England 2025

Great Dixter Garden

A Tour of England's Gardens
May 13-23, 2025

Explore the beautiful gardens of England in spring! The trip begins with a guided bus tour of London’s main landmarks, including Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. While in London, we’ll also visit the famous Kew Gardens and 17th Century Physic Garden. Next, take a private bus to Kent and the town of Royal Turnbridge Wells, which will be used as a base for visiting several of England’s best estate gardens, such as Sissinghurst and Great Dixter.

At a two-night stop in Bath, home of the Roman-era baths, visit the Jane Austen Museum and the Regency Era Pump and Assembly Rooms. Garden visits include Boxwood House and Gardens and the Courts Garden.  

In the historic university town of Oxford, tour Blenheim Palace (ancestral home of Winston Churchill), WWI era Allotment Gardens, and UGA’s Oxford campus.

The tour concludes in London where travelers can choose between a day of leisure or an optional visit to the famous annual Chelsea Flower Show.

The itinerary includes:
  • May 15 - London – Kew Gardens
  • May 15 - London – Chelsea Physic Garden
  • May 16 - Cobham – Painshill Landscape Garden with tour
  • May 16 - Hever – Hever Castle & Garden with private garden tour by Head Gardener
  • May 17 - Sissinghurst – Sissinghurst Castle Garden with tour
  • May 17 - Northiam – Great Dixter House and Gardens with tour by member of the gardening team
  • May 18 - West Dean – West Dean Garden
  • May 19 - Holt – Courts Garden
  • May 19 - Calne – Bowood House & Gardens, with private walled garden tour
  • May 20 - Woodstock – Blenheim Palace

Trip Cost: $3,995:

  • Final few spots remaining - contact Susan Carley if interested (email below)
  • Cost excludes airfare, lunch and dinner.
  • Full English Breakfast INCLUDED each day.

Accessibility:

  • Garden trips involve some walking, at times on grass and off paved walkways. Participants should also be able to walk on cobble-stone surfaces.

Requirements:

  • International travel passport required
  • Participation in OLLI's English Gardens class is highly recommended.

For more information email Susan Carley: Susanscarley@gmail.com.