May 12 - May 23, 2025
Starting at
4,599
England
Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens: A British Tradition
Program No. 22576RSBLOG
Inspiration blooms when you join us for the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show and explore some of England’s best-loved gardens with experts!
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800-454-5768
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May 12 - May 23, 2025
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13 days
12 nights
29 meals
11B 7L 11D
1
In Transit To Program
In Flight
2
Arrive London, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
London, England
3
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
London, England
4
Transfer to Ashford, Lullingstone Castle
Ashford, Kent
5
Sissinghurst Gardens.
Ashford, Kent
6
Great Dixter and Rye.
Ashford, Kent
7
St. John's Jerusalem Garden and Chapel. Great Comp.
Ashford, Kent
8
Canterbury Cathedral & Gardens
Ashford, Kent
9
Transfer to Cheltenham, RHS Wisley
Cheltenham.
11
Painswick Rococo Garden
Cheltenham.
12
Transfer to London, Rousham Gardens, Oxford
London, England
13
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
Renowned by horticulturalists as one of the greatest flower shows in the world, the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show brings the best of blooms and latest trends in landscaping to the public eye. Immerse yourself in the botanical world as you attend this inspiring event and explore some of the finest gardens in England. Meet head gardeners and lifelong experts at castles, cathedrals and country houses, and spend time in the beautiful Cotswolds — home to one of Britain’s best-loved gardens, RHS Wisley. Learn the secrets to creating a quintessentially English country garden and get the latest on gardening trends at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking and standing for up to three hours on field trips.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Spend a full day at the world class Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show, one of the most prestigious in the world.
- With RHS judge Kevin Tooher as your instructor, meet members of the gardening teams at the World Garden in Lullingstone.
- Discover iconic gardens such as Sissinghurst Castle Garden, RHS Wisley, Painswick and Rousham.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Kevin A Tooher
An expert horticulturalist and Royal Horticultural Society judge, Kevin Tooher can be found giving speeches on a variety of garden-related topics around the UK. But before his interests turned green, Kevin was a detective at New Scotland Yard for over 20 years, where he worked in Covert Operations, Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Operations; this experience later landed him an advisory role on the famed British police drama ‘The Sweeney’ for several years.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Kevin A Tooher
View biography
An expert horticulturalist and Royal Horticultural Society judge, Kevin Tooher can be found giving speeches on a variety of garden-related topics around the UK. But before his interests turned green, Kevin was a detective at New Scotland Yard for over 20 years, where he worked in Covert Operations, Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Operations; this experience later landed him an advisory role on the famed British police drama ‘The Sweeney’ for several years.
Suggested Reading List
(16 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens: A British Tradition
Program Number: 22576
Gloucester & Cheltenham Walker's Map
Great for outdoor activities like walking and hiking, this British-produced map is printed in amazing detail. Scaled at 1:25,000 (2.5 inches equals one mile).
Insight Guide England
This lavishly illustrated guide includes excellent color maps and thoughtful short essys on history, culture and attractions.
A Traveller's History of England
Historian and archeologist Daniell delivers a comprehensive history of the region since the time of the hunter-gatherers in this compact volume, taking you through the Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans, and Medieval monarchs to the Reformation, Renaissance, the world wars and the modern state of things.
The Cotswolds, A Cultural History
In this cultural guide, Bingham introduces the churches and manor houses, rich history and celebrated landscapes of southern England.
The English Garden, A Social History
This short piece of scholarship discusses how English gardens are not merely beautiful, but represent lifestyle, money and class. The narrative ushers readers from the walled-off secret gardens of the 1500s to the present day, when gardening is a common pastime.
In Search of England
The much-beloved, enduring account of Morton's ramblings through the English countryside in the early days of the motorcar. Morton charmingly mixes a deep appreciation of the art, culture and history of the place with his own keen observations.
England and Wales
A colorful, double-sided map of England and Wales at a scale of 1:400,000.
Great Gardens of Britain
A photographic tour through 20 of the finest gardens in Great Britain, ranging from famous 18th-century landscapes such as Stourhead to the rather quirky Garden of Cosmic Speculation.
