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Dates TBA
- Depart DFW on the 1:30 pm AA flight to Manchester via Chicago O’Hare.
- After breakfast on board arrive Manchester at 7.20am.
Clear customs, meet coach and driver and transfer to Chester. - En route to Chester visit Arley Hall in Cheshire – enjoy a tour of the garden with the Head Gardener, Gordon Baille. The garden is a major attraction with its award winning magnificent herbaceous borders, fascinating greenhouses and kitchen garden and glorious rhododendrons. After coffee and yummy homemade pastries in the Hall’s converted stables we drive on to Chester.
- Check in to hotel in Chester. Balance of day at leisure to enjoy this quaint city. So many choices-walk the Roman Walls, shop in the antique shops and smart boutiques or simply attend Choral Evensong in the venerable 12th century Cathedral, the center of this ancient county town.
- Dinner at the hotel and evening to yourself.
- After breakfast, drive through the lush countryside to Powis Castle with its beautiful gardens. Powis is situated high on a rock above stunning terraced gardens. The castle was originally built in AD1200 and has been remodeled and embellished over 800 years. Let's take time for lunch and to browse the magnificent gift store.
- This afternoon we will drive on to the Dower House of Morville Hall, to visit the amazing gardens of Dr. Katherine Swift. Katherine is a well known garden writer. She will tell you how she designed her 1-1/2 acre sequence of gardens in various historical styles to tell the history of British gardening from medieval times to the present.
- Continue on to Worcester for dinner and overnight.
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After breakfast we drive through the spectacular Cotswold countryside to Hidcote Manor Garden, one of the most famous gardens in Britain and an Arts and Crafts masterpiece, created by the American plant collector Major Lawrence Johnston.
We are thrilled that the Head Gardener, Glyn Jones and his deputy are opening the gardens and giving the Curious Travelers a unique guided tour of Hidcote gardens. -
We will stop for lunch in the Cotswold village of Broadway. This is your opportunity to taste some great pub food and to drink English Scrumpy – a delicious apple cider!.
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Continue to Bath where we will stay for the next two nights. Dinner at the hotel.
- After breakfast you will have a day to day to catch your breath as, at your own pace, you explore this elegant spa town. At 10;00 you may enjoy a guided tour of Bath. Admire the balanced architecture of its regency crescents, visit the Roman Baths, and don’t miss the Assembly Rooms –you will recognize the scene from many a Jane Austen film. Or simply relax in one of the many coffee bars. Don’t worry I will be there to direct you.
- This evening eat at your choice of restaurant.
- Second Night in Bath.
- After breakfast we drive on through the bucolic countryside to the charming village of Lacock Abbey, you may recognize the setting for many films.
Our drive takes us past Stonehenge on our way to Winchester.
Those who wish may join our guided evening walk around historic Winchester. We will discover the fascinating history of this city-- the capital of England before London!
Jane Austen spent her last months here before her death. Come with me and see the famous 500 year old Round Table of Arthurian legend and so much more. - You may choose to attend choral evensong in the cathedral – it is a unique experience to listen to great choir singing in such awesome surroundings.
- Dinner at hotel. Overnight in Winchester.
- After breakfast, our morning drive, through some stunning English countryside, takes us to Sissinghurst Castle Gardens. Harold Nicholson planned these gardens but his wife Vita Sackville West devised the inspired planting scheme and carried out the work. She was not a fan of regimented rows of flowers, but carefully grouped the plants according to color, texture and season!
- This evening, included in your tour is a pub dinner at one of London’s famous taverns. Or dine on your own and experience taking things at your own pace. We will return to our hotel for a relaxing early night in preparation for the Chelsea Flower Show tomorrow.
- Overnight in London.
- Today we visit the highlight of our tour, the Chelsea Flower Show in the grounds of the Royal Hospital of Chelsea. The original show was held in 1852, in Kensington Gardens. In 1913 it was moved to the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea where it has taken place every year since. Popular parts of the Chelsea Flower Show include the show gardens designed by leading names in garden design.
We will be visiting the show on a special day set aside for members od the Royal Horticultural Society. Your membership and entrance fee is included in the price of this tour. - Enjoy the evening in London taking things at your own pace and sampling London's character - sight-seeing, taking in a show in the West End, dining at your choice of restaurant or just relaxing in your comfortable hotel.
- Overnight London. This is our final night.
- After breakfast, transfer to London Heathrow Airport for AA flight departing at 10.25 am for DFW. Lunch is served during your Trans-Atlantic flight.
Arrive DFW at 12.25pm.
-
London
--
We are pleased to offer a 3-night extension in London.
$499 per person, double occupancy.
$199.00 Single supplement.
Includes - London hotel, 3 nights bed and breakfast.
There will be an increase in air fare of $80.00 for returning on a weekend.
Prices include all roundtrip coach class DFW/MAN return LRH/DFW with current air taxes/fuel. Taxes/fuel only final at ticketing.
Land travel, lodging, breakfasts, 5 dinners, RHS Membership Chelsea Flower Show, and entrance fees to named gardens.
Per Person, Double Occupancy $3199.00
Single Supplement $449.00
Price quote is based on 25 travelers in the group and is subject to exchange rate prevailing at time of final payment.
Tips to drivers, guides etc not included. Insurance not included.
FLIGHT DEVIATIONS
Those wishing to deviate must advise us at least by January 31, 2011.
There will be an additional charge for deviations after this date.
MAIN PRICE ABOVE INCLUDES:
Current air taxes and fuel surcharges which could vary at time of
ticketing - any increase in the taxes will be added at final invoice stage.
In addition all land arrangements are costed at the current rate of
exchange. This could change at final payment stage.
You will be advised of these differences before payment.
Those wishing to use miles to upgrade to Business Class will be on a request basis.
The price quoted above includes:
-Roundtrip air coach class DFW to Manchester May 17 return from London
Heathrow May 25 together with current taxes and fuel surcharge (taxes only final at time of ticketing)
-7 nights first class 4 star hotels or equivalent with English breakfast daily
-4 hotel dinners and one pub carvery dinner
-Own coach and driver from arrival Manchester to departure London Heathrow.
-Entrance fees to:
- Membership Royal Oak
- Membership RHS
- Entrance fees to Chelsea on Member Day May 24
- Guided visits to Bath and Winchester
- Guided visit to Chester and Laycock
- Visit to gardens at Arley Hall, Powis Castle, the Dower house at Morville Hall, Hidcote, and Sissinghurst
- Detailed bound itinerary book and separate travel tips booklet
- Fully escorted by Master Gardener Andria Rucker who will be the tour director throughout
Note:
-Any serious requests for any item falling outside the program will be entertained and will result in a separate charge.
-Not included:- Cancellation, medical, travel accident, delay and lost bag
group insurance – this will be offered - premium will be advised at end of January
for all interested participants to consider.
-Tips and gratuities - at each traveler's discretion during the tour.
Passports:
Current passport information is required - passport must have a validity of
at least 6 months, ie up to the need of Nov 2011 or beyond. We must have an
actual clear copy of each passport to be sent in on sign-up with deposit and
registration form. The passport information is mandatory from the TSA for
air ticket issuance.