Gardens of Kent and Sussex

Gardens of Kent and Sussex

May 26  - 29, 2024

This tour may be taken in conjunction with our "Chelsea Flower Show in Style trip" or would be a nice add-on to your independent England travel plans.

If you have more time and the desire to experience some of the finest gardens in all of Great Britain, join this well-organized four-day extension to the delightful town of Rye and beautiful Kent countryside.

Sunday, May 26  ~ Hever Castle visit. Breakfast and dinner

After breakfast, depart your London hotel with Huron Tour and Travel's private motorcoach, Certified Blue-Badge Guide, and Huron Tours tour-manager. We'll spend the next four days in the lovely English village of Rye exploring a garden paradise, the county of Kent.

Our first stop is the stunning Hever Castle & Gardens . One thousand men were employed by William Waldorf Astor to build the 35-acre lake, the outstanding four-acre Italian garden (complete with hundreds of ancient statues and vases that will amaze you), the 120-foot herbaceous border and the 16-acre water maze. These exquisite gardens surround the moated castle which was Anne Boleyn's childhood home. The castle has a gorgeous interior and you will have enough time to explore all the gardens as well as the charming castle. Be sure not to miss the Rhododendron Walk which normally is in full glorious bloom during our visit.

From Hever Castle we'll enjoy a pleasant drive through the country-side en-route our amazing and historic hotel for the next three nights, The Mermaid Inn in Rye, England.

The Mermaid is highly regarded, and is completely unique and unlike any place you have ever stayed. This 15th Century English jewel is set on Rye's most picturesque road and is brimming with old world charm and a rich history. It is not only one of England's oldest inns, but also one of its loveliest! It is great fun to pass through the crowds outside taking pictures of the Mermaid, and head up to your room, past the "Residents Only Past This Point" sign, for a nice relaxing cup of tea.

This evening, after getting settled in the Mermaid, our blue badge guide will take us on a short stroll around Rye to help us get oriented for the coming days. Following our walk, we'll enjoy a wonderful welcome dinner from the Mermaid's award winning restaurant.

Monday, May 27  ~ Great Dixter tour and visit. Free afternoon. Breakfast at hotel

A day that gardeners dream about! After our full-English breakfast we depart for Christopher Lloyd's famous creation, Great Dixter Gardens. We'll be greeted by one of Dixter's knowledgeable gardeners who will take us on a guided tour of one of the best known gardens in Britain (for many years Christopher wrote a garden column for the Royal Horticultural Society's monthly magazine). And many of you have had the pleasure of attending a lecture by Dixter's current head gardener Fergus Garret, who we often see on the grounds, hard at work making it all seem effortless and inevitable. Following our tour, you'll have ample time to explore the gardens on your own and to marvel at the topiary, the sunken garden, the wildflower and naturalized bulb meadow, and the 300-foot plant-loaded border, plus more! Truly a delight.

When we return from Great Dixter this afternoon you'll have time to explore more of the village of Rye.

This ancient and delightful village is one of the few hill towns in England and as such is very picturesque. There is just something about the air in Rye. Spend the afternoon wandering the enchanting cobblestone streets while marveling at the beautifully preserved historic houses from medieval, Tudor and Georgian times. Take in the fantastic views of the river Roth and Romney Marsh and be sure to pay a visit to the top of the Parish Church of St. Mary's which houses the oldest working church turret clock in England. The Lamb House which was the home of author Henry James is also a favorite attraction, and has a lovely garden at the rear, more splendid than you could imagine from looking at it from the street. There are plenty of pubs, tea-rooms, quiet benches, antique shops and art galleries to keep you busy.

Dinner is on your own, perhaps at an English tavern or award-winning Italian restaurant. Be sure to consult our restaurant list for ideas.

Tuesday, May 28  ~ Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens, Chapel Down Wine Estate visit, breakfast included, free evening

This morning, we'll visit what is certainly one of the finest gardens in the world, Sissinghurst Castle Gardens. 

Sissinghurst is a delightful spring garden with a magical setting around the ruins of the castle which dates back to the 12th century. Vita Sackville-West designed one of the most romantic gardens in the country creating a magnificent example of English Garden design. Everything is kept in an immaculate condition, well labeled, with charming vistas around every turn. Vita"s structure of separate outdoor rooms has had an immense influence on garden design and her combinations of plant materials framed by hundreds of feet of boxwood hedging is truly amazing.

After departing Sissinghurst, we’ll visit England's leading wine producer Chapel Down. Here we will enjoy a guided tour of the vineyards and winery where we’ll learn about the English grape harvest and the intricate traditional method of English sparkling wine. Our tour concludes with a tutored wine tasting of Chapel Down’s award-winning range of sparkling and still wines paired with local cheese. Chapel Down's Brut Rose was served at Kate and William's Buckingham Palace wedding reception in 2011.

This evening we'll return to Rye where you can relax and enjoy the unique atmosphere.

For the more adventurous, there is a path to the English Channel about 3 miles as the crow flies from the Mermaid. The sun sets late, and this worthwhile adventure takes you through farm fields past grazing sheep and rabbits, along a canal to ultimately reach the unique and striking stone beach. There are two pubs to choose from for dinner once you reach Rye Harbor, and a taxi back to the Mermaid will not be very costly.

Wednesday, May 29 ~ Rye Departure and flights home

Sadly, all great trips come to an end. We'll depart this morning in time for flights home from London.