Watching the English
Fox's clever guide to the conversation, behavior, quirks, habits and foibles of the English is wildly popular back home in Britain. Second edition.
The English Cathedral
In this photographic tribute to each of England's 42 Anglican cathedrals (including the great UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Durham and Canterbury) award-winning photographer Peter Marlow evokes the greatness and humbling power of each magnificent building.
The English Garden
This illustrated survey of 100 iconic gardens in England includes an unrivaled range of gardens by designers, patrons, artists, architects and literary figures.
Sissinghurst: Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden
This illustrated tribute to the renowned Sissinghurst Castle Garden incorporates the popular weekly columns of gardener extraordinaire and award-winning writer Vita Sackville-West, who founded and tended to the garden for many years.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
A world expert on the Chelsea Flower Show, Brent Elliott shows how the show has evolved and influenced over the course of 100 years. Includes 200 color and black-and-white illustrations as well as pieces from gardeners and nurserymen and women.
The English Garden
An illustrated history of English gardens and styles of landscaping, with 350 photographs and a focus on gardens open to the public.
Londoners
Drawing on the unforgettable stories of nearly 100 Londoners, Taylor provides a rich and vivid kaleidoscopic view of modern-day London through the diverse voices of those who, regardless of whether they love or hate it, capture the heart and soul of one of the world's greatest cities.
English Gardens, A Journey Through the Seasons
A visual feast of pure gardening inspiration. From England’s most modest herb patches to its sweeping landscape gardens -- carpets of bluebells at Emmets Garden, the wild meadows at Tyntesfield -- the National Trust offers a glorious tour.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
13 days
Program Begins
London, England
Program Concludes
London, England
Meals
29
| 11B |
7L |
11D |
Activity Level
Renowned by horticulturalists as one of the greatest flower shows in the world, the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show brings the best of blooms and latest trends in landscaping to the public eye. Immerse yourself in the botanical world as you attend this inspiring event and explore some of the finest gardens in England. Meet head gardeners and lifelong experts at castles, cathedrals and country houses, and spend time in the beautiful Cotswolds — home to one of Britain’s best-loved gardens, RHS Wisley. Learn the secrets to creating a quintessentially English country garden and get the latest on gardening trends at the Chelsea Flower Show.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Spend a full day at the world class Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show, one of the most prestigious in the world.
- With RHS judge Kevin Tooher as your instructor, meet members of the gardening teams at the World Garden in Lullingstone.
- Discover iconic gardens such as Sissinghurst Castle Garden, RHS Wisley, Painswick and Rousham.
Featured Expert
Kevin A Tooher
An expert horticulturalist and Royal Horticultural Society judge, Kevin Tooher can be found giving speeches on a variety of garden-related topics around the UK. But before his interests turned green, Kevin was a detective at New Scotland Yard for over 20 years, where he worked in Covert Operations, Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Operations; this experience later landed him an advisory role on the famed British police drama ‘The Sweeney’ for several years.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking and standing for up to three hours on field trips.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(16 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
Year
- 2025
- 2026
Date and Direction
- May 12 - May 23 (Ashford, Kent to London, England)
- May 20 - Jun 01 (London, England to London, England)
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
May 20 - Jun 1, 2025 Itinerary Differences: Itinerary as follows:
Arrival London 2 nights, Kent, 5 nights; Cheltenham, 3 nights; London, 1 nights, departure.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
- 2025
- 2026
- May 12 - May 23 (Ashford, Kent to London, England)
- May 20 - Jun 01 (London, England to London, England)
May 20 - Jun 1, 2025 Itinerary Differences: Itinerary as follows:
Arrival London 2 nights, Kent, 5 nights; Cheltenham, 3 nights; London, 1 nights, departure.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
13 days
12 nights
What's Included
29 meals | 11B | 7L | 11D |
2 expert-led lectures
15 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
11 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit To Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive London, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
London, England
Meals:
L,D
Stay:
Radisson Blu London South Kensington
Lunch:
In the hotel, we’ll have a light lunch of soup and sandwiches, with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Arrivals continue. After you check in and get your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with both a Group Leader, who will accompany us throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics, and a Study Leader who will lecture, conduct field trips and serve as an information resource on program-related topics. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel we’ll have a two-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure. You may wish to attend a screening of footage from previous years’ Chelsea Flower Shows, in a private room at the hotel, in preparation for tomorrow’s field trip to the Show.
