300 233 200

TOUR LEADER COLIN BARLOW

Colin Barlow is a popular Ross Tour Leader. His passion for horticulture fuels his love of traveling . He is a great communicator: radio, television and magazines. And his love of all things British goes to the heart of gardening.

+ Your special ticket to the Chelsea Flower Show

on Members Day

+ Discover the garden jewel that’s Kew

+ Wander the childhood home of Queen

Elizabeth at Hatfield House

+ Listen to the birdsong at HRH Prince Charles’

garden Highgrove

+ Marvel that 18th century Rousham still speaks

to the genius of William Kent

+ Enjoy Bibury Village Open Garden Day

+ Be smitten by Sissinghurst, one of the most

influential gardens in England

+ Travel in a small group & make new friends

+ Relax – we’ll take care of everything!

For a detailed itinerary, please visit :www.rosstours.com/england

HIGHLIGHTS

ITINERARY

DAY 1 SAT 19 MAYHOME TO LONDON

Meet Colin Barlow, your Ross Tour Leader at Sydney Airport for the Qantas flight to London.

DAY 2 SUN 20 MAYLONDON

Arrive into London Heathrow. Morning visit to Kew Gardens then check in to the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington for four nights. Meet up for our Welcome Dinner this evening in the hotel.

DAY 3 MON 21 MAYRHS WISLEY

Wisley is our destination this morning, HQ of the Royal Horticultural Society with a suite of gardens that will make your heart leap!

DAY 4 TUE 22 MAYCHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

‘Opening Day’ at the Chelsea Flower Show is reserved for VIPs and members of the Royal Horticultural Society only but we have arranged tickets so you can enjoy it without the crowds that flock on public days.

DAY 5 WED 23 MAYSISSINGHURST

A gardener’s pilgrimage today to Sissinghurst, loved for its beautiful

balance, garden rooms and inspired planting.

DAY 6 THU 24 MAYLONDON TO BATH

We are heading to Bath today with lunch in the conservatory at West Green in Hampshire, the home and garden of famous Aussie expat Marylyn Abbott. While the garden pays homage to its 18th-century origins, Marylyn’s sense of fun is given plenty of room to play. Travel on into Bath to our luxury MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, for the next two nights. A guided tour this afternoon to get your bearings in this beautiful city.

DAY 7 FRI 25 MAYSTOURHEAD

Stourhead is probably the finest example of the picturesque English Landscape Style, and that’s where we are going today. Free afternoon in Bath.

DAY 8 SAT 26 MAYHESTERCOMBE

An influential garden lies waiting for us as we travel into Somerset. Hestercombe Gardens is a remarkable example of the collaboration between Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. It’s considered the finest example of the

+ OUR TOUR INCLUDES

° Qantas return economy group airfare and taxes:

Sydney / London / Sydney

° Air-conditioned motorcoach throughout tour

° Deluxe accommodation for 11 nights

° Breakfast daily, 3 lunches and 3 dinners

° Entrance fees to all gardens and sightseeing including Kew

Gardens, Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Wisley, Sissinghurst, West

Green House, Stourhead, Hestercombe, Bishop Palace, Bibury,

Blenheim Palace, Rousham and Hatfield House

° Morning and afternoon teas as detailed in the itinerary

° Fully escorted by Colin Barlow

° Gratuities for porters and drivers

+ OUR TOUR COSTS

Twin Share per person, land only $9,995Twin Share per person, including air $11,795 Single Supplement $2,595

+ DISCOUNTS

Early Bird $300 (pay in full before 1 December 2017)Previous Traveller $100Garden Clinic Member $50

All prices in Australian Dollars. All air taxes as at 1st July 2017. Price based on minimum 15 passengers. Departure from Sydney. Price from other Australian ports and New Zealand available on application. Group meals do not include beverages. Please refer to Ross Garden Tours standard terms & conditions. Ask us about other sightseeing and travel arrangements including pre and post tour accommodation, transfers, stopovers and other tours.

TOUR DETAILS

work undertaken by this famous partnership. After lunch, we’ll head to the Cathedral City of Wells in the Mendip district of Somerset to see gardens around the Cathedral and Bishops Palace.

DAY 9 SUN 27 MAYBIBURY, COTSWOLDS

It’s a pretty drive today through the Cotswolds, one of the most romantic landscapes in Britain. Discover quaint Cotswold villages and Open Gardens Day in Bibury. Check into Hotel Randolph in Oxford city centre for the next four nights.

DAY 10 MON 28 MAYBLENHEIM PALACE

Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill’s home, is grand, influential and a showpiece for landscape architect Capability Brown and architect Sir John Vanbrugh. Afternoon visit to Rousham where the garden is the direct opposite; a masterpiece by William Kent. It has escaped from the 18th century into the 21st century, its spirit of place is still intact.

DAY 11 TUE 29 MAYHRH HIGHGROVE

Subject to the schedule of Prince

Charles, we’ll visit Highgrove House this morning. The garden unfolds in a series of highly personal and inspiring tableaux, each one reflecting the interests and enthusiasms of the Prince. Lunch is included at Highgrove. Return to Oxford with a walking tour around this famous University City and finish in time for Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral.

DAY 12 WED 30 MAYHATFIELD HOUSE

Hatfield House in Hertfordshire is our destination this morning, one of the best-documented and attractive historic gardens in Britain. There’s traditional Knot Garden, woodland, pleached linden walk, rose garden and the east privy garden. Free afternoon in Oxford. Meet up for our Farewell Dinner tonight in our hotel.

DAY 13 THU 31 MAYLONDON - HOME

Morning day free for sightseeing or shopping. Afternoon transfer to Heathrow for our homeward flight.

DAY 14 FRI 1 JUNINFLIGHT

DAY 15 SAT 2 JUNWELCOME HOME