Depart for London, England from your nearest gateway.  You may wish to arrive this evening to be rested when the tour begins Sunday at noon or arrive early Sunday morning as you wish.

Women travelers will arrive at London’s Heathrow International Airport early Sunday morning.  Meet our driver who will transfer you to The Knightsbridge Hotel in London; a distinctive, small luxury hotel.  There you will meet our founder, Peggy Coonley, who will accompany you for the duration of your time in England.  Unpack, freshen up, and join us for a delightful afternoon getting to know London.  Our private guide leads us on a walk of the Royal London Parks in the heart of the city.  View Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Parliament while walking the lanes and courtyards of London.  We will then enjoy a brief concert at Westminster Cathedral before a light supper in our Knightsbridge neighborhood.

Following breakfast, we will depart for the world-renowned Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew which comprise over 300 acres and more than 40,000 varieties of plants.  An optional tram ride provides a complete tour and overview of the grounds, or you can explore Kew walking as you wish, perhaps visiting the spectacular greenhouses or other areas that spark your interest.  We will have lunch at a tea room in the quaint village of Kew Gardens before returning to London in time to continue exploring the nearby museums, shops and history that surround us.

This evening, we will savour Tea at The Ritz, a fine British tradition to enjoy prior to the theatre.  Join me for the optional theatre experience following Tea at The Ritz.

The 2013 Chelsea Flower Show, known as the “grand dame” of flower shows, offers RHS member’s only entrance today.  Our English garden tour will join other members of the Royal Horticultural Society  this afternoon to wander the breathtaking grounds and world class exhibits.  Stroll Chelsea at your leisure and return to Knightsbridge when you prefer.  Sloane Square and Knightsbridge are shopping areas you may want to explore.  The Victoria and Albert is nearby as is Harrod's and Harvey Nichols. 

We leave London today for the rolling English Kent countryside known as the Garden of England and visit exquisite gardens enroute.  We will continue our sampler of England as we travel through the heart of Sussex and Kent which is the English countryside at its loveliest.  Late afternoon, we will settle into our 14th century lovingly restored historical small country manor.  This exclusive country house, set on 1000 acres, is run by the direct descendants of the original owner who built it in 1432.  We are well situated to continue relishing the gardens, castles and landscape in the heart of Sussex and Kent.

Today we will meander through the idyllic Kent countryside with our private driver. We begin with a visit to the castle at Bodiam and then wander through the exceptional gardens of the late Christopher Llyod at Great Dixter. Great Dixter is one of England's most favoured gardens and you will savour the breadth and depth of diversity in  the plantings here amidst the Oasts. Our lunch today will be at a classic country pub before we travel on to the medieval town of Rye.

This morning, we will take the short ride through pastoral landscapes to Sissinghurst.  You will experience the infamous beauty of Sissinghurst Castle and Gardens this morning and wander the garden rooms, learn of the life of Vita Sackville-West and be inspired by the beauty.  Sissinghurst is a National Trust garden and the most famous 20th century garden in England.   Many believe it to be one of the world’s finest gardens.. indeed the quintessential English romantic garden.  Vita Sackville West, author and poet, along with her husband, Sir Harold Nicholson, created the gardens around an Elizabethan house.  There is a long and lovely walk to enjoy across the open meadows. After lunch, we will depart for Bath, the World Heritage City famous for its hot springs, Roman period baths, Medieval heritage, and stately Georgian architecture. 

This morning, you can opt for a walking tour of Bath provided by the Mayor’s office.  Perhaps, after the two hour walk, catch a bite to eat at infamous Sally Lunn’s, the oldest house in Bath, or lunch and tea at the Jane Austen Centre. After lunch, you can take an informative tour and lecture on the life of Jane.  Maybe you will choose to unwind with a spa treatment this afternoon at the Thermae spa.  Whatever you choose, the wonder and history of Bath surrounds your remaining days of classic Britain. 

Today, we will savour a full day touring the quintessential Cotswolds villages; including the villages of Castle Combe, Lacock , Stow on the Wold, Upper and Lower Slaughters, and Bibury, often referred to as the prettiest village in all of England.  The Cotswolds are a land where you dream of Kings and Queens and fairytales. The beauty is magnificent as landscape , gardens and architecture create a place apart.

This evening, we will celebrate our time together in England with a farewell dinner at one of Bath's notable dining choices. 

You will depart independently for Heathrow this morning or afternoon, depending on your individual flight times, and bid farewell for flights home with memories, dreams, and colorful garden inspirations.  Transportation from Bath to Heathrow is independent. I recommend you plan your flights home in the afternoon for an easier travel day.