Day
3
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Location:
London, England
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Radisson Blu London South Kensington
Activity Note
The Great Pavilion is roughly 11,775 square metres or 2.90 acres.
Breakfast:
At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, bacon, sausages, hash brown, tomatoes, mushrooms, make-your-own muesli, cereals, pastries, toast, milk, juices, tea, coffee, water.
Morning:
Our horticultural adventure commences with a field trip by motorcoach to the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Except for gaps during the two world wars, it has been held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea every year since 1913. It remains Britain's most prestigious flower show, closely associated with the Royal Family. We’ll depart early to avoid the crowds with plenty of time to explore and be inspired by the show’s dazzling displays. There are various talks, demonstrations, and exhibits you may attend and explore to your heart's content including artisan gardens, fresh gardens, and show gardens.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like. The Village Fete offers a variety of hot and cold food with covered and open air seating.
Afternoon:
Our exploration of the Chelsea Flower Show continues. We will rendezvous at a predetermined time and place to return to the hotel by motorcoach, and the remainder of the afternoon is free time.
Dinner:
In the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Transfer to Ashford, Lullingstone Castle
Location:
Ashford, Kent
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ashford International Hotel
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
We’ll board a motorcoach to begin our transfer to Chatham in Kent, the county known as “The Garden of England”. We’ll stop en route for a field trip to Lullingstone Castle, the ancestral home of Tom Hart Dyke. It is the UK's first “World Garden” and has been featured on BBC TV. Designed and cultivated by Tom himself, plants from around the globe are arranged by their respective countries of origination. We will meet Tom and hear him describe his vision and work as a modern day plant hunter. The idea for this “World Garden” developed when Tom and a companion were kidnapped by guerrillas while searching for rare orchids in the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama. They were held captive for nine months, often threatened with death. To keep his sanity, Tom began imagining a garden designed to display plants he had collected in his travels, to be laid out in the shape of a world map.
Lunch:
At Lullingstone Castle.
Afternoon:
We’ll board the motorcoach after lunch to complete our transfer to Chatham. Once we have checked in to our hotel, we’ll have some free time to relax.
Dinner:
At the hotel we’ll have a three-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Sissinghurst Gardens.
Location:
Ashford, Kent
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Ashford International Hotel
Activity Note
Sissinghurst has 450 acres. Explorations may be from a 1-mile walk passing two lakes to a more adventurous 3-mile walk taking in all of the estate.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we will have a lecture at the hotel entitled "The Arostocracy, sexual intrigue and gardening" before departing by motorcoach to Sissinghurst.
Lunch:
Your own choice at Sissinghurst.
Afternoon:
From its beginnings as a Saxon pig farm, the place we know as Sissinghurst has become a “poetical refuge” dedicated to beauty and one of the most famous gardens in England. Its modern history began in the 1930s when it was purchased as a derelict by poet and author Vita Sackville-West and her husband, poet and diplomat Harold Nicolson. They began building up the surrounding farm and developing the garden, inspired by the examples of Sir Edward Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. The garden design consists of a series of interconnected “rooms” — each with its own character, color, and theme — and some enchanting lakeside and woodland walks. Sackville-West and Nicolson opened the garden to the public in 1938. After Sackville-West’s death in 1962, Nicolson gave it to the National Trust, who have been its guardians ever since.
Dinner:
Hotel plated meal.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Great Dixter and Rye.
Location:
Ashford, Kent
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ashford International Hotel
Activity Note
Walking and standing up to two hours in garden.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will travel by motorcoach to Great Dixter, the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006), who made it famous. The Tudor house is surrounded by a famous arts and crafts garden. The gardens are profuse with, often, contrasting colours and a wild area. In Lloyd’s own words: “Most of the garden design was by Lutyens; it always seems fluid, never stodgy…I have no segregated colour schemes. In fact, I take it as a challenge to combine every sort of colour effectively…if I think a yellow candelabrum of mullein will look good rising from the middle of a quilt of pink phlox, I’ll put it there – or let it put itself there. Many plants in this garden are self-sown and they often provide me with excellent ideas. But I do also have some of my own!” We will then continue to in the picturesque town of Rye. Charming and picturesque with steep cobblestoned streets, half-timbered cottages, elegant town houses, and even a Norman church, Rye was the 18th-century smuggling capital of England! As we walk with Kevin Tooher, learn about its murky past of smugglers and highwaymen. We’ll then return to Chatham.
Lunch:
You will be given a lunch allowance to allow you to explore Rye.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we will have a lecture entitled "A Brief History of English Gardens".
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We'll return to the hotel by motorcoach after dinner, and the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Day
7
St. John's Jerusalem Garden and Chapel. Great Comp.
Location:
Ashford, Kent
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ashford International Hotel
Activity Note
Walking and standing up to 2 hours in each garden
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
This morning we will depart for St, John's Jerusalem Garden and Chapel. Set in the Darenth Valley, the rare surviving chapel is the only remaining structure of the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers of the Order of St John of Jerusalem formed in 1113.
Lunch:
At a local pub.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we visit the hamlet of Comp near Seven Oaks to visit the seven acre garden of Great Comp. Home to an Italian Garden, romantic ruins, enchanting woodland walks.
Dinner:
Hotel plated meal.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
8
Canterbury Cathedral & Gardens
Location:
Ashford, Kent
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ashford International Hotel
Breakfast:
In the hotel.
Morning:
This morning’s field trip features a special opening exclusively for our Road Scholar group of the Dean's Garden in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral. We’ll learn about the history of this secret part of the Cathedral precincts (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) from one of the gardeners, then venture into one of the earliest Gothic buildings in England to explore at our own pace, perhaps paying homage at the shrine of Thomas Becket, who was murdered in the Cathedral in 1170.
Lunch:
You will be given a lunch allowance to allow you to explore the many varied eateries in Canterbury.
Afternoon:
Free time to continue our independent explorations in Canterbury.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant before returning to Chatham.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
9
Transfer to Cheltenham, RHS Wisley
Location:
Cheltenham.
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Queens Hotel Cheltenham
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; total driving about 175 miles, approximately 3.5 hours. RHS Wisley has 240 acres of grounds.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and begin our transfer to Cheltenham. En route, our Study Leader will deliver a lecture on the first 200 years of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). We’ll stop at RHS Wisley along the way. Wisley is the flagship garden of the RHS, and one of the best loved in Britain. Its more than 230 acres offer a beautifully cultivated blend of practical and innovative techniques as well as one of the largest plant collections in the world. It includes decorative gardens, arboretums, and interesting “model gardens” offered as a guideline on what home gardeners can expect to achieve on their own land. Another highlight is the Glasshouse, 40 feet (12 meters) high and the size of 10 tennis courts. We will explore some of the highlights with our Study Leader.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like at the various eateries at Wisley. These include the Food Hall, Glasshouse Café and Restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will have time for independent exploration until mid-afternoon, when we will continue on our way to Cheltenham. There will then be time to freshen up and relax after checking in at the hotel.
Dinner:
A three course dinner is served in the hotel. Tea, coffee and water are included
Evening:
Free time. You may wish to stroll around the Imperial Gardens outside your hotel.
Day
10
Hidcote Manor Gardens, Chipping Campden, Bourton House
Location:
Cheltenham.
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Queens Hotel Cheltenham
Breakfast:
At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, bacon, sausages, hash brown, tomatoes, mushrooms, cereals, pastries, toast, milk, juices, tea, coffee, water.
Morning:
We’ll board the motorcoach and set out on a full-day exploration of the Cotswolds, beginning in the north Cotswolds at Hidcote Manor, a celebrated 20th-century garden surrounded by beautiful countryside. Hidcote, created by the talented Anglo-American horticulturist and noted plantsman Major Lawrence Johnston, is considered to be one of the top ten gardens in Britain. This garden also explores the concept of “rooms” within a garden that we have seen elsewhere. It is famous for rare shrubs and trees, as well as its outstanding design with wild flower areas, pools and water features, and long avenues bordered by imaginative and colorful plantings. We’ll then proceed to the nearby market town of Chipping Campden.
Lunch:
In Chipping Campden, we’ll have a two-course plated and served meal at a traditional Cotswold inn with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
We’ll begin the afternoon with some free time to explore Chipping Campden, then board the motorcoach and ride to another of the Cotswolds' most fabulous gardens at Bourton House. The garden features luxuriant terraces and wide herbaceous borders with stunning plant, texture and colour combinations. Imaginative topiary includes a knot garden, parterre and topiary walk and there are several spring-fed water features including a raised basket pond from the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Dinner:
In the hotel.
Evening:
Free time.
Day
11
Painswick Rococo Garden
Location:
Cheltenham.
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Queens Hotel Cheltenham
Breakfast:
In the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we will journey by motorcoach to the beautiful Cotswold town of Painswick, where we will have an opportunity to admire the honey stone architecture before stepping back in time at the flamboyant Painswick Rococo Garden. The only complete Rococo garden surviving in Britain, it was originally laid out in the 1740s, designed as a pleasure garden and place for garden parties, almost like a theatrical set. By the 1970s, it had become terribly overgrown but renewed interest on the part of garden historians led to its restoration. We will return to Cheltenham at the conclusion of our field trip.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like in Cheltenham.
Afternoon:
Free time to see and do what interests you most in Cheltenham.
Dinner:
At the hotel we'll have a three-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Free time to allow you to pack and prepare for an early start tomorrow.
Day
12
Transfer to London, Rousham Gardens, Oxford
Location:
London, England
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow Hotel
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board our motorcoach to begin our transfer to London. Our first stop on the journey will be Rousham Gardens, just north of Oxford. The gardens are the purest example of an Augustan landscape garden, designed by William Kent. We’ll walk amongst the statues paying homage to Imperial games, wander into the woods, and venture through a glade leading to a Temple overlooking the River Cherwell. Next, we’ll make the short journey to Oxford where we will be dropped off at the central Martyr's Memorial, with some time for personal independent exploration. The Group Leader will point out some of the main areas and sites to see in this “City of Dreaming Spires.”
Lunch:
In Oxford, we’ll have packed lunches with sandwich, snack, fruit, and beverage.
Afternoon:
We’ll have some more time for independent exploration in Oxford, before we rendezvous at a predetermined spot for a mid-afternoon resumption of our transfer to London. We’ll arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon, and after checking in we’ll have some time to relax and unpack before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel we’ll have a three-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell meal.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
13
Program Concludes
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
In the hotel depending on departure times. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
29 Meals
11 Breakfasts
7 Lunches
11 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- May 20, 2025 - Jun 01, 2025
- May 12, 2025 - May 23, 2025 (Ashford, Kent to London, England)
- May 20, 2025 - Jun 01, 2025 (London, England to London, England)
- May 11, 2026 - May 22, 2026 (Ashford, Kent to London, England)
- May 19, 2026 - May 31, 2026 (London, England to London, England)
Participant Reviews
Based on 19 Reviews
Sort By:
Jump on this trip as soon as you see it appear on the RS calendar. It's as ephemeral as a Virginia bluebell. Wonderful from start (Chelsea Flower Show) to finish (Rousham Gardens) with so many delights in between.
— Review left June 12, 2024
I hope the program Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens continues to be offered by Road Scholar. One of the best programs I have attended. The visits to the notable gardens after the Chelsea Flower show only enhanced the program.
— Review left June 7, 2024
Great program, really enjoyed it. Leaders were great.
— Review left June 3, 2024
If you are a gardener or just love gardens this is the trip for you.
— Review left June 21, 2023
A wonderful experience for gardeners at all levels! Thanks to you all and especially to Adam and Kevin for making this unforgettable. They are truly amazing!! I really loved Wisley, Sissinghurst, and Lullingstone but all the sites were memorable. I would have liked to see Kew, to spend more time at Wisley, and to have toured Chelsea by myself so I could see everything without the massive crowds! I've had a grand time telling my master gardener friends about the wonderful things I saw.
— Review left June 20, 2023
Whether you are a gardener, a horticulture academic, or simply a garden enthusiast, this program includes a garden for every taste and interest. It's so much more than the name would suggest. As with all RS trips, our expert guide (and fellow travelers) made it educational, entertaining and inspiring.
— Review left May 30, 2023
What a marvelous trip! The Chelsea Flower Show exceeded my high expectations and the other gardens we visited were beautiful, varied, and interesting. Chelsea, in particular was inspirational: I love that they emphasized rewilding, pollinators, and native species as well as a positive impact in urban areas as well as gardens. The designs were fabulous!
As I have a fairly small garden, there was little I could bring home and use, but that's not why I went. Visiting beautifully designed English gardens has been on my bucket list for some 30 years and I was delighted and inspired by all.
The participants were just as interesting nor can I say enough for our leaders and bus driver. Their combined expertise, charm, and overall helpfulness cannot be overstated.
I have three negative comments, however:
1) The group was far too large which could be felt both socially and during guided tours (despite the Whisperers). The trip would have benefitted from being a small group (12-18), which would also have allowed smaller and more charming accommodations.
2) Almost no one wore or was asked to wear a mask despite widespread COVID (it may not have been required by the government but could and should have been a serious health consideration by Road Scholar). Two people contracted COVID during the tour and RS only told participants after one of the patients wrote twice to a leader and to several other participants. Even then, RS downplayed it and said there was only one. Why would PR supersede good health?
3) Smaller boutique hotels would have been more in keeping with creating an English experience. The Radisson hotels were not well-run or clean, the staff were often unhelpful, the meals were so-so, and the rooms relatively small.
— Review left July 4, 2022
Other participants and we were not able to use your "start a discussion " link before the trip. We sent a question about program changes, got an acknowledging email saying that it would be looked into and you would get back to us - but that didn't happen.
— Review left June 11, 2022
Even if you're not into gardens or plants, just viewing their English style esthetics is truly spectacular. This tour was interspersed with free time in Canterbury, various Cotswold villages, Oxford, and Cheltenham to add to the local flavor and variety of the program. And our two Kevins and Tom Hart Dyke were so fascinating that I just had to get their autographs!
— Review left June 8, 2022
Fabulous gardens and London during the Chelsea Flower Show, what more could you ask for?
— Review left May 30, 2022
I would encourage others to enjoy a Road Scholar tour. Traveling in a tour group provides excellent value, especially for seniors.
— Review left May 29, 2022
If you have any interesting in gardening or just like lovely gardens go on this one!
— Review left May 28, 2022
If you love flowers and looking at gardens this is a dream trip for you.
— Review left June 23, 2019
This was a wonderful trip. Great gardens, good food and hotels. The weather was warm and sunny - perfect for seeing the Flower show and the other gardens not your typical rainy English weather.
The "2 Kevins" were perfect hosts and would like to travel with them again.
— Review left June 9, 2019
This was my first Road Scholar trip and it was delightful. I've been on other tours but nothing that I have done before has compared to this. The group leader Kevin H was delightful. He made everything run smoothly and he was always available when needed. The instructor Kevin T was great, I learned so much from him, he was the perfect person for this tour. Friendly and delightful as well. The use of the listening device really helped the program, we never missed any info.
It was a great program for gardeners, it was the Best.
— Review left June 8, 2019
The trip to the Chelsea Flower Show, Kent and Cotswold gardens was beyond my greatest imagination! Every second was beautiful, fun, great learning and adventure. This was a very renewing experience and I am so grateful that I was able to participate. I would like to make this an annual tradition, have a new adventure each year!
— Review left June 5, 2019
This program is wonderfully suited for individuals or couples who would like to experience a learning adventure without the work of planning that trip. Road Scholar does it for you!
— Review left June 4, 2019
The Chelsea Flower Show and gardens of eastern England tour is a delightful way to enjoy the fabulous English gardens and learn so many gardening tips.
— Review left June 3, 2019
The program was wonderful, the gardens delightful and both Road Scholar (Kevin's) were the best.
— Review left May 26, 2019
